Wilderness Workshop hosted Tracy StoneManning, the president of The Wilderness Society and former director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), alongside Nada Wolff Culver, the former principal deputy director of BLM, for a “fireside” chat regarding the fate of public lands amid increasing pressure to strip away protections. It was a well-attended event, held in the Community Hall of the Third Street Center, demonstrating the concern residents have for what the recent federal trends could mean locally.
Photos by Stephen Ross
President of the Wilderness Society and former director of BLM, Tracy Stone-Manning, was the guest of honor.
Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober was present.
A bountiful smorgasbord was enjoyed by all and, perhaps, symbolized the region’s like public lands.
Stone-Manning (left) in conversation with Nada Wolff Culver, the former principal deputy director of BLM.
The not-so-great Crystal River dry-up
The United States Drought Monitor classifies the Crystal Valley in a state of exceptional drought. Even though River Valley Ranch is within this exceptional drought zone, diners on the deck of the Homestead Restaurant can enjoy the magnificent, luscious green view to the south. They will not see the slightest hint of drought and could easily imagine themselves in Scotland, with a distant mirage of Mt. Sopris.
OPINION
But this comforting illusion would be shattered if the diners could see the stretch of the Crystal River, a few miles away, just upstream from the fish hatchery. The poor Crystal River has been reduced to a paltry trickle, between small pools of very warm water. In the 1970s, the Water Court in Glenwood Springs determined and decreed that the minimum instream flow to protect the health of this stretch of the Crystal River was 100 cubic feet per second (cfs). That flow today appears less than 1 cfs, leaving most of the bed of the river bone dry.
through the winter, and support year-round ranches. Without ditches, the Crystal Valley would be good for summer grazing only. Diversions support more wildlife and return flows in the winter. Diversions support the River Valley Ranch golf course and Carbondale’s trees and lawns and gardens and parks. Most of us enjoy the sight of irrigated hayfields. Is there a way for these benefits to continue, without drying up stretches of the Crystal River?
CVEPA VIEWS
By Bill Jochems
At last week’s meeting of the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) board, we decided to express our grave concern for the river, and our hopes that something can be done about it. That job fell to me, knowing I must make some generalizations and simplifications that limited column space in this newspaper requires.
Obviously less snow and rain and increasingly hot temperatures are a principal cause of the Crystal dry-up, but is “drought” really the correct description? Drought sounds like a temporary situation, something we will get over. Yet scientists see no end in sight. The opinion of many scientists is that our climate will worsen throughout the lives of everybody alive today. Seems better to say: “This is our climate. Get used to it.” If we can’t do anything about the weather, can something be done about the diversions — about how much water is being taken out of the Crystal River? Waters diverted from the Crystal River have hugely benefited our valley. Diversions (ditches) allow enough hay to be grown to feed the cattle herds
Aspen Journalism has investigated and reported on diversions of water from the Crystal River by the eight major irrigation ditches. These articles, in March 2024, were titled “Why the Crystal River runs dry” and “Crystal River mapping project.” The major ditches are rated according to their efficiencies. The most efficient was the Sweet Jessup Canal, rated at 30%. In other words, for every 100 gallons this ditch, the largest on the Crystal, diverts from the River, 30 gallons are beneficially used in the hayfields. The least efficient, according to Aspen Journalism, was the Carbondale Ditch, at less than 1%. For every 100 gallons this ditch diverts, less than 1 gallon irrigates the lawns, trees and parks of Carbondale. At some point, does inefficiency become waste?
There is no mystery to these figures. Ditches dug through rocky soils leak like sieves. The Sweet Jessup is the most efficient because miles of it are in pipes and lined ditches. Not all ditch owners are as willing, or able, to make these improvements. Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Fund has helped improve some ditches, perhaps Carbondale can do the same for its ditches. The owners themselves can improve their ditches. Times have changed, and some of the old ways of irrigating must change as well.
Everybody wants and needs the Crystal River to keep flowing. The diverters need it. The riparian areas need it. And the people of Colorado, the constitutionally declared owners of leftover water, need the river flowing, if only to fight off total despair. So, it is the hope of CVEPA that all possibilities — more miles of lined and piped ditches, automatically adjustable headgates, improved efficiency, reduction of waste, voluntary reductions — are considered; that everyone works together to keep the Crystal River flowing.
Finally, our water laws are from the 19th century and our infrastructure from the 20th century. Maybe now, in the 21st century, with way less water and way more people dependent, everything should be reconsidered.
My effort here is to express the concerns and hopes of CVEPA. I am also on the board of the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Fund, but this is not intended to be that entity’s statement.
CVEPA Views is a regular column from the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA). To learn more, visit www.cvepa.org or visit its Facebook page.
LETTERS
CORRECTIONS: Watch Duty has a staff of 20, plus 280 volunteers across the globe. The 25th Amendment provides the power to discharge the president when they are sick or incapacitated.
Disability plates
Next time you buy a new car or annually renew your existing plates, please consider the new black specialty plate, which supports people with disabilities by raising $12 million a year. Colorado offers retro black license plates with white lettering (a throwback to Colorado’s 1945 license plate design) as a specialty plate option. The $25 annual fee is specifically dedicated to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee, which provides grants that support programs for people with disabilities.
Half of the $12 million raised goes to help people with disabilities access the full range of benefits they may be eligible for — like Medicaid, Social Security and supplemental security income. The other half goes to innovation grants to improve people’s quality of life via the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office. Thank you! Sara Sims Glenwood Springs
Library board
The Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) seem to forget that the Garfield County Public Library District is an independent subdivision of the state, established by the voters and more than capable of managing its own business. In 2023, the BOCC deliberately chose to ignore a 16-year tradition of confidence in the library trustees, when it upended the trustee selection process. Instead of trusting the library to interview, nominate and recommend new trustees, the BOCC attacked the actions of the trustees and library employees, accused them of pejorative “group think,” without defining the term, and reproved them for not adequately protecting the county’s children.
A clear-eyed review of the actions of the library trustees and employees reveals exemplary dedication to the welfare of the county’s children, and residents, and complete adherence to the rule of law. Compliance with law and Constitutional tradition is not “group think.” Rather, it is what is expected of all American citizens and is to be commended.
The clear intent of the BOCC was to influence the library to enact policies prompted by claims about various books. Consequently, the county replaced four of the seven trustees within 12 months. What was the result?
The new library board chose not to ban books, move them to locked locations, fire the director or create a new restricted library card for children. In other words, having conducted due diligence, the library trustees, including BOCC appointees, concluded that the library followed the law, adopted appropriate policies for its mission, is properly administered and that parenting is the right of parents, not continued on page 22
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Potato Day parade
The 116th Annual Potato Days is just around the corner, Oct. 3 to 5. One of its most beloved traditions is the parade, to be held on Oct. 4 this year at 10:30am. Parade floats must register in advance. The fee is $40 for commercial floats, but is free for nonprofits and youth organizations. Find the parade application at www.tinyurl.com/ PotatoParade or contact tkallassy@gcpld.org for more information.
Carbondale grants
Local nonprofits can now apply for 2026 Town of Carbondale grants. The town allocates 1% of projected revenues to support nonprofit organizations through grants of up to $7,000. The onlineonly application process is now open until 5pm on Oct. 13 on the Community Grants Request page of the town’s website. Visit www.tinyurl.com/CarbondaleGrants for more information.
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GarCo Sheriff contender
It looks like longtime Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario will have at least one opponent in 2026. Former Garfield County Sheriff officer Brent Baker has thrown his hat in the ring. Baker, a Republican, is a Garfield County native with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and 23 years in law enforcement. More information regarding his candidacy is available at www.baker4sheriff.com
From wolves to health insurance
Colorado lawmakers passed an amended version of Senate Bill 5 this week during the general assembly’s special session. The bill prohibits Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) from using allocated money from the state’s general fund to bring new wolves into Colorado during fiscal year 2025-26. Instead, that money — close to $265,000 — will go to reducing health insurance costs. The original bill sought to pause wolf reintroduction next year but was amended to allow CPW to find funding elsewhere. The goal is to prohibit the use of taxpayer money for bringing in new wolves. According to the amended bill, “Colorado should spend money originally allocated for the procurement, capture, transport and release of new wolves on matters more immediately impactful and beneficial to Colorado families…” CPW, however, can still use allocated taxpayer funds to pay for wolf predation claims and livestock-wolf conflict prevention. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.
Derby Fire update
Monsoonal rains have helped and hindered efforts to knock down the Derby Fire north of Dotsero. The blaze has burned 5,723 acres as of Wednesday, Aug. 27. There was 4% containment and 864 personnel were on-scene. Weather prohibited pilots from the Monday night infrared mapping flight, according to a Rocky Mountain Team 3 operations update Tuesday morning. But officials are confident that there has been little change in the size of the fire. A helicopter pilot involved in a crash on Friday while working the fire escaped the incident with minor cuts and bruises. The U.S. Forest Service reduced White River National Forest closures on Tuesday to the area northeast of Sweetwater Lake continuing along the Derby Mesa Rim. The latest information on the the fire is available at www.tinyurl.com/DerbyFire
Hick on ICE
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper toured the GEO Group, Inc. ICE facility in Aurora last week, raising concerns about facility conditions, communication delays, reports that ICE is pressuring detainees to self-deport, moving detainees without notice and other irregular changes in procedure. According to a press release, Hickenlooper
Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) supporters, from Crystal City to Satank, met at the Raspberry Cafe in Marble Sunday afternoon to recognize 53 years of environmental defense. Topics ranged from the proposed Crystal Ski Resort and a 190-foot communications tower on McClure Pass to the management of off-road vehicles in Lead King Basin. The event’s keynote speaker, Garfield County Commissioner Perry Will, spoke to the importance of defending public lands, securing the Shoshone water rights, defending the Thompson Divide and his opposition to Uinta Basin oil trains rolling through Glenwood Canyon. Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober (right) also spoke and everyone engaged in a lively Q&A. Photo and text courtesy of John Armstrong, CVEPA
introduced legislation this month to increase transparency by prohibiting face coverings and requiring identification for immigration enforcement officers. He was told by officials at the Aurora ICE facility that questions must be submitted via email. “That is not good enough,” Hickenlooper said.
