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Volume 17, Number 12 | May 8-14, 2025

HAPPY

s ’ r e h t o M y a 5 2 D 20 Photos by Klaus Kocher More moms and babies on pages 12-13

Li McBrayer, Emily

Julia Tallmadge, Connor

Liza Mitchell, Lewis

Alana Shah, Carmen and Demetri

Meg Ravenscraft, Zoe

Kenna Crampton, James Titus

Natalie Acosta, Julieta

Karlee Cashel, Wesley

When we come to it When we come to it We, this people, on this wayward, floating body Created on this earth, of this earth Have the power to fashion for this earth A climate where every man and every woman Can live freely without sanctimonious piety Without crippling fear When we come to it We must confess that we are the possible We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world That is when, and only when We come to it.

-Maya Angelou One of my life’s great pleasures is teaching high schoolers at Tomorrow’s Voices every Monday night. Much of the class is spent discussing the “national existential dissonance” as we confront the key paradoxes of our time, questioning why citizens of the richest, most consumptive nation in the history of the world see themselves as trapped by their lifestyles. I am awed by these sincere, brave and articulate conversations that lift the ceiling of possibility. Jane Taylor, a Roaring Fork senior, recently wrote: Maya Angelou’s poem, “A Brave And Startling Truth,” describes a truth that humanity has yet to discover, but when we do, it will allow us to step into our full potential. Exactly what this truth is and the scope it encompasses is likely beyond my knowledge and experiences; however, to me, the truth Angelou alludes to is humanity’s inherent complexity: our shades of grey between our good and bad, our black and white. Individually and collectively, we can define who we are every moment … which is daunting but exciting. We can change.

This truth is startling because the majority of humanity feels confined to one side or the other; our psyche and survival instincts — dating back far before modern civilization — embrace the delineation of good or bad and categorize everything as such. However, these ancient instincts no longer serve us in our vastly technological, developed and connected society, so we must embark on a brave and startling rediscovery of our purpose and of the possibilities ahead of us.

Maya Angelou would be pleased that in an era with an intentional disregard for the truth and a resolute contempt for the possibility of our evolving humanity, she has inspired Taylor’s thinking.

Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with Katie Brimm, a former student. Katie is a Public Voices Fellow through the Yale Program on Climate Communications and Op-Ed Project, whose focus is cultivating resilient food systems and sustainable farmers. Seeing her reminded me of a text she wrote in May of 2006, a month before she graduated: It seems we have found ourselves in a crisis. Our history will go down in the geologic record as the largest and

OPINION

fastest extinction ever. There is a tension so thick, and it is surprising that, rather than jolt our people into action, we’ve become less involved.

Who knew that as progressive Americans we would stand at the edge of a cliff, teetering in the breeze and staring below at our broken world, we would be more aloof than ever, perhaps searching for the remote SEEKING rather than a rope.

HAYSTACKS We are metaphorically

By A.O. Forbes at the edge of this cliff — yet we are so distracted, and we live our lives two inches from our end, separate from the colluvium of the less fortunate others below us. Our populace has evolved, or perhaps mutated, to stare at the ground in front of us and pay no heed to muffled screams on the other side. What happened to our passion? Our will to make a difference?

Our passion and purpose haven’t gone away, but they are lying dormant in too many of us. My students are passionate, and care deeply about the state of the world. Despite the manipulative and enervating rituals of money and politics, they are ready to offer their best selves and are easily moved by honest calls to action.

They responded viscerally to the vivid and primal invitation in Brian Doyle’s “Leap,” written about 9/11: A couple leaped from the south tower, hand in hand. They reached for each other and their hands met and they jumped. …

I keep coming back to his hand and her hand nestled in each other with such extraordinary ordinary succinct ancient naked stunning perfect simple ferocious love.

Their hands reaching and joining are the most powerful prayer I can imagine, the most eloquent, the most graceful. It is everything that we are capable of against horror and loss and death. It is what makes me believe that we are not craven fools and charlatans to believe in God, to believe that human beings have greatness and holiness within them like seeds that open only under great fires, to believe that some unimaginable essence of who we are persists past the dissolution of what we were, to believe against such evil hourly evidence that love is why we are here.

When I ask my students whether these two were lovers or just strangers, they all simply say just strangers. My students know that we can, and must, choose to shape a more just and peaceful world founded on “extraordinary ordinary succinct ancient naked stunning perfect simple ferocious love.” They trust that in these dark times, the seeds of our humanity will open. When we come to it.

LETTERS Re: Rams Run On April 25, Crystal River Elementary Schoolers ran in the 12th annual Rams Run. The fundraiser continues to be a wellloved tradition, with parents, grandparents, siblings and friends alike coming to cheer on and join the students. The kids run as many laps as possible in 30 minutes, raising money either by flat donations or a pledged amount per lap for the Physical Education and specials programming at CRES. We have been so fortunate to watch this event grow not just in popularity, but in the immense amount of support received from our community. This year, we had 23 sponsors, a new record! Our title sponsor, Xen Technology, donated $1,000! And with contributions ranging anywhere from $350 to $500, we were supported by the businesses that follow, in no particular order: Imperio Restaurant, Rocky Mountain Ranch Services, JVAM Law Firm, Confluence Architecture, Katie J Photography, Isberian Rug Co., White River Books, Handmakery, Martin Insurance Group, Blazing Adventures, Premier Party Rental, TE Builders, Level Build, SGM, Blue Sky Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Carly Passchier Real

Estate, IRMW Welding, Decorative Materials, Valley Ortho, Comfort Dental, Ridge Runner Construction, and New Jammies.

Without these incredible sponsorships, the possibilities for how we can support our children’s learning diminishes greatly.

Our community also came through in a big way, as it does every year, through the incredible help from volunteers. A huge nod of gratitude to the parents, teachers and even grandparents who come through for us in a myriad of ways; from setting up the course, to providing and distributing snacks, ticking off lap counters and cleaning it all up at the end, these people make it possible for this event to run like a well-oiled machine. Additionally, this year Brion After with Independence Run and Hike provided the top boy and girl lap runners in each grade with a brand-new Nalgene water bottle. Thank you, Brion!

I would also like to give a major shout of appreciation to Carbondale’s own Sue Rollyson, who has come out to support our kids and these schools for decades.

She shoots momentous photos in the way only she knows how, and her generosity of time and dedication to our community is

2 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

nothing short of legendary. Thank you, Sue. To Marty Madsen, who created this event, and Jess Klumb who does indelible work behind the scenes and on the day, you are wonderful! Crystal River Elementary has the best PE teacher there is, and the families who support this programming are the best partners we could ask for. Thanks to all of our sponsors, we raised $8,950 and can’t wait to add the final number accumulated by the kids and their supporters. We are so thankful for this community!

Autumn Evans-Lough Crystal River Elementary

Re: Climate I’m surprised at the defensive position of local groups on “climate change” and “global warming” (“Earth Day panel discusses policy implications,” The Sopris Sun, May 1). It seems this is an attempt to broaden appeal, but it feels like self-censorship or “obeying in advance.” I do think “climate change” just allows a rebuttal of “the climate has always been changing.”

But I prefer the more assertive “global heating.” It doesn’t seem hard to explain that continued on page 18

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Contributing Editor James Steindler Sol del Valle Editora Bianca Godina bianca@soldelvalle.org Advertising Rep Margarita Alvarez margarita@soldelvalle.org Digital Editor Ingrid Celeste Zúniga ingrid@soldelvalle.org Lead Editorial Designer Terri Ritchie Advertising Designer Emily Blong Delivery Frederic Kischbaum Hank van Berlo Proofreaders Lee Beck Tracy Kallassy Ken Pletcher Hank van Berlo Executive Director Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke Donna Dayton • Eric Smith Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips Jessi Rochel • Andrew Travers Anna Huntington • Loren Jenkins Carlos Ramos

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

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

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

Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

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

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Seed swap

OUR UNDERWRITERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS! ASPEN VALLEY

H O S P I T A L

Bring some saved seeds to Bee Friendly Carbondale’s booth at Dandelion Day to share and exchange with others, this Saturday (May 10) from 10am to 4pm.

Mountain Valley greenhouse Mountain Valley Developmental Services has launched a $15,000 capital campaign to perform needed maintenance on a greenhouse which provides annual and perennial plants to homes and gardens while supplying jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On May 17, the local nonprofit will host an open house and picnic with games and prizes from 11am to 1pm at 700 Mt. Sopris Drive, Glenwood Springs. An on-site plant sale will begin at 9am. Learn more at www.coloradogives.org/story/Jaunsf

Holy Cross election Local rural electric cooperative Holy Cross Energy has five candidates running for two seats on its board of directors. Members of the cooperative are encouraged to take an active role by voting by mail or online by June 3 or in person at the annual meeting at Buttermilk Mountain Lodge on June 5 from 5 to 6pm. Find a biography for each candidate at www.holycross.com/election

Rockfall mitigation The Colorado Department of Transportation was set to begin rockfall mitigation on Highway 82 at Red Hill this week. The work is likely to continue through September and will result in periodic 20-minute traffic delays, single-lane closures, a speed reduction to 45mph and 14-feet width restrictions.

