Racing time
Triple Digit Quest crew chief Jamie Burch assists local blacksmith/daredevil Vaughn Shafer to the line in Vernal, Utah, where the first head-to-head dragboard competition took place on June 14, 2025. See story on page 6. Paula Wood Photo
The Sopris Sun continues to be community journalism at its finest
Community journalism has been the very definition of my more than three decades in the trade. And I couldn’t love it more than in my current role as one of the many freelance correspondents for The Sopris Sun.
My very first byline, aside from student publications, came as a young journalism major in college, when I penned a story about a chainsaw sculptor in the small Central Illinois town where I grew up.
After graduating with a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University, I could have taken things in any number of directions, including applying for a reporter position at one of the metro newspapers in my home state.
Instead, I chose to follow my heart (and love of the mountains) to Colorado, and a little town called Carbondale where several of my elder siblings had settled.
A rag-tag group of local investors not only owned the paper, but also worked the long hours necessary to make sure it hit the street every Thursday — community journalism at its finest.
Within a couple of years, the same out-of-state corporate interests that would eventually gobble up most of the local dailies on the Western Slope also came knocking on the VJ’s door.
OPINION
As a high schooler back in rural Illinois trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, I remember receiving a weekly copy of The Valley Journal in the mail. My sister-inlaw at the time, who worked at the VJ, sent us a subscription as a Christmas present so that we could keep up on all of the funky happenings in ‘Bonedale, including the occasional snippets about our Colorado family.
Too good a deal to pass up for the owners at the time and the VJ entered into a period of corporate chain ownership over the next decade. The Great Recession of 2008 was the VJ’s death knell — money-first corporate decisions being what they tend to be.
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH
By John Stroud
It not only served as a beckoning call to go join them, it was my inspiration to go into journalism.
Once here in the Roaring Fork Valley, my first Colorado byline happened to be in the Snowmass Sun. It was a story about the annual Chinese New Year celebration at the old Mountain Dragon restaurant, one of those unique, local happenings that tend to grace the pages of the local paper.
That following spring of 1988 I got on with The Glenwood Post, and again, I had my opportunities to take it big time. I probably could have landed a job with the Rocky Mountain News or Denver Post, heck, maybe even the New York Times. But I chose to stay put, writing about the people and things that mattered in our local communities here in the Valley.
When I jumped ship in 1996 to join a veteran crew at the VJ, it was a bit like coming home. Co-founder Pat Noel was back in the editor’s chair, Lynn Burton was a reporter/editor, Carol Craven was the photographer, capturing those classic full-cover images every week that always made the VJ special.
LETTERS
CORRECTION: One correction and an important clarification are needed for the article about the Spring Gulch Nordic ski area that appeared in the Nov. 27 Sopris Sun. First, the capital campaign was $750,000. Also, volunteer labor was used to install fencing, replace sign posts and work on weed mitigation and revegetation, while the major improvements, including tree and boulder removal, were part of the capital improvements plan.
Defending democracy
We want to express our thankfulness at this time of the year to the individuals and organizations risking their freedom and wellbeing to defend democracy:
• On the local level, a special thanks to Mountain Action Indivisible for organizing the No Kings marches and other activities up and down the Valley (and thanks to the many individuals who attend); to Lift-Up and the churches who help feed the hungry; to Voces Unidas, Valley Settlement and other organizations for helping the immigrant community; to CVEPA, Wilderness Workshop, Roaring Fork Conservancy for helping to protect our environment.
But — because stories about chainsaw sculptors and unique community events, along with the happenings at town hall, in the school board room or on the local high school ball field or gym, are the backbone of community journalism — Carbondale was not to be denied its local paper.
Less than two months after the VJ published its last issue on Christmas Day 2008, The Sopris Sun was born out of a community of dedicated people who knew Carbondale deserved to have its own newspaper.
I happened to be in on some of those early conversations about starting a nonprofit newspaper to replace the VJ. But, because I had to make my own personal financial decisions at the time, I took the offer to stay on with the chain newspapers, for better or for worse.
Truly, though, the best model for a community newspaper is for it to be “owned” by the community it serves — no outside corporate influences, or even the whims of private investors.
Coming up on its 17th birthday, The Sopris Sun continues to prove the value of community journalism, with its nonprofit model, its legion of freelance community journalists and you, the reader. Because that’s really what makes for a great local newspaper — people.
Not only the people who make the magic happen week in and week out, but readers like you who know and understand the value of good community journalism.
With that in mind, please consider supporting your community newspaper through either a one-time or recurring monthly contribution. You’ll find all the information on how to do that at www.soprissun.com
• On the national level, special thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union for leading the way in defending democracy, to Indivisible for its work on mobilizing Americans to defend our rights, and other groups: League of Women Voters, Common Cause, etc.
All these groups may now be under threat from President Trump’s new memorandum, NSPM-7, which is defining their social justice goals as terrorism. As Robert Reich noted: “Under NSPM-7, you could be prosecuted for terrorism if you espouse such views as ‘anti-capitalism,’ ‘extremism on migration, race and gender,’ and opposition to ‘traditional American views on family, religion and morality.’”
Now you might be wondering, what exactly do those terms mean? If you support unions or raising the minimum wage, does that make you “anti-capitalist?” If you think ICE should stop tear-gassing kids, does that make you an “extremist on migration?”
We give our thanks to groups and individuals brave enough to stand up to authoritarianism.
Thelma Zabel and Sue Coyle TRUU Social Justice Committee
As Mona Charen put it…
We have an incredible situation happening in America currently. It is so important to see this clearly and to understand that the messages the administration is sending to us are informed by social psychology meant to command our attention mesmerizingly. Respect is the key to being able to see this administration clearly. How can we respect a person who has been accused by dozens of women over the years of various forms of sexual misconduct, was impeached twice by the House of Representatives and has been accused of treasonous insurrection against our government. The Republican House and Senate have shown spineless supplication. Jeff Hurd leads the vote to squeeze money out of the folks making it.
Meanwhile, on a world map, Russia takes the aspect of a wild boar charging East.
Over the past seven months, Trump and his MAGA stooges in Congress have passed legislation to: strip health care from up to 15 million people; cut food stamp benefits which over 40 million Americans continued on page 22
Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com
Contributing Editor
James Steindler
Sol del Valle Editora Bianca Godina bianca@soldelvalle.org
Digital Editor
Ingrid Celeste Zúniga ingrid@soldelvalle.org
Lead Editorial Designer Terri Ritchie
Partnerships & Engagement Manager Luise Nieslanik
Advertising Department adsales@soprissun.com
Sol del Valle Marketing and Development Manager
Margarita Alvarez margarita@soldelvalle.org
Advertising Designer
Emily Blong
Delivery
Frederic Kischbaum
Youth Journalism Instructor
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale
Proofreaders
Lee Beck
Tracy Kallassy
Ken Pletcher
Hank van Berlo
Executive Director
Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246
todd@soprissun.com
Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com
Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke
Donna Dayton • Eric Smith
Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips
Jessi Rochel • Andrew Travers
Anna Huntington • Loren Jenkins
Carlos Ramos • Gayle Wells
The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6pm on second Thursdays at the Third Street Center. The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism. Donations are fully tax deductible.
Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+
Lee Beck & John Stickney
Kay Brunnier
Frances Dudley
Michelle & Ed Buchman
Sue Edelstein & Bill Spence
Deborah & Shane Evans
Greg & Kathy Feinsinger
Michael & Nancy Kish
Gary & Jill Knaus
Eric Smith
Peter and Mike Gilbert
Patti & George Stranahan
Elizabeth Wysong
Alpine Bank
Emily & George Bohmfalk
Kathy & Carter Barger
Sandy & Paul Chamberlin
Karen & Roger Berliner
Donna & Ken Riley
Gayle & Dick Wells
Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes. Mary Lilly
Donate by mail or online: P.O. Box 399
Carbondale, CO 81623
520 S. Third Street #26-B 970-510-3003 soprissun.com/Donate
The Sopris Sun, Inc.
is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District
SCUTTLEBUTT
Bridging Bionics
RFOV hiring
The Bridging Bionics Foundation announced Monday, Dec. 1, receiving a monumental $1.5 million grant from an anonymous donor. The first $1 million will immediately support the acquisition of Bridging Bionics Foundation’s Center for Neurorehabilitation at 2605 Dolores Way, Carbondale. The remaining $500,000 has been committed as a three-year matching challenge to support the new Bridging Lives campaign, offering mobility programs to qualifying individuals “from out-of-town,” the press release explains. “We can now call 2605 Dolores Way in Carbondale our permanent home,” Founder and Executive Director Amanda Boxtel proudly proclaimed. “It is literally a dream come true.”
Help wanted
Lift-Up is seeking volunteer drivers for food recovery for the Carbondale food bank. If you can help pick up local store donations for one to two hours per week contact Joe Markham at 970-274-4695. Volunteers must have a truck or SUV. This volunteer opportunity is ideal for two people.
Chip in
FirstBank Alpine Bank
Colorado Mountain College
Nordic Gardens
Hilary Porterfield
Basalt Library NONPROFIT PARTNERS
Two Rivers
Unitarian Universalist
Carbondale Arts
Carbondale Rotary Club
Colorado Animal Rescue
Carbondale Parks and Rec is soliciting help from Nature Park users to distribute wood chips over muddy sections of the trail loop to protect the path and reduce erosion. Stop by on Saturday, Dec. 6 to borrow a wheelbarrow, shovel or rake and earn a raffle ticket for prizes including a 20-punch pass to the Rec Center and a 6-punch pass for Sneakers and Snouts dog-walking service. Tools will remain on-site on other days too — just return them after lending a hand.
Welcome, Ben Chase!
