20 02 06

Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper

Carbondale’s weekly

community connector

Volume 11, Number 52 | Feb. 6 - 12, 2020

The Sopris Sun wraps up its 11th year with this issue, and we're celebrating our birthday with another classic movie night featuring "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Crystal Theatre. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids; visit soprissun.com to reserve your seat. Our board, staff and freelancers ( from left, Gayle Welles, Linda Criswell, Kay Clarke, Sue Rollyson, Ken Pletcher and Marilyn Murphy) are already getting in the spirit.

And yes, the concession stand sells Reese's Pieces. Photo by Will Grandbois

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A crisis in the stars

OPINION

Ps & Qs

By Jeannie Perry My horoscope said I may be experiencing an “existential crisis” this week. Nailed it. Luckily, it’s not a permanent condition, and according to the stars, should clear up by the weekend…

After a natural disaster we often see people who have just lost everything wandering around with a disbelieving look on their faces, searching for a fragment of their life.

That’s how Americans seem right now as we sort through the rubble of our country: impeachment, war, the gutting of NEPA. Trump’s problem is that he’s not a thinker, but he is a narcissist, so he can be led to believe a tactic (any tactic) was his idea— until it fails, but by

then he’s on to the next calamity.

And he consistently betrays his base yet is never held accountable.

On a daily basis I must stop my thought process, take a deep breath, and go so Big Picture that I’m philosophically looking at Earth from an extraterrestrial perspective.

I especially like the meme; What if those aren’t stars, but simply holes poked in the lid so that we can breathe?

I remember the first time I heard this theory. I was in fifth grade and my best friend, Allie, said our world was probably just a science experiment on a classroom shelf somewhere in space. Looking back, she could’ve read or overheard it somewhere, (she had an older sister which has its advantages) but at the time I thought it was an original thought and my ten-year-old mind was sufficiently blown. I have since fashioned my life around new ideas, people, and experiences, never fully investing in conventionality; not only because it bores me, but also because as far as I can tell, progress goes hand in hand with movement.

The only things that flourish on stagnancy are blood suckers and pond scum.

Speaking of scum, I’m reminded of a Tom Robbins quote, “Life is like

a stew, you have to stir it frequently, or all the scum rises to the top.”

I’d say we’re overdue for a stirring of the stew pot. War is the prevailing business model in this country: War on Drugs, War on Terror, War in Space (they chose green camouflage uniforms for Space Force. I am not kidding. One would think simple black would be the appropriate attire for space…)

The Reagan administration provided cause for years of conflict in Central/South America with the war on crack cocaine in the ‘80s, and now we have a severe opioid addiction in this country. Poppy grows in Afghanistan. In fact, “Afghanistan has been the world's leading illicit opium producer since 2001.”* Right about the time we went to war, n’est pas? While our leaders would have us believe the mission in Afghanistan is to combat mortal enemies who live on next to nothing, the real objective is obviously feeding America’s myriad addictions: opiates, oil, bigotry.

As long as we, the people, are busy running on the wheel at work and hitting the reward button at the end of a shift, then the oligarchy remains a tidy, productive little cage. When I take a step back for my big picture view of life on

Earth, I see humans in a giant hamster bubble, running around in different directions; bumping into each other internally and wreaking havoc on the furniture collectively.

Only with a majority ruling to cooperate and agree on a strategic plan of action, will we ever actually gain new ground. Otherwise, the bubble just rolls one way, then the other, meaninglessly meandering across the classroom floor in space…

And maybe that’s all we’re here to do. Maybe my existential crisis is for naught, and chaos does reign supreme. So be it. I can get on board with that, although I must confess, I was better at chaos in my younger days. The older I get, the more I want to see some progress— or awareness at least.

In the universal archives— yes, I’m sure there is posterity in space, I don’t want war to be our defining trait. Humans have such incredible potential for kindness, and camaraderie; what a waste if we’re just known as ‘those jungle-garbwearing idiots, perpetually waging war over their drug, currency, and god preferences.’ *unodc.org/documents/wdr/ WD R _ 2 0 1 0 / Wo r l d _ D r u g _ Report_2010_lo-res.pdf

LETTERS Solar power Dear Editor: Love is never having to pay an electric bill again! Thank you, Sunsense!

Jim Noyes Carbondale

Garbage belongs to all of us Dear Editor: Last weeks’ Sun had two articles on waste management.

Adele Hause gave us a short personal (mostly local) history of some encounters with recycling that included information about how much Near New crew do to prevent waste. My wife and a neighbor both work on that crew. I attest to everything Adele said about Near New. What she didn’t mention is the people who benefit from their unpaid work. Tomorrow, my wife is driving an SUV full of things to Rifle to help a family that lost nearly everything in a fire last week. So, off topic and just to say thanks, I’m mentioning it now.

More on-topic, avoiding waste isn’t just a nice thing to do when we feel like it. It’s a community responsibility and may be a matter of survival.

Which brings me to the second article:“You still can’t opt out of single hauler.” Good! Sanitation is an essential public service. It avoids waste. It also avoids disease. And let’s not forget keeping our town pretty — visitors are a big part of our economy and most of them dislike looking at garbage.

Adele’s article was very kind regarding things left nightly at the Near New door. Think bags of torn and unwashed clothing and broken appliances. Do these “donors” expect the

Sincerest thanks to our

Honorary Publishers for their annual commitment of $1,000+ Email marilyn@gmail.com for more information.

Jim Calaway, Honorary Chair Kay Brunnier Scott Gilbert – Habitat for Humanity RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger Carolyn Nelson Jim Noyes True Nature Healing Arts Nicolette Toussaint Jill and Gary Knaus Megan Tackett Ken & Donna Riley Michelle & Ed Buchman

Legacy Givers for including us in their final wishes.

Mary Lilly

And all our SunScribers and community members for your support.

It truly takes a village to keep The Sun shining.

Rebekahs to repair and wash the stuff? And, regardless of articles in the paper and signs that are posted on their door, the stuff keeps coming.

Let people opt out of single hauler and take care of their own garbage in their own way? More work for the Rebekahs! Let people put their waste hauling on hold while they go on vacation? Why? The trucks must keep running. Who’s going to pay the money vacationers save? People who can’t afford vacations!

Sanitation is an important community responsibility, not a service we buy at our individual convenience. It’s like streets, sidewalks, fire and police, schools and public spaces. If we own property in town, we are responsible to pay our town’s expenses regardless of whether we are physically here, in Arizona or in Paris.

Ron Kokish Carbondale

The McKibben two-step Dear Editor: 350.org founder Bill McKibben spoke at the Limelight Hotel in Aspen on Jan. 25. He said vegan diets, Prius’, and Tesla’s are positive steps, but they’re not gonna turn the corner on climate change.

The 30-year climate activist identified two steps that’d have the most immediate and powerful impact. After all, we only have ten years to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The first step has to do with politics and government. We must vote the climate change deniers and recipients of fossil fuel industry campaign donations outta office this November. We all know who they are and they’ll be backed by big money. It’ll take a grassroots effort to beat them.

The second issue is finance. The fossil fuel industry couldn’t survive without heavy contributions from banks, investment firms, and insurance companies. 350 has targeted J.P. Morgan-Chase as the baddest actor of all when it comes to subsidizing fossil fuels. Since the Paris Accords called for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2015, J.P. Morgan-Chase has loaned $195 billion to fossil fuel companies.

That’s why McKibben and a group of 25 got themselves arrested for occupying the J.P. Morgan-Chase building in New York on Jan. 10. He encouraged the audience of about 120 in the Limelight conference room to divest from all entities that contribute to the climate crisis.

Attacking the financial sector is the fastest acting, highest impact measure climate activists can take, McKibben said. If J.P. Morgan-Chase divested from fossil fuels today, there would be huge ripples in the stock market tomorrow.

During the Q&A period, there was a comment that it was hypocritical for the Aspen Ski Corps to be sponsoring the event when it and ASC owner the Crown family are heavily invested in oil and gas. The questioner implied ASC was putting on a “green façade” and getting a $60,000 rebate from Black Hills, Franklin, and Holy Cross energy companies for green renovations on mountain restaurants while doing nothing about their fossil fuel investments. McKibben replied 350 was going after bigger fish.

I thought I knew all about Bill McKibben, but I learned a coupla new pieces of information.

He’s from Vermont and good friends with Bernie Sanders. When Sanders was running for president in 2016, he asked for McKibben’s endorsement.

Continued on page 18

The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The community is invited to submit letters up to 500 words to news@soprissun.com. Longer columns are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

Donate online or by mail.

P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #32 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Editor Will Grandbois • 970-510-0540 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Todd Chamberlin • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Graphic Designer: Ylice Golden Reporter: Roberta McGowan Delivery: Tom Sands Current Board Members board@soprissun.com Raleigh Burleigh, President Marilyn Murphy, Vice President Linda Criswell, Secretary Klaus Kocher, Treasurer Kay Clarke • Carol Craven Megan Tackett • Gayle Wells The Sopris Sun Board meets at 6:30 p.m on second Mondays at the Third Street Center.

Contact board@soprissun.com to reach them.

Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.

What’s scampering around your neighborhood?

Animal tracks tell great stories

By Roberta McGowan Sopris Sun Staff That famous line from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, “not all those who wander are lost,” fits in quite well with the Carbondale culture.

People here meander through forests, mountains, waterways and the high desert environment not necessarily searching for anything in particular but just hoping a “treasure” appears.

And that welcomed surprise could just be mountain lion or moose tracks in the snow or clearly defined in dried mud.

Searching and finding wild animal tracks or scat (feces) is an interesting hobby but also an important part of the job for both Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and White River National Forest (WRNF) biologists.