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

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

Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner?

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

River photography The Colorado Water Trust invites photographers to enter up to 10 photos in its 2025 Water Trust Photo Contest. Each submitted photo must be of a river in Colorado and entries are due by June 1. For submission details, visit www.tinyurl.com/2025RiverPhotos

Water woes On May 1, Roaring Fork Conservancy reported that snowpack is quite below average for this time of year, at 57% of normal. Snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) sites at the headwaters of the Crystal and Fryingpan rivers are already unable to measure significant snowpack, two to three weeks earlier than usual. “According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions worsened throughout the watershed this week, including in the Crystal River headwaters which are now partly in the severe drought category,” the Conservancy’s press release stated.

Property taxes The Garfield County Assessor’s Office has mailed out 2025 notices of valuation to property owners that reflect updated market values as of June 30 of last year. These valuations will determine property taxes due in January 2026 and January 2027. Counties are required by the State to do these reappraisals every other year. Garfield County property values increased about 15% on average, though the range varies and some properties may see little increase while others see a 25% jump.

Property owners who believe their new valuation is inaccurate can file an appeal by June 9 online at www.garfieldcountyco.gov/assessor, by mail (using a protest form included with the notice) or in-person at the assessor’s office in Glenwood Springs. The State of Colorado launched a new pilot Colorado Property Tax Map to help residents understand taxing jurisdictions and boundaries, historical taxing and parcel and levy information. Check it out at dpt.colorado.gov/property-tax-map

Sweet victory! After 53 days and 3,000 miles, Carbondale resident Dan Blake completed an incredible transcontinental ride to benefit Stroke Onward, a nonprofit that supports folks through recovery. “Dream. Train.

Execute. With God’s help anything is possible,” said Blake. “Whatever level of health and fitness you have, be grateful for it. Use your health and gifts to help others. We live in a beautiful country, go see it!” For more information or to donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com/f/dansrideacrossamerica Courtesy photo

Drug bust At the end of April, two Glenwood Springs residents, Sindy Vazquez Martinez and Osbaldo Ramirez-Andrade, were arrested following a more than two-year investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Garfield County-based Special Problems Enforcement and Response team for distribution of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. The two individuals are accused of operating from a residence about 185 yards from the front door of the Glenwood Springs Middle School. Five others were arrested in relation to the investigation and are alleged to have participated in a drug circuit that spanned from Frisco to Rifle. The Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division also assisted in the execution of search warrants in Glenwood Springs and Rifle.

Outside influence A new report by OpenSecrets — a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks and publishes data on campaign finance and lobbying — revealed that campaign fundraising in federal elections in 2024 was more nationalized than ever. “Candidates for both the House and Senate continued a decades-long trend of relying less on donations from the voters they represent and more on contributions from donors across the country,” a newsletter summarized. “The nationalization of campaign contributions, once a concern among elections experts, is now a defining feature of congressional campaigns.”

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Judy Milne, Ricky Ross and Karen Tafejian (May 8); Cheyenne Booher, Jillian Livingston and Karen Crownhart-Nieslanik (May 9); Kay Bell, Bianca Godina, Chris Perry and Damian Sequichie (May 10); Mark Chain (May 11); Dylan Rose Emmer (May 12); Camy Britt, Jimmy Byrne, Megan Cook, Bill Jochems, Pat Noel, Renee Prince and Dave Taylor (May 13); Debbi Fadli, Paige Gibbons, Doc Philip and Steve Standiford (May 14).

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 3

ANB Bank banks on a new bank RALEIGH BURLEIGH Sopris Sun Editor

On April 8, ground broke on another new development adding to the Carbondale Marketplace complex. Nestled between Highway 133 and Hendrick Drive, ANB Bank’s 27,000-square-foot “Sopris Station” mixed-use development was approved in October 2023 and is anticipated to be completed in the fall of 2026.

In addition to a new banking center — relocating ANB Bank from its current address less than half a mile north — the building will include 16 apartment units and around 10,000 square feet of commercial space available for lease. The residential portion includes one and two-bedroom apartments for rent and the commercial space will be equipped for potential restaurant use.

“Our local Carbondale bank team is very excited about the construction of our new energy-efficient bank and apartments,” stated Community Bank President Tony Spires in a press release.

“This new location will allow us to service our customers more efficiently along with providing housing for ANB Bank’s Mountain

Region employees and the Town of Carbondale community.”

The energy efficiency Spires refers to involves on-site solar panels offsetting 33% of estimated energy usage, electric vehicle charging stations, locally sourced materials and design features making use of passive solar. The project is all-electric, with the exception of gas hook-ups for that potential restaurant.

The road to approval involved a significant detour in 2021, when ANB Bank went back to the drawing board after receiving an underwhelming response from the Carbondale Board of Trustees. Back then, the plan was to subdivide the lot, purchased by ANB Bank in 2019, and sell the southern portion. The redesign makes full use of the entire lot with a two-story building that adds to Carbondale’s housing stock, including three deed-restricted dwelling units. Also, a scrutinized drive-thru was removed from the design.

Along with the new building there will be a public pedestrian corridor cutting across what was formerly a field to connect a sidewalk along Highway 133 with Hendrick Drive. Additionally,

4 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

ABOVE: ANB Bank’s Sopris Station will be more than just a bank. It includes 16 residential units and around 10,000 square feet of commercial space. Courtesy graphic RIGHT: Where once there was a field, excavation began on April 8. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

the outside lane of the roundabout will be extended back to the turnout connecting Highway 133 and Hendrick Drive. Carbondale Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman estimates that road work will take place this summer.

He explained that an extended lane was favored over an acceleration lane so motorists aren’t distracted by merging just ahead

of the roundabout.

As for the current building at the corner of Dolores Way and Highway 133, approval of the new development came with the condition that ANB Bank reach out to the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) to entertain a possibility of RFTA acquiring that property, conveniently located just next to the Park and Ride.

According to Laura Schmult, first senior vice president and senior digital officer at ANB Bank, “Now that the project has received its permit and construction is underway, ANB will be engaging a real estate broker to begin the disposition effort of the Dolores Way property. This effort will include reaching out to RFTA regarding their interest.”

Rita Marsh honored as county’s Wellness Visionary KATE PHILLIPS Sopris Sun Correspondent

The evening of April 7, Carbondale resident Rita Marsh was announced as the Garfield County Humanitarian Awards’ Wellness Visionary honoree.

Presented by Garfield County Human Services Commission and the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners, the award is a testament to Marsh’s decades-long career cultivating connection, wellness and balance. Marsh is the co-founder of the Center for Human Flourishing (CHF) based in Carbondale. The night also honored Quinn McSwain (Taking Flight award), Dee Warwick (Heart & Soul) and Patricia Horwitz (Lifetime Service). Marsh told The Sopris Sun that she was proud to be recognized alongside these admirable community leaders.

This interview with Marsh has been edited for clarity and length.

First of all, congratulations on this incredible achievement!

It was a real honor to be nominated in the first place. My colleague, Dr. Greg Feinsinger, was the one who initiated that. We’ve worked together for a number of years raising awareness for [a] plant-based lifestyle to reverse chronic illness and prevent significant disease. He gathered

people who wrote letters of support.

At the dinner, I was listening to what people were saying and then the commissioner started talking about the recipient and I thought, ‘Oh, really? He’s talking about me!’ I had to take some deep breaths and really take it all in. I was really surprised.

What sparked your career in medicine?

I’m from Ontario, Canada and I grew up in a very small village in the woods near a lake. My father was somewhat of a humanitarian, because he would rescue injured animals. Then, having a good family friend who was a nurse I became interested in what her career looked like. In high school, I thought I would want to be a physician, but my father said we couldn’t afford it. So that was a squelch, but the interest in nursing stayed with me.

I went to the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto that had a three-year experiential nursing program. I stayed in the Toronto area for a number of years working in labor and delivery, and wow what a special place to see the little ones entering the world.

How did you make your way to the Valley?

I was very athletic and interested in skiing. I asked my friend’s father, “Where is the best place in North America to ski?” and he said, “Aspen, Colorado!”

Your career has had a big impact on our community.

What are you most proud of?

I took the train from Toronto to Chicago and then to Glenwood Springs. I planned to come down for four weeks, but found a place at the bottom of Aspen’s Lift 1A. I was amazed at the mountain, skiing and everything.

A coalescence of the healing arts community is always the goal. We have the community [and] creative arts. Amy Kimberly always said the healing arts are part of that, and I try to hold that we are on parallel and complementary paths so that Carbondale shines and honors the talents that we have here with a capacity to celebrate life.

How did you fill those early years?

I spent four years skiing and finding jobs that could support my lifestyle. I went back to nursing in 1969 at the Aspen Hospital.

We took care of every aspect of life from birth to death — and every broken bone in between.

When did you begin to integrate the philosophy of balance into your work?

While working in the emergency room I saw the impact of people’s decisions in life that put them in bad places. I started to realize I was not impactful there, and I wanted to get into intervention and prevention. I looked into a family nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado. I figured that if I moved into that career I could get to know people on a more personal level.

