2009 03 26

Sopris Sun THE

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 7 • March 26, 2009

Bovine T Babies

By Trina Ortega

Calving season is just one job that keeps cattle ranchers busy yearround

Mark Nieslanik bottle feeds one of his calves that he is raising on the Tybar ranch. Photo by Carol Craven

he late Carbondale rancher David Danciger, who started the Tybar Angus Ranch with wife Emma, was known for saying that “as long as God’s willing and the sun’s shining, we’ll raise cattle.”

The Dancigers have been in the cattle business for almost 60 years now.

Raising cattle is not a 9-to-5 job, especially during the spring when calving season gets underway.

“We’re pushing 500 calves” in a matter of 60 days, according to assistant ranch manager Mike Goscha.

Ranchers and ranch hands must be ready to help with medical care, getting calves to their feet, nursing, bottle feeding, moving calves into a shared pen, or tagging the animals.

“When you’re working with live animals, you have to have someone on 24 hours a day,” said ranch manager Mark Nieslanik, who has been with Tybar since he was a sophomore in college.

“It’s not like a bank job where at 5 o’clock you shut off the lights and lock the door. You might get a call at midnight and need to get a cow out of the middle of the road, clear a ditch, do a C-section…” Goscha said, “who knows what it might entail.”

Yet these guys wouldn’t have it any other way — it’s what keeps them sane.

Wearing many hats

Calving at the Tybar began at the end of January. About 440 calves have been born as of this week. About 60 cows, with their underbellies hanging low and udders full, were left to calve.

Because Tybar is a breeding operation, calving begins earlier than average so the ranch can cycle into its artificial insemination season in April. But other ranchers in the area are in the thick of calving season right now, too, as bovine babies commonly start making their way into the world around the first of March.

There’s also the other duties of raising cattle — herding, caring for sick animals, tending the land, repairing fences, transporting cattle to sales around the state, cultivating hay, organizing junior programs, research and testing of the bovines, herding, attending Angus association meetings, marketing, and office work.

“We have to wear a lot of hats,” said Nieslanik, who resides on the ranch. Although Nieslanik’s favorite part of the job is being outside with the cattle, he estimates that 50 percent of his time is spent on marketing and public relations, including educating the public about agriculture’s contribution toward land conservation.

“People who work at the Tybar have to love it,” said Emma Danciger.

Nieslanik, the son of longtime valley rancher John Nieslanik, has been with Tybar since its Carbondale beginnings. Goscha has been with the ranch about 20 years, when he was just a “sprout,” Emma Danciger said.

CALVING SEASON page 5

Carbondale Commentary Main Street... open or closed?

The Carbondale Town Trustees appear ready to cut back on our town’s long tradition of using the public right of way for the kind of public events that draw people to town from all over the state, the nation and the world.

Carbondale Clay Center had to fight hard to secure permission from the trustees to use Main Street for its annual spring fundraiser. For several years, the clay center has, with approval from the town, closed Main from Snowmass to Second Street for an afternoon and evening for its spring fling, which includes dinner and music.

It’s one of the many events that make Carbondale shine.

Last week, the town staff recommended that the trustees bar all but one of the summer special events from using Main Street after “a couple of local business owners” told them that their businesses have been hurt by the practice.

Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Jackel refused to reveal the names of the business owners who want to turn off the party spigot.

We agree that the town needs to be selective about closing Main Street for events.

But there are problems with this recommendation, and the trustees need to be cautious in how they proceed.

First, we don’t actually know if there is more than one business complaining.

Only the owner of Russett’s Restaurant, located on Main Street between Second and Third, has said anything publicly. Sue Van Horton says her business has been hurt by access and parking problems that come with the street closures. She raises a valid issue, one that should be debated openly with event organizers, business owners of all stripes and citizens at large.

The trustees need to base their decision on more than the complaints of one business owner and “a couple” of unnamed business owners.

One also has to wonder if the timing of this discussion is the result of fatigue leftover from all that construction on Main Street last year. The work went slowly, caused quite a bit of inconvenience, and may have affected people’s decisions about dining and shopping.

But the work is done, and Main is as pedestrian friendly as it’s ever been. If the successful First Fridays in February and March are any hint – with practically everybody in town and half of Basalt out and about – then the improvements will pay off for both businesses and special event organizers.

Our various festivals, fundraisers and special events bring out the community and welcome visitors out for a fun and generally safe time. Carbondale has a national reputation as one of the most vibrant and interesting small towns in America. Our parades and festivals and nonprofits are a big part of the reason behind that reputation.

In these very uncertain economic times, Carbondale’s trustees need to think carefully before they change the way we, as a community, use our public spaces – including our public rights of way – to honor and celebrate and support the things that are important to us.

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Editor: Trina Ortega • news@soprissun.com Reporter: Jeremy Heiman Page Production: Terri Ritchie Ad production: Barbara New Design/Production: Rebecca Young 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 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 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.

Library patrons help LIFT-UP Dear Editor: The Garfield County Public Library District would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Food for Fines program. During the month of February the library district collected nonperishable food items in lieu of library card fines. This program was initiated last year to both clear up fines and help the community by collecting food for LIFTUP. We were pleased to collect over 990 items throughout Garfield County last year. This year we hoped to increase that number because, as we all know, food banks are being stretched thin these days.

Well, this fine community far surpassed our expectations and donated 2,386 items this February! All this food was then passed to the LIFT-UP organizations from Carbondale to Parachute.

It is a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful community. Thank you for supporting your libraries and helping others with the simple gift of food.