Wolf Creek pipeline
Rocky Mountain Natural Gas, LLC wants to replace three miles of aging three-inch natural gas pipeline in the Wolf Creek Storage Field in Pitkin County with a new 10-inch pipeline. And the public has until Sept. 15 to weigh in. The pipeline proposes to increase transmission capacity and meet current regulations and requirements. Temporary land disturbance would total about 17 acres along a previously disturbed right-of-way. Construction would occur from June through Oct. The Wolf Creek Storage Field is in Pitkin County. For more information and to comment, visit www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/68621
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: JoEllen Maynard and Phil Maynard (Aug. 28); Reina Katzenberger and Tyler Treadway (Aug. 29); Christina Cappelli, Lauren DeAre, Caito Foster, Elizabeth Henry, Lynn Kirchner, Emma Martin and Barbara New (Aug. 30); Sean Jeung and Chloe Shirley (Aug. 31); Veronica Smith and Ella Yeats (Sept. 1); Lori Haroutunian and Dean Perkins (Sept. 2); Samuel Bernal, Kim Kelly, Pat Pier, Ken Pletcher, Jeannine Ravenscraft and Kathy Webb (Sept. 3).
Counting the bees A glimpse into a Colorado bee survey
HECTOR SALAS GALLEGOS
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Aug. 14 was a beautiful sunny day near Independence Pass, where Jake Gottschalk spent his day on the mountainsides off of Highway 82 counting local bees.
No, he’s not a census taker. Gottschalk is a western invertebrate and rare plant biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and his work that day included collecting data on the local bee population.
A bee survey is the process of recording data to track what types of bees live in an area, how abundant they are and how those numbers change over time. While CPW is new to working with pollinators, their partner, Bumblebee Atlas, a Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation project funded by the Bureau of Land Management and CPW, has been conducting statewide surveys for several years thanks to the help of enthusiastic volunteers across the country — including some in the Roaring Fork Valley.
and makes the catch.
“For those out there that haven’t caught a bug in a net in a while, you have to swing and then flick the end of the net over the top to trap the bug,” he explained.
Once captured, the bee is gently placed in a small jar and set on ice to slow its movement. When it slows enough, Gottschalk takes it out and photographs it. He takes note of its species, role in the hive and what plant it was caught on. When he has all the information he needs, Gottschalk sets the bee back on a flower to warm up until it buzzes away.
“With surveys, we can understand what species are around, what their needs are and can manage for the benefit of our pollinators,” said Gottschalk.
The biggest thing that folks can do to help pollinators is plant flowers in their yards.
- Jake Gottschalk, Colorado Parks & Wildlife
And it isn’t as simple as watching bees from a distance. To properly conduct a survey, Gottschalk has to catch the bees.
“We survey the same way that kids looking for bugs survey – a net!” he told The Sopris Sun.
Gottschalk starts by travelling to pre-identified areas, like Independence Pass, and scouting for a field measuring roughly 100 square meters, and preferably peppered with wildflowers.
Once he’s got his spot, Gottschalk grabs his supplies and begins his search. With a net in hand, he sweeps the field and comes across all sorts of little critters. When he finally spots a bumblebee, he approaches carefully and, in one quick motion, he swings the net
What brings him to places like Independence Pass is the scientific community’s curiosity about how pollinators are doing, specifically on public lands. State and federal agencies need baseline data on local pollinators and insight into what they might be lacking. Surveys provide a reliable way to gather that information.
So what is the data saying about Colorado’s bees?
“The state of the bees is not amazing,” Gottschalk admitted. “There’s evidence of declines across the state for many of our native bee species, mostly due to land development and the use of pesticides. Land development destroys habitat for nesting and floral resources, and pesticides, oftentimes, injure or extirpate bees.”
Pollinators in urban areas have problems finding their usual floral sources. If bumblebee colonies had more access to flowers, they’ll likely grow in population and ultimately have a higher chance of survival. He offers simple advice for anyone wanting to help pollinators.
“The biggest thing that folks can do to help pollinators is plant flowers in their yards.”
Gottschalk recommends planting native Colorado flowers whenever possible and choosing species with different blooming times, so the spring, summer and fall have nectar sources available.
“The other huge thing folks can do is leave wood piles or leaf litter out in their yards instead of bagging it up and throwing it away,” he continued. “Both of those … can help overwintering bees make it to the next season.”
Asked if he’d ever been stung, Gottschalk said he has never been stung by a bumblebee while surveying, though he couldn’t say the same for wasps.
“It’s a small price to pay for getting more information about these important critters,” he concluded.
Photo courtesy of Jake Gottschalk, Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Artist collaboration and a sprinkle of AI at heart of 54th Mountain Fair stage
MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent
This past Mountain Fair saw good weather, food, drinks and a stage that hosted a myriad of acts who captivated the attention of fair-goers. The stage included a dancing skeleton, resembling La Calavera Catrina, entirely on par with the theme of “Bailamos” or “Let’s Dance.” The design of the mainstage was the result of a collaboration between Loren Wilder, Wylie Fox, Brett Haynes and Corey Summers. With their combined talents and vision, they ignited the fair space.
Wilder said she was left with an excess of materials from the year before — she has designed the Mountain Fair stage several times — which helped shape her vision.
“What I like to do as a designer, for Mountain Fair in particular, is look around and see what I have in my cache of stuff. The year before this year, I had come into a whole bunch of fabrics that were aqua blues, yellows, oranges, greens and pinks,” she shared. “So I decided on going with a giant folkloricotype skirt idea for the stage.”
Wilder tends to go all out with
her event aesthetics. With this project, she stuck with motifs that fall in line with what one would see during a Día de los Muertos celebration. When presenting this idea to Summers, he wrangled the help of Haynes, who spent time illustrating the designs for Summers to use as a reference when he’d later cut the shapes with a CNC (computer numerical control) machine.
Leading up to the fair, “What always happens is Loren comes to me with a crazy idea and then I usually draw something up. This year, I was just busy with work, so I was unavailable to draw it up,” Summers said. “I’ve known Brett for a long time and I’ve always had the idea of, ‘Man, it’d be cool if Brett drew a design.’”
Haynes said it was rewarding being a part of the team and getting more involved with Mountain Fair. Haynes is known for his work as a tattoo artist at Bonedale Tattoo and as a DJ and producer — under the name Dank Cilantro.
“I’m a big fan of the fair and over the past years I’ve been involved in some sort of way, whether it was doing the music as a DJ or
volunteering,” said Haynes. “I also helped put the backstage together one year. It was so cool to go and see everyone’s work combined at nighttime and during the day.”
“Through tattooing, I have done quite a few skulls. With the ones we designed, I basically created them as I would a mandala, so they’re all kind of symmetrical and drawn from the middle out,” he explained. “It was definitely inspired by Latino culture and tattoo mandala artwork.”
In addition to the human labor that went into this project, there was a small usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help create the nighttime animations the audience went crazy for.
“I have to give a lot of credit to AI. For better or for worse, we’re basically now just techno-shaman, challenging the collective artistry of humankind through the medium of AI image and video generation,” stated Fox.
Wilder clarified that AI played a role in executing the vision for the stage as opposed to the creative process that went behind it.
“If you were to create the animations that Corey and Wylie had created, they would take days and days and days to create,” said Wilder. “They had to map the stage to make sure the AI was being used and prompted properly.”
As far as a future collaboration, all parties involved said they’d like to work together again and encouraged that community members reach out to Carbondale Arts should they feel the desire to volunteer their own skills for the benefit of future Mountain Fairs.
Courtesy photo
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5 Point Film awards $20,000 to emerging BIPOC filmmakers
MYKI JONES
Arts Correspondent
On July 24, 5 Point Film announced that it had awarded its Wading for Change BIPOC Filmmakers Grant, totaling $20,000, between two select filmmaking teams, out of a pool of 70 applications nationwide. Raheim Robinson received $10,000 for his project, “Home,” which is in its pre-production stages. Shara Zaia and Max Haimowitz received the second half for “Sharp Edges.”
The filmmakers will utilize their respective grant funds for their projects, depending on the needs of each story.
In discussions with Charlie Turnbull, 5 Point’s director of programming, both films offer a refreshing and diverse look into outdoor adventuring. “Home” and “Sharp Edges,” according to Turnbull, offer new and refreshing takes into the sense of belonging, which folks can find when they venture outside their comfort zones.
“‘Home’ is definitely a lot more experimental for us than what we are used to. It’s got a somewhat narrative fictional side to it, so it’s a bit of a blended film in terms of genre,” explained Turnbull. “That’s not something we’ve traditionally done a lot of in the past, but that’s also a purpose of the grant: to encourage some different sort of takes on adventure storytelling.”
“Home” is described in a press release as a “quiet, moving portrait of fatherhood, imagination and resilience.” It tells the story of a transformative father-daughter camping trip and how his love for jazz music and the great outdoors helps build her a sense of wonder, redirecting her attention from the realities of life.
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themselves to belong,” she shared. “This is the most personal film I have ever worked on.”
This being the third year of the Wading for Change BIPOC Filmmakers Grant, which has been sponsored by New Belgium and Stio since its inception, Turnbull said the initiative to celebrate diversity in the world of film is crucial not only to 5 Point, but to the whole of adventure filmmaking.
“Sharp Edges” follows Zaia’s journey to self-discovery as she wrestles with her identity as a first-generation Assyrian-American born in Ohio. The documentary traces her struggle to reclaim her identity, having avoided her heritage due to experiencing post-9/11 racist violence, through the medium of rock climbing.
“A lot of the films we play are about how the outdoors is a source people go to for a sense of belonging and community, and also healing,” said Turnbull. “I think ‘Sharp Edges’ is definitely a story with those themes, but perhaps from a storyteller and perspective we haven’t really seen much of at 5 Point and in the adventure film industry at large. The themes are universal while the perspective of the storyteller is more unique.”
In a promotional video on the film’s Indiegogo campaign, Zaia described the project as a poetic expression about identity, mental health and belonging.
