20250911

Remembering Fran Sr. Orosz

...in honor of all first responders this Sept. 11

JAMES STEINDLER Contributing Editor

Lieutenant Francis “Fran Sr.” Orosz volunteered for the Carbondale Fire Department in its heyday, and had a reputation as one hell of an ambulance driver. After his passing, on a quiet day in late August 1996, he was honored with a procession down Main Street — the only one in modern memory — which was such big news that its coverage graced the front page of The Valley Journal’s Aug. 29 issue and a full page spread within.

Fran Sr. was born and raised in Pennsylvania, served in the Navy in the ‘50s and developed a knack for driving at a young age, having driven stock cars for a stint. He came West to raise a family of his own, settling in Wheat Ridge, Colorado before meeting his wife, Myna (Hughes) Orosz, and planting for good on Rose Lane outside Carbondale. He started Roaring Fork Rentals, a modest shop at the start, initially based at the recently demolished strip mall just north of La Fontana Plaza

before relocating to where Roaring Fork Tire is today. He was beginning to make a name for himself here, and the rental business would only bring more folks into his orbit.

His sons, Fran Jr. and Jeff Orosz, continue to run the business to this day, now based off Highway 82, east of Thunder River Market. Fran Sr.’s portrait hangs above the counter, and customers who file in are mostly on a first name basis — keeping intact the sense of community their dad inspired.

Carbondale Fire Chief Rob Goodwin and Jeff go back to high school days; and Ron Leach, who was the chief of Carbondale Fire at the time, met Fran Sr. once he and Goodwin joined in ‘86 or ‘87. Fran Jr. had already signed on and Jeff came on board shortly after his dad. “His two sons … were core members of the fire department, too,” said Leach. It was a family calling, and even today, Jeff’s son, Brandon Deter, is the training chief for Carbondale Fire.

Carbondale was a small town then, and Leach recalled gath ering nearly every morning at the Roaring Fork Rentals shop for coffee. He described Fran Sr. as someone who shaped Carbondale in his own way.

“People were drawn to him,” added Goodwin.

This was around a time when the national 911 service hadn’t quite been implemented locally. Emergencies were reported to a seven-digit number, and dispatch would set up a conference call for available volunteers.

“Then it became time for everybody to drive to the fire department,” said Leach with a grin. That transpired as several civilian vehicles equipped with flashing red bubble lights whipping through town to heed the call.

“The worse the call, the faster they’d go,” said Leach.

“It was a rodeo,” added Goodwin.

Typically, whoever got their first got a choice seat. But Fran

continued on page 16

Photo by Lynn Burton, The Valley Journal

(Left)

Fran Sr. Orosz, courtesy photo

Following the procession, family and friends laid Fran Sr. to rest at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Photo by Carol Craven, The Valley Journal

The call from lay leadership to ordained ministry

This month, VOICES Radio Hour invites leaders and representatives from the Valley’s spiritual community to dive into the journey that shaped them, starting with Reverend E. Wendy Huber of St. Peters of the Valley Episcopal Church. Tune into KDNK Community Access Radio on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6pm for an audio interview with Huber and other spiritual leaders of the Valley.

My journey to ordained ministry began not with a dramatic moment of revelation like burning bushes or thunderbolts, but rather through years of faithful lay service that gradually revealed God’s deeper calling on my life. As Senior Warden at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (a small rural church in Texas), I discovered profound joy in shepherding God’s people through both celebration and crisis. Yet something essential was missing — I could lead, teach and care for the flock, but I could not offer them the sacraments that feed the soul.

passages. My legal training taught me to interpret texts carefully, while my mediation practice taught me to hold space for others’ pain and guide them toward healing.

OPINION

The persistent whisper became clear: My greatest service to Christ’s church would be through ordained priesthood, where I could stand at the communion table as celebrant, offering the bread and wine that transforms ordinary moments into encounters with the divine. After years of trying to ignore this call, while building a successful career in dispute resolution and mediation as a lawyer, I finally surrendered to what my heart had known all along.

In this spectacular valley, surrounded by mountains that declare God’s glory, I have discovered the profound privilege of standing at the altar as a celebrant. The transition from lay leader to ordained priest revealed the unique grace that comes through ordination. While I could teach, counsel and lead as a layperson, I could not offer the sacraments that feed God’s people. Now, standing at the communion table each Sunday, I experience the profound privilege of speaking Christ’s words: “Take, eat: This is my Body … Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood.”

VOICES

RADIO HOUR

By Reverend E. Wendy Huber

My professional journey provided unexpected preparation for pastoral ministry. As an executive in several dispute resolution related nonprofit organizations, I learned to help people navigate their deepest conflicts. Leading the Dow Corning Settlement Facility, managing nearly $2 billion in assets while serving 350,000 claimants, taught me to steward resources with integrity and compassion during times of profound loss and pain.

Years of mediation work — from custody disputes to corporate conflicts — honed my ability to listen deeply, speak truth with love and guide people toward reconciliation. Teaching negotiation and conflict resolution at universities, including Pepperdine, Rice and the University of Houston developed my skills in communicating complex truths to diverse audiences. These experiences, I now realize, were God’s way of preparing me to help His people work through spiritual conflicts and find peace.

The transition from a successful secular career to seminary study felt natural. Both required rigorous intellectual engagement, deep listening skills and the ability to guide others through difficult

LETTERS

Thank you, CEF!

The staff and students of Crystal River Elementary School had the opportunity to partner with artist Daniel Dancer last week and create an all-school piece of art that was featured by The Sun on the cover! We are incredibly grateful to the Carbondale Education Foundation (CEF) for making this opportunity possible. Our community is so lucky to have this relatively new foundation, which is providing funding to all Carbondale public schools. Thank you to the CEF board for all of your work on behalf of our children, as well as the volunteers and donors.

Principal Kendall Reiley Crystal River Elementary

Buy local

I eat at the Village Smithy, not the Village Inn. I view films at the Crystal Theatre not Movieland. I shop for groceries at Mana Foods, not City Market. I gas up at the Roaring Fork Valley Coop, not the Cowen Center. I bank at Alpine Bank, not Chase. I listen to KDNK, not Colorado Public Radio. I read The Sopris Sun, not the Denver Post. This is not only because I want to promote the local economy, but it gives me a warm and cuddly feeling to do business with my neighbors. These big

In pastoral counseling, my ordination provides a different kind of authority — not the expertise I claimed as a mediator, but the authority that comes through the church’s recognition of God’s call. When I offer absolution or blessing, I do so not in my own name but as Christ’s representative. This sacramental dimension transforms every pastoral encounter from professional service into sacred ministry.

The rhythm of liturgical seasons shapes my life in ways lay ministry never could. Preparing for Easter while the valley awakens from winter, mirrors the resurrection hope I offer to grieving parishioners. Advent’s quiet preparation amid holiday chaos provides counter-cultural witness to our consumer culture. The weekly Eucharist anchors both my own spiritual life and that of our mountain communities.

Living and serving in this magnificent valley has taught me that God’s creation itself is a form of revelation. The dramatic peaks surrounding our communities remind us daily of the transcendent, while the changing seasons mark liturgical time with natural rhythm. Our small congregations, like the mustard seed in Jesus’ parable, may be tiny but they are vital to the spiritual life of these mountain communities.

Here in Colorado’s high country, I have found the perfect fusion of my love for learning, my skills in leadership and conflict resolution and my deep calling to serve God’s people. Whether leading morning prayer as the sun rises over the Continental Divide or blessing marriages against the backdrop of autumn aspen, I am continually grateful for God’s call to serve in this sacred place.

The transition from successful professional to country priest has been the most fulfilling chapter of my journey — proof that when we finally say yes to God’s persistent call, we discover joys beyond our wildest imagination.

corporations don’t know me and I don’t know them. I don’t know if I can trust them. Given my past experiences with large national companies, I probably can’t. The corporations don’t know what I need, want or can afford.

Buy local.

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

Congrats, ‘Mama Sandy’

As a child, I thought all parents were alike, only later realizing I won the lottery with mine — two people dedicated to helping the less fortunate.

Sandy Mulcahy, known globally as “Mama Sandy,” was lying in her mother’s arms at 7, during World War II, when her Mom suddenly died. She was raised and cared for by Gussie, their maid, who gave her a supernatural love for the people of Kenya. A University of Texas graduate and 60-year Arlington resident, with a seasonal home in Basalt, she’s led as the president of Chi Omega Alumnae, taught Bible Study Fellowship for 25 years and currently teaches adult Sunday school while also serving as a historian for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra League. She received the 2015 Ruby Award in Education from Christian Women’s Job Corps and is being

honored by Pitkin County with the Good Samaritan Award.

In 2012, she and her late husband, Bud, co-founded Africa Water Wells, a ministry supporting Kenyan communities and often written about in Colorado and Texas. Africa Water Wells’ eight team trips provided women’s life skills training, men’s teaching enhancement, a rehab center, Khan Academy’s RACHEL-Pi for offline education computer labs for students and free medical exams and medicine.

The ministry has drilled 17 water wells for schools and hospitals and trained rural families about clean water filter systems. Sandy’s book, “Into Africa,” recounts how a 50th anniversary safari sparked this transformative work and is available for check-out at the library.

Please join me for a brief talk about Sandy’s journey on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 2pm in the Dunaway Room of Aspen’s Pitkin County Library, or at 5pm at the Basalt Library.

For less than the cost of an Aspen lift ticket, a filter can provide Kenyan families with a million gallons of clean water for 20 years. For $10,000, one can dedicate a water well at Kipkelion Special Needs School, Moi Minaret Boys School or for the 1,156

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com

Contributing

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OUR UNDERWRITERS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS!

SCUTTLEBUTT

Fire restrictions

Last week, Garfield and Pitkin counties, along with the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Upper Colorado River District, reduced fire restrictions from stage 2 to stage 1. The Town of Carbondale followed suit. Campfires and smoking are only allowed within designated areas; explosives and fireworks remain prohibited.

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Governor Jared Polis expressed dismay with President Donald Trump’s decision last week to move the U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama, undoing a Bidenera decision. According to Polis, “Uprooting Space Command will weaken national security and readiness, waste taxpayer dollars and inconvenience military families.” Trump said Colorado allowing voting by mail was a factor in the decision.

Gray wolf mortality

On May 31, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received notice that a male gray wolf died in northwest Colorado. Because this is a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act, an investigation ensued. The findings, published Sept. 9, attribute the cause of death to “blunt force trauma sustained during a suspected vehicle collision.” Additionally, a final report of lethal removal efforts in Rio Blanco County was published at www.bit.ly/CPW-report

Carter Condominiums

The Carter Condominiums project in Glenwood Springs is accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis. This unique homeownership opportunity, made possible thanks to Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley, sets unit prices according to income beginning as low as $320,000. Closings have begun, with open houses this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12-13. For more information, visit thecarter.aspenvalleyrei.com

Orphaned wells

The State of Colorado currently has 45,800 active oil and gas wells (approximately). As of June 30, 2025, there were 948 orphaned wells — beyond their productive life and with no owner/operator willing to plug them. To prevent the release of hydrocarbons and other fluids into the environment, Colorado’s Orphaned Well Program plugged 95 orphaned wells in fiscal year 2025 (ending June 30), with additional work at 258 sites and 113 facilities. Expenditures totaled $15 million, funded primarily by operator fees and grants. Learn more at ecmc.colorado.gov

Hunting season

The 2025 hunting season kicked off on Sept. 2 with bear and archery season; both wrap on Sept. 30. Muzzleloader season begins Sept. 13 and ends Sept. 21. General rifle seasons are: Oct. 15-19, Oct. 25 to Nov. 2, Nov. 8-16 and Nov. 19-23. Outdoor recreators are encouraged to wear fluorescent orange or pink colors; big-game hunters are required to do so. Due to wildfire danger, hunters are asked to secure chains on campers and trailers, check tire pressure, avoid driving over dry grass, use established campfire rings where permitted and never leave fires unattended. For more information, visit www.cpw.state.co.us/hunting

Wilderness Workshop

Local conservation advocacy nonprofit Wilderness Workshop announced Sept. 4 they are hiring a marketing and philanthropy manager to support fundraising, membership programs and community engagement work. Find details about the job at www.wildernessworkshop.org/careers

Hay Directory

Recently, the Colorado Department of Agriculture published the 2025 Colorado Hay Directory. Organized by region, the directory is meant to connect producers and buyers. “In the world of agriculture, efficiency and strong networks are key, and that’s precisely what the Colorado Hay Directory offers,” said Danielle

Trotta, senior marketing specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “We are not only facilitating transactions but also strengthening the vital relationships that underpin Colorado’s agricultural economy.” Find the directory online at www.ag.colorado.gov/markets or call 303-8699175 to request a printed copy.