The Town of Carbondale welcomes Ben Chase as its new building plans examiner. A New Jersey native, Chase describes himself as a “mostly recovered ski bum” who has worked for building departments in various capacities throughout the western United States since 2017. Chase has lived up the Crystal since 2020 and is “the proud owner of a gratuitous number of flannel shirts,” the press release states.
Linwood smoke
To reduce wildfire risk and restore ecological balance, the City of Glenwood Springs plans to conduct pile burns east of the Linwood (Doc Holiday) Cemetery on Dec. 9-10 if weather is favorable. Firefighters
Avila (pictured) has been cleaning various littered areas in the Valley for about five years, up to four times a year. He volunteers his time, but pays his workers, with Lion Multiservices, for the seasonal efforts. This year, Avila needed some extra hands for a particular problem area west of the Red Hill parking lot, right off the shoulder of Highway 82, so he posted a solicitation on Facebook. Theresa Teague, owner of Cowgirl Cleaning Company, volunteered along with three of her employees and Eileen Tucker of Carbondale. Avila said he picked up about 500 needles before the rest of the crew got started on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when he was beginning to separate batteries and hundreds of propane canisters from the rest of the heap, including countless beer cans, a tent and many more random items. Tune into Everything Under The Sun on KDNK this Thursday, Dec. 4 at 4pm for a live interview with Avila and Teague.
Photo by James Steindler
will be on-site to monitor the fire and ensure it remains under control. Learn more at www.gwsco.info/burns
Posada celebration
Wilderness Workshop and Defiende Nuestra Tierra invite you to their annual Community Posada and Christmas Tree Cutting event this Saturday, Dec. 6. The event includes free permits to cut a Christmas tree, hot drinks, tamales and a visit from Smokey the Bear. This year, it will take place at the West Elk Trailhead in New Castle from 10am to 2pm. To register, contact Alejandro at 970-989-3552.
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is accepting applications for a youth education coordinator. This role manages RFOV’s Youth in Nature program and supports the Youth Stewards Program, as well as community volunteer programs. “Ideal candidates will have experience leading programs for high school youth, a background in outdoor education or conservation, advanced Spanish-language skills and a passion for RFOV’s mission and vision,” the press release states. Learn more at www.rfov.org/careers
Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass, connecting Gypsum to the Roaring Fork Valley, closes on Dec. 5 to reopen in April 2026, or when conditions allow.
CMC accolades
Colorado Mountain College (CMC) received national recognition for its Compass project, helping all students and multilingual learners in particular complete their studies. The Barefoot & Gardner Award is presented every two years by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education in Chicago. The Compass project has helped CMC mitigate performance gaps between white and Hispanic students with Bridge programs including English as a Second Language, high school equivalency and adult high school diploma classes, as well as an English Acquisition for Academic Purposes certificate.
Restaurant opportunity
The City of Aspen has issued a request for proposals from qualified vendors to lease a commercial restaurant space at 455 Rio Grande Place. City Council seeks a vendor “that will operate an affordable, family-friendly, year-round restaurant serving the Aspen community.” Learn more at www.bit.ly/Aspen-restaurant
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Edgar Garcia and Carol Klein (Dec. 4); Dakotah Grett, Mark Stover, John Stroud and Kashana Tonozzi (Dec. 5); Carol Craven, Amy Kimberly, Cathleen McCourt, Colette Meagher, Frank McSwain, Collette Spears and Judy Whitmore (Dec. 6); David Dabney, Holly Richardson and Lisa Speaker (Dec. 7); Jennifer Lamont and Dylan Mace (Dec. 8); Jennifer Austin Hughes (Dec. 9); Bob Johnson, Bill Laemmel, Krista Paradise, Scott Skinner and Vicki Yarbrough (Dec. 10).
Saul
Preventative care pioneer receives humanitarian award
JAMES STEINDLER
Contributing Editor
Dr. Greg Feinsinger did not go through medical school to become a doctor and make a bunch of money. In fact, his parents put the thought in his head when he was just a kid, imparting that a common purpose people share is to help one another. Feinsinger was recently honored with the Humanitarian Award during the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Alumni Association’s annual Silver and Gold Banquet.
“Dr. Feinsinger’s career in family medicine has been marked by extraordinary contributions, including founding free clinics and championing plant-based nutrition as a cornerstone of preventive care,” read a press release.
Feinsinger’s former medical schoolmate and good friend, Dr. Steve Hessl, nominated him for the award. “Much to my surprise they gave it to me,” Feinsinger told The Sopris Sun. “Especially because I went into medicine to help people, it’s quite an honor.”
He learned the ways of Western medicine at CU, having graduated from there in 1968. After practicing for a while, he pinned some unfavorable trends within the industry. For one, that it is an industry — set on financial gain — and two that the status quo is responsive health care, rather than preventative.
“Medical school is all about pills and procedures,” Feinshinger said. “It’s not about prevention. We don’t really have a health care system. We have a disease management system.”
A little history
Born in Madison, Wisconsin to a law professor (father) and classical musician (mother), Feinsinger and his siblings visited Aspen during summers, where
his family bought some land up Castle Creek Road and built a homestead there. When he was in fifth grade, they moved to the area for good. Feinsinger attended the Red Brick School House up until graduating and moved on to study political science at Oberlin College in Ohio, where he was most often found in the library, working what seemed like twice as hard to keep up with some of his classmates.
He went straight to University of Colorado School of Medicine, but left after only a few months, as it proved to be equally as, if not more, challenging than his undergraduate experience. He got the okay from the school to come back and try again in a year’s time, which he did. There, he met his wife, Kathy (Sato), who was in the nursing program.
After he finished an internship at San Joaquin General Hospital in California, the country was still in the midst of the Vietnam War; for young men that meant a likelihood of being drafted. For Feinsinger, it was the war or the Indian Health Service, a federal health program that provides free health care to Native Americans. So he worked at a clinic on the Bannock Shoshone Reservation outside of Pocatello, Idaho for two years.
Eventually, he moved back to Colorado with his family, and began a long stint at Glenwood Medical Associates.
“Back then, family docs delivered babies, took care of people in the nursing home and everybody in between — ‘cradle to grave’ so to speak,” he said.
He was with Glenwood Medical Associates for 42 years, before retiring a decade ago.
Preventative care and nutrition
It was in 2003 when Feinsinger realized that “essentially all heart attacks are preventable,” as well as other ailments. Knowing this to be true, he started the Heart
Dr. Greg Feinsinger holds up the Humanitarian Award presented to him at the University of Colorado
2025
Attack, Stroke and Diabetes Prevention Center at Glenwood Medical, which wrapped upon his retirement.
“Heart disease is caused by hardening the arteries,” he explained, “and that’s totally preventable and treatable and even reversible just with lifestyle changes in most cases.” He pointed out that California cardiologist
Anschutz Medical Alumni Association’s
Silver and Gold Banquet. Courtesy photo
Sopris Sun brings Thomas Friedman to TACAW
RALEIGH BURLEIGH
Sopris Sun Editor
“As a foreign affairs columnist, I now have to track the impact and interactions of not only superpowers, but also super-intelli gent machines, super-empowered individuals taking advantage of technology to extend their reach and super-global corpora tions, as well as super-storms and super-failing states, like Libya and Sudan,” Thomas Friedman recently wrote in a New York Times column.
Friedman introduces the concept of “Polcene” — a new epoch of nuanced, multinodal interconnectedness challenging the binary paradigm of old. The column, titled “Welcome to Our New Era. What Do We Call It?” goes on to describe implications of rising artificial intelligence technologies, the polycrisis of climate change, the crisscrossing of geopolitical alliances, shifting notions of identity, commerce and more.
How to navigate such unfamiliar terrain? Friedman goes on to quote Dov Seidman, a business philosopher and founder of the HOW Institute for Society, saying, “Interdependence is no longer our choice … It is our condition. We will either build healthy interdependencies and rise together or suffer through unhealthy interdependencies and fall together.”
“Whichever way we go, though, we’re going there together,” Friedman concludes.
On Dec. 23, Valley locals will have the opportunity to meet this renowned political commentator when he speaks at TACAW by way of a Sopris Sun invitation. This will be the second installment of our Mountain Perspectives speaker series in collaboration with TACAW, following an evening with Ken Rudin earlier this year.
Mountain Perspectives, Sopris Sun Executive Director Todd Chamberlin explained, is the name of a speaker series and a new online engagement platform developed by Sopris Apps in collaboration with The Sopris Sun. Both initiatives are meant to inspire richer, deeper conversations within our community. “For me, Mountain
IN A NUTSHELL
What: Coffee with Tom Friedman
When: Dec. 23 at 10am
Where: TACAW
How: Tickets at www.TACAW.org
“When farmers and fruit tree stewards have surplus crops, we harvest the extra, increasing access to the food that is most desired and least accessible to people experiencing food and nutrition insecurity in our community.”
- Rita Mary Hennigan, Executive Director of Uproot UpRoot redirects agricultural surplus to increase nutrition security while supporting farmer resilience across Colorado and is a grant recipient of the Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund.
Perspectives reflects the best of who we are — a community that’s curious, engaged, and willing to talk with one another about what matters, whether we’re gathered at TACAW or connecting online,” said Chamberlin. “Together, we’re building a living, growing hub for civic dialogue across the Valley — online and off.”
Friedman is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and a weekly columnist for the New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization and environmental issues. He joined the New York Times in 1981, after which he served as the Beirut bureau chief in 1982, Jerusalem bureau chief in 1984, in Washington, D.C. as the diplomatic correspondent in 1989 and later the White House correspondent and economics correspondent.
Introducing Friedman will be fellow Pulitzer Prize-winner Loren Jenkins, a Sopris Sun board member and former foreign correspondent at various news outlets. Jenkins also served five years as publisher and editor-in-chief of The Aspen Times in the ‘90s. They met while covering the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982. Christian militias had indiscriminately murdered over 1,000 civilians, including children, living in Palestinian refugee camps under the watch of occupying Israeli forces. Jenkins and Friedman were among the first to enter the scene the following day and both won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for their work. “There’s no way any one individual can get the whole story,” Jenkins said of reporting on such a tragedy. “You share. It’s all confusion all day long.”