Going out for a look see with CPW District Manager John Groves, who monitors both people and animals, became an adventure while traipsing through deep snow near Marion Gulch. Groves, who has been wildlife manager for 15 years, explained he often has to focus as much on people as on animals.

Groves, also a police officer, noted he may run into situations where humans are not following the rules, “As our population grows there’s more potential for conflict and controversy.”

Plus, he also wears the hats of biologist and educator while monitoring animal habitat and activity.

Groves motioned toward a series of elk tracks heading off in one direction. “It could very well be a small herd. Animals move to lower altitudes during the winter and then head up to the mountains as temperatures warm. And where the mule deer go, mountain lions follow.”

Winter offers a great opportunity for biologists to locate the hibernation dens of bears who wear signal collars, “As cubs are born during January and February, we weigh and measure each animal.”

WRNF Wildlife Biologist Phil Nyland stressed the importance of scale. “ I carry a ruler and a tape measure so when I find a track I place the tool next to the track so we can determine the actual size.”

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discussed the usefulness of measuring “stride,” the distance between tracks of either the right or left foot, not both. This determines the size of the animal and the speed it’s moving.

Nyland said trackers need to work through a process of elimination.

• How large is the animal? Large tracks indicate large wildlife.

• Is this the species’ usual habitat?

• Does the scat match the animal’s profile?

• Are claws seen or not? (Cats can retract their claws; dogs don’t.)

• Is the shape of the track and the number of pads on the bottom of the foot different from what a tracking guide shows?

Sometimes, Nyland said, visitors confuse dog and mountain lion tracks. “One thing, if you see a human shoe prints and animal tracks run parallel, most probably it’s a dog staying close to its owner.”

Then there are bears.

Colorado is home only to black bears, not grizzlies. Bear tracks have five toes on the front and hind feet. They’re larger than most other tracks in this category, which makes identification fairly simply in ideal conditions.

According to Wikipedia, likely the only time a bear is misidentified is when one of the five pads gets obscured, making it possible to confuse this track with a mountain lion or domestic dog.The other big clue for bears is the negative space between the toes and heel pad, forming a single arch separating all five toes from the main pad in one smooth arch.

Negative space is a great way to distinguish bear tracks when the toes aren’t 100 percent clear.

Nyland and Groves both agree anyone interested in tracking should consider carrying identifying field guides. Books by Jim Halfpenny are highly recommended.

New to the tracking world, Nyland noted, is Environmental DNA (eDNA), collected from a variety of samples including snow, rivers, lakes, seawater, or even air.

Other substances tested can be and can include scat, mucus, hair, skin particles, or carcasses. As various animals connect with their surroundings, DNA is released and accumulates in the environment.

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One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a dog and a cat track is that dog tracks will almost always reveal claw marks. Canines (dogs, wolves, coyotes and foxes) have an oval shape and are usually longer than they are wide. Felines (cougars, bobcats and domestic cats) have more of a round shape and their retractable claws are usually not seen.

WRNF Wildlife Biologist Phil Nyland used several measurement tools to identify the animal making these tracks. Photo by Roberta McGowan Nyland showed how a large scoop gathers the area around and under the track. Then, special laboratories analyze the contents.

“This advancement allows us to gather and study specific information including sex, age, diet and behavior,” Nyland added.

How can someone learn to identify tracks?

By reading, asking questions and getting out there. Groves noted the best surfaces to find

tracks are mud, snow, sand or any powdery material. Trackers agree the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a good resource.

The National Wildlife Federation on blog. nwf.org explains how to look for tracks in your area. A smartphone app, “Itrack Wildlife,” also helps with identification. Check out naturetracking.com for details.

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Good as gold

Back in town

The Roaring Fork Valley was recently designated a Gold-Level Ride Center by the IMBA. It's the first area to receive the honor in Colorado and just the fifth in the nation. According to the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association, we scored high marks in variety of trail types, overall train length (more than 300 miles of singletrack), quality of experience, destination best practices and local services.

Several of the “Old Timers” from Redstone have decided it is time to have another Redstone Reunion, with seven years passing since the last one. It will be held over Memorial Day Weekend — May 29 through 31. Events included jeep tours in Lead King Basin, a picnic in the park, a special dinner at Propaganda Pie and breakfast at the Redstone Inn. For more information, contact Sherry Johnson at (541) 253-6622.

In the running

Movie night

US Senate candidate Lorena Garcia will be at Dos Gringos from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 to talk about her experience as a gay Latina and collect signiatures to appear on the ballot. RSVP by calling 948-5820.

Garfield County Libraries recently added a subscription to Kanopy, a leader in on-demand video streaming. Each month, your library card gives you access to watch up to ten films at no cost.

Then there’s unlimited access to "The Great Courses" — a series of videos where you can learn everything about anything from some of the world's greatest professors. And don’t forget Kanopy Kids, with shows, movies, language learning videos, and animated books specifically for children.

This old house

If you had questions, comments or concerns after reading last week’s story on the new ranger station in Carbondale, get thee to the open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at 620 Main St. If you haven’t seen the old building before, it’s also a chance to visit before it’s gone.

Sold out The bad news is, it’s too late to get tickets to the big Friday and Saturday nights at Green is the New Black. The good news is, you can still get Thursday night preview tickets for $30 — visit carbondalearts.com before they’re gone too.

Get a job

Karen Crawford, Recruiting Assistant for the U.S. Census Bureau, will be at the Carbondale Branch Library from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11, 18 and 25. Temporary positions for the 2020 Census feature flexible hours. Visit 2020census.gov to find out more or apply.

Don’t panic

Pitkin County Public Health is reminding residents that we do not have any cases of novel coronavirus identified locally or within the state of Colorado. “Keep in mind is that you are highly unlikely to have acquired 2019-nCoV without travel history to the outbreak area, in addition to compatible symptoms as evaluated by your physician,” County Epidemiologist Carlyn Porter explained. “Respiratory illness is normal this time of year, and is more likely attributable to other common viruses such as influenza or Respiratory Syncytial Virus."

O O

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

By design The cold and snowy weather didn't deter Aaron Taylor of the Bonedale Bike Project. Photo by Will Grandbois

Hang in there Permit reservations to visit Hanging Lake for the 2020 shuttle season are available now at visitglenwood.com or 384-6309.

Reservations can also be made in-person starting on May 1 at the Hanging Lake Welcome Center (110 Wulfsohn Rd., Glenwood Springs). Reservations to visit Hanging Lake will remain $12 per person — $10 for off-peak — and those wishing to bike/hike to Hanging Lake still need to get a permit online or by phone.

DHM Design has announced Bill Neumann as president of the growing landscape architecture and ecological design firm.

Neumann brings 35 years of experience and knowledge to the position and he has been a Managing Principal on the DHM Board of Directors for the past five years.

They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Patrick Hunter and Sandra Lopez (Feb. 6); Kelly Rinick (Feb. 7); Michael Kinsley (Feb. 8); Sara McAllister (Feb. 10); Sydney Courier McBrayer, Linda Criswell, Georgia Chamberlain and Anne Goldberg (Feb. 11) Sam. Hayes, Gene Schilling, Raleigh Burleigh, Faith Magill and The Sopris Sun (Feb. 12).

New restaurant offers diverse breakfast and lunch

By Gracyn Overstreet Special to The Sopris Sun JC’s Breakfast and Lunch is a familyfriendly restaurant with a menu that blends familiar American favorites and traditional Mexican fare.

It opened quietly late last year in the Sopris Shopping Center in the former Sopris Bar space. First-time restaurant owner Trino Camacho with support from his wife, Jessica Palomarez started renting the space in November and officially opened Dec. 7.

Of the quick turnaround from acquiring the space to the official opening Trino says, “I spent one-month cleaning, painting, organizing, with my wife’s family helping a lot. It was seven days a week with no days off.”

For Camacho, owning his own restaurant has been years in the making. “It’s been his dream; it’s always been what he wanted.

His dream has always been to open his own restaurant,” says Palomarez.

Camacho is originally from Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico and has been in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 13 years. He met Palomarez while attending Basalt High School. He has also worked for multiple restaurants in the valley including the recently closed Roosters.

“He started as a dishwasher in a restaurant and he was only a dishwasher for like a month and then he started working in the kitchen learning how to cook and he fell in love with

The family and staff at JC's are ready to serve some dinery dishes. Photo by Roberta McGowan it and he’s being doing that since I met him” says Palomarez.

The menu at JC’s is expansive. For breakfast they offer various types of eggs benedict, waffles and pancakes, omelets and classic Mexican dishes like huevos rancheros, and breakfast burritos. For lunch, the menu spans burgers, sandwiches, and salads, and features main dishes like stuffed chicken and veggie marinara pasta. Unique menu items, include fresh juice blends, and a tres leches crepe.

“We put on the menu things everybody can come and eat and enjoy as a family,” says Palomarez. The menu is priced moderately

compared to other options in Carbondale.

The restaurant is striving to have something for everyone including vegetarian options. “If someone is vegetarian, I want to have a veggie sandwich which is homemade, so they have choices to eat here,” says Camacho.

His favorite item on the menu?

“The JC Mountain — it has vegetables with eggs on top. I like to add some bacon.

It’s healthy and a really good amount. It’s one of my favorite dishes from breakfast,” says Camacho.

Camacho and Palomarez have two young children from whom JC’s gets its initials:

Jessia who is five years old and Christopher who is two and a half.

The restaurant is open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. with both breakfast and lunch menus being served all day.

Camacho says that he always knew he wanted to do breakfast and lunch and isn’t interested in expanding to dinner, he says, “I want to do those things very well, instead of doing everything and not doing anything well.”

