2009 05 21

Sopris Sun THE

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 15 • MAY 21, 2009

Pickin’ Up Chicks?

Good luck!

Story and photos

by Jane Bachrach

Josef Lloyd holds Morgan, one of the three chicks the Lloyd family picked up at Hyrup Feed and Ranch Supply, to add to their brood. His brother Jesse stands behind holding another chick.

H

olly picked up the phone and called her husband. “So, did you pick up any chicks?”

I crack up. She wasn’t talking about women.

“It’s hard to get chicks this year,” Summer Cole clucked as she strolled into the office at Sustainable Settings.

And that’s no joke.

The chicken jokes have already begun among the growing number of folks who have recently added chickens to their family flocks here in Carbondale. You could say that the number of locals using fowl language is on the rise.

The demand for chickens, the closest relative to Tyrannosaurus Rex, has accelerated in Carbondale and way beyond. Steve Hyrup, owner of Hyrup Feed and Ranch Supply in El Jebel, confirmed that there has been a marked increase in demand for chickens here and elsewhere.

In mid-March, his sister-in-law in Prescott, Ariz., went to the local feed store to get a dozen chicks. “They opened at 8 a.m. and she got there at 7:30 a.m. and there were already 40 people at the door.”

Cluck cluck she was out of luck.

All 150 chicks had been sold before his sister got to the front of the line.

She went back on April 15, at the bright and early hour of 5:30 a.m. and got her chicks. But with 50 or 60 people behind her when the store opened, it’s not likely everyone got what they were looking for.

Demand for chickens has skyrocketed around the world. According to one Web site on food and the environment: “Urban hen keeping has become increasingly popular in recent years, but breeders and suppliers are reporting an ‘astonishing’ rise in the number of UK households buying hens in the last 12 months or so, fuelled in part, they believe, by the economic downturn and growing pressure on family budgets.”

Hyrup said he never used to have a problem getting chickens. He could always get them from the hatcheries when customers wanted them. “This January, the demand increased when the economy started crashin’ and a lot of people were losing their jobs,” he said.

Hyrup gets at least two orders for chickens each week, but has to tell people that the wait list runs until the end of June. “Everybody wants five or six chick hens to put in their yards to get five or six eggs to go with their gardens,” he added. “A lot of people are doing gardens this year.”

CHICKENS page 5

Carbondale Commentary What will your legacy be?

I had a really good talk with my best friend the other day. Considering that she’s been in a coma for 10 months, it’s not like I can just call her up like I used to in the good old days; I had to contact a psychic medium. I was skeptical, but as soon as we started talking, the medium said a relevant name out of the blue and I was hooked. I listened with an open mind to a stranger and heard the feelings of my best friend. It felt good to reminisce positively and I ended up with a sense of peacefulness. Until the end that is, when everyone else piped up; apparently the “other side” is just one big cocktail party for deceased friends, relatives and favorite mentors. I half expected to hear F. Scott Fitzgerald arguing with Ernest Hemingway in the back of the room.

The only previous knowledge I had of psychic mediums was watching the movie “Ghost” and that Patricia Arquette show on television. As much as I love the idea of the show Medium, where ghosts simply walk in and sit down next to you, it’s hard for my Logic First! mind to imagine. It’s easier for me to believe in energy imprints and memory reading than actual spirits wandering through the room. Although I do think it could be fun to hang out with Lord Byron for an evening, or find out the truth about Dick Cheney from Mr. Libi, I think in daily

By Jeannie Perry life it would get tedious trying to function without normal, earthly boundaries like closed doors.

Losing my friend taught me that this life isn’t necessarily short, but it is fragile. Everything we busy ourselves with while living our lives isn’t as important as taking the time to sit down and talk with a friend while feeling our lives. In other words, if there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, do it today. The thing to remember is that energy is more important and longer lasting than man-made history. The most important component of a legacy is how much time was spent in a good mood. The more good I do for myself and others, the better I feel and so the better the energy is that I create. If memories of me bring a smile to someone’s face that creates positive energy, versus the negative doom and gloom generated by a killjoy.

It’s not easy for everyone to realize that we’re not all going to get our own chapter in the history books, that we might go down as just another ordinary person. In fact, I think most of our contributions to music, literature, politics, etc., are about being memorable, trying to make a lasting impression. And it can sneak up on you, like the realization that professional people are suddenly somehow much younger than yourself … but if history has taught us anything it’s that we’re not as significant as we lead ourselves to believe, “Let me put it this way, have you ever heard of Plato? Aristotle? Socrates? Morons.” –Vizzini We still struggle with simple notions like greed and envy and all of our inventions and discoveries pale in comparison to the planet’s daily cycle. That’s not to say that we don’t have some pretty good stuff, especially in the Vatican. I think Douglas Adams said it best, “Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the un-fashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-eight million miles is an utterly insignificant little bluegreen planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.”

And when we are all gone and our swimming pools become huge apartment complexes for mosquitoes, causing many new strains of deadly viruses, what will our legacy look like? Empty streets lined with brick buildings and underground parking garages don’t tell the whole story; only when you add the sculptures, graffiti murals and shady picnic spots can you see the art of mankind. Lucky for us, Carbondale is still the perfect place to see old timers (both real and imagined) wandering down the street, stopping in a shady spot to sit and recount the good old days with a friend.

Ps & Qs

Everything we busy ourselves with while living our lives isn’t as important as taking the time to sit down and talk with a friend while feeling our lives.

Correction In a story printed in the May 14 issue of The Sopris Sun, Trina Ortega incorrectly reported that Carbondale Middle School will launch a new educational model to teach students of different ages who are at the same academic levels. Carbondale Middle will not combine different age groups in its teaching model for the future.

The Sun regrets any inconvenience the story may have caused.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009

Letters The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to letters@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

Businesses join in recycling efforts Dear Editor: A quick note to let Roaring Fork Valley residents know that Blue Tent Marketing has joined a valleywide computer recycling effort.

In partnership with the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) and with Youth Entity, formerly known as the Computers For Kids Foundation (C4K), our aim is to keep harmful elements such as lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, polyvinyl chlorides found in computers out of our valley’s landfills while simultaneously giving some older computer equipment a new lease on life.

Youth Entity’s student technicians are able to reuse about 85 percent of the computers and peripherals they receive. The unusable materials go to A-1 Electronics Recycling of Denver for safe disposal.

Keep an eye out for our Computer Recycling Trailer, which is regularly parked outside our El Jebel office (located at 218 East Valley Road, Suite 205, across from Movieland) and will also be found at various locations throughout the valley. We will be accepting used computers and peripherals weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We’d like to thank Aspen’s CORE for providing the grant for the recycling trailer, Basalt’s A Sign In Time for providing the trailer signage at reduced cost, Carbondale’s Youth Entity for providing a productive pipeline for the computer equipment, and

Rifle’s Western Slope Trailer Sales for giving us a break on the cost of the trailer. It’s great to see businesses in communities throughout our valley come together in an effort to help leave a cleaner planet to future generations.

For more information on the recycling program, visit bluetentmarketing.com/ company/blue-tent-green.

The team at Blue Tent Marketing

Another great First Fridays

Dear Editor: The Carbondale Public Schools had a great First Friday event on May 1, and we have many people to thank. First and foremost, we’d like to thank the kids for a year of hard work made apparent by the wonderful displays. We would also like to thank Ro Mead, director of CCAH, for all her effort and dedication in organizing another great First Friday. We’d also like to thank CCAH for all of its support, use of its gallery space for all of the student artwork and for the tasty root beer floats.

Thanks to all of the Carbondale businesses giving Main Street to the kids for a night, the Gordon Cooper Library for showcasing student art work, Steve’s Guitars for providing a great space for student poetry readings and music, and Amy Kimberly and 5Point Film Festival for organizing the flag project on Fourth and LETTERS page 14

Sopris Sun THE

The Sopris Sun is an LLC organized under the 501c3 nonprofit structure of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation, P.O. Box 1582, Carbondale, CO 81623.

The mission of the Sopris Sun, LLC is to inform and inspire community members of Carbondale, Colorado.