‘War of the Worlds’ Stage of Life Theatre Company recently announced its Halloween collaboration with Sopris Soarers: a live radio production of “War of the Worlds” adapted by Howard E. Koch from the H.G. Wells story. The age range for this play is 8 to 12 and aspiring actors are asked to try out at the Thunder River Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9am to noon. Find details and registration at www.soltheatrecompany.org

They say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Debbie Crawford, Aaron Garland and Alexa Webster (Sept. 11); Teddy Benge, Anna Jasmine, Paramroop Khalsa, Julie Paxton, Taryn Pearce and Kendall Reiley (Sept. 12); Andy Bohmfalk, Adam Carballeira, Allyn Harvey, Dominique Jackson and Chrissie Leonard (Sept. 13); Matt Lang, Megan Miller, Joan Sundeen, Cassidy Willey and Rebecca Young (Sept. 14); Kathryn Camp and Nina Pedersen (Sept. 15); Al Draina, Riley Marshall and Eaden Shantay (Sept. 16); Vanessa Anthes, Smith Blanchard, Eric Gross, Dani Grace Kopf, Lori Meraz, Ken Olson and Bob Stein

17).

(Sept.

Ahead of the Crystal Theatre Alliance nonprofit taking over operations, the Crystal Theatre hosted a reunion of current and former staff for the one last time on Saturday night, Sept. 6. From left to right: (back row) Danny Perkins, Bob Ezra, Hank Van Berlo, Heather Mavis Fitzgerald, Kathryn Ross, Mark Chain, Will Grandbois, (middle row) Lynn Burton, Kathy Ezra, Wendy Stewart, Priscilla Dickinson, Susie Johnston, Jeff Dickinson, (front row) Debra Burleigh, Sue Horn. Shelle deBeque, Nancy Smith. Courtesy photo

CPW working hard to keep zebra mussels from sticking

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

This summer, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has ramped up testing and treatment of Colorado waters to prevent the further spread of zebra mussels in rivers and lakes.

Between April and mid-August, the agency collected some 318 water samples from different spots along the Colorado River, plus 58 samples from the Eagle River and 26 samples from the Roaring Fork River. Four of the Colorado River samples contained zebra mussel veligers, which are free-swimming larvae and the last juvenile stage of the mollusks. No adult zebra mussels were detected in any of the water samples.

Zebra mussels are an aggressive aquatic nuisance species that is invasive to North America. The species has been disrupting U.S. ecosystems since being discovered in the Midwest at Lake St. Clair in 1988, spreading to 33 states in the intervening decades. Zebra mussels were first noticed in the western states in Lake Mead in 2007. Colorado waters remained uncontaminated by the species until 2022, when zebra mussels were identified in Highline Lake near the Utah border.

Zebra mussels are resilient and have spread primarily by attaching to trailered watercraft that wasn’t sufficiently cleaned after use in contaminated bodies of water. The species can also attach to other hard surfaces exposed to water, including fishing waders, bait buckets, live wells and other transportable equipment. They can survive for up to 30 days without water. The larvae are microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye.

The contaminated Highline Lake, near Loma, Colorado, was treated with a copper-based molluscicide in 2022 and then drained in 2024 to combat the infestation. Upon refilling the lake, the water once again tested positive for zebra mussels, and the Grand Valley Water Users Association stated in July that they are looking

Over the past three years, CPW officials have been monitoring Western Slope waters closely in efforts to halt the spread of the invasive species. Adult zebra mussels attach themselves in dense groups to water storage, treatment and distribution infrastructure. This type of spread can clog and destroy water systems, wreaking havoc on agricultural, municipal and industrial resources. Though the Colorado Front Range faces issues with other invasive aquatic species not present in Western Slope watersheds, CPW has named mussels as the most serious threat to Colorado waters.

“We worked with Stefan for several years before making a decision to purchase in Snowmass Village. He remained patient, diligent, professional and very informative as our parameters were complicated. In the end, he found the perfect property for our family. He is a tremendous resource regarding the entire Roaring Fork Valley but most of all a very good person and has become a friend. I’ve worked with many real estate advisors before and can say without hesitation and complete enthusiasm that Stefan quietly outworked them all and is a true professional at his trade.”

Rusty R. | Santa Barbara, CA

into ways to repeat the copper treatment. Though expensive, it is a preferable option to removing and replacing infrastructure that would be destroyed if the mussels are not eradicated.

Also in July, CPW announced that through the extensive water testing, its teams identified the probable source of zebra mussel contamination: a privately-owned lake in western Eagle County. The single lake is being viewed as the source which has contaminated not only Highline Lake, but the Government Highline Canal, Mack Mesa Lake and the western stretches of the Colorado River.

In a mid-August press release, CPW invasive species program manager Robert Walters shared updates about the situation and a treatment plan for the private lake, the name of which has not been released

to the public. “We are grateful for the continued collaboration with the private landowner,” Walters said. “They understand the dangers zebra mussels pose to our environment and water infrastructure.”

The lake has been treated with EarthTec QZ, the EPA-registered, copper-based molluscicide used on Highline Lake. Following this initial treatment, CPW staff will routinely monitor the water to evaluate its effectiveness. “Eradicating invasive mussels is extremely difficult,” explained Walters, “which is why we focus so heavily on preventing their introduction.” CPW plans to continue extensive testing of adjacent waters with the goal of catching and preventing further infestation.

CPW is working with local partners around the region to provide resources

continued on page 16

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is partnering with towns, counties, and local nonprofits to combat the spread of invasive zebra mussels in Colorado waters. Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Entering and exiting Aurora’s ICE detention facility

HECTOR SALAS-GALLEGOS

Sopris Sun Correspondent

If you are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Colorado, you’ll likely end up in Aurora at the Denver Contract Detention Facility, run by GEO Group, Inc. — one of America’s largest private prison corporations. GEO relies on contracts with federal agencies, like ICE, which made up more than 42% of its revenue in 2023, according to its Security and Exchange Commission filing.

This year, ICE has held over 61,000 people in detention, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, 86% of whom end up in for-profit prisons. For GEO, this can be quite lucrative. The Aurora facility alone has over 15,000 beds.

“ICE has worked with private detention operators, local governments and other federal partners to identify and bring online over 60 new detention facilities and added permanent and temporary capacity to its existing facilities for a total of approximately 18,000 additional beds active or pending activation,” an ICE spokesperson told The Sopris Sun. Although, the Aurora facility is still the only one of its kind listed in Colorado.

GEO claimed they provide a robust suite of services, including recreational amenities and

translation services among other things. “Health care staffing at GEO’s ICE Processing Center is more than double that of many states’ correctional facilities,” stated a spokesperson with GEO.

However, immigrant rights advocates, including the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), warn that for-profit prisons are concerned with just that: profit.

“To ensure a steady revenue stream, these companies actively lobby for stricter immigration policies and laws that mandate detention, effectively advocating to keep more people locked up for their own financial gain,” a CIRC rep told The Sopris Sun.

“These corporations steal from our communities, winning billion-dollar contracts from the government to run a system that tears families apart and monetizes human suffering.”

labor and unjust enrichment.

Beyond labor, GEO prisons nationwide have longstanding allegations of inhumane conditions, violence, inadequate medical care and physical and sexual abuse. The Aurora facility has been involved in two wrongful death lawsuits, one settled confidentially and the other still pending.

CIRC, however, has received reports of meals being sparse or inedible, and supposedly potable water has been described as undrinkable. Guards have allegedly mocked detained people with racist and abusive language. People in the facility have told CIRC they are frequently woken up at 3am for deportation roundups or transfers, never knowing if their name will be called next and afraid to speak out due to threats of isolation.

Being able to start pulling out our birth certificates from under the mattress and gathering these documents and really having these honest conversations — that’s where we really start shifting our power in some of our communities that are just feeling terror,

- Andrea Loya, Casa de Paz

Federal regulations tied to the Geneva Conventions allow for-profit prisons like GEO to pay detained people as little as $1 a day through voluntary work programs, according to ICE’s 2025 Detention Standards. In fact, this led to a 2014 class-action lawsuit against GEO that is still pending appeal, accusing the company of violating Colorado’s prohibition on forced

“Any accusations that detainees are treated inhumanely in any way are categorically false,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated. The spokesperson did concede that ICE detention facilities are “experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations.”

“Mentally, the constant fear of deportation, the trauma of indefinite isolation and the brutality of separation from family inflict severe anxiety, depression and profound trauma,” the CIRC spokesperson explained.

And people detained by ICE don’t have access to a government-appointed attorney. Someone can either pay for representation or use the available law library to best represent themselves. Posting bond is another option, but ICE doesn’t accept partial payments and the minimum bond is $1,500.

Nurturing connection

Functionally, detained people are largely segregated from the outside world while awaiting release or deportation. That can

be a lonely and mentally strenuous experience for them and their families.

This is where Casa de Paz steps in. Since 2012, the organization has supported people released from, and currently detained in, Aurora. The organization helps reconnect people with loved ones, provides safe post-release spaces, sends letters of hope to people inside, coordinates visitations and assists with travel arrangements post-release.

“Casa provides that piece of hope of being able to know that somebody’s still waiting for you, or somebody still cares about you,” said Executive Director Andrea Loya.

Loya added that the organization has seen a dramatic shift in releases under the current administration. Between 2019 and January 2025, they supported about 18,000 people in this way. But since February, daily releases have dropped, rarely exceeding more than five. And, apparently, the time between processing and release has stretched from two or three weeks to eight or nine months on average.

Loya said some of the most devastating calls to Casa de Paz come from family members who avoided hard conversations, which ultimately left a parent

continued on page 16

Carbondale Arts awards fresh round of fellowship grants

MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent

On Aug. 12, Carbondale Arts announced the six local creatives receiving the latest round of grants through its Artist Fellowship Program. Each will receive $2,000 thanks to support from the Wolfpack Foundation and additional, anonymous donors. Awardees Gabriela Mejia, Anders Carlson, Andrea Orrego, Zuleika Pevec, Jill Scher and Morgan Williams will be able to use the grants to fund active projects. They will share progress updates throughout the year, then present the final results next summer.

In conversation with The Sopris Sun, Carlson, Orrego, Scher and Williams said they felt deeply honored to have been selected. Each said they are actively working hard on their projects and they look forward to the final presentations. Mejia and Pevec were unavailable for comment.

Filmmaker Carlson plans to use his fellowship award to help fund a film about the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado, in collaboration with Dr. John Hughes of the Sacred Wolf Foundation.

“With the reintroduction of the wolves, we have a dynamic causing tension within our community and various groups,” Carlson described. “We have individuals who make their livelihood on the land with livestock, and we have others who want to

see the natural environment restored to its former functioning. This issue presents an opportunity for us to engage in a dialogue in our community on an issue that divides us. I see this film as a valuable communication opportunity.”

Williams said his band, Sweet Jessup & The Dirty Buckets, will use this opportunity to work on a full-length studio album. The project launched in 2023 and several singles and a demo album produced by Cool Brick Studios are already available for streaming. With a growing and dedicated fanbase, the band aims to find a studio to collaborate with after narrowing down the tracks to include.

“When we play live, we have two and a half hours of music to share, so that leaves us a lot to work with,” he said. “We’re super grateful to have received the money from the grant. We already know we’re supported in this community, but having some money to support that is pretty powerful, and it’s really neat how Carbondale Arts can support all different genres of art in this community.”

In the spirit of highlighting creative diversity in Carbondale, Orrego — a multidisciplinary artist with an extensive background as an architect who has also worked in design and technology — will use her fellowship grant toward publishing a coffee table book

that highlights a myriad of creatives and builders within Carbondale.

“I was and am very excited to be selected,” she said. “It was great to see a vast cohort of people win, and it was especially great to see how different everyone’s projects were. My idea for the coffee table book is to be graphic and have different chapters in which I showcase the community builders or the people moving and doing things here. Let’s say, a chapter for people in building and construction, one for dancers, one for plastic artists and one for people in the restaurant and hospitality business. I want to include a little bit of everyone.”