Before the Dec. 23 talk, scheduled for 11am, guests are invited to network while enjoying coffee and pastries at TACAW. Books authored by Friedman will be available for purchase at the event. A Q&A session will follow Friedman’s talk.
Doors open at 10am. The cost is $20 for Sopris Sun Sunscribers and TACAW members; regular fare is $25. Tickets can be purchased at www.TACAW.org or at the door.
‘Driven by Angels’ to premier at Wheeler in January
BETSY WELCH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Vaughn Shafer’s birthday parties are legendary.
For decades now, on a chilly evening in late January, some 50 people have trekked up to Shafer’s 36-acre property near Lookout Mountain to ride vintage American Flyer sleds down his steep, 2.5-mile long driveway. Before it was sleds, they’d pile into Shafer’s river canoes, using the paddles to steer and brake.
One year, as Shafer was piloting a canoe down the driveway, a car was coming up. His friends wanted to pull over and let it pass, but Shafer wouldn’t hear of it. “No, let’s pass them,” he said. As the canoe sluiced down the driveway, the car swung around and parked at the bottom of the hill. A county sheriff stepped out, incredulous.
blacksmith whose work is scattered throughout the Roaring Fork Valley; the stuntman who jumped cars; the man who has survived lightning and loss.
A blacksmith with a need for speed
Long before world records and film festivals, Shafer grew up in a world of steel. His father, grandfather and maternal grandfather were blacksmiths and gunsmiths. Shafer learned the trade the way most kids learn to ride a bike. But his life changed suddenly when he was 9 years old, the day he and his father were struck by lightning on a fishing trip. Shafer survived. His father did not.
I figured the good Lord has me here for a reason… I’ve lived my life on the edge ever since.
-Vaughn Shafer
“What the hell are you doing? I just clocked you doing 45 mph in a canoe!”
Shafer chuckles as he recounts the story, but not in a nostalgic, “Those were the good old days” type of way. Even on sleds instead of canoes, the birthday party driveway drag races show no sign of slowing down, even as Shafer’s age creeps upward.
For anyone who doesn’t get the birthday invite, a new documentary will feature a little behind-the-scenes footage. “Driven by Angels,” set to premiere at the Wheeler Opera House in January or February, spotlights Shafer’s adrenalinefueled lifestyle — on his birthday and beyond.
The film centers on Shafer’s attempt to set a new world record for the fastest ride on a motorized skateboard, a goal he hit in September 2024, at age 63. But the record itself is only the scaffolding for the film. The heart of “Driven by Angels” is Shafer: The third-generation
“I figured the good Lord has me here for a reason,” he said. “And I’ve lived my life on the edge ever since.”
After high school, Shafer became a stuntman at theme parks and outdoor theaters around the country. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, he set records on skateboards and motorcycles, including a Guinness World Record at age 27. In 1999, he set the record for fastest motorized skateboard at 74 mph.
Shafer doubled as a metal worker and stuntman at theme parks and in old-West towns like Rawhide, Arizona. Eventually he came to the Roaring Fork Valley, and his work is ubiquitous here, both indoors and out: from the El Jebel sign to thousands of handrails, chandeliers, fire pits, hinges and pieces of cabinet hardware in homes throughout the Valley. He works for ranchers, for Hollywood types and for local municipalities.
While Shafer’s clients may mostly know him for his gorgeous metal work, anyone who stops by his El Jebel shop can see that he is a man of many talents and interests. Which is exactly what happened to filmmaker
“We help each individual understand their wants, needs, and goals, then provide them with a road map and the resources to get there. We don’t prescribe solutions—we help families create their own pathway to success.”
Costello when he became Shafer’s
five years ago.
Building the board, and the story
Five years ago, Costello walked into Shafer’s shop wanting to learn how to make Damascus steel knives. He didn’t expect to become part of a three-year journey that would lead to a feature film.
Working in the shop, Costello realized Shafer wasn’t just a craftsman. Skateboards of varying vintages hang on the walls, and newspaper and magazine clippings showing Shafer doing tricks and stunts are pinned to the back of the front door. Costello, curious about the blacksmith’s “other” life, started to ask questions. The stories about Shafer’s past as a stuntman and skateboarder astounded him. He called his longtime friend, videographer and cinematographer Brett Buescher.
“[Shafer’s] story is something that the world needs to know,” Costello said.
continued on page 7
Nick
apprentice
Shafer takes in the energy of the crowd at Redding Motorsports Park in Redding, California on April 25, 2025. Paula Wood Photo
SHAFER
from page 6
Buescher agreed immediately. After years of shooting action sports and running Street Kingpins — a mobile app supporting underground skaters — he’d been looking for a longform project with heart. Shafer was it.
The project crystallized in 2022, when the three decided to build a new motorized skateboard and break the record for the fastest ride — a record Shafer himself set in 1999. Since then, he’d been tinkering with new iterations of a board, but they were rudimentary at best.
The new board would be different: a hybrid machine with skateboard wheels in front, go-kart wheels in back and a 300cc motorcycle engine. Faster and safer, the board also took on a gravitas after it was built. Buescher’s
father, Louie, who helped engineer the setup, passed away just months before the final record attempt.
From six months to 30
The original plan was simple: build the board, film the process and capture the record — maybe six months of shooting, Buesher said.
Instead, it took almost three years.
There were engineering setbacks, a near-disastrous day at the dragway, weather delays, scheduling issues and real losses: family members passed away, finances strained and the emotional stakes kept rising.
They finally hit the record — 82.46 mph — in September 2024 at the Western Colorado Dragway in Grand Junction.
Then came the year of editing, sorting through hundreds of hours of footage. All of it — the raw track days and the quieter interviews in Shafer’s shop — became a 99-minute documentary that has already been selected for 27 festivals and won 10 awards.
Their hope now is to get sponsored and picked up by a major network. In the meantime, they plan to travel to a few of the festivals featuring the film. They want to bring the drag board with them and field questions from the crowd.
‘Grandfather of Dragboarding’
With the record in hand and the film on the festival circuit, the trio is now pushing for something bigger: the birth of a new sport.
They call it dragboarding — quarter-mile, head-tohead races on motorized skateboards. Shafer wants to help establish rules, classes and safety standards.
“When Vaughn shows up to the drag strip, this machine gets more attention than the $800,000 cars,” Costello said. “People can’t believe what they’re seeing.”
Shafer’s dream is to become the “Grandfather of Dragboarding,” inspiring a new generation of motorized skateboarders. He says the potential is real, especially because the National Hot Rod Association is always looking for something different.
“As long as we keep it safe, prove it can be done and show it has entertainment value,” Shafer said.
The trio hopes to spend the summer doing head-tohead team races, showing crowds what this could be. The point of the documentary, they all emphasize, is to showcase Shafer’s story in a way that inspires people. Yes, they want to turn dragboarding into a sport, and Costello believes this film is the path.
“Once they see it, they’ll think, ‘People are actually doing this — and he’s doing it at 63 years old?’”
Despite the danger, despite the speed, despite the world records, Shafer is calm about the risks. Losing his father at 9 and his wife to cancer five years ago reframed everything.
“It doesn’t matter your age or lifestyle,” he said. “You can go at any second. You might as well be smiling, having a hell of a time while you’re here.”
Shafer’s dragboard is powered by a KTM 300 motor and is set up for top performance in the quarter mile. Paula Wood Photo
Negotiations secure Hogback bus service in 2026
Discussions continue to determine longer-term financing
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
In early November, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) CEO Kurt Ravenschlag presented to the Garfield County Commissioners. He was speaking to the role public transportation plays in regional commuting, and asked the commissioners to allot funds specifically to help cover RFTA’s Hogback services west of Glenwood Springs. Garfield County has contributed varying amounts toward this service since it began. However, some community members question whether it makes sense for the county to help pay for services that take residents to different counties for work.
Over the past two-plus decades RFTA has grown substantially. The organization originally served the Aspen area and Pitkin County, but has added routes over the years to support connections between different communities in the region. The transit authority now serves Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties from Aspen to Rifle. RFTA buses make 22 daily trips between Rifle and New Castle, and 46 trips between New Castle and Glenwood Springs.
Ravenschlag said that Garfield County at one point covered the full cost of the Hogback route services, but has decreased contributions to RFTA over the past six years. This year, Garfield County considered stopping all of its contributions toward RFTA services. That would have left funding the Hogback route entirely up to the municipalities it serves, in addition to RFTA sharing from its general funds.
The City of Rifle allotted $80,000 for Hogback services in 2026, and the Town of Silt marked $40,000 for that use.
While Hogback ridership is a small percentage of RFTA’s total customers (4% of over 200,000 boardings in 2024), many Hogback riders rely on the buses to connect with other routes. Rifle and Silt residents account for more than 50% of total Hogback ridership, per RFTA public information officer Jamie Tatsuno.
“The portion of the Hogback service between New Castle and Rifle lies outside RFTA’s jurisdictional boundaries and has been purchased by Garfield County through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the past 23 years,” Tatsuno explained. Earlier
this year, the county notified RFTA that continuing to pay for the service would not be feasible moving forward.
“Through further discussions,” Tatsuno said, “Garfield County agreed to provide partial funding to allow the Town of Silt and the City of Rifle time to identify alternative solutions for funding this portion of the service.” The RFTA board of directors agreed to cover the remaining funding shortfall
after Garfield County’s contribution toward the Hogback through the Fall 2026 service season.