“‘Sharp Edges’ is for anyone who has ever existed in between. Hiding parts of
“The grant is a reflection of a big part of 5 Point, which is about supporting emerging filmmakers. We really look at where the filmmakers are in their careers and if our support is going to be really meaningful for them,” he explained. “Both films align with the 5 Point programming mission and showcase a more diverse experience of the outdoors.”
“I think things can be stale and boring when it’s the same old storytellers telling the same old story. So I think it benefits everyone. It makes our festival far richer and more interesting,” he concluded. “And unique experience helps us understand the world a little bit better.”
For more information on 5 Point, visit www.5pointfilm.org To follow “Sharp Edges,” visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/ sharp-edges-film#/ and for “Home,” visit rahrobinson.com/portfolio/home
(Above) Ava Olivia Barnett and David Hamilton portray a daughter and father, respectively, in “Home.” (Below) Shara Zaia, the co-creator and the subject of the film “Sharp Edges,” in her element. Courtesy photos
Freedom still lives
BY MELINA LAROZA Special to Sopris Sun
After a seven-year hiatus, the Regional Rainbow Gathering returned to Colorado, nestled in the Uncompahgre Forest looking up at formidable Lone Cone Mountain. Seventy-four or so misfits from across the U.S. camped in scattered tents, vehicles, a Food-Not-Bombs bus, with no fire, good spirits and plenty of weed.
My brief stay with the Rainbow family was a much-needed break from “Babylon,” as the Rainbows call society. I arrived a few days before the gathering’s end, late at night, to owls hooting in the distance and a shooting star blazing across the sky.
Refreshed by daylight, weary from life, I struggled to find the central gathering space. Bright, friendly faces invigorate the short journey from the parking lot.
I’m welcomed by a handsome, long-haired, twelvish-year-old kid with a bracelet he makes me on the spot and a tour. Scouted for the three creeks that frame the camps, we walked the forest paths around Cosmo’s dad’s stunning sacred geometry art and two kitchens. Headed by longtimers Domino, Raden and Silver Fox, “Luv’n Ovens” bakery and “Colorado Crud,” tucked in the back, went through 40lbs of mozzarella cheese in one day.
Domino, a nonmember (Rainbow is a nonorganization of nonmembers with no leader) of the established Rainbow Camp Montana Mud since 1993, talks about his experience,
“It’s been a good gathering after a seven-year break,” he said. “Everyone has been fed well, caffeinated and kept a safe, sober place for people to make good memories. That’s what Montana Mud is about. We kept a good, clean kitchen this year.”
Raden adds an allure of levity to the atmosphere, serving food and jokes in equal measure. He shares with me as I pull up an inviting camping chair, “We don’t ask for permission; we just go. We don’t get permits; we just go and do what we do … We all agreed there would be no fires.”
He sermons, “80% of people who show up to gatherings don’t do nothing. They show up, eat the food and they leave. I’m fine with it, because maybe people showed up and did nothing, but they were a great musician. I used to have a problem with it until someone explained it to me: it’s a numbers game. If one fraction helps out, it will keep growing. The whole purpose is to gather.”
Silver Fox, organizer of Luv’n Ovens tells me passionately, “It’s really important to create a safe space for everyone
CARBONDALE
— handicapped people included, alcoholics included. And if you put the intention for creating a safe space for the gentle, the peaceful, the simple-living folk, it creates a healthy space.”
A symbol of anarchist culture since it began, the Rainbow Family gets a bad rap. Every color of the spectrum is invited to join this forest nemophila that most think is just a party, but is rooted in peace and sovereignty. Every gathering hosts a call-for-peace prayer. Aug. 15 opened with a morning of silence that ended at noon in a joining of hands and singing “Ohm” three times — a sacred mantra in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. This happens every Fourth of July
at the national gatherings.
I observed the council, another central piece of Rainbow. Embodying an Indigenous method of deliberating issues, participants, mostly men, passed around a feather giving all a chance to speak until consensus was reached. Many people spoke with concern for causing fire and harming the earth and asked for a May or September window. This was countered with the desire to center the gathering around children and their ability to attend. I look up from my notes and catch Cosmo and his brother, the only kids present, hugging their dad right in the center of our circle.
Consensus was reached to have another Colorado regional
gathering next year, but when and where is still being discussed. The apocalypse was mentioned a lot as Rainbows expressed their gratitude for this safe place for people to go in uncertain times. More than one woman spoke to our power to manifest the reality we want, bringing grounded nourishment to the table.
On my way out, Jared from Georgia praised his first Rainbow. “We bring the New Jerusalem, Zion, the Holy Land wherever we set foot with the right collective mindset to create whatever we want,” he shared. “This place will weed you out. We follow the Golden Rule and work the kinks out. It’s the key environment.”
Photos by Melina Laroza
Zero Fare fall pilot poised to launch Oct. 1
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) Director of Finance Paul Hamilton and Budget Manager David Carle presented preliminary considerations for 2026 budget planning. Efforts in progress include drafting operating budgets for each RFTA department, considering future transit service costs and accounting for potential state and federal revenue impacts on RFTA finances. Hamilton and his finance colleagues will present the first draft of the 2026 budget at the Sept. 11 board meeting. They will then spend two months refining before presenting a second draft in November. The final 2026 budget will be brought to a vote at the December meeting. Board members expressed concerns around the uncertainties attached to Colorado and U.S. transit funding.
also raised. While there is public interest in increased service in the area, midday Hogback ridership is low and may not currently justify more frequent buses.
Following the budget presentation, David Johnson, director of sustainability and legislative affairs, shared updates about the upcoming Zero Fare pilot program. Initially proposed last winter, the initiative was officially announced at the beginning of this month and will be in effect from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30.
- CEO Kurt Ravenschlag
The board also discussed the yet-to-bedefined effects of the pending closure of the Aspen Airport for construction. While that was not officially on the agenda, it is a hurdle RFTA is considering.
The frequency of ridership on the
The pilot is part of RFTA’s efforts to advance regional climate goals, expand transit access and evaluate the system-wide impacts of zero-fare service.
The pilot includes the majority of service routes, including: VelociRFTA bus rapid transit (BRT), Roaring Fork Valley local routes and Hogback routes. Maroon Bells, which is a separate program in partnership with the Maroon BellsSnowmass Wilderness Area and White River National Forest, is not included in the pilot. Tickets from Highlands to Maroon Lake will remain at their usual prices of $16 per adult and $10 per child under 12 and for seniors. The Maroon Bells shuttle service runs until Oct. 19, when it closes a few weeks ahead of the general seasonal closure
of upper Maroon Creek Road.
CEO Kurt Ravenschlag expressed enthusiasm about the potential presented by the Zero Fare pilot.
“This is a great opportunity to make transit more accessible for everyone, while also advancing our sustainability goals,” Ravenschlag said. “By removing fares temporarily, we hope to encourage new ridership, gather valuable data and better understand how fare-free service will impact our system and our region.”
A 2026 pilot is not yet included in the 2026 drafted budget, as finance plans factor in October data from the program before deciding whether to plan for a second go round.
RFTA member jurisdictions, including the Elected Officials Transportation Committee, the City of Aspen and the City of Glenwood Springs committed over half a million dollars to the pilot to offset lost fare revenue. The pilot program will also entail collecting and analyzing data on ridership trends, park-and-ride
usage and general rider feedback.
Chief Operating Officer David Pesnichak shared that “October through November is the perfect time to pilot a program like this. Our past data shows that ridership is typically lower during the fall season,” he said.
“Running Zero Fare October and November will allow us to see how fare-free service impacts ridership and passenger capacities. This will both introduce new riders to RFTA regional services and remove any financial barriers to using transit.”
Regular RFTA fares will resume on Dec. 1. RFTA has compiled frequently asked questions and information for community members and transit riders regarding the program at www.rfta.com/zerofare
The next board meeting will occur on Sept. 11 at 8:30am in Carbondale. The public can also join via Webex. An agenda will be available at www.rfta.com a week ahead of the meeting.
Regional RFTA services will be included in the Zero Fare October and November pilot initiative, including valleywide commuter services between Aspen and Glenwood Springs and Hogback commuter buses between Glenwood, New Castle, Silt and Rifle. Courtesy photo
Carbondale ups commitment for mobile home parks
JAMES STEINDLER
Contributing Editor
The Carbondale trustees meeting was short and sweet this week. After approving the consent agenda, which included a special event permit for Carbondale Education Foundation’s upcoming Oktoberfest and John Williams’ reappointment to the Historic Preservation Commission, the board moved onto public comment, but no members of the public were present.
Considering the hubbub on the Carbondale Facebook page regarding the temporary Highway 133 detour, it’s a good thing the highway was reopened. However, the pedestrian crossing was not yet open as of Wednesday, pending some final touches — namely the installation of the push-buttons that activate the flashing beacons.
During board comments, Trustee Jess Robison gave props to Town staff for getting the highway reopened so quickly and providing
a “pretty seamless” detour during the brief interim. Outside of Town Hall, community members expressed some annoyance with the inconvenience and slowed traffic, but, to be fair, many motorists did not follow the detoured path leading behind City Market, and rather cut through the east end of the parking lot.
Robison also gave a shoutout to the organizers of the recent Cowboy Up fundraiser, benefiting the Carbondale Education Foundation and “honor[ing] the cowboy-rancher heritage of Carbondale.”
Town Manager Ryan Hyland welcomed the Town’s new finance director, Ola Verploegh, who was on his second day of the job. “Ola brings 15 years of finance and accounting experience,” said Hyland. “[He] most recently was at Revel Bikes, but also worked with one of the local nonprofits in the Valley, the Aspen Hope Center, and prior to
that Aspen Ski Co.” Verplough said he was excited about the opportunity to work in municipal finance, but still feels “green.” He elaborated, “It feels like maybe a 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that I’m just getting the shrink wrap off the box.” Verplough has lived in Carbondale since 2011.