Scher, who has been a fiber artist since she was 9, plans to create a line of wearable art pieces for the 2026 Carbondale Arts Fashion Show. Her work has

included puppetry and textiles, and the inspiration for this project came from taking an online course from a hatmaker in Amsterdam.

“I have this image in my head of nunofelted capes with a matching hat, and what I have decided is to go through each month in the year and have a corresponding ensemble for each month,” she explained. “I’m really into color; I love working with it. This line of clothing is just one direction for me. Felting is one of those things that is open-ended. You can go in so many directions, and I don’t want to be stuck in just one area, but I always want whatever I do to be beautiful.”

For more updates, visit www.carbondalearts.com

The latest round of Carbondale Arts fellows (left to right): Andrea Orrego, Morgan Williams, Zuleika Pevec, Jill Scher, Gabriela Mejia and Anders Carlson. Courtesy photo

Jeff Colt’s journey to ultra runner

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris

Sun Correspondent

It was the middle of the night, 12:50am on July 19. Darkness hanging over a meadow a few miles south of Buena Vista, there was a lull of tired anticipation. Every year prior, those gathered near the cluster of tents at the finish line hadn’t expected anyone to emerge from the dark until close to 2am. A steady trickle of athletes wouldn’t appear until after dawn.

But Carbondale’s Jeff Colt had hit his stride and finished the climb up from Chalk Creek, past the Mount Princeton Hot Springs, known to racers as Swear Hill. Minutes later, he passed the line, shattering the course record for the High Lonesome 100 ultra-marathon by 50 minutes.

Colt moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2016 and ran his first Western U.S. ultramarathon the following year. That 2017 first placement in the forty-mile Grand Traverse Mountain Run, from Crested Butte to Aspen, was an achievement that helped transition his earlier running background to what is now an impressive and consistent running resume. But Colt has been running since elementary school. He describes the activity as a throughline in his life. One he now treats as a daily practice for his mental and spiritual well-being.

“My brother and I started running cross country when we were 10 and 7, respectively,” said Colt in an interview with The Sopris Sun. “We were highly energetic boys and we needed to be run much like border collies. It’s a strange thing to think of 7-year-old me training for running, but I would get out and run four miles, five days a week.” Colt’s father was supportive of the interest, but emphasized to his young sons that if they wanted to race, it was up to them.

Colt grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He says that the mountains of the Northeast remain a big part of who he is. “I envisioned living in the northern hardwood forests of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine for the rest of my life — truly getting to know the story of the landscape and being able to read the wrinkles on its face.”

But about 10 years ago, he felt a call for change. His sister Robin was living in Carbondale and encouraged Colt to move to the Valley. Colt describes the local scenery as love at first sight: “I first saw Mt. Sopris and have been under her spell ever since.”

The Northeast allowed Colt to build up significant endurance thanks to hiking, in addition to his lifelong running habit. He spent several summers working for the Appalachian Mountain Club at a backcountry hut in the

White Mountains, packing in supplies and cooking and cleaning for guests.

“I started looking at the maps differently,” he said, recalling his pastime routine then. “My daily adventures got longer and longer and I tried my best to run some of the region’s historic routes as fast as I could. Years into exploring ultra-distance, I learned that there was a community of runners and races doing this same thing.”

Since 2018, Colt has competed in several ultras each year. His results include many podium finishes and 11th and ninth placings in consecutive years of the prestigious Western States 100 in California (2022 and 2023). He describes his appreciation for the sport philosophically: “I love that running can be as unstructured or as structured as you want it to be. It can be free verse poetry and prose, or it can be iambic pentameter. There is no right or wrong way to run.”

But Colt also enjoys that running involves earning a kind of feeling. “I love that it isn’t easy for the first couple miles of any run and that it takes falling into a rhythm,” he said. And that was true for his record-setting High Lonesome effort, when he recalled feeling off for nearly the first marathon-distance of the race. But, he added, “By mile 24, I found my rhythm and things started to click.” Colt credits some of that smoothness to other racers, and to his pacers during the race. “Ultrarunning is a community sport and I’m grateful for the amazing folks who showed up to support me.”

Colt has been dreaming of racing in the Hardrock 100, based out of Silverton, Colorado. Hardrock has a notoriously competitive lottery, though, so he’s not sure when he’ll finally get to toe that starting line. “This fall, I’m motivated to link up more beautiful trails and ridgelines in the Elk Mountains, with no objective in mind beyond being present.”

Many Roaring Fork Valley athletes raced in this year’s iteration of High Lonesome. Local finishers of the Buena Vista-based hundred miler include Carbondale’s Jack Watson, Aspen’s Madeline Fones, Carbondale’s Heidi Warfel, Woody Creek’s Kelsey Coon and Aspen’s Tessa Dawson. High Lonesome has gained national attention for its gender equity efforts, requiring that half of its 150 race entries go to women and the other to men.

Jeff Colt on the move during the High Lonesome 100 in July, and on his way to setting a new course record for the ultramarathon. Photo by Oliver Sutro

BASALT REPORT

BPAC looks to the future after another successful summer

WILL BUZZERD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

During this week’s regular Town Council meeting, over a dozen residents living on Homestead Drive came to the podium to voice safety and quality-of-life concerns in regard to the recently completed Midland Avenue Streetscape Project. Last week marked the final installment of the Basalt Summer Concert Series, but the concern was that increased traffic to historic Basalt has led to an overflow of pedestrians and vehicles — from Midland’s commercial area and onto the primarily residential Homestead Drive.

Residents suggested creating a neighborhood advisory committee that would work closely with Town staff and the police department to implement possible solutions to parking, zoning and noise complaints.

Mayor David Knight praised the group for using their voice, and directed staff to organize a meeting. Councilor Ryan Slack echoed the mayor and urged any Basalt citizens who want to see change to approach the council.

Presentations

Representatives from the Basalt Public Arts Commission (BPAC) and the Basalt Green Team presented their drafted work plans for 2026.

BPAC has had a successful year thus far. The team has awarded 12 grants to local artists and organizations. And, in the spring, it launched the Arts Consignment Program, through which artists can publicly display their work in Basalt until it’s sold. BPAC received 40 submissions for the program and is currently in the midst of a selection process. BPAC also organized and hosted the third annual Summer Concert Series and the second annual Basalt River Jams.

Looking ahead, BPAC aims to expand its grant program with matching sponsors, and continue offering the same successful programming for the next 10 years. The team also plans to pursue a Colorado Creative District or similar designation in Basalt, which would not only shine a light on local creativity but also attract new funding opportunities.

The Basalt Green Team also had a successful year. In 2025, the Green Team launched its Community Composting Plan, with approximately 130 users to date. And the team had to end the extremely popular e-bike rebate program early due to a depletion of those funds.

In 2026, the Green Team plans to expand its Building Benchmarking Program to track emissions from new construction. Developed in partnership with the Community Office for Resource Efficiency, the program is currently voluntary. However, the Green Team intends to make the program a requirement sometime in the future. As far as alternative transportation, the team will continue to support the WE-Cycle program and plans to expand the Basalt Connect rideshare program to Basalt-adjacent areas.

Waste management and composting continue to be priorities, and the team plans on developing a commercial composting program wherein participating vendors can receive Green Business designations.

Community outreach

This week, the Town also published a notice that its staff is seeking public input regarding design guidelines for Midland Avenue. The guidelines will be used to direct both new construction and alterations to existing buildings in order to preserve Downtown Basalt’s historic character. Members of the public are encouraged to visit www.letstalk.basalt.net where they can share photos of their favorite buildings and what they think makes Basalt special. The comment period is open through October.

Citizens are also encouraged to use the same website to offer feedback concerning the renovation of Cliff’s Hillside Park on West Homestead Drive. The park is a candidate for ADA and general safety improvements. The current playground structure was gifted to Basalt by tennis champion Martina Navratilova, but after many years has reached the end of its lifespan.

Split council votes to proceed with toll plan for South Bridge project

JOHN STROUD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Glenwood Springs City Council convened for its first of two regular September meetings on Thursday, Sept. 4, with all council members present in person.

The big item on the night’s agenda came toward the end of the morethan-three-hour-long meeting, when council, following a long, sometimes testy discussion, voted 4-3 to proceed on the long-debated South Bridge project with the idea of using a toll as a mechanism to deter use of the future bridge and the Airport Road/Midland Avenue corridor as a Highway 82 bypass.

Council was pressed to make a decision one way or the other by the Federal Highway Administration, which is sitting on $50 million in approved, but now uncertain, Rural Surface Transportation Grant funding for the estimated $84 million project, City Manager Steve Boyd advised.

The toll concept arose earlier this year when city officials — in an effort to ensure the bridge serves its primary intended purpose as an emergency egress route for South Glenwood and the Four Mile corridor, and not as a bypass for through traffic headed to and from western Garfield County — began exploring mechanisms to accomplish that.

one … If there’s no evacuation route, people will die. I cannot in good conscience advocate for something that keeps my backyard more peaceful, but could potentially cause the loss of life.”

Councilor Ray Schmahl called Zalinski’s comments “an emotional response to a practical problem.” He moved to proceed with the toll concept, garnering the support of councilors Smith, Sumner Schachter and David Townsley.

Zalinski dissented along with Councilor Mitchell Weimer and Mayor Marco Dehm, who was clearly upset by the decision.

“I’m mad, I’m extremely mad. I need to breathe,” Dehm said at the conclusion of the meeting.

Affordable housing subsidy

In another split vote prompted by the Trump Administration’s pullback of previously approved federal grant money, the council agreed to backfill a funding gap for the 80-unit Canyon Vista affordable housing project in West Glenwood.

The project is backed by federal low-income-housing tax credits to allow for below-market rents. However, the loss of an EPA solar energy grant and other funding uncertainty has created a shortfall, a developer representative explained.

When people heard about the toll as an option, the atmosphere changed ... It was finally a tool people could see tangibly as a way to do this.

In addition to traffic-calming design features, the toll idea emerged. Some council members and residents of the South Glenwood area liked the idea of charging a toll for non-Glenwood residents using the new bridge route.

- Councilor Steve Smith

The City is already backing the project to the tune of $1.75 million from its dedicated 2C affordable housing fund. The additional ask amounted to about $1.5 million, including a $730,640 reimbursement from that fund to cover general fund impact fees, and another $785,000 in direct 2C dollars.

Councilor Steve Smith recalled a June 30 South Bridge workshop attended by about 165 people. Attendees were about evenly split between those supporting and not supporting South Bridge, Smith said.

“When people heard about the toll as an option, the atmosphere changed,” said Smith. “It was finally a tool people could see tangibly as a way to do this.”

However, some council members fear a toll could further stall the project, which has been in discussion since the 2002 Coal Seam Fire nearly forced the evacuation of the entire Four Mile corridor as the flames threatened to jump the ridge from West Glenwood.

They also worried that it could be viewed as a big enough change in the scope of the project for the federal grant to be pulled.

A toll muddies the water as to the purpose of the bridge, said Mayor Pro Tem Erin Zalinski, who joined city officials in Washington, D.C. for the federal funding pitch prior to its December 2023 approval.

That pitch centered around public safety, not a bypass, she said.

“This is my literal backyard,” Zalinski said. “But the reason for this is a very real

If the developer fails to backfill the funding, they could lose the tax credits, city Housing Development Manager Kevin Rayes advised.

The council voted 5-2 on a compromise to award the initial $730,640 in transfer funds, but to wait on the remainder to give the developer time to seek out other possible funding sources. Councilors Schmahl and Smith were inclined to find a way to award the full request now, in hopes of helping the developer close on the former Glenwood Gardens project site by December.

In other news

A proclamation was read acknowledging the city’s 140th birthday (Glenwood Springs was incorporated as a city in late 1885); council heard a report on the City’s external and internal communications efforts; and resident John Banks appeared under the public comments section of the meeting, asking for more transparency regarding a pending decision coming before City Council on Sept. 18 whether to rezone the Glenwood Springs Mall property to mixed use.

Last week marked this year’s final installment of the Summer Concert Series, organized by the Basalt Public Arts Commission. Courtesy photo

Pool completion delayed, opening date unaffected

RALEIGH BURLEIGH

Sopris Sun Editor

With schools back in session, the first regular Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting of September saw the return of Student of the Month awards. Congratulations to Scarlett Cohen and Nico Dominguez! All trustees were in attendance, minus Jess Robison.