Emily Hisel Outreach Coordinator Garfield County Public Library District

Thanks to Carbondale listeners Dear Editor: On behalf of the staff, volunteers and board of directors of Aspen Public Radio, thank you for your generous support during our winter pledge drive. We are so pleased to report that we were able to reach our goal because of the individuals and businesses who contributed towards the continuation of the news, music and insight you hear every day on Aspen Public Radio. Given the economic news of late, we are even more grateful to have such an enthusiastic and engaged base of public radio listeners here in Carbondale. Thank you for keeping public radio local, independent and viable during these difficult times.

Yours, Andrew Todd Executive Director Aspen Public Radio

Coaches make program successful Dear Editor, The Carbondale Recreation Department would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the coaches who volunteered to coach in our youth basketball program. Your patience, guidance and commitment made our program a huge success. Over the course of the 10-week program, the youths who participated improved 100 percent. These are our future Roaring Fork Rams. Thank you,

Dave Weimer, Celeste Comings, Wendy Hayden, Todd Manzaneras, Frank Hagemann, Stacy Boldock, Dan Hardin, Travis Peterson, TJ Joiner, Richard Carney and Brad Thompson. Also, thanks to the referees, who keep the games running smoothly, Jason Phillips, Mark Venzke, Ruby Honan, Jason Thraen, Celeste Comings, Debbie Ottaviano, Matt Kraemer, and Jake Strack Loertscher. I am looking forward to next season.

Sincerely, Chris Loertscher Recreation Coordinator Carbondale Rec. Dept.

Protect Our Wildlife

Dear Editor: Regarding the closure of the Rio Grande Trail east of Catherine’s Store bridge: One of the issues RFTA seeks public comment on is that of increasing wildlife monitoring. This could be very beneficial to wildlife if RFTA would actually use the information gathered to benefit the wildlife. RFTA’s Adaptive Wildlife Management Plan was theoretically designed specifically to accept such feedback and increase closures as necessary to protect wildlife. Thus far, RFTA has committed about $250,000 to wildlife monitoring and another $40,000 to vegetative screening to protect the heronry, and then chose not to accept the recommendations of the wildlife monitoring or even wait until their vegetative screening leafed out in the spring so that it might actually benefit the herons. All they need to do to realize the benefits of these expenses is to follow the advice of their wildlife biologist, which is consistent with the recommendations of the Division of Wildlife, the Audubon Society, and virtually every other expert involved and requires only that the trail remain closed an extra month for a year or two allowing the herons to habituate to the traffic.

Unfortuantely, several RFTA board members become instant experts whenever the real experts’ advice fails to further their goal of year-round recreational use of this wildlife habitat. They try every sort of maneuvering to try to reverse their wildlife biologist’s recommendations and, failing miserably, still manage to come up with their own findings, which somehow always favor recreation over wildlife. At this last meeting, this group found “no compelling reason” to change wildlife closures. If the recommendations of all experts to increase closures, and the abandonment of our valleys largest heronry aren’t “compelling reasons” for change, I’d like to know just what would LETTERS page 14

Taking on the pine beetle epidemic, one tree at a time

By Jeremy Heiman John Bennett, former four-term mayor of Aspen, has picked a big fight with a very small opponent.

Bennett has helped form an organization called For the Forest to take on the mountain pine beetle, the tiny insect decimating pine forests throughout the American and Canadian West.

In Colorado, more than 2 million acres of forests have been killed off by the beetle. In British Columbia, more than 50,000 square miles of forest have perished.

Bennett will join microbiologist William Murray and filmmaker Greg Poschman this weekend at the Thunder River Theatre to discuss the global and local implications of the mountain pine beetle and what we can do in our own backyard. Poschman will also show his short film, “A Call to Action,” about the pine beetle epidemic As executive director of For the Forest, Bennett’s eventual goal is to work on forest management issues nationwide, but for now, his efforts are concentrated on the Roaring Fork Valley and the pine beetle condition.

Beetle infesting the Roaring Fork Much of the forest in the Roaring Fork drainage is populated with aspen, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, but large stands of lodgepole pines in the Fryingpan valley and in the upper Roaring Fork drainage are vulnerable to the beetle.

Large swaths of lodgepole pines are already dying on the slopes of Mt. Sopris.

Smuggler Mountain, one of Aspen’s most popular hiking areas, faces the same fate as beetle-ravaged forests in Eagle, Summit and Grand counties.

Bennett and For The Forest have no illusions about saving the majority of the pines in the White River National Forest. The group is concentrating on the areas around towns, campgrounds, roads and other areas frequented by humans, areas often referred to as the

Dying lodgepole forest above Dinkle Lake near Mt. Sopris. Photo by Greg Poshman, courtesy of For the Forest. “wildlands-urban interface.

“We have no interest in messing with wilderness areas or the deep forest,” he continued, “But there are ways to save trees where the forest intersects with people’s lives.”

For the Forest advocates an approach used successfully by Canadian foresters: removing infested trees and protecting uninfested trees with an organic compound called Verbenone and planting new trees.

Every infested tree has the ability to infest five more trees the following year, Bennett said. Culling infested trees before the beetles mature and fly is effective in reducing the spread.

Verbenone is a synthetic pheromone, designed to mimic the scent of a chemical signal secreted by female pine beetles.

Pheromones in general are chemical scents secreted by many species of animals to attract or repel others of the same species. In its natural form, this pheromone is used to signal that there is no room for additional beetles in a particular tree.

“It’s the beetles’ way of putting out a no vacancy sign,” Bennett said.

Verbenone is applied by stapling a packet, resembling a gauze bandage,

onto each tree that is to be protected.

Merritt leads the way Merritt, British Columbia, located in a vast pine forest, stands out as an example of a community that has successfully checked the beetle’s advance.