Palomarez and Camacho both emphasized that by doing only breakfast and lunch they were able to spend time as a family in the evenings, something very important to them.

When opening the restaurant, they wanted to create a place they would want to take their own family to.

The restaurant has a few seats at a dinerstyle bar, many tables, and a lounge area with comfy chairs and couches. In the summer they will have a patio with tables and umbrellas for additional seating. Camacho is hoping this will become a space for the community, where friends run into each other and students gather on the couches to do their homework. As they grow as a restaurant, they are considering ways to be more involved and give back to the community in the future.

In talking about what Camacho wants for the restaurant he says, “Something we will be doing all the time is just cook the best we can, so the people enjoy the food, and cook all the time with love.”

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Terry Chacos remembered for her enthusiasm, grit

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff Right up until her passing on Jan. 28, Terry Chacos met adversity with laughter and a smile.

That’s the first thing anyone mentions when talking about her, and the memory cut through the grief as her husband, Chris, and sons, Eric and Charlie, sat down to tell her story.

Terry Lynn Fellers was born on March 18, 1943. Her father was a building contractor and her mother died when she was young, “so she didn’t have that girly influence,” Charlie noted. Instead, she grew up with a love of sports — cheerleading at one of the first integrated high schools in Denver and cheering for the local teams.

“She was pretty vocal at the Broncos games,” Eric observed. “I made sure she could listen to every Nuggets game this last year.”

A degree in physical therapy caused her to cross paths with Chris Chacos. He thought she was cute; she thought he was short. But when he left a few weeks later for a Quaker mission in Vietnam, she followed.

“They’d literally just met,” Charlie said.

“She chased him halfway across the world.”

Chris was impressed and smitten.

“She wasn’t taken aback at the enormity of the job,” he said. “She just set her jaw and got to work.”

A few years after returning to the states, the call of the ski slopes brought the couple to Aspen, and in 1975 the whole family moved down to Carbondale and opened

Whether as a youngster (courtesy photo), in the early days of the Village Smithy (photo by Rebecca Young) or more recently, Terry Chacos always had a smile. the Village Smithy Restaurant. Terry started out doing everything including cooking; the salsa on the tables to this day is her recipe.

But after she hurt her knee in the kitchen, she stuck to keeping the books and tending the flower boxes . She was sort of like the director,” Chris said, even though he was the face of the operation.

“She was the reality check to the dreamer,” Charlie added. “They balanced each other well.”

And while some might characterize her as quiet, she could get pretty riled when

the referees made a call against the Smithy softball team.

“She was a fiery personality — strong willed but humble,” Eric observed. “She was very encouraging whatever we were doing.”

And while she liked to stay out of the limelight, she was something of a big sister or mother to many of the waitresses, according to Sam Hayes.

“We could confide in Terry,” she said. “I would go to her for advice.”

Connie Davis saw her as a role model. “I hope I can be as brave as her if the quality of

my life changes radically,” she said.

That change came in 1987, when Terry suffered a stroke following an operation on a benign brain tumor. It left her with limited speech, next to no use of her right arm and some personality changes — but she didn’t complain or even slow down much.

“She didn’t want help doing anything,” Eric said.

“Her mantra was ‘do it myself,’” Charlie agreed.

She learned to write left handed, did yoga, followed along with Jane Fonda's workout videos and continued to tend her vegetable garden and greenhouse until just a few years ago. The first words that came back to her, Charlie, noted, were mostly curses.

“She had a truck-driver mouth,” he laughed.

After retiring from the restaurant business, Terry and Chris took a cruise to Alaska, spent some winters in Arizona and watched their grandkids for a couple of hours at a time. Declining health for both of them led to separate rooms at Heritage Park about two years ago, though they still had lunch together almost every day. Wheelchair bound for the last six months, she took to saying “ta-da!” every time she was brought into a room.

But just before Christmas, she opted to stop treatment for her Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

“She was just sick of getting poked and prodded,” Eric said.

It gave her friends and family a chance to visit in her final days. Said Chris, “She looked beautiful at the end, too.”

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History, geology and chocolate come together in Marble

By James Steindler Sopris Sun Correspondent Locals and history buffs alike are excitedly awaiting The Marble Museum’s upcoming winter event, its “Winter Open House.” It takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

But first, the annual “Chocolate Extravaganza — Contest and Tasting” takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Marble Hub. People are encouraged to partake in some sweet indulgence before attending the historical presentations which are sure to also indulge one's curiosity.

Both events are co-sponsored by The Marble Hub (105 W. Main St.) and The Marble Museum (412 W. Main St.). Alex Menard runs the museum and is a board member for The Hub. The history of Marble is his passion and it shows. Walking around Marble today he still discovers historical artifacts lying where they likely were left decades and decades ago.

The chocolate tasting and contest will host approximately 20 individual contestants with chocolate served in various forms. Tracy Harris “was the winner last year and they decided they didn’t want to compete against her so they put her in charge of the contest,” Menard said jokingly.

Menard was sure to also include that, “we will be serving a $5 wonderful lunch anytime in the afternoon at the museum.” So no one will go hungry attending both events, which is a good thing because attendees will need the brain fuel to ingest an absorbent amount of historical insight.

This is technically the second year of this now-annual Winter Open House event. Last year local authors and researchers presented their knowledge of Marble’s history.

To kick off this year’s go round, Larry Meredith, author of “The Cursed Valley” will cover the era of the Ute Native American presence in the area. Experts in geology and emeriti professors Tom Prather and Bruce Bartleson of Western State University (WSU) will present on the geology of the Elk Mountain Range and Marble, respectively. Redstone local and emeritus history professor of Texas A&M University, Darrell Munsell, will speak to his specialization on the history of Osgood and the Redstone coal mining days. Current history professor of WSU and incoming State Historian, Duane Vandenbusche, will tie it all together with the history of Marble.

Vandenbusche is the co-author of “Marble City of Stone.”

Following the main event, astronomer Bryan White is bringing “what he calls the largest portable telescope” according to Menard. Menard goes on, “it’s really not a good night for telescoping because it’s a full moon night but there’s a window … right before the moon rises and right after the sun sets. The two planets that follow closest to the sun are Mercury and Venus and he is going to check those out — hopefully if the weather is good.”

So not only can attendees get their historical and chocolate fixes, but their astronomical one too.

Menard has overseen operations of the museum for quite a few years now. He ardently admires his predecessors for their contributions

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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

Alex Menard admires the museum's collection of books, some of which have sat on the very same shelves for over a century. Photo by James Steinlder to the museum which was opened in the 1980s.

It is located in the original school house which was built in 1910. The original chalkboards remain mounted to the walls, student desks still sit in the upstairs classroom and the original library collection which includes entire works

by Shakespeare and Mark Twain are perfectly preserved where they’ve always been.

Today the museum shares the space with the Marble Charter School where roughly 40 students attend. These local pupils get to study historical topics of the area; their collected research regarding the Ute settlements is displayed in the museum today.

Marble is surrounded by wilderness, which offers it protection against mass development in the future. A dedicated group of individuals volunteering and working for The Hub and the museum would rather see old buildings be preserved and restored than new ones going up.

One could say this is a town set in stone — or more accurately marble.

Winter Open House Guest Speakers 1 p.m. - Larry Meredith, author of This Cursed Valley, will speak about the early activity in the valley during the days of the Ute Indians 2 p.m. - Darrell Munsell, author of multiple books about the Crystal Valley, will speak on Osgood and the Redstone Coal Era 3 p.m. - Tom Prather, Professor emeritus of Geology, Western Colorado University, will speak on the geology of the West Elk Mountains 4 p.m. - Bruce Bartleson, Professor emeritus of Geology, Western Colorado University, will speak about the geology of Marble 5 p.m. - Duane Vandenbusche, Professor of History at Western Colorado University, will give an account of the history of Marble

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Redstone road closure leads into lawsuit, confrontation

By Jason Auslander The Aspen Times

A Redstone-area homeowner’s association illegally closed a road last summer that’s been open to the public continuously for at least the past 135 years, according to a lawsuit filed in January by Pitkin County commissioners.

The suit accuses the Rock Creek Association, which represents homeowners in a subdivision north of Redstone, of interfering with and stealing property from Pitkin County when it installed a gate on Dorais Way and cut off public access in August.

Dorais Way is a portion of the historic Rock Creek Wagon Road and former Crystal River Railway line, the suit states.

In particular, the August closure cut off the public’s access to most of Filoha Meadows, a 185-acre slice of Pitkin County taxpayer-owned open space, which is only open to the public from July 1 to Sept. 30.

“Members of the public have used Rock Creek Wagon Road through (the Dorais Way section) for travel, commerce and recreation without interruption since at least 1885 until Aug. 28, 2019, when RCA closed and locked a gate at approximately the intersection of Redstone Boulevard — also part of Rock Creek Wagon Road — and the southerly terminus of Dorais Way,” according to the lawsuit filed by Pitkin County Assistant Attorney Richard Neily.

The five-member board of commissioners is asking a District Court judge for three times “the amount of actual (monetary) damages sustained” because of the RCA’s “interference with and theft of property owned by Pitkin County,” the lawsuit states. In addition, they are asking for a permanent injunction to stop the homeowners “from interfering with the public right to use that portion of Rock Creek Wagon Road,” according to the suit

The meetup group "Hiking into Colorado's Past" took advantage of public access to Filoha Meadows over the summer.

Photo courtesy of Bryann Benton A lawyer for the defendants was not listed in the suit. Phone messages left Thursday seeking comment from Terry Knapp and Phil Youngman, RCA’s acting co-presidents, and three other members of the homeowners association were not returned. The Rock Creek Association is made up of homeowners in the Wild Rose Ranch Subdivision outside Redstone.