Editor: Trina Ortega • news@soprissun.com Reporter: Jeremy Heiman Jane Of All Trades: Jane Bachrach Page Production: Terri Ritchie Ad production: Barbara New Advertising Director: Jody Ensign 948-9715 Nuts, bolts and more: Russ Criswell and Mark Burrows Sopris Sun, LLC Managing Board of Directors: Russ Criswell • Peggy DeVilbiss • Allyn Harvey • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips • Rebecca Young Sopris Sun, LLC • P.O. Box 399 • Carbondale, CO 81623 www.soprissun.com

School district housing project may begin next year 89 homes planned for former school site

By Jeremy Heiman Everything will have to go perfectly for construction to begin in 2010 on an affordable housing enclave for teachers and other school district employees at the site of the former Carbondale Elementary School.

“I think that’s a possibility,” said Chuck Perry, a Denver planner whose firm is working on the project. Perry said it was possible in part because the utilities are already in place.

Shannon Pelland, assistant superintendent of business services for the school district, agreed it’s possible, but said ground breaking next year would require everything to go just right between now and then.

“That would be a best-case scenario,” she said.

Carbondale approved a planned unit development for the site in 2007, Pelland said, allowing for 89 dwellings to be built on the parcel. The 16-acre parcel, which is owned by the district, extends from the south side of Bridges High School to the north side of the former elementary school, now known as the Third Street Center.

Perry said right now the plan includes a variety of building types, ranging from sin-

The grassy field near Weant Boulevard and Highway 133 is RFSD’s future site for its affordable housing project. Photo by Trina Ortega gle-family houses to townhouses, condominiums and duplexes. These buildings would range from one to three stories, he added.

These buildings would no doubt include both occupant-owned and rental units, Perry said, and a nonprofit organization would be formed to own the rentals.

Pelland said this is an important project for the Roaring Fork School District, because the high cost of housing here makes it difficult for the school system to hire and keep qualified employees.

“We know that we have teachers who don’t accept jobs in the Roaring Fork School District, because they can’t afford houses here,” Pelland said. “From exit interviews, we know we lose teachers because of the high cost of housing.”

Some teachers, who have worked in the district for three to five years and are ready to buy housing, simply can’t do it because of prices.

With 107 teachers working in Carbondale, about 400 in the district as a whole, and around 1,000 total employees of the

district, affordability is a serious problem locally.

Carbondale Town Manager Tom Baker said the district will probably apply for an amendment to the planned unit development soon, to update the approval to fit the plan.

“I expect we’ll hear from them in June,” Baker said.

It’s possible that a dozen or so townhouses planned for the corner of Third Street and Sopris Avenue, to the north of the Bridges building, will be eliminated by a proposal to build a new public library on that site. The Garfield County Library District’s site search committee has identified that site as a preferred location.

School district officials have said that a soccer field on the grounds of the former elementary school would be replaced at another location in Carbondale.

A public meeting to inform neighbors of the site and the community in general on plans for the housing development has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m., at the former school, now known as the Third Street Center. The meeting will also update attendees on progress at the Third Street Center itself.

Pelland said she’s looking forward to getting input on the project from members of the community at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

P&Z to tackle final hurdle in downtown rezoning — parking

By Trina Ortega

The Carbondale Planning & Zoning Commission continues to weigh the costs and benefits of allowing taller buildings and higher densities in the downtown core.

A decision on the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) rezoning proposal is likely within the next month, but not before there’s resolution of one of the biggest issues: how the proposed changes affect parking.

The rezoning package would add an alternative for a developer to pay cash in lieu of providing on-site parking or to build underground parking in exchange for higher density or a taller building, for example.

“What the commission has to do is figure out if it’s the right thing to do. Is cash in lieu appropriate? Some people say cash in lieu puts off the problem,” said Doug Dotson, Carbondale’s community development director and town planner for the proposal.

While some P&Z members have stated that more affordable downtown residences — with close proximity to transit, retail and restaurants — will encourage people to drive less, other P&Z members say the commission must plan for parking “uniformly.”

“Cars happen,” P&Z member Kathy Goudy said. “If we ignore the car … and look only at all the pretty stuff, we’re creating a problem for the future.”

Others have criticized that accepting cash in lieu of actual parking spots will create a parking nightmare for the surrounding neighborhoods because developers can build commercial and residential units

without having to provide any parking.

“Down the road, the neighborhood bears the brunt of the parking problem,” Laurie Loeb, a downtown resident, said at the meeting.

Cash in lieu would be intended to help the town improve on-street parking or create additional downtown parking areas, according to Dotson.

Additionally, the proposal would offer incentives to developers for constructing underground parking, which has traditionally been too expensive to consider. Again, in exchange, the developer could seek a taller building, up to 42 feet (compared with the current 35-foot maximum) or have more residential units.

The intent is to create quality commercial space, Dotson said. Another positive is that it could conceivably encourage more affordable residential units. P&Z Chair Ben Bohmfalk notes that the existing code — which requires a developer to provide onsite parking spaces based on the number of units per lot area — doesn’t give a developer any option but to design a limited number of large luxury residences that end up being too costly for “normal” folks.

By offering incentives to build underground or paying cash in lieu of parking, a developer could have a higher number of smaller units. Furthermore, higher density in residential may have another side benefit for the town — if a development has more than five units, 20 percent officially become deed-restricted housing. Both scenarios lend themselves to providing more affordable options for residents, Bohmfalk

has said.

The change in zoning is intended to create a “vibrant” downtown that has a balance of thriving commercial/retail space and residential units, Bohmfalk explained.

According to Dotson, the HCC rezoning proposal is not “taking away” anything a developer has under today’s code. In fact, the changes would encourage a developer to consider alternative parking solutions and to meet standards for historical character and open spaces, he said.

“The incentives are intended to help create things people think will be good for downtown,” Dotson told the Sun. “This is a test balloon to see if this is the right thing to be doing at this particular point in time and for the future.”

Still, not all residents are convinced.

Loeb said she does not support changing the zoning and that development should be reviewed “step by step,” not with a blanket approach. She referenced the 2007 Community Survey that listed small town atmosphere, preservation of small town character, growth management, traffic and affordability as top concerns.

“We are going against this preservation of small town character,” Loeb said.

Nor have all P&Z members been convinced a change is needed. In March, Lorey Esquibel proposed the commission not make any changes to the code and consider development proposals through a PUD process. On May 14, Goudy expressed the same sentiment, saying: “I’m not sure we can over lay” new zoning requirements because each site is unique.

Jeff Dickinson and Bohmfalk described PUDs as “crap shoots,” though, and argued that it makes sense to apply broad zoning changes. Bohmfalk added that the commission is establishing ground rules that are in line with the comprehensive plan and setting forth regulations desired for a specific area of town.

The public hearing continues at the June 11 P&Z meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

The Next Step Meetings also televised on Channel 12 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 7 p.m. May 28 • Town Hall Continued public hearing on the Village at Crystal River (formerly the Marketplace), calling for 125,000 square feet of commercial, up to 300 multi-family residential units and a 60,000-square-foot grocery store on 24 acres along Highway 133, north of Main Street.

Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 7 p.m. June 11 • Town Hall Continued public hearing on the HCC rezoning (regarding parking, building heights, commercial and residential building standards in downtown).

Board of Trustees 6:30 p.m. June 9 • Town Hall Overlook Neighborhood — mixed use development with up to 220 residential units and 40,000 SF of commercial space on 12.29 acres north of Town Hall.

THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 3

Carbondale candidates compete for seat on Holy Cross board

By Jeremy Heiman If Carbondale resident Marshall Foote is elected to the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors, he aims to guide the rural energy cooperative to purchase more of its electricity from green sources.

Although the cooperative is a leader in investing in renewables, especially wind, Foote sees that Holy Cross is being overtaken by other utilities in the percentage of renewable energy purchased, and he says much more will need to be done in the near future.

But first he’s going to have to unseat Tom Turnbull, a well-known and respected incumbent.

Foote is one of two challengers running against incumbents for a seat on the board of Holy Cross, which provides electricity to approximately 55,000 customers in rural communities in central Colorado.

Turnbull, Foote and the other candidates on the June 5 ballot make it clear that inclusion of more renewable energy in the utility’s power portfolio is among the most important issues, along with the reliability and cheapness of electrical power.

Currently, about 13.5 percent of the cooperative’s power mix comes from renewable sources, said Stephan Casey, the company’s member services and marketing administrator, and the company’s internal goal is to be “20 percent green by 2015.”

Three seats are up for election. Foote is running against Turnbull, a Carbondale-

area rancher who is the current chairman of the Holy Cross board. Adam Palmer, an Eagle resident and building official, is looking to unseat Vail real estate agent George Lamb to represent the northern district.

The third seat is held by Hal Clarke of Aspen, who is running unopposed.