Most Merritt residents stapled Verbnone packets to the trees outside their homes, and volunteers attached packets on every tree within a measured perimeter. Thousands of trees in the area were checked for beetle infestation, and removed if they had been colonized.

As a result, Merritt saved more than 70 percent of its pines. The nearby town of Kamloops, about 45 minutes up the road, took no measures to prevent infestation and lost 98 percent of its pines.

“It’s the most effective beetle control program anywhere we know of,” Bennett said.

For the Forest is sharing information with the U.S. Forest Service, the City of Aspen Pitkin County and other groups that are involved in forest management.

“They’re extremely interested in all this, and they’ve been very supportive,” Bennett said of the Forest Service and the other partners.

The town of Carbondale used Ver-

benone packets in 2008 to protect 13 pines located on town properties, but the experiment was compromised after several packets were removed from the trees by unknown people.

Sloan Shoemaker, executive director of the Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop, said pine beetles have shaped forest ecosystems for eons. Wilderness Workshop is nevertheless on the same page as For The Forest when it comes to protecting life and essential infrastructure.

“They have done a really good job of fostering a community dialogue about what it means to live in disturbance-affected communities,” he said.

“We’re OK with mitigating the risk posed by beetle-killed trees,” Shoemaker continued, “and with protecting communities from wildfire.”

Stopping the advance of pine beetles in the forest as a whole is not a realistic goal, Shoemaker said, and attempts to do so would be a waste of resources that could be spent in more effective ways.

“Safety is more a function of people adapting to forest conditions rather than vice versa,” he said.

Pine Beetles Who: Roaring Fork Cultural Council What: Pine beetle epidemic discussion When: 7:30 p.m. March 28 Where: Thunder River Theatre, 67 Promenade (north of Main Street, between Fourth and Sixth Streets) Tickets: $10, seating is limited More information: www.fortheforest.org The event is hosted by the Roaring Fork Cultural Council, and moderated by RFCC co-chair Jim Calaway. Guests include For The Forest executive director John Bennett, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Greg Poschman and microbiologist Dr. William Murray of San Jose State University.

Fire district seeking input about burn permit system

By Julie Albrecht Community Correspondent Farmers and ranchers are exempt from most of the laws requiring permits for open burning of vegetation, but Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District Chief Ron Leach needs their approval to make a permitting system work in the fire district.

As the population of Garfield County grows, so does the need for more paperwork — for everyone. The newest layer of regulation may soon be a permit for open burning. Property owners wishing to burn piles of brush or stands of vegetation might soon need a burn permit from their local fire department.

Under current law, landowners are supposed to obtain permission, but since many jurisdictions aren’t set up to enforce the rules, they are effectively voluntary.

Leach is trying to set up a working burn permit system within the 320square-mile fire protection district. To encourage compliance, he wants to keep the onerous paperwork to a minimum and communication with residents to a maximum.

He laid out his proposal to about 30 participants in an Open Burn Forum at the fire department headquarters March14. Anyone planning outside burns during the year would be required

to fill out a simple form one time and phone the fire department the day before or the day of each burn. The completed form would help fire department personnel locate each burn. The phone call would allow department personnel share current fire danger information with the burner.

Several long-time local ranchers at the meeting were concerned that their ability to manage their lands would be limited by new burn regulations. Most of the burns in agricultural fields and in ditches would continue to be exempt, but Leach asked for the ranchers’ support anyway. He worried that without their voluntary participation, any burn

permit system would fail. He noted that the traditional spring burns by ranchers like Bill Fales, Max Macdonnel and Marty Nieslanik don’t generally create a safety hazard. He stressed that homeowners with large lots and 5- to 10-acre parcels need more education on the permit system, regulations and weather-related concerns.

The Carbondale Fire district Board of Directors will consider an open burn permit system at its next meeting.

Leach would like more public input.

Email leach@carbondalefire.org or call the Carbondale Fire Department at 963-2491 before the April 8 meeting to provide input.

THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 3

Alpine Bank employs nearly 600 people in western Colorado.

While that may be a small number compared to other companies, the loyalty of our employee-owners speaks volumes.

Scuttlebutt Bike gets drafted again Bob Olenick’s old orange rusted town bike from the Red Rock Diner has “become lost” again, as Bob puts it. He uses it all the time for his errands and to get around town, but someone else must have really needed it. He got the bike, which is painted by Amber Sparkles, in a KDNK auction seven or more years ago.

The bike has been borrowed three other times before and has turned up in the bushes, a gulley, and a backyard on Second Street. If you’ve seen the bike abandoned somewhere, give Bob a call at the diner, 963-4111.

“Searching for Memories” I lost my camera Or maybe you took it Thinking it was yours?

It’s silver and thin About the length of your palm And it’s been on many tours With photos of My new baby girl Eating her first macaroni And some shots of her first trip to Moab...

With rocks all red and stony Last seen in the gym At our new rec center The day of the fashion show If you have seen it or accidentally have it please, oh please let me know!

Soozie Lindbloom, 309-1588 P.S. It’s a Canon

Birdwatchers beware

Maybe that’s why Alpine is stronger now than in our entire 35 year history.

Carl Evins of Carbondale saw the Black Bird hiding on a top shelf of Sounds Easy. According to the rules, in the Gordon Cooper Library’s Find the Falcon contest, Evins reported the sighting and won the Saturday drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Sounds Easy. The Maltese Falcon has moved once again. Next week’s winner will receive a $50 gift certificate from The Village Smithy. The contest is part of the Big Read events through March.