What does a “life in balance” mean to you?

I work through the framework of the Integral Health Model — including biological health,

Rita Marsh, photo by Kate Phillips

psychospiritual, wordly and interpersonal — because of my relationship with Dr. Elliott Dacher and the book he wrote: “Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing.” That was very impactful, looking at the whole person between mind, body and spirit.

Recognizing we’re held in a field of spirit — and that connection to the creator or greater good or whatever you believe in — is an essential part of being a human being. That model really gave me a way to express what I knew. More recently, I began to realize that health began from the ground up. The food that we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe are the resources for living a flourishing life.

Most important question, what’s for dinner tonight?

Well, I don’t think we’re making dinner tonight because today [April 24] is our 55th wedding anniversary!

Congratulations!

What’s the secret to 55 years of marriage?

A few years back, I asked Dick what he thinks of having so many years of marriage and he said, ‘What else would I be doing?’

Marsh laughed. But truly, having similar interests, enjoying life, raising two daughters and agreeing to support each other day by day.

To keep up with the Center for Human Flourishing, visit www.thecenterforhuman flourishing.org

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 5

CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2025!

ON MAY 2-3, CMC CELEBRATED

the nearly 100 students who graduated from CMC’s Carbondale and Aspen campuses between last summer and this spring.

The ceremonies were at the Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs campus and included grads from across the Roaring Fork Valley.

Collegewide, nearly 1,700 students graduated from CMC’s 11 locations during the 2024-25 year, a 9% increase from the 2023-24 graduating class.

6 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

Cinco del Smithy Photos by Raleigh Burleigh

An estimated 500 people swung by the Village Smithy on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) to celebrate Carbondale’s oldest restaurant’s first 50 years of service. The Chacos and Ettelson families graciously provided chips and nacho cheese, taquitos, quesadillas and desserts, as well as libations (including margaritas, of course). By 5:30pm, the posted start time, the place was already packed with familiar faces from the Carbondale community.

Local band Electric Lemon continued entertaining partygoers long after the food ran out, and a few lucky attendees took home door prizes.

Maggie and Reece Ettelson

The Chacos family (left to right): Desmond, Eric, Andrea, Charlie and Cooper not pictured: Ari

Usiel Dolores, Lety Gomez and Kathy Ezra

Vicky Browne

The Village Smithy borrowed a big “50” from Mountain Fair’s recent milestone anniversary

John Ackerman, John Matchael, Jody Ensign and Mary Matchael

Ken Pletcher and Ambassador Frank

Electric Lemon: Marc Bruell, Mark Gray, Dan Rosenthal, Patrick Fagan and Kendall Spyker

Save the Date

Annual

PLANT SALE

Tomatoes • Herbs • Veggies • Annuals • Perennials Seed Potatoes • Native Trees and Shrubs • Onion Plants and More!

For a list of available plants: www.crms.org/plantsale

Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18 9 AM - 3 PM

x Bring a bo to carry r home you goodies!

CRMS Organic Garden Learning Center • 500 Holden Way, Carbondale

Dani Rivera, Martha Nila and family

Aparta la Fecha

LAW WEEK | SEMANA DEL DERECHO JUNE 16 – 20, 2025 | 16 - 20 DE JUNIO DE 2025 Free Legal Clinics at Local Library Locations | Clínicas Jurídicas Gratuitas en las Bibliotecas Locales

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TUESDAY MARTES 5-7 PM

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WEDNESDAY MIÉRCOLES 5-7 PM

Parachute Immigration Inmigración

THURSDAY JUEVES 5-7 PM

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Interpretación en español disponible.

Inscripción no esnecesaria, sólo hay que presentarse!

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THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 7

Natalie Spears shares the TACAW stage with AMF String Quintet MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent

On May 16, Natalie Spears will grace the stage of TACAW with the Aspen Music Festival String Quintet — comprised of Delaney Meyers, Camille Backman, Ross Kribbs, Sarah Graf and Carl Meinecke — featuring compositions by Spears’ longtime collaborator and friend, Ilan Blanck, for an evening that will take the audience on a musical journey paralleled with the sounds of birds.

“We’ll begin with the dawn chorus, which is that chorus of sound you hear the birds making right as the sun rises,” Spears explained to The Sopris Sun. “We’ll move through different phases of the day. It Aspen Music Fesitval String Quintet, san Carl won’t all be birds, but there’ll be different energetic Meinecke, photo courtesy of Ross Kribbs snippets woven in.”

The performance is the result of a collaboration the stage with collaborators again after embarking between the Roaring Fork Audubon Society and on some solo ventures.

Aspen Music Festival. It will open with a “I think the success has been learning how presentation of works from “The Birdmy voice is outside of collaborations,” song Project,” launched during the said Spears. “It was meaningful to put pandemic in partnership with out the album, and it’s also been a the National Audubon Society. year to rest and decide what’s next That project aimed to unite artists and continue to integrate the parts through bird songs, celebrate the of the record process that I loved intersections of art, music and nature into my next projects.” and educate people on conservation Spears discussed how many efforts for avian populations. people live in the Roaring Fork - Natalie Spears Spears had the opportunity to work Valley because of the access to nature with The Birdsong Project last summer and the outdoors, and how the intersecfor the title track of her album, “Hymn of Wild tion between music and nature can be good for Things,” inspired by the sandhill crane. Many of the folks to be open to and explore. songs on Spears’ album were inspired by avian wild“A lot of us come here just to live close to the life, woven with themes of grief and transformation. wilderness. For me, I feel like the birds are my umbil“The Birdsong Project did some programming ical cord to that,” said Spears. “The world feels like with the Aspen Music Festival last summer which such a shit show right now and I think we get really is how I became involved,” said Spears. “Aspen far away from our hearts when life is hard, because Music Festival gave us funding to go into some of we get into fear based mode. I think music, wild the schools and to demonstrate what happens when spaces, beauty and art is where we can find reprieve you take folk music traditions and mix them with for our souls.” more traditionally classical string arrangements to “We can’t always think our way through things,” demonstrate their versatility.” she concluded. “Sometimes we just need to feel a Coming up on the first anniversary of the release heart connection to the world, and I think that music of her latest record, Spears looks forward to sharing and art is a wonderful way to do that.”

I think music, wild spaces, beauty and art is where we can find reprieve for our souls.

Natalie Spears, photo courtesy of Andrew Sturtz

IN A NUTSHELL Who: Natalie Spears & AMF String Quintet

Where: TACAW When: May 16 at 8pm Tickets: www.tacaw.org

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Regional environmental organizations divided over pending Fix Our Forests Act ANNALISE GRUETER Sopris Sun Correspondent

Last month, the United States Senate introduced H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, for legislative consideration. The bill, cosponsored by Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper (D), passed the House in late January with support from representatives Jeff Crank (R-CD5), Jeff Hurd (R-CD3), Brittany Peterson (D-CD7), and Lauren Boebert (R-CD4) and 275 other congressional members.

The legislation has been highly controversial, with different reactions from various environmental stakeholders. According to Hickenlooper’s office, the bill is meant to “strengthen wildfire resilience by improving forest management, supporting fire-safe communities and streamlining approvals for projects that protect communities and ecosystems from extreme wildfires.” He and his co-sponsoring senators claim that it will accelerate forest management projects and response, increase public input capacity and improve collaboration between interest groups.

Several Roaring Fork Valley and Western Colorado environmental organizations disagree.

Carbondale-based conservation

Several different pieces of proposed congressional legislation offer visions on how to address national wildfire concerns. The Fix Our Forests Act is a controversial one. The Red Mountain prescribed burn area is an example of locally managed wildfire prevention that could be affected by legislation. Photo by Annalise Grueter

group Wilderness Workshop notes that the bill would limit the window for public input on proposed projects and does not require additional evaluation when endangered species or critical habitats are identified in a proposed project area.

Regional advocacy group Western Watersheds Project goes further, saying that the Fix Our Forests Act “creates massive exemptions from bedrock environmental laws designed to ensure that projects are

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thoroughly analyzed, use the best available science and involve the public in decision [making].”

Western Watersheds also asserts that the bill creates massive hurdles for judicial review by limiting courts’ ability to review plans prior to implementation.

Sponsors of the bill cite support from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), The Nature Conservancy, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience and Colorado Governor Jared Polis among others. EDF Executive Director

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Amanda Leland said “The U.S. Forest Service needs new tools and more resources now to prevent and control these wildfires, and with the right funding this bipartisan proposal will help.”

As of press time, The Nature Conservancy had not released a public statement about H.R. 471.

However, in March, the organization released a statement “in response to recent discussions about United States government funding for projects and programs.”

In that release, Kameran Onley,

the organization’s managing director of North American Policy and Government Relations, said, “The Nature Conservancy supports efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the United States government. However, it is crucial that — on behalf of all Americans — the government meets its responsibilities to care for the country’s land, air, water and wildlife.”

Later in the statement, Onley emphasized that The Nature Conservancy is “alarmed by the negative impacts we already are seeing from recent sweeping and sudden decisions related to the elimination of key staff, science-supported tools, regulations and investments to protect nature. Governments are most effective when their decisions are data-driven, backed by science and well-thought-out by the experts they have on staff.”