The board discussed sending a letter of support to the Colorado Association of Ski Towns for its agenda to push state legislation to give communities the option to adopt affordable housing tools
Where the Valley Gathers: Local Restaurants & Bars
— such as a real estate transfer tax or a vacancy tax. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk clarified that it doesn’t mean the Town wants to adopt any specific policies, but “right now we don’t even have the option.”
Mountain Valley
The main action item of interest was a grant agreement with West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition (WMRHC) committing the Town’s previously agreed upon $1 million contribution from its housing fund toward the purchase of the Mountain
Valley and Aspen-Basalt mobile home parks. The same day as the meeting, the Town had received a request to up its commitment another $100,000 to $150,000. Collectively, contributing entities have raised $14 million of an initial goal of $20 million, intended to make the rates more feasible for residents to pay back the pending loan from Thistle ROC, a nonprofit lender focused on resident-ownership. Hyland relayed that Thistle ROC recommended reaching at least $16
Some folks are saying they’d like to see the four-way stop signs at Hendrick and West Main remain, which were temporarily placed during the short-lived Highway 133 detour. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Cavern Springs residents issue plea to help save mobile home park
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Several residents of the Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park, situated between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, appeared before Glenwood City Council for the regular Aug. 21 meeting seeking help to fund a possible resident-organized purchase of the park.
All seven council members were present in person for the meeting, which invited members of the public to speak on items not on the agenda before council delved into the scheduled topics.
After hearing from Marc Adler, a longtime resident and former city councilman, requesting more pickleball courts in Glenwood to serve the growing number of participants, several people lined up to talk about the dire situation faced by Cavern Springs residents.
While other Roaring Fork Valley mobile home parks have received financial assistance from local governments and other organizations recently to help put them into resident ownership, Cavern Springs has not gotten that same attention, residents Tina Gomez and Monica Muniz said.
They now find themselves in a “race against time,” with a looming deadline in early September to present an offer and $6 million in earnest money. That represents only about 20% of the asking price, they said.
BASALT REPORT
The park, located at the Garfield County Road 154 and CMC turnoff intersection with Highway 82, houses 98 families and a total of about 300 people, she said.
As with most mobile home parks, the residents own their mobile homes, but lease the space from private owners. The park was recently put on the market, but state law gives mobile home park residents four months to come up with a purchase offer.
“There’s a real risk that many of these families will be displaced out of the valley, losing their jobs and community roots, and disrupting their children’s education,” said Gomez, who has lived in the park for 10 years.
Muniz has lived at Cavern Springs for 36 years, and noted that many of her neighbors have also been part of the community for multiple decades, raising their families and contributing to the local economy.
The property has gone through multiple out-of-state owners in recent years, each one bringing rent increases even when they do maintain the use as a mobile home park, she said.
Council members were sympathetic to the dilemma, but noted that the City’s dedicated affordable housing funds can only be used for efforts within city limits. That was the case with the recent assistance provided for
the Mountain Mobile Home Park in West Glenwood to become resident-owned.
Though the City has made preservation of mobile home parks a high priority, resources are spread thin to deal with properties outside city limits, Councilor Sumner Schachter said. One statewide nonprofit organization, Thistle ROC, has been able to work with residents and local governments to put together offers for the Mountain Valley and Aspen-Basalt mobile home parks in Carbondale and Basalt. But Cavern Springs has slipped “under the radar,” Schachter said.
Schachter suggested convening a regional group to address the situation with Cavern Springs and other mobile home parks that may find themselves in the same situation.
“In this case it’s clearly an emergency, but I don’t know where that help is going to come from,” he said. “There needs to be more public outreach on this.”
Childcare tax
Meanwhile, the regular agenda included a presentation from representatives of the Confluence Early Childhood Education Coalition about the upcoming ballot initiative to help fund childcare and preschools from Parachute to Aspen.
The measure, which will be on the November ballot in Garfield,
Pitkin and Eagle counties, would create a 0.25% sales tax to support affordable access to childcare, explained coalition Director Maggie Tiscornia. That would raise an estimated $10 million per year to offset costs for families seeking childcare, and to increase wages for childcare workers, she said.
If the measure passes, the tri-county region would become Colorado’s first Early Childhood Development Service District under a new legislation allowing such districts to be formed.
City Council did not immediately take a position to endorse the measure, but will discuss it in a future session. The measure has received an endorsement from the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association board, Tiscornia said.
On-demand transit
City Engineer Ryan Gordon updated the council on the Ride
Glenwood On-Demand transit system. The transit option was launched in May, allowing people to schedule rides around the city through an app for $1.
Through July, Gordon said 7,350 rides were given, and the percentage of shared rides has increased from 21% at the start to 48%.
With increased demand, though, has come longer wait times for pickups, from an average of 11 minutes to start to now around 28 minutes, he said.
The ride service operates between 9am and 10pm. Common ride destinations include City Market, Walmart, Target, the Hot Springs and the Amtrak station, Gordon reported. The service is being supported by a grant from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority through 2026, after which the goal is for it to become selfsufficient, he said.
Council weighs housing and community center at Willits
WILL BUZZERD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
During a public work session on Tuesday, Aug. 26, Basalt Town staff met with the council to seek direction for the development of a potential housing complex and community center in Willits. The potential development would be located on a town-owned parcel on the corner of Willits Lane and Lewis Lane.
Town staff was directed to explore the creation of a community center and affordable housing space on the parcel in the summer of last year. Since then, staff has been performing outreach at schools and public events, seeking feedback from community members, students and stakeholders. After compiling feedback, staff identified a desire for a youth recreational space, including lounges, study spaces and a half-sized basketball court. Staff is presently between a conceptual design phase and collecting additional feedback, and has drafted several plans for how the community center/
housing complex might look.
Each plan includes five buildings: a four-story building on Lewis Lane, a two-story apartment building beside Willits Lane and three rows of two-story townhomes. Every dwelling unit on the property would be designated as affordable housing.
The preferred design includes
a community center as well as a residential rooftop gathering area and green roof on the Lewis Lane building. Forty-four dwelling units in total would be built according to this plan.
The subsequent two designs eschew features in the main building in favor of creating even more units for housing.
The second plan trades the rooftop gathering space for 11 more apartments, and a third plan exchanges the community center as well as the rooftop space for 29 more apartments.
Ryan Honey, the executive director of The Arts Center at Willits (TACAW) came to the work session to present a potential Youth Empowerment Center which could be hosted in the community space. The center would provide student-driven programming for creativity and connection, such as summer camps, film screenings and student showcases. Honey also said the community center could host teen nights and other already successful programs in order to expand beyond TACAW’s current scheduling and space limitations. While the program would require funding and staffing, Honey said that TACAW would be prepared to step in on day one and provide a coordinator for the space.
In response to funding concerns from Mayor David Knight, especially considering
that the Town of Basalt is also looking to construct a new public works building and police headquarters, Town Planner Sara Nadolny assured Knight that the funding streams for housing and municipal buildings were separate. In addition, Nadolny stated that providing a community center would open new streams of grant funding which could in turn supplement housing funding. Councilors all supported the community space. However, variances for height were a concern. As part of the Sopris Meadows PUD, the four-story Lewis Lane building would require a variance in order to be built and would exceed the height of adjacent single-family homes. Councilors Ryan Slack and Angela Anderson agreed that even more outreach should be made within the neighborhood specific to height and density.
Councilor Angele DupreButchart noted that in the summer of last year, council directed staff to pursue the development of as
On July 22nd, Basalt Town Council visited the town-owned parcel on the corner of Willits Lane and Lewis Lane for a site tour. Although the parcel isn’t much more than a field, the site could become a new, youthempowering community center and living complex with 100% affordable housing. Courtesy photo
The 98-home Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park, located off Highway 82 at the CMC turnoff, is one of many area mobile home parks in the area that has recently been put on the market, and for which residents hope to put together a purchase offer. Photo by John Stroud
LEAD KING LOOP
RUN & HIKE
25K - 8 MILE - KIDS RACE
Experience
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
SENIOR PROM!
The Sopris Lodge, in collaboration with KDNK and The Sopris Sun, hosts its Senior Prom, free for all adults 55 and up, featuring live music by a KDNK DJ, light bites and a best-dressed contest, from 3 to 4:30pm. RSVP by calling 970-678-0057 or visiting www.soprislodge.com/events
POKÉMON TRAINING
Middle schoolers are invited to the Basalt Library’s “Pokémon Battle Training Camp” from 4 to 5:30pm. Register by calling 970-927-4311.
TREE MEDICINE
Explore the healing properties of tree species in the Valley at Colorado Mountain College’s Carbondale campus from 5 to 7pm. For more details, call 970-963-2172. To register visit coloradomtn.augusoft.net
REGENERATION BALL
The Farm Collaborative hosts its Regeneration Ball fundraiser at the Hotel Jerome featuring celebrity chefs and a keynote by Dr. Zach Bush, plus “a goat-assisted raffle” — all beginning at 5pm. Proceeds support the new learning center at Cozy Point Ranch. Tickets at www.thefarmcollaborative.org
‘TWILIGHT IN THE CEMETERY’
The Aspen Historical Society guides 1.5 hour tours through Red Butte Cemetery with rolling start times every 15 minutes from 5 to 6:30pm. Register at www.aspenhistory.org
SUPREME COURT REVIEW
Learn about the structure of state and federal courts and review a handful of current Supreme Court cases at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 7pm.
OLIVIA THE BARD
Olivia “The Bard” Pevec performs with friends at a house concert in Carbondale from 6 to 9-ish this evening. For tickets and address, visit www.tinyurl.com/OliviatheBard
WOMEN’S GROUP
The Common Roots Women’s Group explores this month’s theme, “triggers,” at HeadQuarters in Basalt from 6 to 7:30pm. Anyone who identifies as female is welcome. Register at www.headq.org
‘BOOKS IN BARS’
Local librarians and the general public discuss “The Rachel Incident” by Caroline O’Donoghue at the Brass Anvil in Carbondale at 7pm. For more details, call the Carbondale Library at 970-963-2889.