Foote owns and operates Colorado Poolscapes in Glenwood Springs. He is a Holy Cross customer both at home and at work.

Purchasing more energy from renewable sources is high on Foote’s to-do list at Holy Cross. With a new administration and Congress in Washington, Foote said, he expects to see changes in the relative cost of coal versus renewables. Coal, now subsidized, may soon be subject to a carbon tax.

Electricity from renewable sources currently is sold at premium prices, due to the expense of new infrastructure. “But, though it may be expensive in capital cost, we need to be thinking about renewables more,” he said.

Foote hopes to bring his business skills and experience into play as a director. He would push for cost savings in the office, reduced vehicle operation costs and reductions in field work costs, he said.

He encourages Holy Cross customers to get involved. “I want people to understand they can go the board meetings, and they can have a voice,” he said.

Foote and Turnbull are running to rep-

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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009

resent the district that encompasses Marble to Glenwood Springs.

Turnbull lives on Prince Creek Road, south of Carbondale.

“I think Holy Cross is a well-respected and admired co-op, Turnbull said. “There are about 1,000 rural electric co-ops in the U.S., and we’re one of the leaders.”

Turnbull said the company has bought renewable energy for its customers pretty much to the extent possible.

“As Public Service and Xcel have brought wind on line, we’ve participated as much as we could,” he said. In the meantime, Holy Cross has been researching other deals: biomass, solar, and methane vented from coal mines.

It has been a difficult proposition to try to fashion a deal for that vented methane, Turnbull said, because it’s not clear between the mine operators and the Bureau of Land Management who actually owns the resource.

As a rancher, Turnbull calls himself an environmentalist, and jokes that he has to be — he spends every day out in the environment.

“The carbon issue is a real issue, and I think Holy Cross has done a good job of addressing it, and will continue to,” he said.

But the task of the board, he said, is to seek a balance between purchase of renewable energy and making sure rate-payers are treated equitably, taking advantage of opportunity as it arises, on the renew-

able energy side, and at the same time, making sure the utility is reliable.

“People expect the lights to come on when they flip the switch,” Turnbull said.

Incumbent Lamb, who is being challenged by Palmer, has represented the northern district, which extends from Dotsero to Vail, since 1995. The program to buy wind power from Xcel Energy was developed in that period of time. Also on Lamb’s watch, he said, Holy Cross initiated rebates for customers who purchase appliances that are energy efficient.

“We’ve tried to be prudent in what we support,” Lamb said. The company has offered assistance in getting geothermal and cogeneration (producing both electrical energy and heat) projects started, he said.

Going forward, Lamb said, he would like to see further education efforts for members on how to conserve energy.

Palmer, also said to be a proponent of renewable energy, was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Holy Cross Energy is a nonprofit cooperative electric utility company, in which each customer is also a member with equity in the company. The board has seven directors, each serving three-year terms, offset so that some are elected each year.

Holy Cross customers can expect to receive ballots with their newsletter in the mail. Ballots should be returned in time for the company’s annual meeting, Friday, June 5.

Neighbors share more than property lines — animals, gardens tended by all

By Trina Ortega The warm spring sun rests softly on a large grassy field between Blue Creek and County Road 100 in eastern Carbondale.

Two sheep — bulked out and round under woolly winter coats — graze the dandelions on the north end of the property. A dozen or so chickens peck about in a penned-off area that also includes an earthen coop. Just beyond the coop are a few garden plots showing the healthy stalks of garlic and the neat rows of early vegetables.

This pastoral setting is not home to a longtime rancher who has raised animals his entire life. Rather, the 12 acres is owned by three families who shared a vision of living affordably off the land.

From west to east, the Coles live in the green straw bale house, the Lloyds in the barn-style home, and the Reeds in a yellow straw bale house. Their homes are adjacent to a common grassy area where animals and kids are free to roam.

That three families shared the farm and land “co-op” vision was not surprising. But resident Summer Cole calls it a miracle that three clans were prepared financially and mentally to make the move at the same time. Cole said that in 2005 they went to landowner and rancher Rex Kaufman.

They talked about their vision of raising their own food and living in a rural environment. “He loved the idea,” Cole said.

Chuck Cole (left) and Ron Lloyd shear the winter coat of one of the sheep at their shared property along County Road 100. Photo by Jane Bachrach Although one of the original families couldn’t follow through, another family was in the wait, ready to take a spot to own 4 of the 12 acres.

“It was just an amazing blessing that it all kind of came together for all three of us to buy,” she said.

Cole knew nothing about raising farm animals. The three families have shared their expertise and pooled resources when handling concerns.

It takes a great amount of communication and humility to sustain such a situation. “You have to have such grace with each other,” Cole said, when it comes to

Cluck cluck you are out of luck Brook Le Van of Sustainable Settings echoed Hyrup. “There’s a movement and I saw it coming,” he said. “We’re seeing more home gardens, more small-scale suburban gardens and they want chicks.”

Le Van said the demand for chickens was apparent when he spoke to hatcheries in December and was told the March hatches were already sold out. “That’s months ahead of when it usually is.”

Le Van said the minimum order from the hatcheries is 25 chicks and most families just want two or three, so he ordered two orders of 150 chicks to help them out.

As far as seed goes, he called the seed company in October to test the waters, see how seed sales were going and they told him that they’re up. When he called back in December the seed company said “Holy —— we’ve been hit!”

Le Van consequently sent out an email telling everybody to “order now” if they want to have a choice. It’s the small packet that the home grower uses, and according to Le Van, “We sell a lot of pea [seed].” (Vegetable jokes allowed.)

“The economy’s driving people to do this,” Le Van said. “What we’re trying to do at Sustainable Settings is teach people to re-skill, to understand how to work with livestock and work with food. If we want to build resilience we need to build a strong local agricultural infrastructure.”

Hyrup also believes the demand for

sharing and making decisions, including which animals to buy and share.

In addition to the sheep and chickens, the families are raising ducks and goats, as well as their domesticated dogs, cats and bunnies. They also currently have a couple dozen “meat” birds.

Three baskets line the walls of the earthen chicken coop. Depending on which family is on duty, the eggs are collected and distributed into the baskets, one for each family. Cole said during the warm months, when the hens are productive, there are plenty of eggs for each family.

The chickens range safely on the grounds

from page 1

chicks has increased because people want to get back to the land. “I think people want to get back to their roots and live like their grandparents did. They want to expose their kids.”

“Two 25-year-old ladies, they’re young moms, came in to get their chicks on separate days, and said the same thing: They want to get back to the way it used to be when things were simpler,” Hyrup explained.

“These families are building their own chicken coops and looked up on the Internet to learn how to build their own chicken houses.” When Hyrup asked each woman why she wanted to do it herself, they each said the same thing: “I want my chickens to have the best.”

Another young mom, Michelle Lloyd, happened to come pick up her chicks during this interview at Hyrups. “I always wanted to have chicks and we have a small family farm,” she said.

The Lloyd family has two kids and 10 chickens. She brought her two boys and their friend with her and they immediately picked out their favorites and named the new chicks Truman, Jessie and Bob. Chicken and vegetable garden co-ops also seem to be on the upswing. “Easter morning is the height of the laying season and ends when the light starts waning,” according to John Hoffmann’s theory.

The Carbondale trustee and his wife, Kim, raise chickens in Carbondale. They

under a mobile “roost,” picking at the grasshoppers and other insects in the grass.

But Cole said they do not solely live off the land. They’re working toward it, though, and have talked about purchasing a cow.

Cole’s second-grader, Hannah, pipes up: “No, I don’t want to kill cows.”

Harvesting five of their sheep last fall was “kind of a big deal with the kids,” Cole said, adding that Brook Le Van at Sustainable Settings taught them how to harvest the animals.

“It’s a hard thing to do and you realize that animal’s giving up its life for you.

It’s a good thing to know and to experience,” Cole said. Plus, it’s a huge lesson for children raised in a culture that is so removed from where its food comes from. Eggs aren’t produced in cartons, that Cellophane-wrapped meat was once an animal. Raising animals isn’t always clean, but it’s real.

The families have talked about a milk cow. With the responsibility shared between the three groups, it’s a realistic possibility. “The whole idea of three families sharing the animals, is we still have some flexibility to leave,” Cole explains.

“It’s just so satisfying to grow your own food. We’re eating really healthy eggs and these chickens, they have a really good life,” she said. “It’s just always been what I wanted for my children — for them to be able to go outside and be completely

Chicken Nuggets are the keepers of the coop and head honchos of a chicken co-op, comprised of five families.