In the Aug. 28 letter, the RCA Board of Directors wrote to inform “friends and neighbors” that it had purchased the portion of Dorais Way from Redstone Boulevard “north to the pre-existing private segments of the roadway,” according to the letter, which is included in the lawsuit.

“Dorais Way is now closed to all public access, including vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic,” the letter states.

Because of the purchase, RCA homeowners were liable for the road, which frequently sees vandalism, littering of property with human and animal waste and “often quite reckless access … to the dangers of rapidly moving water” in the Crystal

River, according to the letter. This “unacceptable liability” requires “the permanent closure of Dorais Way to public access,” the letter states.

In a conciliatory move to area residents, however, the homeowners’ association offered a caveat.

“The RCA recognizes that friends and neighbors in the Redstone community use Dorais Way occasionally for pleasant walks or to visit residents who live along Dorais Way,” according to the August letter.

“This type of pedestrian access may continue if an RCA member will provide access and take responsibility for you as a guest.”

The edict apparently didn’t go over well with at least one Redstone area resident, who was out for a hike Sept. 6 in Filoha Meadows with his wife and a friend.

On the way back to their car, the trio was confronted by a member of the homeowners’ association, who was out walking his dog, according to a Pitkin County Sheriff ’s Office report.

“What are you doing here?” the

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76-year-old homeowners’ association member said, according to the report.

The 74-year-old hiker responded that the road was public, that they were not trespassing and that he’d been “doing this for 20 years,” the Sheriff ’s Office report states. “(The hiker) told me the man then stepped in front of him and began chest bumping him and said, ‘You know this is private property and you are trespassing,’” according to the report. “(The hiker) told me he tried to go around the man and he kept getting in front of him and bumping him with his chest as if he wanted a confrontation.”

The hiker’s wife and friend also separately told the sheriff ’s deputy that the homeowners’ association member was the aggressor in the situation.

The homeowner, however, said the hiker was the chest-bumper and “threatened to kick his ass,” the report states. He also told the deputy the road was private and asked how he would like it if people urinated, defecated and littered on his property.

“I told him that I would not like it, but that didn’t mean I could close public access,” Deputy Josh Bennett wrote in the report. “(The homeowners’ association member) told me there will be problems.”

That was the third time during Bennett’s interaction with the man that he referenced “problems.”

The first was right after the deputy arrived at the man’s house, according to the report.

“As I entered the home on the table just inside the door … (was) what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun,” the report states. “‘Don’t let that intimidate you,’ (the man said) as he pointed at the sawed-off shotgun.

“I asked him if that was for the bears and he responded, ‘It’s for problems.’”

No one was charged in the case.

The legal claim to Dorais Way is complicated and involves what is known as “quitclaim deed” the homeowners’ association received from two mining companies, which conveyed “whatever property interest, if any” it had in the former railroad line, according to the lawsuit. That interest can be tracked back to the person who originally acquired the property from the U.S. government in November 1894, the suit states.

Pitkin County wants the judge to find that Dorais Way is and has been a public highway and that the mining company and railroad before it abandoned the property after the track was torn up in 1942 for use in the war effort, according to the lawsuit. That means the mining company would have had no interest to convey to the homeowners’ association, the suit states.

This story originally appeared in the Jan. 25 edition of the Aspen Times Daily, and is reprinted here with permission.

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Aging out loud

POWER HOUR LUNCH

Talking to women about perimenopause

TUESDAY FEB 11, 2020

By Jennifer Johnson Sopris Sun Correspondent

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First, let’s be clear about what we're talking — or rather, not talking — about.

According to WebMD, menopause is defined as “the time that marks the end of (a woman’s) menstrual cycles...after (a woman has) gone 12 months without a menstrual period.”

Perimenopause literally means the time before menopause, and typically starts some time in a woman’s ‘40s, but can start as early as her ‘30s. This is the time we’re talking about, and it’s good to be clear because the menopause jokes typically involve symptoms that can start 10 to 15 years before actual menopause hits.

We can put that at the top of the list of things I didn’t know about this whole transitional time in my life when I started experiencing symptoms two and a half years ago, when I was 45 years old.

I had had a few experiences with night sweats (repeated episodes of extreme perspiration that may soak your night clothes or bedding ), so I knew I was on the cusp. Night sweats and hot flashes are a part of the cultural conversation about menopause, and one of the few accurate and common pieces of information we all seem to know about.

When I started hearing strange noises in my home, I chalked it up to magpies on the roof or maybe a raccoon or two outside.

But then it progressed, getting worse over the course of three weeks until I became convinced that someone was trying to get in, then that someone was actually in my home, then after a month of this I started seeing strange shadows out of the corner of my eye.

Before I knew what had happened to my once-level head, I became convinced that aliens were preparing to abduct me.

It’s okay to laugh – it’s ridiculous to think about now. But at the time, I was terrified.

I was frightened to go to sleep at night, which just added to my growing anxiety – something I had never experienced. I thought I was going crazy. And that was the worst feeling of all.

I was lucky to have the wherewithal to reach out for help, and I was additionally lucky that the woman I reached out to pointed me in the direction of Jade Wimberly at Lux Wellness Center in Carbondale. Jade is a Naturopathic Doctor, and I booked an appointment with her at her next availability.

Less than five minutes into my initial consultation, she was smiling at me. I wasn’t crazy. I was experiencing my first off-thebeaten-path symptom of perimenopause.

To make a long story short, I left her office with a list of dietary changes, two supplements, and a tincture to help me get through the next few weeks while my system balanced out.

After a year of managing my symptoms naturopathically, I posted about my experiences on my Facebook page. Eleven of my friends PM’d me to share their stories. The most shocking part? Four of those women had had the exact same thing happen to them, alien-abduction fear and all.

It started me down the path of trying to figure out why, with women being

51 percent of the population, a veil is drawn over this time in our lives? More importantly, I wanted to start making sure that other women didn’t have to experience the fear and anxiety that I did, when there are so very many resources available, if we know the right questions to ask.

Breaking the Silence For this piece, I reached out to women who are currently experiencing or have experienced perimenopause/menopause, (it’s worth noting that the stigma surrounding menopause is still so strong that over half of the women interviewed declined to have their names used). I found some common ground that surprised me, even though it falls in line with my own story.

Only one of the seven women I interviewed had spoken to their mother about what her experiences with menopause had been. There is not a strong correlation between one generation's experience to the next, except for the age at which symptoms begin, and if a mother has experienced endometriosis.

Over half of their mothers had hysterectomies, for various reasons, and so their experiences were vastly different than what their mothers would have experienced at all.

But it shone a light on the larger issue: we have been taught by example to handle this quietly, almost silently.

It all led to the same result: we each reached out to friends, co-workers, and sisters for help and to find out anything we could about what we were going through.

And while that can be a way to find emotional support, it isn’t always the best source for information.

One of the issues I discussed with Jade, specifically for this piece, was the fact that frequently the symptoms can present as other illnesses or issues, for instance depression, weight gain around the middle, lethargy, anxiety, and lack of sex drive.

An antidepressant is not going to offset the onset of perimenopause, and can therefore prolong suffering. It’s important to make sure that you are speaking with a doctor or naturopath who has experiences with women’s health specifically in order to make sure that they, and you, are asking the right questions. And it’s equally important to have the facts readily available, to make informed decisions about your health.

So what should you be on the lookout for? Symptoms can vary from woman to woman, but the most common include (but are not limited to): trouble sleeping, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, excessive worry, anxiety, problems concentrating, feelings of low self esteem, loss of memory, auditory hallucinations, joint aches, weight gain, lower libido, fatigue, irregular periods, and urine leakage when coughing or sneezing.

Fun stuff.

But remember – there are ways to manage and mitigate the symptoms you are experiencing, whether through naturopathic methods or bio-identical hormones. The women I spoke to have used every method from essential oils, meditation, and acupuncture, to artificial hormone therapy.

Talk to your naturopath or doctor, and do not suffer in silence. Because the fact is, you may not need to suffer at all. Two years into my own transition, and using entirely homeopathic treatments, I live relatively symptom free.

When I asked women for the one piece of advice they wish they had gotten that they’d like to pass along, one central idea rang true: that you are not alone. That every woman will experience this in her life, God-willing, and it is a natural part of what happens to us.

There is nothing to be ashamed of or frightened by – you won’t wake up one

morning and find yourself a crone, undesirable and lacking in vitality. And it can be the beginning of a beautiful time in your life – a time with no worry about periods or pregnancy, or scheduling vacations around your cycle, and you can wear white pants any day of the month!

And my advice? Talk about it. We can shake off this stigma, and not pass it on to our daughters and students and nieces and friends.

We can reclaim this time as merely a transition we go through to get to the next place in our lives. And we can continue to grow fearlessly into the women we are meant to be.

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Words of wisdom from some wise women “It is a beautiful gift. I have loved the process, gaining wisdom ... stepping into my power.”

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“It's normal, don't stress or fight it just go with the flow (PUN INTENDED)” “Know your body. Ask questions and advocate for yourself.”

“I'm only at the beginning of it but I'm just rolling with it. When I can listen to my body and reflect, I can guide myself towards the means of healing and balance that is needed, whether that be through diet and lifestyle or by seeking outside help. When changes occur, I allow and reflect, making way for the process to unfold as naturally as possible.”

“The shift in my body and hormones mirrors this shift of energy required to move into a phase of more wisdom. It is less about pouring energy into family, business, others and more about deeply nurturing the inner spirit to do what it came here to do.”