“No funding has been identified beyond Fall 2026 for the New Castle–Rifle portion of the Hogback,” explained Tatsuno. She noted that no definite solutions had been identified as of this week. A recent RFTA survey indicated that 41% of Hogback route riders board the buses in
continued on page 17
What do you think of RFTA’s Hogback service and how that should be funded? Join the conversation on Mountain Perspectives:
A RFTA bus prepares to take riders all the way from Rubey Park in Aspen to Rifle, 70 miles away. Photo courtesy of RFTA
Santa says, ‘You gotta be nice’
AMY HADDEN MARSH
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The first of December brought snow to the Roaring Fork Valley but it did not bring public comments to the Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. For the first time in a few weeks, no one had anything to say that wasn’t on the agenda. Not even about the upcoming library board of trustees interviews (which the BOCC has set for Dec. 12 at 8am at the county building in Glenwood Springs).
The BOCC’s agenda was slim, so the meeting lasted a little over an hour. But, this does not mean that agenda items, such as honoring county election judges and approving mill levies and letters to Congress, were any less important.
Commissioner Mike Samson introduced a letter sent last week to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA HD4) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY HD8), urging them to act fast on Senate Bill 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill was introduced in February by Republican Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho. It has 27 co-sponsors, according to Legiscan, including Colorado
Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.
The bill would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS). Before 2000, certain rural counties near national forests received funding from timber sales. As commercial logging declined, the SRS was passed to offset losses and guarantee funding for the counties.
According to the National Association of Counties, of which Garfield County is a member, the SRS authorized about $232 million to more than 700 counties two years ago. The SRS has not been reauthorized since 2023, which has caused budget shortfalls. The BOCC letter states, “Across the 41 states previously receiving SRS payments, total funding was cut by 63%, resulting in a $177 million loss.”
A separate funding source, known as the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, supplements the SRS for public lands counties. Since federal lands cannot be taxed by counties, PILT funding takes up some of the slack. But, without SRS monies, PILT isn’t enough.
“For Garfield County, that means fewer resources for school operations, delayed bridge and
road repairs and reduced capacity for wildfire prevention…” the letter states. The BOCC wants the SRS to be made permanent or good for two to five years so reauthorization doesn’t have to occur annually.
Next, county election judges were honored for their service and were on hand to bask in the glow of accolades from Jackie Harmon, county clerk and recorder, and the BOCC. Harmon said she has become more passionate about supporting the team that supports her during elections. “We train them, we lead them, we guide them and we teach them the rules and the processes,” she said. “But they are the hands of the elections.”
Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky gave a shout-out to retired county clerk and recorder Jean Alberico. “I’ve thanked her many times for going with [voting system] Clear Ballot, not Dominion,” he said. “That sure did save us a lot of hassles.” Election Judge Recognition Day is Dec. 5.
Commissioners approved an eight-item consent agenda, a request from the Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation for $19,800 out of the nonprofit general fund and a $110,525 budget supplement request from
CARBONDALE Revolving Loan Fund
the Garfield County Sheriff for a jail camera system upgrade.
The county mill levy for fiscal year 2026 was set at 13.655 and the mill levy for the Traveler’s Highland Public Improvement District was set at 44.809.
Also approved were two new employee hires — a deputy county manager and an assistant county attorney — to start Jan. 1, 2026. Diane Hayes, interim county human resources director, introduced the new county HR director, Renee Thomas.
County manager Fred Jarman told the BOCC that Jeff Davis has resigned as director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). According to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Davis is moving to the DNR executive director’s office as a senior policy advisor. Major General Laura Clellan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is the acting CPW director until Davis’ replacement is found.
“But you have to be nice.”
The Town of Carbondale developed the Carbondale Revolving Loan Fund (CRLF) to enhance the ability of local busine secure the necessary capital to finance start-ups, operations, or expansion The loan fund was set up in 2002 with a partnership with the USDA The Town and USDA both contributed $50,000 In addition to providing access to cap CRLF is designed to help stimulate job creation and retention Loans are available to new or established businesses within the town limits of the Town of Carbondale To-date, the fund has ~$150,000 to loan to for-profit and no businesses based in Carbondale
CRITERIA
Loan proceeds may be used for business reasons, including real estate acquisition, construction, and equipment
Funds cannot be used for the refinancing of existing debt Applications will be considered on the basis of the character of the applicant, the applicant’s capacity to repay the loan, collateral and/or other sources of capital, and conditions affecting the applicant’s ability to repay the loan
The guideline for the amount to be requested is $5,000 to $25,000 The interest rate will depend on several factors such as the type of collateral, financial strength of the applicant, and the overall risk Fixed rates of interest will range from 3% to 5%
The term of each loan will depend on repayment capabilities and the purpose of the loan Repayment is monthly and loans are usually no longer than a 36-month term (3 years)
CONTACT
Scan QR code for more information or contact the Carbondale Chamber: 970-963-1890, chamber@carbondale com
The CRLF is made possible by the Town of Carbondale The Carbondale Chamber is not affiliated with the Town of Carbondale, rather assisting the Town by overseeing the marketing & promotion, and certain aspects of the administration of this program The loan funds are in no way exchanged with the Carbondale Chamber
SPRUCE UP THE SUN ART CONTEST!
It’s that time of year, when e Sopris Sun invites young people to submit artistic entries for its annual Spruce Up e Sun contest. e winning illustration(s) will be featured on the cover of the Dec. 25 holiday issue. Contestants, or their parents, can submit scanned submissions to news@soprissun.com or place a hard copy in the submission box outside of e Launchpad in Carbondale (76 South Fourth Street). Preschoolers through high school seniors are welcome to submit.
¡EMBELLECE EL SOL!
Ha llegado la época del año en que Sol del Valle invita a los jóvenes a presentar obras de arte para su concurso anual Embellece el Sol. La(s) ilustración(es) ganadora(s) aparecerá(n) en la portada de la edición navideña del 25 diciembre. El tema de este año es Armonía Navideña, las obras deben re ejar el tema, y, por favor, abstenerse de utilizar brillantina.
Theme:
Holiday Harmony
Temática:
Armonía Navideña
Deadline: DECEMBER 12
Fecha Límite: 12 DE DICIEMBRE
RULES:
• Students from kindergarten to high school are invited to enter
• Paper size: 8 1/2” wide x 11 high”
• A variety of media is permitted, but not glitter or three-dimensional elements
• Bright, bold colors are recommended
• Please write the child’s name, age, grade, school and a parent’s contact information (on the back of the page)
REGLAS:
• Estudiantes de kindergarten a high school están invitados a entrar
• Tamaño de papel: 8 1/2 x 11”
• Se puede utilizar una variedad de materiales, pero no destellos ni elementos tres-dimensionales
• Se recomienda colores brillantes
• Por favor, incluir el nombre del artista, su edad, curso, escuela y información de contacto para su pariente (en la parte atrás de la página)
Last Year’s Winner
For more information, contact / Para más información: news@soprissun.com /
DROP OFF/ ENTREGA: The Launchpad, 76 S. Fourth Street, Carbondale MAILING/ POR CORREO: P.O. Box 399, Carbondale CO 81623
High hopes for Roaring Fork hoops teams as Patch tourney kicks off season
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
The high school sports calendar turns to the winter season this week, with Roaring Fork High School boys and girls basketball getting things rolling by hosting the annual Brenda Patch Tournament.
A mix of Western Slope, Front Range and Eastern Plains teams will be in Carbondale this Thursday through Saturday for the tournament, which honors the memory of Patch, who died in a tragic car crash along with her mother on Thanksgiving Day in 1984.
The varsity boys get things started at 3pm Thursday against Plateau Valley, and will return to the court at 7:30pm on Friday against Fort Lupton.
The Rams girls take on Steamboat Springs at 6pm Thursday, and square off against Rifle at 6pm Friday.
The top teams will meet for the tournament championship and third-place games on Saturday.
Both Rams teams are looking to build on the success of last season, when they each qualified for the Class 3A state playoffs, both bowing out in the second round.
Roaring Fork’s girls, who went 22-3 overall and placed second in the 3A Western Slope League at 12-2, enter the
2025-26 season with a pre-season ranking of seventh among 3A teams in Colorado.
“This team is filled with potential, but we’re going to have many youngsters on the court, including starting a freshman,” thirdyear head coach Mike Vidakovich said of a returning squad that includes senior Nikki Tardif and junior Riley Bevington.
Both players were among the best in the league last year, and Vidakovich said he will look to their leadership as the team looks to fill the shoes of several veteran players who graduated last year, including twins Carley and Erica Crownhart and Maddie Anderson.
Joining Tardif and Bevington as team co-captains is junior Hazel Jenkins.
Cedaredge dominated the league last season, going undefeated, and should return as the team to beat this year, along with Meeker and North Fork, Vidakovich predicted.
“We’ll have a good chance to be right up there with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rams boys also received some preseason votes to be among the top teams in the state, and will be looking to prove themselves on the court after an 18-7 campaign last year and their first 3A WSL title in several years at 12-0.
“I think this year we should be as good
as last year, or better,” veteran head coach Jason Kreiling said of a team that lost three seniors, but still has four starters returning in seniors Lucas Carballeira, Kiko Pena, Ethan Wilson and Ryder Tezanos.
“We also have some solid guys coming off the bench that have had some experience, so I expect us to be really competitive again this year,” Kreiling said.
Roaring Fork dominated the league last season, but Kreiling looks to teams like Olathe and Meeker to keep the competition level up this year.
Both Rams teams will be on the road at the Weld Central tournament next weekend to conclude the pre-holiday slate of games.
Also beginning their season this weekend is the combined Glenwood Springs High School girls swim team, which includes several Roaring Fork student-athletes. The Lady Demons host a multi-team invitational meet at the Glenwood Community Center pool on Friday, Dec. 5, and are at another meet in Grand Junction on Saturday.
Likewise, the combined Glenwood boys hockey team got things started on Nov. 21, a 4-3 loss at Summit. They are at Durango for games on Friday and Saturday this week.