Wilderness Workshop Executive Director Will Roush said that the act will limit public input rather than expand it, and exclude evaluation of small projects which can have widespread environmental impacts.

“I’ve seen firsthand how local knowledge can positively influence forest management,” Roush continued on page 15

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THURSDAY, MAY 8

SATURDAY, MAY 10

GARDEN CLUB The Glenwood Springs Garden Club meets at U.S. Bank, 1901 Grand Avenue, from 1 to 3pm. Horticulturist John Cretti will share “The Dirt on Soil.”

LEARNING TO SEW Learn to use a sewing machine and make a stylish zipper pouch with an introductory-level class at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 7pm. Registration is required at www.basaltlibrary.org/ events-calendar COLLAGE NIGHT The Cattle Creek Thrift Store (62 Highway 133) hosts a free collage night activity from 5:30 to 8pm.

SOUND JOURNEY True Nature offers a “cosmic sound journey” with Danielle Klein from 6 to 7:15pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com LOCAL HISTORY Ashton Durrett shares his family’s story of emigrating from Italy at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6:30pm.

CRYSTAL CAUCUS The Crystal River Caucus convenes for its regular meeting at the Church at Redstone at 7pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE Catch “Warfare” at the Crystal Theatre tonight at 7pm. “Sinners” opens tomorrow and continues Saturday and May 14 at 7pm. Sunday’s show is at 5pm.

Classes for Adults & Kids in Carbondale

WATCH FOR IT IN YOUR MAILBOX

TRTC “These Shining Lives” continues this weekend and next at the Thunder River Theatre with 7:30pm shows Thursday to Saturday and Sunday shows at 2pm. Find tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com

FRIDAY, MAY 9

CARING FOR CAREGIVERS Smiling Goat Ranch and CASA of the Ninth, together with Lead with Love, host a special event for parents, therapists, educators and other caregivers from 9am to 3pm with workshops, activities and a catered lunch. Sign up at www.smilinggoatranch.com/events

At Unitarian Universalist congregations, we celebrate spiritual curiosity and honor many paths to truth.

What if love isn’t just a feeling, but a way of seeing? This Mother’s Day, we reflect on the imaginative power of love—the kind that sees beauty in the mess and calls forth wholeness in one another. Drawing from the deep (and often complicated) bonds between parents and children, we’ll explore how such grace can reach beyond family to transform our relationships, communities, and selves.

Speaker: Aaron Brown Music by Gabriela Mejia, Micha & Paul

Sunday at 10 AM Third Street Center

AVLT BBQ Aspen Valley Land Trust celebrates conservation with a barbecue at Colorado Drifters & Down Valley Brewing in New Castle from 5 to 8pm with live music by Whiskey Stomp. For tickets, visit www.avlt.org/events CO LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW The Colorado legislative session has wrapped for the year, tackling big issues from immigrant protections to major gun reforms. Join KDNK from 6 to 7pm for a statewide call-in show to review the session. The panel of reporters will include Lucas Brady Woods of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, Bente Birkeland of CPR and Jesse Paul of the Colorado Sun. They will break it all down — and want to hear from you.

Tune in to KDNK, call 1-800-737-3030 or email questions and comments to dj@kgnu.org TEENS AT TACAW Teens are invited to TACAW for an evening intended just for them featuring performances by local teen bands Fotostatic and Soliloquy and musician Tristan Trincado. Doors open at 6pm.

RSVP at www.tacaw.org GOING WEST Symphony in the Valley presents “The Symphony Goes West” at the Ute Theater in Rifle at 7pm and tomorrow at Rifle Middle School at 7pm. Tickets at www.sitv.org/wp/upcoming-events

10 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

SPRING PURGE From 8am to 2pm, the Town of Carbondale hosts a spring clean-up and recycling event where Town residents can drop off large items, such as mattresses and refrigerators, electronics, hazardous waste, tires and more for free or at discounted prices.

Locations for various materials will be divided between the parking lots behind Town Hall, across 4th Street from Town Hall and next to Thunder River Theatre, entering from 6th Street.

For a list of designated locations and acceptable items, visit www.tinyurl.com/ CarbondaleCleanup DANDELION DAY Carbondale celebrates its annual Dandelion Day festival at Sopris Park from 10:30am to 5pm, following the Parade of Species at 10am on Main Street. Folks who would like to participate in the parade should arrive at 2nd and Main by 9:45am. To sign up to volunteer, visit www.tinyurl.com/ DandyDayVolunteer SEUN KUTI Nigerian musician, singer and songwriter Seun Kuti of Egypt 80 performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org SYMPHONY IN THE VALLEY Symphony in the Valley, a nonprofit 40-member orchestra, performs at the Carbondale Middle School at 7pm.

Learn more at www.sitv.org THE BLACK NUGGET River Spell, a band featuring local drummer Zack Ritchie, performs at The Black Nugget in Carbondale at 9pm.

More info at www.riverspellmusic.com

SUNDAY, MAY 11

SPIRITUAL CENTER Golden Sha delivers a special Mother’s Day message at A Spiritual Center’s Sunday service, from 10:30 to 11am at the Third Street Center (Room 31).

MORNING ALTARS Honor mothers and nature with an altar-building exercise led by Amy Fairbanks at True Nature from 3 to 4:30pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com CHAMBER MUSIC The Colorado Plateau Chamber Music Society, a new organization, visits Carbondale with a program of piano quartets featuring Camille Backman on violin, Charles Hebenstreit on viola, Sarah Graf on cello and Tamara Goldstein on piano at the Third Street Center from 4 to 5:30pm.

MONDAY, MAY 12

ONE-NIGHT JAM Join Consensual Improv for a one-night improv comedy workshop/jam at 6:30pm (previous experience is recommended). Tickets at www.tacaw.org

TUESDAY, MAY 13

GOOGLE TIPS Learn tools to help narrow your Google searches, track packages, set timers and more with a tutorial at the Basalt Library from 2:30 to 3:30pm.

CAREGIVER CAMARADERIE In collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association, Sopris Lodge hosts a monthly caregiver support group for family members and caregivers of people living with dementia every second Thursday from 3 to 4pm. More info at www.soprislodge.com/events

ONGOING EVENTS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS The Meeting Place in Carbondale (981 Cowen Drive) offers “Hole in the Donut AA,” Monday through Saturday at 6:45am, plus “Daily Reprieve” at noon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Find a full schedule at www.meetingplacecarbondale.org MOMMY MEET-UP The Glenwood Springs Library hosts a “mommy meet-up” on Mondays from 11am to 12:30pm for mothers and their babies ages 0-3. There will be play items provided for the little ones and coffee and conversation for the moms.

Roaring Fork High School AP art students, along with teacher Leslie Keery, show some of their work that will be on display at the free Art and Woodworking Exhibit running May 14-16, from 8am to 6pm in the high school’s library. Photo by Sue Rollyson

LITTLE RIDERS, BIG FUN Roaring Fork Cycling invites 4 to 7 years olds to learn the basics of BMX biking, with a focus on coordination and building confidence, at Crown Mountain Park Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 27 from 3:30 to 5pm.

Bikes and equipment are available to borrow. More info and sign up at www.roaringforkcycling.org/bmx SACRED BROTHERHOOD Kyle Leitzke leads a “Sacred Brotherhood” conversation at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. Register at www. truenaturehealingarts.com DRAWING CLUB The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at The Launchpad in Carbondale at 6:30pm.

FIRST DRAFT Mitzi Rapkin interviews Kristin Koval, author of “Penitence,” for a live recording of the podcast “First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing” at TACAW at 6:30pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

CA FELLOWS Meet Carbondale Arts’ 2024 fellowship recipients, Dustin Eli, Erik Hesselman, Jan Schubert and Mellie Test, presenting on their projects at The Launchpad from 6 to 8pm.

ZOËKEATING Zoë Keating returns to TACAW for a musical performance in honor of Missie Thorne at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

THURSDAY, MAY 15

CAREGIVER SELF-CARE A free caregiver self-care event takes place at the Garfield County Administrative Building in Rifle (195 West 14th Street) in the Grand Valley Room (210) from 10am to noon with a keynote by mental health specialist Meghan Backofen, followed by lunch and pampering.

BOOK CLUB The Third Thursday Book Club discusses “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3:30pm.

CARE FOR CAREGIVERS True Nature continues its Care for Caregivers monthly support series from 5 to 6:30pm. Find details and registration at www.truenaturehealingarts.com POSTCARD PROJECT Middle and high school students create multi-media postcards for Heritage

Senior Living residents, connecting often disconnected generations, at the Basalat Library from 4 to 5:30pm. More details at www.basaltlibrary.org MOVIE NIGHT KDNK screens “The Commitments” at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm. “Featuring a triple-platinum soundtrack, the classic cult comedy-drama of a ragtag soul band in ‘80s Dublin comes back to the big screen!”