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020 • 11

The Mr. Roaring Fork Pageant

Saturday, February 15

Batch

Roaring Fork Beer Company 358 Main St, Carbondale, CO Reception: 7PM Food + Drink + Music $10 for KDNK Members, $15 for General Public, Proceeds benefit KDNK.

THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.

Email erin@kdnk.org to register as a contestant & get in free.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY FEB. 6 AQUARIUS POP UP

Check out the shoes, gems, feathers and wearable art and the film: “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken,” enjoy birthday cupcakes and a complimentary taste of something sparkly (it’s a surprise) while you shop from 6 to 8 p.m. at Batch (358 Main St.).

WILD FLIGHT MUSIC

Listen to Emily Jay and Eric Gross perform a mix of new and classic folk, jazz, blues and rock songs from 6:30 p.m. at Beer Works (647 Main St.).

FOLK BAND

BACKCOUNTRY FILMS

Celebrate this festival spotlighting the human-powered experience and serves as a gathering place for the backcountry snowsports community. Funds raised at each screening stay in the local community to support human-powered recreation and conservation efforts, winter education and avalanche/safety programs and to raise awareness of winter management issues.

From 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). Tickets are $12 for Colorado Mountain Club members and $15 for others. Go to bit.ly/bcffcarbondale for tickets.

LOVE ME SOME LIP SYNC

Enjoy The Senators at 8:30 p.m. at Steve's Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.). Contact sguitars@ Come for the beer and stay for the one of a kind entertainment and competition.This sopris.net or call 963-3304 for reservations. second annual event has 15 spots available for individuals, teams or businesses.

FRIDAY FEB. 7 Bartenders will donate their cash tips from the night to Carbondale Arts and Gay for OPEN JUNCTURE EXHIBIT Good Rocky Mountains. Registration fee is Come to the Metal + Clay Opening $12 for an individual and $22 for a group.

Reception with works and collaborations To come and watch is $5. The fun goes from from local artists Megan Wussow, Liz 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Batch (358 Main St.) Heller, Mark Cesark, K. Rhynus Cesark, Go to carbondalearts.z2systems.com to Nancy Lovendahl and Scott Keating with register. a 6 to 8 p.m. opening at the Carbondale Clay Center (135 Main St.). Exhibit runs MONDAY FEB. 10 through Feb. 29.

FUN FOLK MUSIC

RAMBLERS COME TO TOWN

Canada’s award nominee bluegrass band the Slocan Ramblers are performing bluegrass, old-time and folk music with deep songwriting, lightning fast instrumentals and sawdust-thick vocals from 8:30 p.m. at Steve’s ACOUSTIC BAND Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.) Go to stevesguitars.

Enjoy the Shady Lane rock band with Kirstie net or call 963-3304 for information.

Ennis starting 7 p.m. at the Marle Distillery (150 Main St.). Go to shadylanemusic.com WEDNESDAY FEB. 12 for more information.

ART WITH PATHFINDERS The duo of Pam and Dan performs folk music and sets the mood with fresh original singer-songwriter tunes from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Patina Bar+Grille (1054 Highway 133).

BLUEGRASS TIME

This mixed media art show “Passages” features gallery curators plus invited guest artists. The show supports Pathfinders, a nonprofit which provides psychosocial support program for cancer and chronicallyill patients, those suffering from grief and loss, caregivers, family members and the community. Ten percent of sales benefits TRADITIONAL MUSIC Pathfinders. The show runs through Enjoy Wood Belly from the Front Range March 29. The opening reception is from 5 and their traditional acoustic music to 7 p.m. at the Aspen Chapel Gallery (77 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 Meadowood Dr., Aspen).

N. Fourth St.). $20 tickets available at NATURALIST NIGHTS sguitars@sopris.net or call 963-3304.

Learn about the West’s feral horses and PRIMAL J AND THE NEANDERTHALS emerging solutions to the wild horse Get yourself moving and grooving with this controversy presented by Kate Schoenecker, five piece band with a unique funky punky Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey from 6 to 7 rock reggae sound. Show starts at 9 p.m. at p.m. at the Third Street Center (520. S. Third St.). Contact aspennature.org or The Black Nugget (403 Main St.). wildernessworkshop.org for information.

Hear Natalie Spears and Old Man Kelly perform bluegrass, swing and honky tonk melodies on banjo, upright bass, guitar and fiddle from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Landmark Cafe (689 Main St.) Go to eventbrite.com for tickets.

WHISKEY STOMP

LET’S TALK DETOX

Listen to this fun loving, good times, noholds-barred band with roots delving into Learn how essential oils can be a great way several genres of music from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. to detox and maintain a healthy body with Dr. Zach Cashin from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the at Carbondale Beer Works (647 Main St.).

Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). $10 donation suggested. Go to davinkent.org FRI JAN. 7 - THU FEB. 13 for information.

MOVIES

The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) presents “Knives Out” (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, 8, 11 & 12 and 4 p.m. Feb. 9; “Little Women” (PG) at 4:45 p.m. Feb. 7 and “JoJo Rabbit” (PG-13) at 5 p.m. Feb. 8.

SATURDAY FEB. 8

TRIVIA NIGHT

Assemble a team of up to six people, pick a great group name and answer 20 questions to win $50 off your bar tab from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Marble Distillery (150 Main St.).

BINGO NIGHT

Have fun and win prizes from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Carbondale Beer Works (647 Main Enjoy a free winter open house which St.). Proceeds benefit KDNK. features displays of the town’s history and development from the hard rock mining FURTHER OUT days to the peak of the marble industry.

Begin with the chocolate extravaganza THURSDAY FEB. 13 contest and tasting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 VALENTINE’S POP UP p.m. followed by history and geology talks until 6 p.m. at the museum (412 West Main Come to a special event with flowers, St.) Go to carbondalearts.z2systems.com jewelry and chocolate supporting local makers and artists from 6 to 8 p.m. at Batch for tickets.

(358 Main St.).

MARBLE MUSEUM

Presented by

SAVE the DATE!

Tuesday, March 17 6:30pm, doors at 6pm • Wheeler Opera House

Tickets on sale now!

Tickets at aspenshowtix.com • Info at aspennature.org A BENEFIT FOR ACES’ TOMORROW ’S VOICES PROGRA M IN MEMORY OF WILLARD CLAPPER

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

BLUEGRASS PLAYERS

The Colorado College Ensembles brings talented students back to the Valley for an evening of ancient songs brought to life. Enjoy this event from 8:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.). Go to sguitars@sopris.net or coloradocollege.edu for information.

CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHT

The Sopris Sun celebrates its 11th birthday with a special showing of the ‘80s classic “ET The Extraterrestrial” at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.). Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and under. Visit eventbrite. com/e/91700955025 for reservations.

FEB 1 - 9, 2020 rfrestaurantweek.com

It's a relatively quiet First Friday on the art front, but it's worth a stop by the Clay Center to check out "Wend," by K Rhynus and Mark Cesark and an array of other installations.

HEART’S WISDOM

VALLEY VISUAL ART SHOW

Watch the movie “Sacred Journey of the Heart,” overall winner of the 2014 international film festival, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Third St. Center (520 S. Third St.). $5 suggested donation. Visit davinikent. org for information.

Carbondale Arts (76 S. Fourth St.) celebrates a wide variety of local artists running through Feb. 28.

FRIDAY FEB. 14

WINE & CHAMPAGNE TASTING

Enjoy a Valentine's Day tasting with a chocolate fountain and fruit and cheese platter from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Redstone Inn (82 Redstone Blvd.,Redstone) Call 963-2526 for details.

YOUTH POETRY SLAM

High school poets take the stage to showcase their original poems and unique voices at the Seventh Annual Roaring Fork Valley Youth Poetry Slam from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Third Street Center (520 S.Third St.).

Students interested in performing should arrive at the Third Street Center by 3 p.m. for registration, workshop and rehearsal.

Contact aspenwords.org for information.

DATE NIGHT

Come to an all-inclusive night of romantic fun and use the wheel to create an unforgettable piece of pottery from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Carbondale Clay Center (135 Main St.).

Event includes instruction, materials, firings, wine, chocolates, beverages and other snacks.

For $65 tickets contact carbondaleclay.org or call 963-2529.

SATURDAY FEB. 15 MR. ROARING FORK PAGEANT

Show your talents and get costume changes ready for this Valentines hangover event benefiting KDNK. This event (formerly called Mr. Carbondale) begins at 7 p.m. at Batch (358 Main St.). Door Entry is $10 for KDNK Members and $15 for non KDNK members. Participant registration is free.

Please contact Erin at: 963-0139 or erin@ kdnk.org to register. Go to brownpapertickets. com for pre-purchase door entry.

MARBLE COMEDY

This monthly show features favorite comics in and around Colorado and beyond from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the Marble Distillery (150 Main St.). Nathan Lund will be headlining, Georgia Comstock featuring and Nic Dean hosting. Go to eventbrite.com for $10 tickets.

FIVE PIECE BLUEGRASS BAND

The Floodgate Operators from Crested Butte combine fast, flat-picking traditional tunes with energetic and heartfelt originals from 9:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. at The Black Nugget (403. Main St.).

ONGOING FINESSE YOUR FREQUENCY

Make more magic in your unique business/ career the first and third Wednesdays, or come as a creative person/artist the second and fourth Wednesdays. Both events run from noon to 1 p.m. at Coventure (201 Main St.). Email mellietest@gmail.com for details.

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP

The Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) invites seventh through twelfth graders to discuss, plan and sponsor events with planning at 4 p.m. on the second Friday of each month.

COME CELEBRATE First Friday in February!