Later this month, the combined Basalt High School boys and girls wrestling teams begin their season at the Warrior Classic in Grand Junction on Dec. 19.
The Roaring Fork High School girls varsity basketball team participates in a dribbling drill inside the gym Monday, Dec. 1. Photo by Ray K. Erku
CALENDAR
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4
ASPEN AIRPORT
Drop by the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to preview conceptual design options, ask questions and help guide the next phase of the process. Session 1 is from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Session 2 is from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Learn more at www.aspenairport.com/modernization
GARCO AIRPORT
Garfield County is seeking community input on its development plan for the future of the Rifle Garfield County Airport with an open house from 4:30 to 6pm. Details at www.rifleairport.com
HUES & BREWS
For this month’s Hues & Brews workshop, offered in partnership with Aspen Out, The Art Base invites queers and allies to paint and decorate laser-cut ornaments designed by Matt Hays from 5 to 7pm. Register at www.theartbase.org
JASPER JOHNS OPENING
The Powers Art Center hosts an opening reception for its current exhibit, “Jasper Johns: A Whole Can be Only a Part,” from 5 to 7pm. RSVP at www.powersartcenter.org
WINTERFAIRE MARKET
Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork hosts Winterfaire shopping for adults only from 5 to 8pm with live music, food and handmade gifts from over 20 local artisans!
TRIVIA AT HANDLEBAR
The Homestead and Handlebar (303 River Valley Ranch Road) hosts trivia night from 6 to 8pm. Teams of up to six are welcome.
COMEDY NIGHT
LIGHT UP CARBONDALE ! LIGHT UP CARBONDALE! DECEMBER 5 DECEMBER
In The Heart of the Carbondale Creative District
Featuring extended hours and special events at shops, galleries, and restaurants. This month’s festivities include a special tree lighting, and more holiday happenings!
Carbondale Arts’ Deck The Walls Holiday Market and performances by Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra & students of Dance Initiative | Launchpad, 4-7pm
KDNK’s Labor of Love Auction | TRTC, 5-8:30pm
Free holiday treats provided by Alpine Bank, The Orchard, & the Town of Carbondale | 4 St Plaza, 5-8pm th
Open late with hot chocolate bar | Mountain Tide, 5-8pm
Live music by Hell Roaring String Band The Crow & Key, 5-8pm
Free sleigh rides with Santa | Chacos Park, 5:45-7:45pm
Live painting by Marcel | Kahhak Fine Arts, 6-8pm
Live dj session with Jeerado S, Micro, & DJ Emz by McMission Presents | El Dorado, 8-11pm
Main Street is closed to thru traffic from Weant Blvd to 3rd Street.
Full details at carbondalearts.com
MCMISSION PRESENTS
Enjoy live DJ sessions with Jeerado S., Micro. and DJ Emz at El Dorado from 8 to 11pm.
JACOB JOLLIFF
The Wheeler Opera House hosts The Jacob Jolliff Band, featuring an award-winning mandolinist, at 8:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Over 50 local makers display their goods at Glenwood Springs’ fifth annual Holiday Bazaar at the Community Center
RIFLE OPEN SPACE
The City of Rifle invites residents to offer input on developing the Rifle Open Space Master Plan. A booth will be set up at the community’s Hometown Holidays celebration from 10am to 2pm.
CLOTHING DRIVE
Garfield County Democrats and Y2Kynk Vintage Warehouse host a clothing drive at the Glenwood Springs Library from 10am to 5pm. Anyone in need may come and select clothing at no cost. Warm items can be dropped off at donation boxes at the Glenwood, Carbondale and Rifle libraries through Dec. 5.
WINTERFAIRE
Waldorf School on the Rockies hosts its all ages Winterfaire community celebration from 11am to 3pm with a market, music, storytelling, lunch and treats! Tickets at www.waldorfschoolrf.com
REDSTONE HOLIDAY MARKET
Steve’s Guitars presents Patio Night Live featuring comedians Eric Gile, Jordan Wood, Beth Brandon and Miller Ford at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
ARTISTS’ RECEPTION
The Cooper Gallery (718 Cooper Ave, Glenwood Springs) hosts a holiday reception featuring its local line of artists from 4 to 7pm.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB
The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park hosts Friday Afternoon Club with live music by The Aries Approach, a husband-wife rock duo, from 4:30 to 7:30pm.
LIGHT UP CARBONDALE
Celebrate First Friday on Main Street with hot cocoa and cider and the community tree lighting at 5:30pm. Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra and Dance Initiative’s 970Beatkicks will perform at The Launchpad where Carbondale Arts’ Deck the Walls Holiday Market stays open from 4 to 7pm. Hell Roaring String Band will be at the Crow & Key from 5 to 8pm.
LABOR OF LOVE
KDNK’s Labor of Love Auction fundraiser takes place at Thunder River Theatre from 5 to 8:30pm. Catch the live auction portion at 7pm. To register, visit www.kdnk.org
CRYSTAL THEATRE
Catch “The Running Man” at the Crystal Theatre tonight and tomorrow at 7pm. Sunday’s show at 5pm is captioned.
JAZZMONAUTS
The Jazzmonauts perform at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
Redstone hosts its annual holiday market on the Boulevard, from the Inn all the way to Propaganda Pie, from 10am to 4pm. Artisan booths will be set up at various local businesses as carolers make their way to and fro and a holiday horse drawn express provides free lifts from one end of the Boulevard to the other. Santa will be at the Redstone Cliffs from noon to 2pm.
BASALT HOLIDAY MARKET
TACAW in Willits hosts the second annual Basalt Holiday Market, featuring local artists, jewelers, bakers and more, from 11am to 4pm.
CHIP IN Help Carbondale Parks and Rec distribute wood chips along the Nature Park trail loop from noon to 4pm and earn a raffle ticket for prizes like a 20-punch pass to the Rec Center.
GOOD EARTH APPRECIATION
Good Earth (12744 Highway 82, Carbondale) hosts a community appreciation day, when Santa makes a visit and guests enjoy treats, music and hot cocoa around a fire from 2 to 7pm.
‘HOME ALONE’
The Crystal Theatre screens “Home Alone” at 3pm as part of their holiday classics series. “Home Alone” will return on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 3pm.
CONSCIOUS JOURNALING
Join Erin McElroy at True Nature for a workshop on the magical art of journaling from 4 to 6pm. Details at www. truenaturehealingarts.com
WILLITS TREE LIGHTING
Willits hosts a holiday celebration from 4 to 6pm at Triangle Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected and the tree lights up at 5:15pm sharp.
SANTA AT THE CAVERNS
Santa will be at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park from 4 to 7pm, and it’s rumored that the Grinch will make an appearance as well.
SUMMIT FOR LIFE
The Chris Klug Foundation hosts its annual Summit For Life, a race benefitting the organization’s mission to bring awareness to organ, tissue and eye donation, at Aspen Mountain. Participants are to meet at Gondola Plaza at the base at 5pm. People who would like to participate but forgo the trek can “Ride for Life” by jumping on the Silver Queen Gondola. To register for either, visit www.summitforlife.org
Once contestants reach the top of the mountain, they’re invited to a post-race party at the Sundeck catered by the Little Nell.
MOUNTAIN MADRIGALS
The Mountain Madrigal Singers celebrate 45 years with Christmas concerts tonight and Dec. 12 at 6pm and tomorrow and Dec. 13 at 2pm at the Glenwood Church of Christ (260 Soccer Field Road). These concerts are free with childcare available. Donations offset expenses.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7
NATURAL DEMOCRACY
A Spiritual Center hosts Gwen Garcelon on “the theory of including all nature in how we govern” at the Third Street Center (Room 31) from 10 to 11:30am.
HOLIDAY CONCERT
Mateo Sandate and the Heartstrings perform songs inspired by the spirit of the season at the Glenwood Springs Library at 2pm.
SNO-CIETY
Warren Miller’s film “Sno-Ciety” screens at the Wheeler Opera House at 4pm and again at 7pm. Tickets at www.wheeleroperahouse.com
HOLIDAY GRIEF GATHERING
True Nature hosts a holiday community grief gathering and lighting ritual, honoring lost loved ones, from 5 to 5:50pm. RSVP at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
RIVERFRONT PARK
Learn about Carbondale’s Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Impact Study, with Dr. Annette Shtivelband of Research Evaluation Consulting LLC and Roaring Fork Conservancy’s Heather Lewin, at the Carbondale Library from 10 to 11am.
PSILOCYBIN LAWS
NeuroSpa in Willits hosts a conversation on psilocybin therapy under Colorado’s regulated model from 5 to 6:30pm.
SACRED BROTHERHOOD
Kyle Jason Leitzke hosts a men’s group at True Nature exploring “wintering well” from 6 to 7:30pm.
BANJO-PIANO HARMONY
Musicians Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon) and Eric Deutsch (Black Crowes) perform as a duo at the Wheeler Opera House at 6:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9
DOUGHNATION STATION
Swing by Thunder River Theatre with a donation between 10 and 11am and walk away with coffee and a doughnut.
LEGISLATORS ACCESS
Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort hosts “Speed Dating with Your Legislators” from 4 to 6pm at the Hotel Colorado. Attendees will have direct access to city, county and state leaders. Registration at www.tinyurl.com/ loveatfirstpolicy
123 ANDRÉS
Grammy and Latin-Grammy award-winning 123 Andrés presents an all-ages concert in Spanish and English with spicy rhythms and holiday cheer at 6:30pm at TACAW. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
DRAWING CLUB
The Snowmass Collective hosts this week’s Roaring Fork Drawing Club session beginning at 6:30pm.
MUSIC TRIVIA
Beer Works hosts Music Trivia Night benefitting the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program at 6pm.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10
‘ANNIE JR.’