Kicking butts

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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers and local high schools are working to fight youth tobacco use by participating in the National Kick Butts Day Initiative March 25. As part of the Kick Butts Day celebration, events will be taking place at both Glenwood Springs High School and Roaring Fork High School to raise students’ awareness of the dangers of tobacco use. One event will be having students create a graffiti/pledge wall. On the wall they can draw anti-tobacco messages, pledge to stay tobacco free or pledge to help others who use tobacco to quit. For more information, contact Missy Ivy at 945-6614, ext. 1007, or mivy@garfield-county.com.

Sitting it out

Eleven-year-old Cole Hollenback is bummed as he watches his teammates from the U12 Advanced Team of the Carbondale Soccer Club go through their drills on March 18. Cole fractured his leg ski jumping and had less than a week left in his cast. Photo by Julie Albrecht

SEI alum shines for Obama

President Barack Obama showed his confidence in solar energy anby visiting the solar installation at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science last month before signing the stimulus bill into law.

Solar Energy International alum Blake Jones gave him a tour of the PV system and introduced him at the stimulus signing. Blake is one of the co-founders of Namasté Solar Electric, an employeeowned Colorado-based PV installation company. Over half of the 55 employees at Namasté are SEI trained.

Beef up the Scouts

Carbondale’s Boy Scout Troop 235 is hosting a fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.

March 31 at Arby’s in Glenwood Springs.

Have dinner at Arby’s on that night and ask for a Scout coupon. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to the scouts who are trying to earn money for camps and next year’s National Jamboree.

Presto – Eason appears as winner

After six straight years of being nominated, local entertainer Doc Eason finally was named the 2008 Closeup Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magic Arts-Hollywood. The academy is based at the Magic Castle, a private nightclub for magicians. The awards celebrate the best and brightest in the magic industry. Eason has been a nominee for six years running. While the other nominees weren’t household names, in the field of magic they are considered to be some of the best in the world, Eason says. “I was flattered and honored to be on the same list as these guys who are all my friends,” he said.

“But I have to say, it sure is sweet after all this time to finally win it.”

Calving season at the Tybar Ranch continued from page 1

Scenes from the Tybar, clockwise from top left: A cow with her calves; Mark Nieslanik, Emma Danciger and Mike Goscha; a bottlefed baby; Nieslanik helps a calf take its first steps. Photos by Carol Craven

Journey from Dallas The Dancigers started raising Angus cattle in the 1950s with the purchase of their first ranch south of Dallas.

Their love for the “remarkable beasts,” along with their appreciation for the land, prompted them to head north to start Tybar Angus Ranch in 1980 on Prince Creek Road. Their 800 acres of sprawling grassy hillsides speckled with Gambel’s oak, juniper and sage are guarded by Mt. Sopris to the south and the Crown to the east.

David Danciger passed away in 2004, and Emma Danciger continued the ranching operations with the help of Nieslanik, Goscha and the hard-working staff at the Carbondale ranch and the family’s other ranch in Rifle. They are doing everything they can to ensure the future of the Angus cattle.

Annually, Tybar sells about 140 bulls and 100 females for breeding. Sales start in January at the National Western Stock Show and continue through the end of May, and the annual Tybar Production Sale is held in November at the ranch.

“We send a flier out just like Wal-Mart,” Nieslanik said, adding that they attend about seven sales.

Pioneer in genetics The Dancigers have always been interested in genetically perfecting the Angus and, through their motto, promise “Genes that fit.” Returning and new customers expect above-average bloodlines, Nieslanik said.

Tybar is also known the world over for its research on Brisket Disease, also referred to as pulmonary hypertension. In 1984, Colorado State University and Tybar began collecting some of the first Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) scores to combat the disease, which can result in death and a loss of thousands of dollars to the breeder.

Working with CSU, Tybar is creating the first Web-based programs (launching in fall 2009) that will allow cattle breeders with PAP information to receive what is similar to a risk assessment for their animals.

“All this work they’ve been doing with the university over the years benefits all Angus breeders,” noted Nieslanik.

On a recent Monday, with leaves beginning to bud on the surrounding trees, Emma Danciger is out among the cattle. The deep guttural sounds of their baying echo through the Prince Creek valley. She sits quietly on the ground among the cows, bulls, and calves and stretches an arm out to the side. The gentle animals seem to hardly care. But they slowly start to meander toward her, the curious calves showing interest in her hand.

She gets up, brushes off and says, as if reflecting on it for the first time: “They’re remarkable beasts, they really are.”

THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 5

april 1–5

tickets on sale now!

Shortsfest Carbondale

Kick-off Party!

Thursday, March 26 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

345 Colorado Ave. & N. 3rd St. #106 Kick-off Shortsfest 2009 with the Aspen Film Staff and Board of Directors on March 26, with special guest political satirist Dick Tuck and featuring the work of Carbondale artists.

Pick up the Shortsfest program, find out about memberships and ticket discounts, and enjoy refreshments and entertainment.

Buy your tickets at the party for $1 off each!

Mark Your Calendar Shortsfest at The Crystal April 3–5 Special Thanks to Our Partners George & Patty Stranahan, Strange Imports, Wine Source, The Pour House and Julie Wyckoff

complete festival schedule at www.aspenfilm.org 6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

Soccer players give a new meaning to friendship

By Allyn Harvey Alli Zeigel, a junior at Roaring Fork High School, had to utilize courage and calmness after her teammate and close friend Adrianna Romero was overcome by a severe asthmatic attack and stopped breathing following a soccer game in Aspen.

The Lady Rams were playing the Skiers on March 14 when the incident occurred.

The team is short-handed this year, so Romero ended up playing 80 minutes of varsity soccer and an additional 80 minutes of junior varsity soccer.