“Ken Riley used to live here and he wanted chickens in the neighborhood in the early ’80s or late ’70s, Hoffmann said. Right now the co-op has 23 or 24 chickens.

“Ken did it ’cause he thought it would be cool,” he added. “They’re the best show in the neighborhood. Moms and kids love our chickens, everybody loves the chickens.”

“I used to be able to specify what I wanted [chickenwise], but this year I had to take what they had. I wasn’t able to get any Ameraucanas,” Kim said.

John added that different breeds lay different colored eggs. “Different breeds have different personalities,” he said.

“Chicks have their best friends and their enemies.” (Ummm… chick cliques?)

Bridget Strang of Missouri Heights is on the fence about having chickens.

Question: “Have you thought about getting chickens?”

“Yes,” Bridget replied.

“Recently?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Are you going to get them?” “ No.” “Why?” “They can go anywhere they want to but I don’t want them to —— in the barn,” she said.

No rotten eggs: If you put an egg in a bowl of water and it sinks, it’s fresh.

If it floats, it’s not.

Getting laid: A hen has to be 6 months old before she can lay an egg and after three years, she can no longer pop them out.

Light for life: Hens need light in order to lay eggs. They won’t lay until they have 17 hours a day of daylight or artificial light. Temperature is also a factor.

An egg a day: Hens will lay one egg a day at the height of the season and begin in March or April.

Sex isn’t necessary: Hens don’t need to breed to a rooster to lay eggs, unless you want fertile eggs.

Sittin’ pretty: Not all hens will sit on eggs. Only 10 percent of hens that weren’t raised in an incubator will sit on eggs.

Colored eggs: Different breeds of chickens lay different colored eggs.

••• Small livestock rule for the Town of Carbondale: Fowl-Number limitation. No chickens, turkeys, geese or other domestic fowl shall be kept in excess of six of all such fowl combined by any one household within the town limits. (Ord. 8-1972 § 1E: Ord. 1-1948 § 2).

Special thanks to Bill Teague and Mario Gustavo for sharing their chicken expertise THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 5

Community Briefs

Scuttlebutt

45th annual high school kayak race at CRMS

One Valley. One paper?

Wild Wheels Art Show, June 5

Multiple sources say that a BIG announcement will be coming from senior management at The Aspen Times and the Glenwood Post Independent about BIG changes in the near future for both papers. Sources inside Colorado Mountain News Media, the owner of both papers, have told Scuttlebutt that one idea under consideration is the creation of a "flippy," where Page One of the Times is on one side of the paper, then you flip it over and turn it upside down and the Post Independent's Page One is on the other side. Another option reportedly under consideration is the "One ValleyOne Paper" option, where the Times and the Post Independent are merged into a single paper. Perhaps the Aspen-Glenwood Springs Post Independent Times.

Hopefully the third option under consideration -- the preferred option -- is a "do nothing" alternative that leaves both papers intact. Scuttlebutt's sources declined to say which of the three alternatives would be implemented.

If it has wheels at all, you can “artfully decorate” and submit to CCAH for the first annual “Wild Wheels” show. Stop by the CCAH office and pick up your hubcap or pinewood derby car to decorate, and be a part of this eclectic presentation.

Take a moment to look around you and notice not only cars but wheel-dependent gadgets like lawnmowers, BBQ grills, wheelbarrows, wagons, scooters, skateboards, etc. You can also submit a painting or a photograph that showcases objects with wheels.

The show opens on June 5 and runs through the month of June. Please email Ro at ccah@sopris.net. We're waiting to hear from you with all of your creative ideas.

Saturday, May 9, was the 45th installment of the nation’s oldest high school kayak race, and it traditionally draws boaters statewide. This year's competition was open to the public for people who could competently negotiate Class II whitewater in a kayak or canoe. The 2009 Crystal River Race was small but successful, with many of the regular paddlers competing that day in Golden at the Junior Olympic Slalom Qualifier. Those who stayed behind raced Downriver only, and the top male finisher was Juan Pablo Alcocer and the top female finisher was Jessi Heitzman (both from CRMS).

Carbondale to get a fifth — liquor store, that is Two weeks after a vigorous batch of input from the public and other liquor store owners, the Carbondale Trustees had their own chance to sound off on an application for a new liquor store in the Cowen Center in Carbondale’s north end. In the end, the trustees voted 6-1 to give applicant Thomas Yerke their blessing, and sent their approval on to the State of Colorado.

The majority of the trustees expressed the sentiment that a fifth liquor store would not represent an undue concentration of stores in the town, and that the competition would be healthy. Trustee John Foulkrod, who opposed the application, cited the issues of drinking and driving and the cost of policing presented by another liquor store.

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Loan Review Committee To assist new & expanding Carbondale Businesses The Loan Review Committee will establish business loan criteria, develop the revolving loan fund application, review and award business loans to new or expanding businesses/organizations (for profit and nonprofit) in the Town of Carbondale. The Roaring Fork Business Resource Center will administer the loans; it is a regional nonprofit, working to assist businesses and to promote economic development.

Please submit letters of interest to: info@rfbrc.org Inquiries: 989-8987 Deadline to submit: May 28, 2009 6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009

Things can get sweeter . . .

If you and your honey want to plan something together, contact Sustainable Settings and find out when they are holding their next Small-Scale Organic Backyard Beekeeping class. Don’t get nervous and break into hives. You won’t get stung.

RFSD “Students of the Month” are from left: Katie Weimer, Diego Lopez, Maya Lindgren, Cesar Maciel.

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Rising to the challenge, 24/7 EMTs key part of medical response system

By Becky Young Until a person experiences an emergency, the ambulance speeding down the road with siren wailing is just another passing moment in a day. But when the rubber of life meets the road, the sound of the approaching siren represents a lifeline in some of the worst moments in life.

“When you need the ambulance crew, you really need them,” said Valley View Hospital emergency physician Michael Stahl, M.D. That need can arise in an instant from an automobile accident, a heart attack, a fall, a severe allergic reaction, a fire, a boating mishap. The range of incidents resulting in a 911 call is as varied as life itself.

In a small community, the first emergency responders are often friends and neighbors – the staff or volunteers with Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection.

They are ordinary people who possess life-saving skills that can save a life.

“They have really upgraded their skill set over the years. At one point, most had basic emergency medical training. Now, the crew has a number of full time paramedics,” Stahl, physician advisor for the Carbondale ambulance crew for 20 years, said.

The Carbondale Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team consists of 66 vol-

unteers and 19 paid staff.

The fire department boasts 51 members with at least EMT basic training.

Paid staff members are trained to the EMT intermediate level, at the least, spending hundreds of hours in classrooms, hospital delivery rooms, operating rooms and urban ambulance services.

Paramedics invest over 1,500 hours to gain all their skills and certifications.

The unpredictable “It’s amazing the things that happen,” says ambulance staffer Jake Spaulding.

“Last year we responded to 1,200 calls and every call is different: Someone is having a baby in a basement or a heart attack in a shower. A kayaker is in trouble,” he said.

“You never know when the call comes if you will run into a burning building, perform a swift water rescue, cut someone out of a car, or help an elderly person back into bed.”

While the hospital staff works in a sterile, well-equipped and controlled environment, “the field is not controlled one bit,” according to Spaulding. “And that’s where everything goes back to the training.”

“The huge element is the field,” says Tamar Mattarano, a 12-year volunteer.

“Traffic, unbalanced cars, people who

Crew members (left to right) Jake Spaulding, Ashley Anderson, Vonda Williams, Allan Ingram and Tamar Mattarano. Photo by Becky Young have driven into the river – there’s a lot to deal with out there and you have to use your head.”

A case in point is the recent rescue of a person experiencing a heart attack at Mushroom Rock, one of several destinations in the popular network of hiking and mountain biking trails on Red Hill above Carbondale. The crew reached the site by off-road vehicle, then hiking with backpacks of medical equipment.

After performing an electrocardiogram, the paramedics evacuated the patient to Valley View’s cardiac

catheterization facility. Logistics included clearing a helicopter landing site of brush, weighing other hazards for the helicopter crew and guiding them in.

“There were maybe 15 or 20 people there,” recalls Spaulding, “and everyone knew what to do.”

In their blood Mattarano believes “you have to have it in your heart, in your blood. When you hear the siren, you feel that’s where you have to be.”