SoL Theatre Company presents “Annie Jr.” at Thunder River Theatre at 6pm tonight, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. Matinees are at 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Find tickets at www.soltheatrecompany.org
ATYPICAL GINGERBREAD
Woody Creek Distillery (60 Sunset Drive, Basalt) hosts its “Not Your Childhood Gingerbread House Party” at 6pm with proceeds benefitting the Buddy Program.
‘DIE HARD’
The Crystal Theatre screens “Die Hard” at 7pm as part of their holiday classics series.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
CONSENSUAL CHRISTMAS
TACAW presents “A Consensual Christmas” tonight and tomorrow at 8pm — blending original comedy sketches with holiday-themed improv, digital shorts and more. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
PHOTOS WITH SANTA
The Carbondale Police Department invites families to stop by The Orchard Church from 3 to 8pm for photos with Santa. Proceeds benefit the Shop with a Cop program which helps local children and families in need experience the joy of the holidays.
150ISH
Explore Books in Aspen launches a new book club featuring critically recognized novels around 150 pages from 4:30 to 6pm. The first book is “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey.
AI WEATHER
Roaring Fork Conservancy presents Joel Gratz of OpenSnow on AI innovations for weather, snow and avalanche risk at Bristlecone Mountain Sports from 7 to 8:30pm. Register at www.roaringfork.org
CUP AUCTION
The Carbondale Clay Center’s annual cup auction takes place at the Old Thompson Barn (333 River Valley Ranch Road) from 6 to 8:30pm with an afterparty featuring DJ Benny from 9 to 11pm.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
SATANK HOLIDAY MARKET
Take Dolores Way through Satank and toward the river and you’ll find a holiday market along County Road 106 from 1 to 3pm.
‘ELF’
The Crystal Theatre screens “Elf” as part of their holiday classics series today and Dec. 17 at 3pm.
LOL
In celebration of Aspen’s Wintersköl, local comics Beth Brandon, Dan “Gonzo” Machanik, Greg Studley and Mike Hammock perform stand-up at the Wheeler Opera House at 5pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
CONTRA DANCE
Swing on over to the Carbondale
ARCTIC CRISIS: BEYOND THE ICE
Community School for a contra dance with live music from 7:30 to 9:30pm. No need to bring a partner. Lessons at 7pm. CHAD GOES DEEP
Following local comics, Chad and JT (known for viral antics at city council meetings) perform a live show at the Wheeler Opera House at 8pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
with Sarah Johnson, climate change educater and Delegate Observer at UNFCCC COP26
An introduction to the rapidly evolving Arctic climate system, and its central role in regulating Earth’s weather and climate during unprecedented planetary change and intensified global challenges.
FREE: Thursday, 1/15, 6-8pm (pre-register)
Credit Art Classes
BOOKMAKING AND COLLAGE
Senior tuition discount applies. Contact your local campus for information about registration. Wed, 10:10am-1:50pm, 1/14-2/11
Adult Community Education Classes
PAPER WINDOW STARS Sat, 9:30am-12:30pm, 12/6
PAPER ROSE WINDOWS Sat, 9:30am-12:30pm, 12/13
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI LESSONS AT SPRING GULCH Fridays/Saturdays starting 1/3
INTRO TO TAI CHI Mon, 10:30-11:30am, 1/12-3/30
PILATES WITH PURPOSE Mon/Wed, 12-1pm, 1/12-3/4
AIKIDO Tue/Thur, 6-7:30pm, 1/13-3/5 QIGONG Wed, 10:30-11:30am, 1/14-4/1
PILATES BLEND Wed, 9-10am, 1/14-3/4
EXPLORING LOSS, GRIEF, AND RECOVERY Thurs, 6-8pm, 1/22-2/26
SPANISH... BEGINNING Thursdays, 5-7pm, 1/22-3/19 Kids Classes
PAPER WINDOW STARS Wednesday, 3-4:45pm, 12/10
GINGERBREAD CONSTRUCTION Saturday, 1-4pm, 12/13
DRAWING FOR KIDS AGE 10-17 Wed, 3-4:30pm, 1/14-2/4
CAMPUS CLOSED 12/19-1/4
Klaus Obermeyer celebrated his 106th birthday in Aspen on Dec. 2. Obermeyer even borrowed an alphorn from the band and blew a few notes. Strudel was enjoyed by all. Photo by Ken Pletcher
At the Aspen Art Museum, Glenn Ligon inspects the record
MIKE DE LA ROSA
Arts Correspondent
Glenn Ligon’s exhibition, “Break It Down,” opened at the Aspen Art Museum on Nov. 21. The show explores the artist’s work over three decades, focusing on how a portrait of the self is created by examining external sources. As a Black man, Ligon consistently uses institutional documents to show the friction between his personal life and public record. The exhibition functions as a clear survey of his strategies for making the invisible and structural tensions of identity apparent.
The exhibition occupies three rooms and 47 works. The first room is a broad survey of Ligon’s recurring motifs and strategies. One notable artwork in this room is made up of 50 screenprinted self-portraits. The pieces alternate between a front and back view of the artist’s tightly framed head and are set against bold, Warhol-esque colored backdrops. Instead of glamorizing the image into icon, the repetitions appear as distinct from each other due to printing glitches (ink streaks and exposure blowouts, among others). These variations sometimes completely obscure the figure in darkness, adding a sinister mechanical ambiguity. The 50 screenprints and their various idiosyncratic quirks seem to argue depiction is not straightforward, questioning the stable identity they may otherwise presume.
Nearby, viewers encounter teacher reports from Walden, a private progressive
New York City elementary through high school where Ligon was a scholarship student. He has reproduced several of these documents as raw biographical material. One reads like an unintentionally satirical artist statement: “Glenn has a good knowledge of slavery and Black history, but finds standard social studies uninteresting and, as yet, has developed no social conscience. He tends to be politically apathetic about being Black, which is a shame.” Throughout the exhibition, Ligon engages with multiple institutional frameworks that, procedurally, define him.
Ligon outsources his biography as a consistent technique. He has said, “I am not interested in telling my own stories, I am interested in what other people have to say … The things I was interested in were already in the world and they didn’t need me to create them again.” This refusal to have the final word, preferring instead to reflect how others construct him, holds much of the work’s intensity.
For example, several works reproduce museum conservators’ reports on Ligon’s pieces in public collections. The original works, with texts like “I Am a Man” or “Black Rage,” are forced to coexist with institutional notes on condition and damage. The comparison produces a sharp, sometimes dark and funny conflict between political urgency and bureaucratic detachment. Whether Ligon is critiquing this
institutional scalpel or mirroring it is left mysteriously unresolved.
The final gallery punctuates the exhibition by focusing on a painting built from James Baldwin’s essay “Stranger in The Village,” a text Ligon often returns to. Baldwin, as Ligon notes, wrote it in the 1950s while living in a Swiss village whose residents had no prior relationship to Black people. The essay is Baldwin’s attempt to understand what it means to be a stranger, to understand “the fascination and fear strangers produce.”
From this textured painting, the other 24 works in the room emerge: dark, grayscale carbon and graphite rubbings that use the painting as their shared matrix to translate and reinterpret Baldwin’s words. Fragments
are sometimes legible, but none are intact reproductions. Instead, the physicality of their smudging and abrasions, records of how they were made, is the primary experience. To this reporter, they feel like the residue of culture inside every individual, far removed from a true origin. The violence in their markmaking also recalls Baldwin’s essay, the difficulty in existing as a stranger. Across the exhibition, Ligon resists being didactic. The show does not tell the viewer what to think. In fact, the power of “Break It Down” lies in its refusal, as Ligon denies the comfort of a straightforward biography. Instead, the artist is made from a collection of fragments, glitches and residues. Irreducible and complex.
Glenn Ligon, Untitled (I/America), 2023, © Glenn Ligon, courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Thomas Dane Gallery Photo: Ron Asmutz
Alphabetized, a new look at Jasper Johns
MIKE DE LA ROSA Arts Correspondent
“Jasper Johns: a whole can only be a part” opened Dec. 2 at the Powers Art Center, marking a shift in the museum’s curatorial approach. Previously, exhibitions were curated in-house by the museum director. This exhibit is curated by the first Jasper Johns curatorial fellow, Jessica Eisenthal. The fellowship is a new program designed to connect curators with the center’s collection and encourage “scholarly engagement, curatorial innovation and public outreach,” and this show is its first test case.
The Powers Center displays the Ryobi Collection, which includes roughly 300 Jasper Johns (b. 1930) prints made over the last 60 years and holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Pop Art in the world. As museum director Sonya Taylor Moore put it, “This has been one of our aspirations: the Center being a place where people can come and study Jasper Johns.” Beginning with this inaugural exhibition, the rotating fellowship is expected to refresh the Powers’ annual exhibitions going forward.
Eisenthal, a historian and curator based in New York, works between freelance consulting and art writing, with recent catalog projects on Ellsworth Kelly and Arshile Gorky. Her early academic work focused on Fluxus and time-based media like photography and moving images — a background of interests that translated well into Johns’ similar process-first, system-driven practice. She was drawn to his conceptual structure and his use of chance.
When asked how she approached an artist with such an enormous exhibition history, she emphasized the problem: “There have been so many shows of Johns, so much writing. The artist Carroll Dunham calls Johns ‘Artist One.’ So, yeah, how do you make something fresh in that context?”
Her novel answer was to mirror Johns’ own methods. Johns’ art often borrowed from found systems like flags, targets and alphabets. The artist often built compositions through procedural direction and automation such as overlaying the numbers zero through nine in sequence. Eisenthal wanted the exhibition to “embody Johns’ approach to
his own work,” and turned to the alphabet as the guiding principle. All works are arranged in order by title, creating unexpected rhythms (“Two Maps” following “Two Flags”) and forcing the show into a system that is both organized yet arbitrary. As the curator reflected, “I was in control and not in control, It’s part chance operation.” The show’s title, taken from a poem John Cage wrote to Jasper Johns, echoes this ethos of free form experimentation.