February 7, 5-9 pm | Restaurant Week

Stroll Main Street, in the heart of Carbondale’s Creative District and enjoy Roaring Fork Restaurant Week food & beverage offerings, check out the many gallery openings, live music, and more!

STORYTIME

Young children (accompanied by an adult) are invited for stories, songs and more beginning at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) — please use the side entrance to the Calaway Room.

www.carbondale.com/first-friday

WRITERS GROUP

Wordsmiths of all experience and abilities gather at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month.

PC: Chelsea Self

NURSING MOMS CLUB

A monthly support group welcoming all families with latch help, weight checks and encouragement meets at 11 a.m. the second Saturday of the month at The Family Nest (201 Main St. Suite 206).

HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION

Free opportunities include a powerpoint presentation by Dr. Greg Feinsinger about the science behind plant-based nutrition at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month. Also free one-hour consultations for heart attack and other chronic illness prevention are available by appointment Monday mornings by calling 379-5718. Also, come to a plant-based whole-foods potluck at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).

YOGA

Get a donation-based introduction to Hatha Yoga from 8 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).

TAI CHI

All levels are welcome to participate in a gentle path to health and flexibility from 9 to 10 a.m.

Mondays and Wednesdays with John Norton.

Marty Finkelstein offers a 5 to 5:30 course for beginners before his 5:30 to 7 p.m. class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both classes take place at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).

PUNCH PARKINSON’S

Rising Crane Training Center (768 Highway 133) offers free boxing and fitness classes for folks with Parkinson’s disease from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 274-8473 for information.

RUN AROUND

Independence Run and Hike hosts a weekly group run on Thursday nights. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the store, 596 Highway 133 (in La Fontana Plaza) during daylight saving time and at 6 p.m. during the darker months for a four-mile loop around town. All paces are welcome. Call 7040909 for more information.

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5pm at Carbondale Middle School Featuring performances from 75 top student jazz musicians from 11 schools around the Western Slope!

Concert is free and open to the public! Come support this next generation of jazz musicians. For more info call 970.920.4996.

JAS HAS DONATED OVER $7.5 MILLION TO MUSIC EDUCATION SINCE 1996

THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020 • 13

SKI SPREE

Science teacher Ben Graves assists Allora McClellan as she tests the voltages of different solar panels.

Photo by Luna Anna Archey / High Country News

TREASURE HUNT

In Delta County, the kids of coal miners learn to install solar panels

By Nick Bowlin High Country News

Munchie Monday 10% off Nature’s High Edibles

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14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

At a picnic table in a dry grass field, a group of elementary school students watched as high school senior Xavier Baty, a broad-shouldered 18-year-old in a camouflage ball cap and scuffed work boots, attached a hand-sized solar panel cell to a small motor connected to a fan.

He held the panel to face the setting Colorado sun, adjusting its angle to vary the fan speed.

“Want to hear a secret?” he asked the kids around him. “This is the only science class I ever got an A in.”

As he readily acknowledges, Baty hasn’t been the most enthusiastic science student at Delta High School. This class, however, is different. Along with a group of other seniors and a few juniors, Baty is enrolled in “Solar Energy Training.” The class not only provides a science credit needed for graduation; it also trains students for careers in solar energy or the electrical trades. It allows Baty to work with his hands, something he enjoys, while positioning him for employment in a fast-growing industry.

In Colorado’s North Fork Valley, solar energy — along with a strong organic farm economy and recreation dollars — is helping to fill the economic hole left by the dying coal industry, which sustained the area for more than 120 years. When the mines still ran, graduating seniors could step immediately into good-paying jobs. But in the past five years, two of Delta County’s three mines have closed. Approximately 900 local mining jobs have been lost in the past decade. Ethan Bates, for example, another senior in the solar energy training class, is the son of a mine foreman who lost his job when the Bowie Mine outside Paonia closed in 2016. Now, he’ll graduate as a certified solar panel installer.

National environmental and climate groups often discuss “just transitions” for

fossil-fuel dependent communities like Delta, or Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Mining companies are going bankrupt, while every year, solar and other renewables get cheaper. Such economic shifts are complex, but one thing is clear: If the transition to renewables is to truly account for the communities and economies it undercuts, it will include programs like Delta High School’s solar training. The class positions young people for success in a coal-free future, and does so from the ground up, attentive to the needs and cares of the local community.

SCIENCE TEACHER BEN GRAVES started the class four years ago. Described by a student as “cool” but with a “mad-scientist vibe,” Graves has a salt-and-pepper beard and dresses casually in trail-running shoes and hardwearing khaki pants. In class, he is affable but authoritative.

As a teacher, Graves sees his main duty as educating young people and creating good citizens. But to do right by his students, he needs to set them up for success under the current economic realities. And that requires classes like solar training. “I think we have to be doing some sort of trades education,” he said. “For a kid with a high school diploma, working service is really all you can do without more training.”

Many students in the solar class, like Baty, weren’t particularly successful in traditional science classes. They’re kids who haven’t “played the school game,” as Graves put it, of college admission and standardized tests. For these students, training in electrical trades has now joined ranks with welding and agriculture programs offered by the high school.

In the past four years, the class has helped install two solar arrays behind Delta High School. Students have done much of the work designing the structures and digging the trenches to lay conduit cables. This year for their final project, they will take apart and fully

re-install one of the solar arrays. According to Graves, teachers at other local schools are keen to integrate solar training into their classes.

Solar Energy International, a local nonprofit and a major catalyst behind the Delta class, is working to integrate solar training into science curriculum across the region.

These projects are a boon to public school budgets, which lost a tax base when the mines closed. On a school day, the projects can supply about 10 percent of Delta High School’s energy demand — up to 30 percent on weekends. Thanks to a municipal cap, Graves said, the school has reached the limit on how much solar it can install, but even the current amount makes a difference.

“The facilities folks at first waved it away as a class project,” Graves said with a laugh. “Now, maintenance sees it as a real way to reduce demand charges. It went from us pushing some of this stuff on the administration to them saying, ‘Wait a second, we actually want this.’”

The economics of renewables are changing Delta at the county level, too. The area’s electric cooperative, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) is ending its contract with its wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Tri-State long required that buyers like DMEA purchase 95 percent of their electricity from the utility, limiting the amount of solar and other renewables local co-ops could produce. The company is notorious for its continued reliance on coalfired power plants.

For many Delta residents, solar offers a certain self-sufficiency and local independence they find appealing, as evidenced by DMEA’s defection from corporate control. It’s also cheaper: DMEA can cut customer costs by increasing its share of renewable power. As a rural electric coop, DMEA’s members call the shots, and in October 2018, they voted to raise money and sell stocks in order to buy out their TriState contract. Politically, Delta County might not be an obvious leader in renewable energy; it voted for President Trump by about 70 percent. But solar panels on homes and businesses are increasingly common, with demand sometimes outstripping the capacity of local solar firms.

In the school district where Graves works, DMEA has encouraged the adoption of solar by funding solar arrays at every high school in its service area. Through SEI, the co-op has administered grants for Graves’ class, and it funds solar trainings for teachers across the area.

FROM AN EDUCATIONAL VIEW, the solar class’ value rests in its capacity to combine technical training and scientific learning outside the traditional grade structure. This dynamic was on full display on a bright fall day in October. The class was participating in an energy reduction contest against other Delta County high schools.

Sponsored by the Colorado Energy Office, the Renew Our Schools program promotes student-run energy efficiency projects. At the end of the five-week competition, the winning school would receive $12,000.

The contest transformed the kids from students to energy auditors. Graves sent them out to prowl the hallways, counting light bulbs and measuring the energy used by the tech lab’s computers. In the hallways, every other light fixture is dark, the bulbs removed by solar students. At a separate table, another group used the data to calculate savings if the building’s sodium vapor bulbs were replaced

by LED lights. Lights, the kids found, account for about half of the school’s peak power demand.

All this activity halted when tragedy struck in early November. Gannon Hines, a senior who hoped to use his solar skills upon graduating, died in a car accident. Three other students were in the car, and one remains badly hurt. Graves did not try to teach in the dark days of mourning that followed; instead, he simply let the students talk and remember their friend. He contemplated calling off the competition, but Hines had been one of the class’ more enthusiastic members.

“We talked about whether to stop or to keep going with the competition, and we decided to keep going for Gannon,” said Allora McClellan, another senior.

On the final day of the competition, just before Thanksgiving, it was clear Delta was going to lose, and some of the students were frustrated. They had redoubled their efforts after the heartbreak but came up short. It’s easier for smaller schools to show large energyuse cuts, and Delta is the largest school in the district. Students grumbled about an unfair contest. (In December, the school was awarded $2,000 by the state for their efforts.

The funds will help replace fluorescent bulbs with LEDs.) As the hour wound down toward lunch, Graves watched a group of students finish some final kilowatt calculations. A few were already drifting toward the door.

“Hey,” he said, “let’s finish our work.”

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THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020 • 15

GOVERNMENT BRIEFS Input sought on Mid-Valley trails An update to the 2006 Eagle County MidValley Trails Plan is up for public comment through Feb. 28. All plan materials can be found on the Eagle County Planning Division website at www.eaglecounty.us/masterplans; hard copies are available at the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder's Office at the El Jebel Community Center. Eagle County will host an open house at the El Jebel Community Center from noon to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 to discuss the draft and receive constituents’ feedback and ideas. Additionally, staff will present the plan in collaboration with the volunteer-based Mid-Valley Trails Committee to the Roaring Fork Valley Regional Planning Commission.

The public is welcome to attend and participate in the meeting to provide input following an overview presentation about the plan. The work session will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the El Jebel Community Center in the Sopris Room. The open house will resume after the work session ends until 6:30 p.m.