Romero, a junior, is one of the team’s top athletes. She plays center midfield, one of the most demanding positions in the game. She also has sports-induced asthma, so she needs Alli Zeigel saves the day regularly as to be especially cognizant of her body. goalie for the team but stepped up to “I’m definitely an adrenaline junkie,” also save Adrianna Romero’s life on Romero said when asked why she risks asthMarch 14. Photo by Jim Ryan matic attacks to play. “Sports are my outlet; I just run and have fun.”

After nearly 160 minutes of soccer, Romero walked away from her teammates and everyone else to be alone, a signal she’s having an asthma attack.

Zeigel followed her friend, to see if she was going to be OK. But Romero wasn’t OK. She was having extreme difficulty with her breathing. Soon, she was having trouble standing and became wobbly.

“I tried to keep her awake, but she passed out and stopped breathing,” Zeigel said.

One of the coaches kneeled down next to Romero and tilted her head back to the proper position to administer breaths, Zeigel recalls. “He told me to give her some air,” she said.

“I gave her a few rescue breaths – four or five quick breaths,” Zeigel, who is trained in CPR and other basic rescue techniques, continued.

Romero started breathing again after about 15 seconds. “It seemed like forever,” Zeigel recalls.

After Romero regained consciousness, her friend rolled her on her side so her coughing wouldn’t cause her to choke.

By this time, there were people all around. The chaos made things more difficult for Zeigel, who had made all the right decisions so far.

Romero was focused completely on her friend. After all they’ve been playing soccer together since the third grade. “When I couldn’t breathe, all I could see was Alli,” Romero said.

Zeigel watches out for Romero, and has assisted her through episodes in the past.

“I was pretty calm while it was happening, because I knew what to do, especially with Adrianna because she has had asthma attacks before,” she said.

Romero was transported to Aspen Valley Hospital, where she was treated and released. Zeigel made the trip to the hospital, armed with extensive knowledge of Romero’s condition and allergies.

Romero was back on the field for practice on the Monday after. She now has additional medication to reduce the chance of an attack.

She also has best friend Alli who keeps an eye out for her. “Best friend? No, she’s not my best friend anymore – she’s my sister,” Romero said.

Public comment on Rio Grande due April 2

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is seeking public comment through April 2 on its Rio Grande Trail Wildlife Management Plan for the Rock Bottom Ranch section of the trail.

For the past three years, citizens have been debating the pros and cons of RFTA’s policy to close the 2.5-mile section from Dec. 1 through May 1 to protect deer, elk and other wildlife in the river corridor.

RFTA has hired a wildlife biologist to monitor wildlife on the stretch of path that runs from Catherine’s Store Bridge to Hooks Lane.

RFTA is considering expanding the wildlife observation and data collection period to include the spring, summer and fall seasons in order to gain a better understanding of all wildlife in the area. Additionally, RFTA is considering tabling discussion or decisions regarding the trail closure until January 2012. This allows for the recommended five years of observation of wildlife.

The current Wildlife Management Plan and 2008 Wildlife Report are available online at www.rfta.com/traildocs.html.

Submit comments to Michael Hermes, the RFTA director of properties and trails, at www.rfta.com/traildocs.html or via email at trails@rfta.com.

Obituary

‘Granny Mac’ remembered as a woman who changed lives

By Trina Ortega loway and the Steep Canyon Rangers out of North Sometimes the nickname says it all. Pamela Carolina all have stayed in McPherson’s basement.

“Granny” McPherson was a true hostess to all, It was a place where they could smoke a cigarette, whether at her formal lodge in Aspen or the watch her intricately cutting a handmade puzzle, or makeshift lodge that was her Carbondale home. drink her terribly cheap coffee.

Described by friends as a lovable and com“She was a great host for all the touring musipassionate person, McPherson was killed in trafcians we had. She did that a bunch of times. She fic on March 17 while trying to cross Highway did that more than everyone combined,” said Steve 82 near her home that she had opened to numerStandiford, owner of Steve’s Guitars. “They all ous friends and acquaintances and some of the loved her.” best known musicians in Colorado. She was 85.

Standiford said many of the musicians, in fact, McPherson ventured west from Chicago in the requested that they be able to stay at Granny 1950s to ski after being diagnosed with cancer.

Mac’s.

She ran the Eat A Bite in Glenwood Springs for a “She was a lovable character, a very lovable bit in before an ad for the Snow Chase Lodge at spirit,” he added. the top of Mill Street in Aspen caught her eye.

McPherson was a savior for many — from “She bought the Snow Chase on a song and a the musicians who would arrive at 1 a.m. in dance,” said longtime friend Monk Burkmier of need of sleep to those like Burkmier, a “lost Vet” Carbondale, who met McPherson who just needed a helping hand and an open on July 4, 1968, when he moved to heart.

Aspen from Los Angeles.

“She pulled me back.… If it hadn’t been for With only a 50-dollar bill in his her, I wouldn’t have made it,” Burkmier sighed. shoe, he looked up a number of “She was infinitely wise. She really did pull a lodges in the Aspen Chamber of lot of us back from stupidity.”

Commerce directory and “hers was When he was injured by a piece of metal the cheapest,” he said. “She never one year in Aspen, she drove him to the hosturned anybody down.” pital and rescued him when he came to after So he went to the Snow Chase surgery by sneaking him out. Back at the and stayed. “That was the beginning lodge, she got his bed set up and made him of a 10-year journey,” said Burkmier milkshakes every day till he healed. who, like other “Snow Chasers,” “She literally saved my life, and that’s what would come to earn his keep by she always did for people,” he said.

Photos shared by longchanging bed sheets at the lodge.

McPherson was an avid hiker and taught time friend Monk Burk“You’d walk into the kitchen and others to ski and kayak. She was among the lumier show Pamela “Granny” McPherson there she was – Mrs. Mac. In the minaries who have been listed in the Chicago in different lights. Above, Granny posed for Sojourner magmorning we’d eat her toast and jelly “Who’s Who” but she was not one to make azine’s pictorial profiles of Aspen residents. Above left, and in the evening we’d drink her tea and eat her much of such social eminence.