SPEAKEASY Lynn Aliya leads a public speaking workshop, incorporating her Speakeasy Method and complete with cocktails (and mocktail options) provided by Marble Distillery, at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 7pm. Bring an ID if you plan to imbibe. More details at www.basaltlibrary.org

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.org 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. A Wednesday session takes place at St. Peters of the Valley in Basalt from 11:30 to 1pm with a Zoom option.

PILATES Coredination offers weekly pilates mat classes for all levels at The Launchpad in Carbondale. Tuesdays from noon to 1pm intermediate/advanced students are welcome. Beginners are encouraged to attend on THursdays from 8 to 9am. For more info, call 970-379-2187.

BIKE PROJECT The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays

and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.

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.

FARM DAYS Wild Mountain Seeds invites you to volunteer at Sunfire Ranch every Thursday from 12:30 to 4pm. Bring a water bottle and gloves and leave as early as you need to.

GERI-FIT The Carbondale Library hosts an olderadult fitness class every Thursday from 12:15 to 1:15pm. Call 970-625-5282 ext.

3084 to register.

TEEN LIBRARY COUNCIL The Teen Library Council convenes every first Thursday at the Basalt Library at 4pm.

GROUP RUN Independence Run & Hike leads a weekly group run on Thursdays departing from the store’s location, next to the Carbondale City Market, at 6:30pm.

COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk posts up at Bonfire every Friday from 8 to 9am, and everyone is welcome to stop by to chat.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 16

ALL-AGES DANCE PARTY Kids, parents, grandparents — one and all — are invited to an intergenerational dance party at the Basalt Library from 4 to 5pm.

TEACHER APPRECIATION Local teachers are invited to sip wine and spin clay with Matt Johnson and the Carbondale Clay Center from 5 to 7:30pm. This event is free for teachers on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration: www.bit.ly/May16CCC SNIFFING THREATS Roaring Fork Conservancy presents “Dogs Are ‘Sniffing Out’ Threats to Rivers,” sharing how dogs are being trained to protect aquatic ecosystems, at 22800 Two Rivers Road from 5 to 6:30pm. Register for free at www.roaringfork.org/events TRAIL RUNNING FILMS Independence Run & Hike hosts the Trail Running Film Festival as part of its family-friendly Mt. Sopris Run-Off weekend. Doors open at 6pm and the show starts at 7pm.

ROARING FORK RISING The Wheeler Opera House’s Roaring Fork Rising series, highlighting local talent, kicks off with Emery Major and David Uhlfelder at 7pm. Find tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com EDIE CAREY Steve’s Guitars presents Edie Carey performing at 8pm. Tickets at www. stevesguitars.net NATALIE SPEARS Catch a performance of “Hymn of Wild Things” by Natalie Spears, backed by a string quintet, at TACAW at 8pm.

Tickets at www.tacaw.org THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 11

’25

HAPPY

Mother’s Day

Jolene Schillaci, Monty

Erin Sherman, Abalon and Eisa

Megan Westfelt, Wendy

Keera Kirchenwitz, Owen

Rachel Kelmanson, Brady Martin Fife

Heather Hicks Stumpf, Rhodes

Eunice Prieto, Priscilla Becerra

Vanessa Evans, Olive

Katie W, Barrett

12 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

’25

HAPPY

Mother’s Day

Michelle Boyle, Layla Jean

Roxy Arreola, Santiago Lovo

Angelina Kocher, Theodore

Kala Kluender, Auburn

There is nothing quite like a mother’s love — an otherwise rare sense of care a child is blessed with from the time they draw their first breath. That devotion shines clear as day on the faces of this year’s mamas.

The Sopris Sun carries on the tradition of its predecessor, the Valley Journal, giving space each year to local mothers and their new babies. Some of the moms who have graced the Mother’s Day issue in recent years, and not just a few, were themselves once featured with their mothers in the Valley Journal.

It’s become a tradition spanning generations and, with your help, will go on to include some of these very same babies as mothers years down the road.

The Sopris Sun, like children, must be nourished to sustain its place in Carbondale and the Valley. And it’s incumbent on the community to give this baby life, year after year.

With the onset of its growing younger sibling, Sol del Valle, The Sun’s Spanish-language newspaper, the cost to keep these papers on the stands has increased nearly twofold. They both need our care to continue. If every reader committed $10 a month as a SUNscriber, the future of The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle would be secured for generations to come.

So if you love The Sopris Sun and the traditions it nurtures, consider signing up as a SUNscriber to ensure this baby never goes hungry. Visit www.soprissun. com/donate to chip in.

Thank you to photographer — and Sopris Sun board treasurer — Klaus Kocher, for volunteering his time and expertise to capture the essence of motherly love.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Leigh Edlind, Cory

Natalie Baca, Wesley Baca

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 13

RAMS REPORT

Girls soccer, lacrosse teams head into the playoffs JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

to play No. 16 Green Mountain on Tuesday night.

It’s playoffs time for the Roaring Fork girls soccer and lacrosse teams, as Rams teams made their respective state tournament fields headed into the first week of May. Girls lacrosse enters the 24-team Class 4A tournament as the No. 7 seed, having concluded the regular season at 11-4 overall and finishing third in the 4A Mountain East League at 6-4.

The Rams earned a firstround bye, and are set to host a second-round matchup on Thursday, May 8, 4pm, at Rams Field in Carbondale versus the winner of the No. 10 Mullen vs. No. 23 Liberty game from Tuesday.

Roaring Fork closed out the regular season with a convincing 22-1 win over Denver North at home on Friday, May 2. Points leader was senior Josie McKinley with eight, all of them goals.

Also in the playoffs is the Glenwood Springs, Roaring Fork and Basalt boys cooperative lacrosse team, hosted by Glenwood Springs High School, which made the 24-team 4A boys tournament as the No. 17 seed. The Demons were to travel

Soccer hits the road The Roaring Fork girls team goes into the Class 3A soccer tournament as the No. 19 seed, taking their show on the road on Thursday to face No. 14 Montezuma-Cortez.

The Rams finished the regular season at 7-5-3 overall and 5-2-1 in the 3A Western Slope League (WSL), closing it out with an 8-0 shutout win over league foe Rifle on Thursday, May 1. It was also senior night for the soon-to-be RFHS graduates.

Scoring was provided by senior Carley Crownhart leading the way with the hat trick (three goals). Contributing a goal each were seniors Maggie Russell, Annika Anslyn, Lexy Sanchez and Emma Charters, with another coming from freshman Helina McCracken.

The Thursday playoff game should be viewable on the NFHS streaming network. The winner will advance to play either No. 3 Delta or No. 30 Elizabeth, slated for Saturday, May 10.

Baseball wraps up

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The senior members of the Roaring Fork High School girls soccer team were honored before the varsity game against Rifle on May 1. Pictured, from left, are Maddie Anderson, Maggie Russell, Annika Anslyn, Carley Crownhart, Emma Charters, Erica Crownhart, Lexy Sanchez, Briana Lopez and Yessy Fuentes Portillo.

Photo by John Stroud

team kept its postseason hopes alive with a double-header sweep at Craig against the Moffat County Bulldogs on Saturday, May 3. Scores were 19-1, 23-0.

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Fork on Tuesday, the Rams were set to host Aspen at 4pm on Wednesday (senior recognition), and then travel to close out the regular season at Aspen on Saturday, May 10.

The Rams (6-15 overall and

3-8 in the 3A WSL ahead of the Aspen games) need to finish in the top 32 among 3A teams to advance to the postseason. As of Monday, they were sitting at No. 33. continued on page 15

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14 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

www.gcpld.org

RAMS REPORT

from page 14

LEAGUE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS The Roaring Fork girls and boys track teams competed at the 3A WSL Championships at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction on May 2-3, bringing home top-eight performances in several events and lowering their event times in the process.

Athletes scoring points among the 3A teams for the Rams included, for the boys: Junior Eli Norris — 200-Meter dash, sixth (24.55 seconds) Sophomore Quentin Galbraith — 400M dash, seventh (54.58 seconds) Freshman Levi Friday — 1600M, eighth (4:58.32).

And, for the girls:

FORESTS from page 9 said. “Categorically excluding projects up to 15-squaremiles in size from any meaningful analysis or public input does a great disservice to our communities, wildlife and forests alike. At a time when our public lands are under attack, limiting public participation while undermining environmental analysis and the Endangered Species Act is altogether the wrong way to go.”

Wilderness Workshop noted specific objections to provisions in H.R. 471. The organization takes issue with: the exclusion of a variety of logging projects across as much as 15.6 square miles of National Forest from requirements for public input and scientific analysis; the limitation of judicial review to 150 days from the standard six years; and negation of the Cottonwood Decision, which requires the Forest Service to reinitiate forest planning consultation when a new endangered species or critical habitat is found.

Western Watersheds Project Public Policy Director Josh Osher said, “At one of the most crucial moments

for the future of our public lands, waters and wildlife, Congress is abandoning ship and handing over control to the cattle and timber barons who got us into this mess in the first place.” He continued, “What we need right now is a new paradigm that values life over profit and extraction, not the same tired ideas wrapped in deceptive new packaging.”