The swiftly-approved consent agenda consisted of meeting minutes, liquor license renewals for White House Pizza and Rhumba Girl Liquors, accounts payable and authorization for the new town manager and finance director to sign checks. Carbondale’s new finance director is Ola Verploegh. He grew up in New Mexico, moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2006 and has held leadership roles in finance for more than 20 years. This is his first job in municipal finance.

During trustee comments, Ross Kribbs mentioned that the Insane-A-Cycle sculpture by William Morrow was appraised at a rate lower than his heirs valued it, causing them to hold the donation. Kribbs emphasized the appraisal value does not represent the Town’s appreciation. “We really love that sculpture,” he said. “Having it in the

GARFIELD COUNTY REPORT

Town’s collection increases the value and makes sure it’s well-kept.”

Colin Laird announced that the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition is moving forward on the purchase of another home, this time in Carbondale, through the Good Deeds program which has now secured close to 20 deed-restricted houses by helping locals purchase them.

Town Attorney Susan Ryan announced she was appointed by Governor Jared Polis to serve as a 9th Judicial Court judge. Although this means her departure from working for the Town of Carbondale, the news was received with much support. “I really enjoyed working with all of you,” she said.

The first action item of the meeting consisted of permit approvals for Potato Day, Oct. 4. In its 116th consecutive year, Potato Day will feature a beer garden (with wine and spirits) and raise funds for Seed Peace — Casey’s Fund for Farmers under the fiscal umbrella of The Center for Human Flourishing. In honor of the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby,” the theme is “The Grate Spudsby.”

Trustees then received their monthly update on the Aquatics Center. Stephanie Hirsch with Wember, the owner’s rep on the

project, informed trustees that a number of factors will push the project’s completion into January, however this shouldn’t affect the target opening date of May 22. By the end of November, a memo states, “conditions will allow for the removal of the construction fence … making the sidewalk and bus stop accessible.” Most additional costs will be absorbed by the contractor’s contingency. Contract extensions for architect Land+Shelter and Wember will be covered by the owner’s contingency, which remains healthy, Hirsch stated.

Kribbs requested that with more time for the project to come together, and now that the Forest Service building is complete, a pathway from Main Street to Sopris Park be considered similar to the one that previously existed. “It would gladden my heart,” he said.

Lastly, trustees accepted an extension for landscaping public improvements at the Little Blue Preschool. Trustees reviewed a deed restriction for the Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park — a condition for granting funding toward the purchase of that park by residents. They then heard from the Town’s auditor, McMahan and Associates, and began discussing the 2026 budget.

Hooray for firefighters and the county airport

AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent

Praise and gratitude opened Monday’s Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, but not before Fred Standefer of Aspen Glen asked the BOCC to curb development in the area. “At present, there are three active development applications on your website that will have a huge impact on our property,” he said. “First, there’s the Harvest Roaring Fork, which is about 571 pages. There is the Reserve at Aspen Glen at about 371 pages, and then there’s Sages at Aspen Glen with 271 more pages.”

Standefer warned the BOCC about potential traffic problems on Highway 82 and surrounding roads as well as the burden on infrastructure, wildlife migration corridors, the Roaring Fork River and air quality. He encouraged the County to consider the developments as one. “In your personal assessment of this, please take into account the severe negative impact the combined developments will have on this area,” he said.

Two men from Sweetwater were on hand to praise firefighters and the County for their efforts to keep the Derby Fire away from communities north of Dotsero. “The biggest piece is years ago, Garfield County supported putting a firehouse up in Sweetwater,” said Derrick Wiemer. “If you witnessed how that firehouse was used over the last [several] weeks, it would absolutely do nothing but bring tears to your eyes.” He also thanked commissioners for supporting the Sweetwater community over the years against a proposed state park. The first agenda item dovetailed quite nicely into the Sweetwater comments. A letter from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team praised the staff at the Rifle-Garfield County Airport for their help during the Elk and Lee fires last month and for the existence of the airport in general.

The letter reads in part:

“Water-dropping helicopters and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) played a vital role in slowing fire spread and supporting crews on the ground. Having a nearby, wellequipped airport to serve these aircraft significantly increased our efficiency by minimizing turnaround times.”

“I don’t know that the public in Garfield County realizes what an asset our airport is for fire prevention and firefighting,” said Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky. “I mean, we house a number of different agencies there — state, federal, local — so hats off to you guys.”

According to Watch Duty, as of Tuesday morning, the Derby Fire remains at 5,453 acres and is 70% contained.

After the ecstasy, the laundry

Once the fire kudos were handed out, the BOCC got down to the more mundane business of the week. This included a supplemental budget request for $77,771 and a contract for new software for the county assessor.

The BOCC approved the consent agenda, which included a letter of support for Gabe Cohen, a convicted felon and resident of Garfield County who is applying for a pardon from Governor Jared Polis. The letter was previously listed as an action item but was moved to the consent agenda late last week. Cohen founded the Kings and Priests Ministry aka the Discovery Cafe in Rifle. Commissioners have offered no explanation for why the letter was moved to the consent agenda.

Other items included requests from Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers to formalize a budgeted grant from the County for $12,000 and from the airport for a federal grant for improvements; a supplemental budget request for $24,635 to restore safety features in the courthouse inmate elevator; and discussion about an

internal Human Services promotion to fill a supervisor vacancy. They also discussed comments on the U.S Forest Service Wolf Creek pipeline replacement project, focusing on impacts to the county’s road system.

The afternoon session got off to an interesting start with public comment from Grand Junction resident Dan Roberts, CEO of Energy Development Partners, LLC (EDP). Roberts registered EDP with the State of Colorado on Aug. 15 and loosely presented his Battlement Mesa development plan to the BOCC Monday.

He offered no documentation or contact information and said he did not have a

website. He added that the Battlement Mesa Metro District (BMMD) was among several supporters of his idea. The BMMD told The Sopris Sun that they will not work with Roberts unless the BOCC makes a decision. Moving on, commissioners granted an extension to the Froning family to file a final plat for their subdivision on County Road 107, north of Carbondale. Commissioners approved plans for two helicopter and storage yards near Parachute that will support Xcel Energy’s pole and electrical line replacement into next year. “Some of the poles go back to 1949,” said Xcel Energy representative Cory Miller.

Scarlett Cohen was one of two students of the month honored at Tuesday’s meeting. Nico Dominguez was absent.

Photo by Raleigh Burleigh

Healthcare in Aspen: A Journey Through Time

Join Aspen Valley Health and Aspen Historical Society for an inspiring evening of storytelling, history and community connection.

Thursday, September 18

4:30 pm Welcome Reception

5:30 pm Presentation led by Amy Honey from Aspen Historical Society

Aspen Valley Health Medical Center, Main Entrance

Enjoy light bites and refreshments

FREE and open to all

Explore Aspen’s rich healthcare history through images and a lively conversation featuring longtime locals whose dedication has helped shape healthcare in our community for generations to come.

Panelists

· John Sarpa, Moderator

· Dave Ressler, AVH CEO

· Barry Mink, MD

· Bud Glismann, MD

· Annette “Nettie” Kremer

Celebrate the past and glimpse the future of healthcare in our valley!

RSVP today

Aspen Historical Society, Aspen Illustrated News Collection

Aspen Historical Society, Vagneur Collection

Downvalley high schools combine forces for Basaltbased boys tennis team

JOHN STROUD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Several high school sports wouldn’t even be an option for area student-athletes, were it not for a rule that allows for schools to team up if they don’t have enough numbers to support a particular program on their own.

Among them for Roaring Fork and Basalt high schools, and in some cases Glenwood Springs High and Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS), are softball, cross country, wrestling, lacrosse, golf and tennis.

The boys tennis program, based at Basalt High School but including athletes from Basalt, Roaring Fork, CRMS and Glenwood, has benefitted greatly from that arrangement in recent years.

This season, the team is made up of 13 players, including 11 on varsity and two junior varsity players who are new to the sport, first-year head coach Shelley Lundh Freeman said.

Roaring Fork junior Hank Bielenberg has been playing tennis for about eight years, and said the opportunity to play on a high school team, even if it’s not for his own school, has improved his game.

“It’s been fun, and it’s cool to be with all these other guys,” Bielenberg said just before his singles match against an Aspen

opponent at the Crown Mountain Park tennis courts on Sept. 3.

“It just makes for a bigger community around high school tennis, and you get to meet and play a lot of different guys from throughout the Valley.”

Bielenberg said he likes tennis compared to other sports for its technical aspect.

“It’s harder than some other sports in that sense, but there’s definitely a lot of exertion and you have to be a good athlete,” he said.

AJ Lott is a senior at Glenwood Springs High, which fields its own girls tennis team but doesn’t have a boys team. So the combined Basalt team was his opportunity to play a sport he’s come to love since taking summer lessons at the Glenwood Springs Community Center before he went into high school.

“I just love that you’re staying active, first and foremost,” he said. “But you also need a lot more patience than you’d think to play tennis. It’s really easy to get frustrated in this sport, and you still get angry. But it teaches you to come down, you know, zen.”

Fritz Simmons is a senior at CRMS, a private prep school in Carbondale.

“We’re not a ball sports school,” he said. “We’re more kayaking, climbing, skiing … but my mom played tennis when I was younger, and I always looked up to her and went to tennis camps in the summer.

You are invited to Carbondale Fire’s Annual Community Open House!

Bring the whole family for a day of fun, food, free swag, and fire safety with your Carbondale Firefighters and Paramedics

See everything we have planned at www carbondalefire org/openhouse or scan the QR code

“So, tennis is great for me, and it’s nice to interact with other schools,” said the Carbondale native.

Lundh Freeman started coaching the Basalt girls team two years ago, and became the assistant boys coach last year before taking on the head coaching duties. Both Basalt teams have combined players from other Valley schools since their inception, she said.

It simply means they have enough players to field a team, Lundh Freeman said.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a sport that’s promoted in middle school or younger,” she said. “So the kids, by the time they get to high school, are already looking at soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball, all these other sports, and they don’t think of tennis.”

In an effort to grow the numbers, she and her husband, Howard Freeman, who is the assistant coach for the Basalt boys team, recently started a summer tennis program for middle schoolers. “Hopefully we can get younger people interested, so by the time they reach high school, they’ll think of tennis,” she said.

The team has improved this season, thus far earning two full team wins and garnering several wins in individual and doubles match play.

Basalt lost 4-3 to Aspen last week, but Bielenberg, Lott and Simmons all won their singles matches and Lott teamed up with sophomore Tyler Portman to win their doubles match.

continued on page 16

Senior AJ Lott and sophomore Tyler Portman (left) greet their doubles match opponents from Aspen ahead of the Sept. 3 Basalt boys tennis match-up against the Skiers on Sept. 3 at the Crown Mountain Park tennis courts. Photo by John Stroud

LEAD KING LOOP

RUN & HIKE

25K - 8 MILE - KIDS RACE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

INDEPENDENCE RUN & HIKE

Beginning today and for one week only, Independence Run & Hike hosts an anniversary and end of summer sale.

MEET AND BLEAT

Goats on the Go offers a “Meet and Bleat” at the Gus Darien Arena from 10am to noon, celebrating 10 years of working with RFTA to manage weeds on the Rio Grande Trail.

NONFICTION BOOK CLUB

The Nonfiction Book Club discusses books about sports and athletes at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3pm. For details, call 970-963-2889.

BANNED BOOK CLUB

Basalt Library’s Banned Book Club discusses “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou at 4pm.

CMC AT THE LIBRARY

A bilingual Colorado Mountain College rep shares English as a second language and high school equivalency resources and the Basalt Library from 4:30 to 5:30pm. For details, call 970-236-0451.

SPANISH CLASS

Colorado Mountain College begins a multiweek storytelling and conversational Spanish class at the Carbondale campus on Fridays from 5 to 7pm through Nov. 13. More details at www.coloradomtn.edu/ community-education

CMC HISTORY

Learn all about the 60-year history of Colorado Mountain College with Kristin Heath Colon, CEO of the Colorado Mountain College Foundation, at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6:30pm.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Parents are invited to FocusedKids’ virtual workshop, “From Chaos to Calm: Back to School Routines that Actually Work,” from 7 to 8pm. Register at www.focusedkids.org

‘TRUE WEST’

Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of “True West” continues tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm. Sunday’s performance is at 2pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com

CHAPARELLE

Chaparelle — “a harmonious union” of singer-songwriters Zella Day and Jesse Woods — performs with Harley Ellis at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

GREEN EXPO

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency presents a free green expo at the Limelight Hotel in Aspen with demos and speakers from 1 to 5pm and cocktails and climate conversation from 5 to 6pm. Find details at www.aspencore.org

MUSIC UNDER THE BRIDGE

Local Celtic band Oran Mor performs at Bethel Plaza, under the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs, from 4:30 to 7:30pm.