EMS page 11

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351 MAIN STREET, CARBONDALE • 963-3553 THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 7

Ross students help town staffers green up Carbondale with trees

By Kayla Henley Sopris Sun intern “Who knows what kind of cottonwood tree this is?” one of the adults asked the 26 students from Christine Godfread’s first-, second- and third-grade class at Ross Montessori School (RMS). “It’s a narrow leaf cottonwood,” replied an adult. Chaperones and students gathered as Carbondale staffers Richard Moquin and Tony Coia discussed the eagle habitat at Bull Pasture Park.

The students’ assignment for the morning of May 5 was to plant cottonwood trees at designated spots (distinguished by blue flags) around the park. After a short briefing, the students divided into groups and scattered toward the flags with shovels and trees in hand. The students in each group took turns digging the holes, placing 2-foot trees in the ground and securing them with soil and mulch. Things rolled along smoothly, considering it was the first time town of Carbondale staff had ever planted trees with a group of students.

Tree plantings help re-establish native habitat, according to Moquin, parks foreman for the Carbondale Public Works Department. “Thirty to forty years down the road and these trees will be full grown,” he explained.

The students were motivated, and most groups planted two to three cottonwoods. Some of them even used their hands to dig the holes. “…because we couldn’t get a shovel,” explained Maeve Cassetty from Godfread’s class, as she and her friends continued to claw at the growing hole.

“It’s good for the kids to give back to the environment because we take so much … and to go beyond the four walls of the school,” Godfread said.

When the trees were planted and ready for watering, students Malia Brinson, Kate Oldham and Cassetty began marching across the park, triumphantly chanting: “Victor-y! Vic-tor-y!” for having collected all of the blue flags

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009

Aidan Sloan, left, and Dillon Leasure get busy with their shovels. Photo by Kayla Henley previously stationed at the elected spots for planting.

“I think this is great; teaching them how to care for the trees, birds and land,” stated Cassetty’s grandmother and chaperone Carlene Murphy. “It makes them have ownership and great awareness; I learn from them.”

Though she lives in California, Murphy visits frequently and noted that, as a child, she had never done anything like tree plantings in school.

Before regrouping to head back to school, some of the students discussed what the best part of the adventure had been. Most of them had favored digging the hole, especially, with their hands; others delighted in “seeing the little worms,” as Simone Lamont put it. And for Aidan Sloan, it was “getting my hands all dirty.” However, it was Cassetty who concluded that the best was “knowing that it can help the community.”

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Carbondale Middle School grows green at their campus

By Chris Van Leuven Community Correspondent It’s a typical Tuesday afternoon at Carbondale Middle School. Quinn Daily’s seventh-grade science class, a well-behaved group of 12 students, crowd around their nascent garden: three VW bus-sized planters framed with cinder blocks and wood, filled with dirt. The garden sits in close proximity to the batting cages near the outskirts of the school property.

“Today we’re planting our first seeds: swiss chard, kale, snow peas, sage. This is the first step,” Daily says with a hint of anticipation in his voice.

Next, Quinn provides his students with Gardening 101 tips. “First comes digging the rows for the seedlings, 18 inches space for each. Use the strings I gave you to measure the rows,” he tells the students.

“Then we can plant the seeds.”

A teacher at CMS for the last four years, Daily recently introduced the garden as part of the science curriculum, covering such topics as photosynthesis, the basic processes of life, and decomposition.

At 33, Daily embodies the archetypical Colorado mountain town relaxed demeanor. On that note, he uses the latest teaching approaches, such as his gardening blog (http://web.mac.com/quinndaily/iWeb/Life%20Science%20/Blog/Bl og.html), combined with a projector.

“If we take really good care of our gar-

Students in Quinn Daily’s seventh-grade class at Carbondale Middle School learn about science through some hands-on gardening at the school. Photo by Chris Van Leuven den” writes Dari on the blog, “we will be able to eat what we grow.” In addition to enhancing the academic curriculum, that’s exactly Daily’s goal: to serve his green fruition to students in the cafeteria. Then, he says, he hopes to teach the students about vegetable canning and saving food throughout the winter.

Daily’s students are in the garden as a reward — they are caught up with their work. He shares his hope of one day hav-

ing every student in the school contribute to the garden.

Daily sees a connection for the garden in every genre of academia: (a) social studies, the effects of interaction between humans and the physical systems; (b) reading and writing, using text and experience to make and verify predictions; (c) math, collecting and graphing data. For example, the nearby compost — a crucial element for achieving a healthy and productive

garden — is checked daily for its temperature (it heats up as it matures) and this data is subsequently gathered and logged.

In addition to the students’ recent springtime work, school volunteers prepared compost all winter. The pits consist of half dirt, twigs and half expired foodstuffs. Started in September, the compost soil has been tilled, when practical, throughout the winter and is now up 30 to 40 degrees from when it was started; core temperatures can climb to 100 degrees or higher.

“This compost thing is nasty,” says a student named Ana, “but Mr. Quinn says it makes good soil.”

With summer rapidly approaching, Quinn — who will be busy with his graduate studies — has arranged for summer school students and teacher volunteers to help tend the garden while school’s out.

Next semester he hopes to expand the garden into other classes. There are also plans to build a greenhouse in the coming years.

To help support the garden project, Daily obtained two grants from Donors Choose, which helped pay for a set of gardening tools and the two composters. In addition, the class has received hand tools from the Slow Food Movement.

To make a tax-deductable donation to the CMS garden, contact Quinn Daily at qdaily@rfsd.k12.co.us or 384-5722 or Nicki Zugschwerdt at 384-5704.

Valley View Hospital salutes the dedicated and skilled members of the Carbondale Ambulance crew.

We appreciate their life-saving and compassionate care to the people of their communities.

They are a vital link in providing emergency medical care.

We thank them for all they contribute.

NATIONAL EMS WEEK • MAY 17-23 THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 9

Nutrition an expression of ethics, values and personal integrity In the past few years there have been books on “emotional intelligence,” “spiritual intelligence” and other topics. But what about “nutritional intelligence?” To me, nutritional intelligence means eating as if you, your community, and your world matter. It means connecting the dots, and seeing the larger patterns at play in our world.

Basically, nutritional intelligence boils down to common sense; it means we treat our bodies, our community, and our planet with the respect and dignity they each deserve.

Nutrition is the sphere where we most intimately intersect with our world — its seasons, its soil, its climate, its values. We consume a lot when we eat. Knowingly or not, we into ingest paradigms and belief systems, along with

by Doug Margel our calories, nutrients and antioxidants. We “cast our vote” with our forks or chopsticks. Are we sanctioning agribusiness? Are we endorsing corporate fast food systems that are beholden to GMO-dependent models of agriculture? Are we standing up for the rights of small-scale farmers and gardeners who want to save their seeds and grow food as they see fit?

We all know the world is more interconnected, more wired together than ever before. And with this awareness inevitably comes an increasing responsibility. What

Journeys Health

we do matters, and ripples out in ways seen and unseen.

In this way, nutrition moves beyond the once simple act of self nourishment; instead it becomes at once an expression of our inner ethics, a statement of our beliefs and values, and an act of personal integrity.

The other aspect of nutritional intelligence, is, of course, nutrition itself — how we actually nourish ourselves. I think the best view, which I articulate in my book, The Nutrient-Dense Eating Plan, is to keep things simple. We don’t need PhDs in nutrition or biochemistry in order to understand how to eat healthfully. Again, it seems to boil down to common sense. (Which perhaps isn’t all that common after all.)

Over the years a steady parade of the “new” latest and greatest diets, etc. come and go, with the net effect of only adding to our cumulative collective confusion. So the question becomes: Are there any common nutritional themes? Are there any consensus positions on nutrition? Again, my view is that common sense (and a huge body of empirical evidence and experience) provides the obvious answers.

Quality matters! We know we need protein, carbohydrates and fats. The key to optimal nutrition is to eat quality protein, quality carbs, and quality lipids (fats and oils).

This means, simply, no added hormones (usually found in commercial meat and dairy), no exogenous pesticides (mainly found in imported and industrialized produce) and no highly processed fats. In my book I prioritize the biggest nutritional no-nos. In my view they are (not in any particular order): aspartame (Nu-

Voices

trasweet), hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and hormones.

To this list I would add: Don’t eat any seafood known to contain high levels of mercury; this means tuna (all kinds), swordfish and shark. I would also add to the list artificially colored foods.

But enough of the negatives. What should we eat?