Western Watersheds Project prefers other legislation to address wildfire related decision making. “The Fix Our Forests Act will exacerbate the problems caused by decades of excessive logging, grazing and vegetation management on our public lands by prescribing more of the same with even less caution or foresight,” Osher stated. “In contrast, bills such as H.R.582, [the] Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act introduced by Rep Huffman, actually provides solutions to increased wildfire risk to communities.”

The public can view updates to H.R. 471 on the congressional website, www.congress.gov/ bill/119th-congress/house-bill/471

Junior Nikki Tardif — 300M hurdles, third (49.76 seconds), and 200M dash, fourth (28.83).

Senior Isabella Moon — 800M run, third (2:27.72), and 1600M run, third (5:32.64)

Carbondale celebrated Arbor Day on May 3 by planting a Douglas elm and Chinkapin oak between Rock Court and Greystone Drive along Hendrick. Town Arborist Carl Meinecke and the Tree Board gave a hands-on planting demo for children, parents, dogs and all people interested in celebrating trees. Cookies, coffee, donuts and juice were also served.

Junior Caroline Cole — 800M run, eighth (2:34.12), 1600M run, seventh (5:47.48) Freshman Kinley Richmond — 3200M run, eighth (13:49.56) 4x800 Relay (Richmond, Sadie Silcox, Cole, Moon), fourth (10:43.93 – new school record)

Photo by Dan Bullock

A handful of Rams track athletes are in 3A state qualifying positions heading into this Saturday’s “last chance” meet at Montrose. The Colorado Track and Field Championships are slated for May 15-17 at JeffCo Stadium in Lakewood.

Friday, May 9th

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THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 15

LIBRARY REPORT

County residents demand apologies from two board members, ask president to resign

MEGAN WEBBER Sopris Sun Correspondent

Library business was once again overshadowed by high contention at the Garfield County Public Library District’s Board of Trustees meeting on May 1.

Before reaching the board’s scheduled discussion items, which included a new appointment to the Glenwood Urban Renewal Authority, a presentation from the Grand Valley Historical Society and a tour of the Parachute Library where the meeting was held, members of the public spoke to the board about the remaining manga books on display at the library and the disagreements between two members of the board.

At the board’s previous meeting on April 3, Board President Adrian Rippy-Sheehy adjourned the meeting after a brief squabble with Board Member Myrna Fletchall. Fletchall continued to request documentation about staff compensation that was discussed at a meeting earlier

in the year, and Rippy-Sheehy told Fletchall that she would not be regranted access for several reasons, including an assumption that she wanted to share the documents with specific community members. After that, Fletchall accused RippySheehy of bullying her.

“I’m tired of your behavior and treating me like that,” Fletchall said.

According to a letter submitted by Susan Use, Glenwood Springs resident and former library board member, to The Sopris Sun, printed on April 23, in the “early spring Fletchall’s emails were subject to a Colorado Open Records Request, which provided proof that Fletchall received the documents, spreadsheets, etcetera she keeps demanding.”

On May 1, different members of the community appeared to defend either Fletchall or Rippy-Sheehy.

Rifle resident Trish O’Grady, who is one of the citizens

that Rippy-Sheehy said she assumed Fletchall would share the data with, read aloud a letter that she wrote to the board in response and said she agrees with Fletchall calling the president a bully.

difficult to express this, but I have felt that from you also, and toward her. You just know it when you see it.”

O’Grady requested that Rippy-Sheehy make a formal public apology to Fletchall at the meeting and consider resigning from her position as board president.

After O’Grady spoke, two community members made similar statements in defense of RippySheehy. New Castle resident Carol O’Brien said that Fletchall’s behavior “has been horrible” and “unprofessional,” and added, “especially toward Adrian.”

Use said that she believes Fletchall has been “out to get Adrian since day one,” and that Fletchall retaliated against her when she wouldn’t push back on Rippy-Sheehy.

“Myrna bullies,” Use said.

“She harasses Adrian any chance she’s gotten. It’s a constant harassment.”

She requested that Fletchall

I am asking as a participant of these meetings that something change, because it is far too much, and I believe that we all need to recognize where the problem is and deal with the issue. It’s affecting us.

- May Gray, New Castle

“I have witnessed in previous board meetings your continued disrespect toward Myrna,” O’Grady said. “You have talked over her, cut off her sentences, spoke in a loud, condescending tone. It’s

make apologies to RippySheehy, herself and to the library district’s executive director, Jamie LaRue, for her behavior towards them.

New Castle resident May Gray, who frequently attends the board’s public meetings, was the last member of the public to speak and said that she felt like a child asking her parents to stop fighting.

“What is happening on the board is a lot,” she said.

“I am asking as a participant of these meetings that something change, because it is far too much, and I believe that we all need to recognize where the problem is and deal with the issue. It’s affecting us.”

Neither Rippy-Sheehy nor Fletchall made a public apology during the meeting and as of press time The Sopris Sun was not aware of any apology being made since.

The board’s next meeting will take place on Thursday, June 5 at the Carbondale Library at 2pm.

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16 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT

Praise for the libraries, Pie Day and summer fun AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent

Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting was short and polite. Garfield County resident Debbie Wilde opened the meeting during the public comment period, describing her love of and gratitude for the library system.

She said she has been trying to set up a learning center in the Navajo Nation for the past four years, which has helped her see how good Garfield County residents have it with their libraries.

“I realized how easily I’ve taken our library system for granted,” she said. “It is a very important part of living in this county.” She said she’s noticed that the library has been discussed in the county commissioner chambers lately. “What brings me to this table is not only appreciation but the awareness that when we talk about the library, we talk about a whole system, an organization,” she said.

“And I’ve not heard the recognition of that complexity in the library rumblings I’ve heard.”

She added that the library director must be competent in staffing, budgeting, finances and strategic planning, not to mention the physical plant issues and the wide variety of library materials. “A library is not just a shelf of books anymore,” she said.

Wilde pointed out that the current

library director is managing all of those things very well, adding, “What I’m clear [about] is that we must not take apart the foundation of an organization when that’s maybe not the issue at all.” She cautioned, “As the old saying goes, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

Board Chair Tom Jankovsky reminded Wilde that the BOCC has jurisdiction over the library board and the director.

Commissioner Perry Will, interjecting a little humor into the conversation, asked Wilde about Pie Day, an annual event hosted by the Glenwood Springs Rotary Club during Strawberry Days. “It is on for June 20,” Wilde responded.

The BOCC moved on to consider a resolution to invite Interior Secretary Doug Burgham to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Joint Organizations Leading Transition (JOLT) Energy Summit in Grand Junction. This year’s event is in Rifle in late June.

JOLT is the brainchild of former Craig mayor and Moffat County commissioner Ray Beck. In a 2023 interview on the Fire2Fission podcast, Beck said that a group of county and state elected officials began meeting to discuss northwest Colorado energy issues. They came up with the name JOLT after Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s January 2020 announcement to close coal fired power plants in Colorado and New Mexico. “It

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YouthEntity’s culinary team, with students from Glenwood Springs and Roaring Fork High School, earned fifth place at a national competition after emerging victorious at the 2025 Colorado ProStart Student Invitational State Championship in Denver. The National ProStart Invitational had the nation’s top high school culinary students prepare a three-course meal in just 60 minutes, all without the use of running water or electricity. Photo by Draper White

was a jolt to this community,” said Beck.

On Monday, Jankovsky questioned why a resolution and not a letter. “We go to the JOLT conference but we’re not on the committee that makes selections on who’s to speak,” he said. “I’m wondering where this came from.”

Commissioner Mike Samson responded by listing supporters from the Western Slope, including several counties and commissioners as well as the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC). He wants the national spotlight on Western Colorado’s energy resources.

“We are a treasure trove of energy potential,” he exclaimed before berating the Polis

administration. “We have a state legislature and a governor that has done everything it can to hurt us and endanger us in the development of energy here in Western Colorado,” he said.

Jankovsky suggested that the AGNC or the JOLT committee coordinate sending all the resolutions along with a cover letter to Secretary Burgham. The BOCC unanimously approved the resolution.

Other items on Monday’s agenda included nonprofit grant requests from the Glenwood Springs Historical Society, Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra, Bookcliffs Council on the Arts and Humanities, the continued on page 22

The Rhythm of Reflection An Intergenerational Collaboration between Sage Storytellers and Youth Performers

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H a b r á i n t e r p r e tac i ó n e n v i v o d e l i n g l é s a l e s pa ñ o l p o r pa r t e d e C o n v e y L a n g u ag e S o l u t i o n s .

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 17

LETTERS heat-trapping exhaust gases from burning and leaking fossil fuels act like triple glazing, and that this trapped heat is building up, verified by measurements and observations over 150 years. Further, while changes in parts per million seem tiny, the atmosphere’s temperature is in a delicate balance; it’s like a trailer, where shifting the load a little moves the hitch a lot.

And to deal with it, we now have great substitutes for combustion. My favorite Earth Day was in 1979 at Rocky Flats, where Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne sang for wind and solar power and against nuclear reactors (and bombs)! It’s taken too long, but last year wind turbines and solar panels worth $770 billion were installed worldwide. Nuclear reactors, about $60 billion. Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation probably peaked last year. China’s coal use went down 5% in Q1 2025.