The alphabet delivers both rigid and surprising results with the exhibit. As the museum director, Taylor Moore noted that the arrangement has its own odd logic: “Sometimes the prints do move from one to another, and sometimes they don’t. It’s been very interesting … to look at something and go, those shouldn’t be next to each other, right? But yet, they should. It’s almost like a game … and it doesn’t have to work. It’s almost beautiful when it doesn’t.”
The exhibition also debuts two flag prints from the 1960s which were the Center’s final acquisitions to complete its collection of Johns’ editioned work.
According to Eisenthal, Johns made his first flag print in 1954, when the American flag still carried 48 stars. Even after the United States adopted the 50-star flag, he often returned to the earlier version, probing a symbol out of sync with the present. For
Eisenthal, the choice reflects Johns’ “interest in the passage of time and how it can be represented visually.” Johns’ handling of symbols blurs reference and expressionism. For example, the flag paintings function as thick, labored surfaces that viscerally renew our perception of underlying systems.
For the Powers Art Center,
the exhibition signals a new way of engaging its collection. By arranging the work creatively and in conversation with the artist, new interpretations are created and it suggests that even the most researched figures may hide novel perspectives. For visitors interested in more of Eisenthal insight, she will return in February for a public talk.
The first Jasper Johns curatorial fellow, Jessica Eisenthal. Photo by Megan Rusby, community engagement manager at the Powers Art Center
For over 100 years, we’ve been providing the Roaring Fork Valley with exceptional care. Today, our Surgical Specialists team offers leading-edge technology, including preventative care and procedures related to gastrointestinal (GI) wellness.
Common
Foregut
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Hiatal hernias
• Surgical weight loss for obesity
• Robotic
General Surgery
• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Colon cancer
• Abdominal wall and inguinal hernias
• Advanced endoscopy including EndoFLIP, Bravo pH, Manometry
• Colonoscopy with AI polyp detection
Alexandra Kovar, MD
Rifle, while 16% board in Silt. The majority of those riders exit the bus in Glenwood Springs, at 56%, with 15% deboarding in New Castle. Another 15% ride all the way to Aspen.
“The Hogback service has been a vital transit link for over two decades, connecting Rifle and Silt to New Castle, Glenwood Springs and the communities of the Roaring Fork Valley,” stated Tatsuno. She said RFTA remains committed to exploring funding solutions to maintain service for Silt and Rifle riders. The organization encourages community engagement with local governments to help ensure the route continues past 2026.
Some Garfield County representatives and community members have questioned why upvalley communities don’t contribute funds toward the Hogback, given many riders are commuting to and from work in those communities. RFTA has covered the shortfall in recent years when Garfield County paid part but not all of the route’s budget. Tatsuno explained, “The ideal split would be something that felt equitable to all parties involved.”
FEINSINGER
from page 4
Dr. Dean Ornish “proved” more than 30 years ago that people can reverse hardening of arteries with a plant-based, whole-foods diet.
The nutritional component hadn’t dawned on Feinsinger, however, when he first was addressing preventative care. About five years shy of his retirement, a nurse practitioner friend recommended that he and Sato read “The China Study” — “just about the biggest epidemiological study that’s ever been done on nutrition,” said Feinsinger.
Some 1,250 participants turned out for this year’s Turkey Trot put on by Carbondale Parks and Rec. It was an unseasonably warm Thursday morning. Results: Daniel Krasman, Wesley Towes, Lucas Turano topped the 5K male division. Krista Kaufman, Evelina Sutro and Amy Rollins were the top females. Among the youth, Sam Milverstedt, Max Peterson and Christoph Blankeiu were the fastest boys and Miley Stuart, Abigail O’Keefe and Brynn Huckemeyer were the fastest girls. Bernie Boettcher was the fastest runner over 62. In the one-mile race, youth Joshua O’Keefe, Ina Stewart and Noah O’Keefe took first, second and third, respectively. Courtesy photo
“They found that people in China who were too poor to be able to afford to eat animal protein did not suffer and die from all of these things we suffer and die from in Western societies,” he explained.
Feinsinger added that statin drugs lower the risk for heart attack by 30%, but a plant-based, whole-food diet lowers it by 98%.
“Plants are more powerful than pills,” he said.
Funny enough, during his 50th class reunion, someone on the development committee
overheard Feinsinger knocking the fact that he did not learn about nutrition in medical school. From that, and after several meetings, he and Sato gave an endowment to the school to teach students that “food is medicine and prevention.” At this year’s banquet there was a plant-based option inspired by Feinsinger, according to the press release, and which he said was pretty good.
Post-retirement
Not long after retiring, he got a little bored and decided to take
CHRISTMAS TREES
on a handful of patients pro bono out of a small space at the Third Street Center. It wasn’t long before Judith Alvarez, who was trained as a primary care doctor in Mexico but is unlicensed in the U.S. and, at the time, was in charge of Valley Settlement’s health outreach program, started bringing Latino patients to his door. Alvarez also asked Feinsinger to run Valley Settlement’s once-a-month Saturday clinic back then.
Eventually, he and Alvarez started La Clínica del Pueblo, The People’s Clinic, which has grown
a lot since and now has a permanent home at the Third Street Center. While he is no longer the pro-bono primary provider at the clinic, Feinsinger still joins Alvarez for La Clínica’s “Shop with a Doc” offering, when he gives nutritional advice to a group of patients.
Alvarez, of course, accompanied Feinsinger and his family to the banquet.
“I really feel that if I hadn’t done the work with Latinos that I did with her that I never would have gotten the award,” Feinsinger said.
From December 2 through December 9, make it a
Some of the Roaring Fork Valley’s real magic lies in its stories — the ones that connect us, challenge us, and celebrate the place we call home.
Pro-life for the planet
This column is dedicated to Paul Weyrich and the nuns.
One of my biggest fears is instant reincarnation. When people have a near-death experience, they often report seeing a light at the end of a tunnel. But what if that light is the fluorescent bulb in the delivery room, and boom! — you’re on to the next life, just like that?! Not even a little break in between …
I’d like to think there’s at least enough time to sit on a barstool at “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe” and reflect on the life I just lived. I can see myself: crying, laughing, crying again, with about six mutts asleep at my feet, when a life headhunter (who looks a lot like Han Solo) approaches to buy my martini and enlist me on another tour of duty.
“C’mon! Just one more time around,” he probably said. “It’ll be great: great food, great music, a great love.”
“Okay,” I said. “But no way I’m having kids. That’s a deal-breaker.”
Don’t get me wrong, kids are amazing and even those of us without our own want to see them all loved and educated so that we won’t be surrounded by idiots who can’t think critically to solve societal problems (see current members of Congress). But at the rate we’re going now, it looks more like breeding for breeders’ sake than a well-thought-out plan for the benefit of future generations.
OPINION
Ps & Qs
By Jeannie Perry
I’ve recently discovered the School for Moral Ambition: a think tank with the same initials as the high school I graduated from, St. Mary’s Academy. (Yep, the nuns gave me a diploma back in 1988). SMA (now) is a Dutch program aimed at resolving Earth’s biggest issues, while SMA (then) was all about providing a wellrounded education — well, that and deterring teenagers from having sex.
Our prom was held in January because, according to the nuns, that was statistically the month with the lowest teenage pregnancy rate. I’d like to thank the nuns for their diligence, but let’s be honest. I drove my best friend to Planned Parenthood — the reallife solution for a young woman who isn’t ready to permanently alter her entire life and become a mother at 16.
If we would just shift the way we think about procreation from quantity to quality, we could eliminate so much suffering.
Despite what this “Handmaid’s Tale” of an administration would have us believe, some women live completely fulfilled lives without ever having children. And living without the responsibility of keeping small humans alive does come with some perks, like extra me-time for Zoom calls with a Dutch think tank dedicated to solving drastic crises facing our world. SMA’s research shows that the traditional way we look at solving these predicaments may not only be out-of-date, but also cost ineffective.
For example, to reduce waterborne illness in a community would you: A) install a brand-new system for potable water and sewer, B) treat all households’ water with chlorine, or C) add zinc to the anti-diarrhea medication given to children who consume tainted water?
The answer is C, and most of us on Zoom got it wrong. These days, it is cheaper and easier to add zinc to medication than install an entire water system, and this way we are treating the problem at contact instead of trying to head it off at the start, which leaves vulnerabilities all along the way. Simply a new way of looking at obstacles we have always faced and opening our minds to new theories.
Of course, I immediately began thinking about how to get birth control into the hands of all the young women in the world. Overpopulation is the elephant in every room and yet we get so caught up in our own family trees, we can’t see the dying forest. (And spare me the workforce argument. China has already solved that with robotics). If we would just shift the way we think about procreation from quantity to quality, we could eliminate so much suffering. What a world it would be if each and every one that Han Solo recruited was 100% wanted, protected and loved. Statistics show crime rates plummeting about 18 years after abortion was legalized.*
Pregnancy as a choice is pro-life for the whole planet.
Women born between 1960 and 1970 are the only Americans to have had legal access to abortion for the entirety of their reproductive years.
*www.tinyurl.com/Abortiononcrime
GARCO
from page 9
And finally, while reviewing calendar items for December, Commissioner Perry Will announced that he will be taking on the role of Santa Claus later in the month.
“Did you get my wish list?” inquired Commissioner Samson. “I did,” replied Will, without missing a beat. “But you gotta be nice.” “In other words,” chuckled Samson, “I won’t be getting anything again this year!”
Free-for-All Book Fair returns to Glenwood Springs with nearly 10,000 free books
BIANCA GODINA
Sol del Valle
The third annual Free-for-all Book Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The event is organized by board members Rebecca Percy Brynne Gordon, Caitlin Causey and Karen Urnise — all mothers, professionals and book lovers. The event started with approximately 2,000 books in New Castle; this year, nearly 10,000 books are expected, with a mix of used, gently used and even new selections. Attendees will find a variety of books from different genres, in both English and Spanish. This event comes to life thanks to the volunteer work of many people and the support of nearly 20 local sponsors.