Granny in her Carbondale yard with Burkmier’s dog, Stella, popcorn,” Burkmier recalled. It was enough for him She would rather be known for her hospiwhom she watched over when he was away on travels. and the other ski bums to get by on. tality, her organic gardening, and her handAmong her many adventurous pursuits, skiing crafted puzzles. was at the top. She was once photographed for an Considered the Grandma Moses of puzzleissue of Sojourner magazine, in which she said her making, her craft was highlighted in a Glenfavorite run was Copper on Aspen Mountain, and she is remembered for hitting wood Springs Post Independent profile last year. According to the PI, she had been the slopes well over 50 days a year into her late 50s. creating puzzles with a scroll saw for more than 50 years.

Her daughter, Esther DellaQuardi of Steamboat Springs, and all three grandkids And friends also remember her for her tolerance, understanding, compassion and are also skiers. McPherson is survived by six great-grandchildren, as well. for being a woman who changed lives for the better.

After 20 years in the lodging business, McPherson sold the Snow Chase in 1978, “If she was put in for sainthood, she’d win,” Burkmier said. which devastated Burkmier but opened the door to Granny Mac’s less-formal lodge A celebration of McPherson’s life will be held June 27 at her home along at her Carbondale home. the river.

She housed traveling musicians throughout the years. The boys in Yonder MounHer ashes are in a coffee can — as she would have appreciated — and family and tain String Band, country musician Mary Gauthier, bluegrass plucker Benny Gal- friends will spread them on her garden, where her spirit will continue to grow and give.

THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 7

Notice of rock harvesting plan in Marble called inadequate

By Jeremy Heiman Sopris Sun reporter A regional masonry company that has collected rock on private property near Marble for the past 10 years is seeking approval to move its operation onto adjacent Forest Service land.

Some neighbors have said they weren’t properly notified of the proposal, and some don’t want the rock collecting to continue.

Gallegos Masonry, based in Wolcott, has been collecting rock for masonry and landscaping from a scree field on a south-facing hillside above Gunnison County Road 3, the main road to Marble, since 1998.

The useful rock on the private site has mostly been removed, and the company now wants to collect rock from National Forest to the north. Gallegos is seeking to remove rock for 30 years from the 23.33acre site that is 235 feet from the Crystal River. The rock Gallegos proposes to harvest is quartz monzonite, which is quarried for masonry construction and is frequently used for stonework on buildings.

The Forest Service has produced a 45page environmental assessment (EA) on the possible impacts of the proposal. The EA, required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), evaluates projects in the light of any environmental impacts they might have and to allow concerned individuals to comment before permits are issued. The Forest Service is accepting comments until March 30.

The Next Step

• Written comments can be submitted in person or via mail to Irene Davidson, District Ranger, c/o Skye Sieber, 0094 County Road 244, Rifle, CO 81650, by fax at 625-2532, or via email at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/projects/conger-rock-harvestingarea/index.shtml.

• The environmental assessment can be downloaded from www.fs.fed.us/r2/ whiteriver/projects.

Alan and Susan Houseman, part-time Marble residents for more than 50 years, wrote in an email that erosion and damage to vegetation aren’t adequately dealt with in the EA, and the project won’t provide any economic benefit to the Marble valley.

Further, the two complained that they didn’t receive proper notice of the project.

“Even more disturbing is that lack of transparency in proceeding with this plan and the lack of opportunity for residents of the Marble valley to comment and have a real say in the development of the plan,” their message reads.

Skye Sieber, NEPA coordinator for the western portion of the White River National Forest, argues that her team notified the public last fall, by sending a press release to local media and sending notices to neighbors of the project and has created a mailing list.

“If we didn’t hear back from people, they didn’t get on our mailing list,” Sieber said. People who did get on the mailing list received a notice that the EA was available on the Internet, through the mail, or at the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District office in

REOPENING FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

Carbondale.

But Jack Jaeger, who lives near the site, said he didn’t find out through those channels. He said he found out about the project when an unidentified person stuck a few pages of the EA in his door. “I find it pretty offensive,” Jaeger said.

Sloan Shoemaker, executive director of the Wilderness Workshop, said he had read an earlier report, probably the result of the Forest Service press release, which was published in The Aspen Times, but said that report glossed over the impacts of the project.

“It sounded more benign than it’s turning out to be,” Shoemaker said. “It would have visual impacts from across the valley.”

Shoemaker said he has been receiving telephone calls from people who have recently been alerted to the project.

One caller said the road to the project passes through his property, on an easement. The caller said he never received any information about the Gallegos application and heard about it through neighborhood connections.

“He was pretty tweaked about it,” Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker also pointed out that the project borders an inventoried roadless area and is close to the boundaries of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Raggeds wilderness and should have received more scrutiny as a result.

He called for a good, transparent public evaluation process, in which citizens aren’t pressed to make their comments by an impending deadline.

Jaeger also said the EA made the operation seem less industrial than it really is.

“It was almost like it was written by the contractor,” Jaeger said.

He said he could hear the noise when crews were working on the existing project on private property.

Paul Wahlbrink, a self-employed mobile mechanic who lives a half mile from the site, said he, too, can hear the current operation from his home.

“I don’t want development, and I don’t want a lot of noise,” Wahlbrink said. “I plan on living there the rest of my life.”

Siebert said the company’s crews generally pick up rocks by hand. “It’s not like it’s a really large operation,” she said.