LIT ON THE LAWN

Listen to music and hang out with fellow book lovers on the lawn of the Basalt Library from 5 to 7pm. Bring whatever you’re reading!

FUTURE TRIPPING

Connie Baxter Marlow and Andrew Cameron Bailey — filmmakers, photographers, authors and more — present “Tripping into the Future” at the Third Street Center at 7pm, featuring excerpts from their new film.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

The Crystal Theatre Alliance officially takes over Crystal Theatre operations with “The Roses” screening tonight, tomorrow and next Thursday at 7pm. Sunday’s show at 5pm is captioned (as well as next Thursday’s show).

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

‘FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE’

Aspen Public Radio presents “Frontiers of Knowledge,” — “a gathering of world-renowned scientists, philosophers and visionaries” — at the Wheeler Opera House from 9am to 5pm. For details, visit www.frontiersofknowledge.org

MOVE WITH ME

Little ones, 18 months to 3 years, move to the groove, gaining an early appreciation for dancing, at the Basalt Library every Saturday at 10:30am.

LATINO CONSERVATION

In recognition of Latino Conservation Week, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers hosts a restoration project at Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs from 9am to 3pm. Register at www.rfov.org

ART, HEALING & HOPE

Sheri Gaynor, in partnership with the HeadQuarters, guides an art class meant to be healing and fun at The Art Base from 9:30 to 11:30am. Register at www.theartbase.org

TAI CHI FOR KIDS

Author Cari Shurman introduces her new book, “Tai Chi for Kids,” and guides a movement session for elementary students and their adults at the Carbondale Library at 4pm. For details, call the library at 970-963-2889.

QUINLAN VALDEZ

Steve’s Guitars welcomes Quinlan Valdez for a performance at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

RFOV AT FILOHA

Help control invasive plants, for the sake of native stream orchids, at Filoha Meadows with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers from 8:30am to 3pm. Register at www.rfov.org

RUNES TALK

Jory Barnes reveals the mysteries of runes — ancient symbols unlocking wisdom and spiritual discovery — at A Spiritual Center (Room #31 at the Third Street Center) from 10 to 11:30am.

BASALT MARKET & MUSIC

Typical Ghost performs during the Basalt Farmers Market from 10am to 2pm.

FIESTA AMERICAS

Celebrate Latin American culture with live music, dance, food and activities for all ages at the Lundgren Amphitheater in Gypsum from 2 to 6pm.

ZEN 101

Zen Buddhist and certified meditation teacher Billy Wynne guides an immersive exploration of the Zen tradition at True Nature from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

POETRY

The Wheeler Opera House presents “Soundings: A Reading and Workshop with David Gonzales,” an afternoon of poetry and creative exploration workshop from 4 to 5pm, designed for ages 18 and up. Register for free at www. aspenshowtix.com

TEACHER WORKSHOP

FocusedKids offers an online workshop for teachers who’ll “discover how FocusedKids’ brain-based social

emotional learning method can foster focus, reduce disruptions and create a calm, engaged learning environment” from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Register at www.focusedkids.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

YOGA AT THE LIBRARY

Devika Gurung leads movement and mindfulness at the Carbondale Library from 7:30 to 8:30am every Tuesday this September.

MAMA MULCAHY

Sandy Mulcahy, known globally as “Mama Sandy,” speaks at the Pitkin County Library today at 2pm and Basalt Library at 5pm as a recipient of Pitkin County’s Good Samaritan award.

GRIEF SUPPORT SERIES

Sopris Lodge and HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley offers a six-part grief support series for people navigating the loss of a loved one at 3:30pm every third Tuesday through February at the Carbondale Library.

CONCENTRIC RECOVERY

A multi-dimensional recovery community for people struggling with various forms of addiction — from drugs to screentime — convenes at True Nature from 5:30 to 6:45pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets at the Redstone Art Gallery at 6:30pm for informal creative time among fellow artists.

ASPEN FILMFEST

Aspen Film hosts the 46th edition of its flagship festival through Tuesday, Sept. 16, beginning with a screening of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” at the AF Isis Theatre tonight at 7pm. For a schedule of events and screenings, visit www.aspenfilm.org

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

BUSINESS CONFLUENCE

The Carbondale Chamber hosts its Business Confluence, featuring a panel discussion with industry leaders and updates from Carbondale Mayor Ben Bohmfalk, Town Manager Ryan Hyland, Garfield County Manager Fred Jarman, Colorado Department of Labor & Employment rep Carolyn Tucker and Colorado Mountain College president, and keynote speaker, Dr. Matt Gianneschi, at the Third Street Center from 8 to 11am. Then, from 4 to 6pm, Homestead Bar and Grill hosts a networking opportunity. Tickets at www.carbondale.com

STEM AT THE LIBRARY

Aspen Science Center dives into a STEM project with 5-11 year olds at the Basalt Library every third Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30pm.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

SENIOR FALL FEST

Pitkin County Senior Services invites everyone “60 and better” to a fall festival at noon with seasonal flavors, music and connection. To RSVP, call 970-429-6161.

THIRD THURSDAY BOOK CLUB

The Third Thursday Book Club discusses “Sandwich” by Catherine Newman at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3:30pm. Questions? Call the library at 970-963-2889.

AEROSPACE MAKERS

The Basalt High School Aerospace Club helps elementary and middle schoolers design and launch model rockets at the Basalt Library from 4 to 5:30pm. Register at www.basaltlibrary.org

MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY

Javier de los Santos serenades a small audience with his classical guitar at the Basalt Library at 5:30pm.

SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB

Beginning and intermediate Spanish speakers practice conversational skills with one another at the Carbondale Library from 6:30 to 8pm.

HARRY & FRIENDS

Harry Tuft swaps songs and stories with Roaring Fork legend Dan Sadowsky (aka Pastor Mustard) at the Swallow Hill Music – Tuft Theatre (71 East Yale Ave, Denver) at 7pm.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

MATINEE AT THE LIBRARY

The Basalt Library screens Frederick Wiseman’s documentary film, “Ex Libris – The New York Public Library,” at 2pm.

STUDENT ARTIST SALE

The Carbondale Clay Center hosts a sale of student works today from noon to 8pm, tomorrow from 11am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 2pm.

MUSIC UNDER THE BRIDGE

The Queen Bees play at Bethel Plaza, under the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs, from 4:30 to 7:30pm.

STEPPING UP FOR YOUTH

Stepping Stones hosts a fundraiser with food, performances, community connection and more from 5 to 8pm at 1010 Garfield Ave, Carbondale.

FLORENCE WILLIAMS

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers

welcomes Florence Williams, author of “The Nature Fix,” for a meet and greet at 5:30pm followed by a community talk and book signing. RSVP at www.rfov.org

COMEDY SHOW

Comedian Orlando Leyba performs stand-up at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

RFOV AT GRIZZLY CREEK

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers repairs the Grizzly Creek Trail from 8am to 4pm. Register to lend a hand at www.rfov.org

YARD WASTE DROP-OFF

Carbondale invites residents to drop off yard waste from 9am to noon at the dirt lot across from Town Hall. Proof of residency is required!

PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP

Discover the art of plein air under the expert guidance of Nicole Gogolak at the Soldner Center in Aspen from 10am to 5pm. Register at www.soldnercenter. com/plein-air-painting — all levels are welcome!

OKTOBERFEST

The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park celebrates Oktoberfest for four Saturdays in a row — Sept. 19 to Oct. 11 — from 10am to 6pm with German inspired food, seasonal craft beers, live music and plenty to keep the kiddos occupied. For details, visit www.glenwoodcaverns.com

HARVEST PARTY

The Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council hosts Rumble Ridge, an autumn harvest party and horse tack sale at 1844 Upper Cattle Creek Road from 2 to 6pm. Participants are encouraged to bring a dish, beverage and saddles and bridles in good condition to sell.

JAM COUNTRY

TACAW presents Extra Gold’s Dead and Country performing at 8pm.

The rodeo grounds at the Gus Darien Arena was swarming with activity last weekend for the 15th annual Roaring Fork Ranch Roping event. Riders from all over Colorado showed up to compete in a timed event rooted in the practical, everyday skills of ranch hands. Although it’s timed, ranch roping prioritizes efficient, controlled actions over pure speed and athletic display. The three divisions included open, novice and youth.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Adult Community Education Classes

OAK SHRUBLAND WALK

Learn how to ID medicinal and edible plants and their ethnobotanical history and uses. Sunday, 5-7pm, 9/14

WINTERIZE YOUR GARDEN

Learn to prepare your forest garden for winter. In-person in Basalt or online.

Wednesday, 6-8pm, 9/17

QUICKBOOKS PRO

From intro-level to advanced, using AP and AR. Taught on PC using desktop v. 2021. Tuesdays, 9am-4pm 9/18, 9/25 & 10/2

FOOD GARDENING IN THE ROCKIES

Everything you need to know to successfully grow your own food in our mountain environment. Tuesday, 1-4pm, 9/23

THE WORLD BENEATH YOUR FEET

The soil food web teems with life underground. Class includes a live demo of microorganisms. Wed, 6-8pm, 9/24, Basalt

PLEASANT DOGS AND PLEASED OWNERS

Benett Bramson’s Seven P’sbasic guidelines for dog owners. Tue, 5:30-8:30pm, 9/30 ONLINE

PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Learn to capture and process dynamic photo and become a more confident photographer. Tue, 6-8:30pm, 10/7-10/28

FUNDRAISING FOR NON-PROFITS Expand knowledge and development tools to build successful solicitations. Tue, 5:30-8:30pm, 10/7, Online

DIY FIRE CIDER IMMUNE BOOSTER Preserve your garden or wild harvest in a medicine to use through the winter months. Thur, 5:30-7:30pm, 10/9

AIKIDO (TRY IT FOR FREE)

Learn to re-direct, neutralize, or avoid an attack altogether without harm to the attacker. Tue/Thur, 6-7:30pm, 10/21-12/11

Kids Classes

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

Credit Art Classes

*MONO/LASER PRINTS - CESARK Tue, 4-7:15pm, 9/23-10/28, Aspen

*BEZEL MAKING - SEEDORF Wed, 5:10-9:30pm, 11/5-12/10, CB

*Call campus for Registration Scan to Register

Local author’s playful new book brings ease to life’s flow

KATE PHILLIPS

Sopris Sun Correspondent

For over 30 years, Cari Shurman has been sharing her love for tai chi around the world with children of all ages. The gentle, meditative forms have brought connection, mindfulness, health and well-being to those she taught. Now, the Carbondale-based author, illustrator and educator is thrilled to expand her offerings with the release of her new book,

“Tai Chi for Kids — and the Adults Who Love Them.”

“I wrote ‘Tai Chi for Kids’ because I feel that every child everywhere should be able to experience inner peace, relaxation, happiness, focus and health,” Shurman said. “I imagine a world where children can all feel good.”

Tai chi has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. According to the Tai Chi for Health Institute, tai chi is about “the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature.” Shurman said “chi” is energy that elevates the human spirit and helps us balance; it can be found everywhere, especially while flowing through the forms.

While there are a number of styles, Shurman has chosen to adapt tai chi specifically for children. She presents each form with a playful, meditative guide so children can imagine the movement. They become a flying crane to achieve inner balance and flexibility or visualize shooting a bow and arrow for concentration, focus and even digestive support.

“The power of imagination for children is fantastic,” Shurman said. “I never correct kids when they do tai chi because if that is what they are visualizing, then that is right at that moment.”

In her book, Shurman included eight forms — “Embrace a Tree,” “The Energy Ball” and “The Lion Sleeps,” for example. Each form features a poem, illustrations by Shurman and audio guides (available via scanning a QR code) to help readers settle into their practice. The book also explains each form’s purpose, tai chi’s origins and reviews from notable figures such as Kathy Hegberg, founder of Focused Kids, and Peter Wayne, author of “The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi.”

“My intention and hope is that this is something children can do with their caregivers,” Shurman said. “They get to sit together, maybe arms around each other, while reading the poem and guide. Then they get up and do it together.”