CRYSTAL THEATRE
The Crystal Theatre screens “Bad Shabbos” at 7pm tonight and 5pm tomorrow. “Mr. Blake at your Service!” shows tomorrow and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 5pm. “The Life of Chuck” returns for one last showing on Saturday at 4:30pm.
GARY CULLEY
Gary Culley performs a show at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
GARDEN MORNINGS
True Nature invites you to tour the Peace Garden with Laura Kirk from 8 to 9am. RSVP at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
MUSIC UNDER THE BRIDGE
Enjoy live music by Party Party under the Grand Avenue Bridge from 4:30 to 7:30pm.
REDSTONE ART SHOW
The 29th annual Redstone Art Show kicks off this evening at 6pm with an opening reception and continues through Sunday with artist demonstrations, kids activities, live music and more throughout the weekend. For a schedule, workshop registrations and further details, visit www.redstoneartfoundation.org
‘TRUE WEST’
Thunder River Theatre Company kicks off its season with “True West” by Sam Shepard, directed by Missy Moore, opening tonight at 7:30pm and continuing this, next and the following weekend. For showtimes and tickets, visit www. thunderrivertheatre.com/events
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
SUMMER RETREAT
True Nature celebrates the end of summer with a day of nourishment beginning at 8am. Find the itinerary and tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
BOTANY BIRTHDAY
The Botany Houseplant Shop, 586 Highway 133, celebrates its third anniversary with discounts and treats from 3 B’s Bakery from 10am to 5pm.
COOPER GALLERY
The Cooper Gallery in Glenwood Springs hosts a sidewalk sale, with featured watercolor artist Carlyle Stem on site, from 11am to 2pm.
LGBTQIA+ BRUNCH
Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists hosts its monthly “TRUU Colors Brunch,” a potluck welcoming LGBTQIA+ folks in the Valley, at the Third Street Center from 10 to 11:30am.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
Join a host of local organizations in Glenwood Springs’ Sayre Park from 10am to 4pm for music, speakers, activities, food, information, resources and more — all to spread awareness and break the stigma around substance use and addiction. A memorial walk, honoring people lost to overdose, takes place at 2:30pm.
NATURE CONNECTION
Deanna Jenne, an animist, wisdom keeper and healer, guides an inner journey to discover one’s vital connection to nature at A Spiritual Center, room 31 of the Third Street Center, from 10 to 11:30am.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
LABOR DAY
County, municipal offices and all Garfield County library branches will be closed in observation of Labor Day.
C’DALE PROTEST
Mountain Action Indivisible declares “workers over billionaires” this Labor Day with a protest in Carbondale at the roundabout from 10am to noon.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
YOGA AT THE LIBRARY
Devika Gurung guides movement and mindfulness yoga sessions at the Carbondale Library from 7:30 to 8:30am every Tuesday in September. For more details, call 970-963-2889.
THE GREAT LIBRARY HUNT
Elementary through high schoolers participate in a scavenger hunt, with new mystery booklets available every Tuesday at the Basalt Library’s circulation desk, through the end of the month.
Sam Shepard’s “True West,” directed by Missy Moore, opens at Thunder River Theatre on Friday, Aug. 29 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 14. Thursday, Friday and Saturday showings are at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees are at 2pm. Visit www. thunderrivertheatre. com for tickets.
Photo by Emily Henley
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
DEATH CAFE
Sopris Lodge hosts a Death Cafe, a safe, relaxed space to explore topics around death and dying through meaningful conversation, led by Akaljeet Khalsa, a death doula and end-of-life consultant, from 3:30 to 5pm. RSVP at www.soprislodge.com/events
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
BUILDING SYMPOSIUM
The first annual Colorado Building Symposium West takes place at the Glenwood Springs Library today and tomorrow. For a schedule and details, visit www.tinyurl.com/ BuildingSymposiumGWS
MEN’S GROUP
The Common Roots men’s group discusses this month’s theme, “emotional bank account,” from 6 to 7:30pm at HeadQuarters in Basalt. For details, visit www.headq.org All who identify as men are welcome.
‘MUSIC DU JOUR’
BenFeng Music Productions presents “Music du Jour” — “an evening of original compositions celebrating our time and our stories” — at the Old Thompson Barn at 7pm. For details, visit www.benfengmusicproductions.org
‘BILL’S ROOM’
William H. Macy hosts the second ‘Bill’s Room’ at TACAW, an evening of songs and stories with guests Natalie Spears and Frank Martin, at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
ELECTRIC VEHICLES 101
With federal electric vehicle incentives set to expire, Clean Energy Economy for the Region and Drive Clean Colorado offer two back-to-back events: a “pizza-fueled” workshop today at the Third Street Center, from 4 to 7pm, and a test-driving event tomorrow in the Town Hall parking lot from 3 to 7pm. More details at cleanenergyeconomy.net/recharge
MUSIC UNDER THE BRIDGE
The Hell Roaring String Band performs at Bethel Plaza, under the Grand
ONGOING EVENTS
ROARING FORK ZEN
A new Zen meditation community based in Carbondale gathers at True Nature to sit from 8 to 9am on Mondays weekly.
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 to 3. There will be play items provided for the little ones and coffee and conversation for the moms.
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library every Monday at 1:30pm.
‘EL PLACER DE LEER’
Delve into Spanish literature with Angélica Breña at the Basalt Library every Monday from 5 to 6:30pm. Spanish comprehension is necessary to participate. For more details, visit www.basaltlibrary.org
AFRICAN DANCE
Enjoy dancing to live drumming with the Carbondale Rhythm Collective at the Glenwood Springs Library on Mondays from 6:30 to 8pm.
POTTERY WHEEL 101
Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs, from 4:30 to 7:30pm.
FIRST FRIDAY
This First Friday, Carbondale hosts the first “Bondale Flea,” featuring local and vintage goods from a variety of makers and artists, on Main Street from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Sign up to volunteer at www.carbondalearts.com/first-friday
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
ALEX EDELMAN
Critically acclaimed comedian Alex Edelman performs at the Wheeler Opera House at 8pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
GRANDPARENTS DAY & CLAY
Celebrate Grandparents Day by creating ceramic art with your grands at the Carbondale Clay Center from 10am to noon. Register at www.tinyurl.com/ GrandsClayDay
SHAMANIC JOURNEYING
Shamanic healer Meghan Gilroy guides a day-long retreat where attendees gain clarity, without the means of psychedelics, at True Nature from 10am to 4pm. This retreat is ideal for empaths, coaches, healers and seekers. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
ART OF CONVERSATIONS
Pick up a meaningful conversation with a stranger at the Carbondale Library from 6 to 7pm every first Sunday.
ECSTATIC DANCE
The Heart Barn at 13 Moons Ranch, south of Carbondale, hosts an ecstatic dance, featuring DJ Lydia Bain, at 6pm. For details, email alyahowe@me.com
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
BUDDY CLASSIC
The annual Buddy Classic Golf Tournament, benefiting the Buddy Program, kicks off at Ironbridge Golf Course at 11am and wraps up with posttournament cocktails and appetizers from 4 to 6pm. Arrive as early as 9:30am to practice your swing. Register at www.buddyprogram.org/buddyclassic
Want to test the waters before committing to a several-week class? Crave an evening out of the house? Interested in trying something new? Carbondale Clay Center’s teen and adult one-day “Intro to Wheel Throwing” is perfect for learning the basics and opening your eyes to the possibilities of clay. These classes are offered every Monday through Oct. 6, from 6 to 8pm. Register at www.carbondaleclay.org
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.
YARN GROUP
Basalt Library hosts a weekly yarn group on Tuesdays at 5pm. All are welcome.
BIKE PROJECT
The Carbondale Bike Project Shop helps people repair their bicycles on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm on the east side of Third Street Center.
FARMERS’ MARKET
The Carbondale Farmers’ Market season is underway, every Wednesday from 10am to 3pm at 4th and Main.
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.
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.
SUNDAY MARKET
Basalt’s Sunday continues every Sunday through Sept. 28 along the Midland Spur from 10am to 2pm.
Adult Community Education Classes
BEGINNING SWING DANCE
Learn Jitterbug basics: steps, turns, spins, dips, and other fun Swing Dance moves. Wed, 6:30-8:30pm, 9/3-9/24, CB
INTRO TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Explore the ethics and impacts of this mega trend - with hands-on practice. Wed, 1:30-3:30pm, 9/3-9/24, CB
SEWING
Learn to sew with a simple project provided or bring your own project. Upcycling encouraged. Wed, 6:30-9:30pm, 9/3-10/22, CB
SCULPTURE
A class in 3-D design including projects that introduce sculpting materials and processes. Thurs, 1-5pm, 9/4-10/3, CB
HAND MENDING FOR KNITS AND WEAVES
Repair your sweaters, socks, hats, and jeans using hand darning, patching, and stitching. Fridays, 4-6pm, 9/5-10/10, CB
EXPLORATIONS IN MIXED WATER
Explore watercolor, acrylic, casein, and gouache, with different materials and papers. Mon, 9am-12pm, 9/8-10/20, CB
INTRO TO THE BUSINESS OF ART
Practical info, resources, and computer tech that artists can use to develop business plans. Mon, 5-7pm, 9/8-10/20, CB
COLOR MIXING IN WATERCOLOR
Focus on certain mixing combos and how you can use them to create amazing paintings. Tue, 5:30-8:30pm, 9/9-10/7, CB
SPANISH - INTER. STORYTELLING AND CONVERSATION
Conversations that support and build confidence in your comprehension and fluency. Thur, 5-7pm, 9/11-11/13, CB
FOOD GARDENING IN THE ROCKIES
Everything you need to know to successfully grow your own food in our mountain environment. Sat, 1-4pm, 9/13, CB
Kids Classes
BEGINNING SKETCHING
Kids age 10-17 learn how to loose sketch simple characters starting with the basics of sketching. Wed, 3-4pm, 9/10-10/1, CB
STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT
Youth age 12-18 work with Travis Wilson to block, sing, dance and act a solo piece from a musical. Wed, 4:30-6pm, 9/17-12/10, CB
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Cross country running took center stage as the first home action of the high school fall sports season, as the combined Basalt-Roaring Fork team hosted the Longhorn Invite at Crown Mountain Park on Saturday, Aug. 23.