Again, the consensus is clear: Eat a mostly vegetable (fresh produce) based diet, supplemented by whole grains, some quality protein (we don’t need as much as we have been conditioned to think by the protein industries) and some good fats — fish oils, flax seed oil and coconut oil are best. Personally, I tend to subscribe to a diet that emphasizes a lot of raw foods, but this is a personal choice. Again, what matters most is to get to know your own personal optimal style. For many, gluten is something to avoid. For others, dairy (lactose) is challenging.

Nutrient-dense eating means seeking out those foods that pack the highest (densest) concentrations of nutrients per calorie. Colorful fruits, sea vegetables, nuts and seeds, organic meats (buffalo, elk), and fresh produce all are highly nutrient dense, enjoyable foods. So are fresh herbs and spices, shitake mushrooms, dark chocolate and microbrew beers.

Bon appetite!

We “cast our vote” with our forks or chopsticks.

Doug Margel is a health educator, teacher, and the author of The Nutrient-Dense Eating Plan (Basic Health Publications, 2005), as well as numerous other publications. He resides in Marble and enjoys cooling off in the Crystal River all summer.

of

Why I Give “I give to Valley View Hospital because it is my kind of hospital. They truly want to make you feel better — not just cure you. They give phenomenal and thoroughly competent care that is full of love and dedication.”

Elle Gould CARBONDALE

Share your story. Share your gifts.

COME TAKE A TOUR OF THE HOSPITAL AND SEE FOR YOURSELF — 970.384.6620 10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009

Songwriter Rain Perry retells ‘wild child’ upbringing in song and photos Growing up in the 1960s, Rain Perry had the kind of childhood your grandparents warn you against. As a girl, she had to depend on a hippie dad with not enough money and too many girlfriends.

She shared houses with roommates with names such as “Superman” and “Bear,” wore hand-me-down clothes from other poor kids, ate rennet-less jack cheese sandwiches, and was told never to smoke pot — except with her dad.

Now, with characteristic good humor, she performs a theater show about her upbringing, having some fun with her hippie past, but also giving audiences a chance to hear in song (and see in photographs) exactly what it felt like — the joy and heartache — growing up a “wild child.”

Perry brings her show, “Cinderblock Bookshelves,” to Steve’s Guitars at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 22. “Cinderblock” is directed by Kim Maxwell and produced by Sasha Heslip, with rockabilly legend Danny B. Harvey moonlighting on guitar.

A night of theater is unusual for Steve’s Guitar’s, which recently celebrated its 369th consecutive Friday night concert. But Perry’s tale of the long, strange trip that made her an independent folk songwriter/mom will fit right into that intimate space. One of the play’s songs,

“Eliza on the Car Tour,” concerns an artist familiar to Steve’s audience: Eliza Gilkyson.

Perry’s funny and heartrending tale of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll (OK, folkrock) has received rave reviews. “Ms. Perry keeps us empathetically tuned in, through humor, her engaging way with a song and the smart theatrical structuring of her piece,” states Santa Barbara NewsPress. And the Ventura County Star writes: “Warm, deep and brave, Rain Perry is someone you won’t regret getting to know, if only for 90 minutes of her fascinating life.”

“Cinderblock Bookshelves” is a threepart piece: the play, an upcoming book, and a full-length album. About the album, Performing Songwriter enthused: “Artists who mine a cross-pollination of rock, country and folk aren’t uncommon these days, but few do it as deftly as Rain Perry.” The Los Angeles Daily News gave the album four stars, and said, “This is confessional folk-rock at its best: wise, specific, sometimes harrowing, funny in places, smart about personal mistakes and truly grateful to those who made her the fine artist she is.” And Vintage Guitar Magazine concluded, “Perry’s guileless lyrics and infectious melodies remind one

of Dar Williams’ best work.”

Tickets for the show are $15 and available at the door. For more information, call Steve’s Guitars at 963-3304 or visit stevesguitars.net. For more information on Perry, visit rainperry.com.

Rain Perry tells of how she became a folk singer/songwriter at 8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 22, at Steve’s Guitars.

National EMS Week, May 17-23 from page 7 Volunteer Ashley Anderson adds, “I like to be the one who can help, the one who knows what to do to bring some order to a situation.”

“And it’s a huge adrenaline rush,” Spaulding admits. The work is undeniably satisfying. “You can save someone and see him in the grocery store the next week and know that you made a difference in his life. The care we give people can determine the outcome.”

The mission also takes its toll. “Everyone has their own coping mechanisms to deal with some of the tragic things we see,” says Ingram. “And we help each other through those times.” The department also provides critical incident stress

debriefing to help responders process the hard experiences.

“There are so many husbands and wives having to listen to the constant presence of the radio, having Christmas and Thanksgiving interrupted by emergency calls,” Spaulding said. “Those people are with us on every call, worrying for our safety. Sometimes responders don’t come home. We have experienced close calls.”

For many people in the community, an ambulance call has made an unforgettable impact on their lives.

“We appreciate the emergency crews,” says Dr. Stahl. “Everyone in the community should appreciate them, too.”

Craig Rathbun, President of the Fleisher Company, announced that The Fleisher Company has merged its residential division FLEISHER HOME with THE POLLARD TEAM & ASSOCIATES, headed by Wayne Pollard. The residential division has been renamed FLEISHER LAND & HOMES. This merger creates an office in Rifle, Colorado that will house commercial agents of The Fleisher Company with twelve residential brokers as part of Fleisher Land & Homes. "The Pollard Team formerly with Coldwell Banker Western Land & Homes was one of the most productive residential real estate firms in the Glenwood Springs Board of Realtors in 2007 and 2008. We knew they were the firm we wanted with us", stated Rathbun.

The Fleisher Company has expanded from three brokers and four support staff in one small office located in Aspen at the end of 2001, when Rathbun purchased The Fleisher Company, to fifty brokers, twenty support staff, with four separate divisions, brokerage, maintenance, property management and development services, spread across four offices from Aspen to Rifle today.

"The Fleisher Company has been active on the Western Slope for 34 years and continues to grow even during this recession because they are the best at what they do", stated Wayne Pollard. “That's why we chose to join them."

The Fleisher Company is a full service real estate firm offering commercial and residential sales, leasing, property management, maintenance and development services.

For more information, contact Craig Rathbun at 704-1515, Ext 101.

˹Aspen ˹Basalt ˹Carbondale ˹Rifle •Real Estate Sales, Leasing, Development, Management, Maintenance 970.704.1515 www.thefleishercompany.com

THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 11

Community Calendar To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com.

Deadline is 5 p.m. Fridays. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

THURSDAY, May 21 CALL FOR ARTISTS • Stop by the

CCAH office and pick up a hubcap or pinewood derby car to decorate for the first “Wild Wheels” show. Decorate anything with wheels — art cars, lawnmowers, BBQ grills, wheelbarrows, wagons, scooters, skateboards, etc. Or submit a painting or photograph that contains wheels. The show opens June 5.

Email Ro at ccah@sopris.net for details.

COMMUNITY QUILT • In the spirit of this year’s Mountain Fair theme, Localmotion, CCAH is creating a Carbondale quilt. Stop by CCAH at 645 Main St. and pick up a precut quilt square. Use fabric paint, traditional quilting methods or other creative means to depict “What Carbondale Means to You.” Squares are due back at CCAH by July 15.

RED HILL WORK DAYS • Roaring Fork

Outdoor Volunteers will conduct regular trail work evenings on Thursday at Red Hill. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Red Hill Trailhead, Highways 82 and 133.

RFOV supplies snacks, drinks, tools, instruction. Bring water, work gloves, rain gear. For more info, visit www.rfov.org or call 927-8241.

BOOK SIGNING • Local historian Dar-

rell Munsell will present a lecture about his newest book, From Redstone to Ludlow: John Cleveland Osgood’s Struggle Against the United Mine Workers of America at the Gordon Cooper Branch Library. The lecture will be at 6:30 p.m.

May 21. Book signing to follow. Free and open to the public, with light refreshments served. Call 963-2889 for details.

MUSIC CLASS • Carbondale Council on

FRIDAY, May 22 HEALTH SCREENINGS • Mountain

Family Health Center conducts free health screenings throughout the region in May. Contact Sharla Gallegos at 6183159 for more information and the full schedule. Upcoming screenings are: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22, Rifle Public Library; 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 26, Gordon Cooper Library; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 27, Aspen Community Health Services; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29, Rite Aid, Glenwood Springs.