Shurman added that 10 minutes a day can have extraordinary health benefits. According to medical

studies conducted by reputable sources like the World Health Organization, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital, tai chi can reduce hypertension, manage chronic pain and increase overall organ health. Interestingly, “a study at the University of Miami, Touch Research Institute found that adolescents with ADHD showed improved behavior, less daydreaming and hyperactivity after just 10 sessions of tai chi,” according to research compiled on Shurman’s website.

Shurman — a lifelong educator — was initially captivated by tai chi when she witnessed a refreshing scene while visiting her daughter in China: hundreds of high school students gracefully flowing as one in the school’s courtyard. She was struck by their ability to smoothly transition and carry inner peace throughout the daily school rhythm.

“I didn’t really know what tai chi was, but when I saw 70 kids in a class, learning in total silence with five minute breaks, I knew I had to learn it. I had never seen a class work like that,” she said.

Upon returning to the United States, Shurman studied tai chi and eventually brought it to her students. The effects were immediate. Students started using tai chi to alleviate stress and build confidence despite the pressures of school or unstable home lives. While working in the New York City public schools system, Shurman experienced students staying late on Fridays to continue practicing, asking to form their own clubs and stopping her on the street to share their gratitude. These early teachings culminated in the development of her highly sought after training programs, packages for various ages and “Tai Chi for Kids.”

“I realized kids were looking for something … they love tai chi so much,” she said. “It’s amazing, when you do tai chi everything relaxes, the pain goes away and you can look at life in a healthier way … Love is what we need and this is all about love — loving yourself, each other and the earth.”

Join Cari Shurman at the Carbondale Library on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 4 to 5pm as she introduces “Tai Chi for Kids — and the Adults Who Love Them” and guides elementary-aged children and their adults through playful movements. Visit www.taichiforkids.com to learn more about her offerings.

Cari Shurman of Carbondale has been sharing her love of tai chi for over 30 years. In June 2025, she released a new book so kids of all ages can connect and grow through the art form.

Photo by Kate Phillips

WindWalkers welcomes new executive director, Ginger Opp

MYKI JONES

Arts Correspondent

This past July, WindWalkers Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Center, a nonprofit, welcomed its new executive director, Ginger Opp. Gabrielle Greeves held the position for over a decade. After what Opp described as a smooth transition, she is prepared not only to take on existing responsibilities but looks forward to expanding programming to reach more of the community.

“I came from a highly competitive and goal-oriented equestrian world,” Opp told The Sopris Sun, “and one of the biggest joys for me has been just seeing people enjoy the horses, just for the sake of being here. It’s like all the best parts of that relationship I get to see on a daily basis, and it’s really a treat.”

Opp has been in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2002. She previously ran a horse show and was a seasoned competitor. After taking a hiatus, Opp began volunteering and helping out in local schools, where her love for the world of nonprofits and philanthropic work began. After receiving her philanthropic advisor certification and reconnecting with a colleague who had ties to WindWalkers, Opp revived her love for working with equines. This opportunity presented the chance to marry her desires to be of service with her passion for horses.

“Whether or not you start out with horses as a therapeutic endeavor, there is something healing and therapeutic about them for everybody,” Opp shared. “It’s a really special way to build community, so it has been a joy to be a part of something like that with an organization that is doing both of those things.”

Whether or not you start out with horses as a therapeutic endeavor, there is something healing and therapeutic about them for everybody, -Ginger Opp

Discussing her short-term goals for WindWalkers, Opp said she supports the organization listening earnestly to the community in order to best be of service, particularly for people with disabilities, veterans and individuals facing challenges. She intends to put those wheels in motion through collaborative efforts and ample outreach.

A threshold for empowerment and healing

True Nature hosts women’s retreat Sept. 25-28

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

True Nature Healing Arts has been bringing spiritual and meditative opportunities to the Roaring Fork Valley for close to two decades. Later this month, the tranquil campus along the Rio Grande bike path will host a new retreat offering: “Threshold.” The three-day event will bring in three well-known facilitators and offer space for participants to reflect and connect as the seasons change.

“This is the first time we’ve had the honor to host this retreat,” said Megan Miller, True Nature’s director of education and programming. “We had Elena Brower on campus last year for the Reconnect Retreat. She absolutely loves it here, and couldn’t wait to bring ‘Threshold’ to the True Nature campus in Carbondale! She’s doing two retreats with us this year.” Miller shared that during last year’s retreat, Brower connected powerfully with the space. “She was blown away by the intentionality, attention to detail and beauty of the campus.”

Elena Brower is one of three facilitators running the retreat, which spans from the evening of Thursday, Sept. 25 to Sunday morning, Sept. 28. Brower started teaching asana yoga in 1999 and has steadily expanded her teaching, meditation and creative practices since. She is a candidate for Buddhist chaplaincy and has authored multiple books, hosted the “Practice You” podcast and taught a variety of mindfulness courses. She is looking forward to the

“I feel very strongly that we must collaborate and work together in our valley. In addition to keeping our programs thriving, we are looking to partner and collaborate as much as possible,” she said. “We have a beautiful facility and a great herd, including horses, minis, goats and cats. That has been a pleasure to share with other nonprofits, veterans’ programs and mental health providers. The benefits of equine therapy are pretty incredible. Anyone who has spent time with horses or out at the barn knows how special these relationships are for personal well-being, growth and development.”

As she adjusts to her new position and responsibilities, events have been put on pause with the exception of the “Built for the Barn” competition in collaboration with Aspen Strength & Conditioning on Oct. 26 from 10am to noon, with an open house for the facility from 10am to 3pm. This event is designed to support first responders of the Roaring Fork Valley along with clients and riders.

Meanwhile, Opp and her team are focusing on maintaining existing programming while also expanding their volunteer base, something she knows is crucial to the organization’s future.

“We have so many great opportunities for volunteers,” Opp said. “Our volunteers are treasures to us, and they will tell you that they get as much out of their efforts as

we do from them. I hope that, in the long term, we can see many relationships grow and help lift our community.”

Going forward, Opp encourages the community to come out however they can, whether to tour the land, volunteer or collaborate on some deeper level.

To keep up to date with WindWalkers, visit www.windwalkers.org

opportunity “Threshold” provides.

“True Nature is a thoughtful, prayerful, healing space with so much love and practice infused within it,” she said. “It’s an honor for the three of us to make the journey from Massachusetts, New Mexico and Australia to be together in this stunning setting just in time for the fall colors.”

The other two facilitators, Kemi Nekvapil and Laura McKowen, have their own impressive writing and mindfulness credentials. Nekvapil is an executive and personal coach based in Australia and has also written multiple books on mindfulness. She completed leadership facilitation training with Dr. Brene Brown back in 2019, hosts the Audible podcast “POWER Talks,” writes “The Harvest” newsletter on Substack and has interviewed female leadership figures including Elizabeth Gilbert, Martha Beck and Marie Forleo.

McKowen is a bestselling author and a sobriety support advocate. She has been published in The New York Times and featured in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, on the TODAY show and more. Her books are “We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life” and “Push Off from Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Sobriety (and Everything Else)”.

“Threshold” is designed as a full experience that integrates yoga and other gentle movement practices with dialogue sessions, reflective writing and guided meditation. When this article went to

print, spaces remained open for participants. The registration price is $3,150, which includes all retreat events on the True Nature campus. The price does not include meals or lodging, but Miller is available to help registrants coordinate lodging with other participants.

Miller explained the benefit of offering “Threshold” as a long weekend opportunity in which all participants are present throughout: “It is designed as a sacred closed container, so participants commit to the full retreat. The connections and bonds that are forged throughout the weekend are an essential and deeply meaningful part of the experience. Each participant’s full presence supports the integrity of the container and the collective journey.”

Nekvapil, McKowen and Brower describe

“Threshold” as “a deep meeting of hearts, a gathering of minds, a place to slow down and listen, to enter into deep quiet in the company of other women.” Hosting the event close to the autumn equinox amplifies the opportunity for participants to explore the current season of their lives and meditations on change.

True Nature will also host a retreat the first weekend of October, “Reconnect,” which allows participants to register for individual events or the full calendar of offerings from Oct. 3 to 5. Elena Brower will be facilitating that weekend with True Nature founder Deva Shantay.

To secure one of the remaining spots in the “Threshold” retreat, visit www.truenaturehealingarts.com/threshold

Retreat participants at True Nature walk the campus labyrinth during a meditation session. Courtesy photo.

Ginger Opp is the new executive director at WindWalkers. Courtesy photo

from page 4

to stop the spread. Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs has a new watercraft cleaning station to help combat the invasive species. The agency also continues to improve and expand information resources. In addition to revamping signs posted near popular water access points, the CPW website is regularly updated with information on mussels and other aquatic nuisance species, as well as locations for cleaning boating and fishing gear.

CPW asks any recreationalists who see evidence of zebra mussels or other invasive species to send photos and location details to Invasive.Species@ state.co.us for identification.

PRISONS from page 5

in custody and grandparent or older sibling suddenly responsible for multiple children. She encourages families in mixed-status homes to reclaim their power by having difficult conversations ahead of time and being prepared.

“Being able to start pulling out our birth certificates from under the mattress and gathering these documents and really having these honest conversations — that’s where we really start shifting our power in some of our communities that are just feeling terror,” she stated. “We can definitely fight that fear.”

Advocates around the state protest regularly outside the Aurora facility. Vigils, art and cultural performances — like danza, rooted in Indigenous Mexican traditions — show solidarity with those detained and resistance to a system they call “profit for pain.”

“These gatherings are about justice and solidarity and the call to free them all,” stated the spokesperson for CIRC.

RAMS REPORT

The team was set to host Fruita Monument on Wednesday, and will also host Steamboat Springs on Sept. 19 and Durango on Sept. 20. All games are played at the Crown Mountain courts.

In other action…

Boys soccer

Roaring Fork 3, Basalt 1 (Goals from sr. Salbador Vasquez, and jrs. Cal Stone and Wesley Serrano). Record: 1-1. Next: @ home vs. Rifle, Thursday, Sept. 11, 6pm.

Girls volleyball

Roaring Fork 3, Basalt 2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, 15-10). Kills: sr. Nikki Tardif, 13, sr. Yaki Nunez Hernandez, 11, sr. Elleree Richmond, nine; Blocks: so. Clover Hansen, four, Tardif, jr. Hazel Jenkins and jr. Tess Hayes, three

OROSZ

from cover

was always in the driver’s seat of the ambulance, “whether he was the first there or the third there,” said Leach.

He drove fast, however, despite his sense of urgency behind the wheel, his passengers felt secure. His temperament was “smooth” and “even keeled,” and he was just the man to get people the help they needed, when they needed it.

There are “untold numbers of people who owe their lives to that man,” Goodwin stated. “And he did it for nothing.” It’s difficult to say what compels someone to voluntarily put their life on the line for the sake of others, but the fire district boasted about 80 folks of such caliber then.

Even after Fran got sick with cancer, which came back with a vengeance

everyone - but it might be for you, We’d love to talk.

You might not have ruby slippers, but your heart could lead a child home.

each; Digs: jr. Liz Revilla, 12. Record: 2-6, 1-1 3A Western Slope League. Next: @ Grand Junction, Thursday, Sept. 11, 6:30pm.

Girls softball

Double header: Basalt 22, Meeker 15; Meeker 18, Basalt 8. Next: @ home vs. Montezuma-Cortez, Saturday, Sept. 13, 11am and 1pm.

Cross country

Basalt at Eagle Valley Invitational. Top male: sr. Towler Scott, eighth; Top female: fr. Scarlett Jones, 30th.

Mountain biking

Roaring Fork at Eagle Haymaker Classic. Top male: sr. Quinn Carpenter, fourth; Top female: sr. Emmaline Warner, 11th.

the second time around, he went on calls for as long as he could. When he passed, the department came together to do something that hadn’t been done before to honor their friend’s legacy.

For Fran Sr.’s final ride through Carbondale, his former crew members hoisted his casket into the back of a Carbondale Fire-marked pickup truck, driven by Jeff, at his shop. After a memorial at the station came a procession down Main Street, replete with rigs and firefighters from other districts as well as Carbondale’s. And the town went quiet. Unexpecting passersby stopped in their tracks, some placing their hands over their hearts, paying respects to a fallen hero. Four law enforcement vehicles made way for the procession, followed by a kilted bagpiper — a volunteer for the Wheat Ridge Fire Department,

which Fran Sr. had previously been part of — and “flanked by [Fran Sr.’s] brethren clad in snappy black and white,” read The Valley Journal’s coverage.