It was a sweet showing before friends and family for Basalt senior Towler Scott, who claimed the boys overall title to open his 2025 campaign.
Scott covered the challenging five-kilometer course in a personal best 16 minutes, 26.48 seconds to take the win over Soroco’s Nick Clark, who was 11 seconds back at 16:37.79.
The Longhorn boys took second among six teams at the meet by placing five runners in the top 30, out of 58 runners total. Coal Ridge claimed the team title for both boys and girls.
Basalt’s ladies placed third out of six teams, with senior Addison Raymond leading the way in 10th place overall with a time of 22:12.22. A string of Lady Longhorns finished in 14th, 15th and 16th. Respectively, they were junior Sadie Silcox (22:34.21), freshman Scarlett Jones (22:40.30) and senior Caroline Cole (22:44.23).
Sophomore Kinley Richmond was 27th out of 81 finishers (24:50.05) to round out the team scoring. Top runners competing for Carbondale’s Colorado Rocky Mountain School were, for the boys, junior Max Peterson (21st, 21:27.42), and for the girls, sophomore Kayla Steele (seventh, 21:50.46).
Several younger Carbondale runners competed in the 2.5K middle school race.
Top finishers were Carbondale Middle School’s Everett Conklin among the boys (19th, 11:29.32), and for the girls, Ross Montessori’s Tillie Vickers (third, 11:03.58).
Following Scott for the Longhorns were senior Jackson Beard in ninth (19:38.16), sophomore Kaiden Werth in 11th (19:48.79), freshman Bode Schoenbrun in 23rd (21:55.26) and senior Luca Del Cid in 29th (22:38.6).
Boys soccer
Meanwhile, the Roaring Fork High School boys soccer team got the season started on the road at Crested Butte on Friday, Aug. 22. The Rams lost 2-0 to the Titans, who were semifinalists in the 2A state tournament last year.
The Rams, 0-1, continue their campaign to return to the 3A state tournament with a home date against Basalt on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
Girls volleyball
Roaring Fork’s girls volleyball team was at the Glenwood Springs Demon Invite on Aug. 22-23, where the Rams lost in straight sets to Glenwood Springs (9-25, 17-25), Meeker (22-25, 23-25) and Pagosa Springs (22-25, 15-25), before finally earning a set win against Rifle, before falling 2-1 (25-19, 23-25, 12-15).
The Rams, now 0-4, were set to play a match at Steamboat
Springs on Tuesday, and at North Fork on Thursday. The home opener is Tuesday, Sept. 2 against Vail Mountain.
Mountain biking
Roaring Fork’s club mountain biking team raced in Frisco on Saturday, Aug. 23. Top varsity riders were seniors Quinn Carpenter, fifth among the boys, and senior Emmaline Warner, 13th in the girls race.
Senior Caroline Cole and junior Sadie Silcox, both Roaring Fork High School student-athletes who run for the combined Basalt High cross country team, lead a pack of runners during the annual Longhorn Invitational at Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel on Saturday, Aug. 23. Photo courtesy Rich Allen/Aspen Daily News
Miles for pencils
Lead King Loop race funds Marble Charter
KATE PHILLIPS
Get ready for an awe-inspiring day in the mountains, because the Marble Charter School’s 23rd annual Lead King Loop Charity Race is slated for Sept. 14. This year, participants can run, hike or walk in one of three races: the 25k Lead King Loop, the eight-mile Quarry Climb or the kids’ 2.5k fun run. The beloved community event is also the school’s largest fundraiser.
“The race is a demonstration of the community effort and the support the Marble Charter School has,” said Sam Richings-Germain, the school’s director. “The Town and the businesses have always been incredibly supportive of the school. Everyone is doing everything possible to help us be successful.”
Recognized for its surrounding beauty and charitable cause, the Lead King Loop is one of five races included in the “Colorado Mountain Half+ Marathon Series” — a summerlong event featuring unique races hosted by nonprofit organizations supporting youth programs. Because of this extra exposure, and the intention behind it, the race attracts athletes from across the state and consistently sells out. Last year, 164 athletes participated.
Marble’s day of racing will begin with the 25k Lead King Loop, starting from Thompson Park; the hiking and walking group begins at 7am, while runners depart at 8:30am. The course circumnavigates Sheep Mountain by connecting Lead King Basin Road and Crystal Road. A strenuous start, athletes will ascend nearly 2,900 feet in elevation over about five miles. Fortunately, what goes up must come down. Athletes will be rewarded with a generous descent into the Lead King Basin, where rugged mountains, changing aspens and glistening waterfalls await. At 10,000 feet, the course continues onward past the historic Crystal Mill,
through the old mining town of Crystal and down Daniel’s Hill to the finish line.
“Going to the Crystal Mill is so incredible, but once you go beyond the mill it only gets more beautiful,” gushed Richings-Germain.
For the second year since its reintroduction, the out-and-back Quarry Climb is a shorter option for athletes on race day. At 8:45am, hikers, walkers and runners will race from Marble Children’s Park and climb roughly 1,500 feet in elevation over four-miles along Yule Marble Quarry
Road. The road is typically quiet on Sundays and offers sweeping views of the Maroon Bells and Ragged Wilderness areas. Turning around at the quarry site, athletes will then glide downhill to the finish.
Finally, at 9am, kids can enjoy a 2.5k out-and-back jaunt to Beaver Lake.
Richings-Germain said this is a great time for newcomers to try the loop because it is supported by a dedicated and knowledgeable group of volunteers who cheer on athletes and ensure all needs are met. Each course will have multiple aid stations that include water, gels and sports drinks, courtesy of Independence Run and Hike, and minor first aid supplies. EMT support will be available at the park.
“The race is completely designed, developed, maintained and sustained by the community,” said Richings-Germain. “It was created by a previous school director and her family. Over time it has ebbed and flowed, but there are regular volunteers who come back every year to help.”
At the finish, athletes can recover with complementary food and drinks courtesy of Slow Groovin BBQ and Mountain Heart Brewing, respectively. Prizes for the overall female and male winners in addition to age-group winners will be handed out at the end. All athletes will receive an entry into the raffle, a t-shirt and a student-designed medal to commemorate the experience.
While race day is sure to be memorable for the athletes, the day’s proceeds will be life changing for the students. Due to its small size, Marble Charter School has been operating on a tight budget since its reestablishment in 1995. This year, the school has a fundraising goal of $40,000. Proceeds from the race will fund instructional, administrative, building and custodial supplies as well as staff training, curriculum expenses and more.
“This race makes it possible for us to provide an enriching and exceptional education for kids,” concluded Richings-Germain.
Registration is available online. Registered racers can pick up their packet on Sept. 13 between 10am and 6pm at Independence Run and Hike, when last-minute registration will also be available.
Visit www.leadkingloop.com for more details.
Ready, set, go! Young racers sprint from the start line during a previous Lead Kind Loop Charity Race raising funds for Marble Charter School. Courtesy photo
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Adrian Glasenapp pops off RKYMTN Adult Drinks
ANNALISE GRUETER Sopris Sun Correspondent
EDITOR’S NOTE: This interview has been edited for clarity and space.
Adrian Glasenapp is no stranger to carbonated drinks. Though the Glenwood-born native moved back to the Roaring Fork Valley years ago, he spent over 16 years working for New Belgium Brewing. His expertise is in marketing and design, and that creative spark, led him to the craft beer company and guided his entrepreneurship since. He spoke with The Sopris Sun about one of his new ventures: RKYMTN Adult Drinks (RAD), a lightly carbonated, wine-based libation that went on the market earlier this summer.
What got you interested in working in fermentation?
Creativity and beer is what got me interested initially. I applied for an art director position at New Belgium Brewing in 2003 because I loved the culture, brand and beer ethos. I wanted to bring my creativity to the coolest craft company in the U.S. and help them build their company and brand as an employee-owner. Since leaving New Belgium in 2019, I have been driven to bring super creative and delicious non-beer beverages to the market.
With RAD, our focus is delivering a natural product with incredible flavor, driven by the use of real fruit, natural botanicals and a unique and super clean agave wine base. Consumer and industry response has been incredible as we scale quickly on the Western Slope and in Fort Collins. People deserve better post-adventure beverages and more interesting brands.
What inspired you to move from beer?
Our inspiration comes from wanting to make something better that we can enjoy with our friends that is not beer and is gluten-free. We are ultimately a winery in terms of designation. We have low carbonation, real color and body, low sweetness, natural — not artificial — taste, a normal 12-ounce can, a compelling local lifestyle-driven brand story and a somewhat small batch brewing and blending craft process.
Was the current form of RAD always the vision, or has it evolved?
The only constant is change, as they say. There have been multiple iterations and many, many twists and turns. I have had a lot of help along the way, especially from a few advisors who watch trends and help with brand positioning at Ahead Of the Curve.
When was the launch date?
June 21 was our official commercial launch date at the infamous and legendary Town Pump in Fort Collins. We launched on the Western Slope with Tiny Pine and Sopris Liquors as our second and third accounts. I have so much love for Kiko, Chris and the entire Sopris team. They featured us with a floor display, tasting and a really clutch refer placement which is really hard to get for a new brand. Same with Tiny Pine. Leslie, Charles, Jeff, Pete, Peter and the crew there are top notch. They added RAD to the menu immediately and helped us throw an incredible launch party. Hanz and the entire staff at the Black Nugget have been incredible to work with as well. The Nugget is such an incredible place to drink a RAD and see some live music; a perfect brand fit for us.
What makes you most excited about releasing this product?
Bringing a highly differentiated and delicious liquid to people that is natural and ultimately better built. Watching people taste [it] for the first time is incredibly rewarding. As a company, we have two very important force-for-good core tenets. One being mental health. It’s high time alcoholic beverage brands became a part of this conversation instead of a symptom. Two: clean, free-flowing rivers. That wild and fresh river water that starts its journey up in those elevated, gorgeous and legendary Rocky Mountains is our main ingredient and it’s a big part of why RAD tastes so great.