She said when she visited the existing site in June 2008 a waterfall on the other side of the valley drowned out the sound of the operation. But then, she said, the company was not operating any mechanical equipment.

A call to a Gallegos official in Wolcott was not returned by press time.

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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

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CRMS students ‘liberated’ studying under master Navajo silversmith

By Trina Ortega Masters in the art of silversmithing, the Navajo people believe that a tiny flaw in a crafted piece of jewelry or belt buckle is acceptable. Little imperfections allow the spirit to come and go. If the piece is too perfect, the spirit is trapped.

That philosophy and other teachings of the Navajo, or Dine’, have been beneficial for students participating in the weeklong intensive silversmithing “Interim” this month at Colorado Rocky Mountain School.

Navajo silversmith and weaver Mae Peshlakai was among the educators tapped for the school’s annual Interim, a tradition that takes students from the

Left: CRMS freshman Shelby Peshlakai watches as her grandmother and teacher, Mae Peshlakai, shapes the silver during the CRMS Interim in silversmithing the week of March 9. Right, the work of student Jason Singer. Photos by Trina Ortega routine of the classroom and into new environments to broaden their appreciation of the greater world.

The intensive seven-day projects took place on and off campus and included blacksmithing, CD recording, green building and design, working with Challenge Aspen, adventures in astro-geology, archaeology and geology, and ancient Mayan culture.

“The goal of Interim week is to immerse students and faculty in experiences and pursuits that enable students to learn by doing,” says CRMS

Community Briefs Senior Matters awarded $1,500 El Pomar Grant The good news for Senior Matters keeps coming. It has moved into its new space at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, and the organization recently received a $1,500 grant from El Pomar Regional Partnerships.

El Pomar Foundation is a private foundation located in Colorado Springs that contributes $25 million annually to Colorado’s nonprofits through direct grantmaking and Community Stewardship Programs. The Regional Partnerships program engages local leaders in proactive philanthropy.

Diane Johnson and Jan Senne, volunteer members of the Senior Matters Board of Directors, traveled to Grand Junction to accept the award.

Senior Matters is a non-profit dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life for seniors in Carbondale and Garfield County.

The organizaation is in the process of identifying the needs of seniors for programs that will be offered at the Third Street Center and welcomes input regarding activities.

Annual membership dues for Senior Matters are $10 per year. The need for volunteers is crucial to the success of this Senior Resource Center. To get involved, call 9632536 or visit the Web site seniormatters.org.

Editor’s Note: Information provided to the Sun for its March 12 issue was incorrect; the center is not open daily, nor does the center serve lunch on Friday. Roaring Fork and Spoon offers lunch at noon Wednesdays at Crystal Meadows.

Medical scholarships available The Valley View Hospital Auxiliary will offer 10 scholarships available at $3,000 to local students this year. Scholarships are available in three categories: • Graduating high school seniors who are pursing a career in the medical field. Applications are available by calling 384-6656. The application deadline is April 3.

• College and continuing education students pursuing a degree in the healthcare profession or returning to school after a previous profession. The application deadline is also April 3. For applications, call 384-6656.

• Colorado Mountain College students who have been accepted into the CMC Nursing Program at the Spring Valley Campus. For further information, applications and deadline information, call 947-8355.

spokesperson Lisa Raleigh, who assisted in teaching a creative writing Interim program in which the students presented their works at the closing of Towncenter Booksellers.

Peshlakai returned to teach the silversmithing interim, as she has done on and off since 1987, after her daughter graduated from the private day and boarding high school.

“I really do enjoy teaching the kids here and giving talks on Navajo culture.

I thank CRMS for having the school share its facilities and allowing me to teach here,” Peshlakai said.

She spoke from the school’s jewelry Hogan where about a dozen students were sifting through tiger’s eye, turquoise, rose quartz, and more; shaping silver with mallets; and soldering strips of silver into bracelets, rings, and pendants.

Peshlakai’s husband, James, comes from a long line of silversmiths, and the name Peshlakai means white silver.

When her husband fell ill in 1969, Peshlakai stepped in to craft a turquoise silver pendant that had been ordered on deadline. She has been a master of the art since.

Building on that success, Peshlakai’s silver work has taken her throughout the U.S., Australia and Mexico. She also travels nationwide displaying her Navajo weavings, dancing with her children and promoting other cultural arts. To further promote Dine’ culture, she and her husband founded the Peshlakai Cultural Foundation, which is the only foundation in Arizona dedicated to the preservation of all Native American cultures.

Peshlakai has been traveling to the Roaring Fork Valley for more than 35 years, and sold weavings and silver work at Carbondale’s second Mountain Fair.

Working with precious stones is a way to nurture the spirit and connect to Mother Earth and Father Sky, says Peshlakai.

“For the Navajos, the things we work with, such as the stones, represent a long route of legends that connect to our daily lives.”

Peshlakai was born in a Hogan on the Navajo Reservation in Sandsprings, Arizona, with her Dine’ relatives attending her birth. Like most Navajo children in the ’50s, Peshlakai was taken from her family and forced to attend a one-room Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school.

While she was away at school, educators condemned Dine’ culture. But when she returned home during summers, Peshlakai learned to work with and weave wool.

Peshlakai continued weaving and later supported her family through her craft.

The Dine’ population is about 350,000 today, she estimates, and more young people are taking an interest in their own roots, she said.

Her granddaughter, Shelby, is a freshman at CRMS and was among the students taking the silversmithing interim.

“I think it’s wonderful, especially to learn from someone who’s had to teach herself,” said sophomore Jason Singer. “I feel really liberated watching Mae do it.”

He has taken a semester of silversmithing at CRMS, and said he has learned from Peshlakai’s approach because it is less mechanical and applies common sense.