“It was quite a thing,” recalled Jeff.

At the west end of Main, the fire trucks and other departments broke off, and the Carbondale crew and family held a ceremony at Fran Sr.’s final resting place at Hillcrest Cemetery on White Hill.

During the memorial, as The Valley Journal reported, Myrna said, “My sweetheart has completed his earthly journey, and has gone to that big rental shop in the sky.”

The Valley Journal’s coverage of the procession as well as Fran Sr.’s obituary can be found in the 1996 archives at the Carbondale Library.

•

•

Wonder Making more money but still feeling strapped

This fall, in our 25th year of Tomorrow’s Voices classes, 32 high school students will read the Phaedo. In it, Socrates argues that in an age of widespread disinformation and political corruption, it is far too easy to become misanthropic and misologic — hating reasoning and introspection. Ultimately, the dialogue speaks to the power of humility in the pursuit of intellectual integrity and truth, and the existential benefits of rigorous conversation. Socrates urges us to critically examine arguments rather than blindly accept them; not to “win” but to protect the spirit of our well-being. He counsels that we must not choose a purely materialistic, power-centered worldview over one that asserts the existence of objective truth, nature and knowledge. The “immortality of the soul” is necessary for the political body (polis) to endure. A civilization that values only material or temporal things will eventually decay and die, he writes, as the cardinal virtues of justice, temperance, courage and wisdom are requisite to the immortality of the soul.

OPINION

into complicated issues. Your thoughts on the power of capitalism, the power of technology, and whether we can hold these fundamental aspects of our society in some kind of ethical check, pique your teachers’ curiosity. We came away appreciative of our opportunity to spend the next few months with your energy and kind-hearted, spirited intellect. Please know that we profoundly care about the process of learning being attached to choosing to challenge ourselves, to delight in courageous self-reflection, and to put yourselves in places where you are willing to be moved — because you all and the world are just that spectacular.”

SEEKING HAYSTACKS

By A.O. Forbes

The United States today is a civilization in mortal danger. Our administration, driven by sanctimonious greed, is effectively destroying our historically democratic structures and smothering our proud and courageous attempts to become a more perfect union. While politicians warp the spirit of America to suit their ambition and placate their benefactors, our administration’s blatant consolidation of power is making legal or moral recourse extremely difficult. And every day they continue “righteously” inflicting harm on those who rightfully stand in their way, all the while grandly trumpeting that these attacks on our nation’s soul and spirit are the formula for greatness, bequeathed by God. It is a staggering hypocrisy.

How do we respond to such callous destruction of what has thoughtfully been built over 300 years? We must remind each other of who we are as Americans: people who have pledged allegiance to equal rights and due process, to respecting laws that are voted for, not dictated. We remind each other that dignity is the coin of democracy. And that IF we are resolute in our dedication to a vital democratic system, no autocratic clique can smother the continuing revolution of our social contract: to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of ALL people. We are a young nation, but a visionary nation, a nation that can change, that has lofty goals and will continue to move toward them — unless our greed is truly stronger than our integrity, our cynicism more compelling than our wonder.

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom,” said Socrates. I recognize this truth, as for 50 years I have witnessed wonder and its magical alchemy on the faces and lives of my students. Jane Taylor, a recent student, off to MIT this fall, said in her high school valedictorian speech:

“To channel ourselves toward solving problems and making change we care about in an authentic way, we must open ourselves to experiencing wonder … This is how we truly learn; this wonder allows us to find deep personal meaning in everything we learn and open ourselves to being changed by it. If we are in touch with our authentic identities and embody what we value as we work toward our passions, we will make a positive impact on the world around us throughout the process, while living a life that is meaningful to us.

The author Maria Popova recently wrote:

No autocratic clique can smother the continuing revolution of our social contract: to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of ALL people.

“Wonder — that edge state on the rim of understanding, where the mind touches mystery — is our best means of loving the world more deeply. It asks of us the courage of uncertainty because it is a form of deep play, and play, unlike games, is inherently open-ended, without purpose or end goal, governed not by the will to win a point but by the willingness to surrender to a locus of experience and be transformed by it.”

OPINION

MONEY JUICE

By Megan Janssen

Finances are the number one cause of stress for Americans. This is confirmed by a recent study compiled by Capital One that shows 73% of Americans rank finances as the number one stressor in their lives ahead of politics, work and family.

Isn’t it crazy? Not really, I guess, when you consider most of us never received a financial education, pensions are a thing of the past and the cost of living is absolutely ridiculous. (Another fun study by Forbes in 2024 shows Carbondale, Colorado’s real estate prices having increased the highest of any other city in the U.S. over the past 20 years. 460%. Wowza.)

The stress study notes that only 16% of respondents know how to improve their credit score. I’ll throw in a tip at the end, assuming 84% of you need one. It’s no wonder then, that even when folks move up the ladder of income, they still wind up stressed and out of tune with their money.

Do you make more now, but feel just as strapped? Do you have big goals that you can’t seem to get closer to? Are you still waiting for that one day when you’ll finally look at your checking account and feel ready to start investing more than $100/month?

Again, 73% of Americans are most stressed about money! This can be due to “lifestyle creep” or to the mind-boggling “cosmic American joke:” you make a little more money one year and you are ineligible for the financial support programs you are used to and you wind up with less take-home than the previous year. Anecdotally, I’ll share that 100% of my clients that make north of $200,000 annually were (prior to Money Juice, of course) struggling to invest for their future. The lifestyle creep is very, very real, particularly in the Roaring Fork Valley. Here are three things you can do to course correct:

Do you have big goals that you can’t seem to get closer to?

1) Look at your numbers every single week. Simply looking at what’s going in and what’s going out — without judgement or shame — is so eye-opening. It’s an education in and of itself. Do it. If it is a case of lifestyle creep, you’ll notice it with this exercise. You might see fancy pastries sliding into your weekly schedule, a new bike, lavish gifts for your nanny… If it’s a case of the cosmic American joke, you can start tracking the new things you’re paying more for (student loans, healthcare, etc.) and talk with a tax accountant to learn about writing off these expenses.

2) Make money buckets. Your money needs to be working for you in an account that is earning you interest beyond the inflation rate. Pick one to three goals and create sub-accounts for them and start auto-depositing money into them. Give yourself a timeline by when you want the goal complete and deposit the amount each month that will get you there. Then go to the Maldives, buy your ski pass or get your tooth fixed.

The students in our new class reminded me of who Americans are, at our best. Afterwards, I wrote them a letter:

“Thank you all for a great first class. Thank you for your energy and willingness to speak up, to offer your thoughtful and courageous responses to our questions, and your personal and heartfelt insights

I believe that if we put ourselves in places where we are existentially moved — as my students do, over and over again — we will spark an indomitable collective flame that honors the most profound and primal facet of our human spirit: wonder. Which might engender courage, humility, passionate conversations and a sweeping national craze of truth-telling! And then, perhaps, our communities and country will make real the dream we’ve carried all these years. If we want to move toward justice, we must lean toward justice; if we want to implement justice, we have to act.

“Find an honest and vital spirit that offers a sense of hope!” Bryan Stevenson says. “Hope is what gets you to stand when other people say sit down. Hope is what gets you to speak when other people say be quiet.” Because our children and the world are just that spectacular.

3) Decide to stay calm. Yes, it’s true that not having enough money makes life harder; it simply does. However, your response to your situation is the make-or-break component of your financial future. If you’re feeling stressed about money and you decidedly aren’t living within your means or won’t have the things you need in the future, decide to stay calm. Give yourself body drugs (endorphins), make some agua de jamaica and calm the eff down. Come back to the numbers when you have a clear headspace and create small, workable goals and plans. Figure out the number you need and get creative with how to get it. You’ll make it happen if the number is specific and your brain is relaxed.

Credit-building tip: Do not cancel any credit cards. Some people do this because they don’t want to be tempted to use their cards. However, credit history is a large portion of your credit score and when you cancel a card, that history goes the way of the dodo. Additionally, you can call your current credit providers and ask them to increase your spending limit. This will increase your overall debt-to-credit ratio which will increase your score, assuming you don’t go out and blast it all at Kemo Sabe.

Be well, money friends!

Megan Janssen is the founder of Money Juice (www.money-juice.com) and a financial advisor with Forum Financial Management, LP. The ideas and language written here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Forum.

OBITUARIES

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Gianinetti

June 13, 1934 - August 18, 2025

With deep gratitude, we announce the passing of Ernest “Ernie” Gianinetti, a lifelong Carbondale native who lived with heart, grit, and a deep love for the land and people around him. Born to Ben and Alphonsine Gianinetti, Ernie was shaped early by the values of hard work, loyalty and service — traits that left a lasting mark on the Roaring Fork Valley. His honesty earned respect, and his warmth and humor made him unforgettable. He loved a good story, a lively polka and any excuse for a gathering filled with laughter.

Family was at the heart of everything for Ernie. He carried his Italian

heritage with pride, from making Gianinetti Sausage with the game he hunted and the animals he raised, to passing down traditions that connected generations. He took great pride in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and nothing meant more to him than seeing his family together carrying those values forward. His opinions were strong and his voice carried weight, but at his core he was a man whose deepest hope was to see his family and community thrive.

Ernie poured himself into his community. He never missed a Potato Day and proudly rode in its parade. As a longtime leader

Mary Strang

June 25, 1938 - August 25, 2025

Mary was born June 25, 1938, in Princeton, New Jersey, to the late Rev. John C. Crocker Sr. and Mary Hallowell Crocker. She was the youngest of six children.

At the age of 2, Mary’s family moved to Groton, Massachusetts, when her father became the headmaster of Groton School. She spent her childhood summers at the family home on the island of North Haven, Maine. She, her siblings and cousins were given tremendous freedom to use the skiffs to explore various features of the Point — including its mudflats. Her gusto for adventure, regardless of how dirty the task, earned her the fond title of “Dirty Gert.” How she played as a child is indicative of how she approached life. Mary attended Concord Academy and graduated high school from Milton Academy. She attended Smith College in Northampton.

At 16, Mary and a friend travelled to Ralston Creek Ranch near Golden, Colorado. She met and fell in love with Bart Strang. It’s a wonder that the decision to go to Ralston

Creek one July ended up changing her life forever, as she decided to leave life in New England and jump into being a rancher’s wife. Mary and Bart were united in marriage on Sept. 13, 1958, in Groton. Four girls — Mary, Ellen, Lisa and Sarah — were born to them.

Mary and Bart spent their first years of marriage on the family ranch at Ralston Creek. In 1960, they moved to Carbondale. They purchased their first Hereford cattle in 1962 while they were ranching in Carbondale with Bart’s brother, Mike, and friend, Tom Turnbull.

In 1968, they moved to their own place on West Sopris Creek in Basalt. In addition to their registered and commercial cattle business, they operated a summer program for teenagers, serving as surrogate parents to 40 teens for eight weeks. Each summer, the Strang family of six grew to 60. Mary prepared three meals a day for her large summer family. It was routine for her to bake 20 loaves of bread, make 10 pies and prepare large amounts of meat,

of the Mt. Sopris 4-H Horse Riding Club, he mentored countless local kids, sharing his knowledge and passion for horses. His fingerprints are all over Carbondale’s history. He, along with his wife, Carol, helped establish the Valley’s first local bank, today known as Alpine Bank, and the Heritage Park Nursing Home. He also founded the Mt. Sopris Recreational Riders Snowmobile Club and carved some of the very trails we enjoy today.

salad and vegetables. Alongside managing the summer business and raising four daughters, Mary helped Bart develop their herd of cattle. She took weekend ski trips to Buttermilk, assisted with 4-H projects, attended bull sales and junior rodeos and served as a trustee for Rocky Mountain School. The friendships she formed during this time lasted until her death..

The family moved to Meeker in 1973 and focused solely on raising cattle. Mary quickly became involved in many facets, including the Episcopal Church, the school, 4-H and the community choir — to name a few. An advocate for youth and education, Mary volunteered her time in classrooms and boardrooms, never passing up the opportunity to help someone.

He was happiest outside — on horseback, on a snowmobile, on a dirt bike, on a boat fishing or hunting in the backcountry. For many years he proudly rode in the Colorado 500, fueled by his adventurous spirit and love of the open trail. And through it all, he was anchored by the love of his life, Carol, his wife of 72 years, with whom he built a home, raised a family and shared a bond that began with a motorcycle ride in the summer of 1950. In his later years, when asked to reflect, Ernie said simply, “It’s been a great ride!”