Lisa Kent Reinhardt Cerise
May 20, 1956August 17, 2025
Lisa Kent Reinhardt Cerise was born on May 20, 1956, the fourth daughter of Lew and Betty Reinhardt. Lisa attended Victory Hill School from kindergarten through the eighth grade and attended Scottsbluff High School, graduating in 1974.
From a young age, Lisa loved all animals. She especially loved horses and was often down in the horse barn with her dad and out riding on the acreage where she grew up. Lisa was affectionately nicknamed “Boots” by her grandfather as a toddler because she wore a pair of red cowboy boots everywhere she went. Lisa got her younger brother in trouble by convincing him to cut a hole in the barn door for her kittens, and she loved many dogs in her life, most recently her beloved Sambo and Bell. Lisa showed horses in 4H and Stable Club shows and loved to prank her city-slicker cousins by taking them for a horseback ride and whispering “oats” to her horse, which made him run for the barn.
After high school, Lisa worked as a legal secretary in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Fort Collins, Colorado. Lisa made many friends with her infectious personality, and one such friend invited her to go to Carbondale, Colorado to work for a firewood company. She drove the logging truck. Once she moved to Carbondale, she never left. She lived in Redstone for one winter, and then she rented a small house owned by the Cerise family in the early 1980s. This was the beginning of a 43-year friendship and love affair with her husband Bob. They married on June 25, 1994, and lived on the Cerise family ranch until Lisa’s death.
Lisa was made for ranch life, and she loved to stay busy. She baled hay in the summer, gathered cattle from the high country in the fall, fed her beloved horses throughout the winter and bottle-fed calves every spring. She loved to move cattle on horseback or go for a trail ride. She also loved to work in her garden and spent much of her time canning and freezing produce, which she hauled down the mountains to share with her Nebraska family every summer. Though he tried, Bob never could beat her at cribbage.
Lisa worked for 17 years in the middle school kitchen and was affectionately known as “Aunt Lisa” to all the kids. Every Christmas, she sang “Let there be Peas on Earth” as they came through the line. She loved to read and do crossword puzzles and always made the journey back to Scottsbluff for her family’s Fourth of July picnic.
Lisa died on August 17, 2025, in Carbondale, after a long period of poor health. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Betty Reinhardt, and her sister, Sara Taborsky. She is survived by her husband, Bob Cerise, sisters, Becky (John) Sorensen and Ann (John) Selzer, brother, Jim (Helen) Reinhardt, brother-in-law, Mike (Eva) Cerise, and sister-in-law, Toni Cerise, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Clifford Cerise Ranch on County Road 104, Carbondale on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1pm, lunch to follow.
How can interested Valley folks support the brand?
Please support RAD and our key retail partners by purchasing us at Sopris Liquors, The Black Nugget, Tiny Pine, Ploskys, Roxy’s Liquor, Cooper Wine & Spirits, The Riviera Supper Club or Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Happy to connect with anyone for a drink and a conversation on how to grow our distribution footprint and investment team; I’ll put a RAD hat in your hands. Please follow us @RKYMTNdrinks.
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The death of a loved one costs enough. The Sopris Sun is happy to publish local obituaries of a reasonable length, including a picture, for free.
Email news@soprissun.com to submit one or for more information.
RKYMTN Adult Drinks currently offers two flavors: prickly pearguava and mango-grapefruit. Courtesy photo
The Gilpin Observer, Dec. 5, 1907: Trinidad, Colorado — Katherine Vosbaugh, an eccen tric Frenchwoman of brilliant attainments, died here the other day at the age of 83, after masquerading for 60 years as a man. The woman donned trousers when a girl and had a horror of skirts up to the time of her death … her true sex was never suspected.
In the early 1900s, a woman “masquerading” as or “imperson ating” a man was a punishable offense. It was less about sexual ity and more about the indecency of females wearing male cloth ing and their rejection of society’s traditional gender roles.
This attitude was evident in the first known case of same-sex marriage in Colorado. Rather than focusing on the sexual nature of the marriage, the major concern for law enforcement was that a woman was posing as a man.
The Courier Farmer, Sept. 23, 1913:
Meeker, Colorado — Two years ago, Jack Hill came to Meeker from the east … There he met Miss Anna Slifka, and a year ago they were married and went to live on a farm near town … W.B. Thomp son, an easterner, recognized
Explore Thrif� �nd Con�ignmen� ��ore� of �he V�lley
Upscale Thri Shop: Habitat RFV ReStore
Address: 53 Calaway Ct., Glenwood Springs
Open Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm
The Habitat RFV ReStore offers high-quality home goods, furniture, and building materials - every purchase helps build affordable homes in our local community.
Deluxe Consignment Shop: Village Vintage
Address: 1429 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Village Vintage offers a mix of consignment fashion, furniture, handmade pottery, local art, and unique gifts - where style meets creativity and sustainability.
Address: 2412 S Glen Ave, Glenwood Springs (next to car wash)
Phone: 970-945-0234
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm
Sunday/Monday closed
This non-profit has been providing affordable, quality, second-hand items to the community since 1997. Our proceeds are used to support local organizations in the region, and employment opportunities through Mountain Valley Developmental Services. Store profits and your donations are making a positive impact on the community and those in need.
Address: 574 HWY 133, Carbondale
Thri Boutique: LuLu’s Thri Shoppe
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am - 6pm & Sunday 10am - 4pm
Phone: 970-963-1984
Consignment quality at thrift store prices. Lulu’s is the cleanest and most organized thrift store in the valley. We also have the fastest turnover of inventory, putting out 1000 new items every week.
Thrift and Thrive!
Address: 1676 County Rd 100 Unit N-2 Carbondale
Phone: 970-963-9025
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 AM–6 PM, Friday 10 AM–5 PM, Saturday 10 AM–4 PM Sunday Closed (unless OPEN Flag is UP)
We preserve the history of skiing, by finding classic images & vintage ski equipment that brings skiing memories to life, promoting the joy & passion of skiing. Our 1-of-a-kind, vintage ski items enhance any decor, provide special gifts, and supply a treasure trove for collectors of vintage ski products.
Boutique Consignment: Susie’s at Willits
Address: 0331 Robinson Street, Basalt (Reed & Robinson in Wilits Town Center)
Hours: Monday- Sat 10:30-5:30pm and Sunday 12-5pm
Always fresh, Always fun, Always affordable and Always Classy! Susie’s at Willits curates a range of consignment clothing, housewares, & furniture for our customers.
Since 2003, Heirlooms has been the Roaring Fork Valley's premier consignment store. From retro to trendy, they have been there for all of it.
Vintage Ski Store: Vintage Ski World
Upscale
Thri Store: Defiance
The immovable shining cow
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting www.dreamhealings.com
Dream
this celebration or ritual that someone is telling you would be best avoided. The people trying to move the cow mean that there will be people trying to persuade you to participate in this upcoming event. They will try as hard as they did to move the cow in your dream. Yet, once again, the dream is telling you to be like the cow and not let them win. Stay in.
OPINION
I had a dream there was a cow that was supposed to be slaughtered for a celebration in my community. We slaughter a cow when we get married or if there is a celebration or ritual. That cow I dreamed was supposed to be eaten by the community. I was supposed to be part of the people. The cow ended up at my door and it didn’t want to move. It was trapping me inside of my house by sitting down in front of the door. It was a white cow with black dots and was shining and clean and very fat. People in my community tried to take it, but couldn’t win. Then there was a rainstorm, and the cow still didn’t move. What does this mean?
Interpretation
DREAM WELL
By Natalia Snider
This dream is a warning, and the cow is the omen to an upcoming celebration or ritual. This cow is a peaceful protester to the celebration. It is like a Buddha, not forcing anything, yet sitting steady and unwavering through the storm. The message the cow is giving you is to stay in. Do not go to the celebration. This may be a challenging thing to do as you are part of your community, but the cow is giving you many reasons to not go.
The description of the cow being healthy and shining is a clear sign that this cow is actually a higher being in a cow’s form. A being that is not of the physical world because the elements that would otherwise dirty a cow are not having any effect; possibly a guardian angel or someone wanting to protect you. Whomever this cow may be, we know it is a message from a positive being from this description and the cows’ peaceful actions.
Doors in dreams symbolize gateways and portals, therefore the cow sitting in the doorway becomes significant. Often doors are signifying a new path that you are stepping onto when passing through the door. In this dream, the message here is to not take this path.
Something happens at
Next, the rainstorm comes. The rain here could be a prophetic sign of a literal storm coming that may have much more severe of an impact than perceived for the event. This is not the case though, because why is a cow stopping you from the storm? So instead, let’s look to the symbols of rain. Rain purifies, restores, grows and shapes landscapes. This may symbolize the cleansing that needs to take place in your life. Go inward, not outward. The dream is asking you to reshape yourself and your projected path. Purify what needs to be cleaned. Lastly, rain is a sign to the seasons and may also point to this event happening in the rainy season. There is something else this cow is doing by blocking you in that we must look at now. It is not only stopping you from going to the celebration, but stopping the feast of the celebration from happening. The message in this is to not consume what the people are wanting to consume at this event. This is the biggest reason to not go because the omen could have come in any form yet came in the form of what the celebration wants to consume. I believe this to be about you specifically not consuming a mindset. This mindset may be coming from the event as a whole or from someone very influential you will meet there. As well, the cow may have come to you specifically for you to create this change in mindset before any other celebrations can happen. With this in mind, it may be helpful for you to understand who this cow may actually be. The dream does not clarify this, but the answer is still in there. If you would like to know, try this: In a calm state and place, remember the feeling of the cow. Visualize the beauty of this cow. See the eyes of the cow and study them. Let the feeling of the cow and those eyes merge to form a whole. Then allow an answer of who the cow is to reveal itself. Trust your first thoughts, images and inclinations. Then, keeping going if you wish, ask every question you desire from this being because they may have every answer to the riddle of this dream.
Arriving in a new country feels like hiking up a mountain you’ve never climbed before — breathtaking, challenging, sometimes silent, sometimes unforgiving. And yet, here we are. In this valley of towering peaks and wide-open skies that seem to want to hold you close, we try to build a life that doesn’t always hold us back.