Arts and Humanities will offer a prep course, “Bach to Beethoven,” for the upcoming Aspen Music Festival. The course will be led by Heidi Lord, and topics include music composition and theory, how to choose concerts, how to listen to classical music, and more. The series begins at 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the River Valley Ranch Barn. The class is ongoing every Thursday for four weeks.

Space is limited; call 963-1680 to reserve a spot. Tuition (includes the concert admission) is $95 for CCAH members and $135 for non-members.

MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre shows “Earth” (G) at 8 p.m. May 22-28. Also Showing Sun & Mon, May 24 & 25 at 6 p.m. “Sunshine Cleaning” (R).

LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars presents

ONE-WOMAN PLAY • Songwriter Rain

singer/songwriter Seth Walker singing traditional blues with a New Orleans flair. Opening act is Justin Gordon. Show begins at 8 p.m. May 21. For more about the artists, visit www.sethwalker.com and www.myspace.com/justingordonmusic.

Perry will perform “Cinderblock Bookshelves” at 8:30 p.m. May 22 at Steve’s Guitars. Directed by Kim Maxwell and produced by Sasha Heslip, with rockabilly legend Danny B. Harvey moonlighting on guitar, the show is about

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MEETING • In an ongoing series of meetings to plan improvements between West Maroon Creek and the AABC, the public is invited to join interested citizens and planners at the North 40 Fire Station at noon May 21 to discuss transportation and pedestrian concerns at the AABC, Aspen.

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Perry’s life growing up a “wild child.”

FRIDAY, May 22 GRADUATION • More than a dozen

seniors at Bridges High School celebrate graduation at 4 p.m. May 22 at Sunlight Mountain Resort.

SATURDAY, May 23 LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars presents Hickory Project performing live at 8:30 p.m. May 23 at 19 N. Fourth St. Visit www.stevesguitars.net for more details.

GRADUATION • Roaring Fork High

School school Class of 2009 begins Commencement ceremonies at RFHS, 10:00 a.m.

SUNDAY, May 24 BLUEGRASS NIGHT • Dos Gringos

Burritos holds Family Bluegrass Night every Sunday. Kids are welcome to this Sunday night jam, beginning at 5 p.m. with kids’ meal special deals and sidewalk chalk for additional entertainment.

MONDAY, May 25

MEMORIAL DAY • Contact the American Legion, Post 100, at 963-2381, for information about annual ceremonies.

El Jebel. Slow Money investigates a strategy for investing in local food systems, and introduces a group of fiduciary activists who are exploring what should come after industrial finance and industrial agriculture. $5 donation. For more information, call 963-6107 and visit www.slowmoneyalliance.org.

WEDNESDAY, May 27 BIRDING WALK • Join local bird experts

from the community and do some early morning birding at 7 a.m. May 27 at Wilton Jaffee Park in Woody Creek. Walk is free and open to the public. Space is limited; registration required. Sponsored

by Pitkin County Open Space & Trails and Roaring Fork Conservancy. Register at www.roaringfork.org/events or by calling 927-1290.

LIBRARIES CLOSED • All six branches of Garfield County Public Library District will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The libraries resume normal hours at 10 a.m. May 26.

PIZZA TUNES • White House Pizza

TUESDAY, May 26

THURSDAY, May 28

TRUSTEES MEETING • The Carbon-

TRAILS MEETING • The Trails Com-

dale Board of Trustees meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month,6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

mittee holds its regular monthly meeting at 8 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Town Hall.

‘SLOW MONEY’ TALK • Sustainable Settings presents Slow Money: an Evening with Wood Tasch, who will speak and sign his 2008 book, Inquiries Into the Nature of Slow Money, from 79 p.m. May 26 at the El Jebel Community Center, 0020 Eagle County Drive,

DITCH TOUR • Join Carbondale Water Department staff at 5:30 p.m. at Town Hall for a bicycle to tour Carbondale’s ditch system. Helmets are required.

Space is limited and registration is required at www.roaringfork.org/events or by calling 927-1290.

presents Todd Lorenz, playing a mishmash of blues, folk and rock from 7-10 p.m. every Wednesday.

FRIDAY, May 30

TUESDAY, June 2

CLAY CENTER FUNDRAISER • La Dolce Vita, formerly Cajun Clay Night will begin at 5 p.m. at the grounds of the Carbondale Clay Center, 135 Main St. Italian feast, Kids Fair, street dance with Acoustic Mayhem, silent auction. Adult ticket buyers receive one of the handmade cups designed by local ceramic artists. Pre-sale, discounted tickets are available through May 29 by calling 9632529. Tickets also available at the door.

TEENS MEET • All teens (grades 7-12) are encouraged to join the Gordon Cooper Library staff at 4:30 p.m. June 2 in the conference room for snacks and a discussion about what they would like to see at the library. Assist with choosing movies, books, music, graphic novels, and programs. For more information, call 963-2889.

LIVE COMEDY • A Live Standup Com-

THIRD STREET MEETING • Third Street Center holds monthly Brown Bag Lunch the first Thursday of the month.

Location is 520 S. Third St. For general inquiries, call Sara Plesset, Land + Shelter, 963-0201.

edy show will take place May 30 at Steve’s Guitars, 19 N. Fourth St. For more information, visit www.stevesguitars.com or call 963-3304.

May 30-31 ‘LITTLE MERMAID’ • Crystal River

Ballet School, located at 826 Highway 133, Unit A, under the direction of Jeni Ptacek, presents its annual spring concert: “The Little Mermaid.” The show is at 7 p.m. May 30 and at 2 p.m. May 31 at Carbondale Middle School, 180 Snowmass Drive. Tickets on sale at the door only; $20 adults, $15 students and seniors over age 65, ages 3 and under are free. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Carbondale Skate Park for kidfriendly additions. The lead role of the little mermaid will be danced by Roaring Fork High School senior Cheyene Johnson. Ursula is RFHS sophomore Sarah Ptacek. For more information, contact the studio at 704-0114 or online at http://crystalriverballet.com.

THURSDAY, June 4

RODEO BEGINS •he Carbondale Wild

West Rodeo returns to Carbondale for its seventh season on June 4 for a 12-week series that runs until August 20. Events are at the Gus Darien Arena on County Road 100.

June 4-6 FRINGE FESTIVAL • The premiere of

The Aspen Fringe Festival and the return of the Pegasus Repertory Theatre will be June 4-6 at the Black Box Theatre in Aspen. Event includes the award-winning play “Almost Maine” by John Cariani and “I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from Rwanda” by Sonja Linden. For tickets, go to www.aspenshowtickets.com or call 920-5770.

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THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 13

Comprehensive programs that focus on individual best for at-risk youth

By Evan Zislis It is increasingly difficult to deny a tangible presence of gangs in and around the Roaring Fork Valley. Francisco Gallardo, program director for Denver’s Gang Rescue and Support Project (GRASP), confirms undeniable gang activity between Grand Junction and Denver. With growing concerns among local law enforcement, school officials, direct service providers and parents, YouthZone’s strength-based approach hopes to have an influence on the community response.

YouthZone, Garfield County Probation and the Collaborative Management Project of Garfield County recently hosted a well-attended seminar presented

by GRASP and the Metro Denver Gang Coalition on what can only be described as Gang 101 – the basics. Seminar facilitators work full time to entice Denverbased gang members to trade their criminal lifestyles for a more sustainable future, emphasizing education and em-

ployment. Former gang members themselves, their two-day workshop was both graphic and compelling. Their strategies focus on luring at-risk youth away from gangs using community-based support groups, which they report are far more effective than the threat of going to jail.

Colorado’s Division of Youth Corrections reports that more than 37 percent of youth discharged from lock up receive a new felony or misdemeanor within one year of release. YouthZone’s researchbased programs and services are designed to reduce rates of recidivism and promote behavioral changes while keeping offending youth out of the system (when appropriate). Compare the cost of one youth for one year in DYC (over $79,000) with about $1,000 per juvenile offender for a six-month program at YouthZone. When you look at a success rate of over 75 percent, (that is to say that three out of four young people who complete a program with YouthZone never

re-offend), it’s hard to understand why organizations like YouthZone are not more available to meet the needs of atrisk youth.

So, why does it work? The “YouthZone Model� looks at every youth as an individual, not as a behavior or series of criminal acts. After assessing each youth’s unique circumstances and subsequent needs, YouthZone’s staff of experienced youth and family specialists design a comprehensive program specifically tailored to change behavior, encourage growth and a fundamental reconnection with family and community. This work simply can not be accomplished effectively within the confines of a corrections facility.