Perhaps his greatest legacy is the land he poured his soul into, known as Gianinetti Spring Creeks Ranch. Every tree planted, every pasture cared for and every fence post set carries a piece of his story, and his family will continue to honor his values there for generations to come.

As he often said, “When in doubt, give it hell!” Ernie was a force of

The cattle operation became the center of Mary’s life. She found joy in the simple tasks of dragging fields in the spring and cleaning stalls during calving season. She learned to manage a website, edit videos and market bulls with the best. Annual bull sales and showing yearling bulls at the National Western Stock Show were her working vacations.

She was a staunch supporter of education and enrichment for all students, believing that the arts were an integral part of every child’s education. She spent many years on the Meeker School Board and was the driving force behind the creation of the Meeker Education Foundation (MEF). The MEF now provides crucial funding for the Meeker School District.

This New England schoolgirl did not hesitate to embrace the life of a rancher’s wife, even though, in retrospect, she was asking herself to make a huge adjustment in the way she lived. As a dear friend wrote, “And with each challenge that came along she rose up, as if it was no big deal, and turned herself into a hero in my eyes — not just a cherished friend. One of a kind she was.”

Mary was the epitome of the DIY person. She taught herself

nature, a man who lived fully, loved deeply and left behind a legacy not just of land and tradition, but of character that will not be forgotten. He is survived by his wife, Carol Gianinetti (Fiscus), four children — Melanie Cardiff (David), Marissa Bell (John), Mark Gianinetti (Ann) and Mitch Gianinetti (Denise) — his 12 grandchildren — Jashine Wise, Janelle Forbes, Seth Bell, Carissa Bell, Kade Gianinetti, Tanner Gianinetti, Landin Bailey, Hattie Gianinetti, Megan Gianinetti, Shay Gianinetti, Paige Gianinetti and Kailei Gianinetti — and nine great-grandchildren — Layton Wise, Aubrey Wise, Aspen Bell, Adler Bell, Hayes Gianinetti, Lorna Forbes, Sunny Gianinetti, Hadley Bailey and Nia Logan.

A celebration of his life will be held next summer and, in true Ernie fashion, will be one heck of a party!

to refinish furniture, do the finish work on her house, landscaping and woodworking; and she was not afraid of technology. There was nothing she couldn’t do.

Mary is survived by daughters Mary(Greg)Cunningham,Lisa(Tom) Walsh,Sarah(Clint)Hjelm,son-in-law Joe (Ellen) Nieslanik, 11 grandchildren — Ben (Rachel) Cunningham, Charlie (Cami) Cunningham, Hannah (Ben) Cunningham Hollinger, Meg (John Colavita) Nieslanik, Jake (Paige) Nieslanik, Sam (Katie) Nieslanik, Nate (Kalyn) Walsh, Anna Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Wyatt Hjelm and Hannah Hjelm — seven, soon to be eight, great-grandchildren, her sister-inlaw, Kit Strang, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bart Strang, her daughter, Ellen Nieslanik, her parents and her five siblings.

Services for Mary will be held at 11am on Sept. 12 at St. James Episcopal Church in Meeker, Colorado, followed by a reception at the Meeker 4-H building. Instead of flowers, please consider making memorial donations to St. James Episcopal Church, in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Avenue, Craig, Colorado 81625.

Legacy and empowerment — Icon Awards celebrate Latino excellence

FELIPE PÉREZ

Sol del Valle

Aspen was the setting for the 2025 Raizado Festival, Aug. 21-24, an event that honors the heritage, culture and power of the global Latino community. The centerpiece of the festival, the Icon Awards Gala, recognized outstanding figures in the arts, activism and civil rights advocacy, solidifying the festival’s role as a vital space to celebrate Latino legacy and social progress.

Under the theme of “Legacy,” the four-day program highlighted Latino excellence in literature, gastronomy, music, film, television, storytelling and social impact, culminating in a gala evening that brought together community leaders, artists and activists from across the country.

Honoring with purpose

This year’s honorees included Chilean author Isabel Allende (Culture Icon), actor Harvey Guillén (Truth Icon), attorney and activist Blanca Uzeta O’Leary (Colorado Icon), president and CEO of The Gathering for Justice, Carmen Pérez (Power Icon) and actresses Diana Maria Riva and Lisa Vidal, co-founders of Latinas Acting Up (Changemakers).

Mónica Ramírez, the festival’s founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, emphasized that the awards go far beyond recognition, “…they are a call to remember our origins, recognize who we are fighting for and consider the legacy we are leaving for future generations.”

Ramírez stressed the importance of honoring visionaries who represent strength and power in a time when harmful narratives about the Latino community continue to persist.

Blanca Uzeta O’Leary

Uzeta O’Leary, recipient of the Colorado Icon Award, was recognized for her civil rights advocacy and lasting impact on the Roaring Fork Valley.

During the ceremony, a video was shown highlighting her work in voter mobilization, pro bono

legal service and community advocacy through Voces Unidas de las Montañas, the organization she cofounded.

Uzeta O’Leary explained how her work reflects the growing influence of Latino leaders beyond Denver and the Front Range. She expressed pride in what she and her team have accomplished. “I am indeed very proud of the work that Voces Unidas is engaged in, all over the Western Slope. Just to highlight a few, Voces is involved with

helping empower parents to engage with the school boards of their children’s schools in advocating to close the achievement gap between Latine [sic] students and the rest of the student body.”

She also described how the organization supports mobile home park residents in defending their basic rights, “The aspect of Voces of which I am most closely involved in is to help increase voter participation in local and statewide elections and to endorse and support

candidates who champion issues of social justice and equality for all,” she added.

In addition, she highlighted her role in Colorado’s Legislative Redistricting Commission, which led (in part) to the election of the first Latina state representative from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys: Elizabeth Velasco.

Speaking about her personal and professional motivations, Uzeta O’Leary noted that she finds inspiration in the tangible local progress being made and increased attention from policymakers.

“I am inspired by our incremental local successes. We are drawing attention to systemic unfairness within our valley and public officials at local and state levels are paying attention.”

Uzeta O’Leary went on to reflect on the shared energy among fellow honorees. “The other ICON Awards recipients also inspired me with their legacy of activism and pursuit of social justice across the country. It is energizing to see that there are so many other Latine folks also working hard in so many creative ways to improve our country,” she expressed enthusiastically.

Looking ahead, Uzeta O’Leary spoke with optimism about the future, sharing that she is inspired not only by her fellow honorees but also by the next generation, including her own son, combining culture and music as tools for political and social change.

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

Blanca Uzeta O’Leary: a local icon with statewide impact. Courtesy photo

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

The greatest gift

By Raleigh Burleigh, Carbondale

For weeks ahead of Burning Man, I frequented the Carbondale Bike Project to tune up a couple bicycles (one purchased there) for myself and my girlfriend to cruise Black Rock City. A bike I had been gifted needed serious work, and even after rebuilding the crank shaft and packing the back axle with fresh grease, it was riding rough. With no more time ahead of departure, I surrendered to the clank.

Then, the night before we left Carbondale, I discovered in the Sopris Sun office a beautiful bike wrapped in newsprint, with a fuzzy seat, purple handle bars and a purple chain. On the side was spelled out “Carbondale Bike Project” and in the front: “KDNK.”

A small tag read: “For Raleigh — This just came in. If you don’t want it, leave in rack out front.” It was signed: “Kevin — Carbondale Bike Project.”

Weeks later, after the long drive and arduous wait to enter the event, after settling in the dust and several days of rain that turned the ground into goopy, quick-drying cement, the Playa was left compact and ideal (as it gets out there) for gliding along on two wheels — among art installations and eclectic musical vibrations, in a sea of every visible color emanating from countless ED lights. This was my favorite part of the Burning Man experience. It felt akin to swimming as a fish at the bottom of a vibrant ocean, among creatures and features of all sizes.

To Kevin, the Carbondale Bike Project, whoever built and decorated this magnificent bicycle (Aaron Taylor and Olivia Pevec) and the perfect synchronicities of the Universe: I offer my utmost gratitude. Thanks for making my burn before it even began.

Online aspenvalleyhealth.org/health-fair, or by phone 1.800.217.5866 Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm

October 3 ASPEN

Aspen Ambulance Building

Aspen Valley Health Medical Center 0403 Castle Creek Road

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

• HealthScreen w/CBC – $79 Includes CBC, CMP, Ferritin, Iron Panel, Lipid Panel, TSH and Uric Acid (Fasting Required)

• hsCardio CRP – $42

October 4 EL JEBEL Eagle County Community Center 20 Eagle County Drive

• CBC (Complete Blood Count) – $32 By appointment only 8-11:30 am

• Hemoglobin A1C & EAG – $44

• PSA, Total – $47

• Vitamin D – $54

• T3, Free – $32

• T4, Free – $32

students at Chebirbelek Secondary on behalf of a family member or loved one. One of the highlights of an African safari trip would be experiencing the gratitude of the Kenyans by attending an unforgettable well dedication ceremony at a

Roadless Rule

The Roadless Rule protects 59 million acres of remote wilderness forest land from road construction, timber harvesting and oil and gas lease holders who could extend their permit applications to include these threatened lands.

The Trump administration wants to revoke the Roadless Rule and sell our public lands to the “Highest Bidder” for profit.

I am proud of my town, Carbondale, and folks in the Roaring Fork Valley and the State of Colorado who showed up for Labor Day rallies to support our workers. I hope everyone will contact their elected officials whenever issues arise that affect workers. These include immigrants, who are vital to our community, state and national economies. Trump and his administration are attacking these workers, who help make America great by harvesting our crops, maintaining our landscaping, caring for our children, keeping our homes clean and preparing our food in restaurants. The list goes on and on. We should be grateful for

Like many others, I am the granddaughter of immigrants who came to America to seek a better life for their families, especially their children. Is it fair to deny these hardworking people the opportunities

In addition to supporting our immigrants, we should stand up against the massive firings of our federal workers — from the EPA, FEMA, CDC and other agencies — who keep our country safe. They have been replaced with workers, some at top levels of our federal government. Most of them are not qualified to oversee the departments and agencies they lead. How does this make us greater or safer? Not only are individuals traumatized by deportations and dismissals, so are their families and communities. If you think it can’t happen here, it already has. Nancy Peterson

President Bill Clinton’s administration instructed the Forest Service to protect roadless areas in the National Forests; 1.6 million people commented on this initiative.

Colorado Representative Jeff Hurd voted against specific measures that would have sold or transferred public lands, citing the importance of local community input. However, he supports rolling back environmental protections on public lands to increase energy development and oil, gas and mineral extractions. You can’t have it both ways!

Coloradans are clear: Our public lands are not for sale!

I am writing to protest and comment against revoking the Roadless Rule Act. Stop Trump and the takeover for profit! Call or write: United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at feedback@USDA.gov or by mailing a letter to 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250; the United States Forest Service at the same address as USDA or by calling 800-832-1355; the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region (1617 Cole Boulevard, Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401 or at 303-275-5350); and Colorado Representative Jeff Hurd at 202-2254676, 970-208-0455, 970-317-6167 or 719-696-6968.

For a USDA all-states directory, visit www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/offices/ state-offices

Holly McLain Carbondale

Friends and Backbone coworkers, Julia Brazell (left) and Eve McRaith, discovered September’s First Friday treasure chest atop True Nature’s Kiva. While Chilli Pepper, McRaith’s pup, didn’t help sniff out the hidden treasure, she was happy to tag along to collect their just reward. Keep an eye out on the Works in Progress page in the first issue of October for the final First Friday Carbondale Treasure Hunt riddle of the season. Photo by James Steindler

SERVICE DIRECTORY

All of the party animals at TACAW appeared to have a howlin’ good time last Saturday evening during Colorado Animal Rescue’s (C.A.R.E.) annual fundraiser: Dressed to the K9s.

Although the two-legged guests were treated to food, drinks, a live auction and fashion show, the real stars of the evening were the four-leggeds. Guests couldn’t keep their eyes or hands off of them, especially the pile of pups! Three of those puppies were adopted during the event, along with Penny, another adoptable who mingled with the guests.

According to Executive Director Wes Boyd, C.A.R.E. raised $116,000 for its Thumper Fund the night of the event, and netted about $125,000 overall.

PHOTO AND TEXT BY JANE BACHRACH Sopris Sun Correspondent

Where the Valley Gathers: Local Restaurants & Bars