This weekend, the incumbent Labor Party swept the Australian elections with a platform of “building.” In particular, they called clearly for an acceleration of building solar and wind.

These are now displacing 40% of fossil generation there, and being added at 4% per year, aiming for 8% per year to get to 80%+ renewables by 2030. Lots of batteries and heat pumps involved too. The other “coalition” called for a lengthy, expensive shift to nuclear power and was trounced.

Here, the Democrats and Kamala Harris waffled about “clean” energy and “I guess we can’t stop fracking.” This timid, bland “triangulation” didn’t get them elected.

Fred Porter Carbondale

from page 2

Better angels While celebrating First Friday at Carbondale Beer Works, I witnessed an extraordinary act of compassion. Amid all the revelry, I noticed a young guy lying on one of the benches, unable to get up.

I sat down to connect with him to ascertain his condition and help him sit up.

Based on my experience, knowing someone with a fentanyl addiction, I believe this is what he was on.

Within three minutes or so, a member of the contracted security team showed up to take over the situation. Soon after, the rest of the team showed and began, in a very gentle way, to help. A few minutes later, two officers showed up. The officer first said, “You’re not in trouble, and we’re not here to arrest you.” Together, they were able to get him to a bench out front. Then two EMTs showed up. During the next 20-ish minutes, they patiently negotiated with him until an agreement was reached. I was close to tears as I witnessed the caring and compassionate way all of them worked together to help this unfortunate individual. THIS is Carbondale.

I feel so fortunate to live in this amazing community. On a side note, as this was happening, the lyrics to Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” were running through my head.

John Field Carbondale

Exxon-Mobil knew Went to Thunder River Theatre’s production of the play “These Shining Lives” Sunday afternoon. It’s the mostly true story of four women in the 1920s and ‘30s who worked for a company that made

18 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

radium clock dials that glowed in the dark.

The women were sickened by the radium causing extreme health effects and even death. The company knew of the adverse ramifications of radium exposure and didn’t tell the employees.

After the show, I asked actor and known climate activist Sonya Meyer if she saw a correlation between the Radium Dial Company’s actions and Exxon-Mobil’s in regard to the climate.

In 1977, Exxon-Mobil scientists went to the board of directors and informed them of the deleterious consequences of fossil fuel use on the planet. The board decided to keep it a secret. When word got out a decade later, the industry instituted a disinformation campaign to discredit the science.

Meyer agreed the circumstances were comparable and added, “You gotta remember, the events of this play happened a hundred years ago and here we are in 2025 and it’s still going on.”

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

Holy Cross election My name is Robert H. Gardner. I am running for re-election to the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors representing the Southern District in the upcoming election.

I have been a board member since 2012. I live in Basalt and have been a lifelong resident of this region.

Thanks to the leadership of the Board of Directors and Holy Cross staff, Holy Cross Energy’s residential electric rates are in the lowest third of all Colorado utilities. During 2024, Holy Cross provided 61,500 homes

and businesses in our area with 75% of their power supply from clean, renewable resources. During the first quarter of 2025, Holy Cross provided 80% clean power on the way to 100% in 2030.

You might ask how Holy Cross can keep its electric rates so affordable while providing 75% clean, renewable power supply. In large part, it is due to long-term power supply contracts negotiated prior to 2020 that are less expensive than carbonbased power. Those contracts also make carbon-based power and capacity available when needed. An important part of our clean power supply is the nearly 3,000 net metered consumers with roof-top solar.

Holy Cross’s current residential electric rates have increased only 12.5% since 2019 while the Consumer Price Index increased 25% during the same period. Holy Cross is less expensive than the surrounding electric utilities of Glenwood Springs (+5%), Xcel (+22%), and Aspen (+28%).

Ballots for this election were mailed to members on May 7. You may vote by paper ballot or online on or before June 3.

For more information, please see www.holycross.com/elections or www. gardnerbradford.com Robert H. Gardner Basalt

First 100 days A New York Times/Siena College poll from April 21-24 asked people the word they would use to describe Trump’s second presidency so far. The most mentioned term by two-thirds (66%) of voters was continued on page 22

Public lands are a national treasure and must not be sold Public lands are one of our country’s great equalizers. It doesn’t matter how much money you have — a billionaire and a bus driver both get the same access to our parks, deserts, rivers and forests. Each one of us owns these lands together. They are literally America’s common ground.

Like so many Americans, I’ve built a life around public lands — exploring them, defending them and working to ensure they remain open to all. From my early days in Montana to leading the Bureau of Land Management and now as president of The Wilderness Society, I’ve seen what these places mean to people. And I’ve never seen a threat to them as serious and shocking as the one we face right now.

For weeks, there have been indications that the Republican-controlled Congress was going to sell off chunks of this priceless shared heritage to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. Not too long ago, that would have been an unthinkable idea. Surely, Congress or the administration wouldn’t sacrifice prime wildlife habitat, access to favorite places, lands along a quiet stream or a wildlife refuge, right? Surely, they wouldn’t auction this extraordinary legacy of clean air, clean water and open spaces as a one-time favor to donors and corporations?

But earlier this month, the Senate proved just how WRITERS ON serious they were about it. Democrats offered an THE RANGE amendment that would block selling off our public

By Tracy Stone-Manning lands in the budget bill. The vote failed along party lines, with just two Republicans voting to oppose a sell-off. Those two Montana senators who supported the amendment completely understood how their constituents feel about public lands.

But it’s not only Montanans who care. Public lands are figurative common ground, uniting people across the country. Poll after poll shows that people of all stripes support public lands and want them conserved to protect wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation areas for future generations.

While it is a nice proof-point to have, we don’t need polling data to tell us what people’s photo libraries, social media feeds, old family albums and bucket lists show us. Americans care deeply about public lands, intuitively understanding they are a national treasure.

These lands hold the long arc of the story of humankind, etched in petroglyphs on desert walls and handed down in the creation stories of Indigenous peoples that have stewarded them since time immemorial. Public lands are our shorthand for freedom and exhilaration. In car ads, they promise an escape from the ordinary. In books about finding ourselves, they are a proving ground for the soul. In our anthems, they bind us as one nation: “This land is your land; this land is my land.”

My nephew caught his first trout on a fly rod while standing on public land along a clear, cold mountain stream. Over 25 years later, he still remembers everything about that moment. I expect he’ll bring his kids there one day. His is a common story.

Last summer, I happened upon a young couple on a large rock outcrop overlooking a wilderness in Oregon. They had driven all the way from the Midwest to take in the view.

I offered to snap a photo for them and then found myself documenting a remarkable moment as he dropped to one knee, pulled out a ring, and wove the magnificent scenery into the intimacy of his proposal. People make lifetime memories on our public lands.

From that rim on Steens Mountain to that bank along Rock Creek, to Yellowstone and Yosemite, to the desert Southwest and the wilds of Alaska, to national forests in every state — these lands are our heritage, our common ground and a key part of our American identity and story.

Public lands must never be for sale — at any price.

It’s not too late. Congress still has mountains of details to sort through to finalize the president’s budget and tax cut agenda. It’s up to them to stop the selloff of our national heritage, and it’s up to all of us to remind them that they must. When public lands are sold off for profit, we lose the places that define our country and unite us as Americans.

OPINION

Tracy Stone-Manning is a contributor to Writers on the Range, www.writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is president of The Wilderness Society and a former director of the BLM. She lives in Montana and Washington, D.C.

Memorial Announcement

There will be a celebration of life for John Seidel, a long-time resident of Carbondale who resided lately in California, on Sunday, May 18, at the RVR Thompson Barn at 2pm. There will be food and beverages. Come and remember John, it will be fun, just as he would want it.

We are delighted to offer you, our community, the opportunity to take advantage of low-cost blood tests.

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THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 19

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

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

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

Folklorico inspires community through dance

BY JACQUELINE FLORES ALVAREZ Roaring Fork High School

As part of her Capstone project, Roaring Fork graduating senior Jacqueline Flores Alvarez shared this column reflecting on her time with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklorico program from the time she was in kindergarten.

The skirts flow with our movements, our shoes rhythmically stomp the floor and our steps coordinate beautifully with the music. There is grace and beauty in the way we all work together to present the dance. Most of us have known each other since kindergarten, when we all started dancing together. We have laughed, cried and traveled together. We have all become family — una familia de bailarines folklóricos.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico is an after school and summer program for students in grades K-12. It teaches students the culture, history and technique of traditional Mexican folk dances.

This program holds yearly performances where all ages and skills are represented. Additionally, the advanced dancers give performances throughout the entire year including special shows for the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo and “The Nutcracker.”

I have been part of Folklorico since I was 5 years old. I am now 18 and about to graduate high school. It has been a huge part of my life, as I know it has also been for so many other students. Young people get many opportunities in this program, such as traveling and making new connections that will last a lifetime.

During my time in the program, I have seen so many friendships form. We hang out outside of the program, go to school together and get to share in one another’s most grand moments outside of dance — like being included in each other’s quinceañeras and graduations. We learn from each other and help each other fix our mistakes.