Eagle County needs animal lovers The Eagle County Board of Commissioners is seeking community members to fill two vacant positions on the Animal Services Advisory Committee. The group provides input on policies and priorities regarding animal sheltering and services. Applications are due by Feb. 14.

The Animal Services Advisory Committee is comprised of nine members with expertise and interest in animal care and welfare. Focus areas include the physical and behavioral health of animals; housing and transport of animals; spaying, neutering and population management; facility improvements; public health; and consideration of other topics as needed. The

committee does not have any management responsibilities, nor does it direct staff. Meetings occur bi-monthly on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact Nathan Lehnert or Rhiannon Rowe at Animal Services at 328-3647 or visit www.eaglecounty. us/animal to fill out an online application.

North Star Management plan slated for update The 2015 North Star Nature Preserve Management Plan is the focus of an update in 2020. A community survey to collect initial feedback closed Jan. 6. A draft update of the plan is scheduled for review by the Open Space and Trails Board on Feb. 6. After the board review and any modifications to the plan that are directed by the board, the draft plan will be released for a round of public comment. The plan will be posted to pitkinostprojects.com at that time. The board meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Pitkin County administration building, 530 E. Main St., Aspen.Final adoption of the plan by the Open Space and Trails Board is currently scheduled in May, followed by review and approval by county commissioners in late May and June.

GOGCC seeks professional commission applications The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has announced that applications are being accepted for its first professional commission, which will replace the current all-volunteer commission. As directed by SB 19-181, the COGCC will seat a five member professional commission by July 1, 2020. The commission will include the Executive Directors of both the Department of Natural Resources

Get Involved The Town of Carbondale Boards and Commissions have the following vacancies: • Historic Preservation Commission • Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission • Tree Board • Environmental Board • Public Arts Commission Contact: Kae McDonald 970-510-1248 kmcdonald@carbondaleco.net Applications: https://www.carbondalegov.org/government/boards_&_commissions

16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

and the Department of Public Health and Environment to serve as ex officio non voting members. The other five Commissioners will include: One appointed member must be an individual with substantial experience in the oil and gas industry; One appointed member must have substantial expertise in planning or land use; One appointed member must have formal training or substantial experience in environmental protection, wildlife protection, or reclamation; One appointed member must have professional experience demonstrating an ability to contribute to the commission's body of expertise that will aid the commission in making sound, balanced decisions and One appointed member must have formal training or substantial experience in public health. Visit colorado.gov/ cogcc to learn more.

Energy Office releases study on floating solar The Colorado Energy Office has released Colorado's Statewide Potential Study for the Implementation of Floating Solar Photovoltaic Arrays. Floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) systems, also known as floatovoltaics, are an emerging application in which the most common components of traditional solar PV systems are mounted onto buoyant "floats."

These floats allow solar PV modules, wiring and electronics components to be sited directly on the surface of a body of water instead of on land or a rooftop. This floating application leverages the water surface that is typically viewed as an unused area for many non-recreational water bodies. Covering water bodies through various means, including FPV, has been shown to reduce evaporation and improve the local aquatic environment, presenting a unique multi-benefit

opportunity. Using existing public datasets and satellite imagery, CEO identified nearly 6,000 potential sites for floating solar installations, 1,900 of which were rated as ideal.

Want to get involved?

Contact your elected officials about the issues that matter to you Senator Michael Bennet 261 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5852

Senator Cory Gardner 354 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5941

Congressman Scott Tipton 218 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4761

CO Senator Bob Rankin 200 E Colfax, 346 Denver, CO 80203 (303)866-5292

CO Rep Perry Will 200 E Colfax, 07 Denver, CO 80203 (303)866-2949

NOTICE TO TOWN OF CARBONDALE CITIZENS The Town of Carbondale is soliciting Pro/Con comments for Ballot Issue A. Text of the Town of Carbondale Ballot Issue A may be viewed at: carbondalegov.org The deadline for PRO/CON statements is 5 pm on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Only comments filed by persons eligible to vote in the Town of Carbondale will be summarized and included in the TABOR Notice that is sent to voters prior to the election. To be summarized in the ballot issue notice, the comments must address the specific ballot issue and must include a signature and the address where the signor is registered to vote. No statements shall mention the names of persons or private groups, nor any endorsements of or resolutions against any ballot measure.

Signed statements may be scanned and e-mailed to the Town Clerk cderby@carbondaleco.net, or you may mail or hand-deliver a hard copy to the Town Clerk’s Office, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO 81623.

Please be aware that your statement is unlikely to be reprinted in its entirety. It is the responsibility of the town clerk to summarize comments received so that each issue has no more than 500 words in the pro statement and no more than 500 words in the con statement.

OPINION

Dream Job Junkie

By Evan Zislis It’s not easy understanding our place in the world. But here’s a little good news: entrepreneurialism is the great equalizer.

The world over, in spite of overwhelming odds — those who identify a tangible need and meet it with spirited determination, can level almost any playing field.

I believe entrepreneurialism is a path to personal enrichment, civil engagement, public service, community connectivity and social change. I believe it is the key to rooting out corporate corruption, dirty politics, social inequality and environmental degradation.

Carbondale, the top town for entrepreneurs I believe we all have something to contribute. And I believe those contributions make the world a better place.

No matter who we are, where we come from, what language we speak, whatever divine spirit speaks to us, who we love, what we look like or sound like, or how we make our way through the world — a sustainable living is ours for the making in service to others. If everyone has something to offer for the good of the collective whole, I believe entrepreneurialism is a viable mechanism for that good.

I’m a dream job junkie — a super nerd on a perpetual quest for a great gig. While I admire the honor of occupational longevity, the globetrotting Army Brat in me already has a bag packed and one foot out the door.

Looking back on 20-plus years chasing dream jobs in the Roaring Fork Valley (one of the strangest places to live and maintain gainful employment), I still measure abundance in unexpected opportunities to learn and grow as an emerging professional. I’ve still found no better platform for professional (and personal) development than the day-to-day practicality of life as an entrepreneur.

All dream jobs have unique challenges and headaches. I’m not offering cream-filled cupcakes and unicorn rides.

Every position represents an opportunity to build on previous experience, challenge conventional thinking, push the boundaries of innovation and re-imagine operational

efficiency, productivity, personal growth, community impact — and the realistic potential for profitability. That’s a tall order.

So, let’s be honest, some days are better than others.

But over time, successful entrepreneurs develop their own perspective their own way. Drawing on their own “talent stack,” (an individual’s unique combination of professional training, life experience, natural talent and passion) – we discover there are people in our own communities who need (and want) what we have to offer.

When it comes to getting started, here are my top five recommendations to consider: Learn your trade. Inside and out, become an expert in whatever field you claim. If the field doesn’t exist yet, claim it and own it as your own. But legitimately, hone your craft.

Test it again and again and again. The goal: Desirable outcomes – every time.

Learn your user. Know who needs (and is willing to pay for) your product or service.

Learn everything there is to know about them. Don’t attempt to sell them anything – just acquaint yourself with who they are, what they like, and how they like it.

Learn your market. Research who else is working in your field. Study what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, for whom and for how much. Often, the market puts strict parameters on implementation and expectations – sometimes those rules are made to be broken. Learn what you can

before inserting yourself into the fray.

Test your product/service. Get out of your shop and talk to real people. Give them a taste and proactively solicit feedback.

Expect to tweak your recipe again and again until your people express reliable satisfaction.

When they do, test it some more.

Launch. It’s easy to wait until you think it’s perfect – but there’s no such thing.

Success is a moving target and requires the ability and willingness to adapt – again and again. Don’t be afraid to get out there – and declare yourself “open for business.”

After nearly 10 years honing my professional practice, learning my market and proving substantive value year after year — I’ve found my calling: The freedom to create my own work, build a rewarding lifestyle, and generate a sustainable income in service to others. The only thing that has given me more joy, is the immeasurable pleasure of helping others to find it for themselves.

Evan Michael Zislis is author of the Amazon bestseller, “ClutterFree Revolution: Simplify Your Stuff, Organize Your Life & Save the World” and Founder & CEO of Bonedale Business Academy, which delivers ass-kicking community workshops, masterclasses, masterminds, retreats and custom services guaranteed to launch a lucrative business that makes a difference.

Learn more at BonedaleAcademy.com.

THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020 • 17

OBITUARY

Katherine Matchael June 25, 1924 Jan. 31, 2020 Katherine June Matchael was born on a family farm in Cozad, Nebraska on June 25, 1924 and died peacefully at the age of 95 on Jan. 31, 2020 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The life in between those two dates was full of Broncos games, books, Bible studies, board games and enjoying just about everything with her family.

June moved to Denver when she was 18, graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder and worked at the Gates Rubber Company, where she met her husband, Charles Matchael.

They worked and raised three children in Denver, until she moved to Colorado Springs in 2012.

June’s reunion with those who left before her includes her husband, her parents, three sisters and two brothers.

Those left to carry on her legacy are her daughter, Beth of Colorado Springs; her son and daughter-inlaw, John and Mary Matchael of Carbondale; her daughter and sonin-law, Linda and Don Murray of Santa Fe; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

LETTERS McKibben agreed, but cautioned if he hadn’t done anything about climate change in his first six months in office, he’d be protesting on the White House lawn. Sanders said he expected nothing less.

Also, McKibben admitted he’s uncomfortable speaking in front of people and rousing rabble. He’s primarily a writer, he said, and more at home sitting in front of a keyboard. He’s written 12 books on global warming, local communities, and genetic engineering.