Young people who flirt with gangs are desperate for a feeling of connectivity with a family support group. YouthZone’s programs are designed to help provide families with the tools they need to establish those connections that create the enduring relationships young people

Letters continued from page 2 Main. And of course, thanks to all the teachers and schools who participated this year. It’s great to see the schools working together to celebrate the kids of Carbondale. Great job, everybody!

Ami Maes Carbondale Middle School

Carbondale Food Co-op needs you Dear Editor: The Carbodale Community Food Co-op wants to thank the many people who came out this past weekend for our membership drive, and especially to those who joined the co-op by purchasing a membership share in the business. Unlike most community-owned businesses which sell a sufficient number of shares to raise start-up capital prior to opening, the CCFC was offered a large loan to open ASAP in order to fill the need for a mid-valley community-owned natural food store. Our first year has been very successful in providing wholesome, organic, local foods to the public at large, and it’s now time for that same public to step up to the plate and purchase a share in the business to enable us to survive, thrive and expand to better meet your needs.

Many thanks also to Eco-Performance, Akaljit, Pixie Byrne, True Nature, Tanya, Doug Margel, Rock Bottom Ranch, L’Hostaria Restaurant, RFTA, and Valerie Kelly for their donations of goods and services for our membership weekend prize drawings. And gratitude goes out to all working members who volunteer their time in the store, which, incidentally, earns them greater discounts on all purchases.

Come by the co-op at 559 Main St., Carbondale, and check out our wonderful array of wholesome local

foods, as well as household goods, personal care products and nutritional supplements. Ask about the many benefits of membership and please consider supporting the co-op by purchasing a share in this communityowned business. Everyone can shop at the co-op, but members get greater benefits!

Appreciatively, Laurie Loeb CCFC Board of Directors

Seal it with a kiss Dear Editor: Greetings to Carbondale from afar. As many of you know, Jane and I now reside in Costa Rica. We live in a very small pueblo, about 5 miles from any real “town.�

Pueblo Nuevo has about 100 residents, along with a oneroom school house. These kids have little and want less.

I am not writing for any handouts, just wondering if there might be a Spanish or bilingual class with kids in the age of 5-11 years old that might want to start up a “dialogue,� like pen pals of the old days. They speak no English, so Spanish is important. I would volunteer to make sure mail is received and sent back. Unfortunately, even though the kids “in town� have computers, those out in the “campo� get little, so no email would be possible.

If you are a teacher or might know of a class that might want to participate, I think these young Ticos would welcome the chance to communicate with North American kids. You can contact me at mrlee@email.com.

Gracias, Lee Swidler Pueblo Nuevo Costa Rica

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If you know someone at risk of becoming caught up in the gangster lifestyle, YouthZone can make a lasting difference. For parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, neighbors, and friends, by preventatively referring at-risk youth to YouthZone, you help provide the most appropriate interventions before kids commit crime, become involved with drugs and alcohol or take on the delinquent persona of clichĂŠ gang-bangers.

Through parent coaching, teen discussion groups, drug and alcohol classes, and a variety of other prevention-based programs, YouthZone is the best first call for at-risk youth.

Evan Zislis is YouthZone’s division manager for Aspen-Carbondale. For more information on YouthZone’s strengthbased programs or to learn how you can get involved, contact YouthZone at 9459300 or visit www.youthzone.com.

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Sports Rams place in top 10 at state A trio of Roaring Fork High School seniors placed in the top 10 at the State Track Meet held May 14-16 in Lakewood.

The top performers were Tyler Thompson, who took first in the long jump and the triple jump; Jon Araujo, who took third in the discus; and Bryan Salinas, who took fourth in the 300 hurdles.

Taylor and Zach Browning, along with Thompson and Salinas, qualified for the 4x100 relay, but the team had an exchange error in the preliminaries and did not make it to finals.

Coach Hadley Hentschel said he was impressed with how well the guys han-

dled the state competition. But it was an extension of how they performed and helped their younger track mates during the 2009 season.

Hentschel noted that the track team more than doubled in size from past years. With 20 participants, the RFHS crew will enter the 2010 season strong. “Overall, there was a ton of growth in every athlete,� Hentschel said. “We’re losing some key seniors, but I feel really comfortable going into next year with our other students.�

Read more about what it took for the three seniors to make it to state in a profile in next week’s Sun.

CRMS freshman achieves black belt This past March, after years of dedication and commitment from student and teacher alike, Colorado Rocky Mountain School freshman Alex Henderson passed his grueling black-belt test in front of nine judges from all over the western United States.

Henderson was born and raised in Glenwood Springs and became a black belt in karate at age 14. He has trained with Brian Mable, an eighth-degree black belt, of the Brian Mable Karate School in Glenwood Springs, since second grade.

The style of karate that Mable teaches is Tang Soo Do, which translates to the “art of the knife hand.� Earning a Tang Soo Do black belt is much more than simply passing a test; it is something you “become.� It signifies that one has reached the end of the beginning, mastering the basic skills but on an expert level. It typically takes anywhere from four to eight years of training, dedication, and patience to achieve the coveted black belt, depending on age and commitment level. “For every 10,000 students who start a karate program, only 1 percent will achieve a black belt,� explains Mable.

In addition to attending karate classes three times per week, Henderson also participates in Tang Soo Do seminars in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada and has competed at karate tournaments in Montrose, Eagle, and Vail, winning many state championship awards throughout the years. “Training with Mable has given Henderson maturity, focus, discipline, and respect; enabling him to juggle his busy

CRMS freshman Alex Henderson — pictured with trainer Brian Mable — recently passed his black belt test in front of nine judges from all over the United States. Sumitted photo schedule (karate training, playing soccer, acting in school plays, student council, and taking music lessons) while maintaining his honor-roll status in school,� states a press release.

After becoming a black belt, Henderson qualified to attend the United Sates Karate Alliance (USKA) National Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., this past April. During the three-day event, Alex participated in five different events, including taking first place in Koshiki (fullcontact sparring), making him a national champion and qualifying him for the USKA 2009 World Championships in New Orleans this summer.

Henderson attributes his success to the ongoing commitment and support from Mable and from his parents, Susan and Tom Henderson.

Run for Thunder River

Free fishing June 6-7

The stage is set for the Thunder River Theater’s 5 K run/walk in Carbondale June 6. A dramatic 5 K run/walk follows a scenic course along the Rio Grande Trail. The race curtain rises at 8 a.m.

Proceeds benefit Thunder River Theatre Company’s youth programs. A raffle of donated items from local businesses will be held after the race.

There will also be prizes in age groups and for the Best Costume category.

For more information, visit www.thunderrivertheatre.com.

Colorado residents and visitors will have the opportunity to fish without a license on June 6-7 as part of “Colorado’s Free Fishing Days.� The free fishing days are set aside each year for the first full weekend in June as part of ongoing efforts by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) to introduce people to the sport of fishing.

For more information on state fishing regulations, the 2009 Colorado Fishing Brochure is available online at http://wildlife.state

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THE SOPRIS SUN • MAY 21, 2009 • 15

The Sun has risen Through the efforts of a hardworking staff and a small group of dedicated volunteers, The Sopris Sun has published 14 issues this year covering the news and people of Carbondale.

The Sopris Sun is a new model of community journalism.

Communication and community-building are its sole missions.

It is a nonprofit newspaper – a new structure for newspapers in America.

All of the revenues generated through ad sales and donations will be used to improve the paper and its connections to the community.

Eventually, we imagine scholarships, writing workshops and community awareness projects as part of The Sopris Sun's annual contribution to Carbondale.

But in order for The Sopris Sun to succeed, it needs the community’s support. We are grateful to those businesses who have supported us through advertising, even in slow economic times.

And thank you to all who have contributed money and labor to bring this publication to Carbondale every week.

If YOU believe in community news ... in knowing what's happening at Town Hall... in learning about the latest from our schools ... in what's on tap at Steve's Guitars or Mountain Fair ... in the latest thoughts of your letter-writing neighbors, then please show your support with a donation.

The Sopris Sun is organized under the nonprofit Roaring Fork Community Development Corp., so your contributions are tax deductible.

Contributions to the Sopris Sun can be made care of Roaring ForkCommunity Development Corporation, PO Box 1582, Carbondale, CO 81623

Sopris Sun THE