Being part of this group has taught me a lot, such as discipline, time management and so much more. Our teacher, Paco

Jacqueline Flores Alvarez (left) with fellow seniors Juan Lemus and Vanessa Mercado after the annual Folklorico performance at this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Rifle Fairgrounds. Courtesy photo

Nevarez-Burgueño, shows us that it is important to have discipline to develop proper technique, have a sense of responsibility within the group and be able to improve our performances. We start learning discipline from the moment we start the program. This becomes very helpful not just for our dancing, but in our personal lives, too.

When I dance, it feels like nothing else matters. I forget about everything else that goes on in the world. When I dance, I feel like I’m floating. I feel like I am in a safe space. During all of my years of dance, it has given me such a huge boost of confidence. When I

first started dancing, I was a very introverted kid — scared to talk to people, make new friends and ask for help when I wasn’t able to nail down a step or part of a dance.

But with time I gained experience and confidence. Every presentation and dance I was in made me more and more confident.

Dance has helped me become more comfortable in my body. It has helped me express myself in new ways through rhythm and movement. Through this, I have gained a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance that has helped me so much outside the world of dance as well.

While working on my Capstone project for school, I got the chance to interview former Folklorico students about what their time and experience was like in the program.

I noticed while interviewing the former students that there were some things we certainly had in common. Here are a couple of excerpts from those interviews that stuck with me.

“Feeling that energy of us doing this form of dance in this little town [when] there’s so many other people that are practicing the same dance that we are,” is amazing, said Margarita Alvarez. “That dance has a whole history.”

“The part that stuck with me the most was just how welcoming the whole community was and how it does just feel like a family,” said Solana Teitler. “Paco brings everybody together.”

Being part of a group or doing something you are passionate about can really shape who you are as a person over the years. I did not notice how much of an impact Folklorico had on me until I started writing this down. This group has helped me through so much, has brought me out of my shell and helped me learn so much more about my Mexican heritage. The beauty of being part of this group is not only the dancing or learning about my culture, it’s the bonds and friendships. I am beyond grateful to be part of this group. I know I will always have these special people by my side.

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

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

20 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

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

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

‘Big Money’

By Lee Mulcahy

In Vail and Aspen’s grip a duopoly reigns,

On public lands, a gift to all,

Where wealth’s tight fist binds up the plains.

Their bans and bars cast shadows tall.

A season pass in Japan at Niseko’s Moiwa, so grand,

Dan lost his job, yet sings his truth,

Costs one day’s fee at Vail on our leased land.

Billionaires rule Aspen’s snowy domain, Silencing songs that dare complain.

Dan Sheridan’s tune, “Big Money ruins everything,” Banned from the hills where freedom should ring.

While Vail’s Chicken Man faced harsher truth.

Fired, not banned, Dan’s voice holds strong, But wealth’s control drowns out the song.

From Moiwa’s slopes to America’s core, The people’s gift deserves much more.

ASPEN VALLEY PRIMARY CARE ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL

Carbondale illustrator Larry Day took in the sights of Portugal and offered to share this sketch of the charming, medieval town of Obidos.

Pleasant travels, Larry!

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FOSTER HOMES

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Pitkin can County Children become displaced fromHuman their current homes for Services: many reasons, at any time.

Learn how you can become a Foster Home now, so you can help a child who may need you later.Community SCAN HERE: Resources: CO4Kids.org

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THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 21

LETTERS

from page 18

“chaotic.” Next most, by 59%, was “scary.”

And, corresponding to his approval rating at the time, 42% said “exciting.”

Had I been asked, my word would have been “horrifying.” After waking to the unfathomable reality of Trump’s return on Nov. 6, I still never imagined the damage he would inflict in just 100 days in office. Yet here we are living under unrelenting and ever-expanding tyranny.

I find myself asking, what must I do to combat this undoing of all that’s right and good in our country? Like many millions, I’ve taken to the streets to protest and sent dozens of messages to the cowed Republicans in Congress. But is it enough?

What’s heartening is we’re starting to see courageous acts of push back. We’re witnessing more instances where individuals have decided it’s time to draw the line.

For example: Harvard president Alan Garber rejected the Trump administration’s demands that would have limited the university’s independence — incredible directives about overseeing its hiring, admissions and “viewpoint diversity.”

It meant forfeiting $2.3 billion in federal funds. But his courage emboldened more than 150 (to date) college and university presidents to follow his lead and denounce the government’s demands.

Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested for helping a defendant in her courtroom leave through the jury door after learning ICE agents were in the building

to arrest him. (The man was caught after a chase outside.) Dugan was incensed that ICE was intent on interrupting court proceedings to roundup the undocumented immigrant. Dugan could serve up to six years in prison for standing up for a fair and rightful judicial process.

And, in March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was called to testify to a Congressional committee about Denver’s sanctuary city status. Defending how the city humanely handled an influx of 42,000 people, he stated that Congress is the body that can solve the immigrant problem — rightly putting the ball back in their court.

Even though the City hasn’t violated any law, some committee members said criminal charges need to be brought against Johnston. The Trump administration has now rescinded $40 million in the City’s federal grants.

It’s worth wondering if we’ll have any rights left if we don’t start to fight for them.

Kiki Sayre Basalt

GARCO REPORT from page 17

request for $9,900 for the organization.

Will joked that baked goods for the BOCC from the culinary team should be a condition of the grant.

Colorado Mountain College Foundation and the Glenwood Springs Chamber Foundation. The BOCC will make decisions about those requests on May 12.

YouthEntity director Kris Freeman presented the successes of the organization over the past six months, highlighting the youth culinary team’s first place win at the state youth culinary competition in Denver and fifth place win at the national competition. The BOCC granted her

LETTERS POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.

Summertime fun The BOCC approved a special events permit for the weekly Carbondale Wild West Rodeo from June 5 through Aug. 21 at the Gus Darien Arena; pig pens were ordered for this year’s county fair; and approval was granted to enter into the final contracts for the fair’s main concerts.

A woman stands at the south side of Carbondale’s roundabout during a May Day protest that drew about 30 people, joining hundreds of thousands of people around the world protesting President Trump’s agenda.

Photo by Amy Hadden Marsh

22 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025

PARTING SHOTS

Happy Mother’s Day to our hairy, four-legged friends

A human mother’s love and inherent nature to nourish her young begins at birth.

Our four-legged moms are no different. There’s an instant bond between mother and child, and as soon as the baby locates its food source, the suckling begins.

The greatest difference between the humans and quadrupeds is that the latter have hairy bodies, and caprine and ovine moms usually give birth to twins or triplets.

The Homo sapiens lucked out!

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY JANE BACHRACH Animal Writes

HELP WANTED

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT NOTICE is hereby given that on May 13th, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., final settlement will be made with EXCAVATION SERVICES INC., 226 N. 12th Street., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623 by the TOWN OF CARBONDALE, 511 Colorado Ave., Carbondale, Colorado, on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as TOWN OF CARBONDALE WWTF DIGESTER BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS and that any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against EXCAVATION SERVICES, INC., or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business the last work day prior

to final settlement, that is, by May 13th, 2025, file a verified statement of the amount due with the TOWN OF CARBONDALE (Attn. Kevin Schorzman kschorzman@ carbondaleco.net) pursuant to Section 3826-107, C.R.S., as amended.

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

PUBLISHED BY THE ORDER OF TOWN OF CARBONDALE.

Carbondale Bike Project seeks an experienced bicycle mechanic 20 hours per week May 13 - Aug 31.

Retail sales experience is a plus. $25 - $29 /hr., commensurate with experience.

Please email your resume to carbondalebikeproject@gmail.com

Published in The Sopris Sun on May 8, 2025

THE SOPRIS SUN | Your weekly community connector | May 8-14, 2025 23

-The 54th Annual Mountain FairPhoto Credit: caitofosterphotography.com Photo: David Vasquez

Photo: David Vasquez

Photo: Sydney Yllanes

reserve your 2025 program ad SPace now!

2025 Mountain Fair program Advertising Rates Size FULL PAGE PREMIUM SPACE (6.75” x 9.34”) FULL PAGE (6.75” x 9.34”) HALF PAGE (6.75” x 4.5”) 1/4 PAGE (3.3” x 4.5”) 1/8 PAGE (3.3 x 2.2”)

Rack Rate $2,000 $1,200 $800 $500 $300

Non Profit Rate $1,500 $1,000 $600 $400 $250

AD Reservation Deadline Friday, June 27 by noon.

Reserve by June 16 and get a 10% early bird discount.

Content Deadline Camera Ready Deadline is July 3.

In Association Partnership with:

Camera Ready Ads need to be PDF ONLY at 300DPI, CMYK US Web Coated (SWOP) V2, exported to standard PDF/X-1a:2001] with no marks, and no bleeds. Design services available.

Program Distribution • Inserted into The Sopris Sun • Given directly to Mountian Fair Guests • Available online at www.soprissun.com Photo: Will Sardinsky

CONTACT: Todd Chamberlin I adsales@soprissun.com I 970-510-0246 24 THE SOPRIS SUN | soprissun.com | May 8-14, 2025