Migration is not running away. It’s choosing to fight for life.
We don’t leave our homelands on a whim. We leave because we love life so deeply that we’re willing to chase it across borders — with our hearts in our suitcases, language tucked between our teeth and hope held tightly in our chests. We can’t bring everything with us, but we carry what matters most: the will to begin again.
In Carbondale, we find mountains that don’t speak — but somehow, they understand.
The quiet of this place, so different from the noise of our hometowns, teaches us to listen to ourselves. And little by little, beneath the ache of nostalgia, a sense of belonging begins to bloom.
Because this valley, even if it didn’t see us born, can still witness us grow.
The headlines often miss this part, but every immigrant has a story.
We’re not numbers — we’re roots in the making.
We come from lands shaped by decisions we didn’t make, yet, here we choose to rebuild with our own hands.
And that choice — that quiet courage — is revolutionary.
Loving a land that doesn’t yet know how much it needs you … That is the bravest thing of all.
To those who still see this journey with suspicion, I ask this:
Look past the accent.
Look past the color.
Look past the fear.
Because behind every immigrant is someone who wants the same thing you do: To live. To work. To love. To contribute.
And to those walking this path alongside me:
Don’t forget how brave you are. You’re not outsiders. You are seeds.
Rifle and Glenwood Springs serve as the venue for car enthusiasts
BIANCA GODINA Sol del Valle
On Aug. 16, Cars & Coffee Co. brought together around 150 people, along with approximately 100 cars and 20 motorcycles, for an event that celebrated a shared passion for the automotive world.
The event organizer, Jesse Williams, who has lived in the Valley for nearly 20 years, shared that he began organizing these car meets while looking for something more to do within the community.
“I enjoy organizing and going to meets because the culture is diverse and; also everyone has different reasons for loving what they love about each different car — whether it be for aesthetics or horsepower, comfort or mods,” Williams shared.
For him, these events have become a meeting place where differences are respected and that shared love for cars is celebrated.
Williams also revealed that his favorite
car is the BMW M550i, and that, as a young man, he dreamed of owning a BMW 850 with a 5.0-liter V12 engine. However, he joked that dream wasn’t possible at the time since he came from a family of six and the car only had two doors.
He invites the community to attend these meets with an open and curious mind, ready to ask questions, talk with fellow attendees and be guided by the passion cars can inspire.
As a final piece of advice, Williams encouraged people not to fear the maintenance of their dream car. Every car needs upkeep, but doing it for a car you love only enriches the experience.
“Destination is reached when we sit in the car to drive it, but the drive prolongs the experience,” he concluded
For more information on upcoming gatherings, you can visit www.carsncoffeeco.com or follow their Instagram: @carsncoffeeco
Pink clouds hover over Coal Basin looking up from Redstone one summer evening.
Photo by Zulma Guarin
Amid roaring engines, community members celebrated their love for cars within a space beaming with style and diversity. Photos courtesy of Jesse Williams
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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
‘Goats on the Go’
Photos & text by Jane Bachrach Carbondale
If you haven’t seen the 275 environmentallyfriendly weed eaters stationed along County Road 100 (Catherine Store Road) outside of Carbondale, they’ll be here for about three more weeks, that is unless it snows.
Snow is baaaad for goats so they may have to leave early. Chances are it won’t, and if that’s the case, according to Brett Meredith at RFTA, they might head further down valley before they leave.
The name of the company that coordinates getting the chompers here is “Goats On The Go.” The herd here, owned by Brandon Olsen based out of Brighton, is made up of several different breeds, including Nubians, LaManchas, Alpine and Boers.
The unusual looking color pattern on this goat (right) is called dappled, and it’s a coat color pattern mostly found on Boer goats.
government institutions. They were not misled by the vague, false and misleading statements of a small and disruptive group. They did not act to appease this group, but are to be commended for standing up for our children, our residents
Glenwood Springs
The Israelites have shown themselves to be a uniquely, unified commune, yet intensely separated from outer communities. Both they and the Arabs, born under Abraham, have suffered under each other’s hand for 4,000 years. They both missed the message 2,000 years ago of forgiveness. But now, having turned their Gaza brothers’ land into an open air prison these past 70 years, surrounding them with a 37-mile-long, 22-foot-high razor wire fence and a .6-mile-wide strip of bulldozed land to detect footprints of escapees, one would think that the Israelites would have created enough separation in a land they were meant to
I’ve got to admit that it is breaking my heart to watch the decimation of the Palestinian children and women — 2 million folks being addled by starvation and bombardment who will never know peace — and knowing that my country is sending them ammunition to perpetrate the injustice. Our Karmic debt is building massively into a nuclear sized retribution, while turning the world into wide-eyed
CARBONDALE
antisemites. With such a massively simple solution to peace, I am stunned that we refuse to see it, instead acting out selfish cowardice and hate.
John Hoffmann Carbondale
Dear editor
The Sopris Sun has a letters policy that includes the phrase “no smearing.” Yet, I can always count on my weekly dose of hysterical anti-Trump invective when reading through the letters. It is actually amusing at times to wade through the morass of opprobrium dealt out by your inveterate contributors. It is hard to take very seriously though. Just last week, one letter refers to Trump running again in 2024, the next spells Capitol incorrectly, and the next refers to “Article 24” of The Constitution. There are seven. Perhaps this was a reference to the 25th Amendment? In any case, keep up the good work! It is all very convincing.
Michael K. Stahl Carbondale
LETTERS POLICY: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.
REPORT from page 10
million, collectively. The total cost for both
With the $1 million contribution alone, the Housing Fund would be reduced to $571,407. The mayor pointed out that the housing fund is “way healthier than it’s ever been,” even though he recommended against committing an extra $100,000.
Trustee Erica Sparhawk added that the Town also has a “healthy” general fund.
Trustee Colin Laird cautioned the board about a scenario where Thistle ROC could have to choose funding one park or the other, should the subsidies not be sufficient. “In my mind, we’ve come too
Trustees Chris Hassig and Ross Kribbs hoped that the other contributors would also up their allotments.
“The return on investment of $100,000 in this situation is pretty good,” Robison pointed out. “Getting that many units is a lot more expensive than what we’re talking about right now. Even though it’s not annexed, it is in Carbondale — they are part of our community.”
As it stands, WMRHC would be responsible for enforcing a deed restriction on both
REPORT from page 11
properties; Pitkin County is also a designated enforcer for the Aspen-Basalt park. In the case of Mountain Valley, if the coalition were to ever disband, even years down the road, the question is: who would enforce the deed restriction? Therefore, Town Attorney Mark Hamilton recommended that the town request it also have the right of enforcement for Mountain Valley.
There is state funding available to apply for, but the timing doesn’t fit the closing deadline, slated for mid-October. April Long, executive director of WMRHC, drafted a letter to the governor that all of the contributing entities have the option to sign, requesting that “the governor provide some funds and figure out a way to make that happen,” relayed Hyland. In the end, a motion was approved to enter into the grant agreement with WMRHC, committing $1.1 million toward the effort. Bohmfalk was the sole dissenting vote.
Long joined the meeting via Zoom just following the board’s decision. She thanked the trustees and added that the coalition is organizing a fundraising event on Oct. 3 at the Third Street Center.
much affordable housing as possible on the parcel, as it was one of Basalt’s last municipally owned properties on which it could do so. However, she noted more opposition to high-density than was initially anticipated and encouraged staff to explore designs that include a community center but decrease the overall height.
Council concluded that the community space would be a must, but density would likely be the main element of opposition from community members. At the direction of the council, staff will continue to organize outreach in the Sopris Meadows and Willits communities in order to gather more feedback with regard to height and density, and to refine the offerings of the community center, before any sketch plans or entitlements are drawn. Interested Basalt residents can offer feedback remotely on letstalk.basalt.net
LEGAL NOTICE
Town of Carbondale
REQUEST FOR BIDS-2025 TOWN HALL ROOFING INSTALLATION
The Town of Carbondale is accepting bids from local, qualified contractors to install a new roofing system on the flat-roof portion of Town Hall (511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO). Sealed bids will be received until 11:00 am September 15, 2025, by the Town of Carbondale, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado 81623, at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud. Specifications and contract documents can be found on the Town of Carbondale website, or at Town Hall. Work on this project must be complete by October 31, 2025.
The Roofing System Installation consists of removal of the existing roofing system, inspection and repair of existing roof deck as needed, installation of tapered insulation systems for proper drainage and cover board to provide a suitable surface for the roof membrane, installation of a new roofing system, cleanup and protection of the work site.
The new roofing system will cover board that is mechanically fastened with a minimum 60 mil, fully adhered single-ply TPO roofing membrane system. All work shall meet, at a minimum, the Town of Carbondale Specifications, local building code requirements as well as any material manufacturer or supplier’s requirements. The listed square foot measurements are estimates for bidding purposes only and the final square footage will be determined as stated in the specifications. Interested contractors should call Aaron Kuhns, (970)-510-1211, to schedule a site visit prior to submitting a bid.
The successful bidder will be expected to enter into an Agreement for Professional Services with the Town. Bids shall be submitted on the bid form attached to the request for proposals.
Published in The Sopris Sun on August 28, 2025.
PARTING SHOTS
The annual Cowboy Up fundraiser went off without a hitch! Each year, Cowboy Up organizers choose a nonprofit beneficiary, and for the second time in a row have settled on the Carbondale Education Foundation. While the final number wasn’t available by press time, the turnout seemed to speak for itself. (Above) Carbondale Education Foundation board members (left to right) Jamie Nims, Jon Baiardo, Marjorie Arnold, Jess Klumb, Katy Nardecchia, Lauren Forman and Marni George were overwhelmed with the community support. (Bottom left) Longtime locals Bob Jeffreys with Crystal River Ranch (a sponsor) and his buddy Darrin Smith had almost too much fun. (Bottom right) And Slow Groovin’ BBQ co-owner Steve Horner served up the goods himself. Yeehaw, Carbondale! Photos courtesy of Cowboy Up