Fred Malo Jr. Carbondale

A day in my life Dear Editor: 2/9/64 Beatles on Ed Sullivan An epiphany JM Jesse Glenwood Springs

Support student art Dear Editor: The Aspen Chapel Gallery is supporting Roaring Fork Valley high school art with a unique annual exhibition entitled, 6 X 17. It is currently on the walls at the Aspen Chapel Gallery – six participating high schools, 17 pieces of art from each school.

The community is invited to support art in all six valley high schools art departments by “adopting” a piece of art for $25. 75 percent of your donation goes directly to the six high school art programs. You don’t own the art, it stays in the student’s portfolio.

You can adopt at the Aspen Chapel Gallery, or mail a check to Aspen Chapel Gallery, 0077 Meadowood Dr, Aspen, CO 81611. Please put “adoption" in the memo. Or go to aspenchapel.

18 • THE SOPRIS SUN • soprissun.com • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020

Continued from page 2 org and go to the donate button. Please put the word “adoption” in the comments. Our goal is to recognize all these young artists by adopting out all 102 pieces of art.

This exhibit runs until Feb 9. Please stop and see the show and consider “adopting” to support art in our valley high schools.

Tom Ward and Michael Bonds Co-Directors

Sanders is electable Dear Editor: Have you wondered why Bernie Sanders is surging in recent polls?

Perhaps it’s his unapologetic commitment to taking on the pharmaceutical, insurance and fossil fuel industries. Or maybe it’s his common-sense plan to address wealth inequality and college debt. It could also be that he’s been a passionate champion of progressive causes his entire adult life.

We believe it’s all of the above, plus one more: his electibility.

Americans seem to be realizing that in order to beat Trump, we need to put forth a candidate who will inspire people to get out and vote; a candidate who will energize young people to get engaged, stay engaged, and convince their friends to do the same; a candidate who will shake things up in Washington, and make it start working for ordinary people again. Bernie is the only candidate that fits that bill.

It’s time to question the assumption that the only electable candidate is a moderate one. Current polls certainly don’t support that idea. And given all the ways in which the climate crisis, immigration policy and racial injustices have WORSENED under Democratic leaders, we can’t assume that young people and people of color will get out and vote for a moderate Democrat.

Bernie is the candidate who can inspire the electorate, get the votes to win, and keep people engaged so that we can begin the long road to making our government work for all of us.

Debbie & Marc Bruell Carbondale

A heartfelt loss Dear Editor: Carbondale has lost a beloved matriarch. I know my world will feel different now.

For the few who might not know, Terry Chacos and her husband, Chris, owned and operated the Village Smithy Restaurant.

When I first came here in the 1970s, I spent my mornings there over a cup of coffee because it was all I could afford. I met my first Carbondalians there and became friends with many of the employees.

Terry and Chris employed many 20-somethings in running the restaurant and treated them all like family. I felt blessed just to be on the outskirts of that family and later worked for them briefly.

Terry exuded love. My life was deeply touched

by Terry’s sweetness and gentleness. Even though life threw some harsh challenges at her, she remained steadfast.

I’m not sure she truly realized how much she brought to so many of us just by being who she was.

I would always try to convey that to her by holding her hand, kissing her cheek and telling her that I loved her. When her words would not come, she would place her hand upon my cheek.

She held a very special place in my heart that had never been occupied before, and her memory will continue to fill it. My deepest condolences to her family and to all whose lives were touched by hers. I will hold on dearly and tightly to her precious memory.

Sue Rollyson Persiko Carbondale

PARTING SHOTS

LEGALS

Mezcla Socials Dance mixed Brazilian Zouk and Bachata dance last weekend with instruction by Adaly Lost and Krystal Coetzee. A similar Salsa event is coming up on Feb. 8 — check out the organization's Facebook page for details. Photos courtesy of Claudia Pawl

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS (NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF) §1-13.5-501, 1-13.5-1102(3), 32-1-905(2), C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District of Garfield, Gunnison and Pitkin Counties, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 5th day of May, 2020, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, 2 directors will be elected to serve 3-year terms.

Eligible electors of the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District Designated Election Official (DEO): Jenny Cutright 300 Meadowood Drive Carbondale, CO 81623 (970)963-2491 The Office of the DEO is open on the following days: Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance is close of business (4:30 p.m.) on February 28, 2020 (not less than 67 days before the election).

Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the designated election official by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on Monday, March 2, 2020 (the sixty-fourth day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the designated election official no later than the close of business on Tuesday preceding the election, April 28, 2020. /s/ Jennifer Cutright, Designated Election Official NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR FRANCHISE

BY PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO NOTICE is hereby given that at the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Carbondale, Garfield County, State of Colorado, to be held on February 25, 2020, at the hour of 6:00 p.m., at its usual meeting place in the Town Hall, in the Town of Carbondale, Colorado. Public Service Company of Colorado, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Colorado, will make application to said Town for the passage of an ordinance granting to said Public Service Company of Colorado a franchise in said Town, entitled: Ordinance No. AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A FRANCHISE BY THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASIGNS, THE RIGHT TO FURNISH, SELL AND DISTRIBUTE ELECTRCITY TO THE TOWN AND ALL PERSONS, BUSINESSES, AND INDUSTRY WITHIN THE TOWN AND THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, LOCATE, MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND EXTEND INTO, WITHIN AND THROUGH SAID TOWN ALL FACILITIES REASONABLE NECESSARY TO FURNISH, SELL AND DISTRIBUTE ELECTRICTY WITHIN THE TOWN AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE REASONABLE USE OF ALL STREETS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES AND PUBLIC EASEMENTS AS HEREIN DEFINED AS MAY BE NECESSARY; AND FIXING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THEREOF. Dated at Carbondale, Colorado, this 23rd day of January 2020.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO

BY Kelly Flenniken, Area Manager Public Service Company of Colorado

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970-379-0575 eW imaatte Wa as tm i i l t CLEAN Ul Cleans Inside shh

U

INSIDE & OUT & Out

Complete CompleteInterior Interior and and ExteriorWash wash package.

Exterior Package Car ash Car W Wash Detailing Detailing Oil changes Oil Tires Changes

Tires

Weather Insurance Insurance Weather

If it rains or snows bring the vehicle back within If it rains48orhours snowsand bringweback vehicle will the rewash it. within

48 hours and we will rewash it.

970-963-8800 745970-963-8800 Buggy Circle in Carbondale www.sunburstcarcare.com 745 Buggy Circle in Carbondale

www.sunburstcarcare.com Open Mon.-Sat. 8am-5:00pm and on Sundays from 9am-4pm for washes only Open Monday - Saturday 8am to 5:30pm and on Sunday from 9am to 4pm for washes only.

Full service veterinary care | Chiropractic and Acupuncture House Calls from Aspen to Rifle | Hours M-F 9am-5pm (970) 456-3277 | AllPetsMV@gmail.com | www.allpetsmobilevet.net

“don’t trash it – cash it” We pay CASH for METALS! ALUMINUM CANS • COPPER • BRASS • LEAD • STEEL • CARS/TRUCKS APPLIANCES • EXTENSION CORDS • BATTERIES • RADIATORS STAINLESS STEEL *ANYTHING METAL* New Location Glenwood! (2 miles south of Walmart, next to Airgas)

3710 Hwy 82 Glenwood Springs, CO 970-948-0333 Open - Tue-Fri 9-4 • Sat 9-1 • Closed Sun/Mon

Gypsum location accepts large steel quantites please see our Gypsum location by Costco Guaranteed best prices in the mountains!

Trinityrecycle.com

See Thundercat at

CARBONDALE ANIMAL HOSPITAL New location!

289 Main Street, Carbondale on the corner of Third and Main Street

(970) 963-2826 Find us on Facebook

Dr. Benjamin Mackin Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Call Matt Roeser for a free estimate today!

970-317-7549 GreenWalls is an environmentally friendly company.

We use only non-toxic (low and no voc) paints and finishes.

WINDS GreenWallsPainting.comREPA AUTO G REPLAC WINDSHIELD

REPAIR & AUTO GLASS REPLACEMENTMo

970-963-3891 970-963-3891

Ser

Mobile Avai Service Available

Locally Owned by David Zamansky

Locally owned bybyJake Zamansky Locally Owned David Zamansky

500 Buggy Circle, Carbondale 500 Buggy Circle, Carbondale, CO

You just proved that SERVICE DIRECTORY ads work! $45 per week!

Call for yours ...

970-510-0245

THE SOPRIS SUN • Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEB. 6 - 12, 2020 • 19

THANKS FOR HELPING US give back!

Our valued Alpine Bank customers make it possible for us to contribute to the Carbondale community. One way customers help us is through our Alpine Bank Loyalty Debit Card program. Each time customers use their debit card*, we donate 10 cents to nonprofit organizations right here on their behalf. *Alpine Bank debit cards are available with no annual fee to individuals with an Alpine Bank checking account.

40 LOCATIONS IN COLORADO

alpinebank.com | Member FDIC

INDEPENDENCE • COMMUNITIES • COMPASSION • INTEGRITY • LOYALTY

Nonprofit Showcase Space Provided by Alpine Bank “The organization is so much more than teaching English. Bringing families together, opening our hearts and minds to those we may not normally connect with...”

—JILL COHEN

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AS AN ENGLISH TUTOR? CONTACT US AT

info@englishinaction.org or 963-9200

YOU ARE NOT ALONE WE’RE HERE TO HELP

presents

A View F ro m t h e Bridge

BY A RT H U R M I L L E R DIRECTED BY COREY SIMPSON

CALL US 24/7

925-5858 PO BOX 1115 Basalt Colorado 81621

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