Tell us a little about how the book fair comes to life. What is the process?
Causey: It takes us about four months to organize the entire event. We begin planning in the summer and collect community book donations throughout October across Carbondale, Glenwood, New Castle and Rifle. In November, volunteers help sort the thousands of donated books by age group, storing them in a donated unit at Royal Mini Storage. We recycle any books in poor condition. We could not do this without the tremendous support of the Two Rivers Community Foundation. We are really thankful to them. All of us bring this event to life completely on a volunteer basis, because we love to read and want to see more people in the community reading and enjoying books through every stage of life.
Why has it been important for you to bring this book fair to our community?
Urnise: Books are one of the few things we have that allow us all to escape our day-to-day world. They bring us to new places, and open our eyes to places we have never seen. Sharing books in our community makes us grow and learn together.
What motivates you to continue this mission, year after year?
Gordon: Access to books has been proven to support children’s growth, learning and development. Reading plays such an important role in building community, it helps us understand other perspectives, reflect on our own experiences and gives kids a way to explore
questions or see themselves in new stories. If this event can offer people access to books for any of those reasons, or simply spark a love of reading, then it is absolutely worth continuing year after year.
Considering our libraries, why is it important to you that families own books at home?
Gordon: I love the idea of people having books they can keep, cherish and share with friends and family. Libraries are indispensable, they offer incredible access and resources. But owning books adds something special, it allows families to reread favorites, build home libraries and create a daily culture of reading.
Could you share a meaningful moment from the book fair?
Urnise: There were so many people who were just amazed that everything was literally free. It was so great to hear young kids ask if they could take more books and the only answer was, “Yes!”
A warm invitation from the Free-for-all Book Fair
“Not only are all the books completely free, but we have something for every age and every interest, fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, travel books, and so many popular titles. It’s the perfect place to discover holiday gifts or find new reads to take home. We hope everyone will come and be part of it!”
The group also shares that there will be storytellers, local librarians and Heeling Partners therapy dogs, who help children learn to read in schools.
Last year, the fair welcomed around 1,500 people of all ages. This year, this group of volunteers invites you to enjoy an afternoon full of books, community and fun, and to help double that number. Bring your bag so you can take home as many books as you’d like.
Mundo” in Sol del Valle every week in Spanish.
The third annual Free-for-all Book Fair takes place at the Glenwood Springs Community Center noon to 5pm on Saturday, Dec. 13. Courtesy photos
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
Drift
By Eric Matthew Olander
The rip roaring world is in a crazy phase, with the big blue moon winking, Drift (lounging in the wheel barrow) cracks a Red Stripe — Rastaman vibration, Yeah! Jah; one love — and lets the cap roll into the mud and feathers, shakes his head at the long and winding road bringing man and shadow here, among the grave stones and parking lots, as the junkyard dog starts its barking, beyond two or three tall rolls of autobahn corpses; working his keep once the twist clicks and suds fizz and disturbs the tranquil and silent seclusion where shadow and man smile, spinning the fist size bottle within his wet and now sticky palms, as a howling is offered (to muffle the sirens, if not
pics of places or things we know and love.”
God’s damnation the F bombs) with the first pasty, cool sip of the long, nerve-racking day, where he’ll ponder how he didn’t know he had a daughter — even to hate his very soul — unconsciously petting his fake service dog: Blue,
who sits obedient enough, in his threadbare harness, and sniffs the damp air with wiry whiskers, unimpressed by the other dog’s vicious calling, and yet joining in, in the ancient rite necessary to subdue the injustice and neglect of this
Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com
man made civilization’s lack of bandwidth and senses, beyond first responder loudly speeding, doppler effected, to endless corners of the rough and tumble city, viciously distracting confounded — ADHD the acronym: the billable diagnosis — contemplation and piercing canine eardrums in the moonlight shining across the puddles and white speckled ground; across the rim of the bottle, gilding the rain glazed chicken shack, further down wind, until all fades into unknowables once again. Cloud covered and sequestered to a common white noise masquerading as tranquility. The phone call having said the grandchildren are safe and unharmed. At their school’s shooting. With profound hesitation’s grip upon the receiver, “Is Spring break still Easter?” he will ask.
Ode to Etc.
By Bill Flood
Four Mie I love your Nose, And etc. I really like Your etc.... Time I guess Time keeps flowing even when we do not.
DECEMBER 12, 2025 6:00-8:30 PM
Annette Roberts-Gray said she “had a blast … wandering around [her] favorite hometown with the (winter’s first) fresh snow on the ground,” capturing “some arty
depend on, half of them children; slash $8 billion from life-saving foreign aid programs; defund fact-checked public radio and television stations nationwide; kill hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs; hand $4.5 trillion in tax breaks to Trump and his billionaire friends.
Never have I seen any president or Congress do so much harm to so many people in so little time. It would seem
through Pakistan and wash that money in people’s blood.”
Some mechanisms are global (endless war).
Some are local (subsidized employee housing for billionaires).
Both are just different circuits in the same wealth-transfer machine.
Lee and Sandy Mulcahy APCHA delenda est.
Keep going
Our Constitution not only protects our rights by limiting the power of government, it also protects our society from the ill-conceived, emotional policy responses designed to bow to the “will of the people.”
The framers recognized the danger of a mob mentality responding in an unreasonable fashion to current events, and designed the Constitution to withstand
Some decry the actions of so-called rogue judges because they defy the current administration, but these judges are simply doing their duty as they swore to in an apolitical manner. The whims of the people is subservient to the intent of the Constitution because, as an ideologically foundational document, it has precedence over the day to day concerns of the general
The population and elected officials must abide by the decisions of our judges as they interpret the law simply because judges have access to the testimony and possess the legal authority to make informed decisions based on the law, not political expediency. If people disagree with a finding there are means to determine if the finding is just, but we should never attack judges based solely
The holidays are a time when many folks are dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide. So I’d like to share my personal experiences in hopes that maybe just one person reading this will not make the worst and last bad decision of their life.
A quick background: I got married young and after a couple of years and drug busts I lost my marriage, my daughter, my business and my self respect. I continued to feed a bad habit via my arm and wound up living on LA streets. My almost-last campsite was under a bridge in Northern California.
I sat with a rope cinched around my neck, knowing I was the worst mistake God ever created. Leaning back slowly, the rope tightened, but before slipping into unconsciousness, a survival fear kicked in and I didn’t die under that bridge. However, that wasn’t the first time I’d opted to take the coward’s way out.
After my divorce and business failure I tried ending my life by hitting a threefoot-wide tree at sixty miles per hour. All I achieved was breaking the little finger on my right hand. Not only was I a failure at life, I was even a failure at death. My slit wrists did get confined to a funny jacket for a while.
The Lords of Aspen are not ignorant of
Billionaires Lester and Paula Crown and their family’s AspenOne enthusiastically back APCHA’s subsidized-housing machine because it quietly funnels corporate welfare to house their 4,500+ employees while keeping the tax burden
The Valley has also noticed the oldest trick in the elite playbook: keep the little people sniping at one another over crumbs so we never look up at who’s devouring the banquet. Tyranny doesn’t need to read history; it just repeats it. That’s exactly what Julian Assange exposed before they silenced him.
On Oct. 8, 2011, while under house arrest for revealing American war crimes, he stood in London’s Trafalgar Square and said: “We must form our own networks of strength and mutual value which can challenge those strengths and self-interested values of the warmongers in this country and in others that have formed hand-in-hand an alliance to take money from the United States, from every NATO country, from Australia, and launder it through Afghanistan, launder it through Iraq, lander it through Somalia, launder it through Yemen, launder it
My life took a 180 turn when I found an angel to love. I stopped putting a needle in my arm when I found out I was going to be a father to my first son. We went back to a normal life until my son’s best friend got run over by a semi on a highway project in Georgia. He was working for me and my feeling of guilt, though irrational, was devastating and the demon depression claimed me again. But thanks to strong family support I got through this, too.
I have felt that dreadful pang of regret for waking up, still alive. I have lived like a recluse inside my head with no hope or end in sight. Severe depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. You can’t just decide to be happy and unafraid. But I survived and am ever so grateful for being alive.
If I’d worn that noose a few seconds longer, I would not be the proud father of three fine sons and their loving families. I’m truly enjoying life with my six grandchildren and am eternally thankful for every day of my life.
Do NOT give up.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You are not the Lone Ranger, everyone has their demons to fight. The trick is not to battle those demons alone. People do care. Ask for help because it’s never too late to turn things around.
At the moment all you might see is darkness, but I am living proof there is a dawn. Life is too precious to waste.I survived and found true happiness. So can you. Please, reach out for help, people do care.
Bruno Kirchenwitz Rifle
PARTING SHOTS
Cutting it close
As the snow began to fall on Nov. 30, Joel Rem, Lynn Siodmak, Abel Banuelos and Juan Carlos Ramirez were
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF CARBONDALE NOTICE OF BUDGET
NOTICE OF BUDGET
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Town of Carbondale Board of Trustees for the ensuing year of 2026; that a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection; that such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees to be held at Carbondale Town Hall on December 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Town of Carbondale Board of Trustees for the ensuing year of 2026; that a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk at Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection; that such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees to be held at Carbondale Town Hall on December 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Any interested elector within the Town of Carbondale may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.
Any interested elector within the Town of Carbondale may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget.
Town of Carbondale
Town of Carbondale By:
By:
Ryan Hyland, Town Manager Date: 12/3/25
Ryan Hyland, Town Manager Date: 12/3/25
Published in the Sopris Sun on December 3, 2025.