Jewelry teacher Malia Rives Smith, who was serving as Peshlakai’s assistant, agreed that the “intuitive way of working” is freeing for the students.

“When we run into a problem, we ask Mae, ‘What would you do?’” Smith said, adding that it was inspirational to see Peshlakai’s work at a public presentation that week.

“They are a wonderful family with an incredible tradition of preservation of Navajo arts and culture,” said Emma Danciger, who met Peshlakai in 1983, when both of their children were enrolled.

“That started our friendship and that went on all the way till now,” Danciger said.

A Carbondale resident, Danciger is president of the Bookcliffs Arts Council and will invite Peshlakai back to conduct a silversmithing class in the fall in Rifle.

THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 9

Bonedale Biz The Big Switch: Restaurants get creative to meet storefront needs

By Allyn Harvey rant operations.

Carbondale’s “Big Switch” becomes official on “I started looking around and found Lisa and she was April 1 – no fooling. looking around and found me,” Ron recalls.

The Swiss Gourmet and Eco-Goddess Edibles, Lisa recalls making on “off the cuff” call to Ron to see two of Carbondale’s specialty eateries, are literally if there was a solution that worked for both. After several trading places. weeks of negotiations a deal was struck involving Lisa, “We are actually switching kitchens. We’re getRon and Randi Lowenthal, the former executive director ting really creative to make it work for both of of the Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Main us,” explains Lisa Ruoff, owner of Eco-Goddess Street property where the Swiss Gourmet has been located.

Edibles.

Eco-Goddess Edibles will be serving take-out only from The Swiss Gourmet has been running a specialty its new home on Main Street (across from Ella and Grana foods deli, catering and selling its signature all-natBakery) for the first few weeks of April, while the restauural, vacuum-packed gourmet meals out of its rant is set up and a liquor license secured.

Main Street storefront for three years. It closed the Lisa is planning to be open for lunch and dinner, from deli down in January but kept making the vacuum11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Her food is all organic. There will packed meals and offering its catering services. be a full selection of wines and mixed drinks. Entrees are “We decided to focus on what our customers reexpected to range from $8 to $17. ally wanted: our vacuum-packed gourmet meals,” “We’ll have a lot more hot foods – in addition to our Swiss Gourmet owner Ron Goth says. “So we regreat soups and sandwiches,” Lisa says. ally didn’t need all that retail space.”

The Swiss Gourmet will be open for lunch on Dolores Eco-Goddess Edibles has been serving organic Way. It will also continue making the gourmet vacuumfoods in a small space off Dolores Way, near the packed meals for pick up or home delivery.

Napa auto parts store and the paint shop. Ruoff An innovative solution: The Swiss Gourmet and Eco-Goddess Both Eco-Goddess Edibles and the Swiss Gourmet will closed her doors in early February after many Edibles will swap storefronts to better meet their business needs. continue to offer full-service catering, each with a very difmonths in an off-the-beaten-path location that Both will be setting up shop in April. Photo by Trina Ortega ferent style than the other. just wasn’t ideal for the kind of restaurant she “It’s something that’s neat about working in a small envisions. community,” Ron says. “We were able to work together to come up with a solution.”

Boiled down, the Swiss Gourmet needed a commercial kitchen and less retail to manFor more information about Eco-Goddess Edibles, call Lisa Ruoff at 948-4231 or age its catering and to cook and sell the vacuum-packed gourmet meals (which include e-mail her at goddess@eco-goddess.com. an entree and side dishes and take about five minutes to make). And Eco-Goddess EdiFor more information about the Swiss Gourmet, call Ron or Kirsten Goth at bles needed a great kitchen and retail space that is a better-positioned home for its restau- 309-1862 or e-mail swissgourmet@sopris.net.

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

ROTARY CORNER MEMBER NEWS: The Carbondale Rotary Club welcomes new member David Bernhardt, who moved to Carbondale in 2006 from California where he was a teacher, coach, business owner and a champion Master Cycling competitor. Even as the club’s newest member, David has already participated in the Carbondale Rotary’s Veteran Breakfast program, dictionary donation program, Headstart Christmas Dinner and the Salvation Army Bell Ringing.

REMINDER: The deadline for the spring grant applications is fast approaching – March 27.

Applications may be picked up at Town Hall and for questions, please call Andy White, 274-2157.

Consideration is given to projects that show direct long-range benefits to the mid-valley area and emphasize the Rotary International goals of literacy, health, hunger, water management and youth services.

SAVE THE DATE: The Carbondale Rotary club raises funds for the community with the annual HAPPENING Event. This year’s event will be Saturday, June 13, at the Carbondale Fire District Headquarters on Hwy 133. In recognition of our challenging times this year the event will be called “THE GREAT BAILOUT BALLS OF FIRE” with a reduced ticket price of $75. Tickets will be on sale beginning April 1 so call your favorite Rotarian today to reserve your tickets.

MARCH MADNESS CARBONDALE STYLE: Rotarians will amaze all with their basketball skills during March Madness on Thursday, March 26, 6:30 at the Roaring Fork High School.

Public invited, if you dare.

ROTARY PROGRAMS FOR THE COMING MONTH ARE: 4/1 Club Meeting 4/8 Radio Evolution - Stacy Stein 4/15 South African Aids Orphanage - Ro Mead and Amy Kimberly Carbondale Rotary meets each Wednesday, 7:00 am at the Carbondale Fire District Headquarters on Hwy 133.

Guests are welcome.

From the ground up: Healthy food starts with healthy soil More and more folks are turning to their own backyards, front yards and community gardens as a place to grow fresh food. The health and vitality of that food starts with the soil. Healthy soil supports healthy plants, and healthy plants yield healthy food. So how can we ensure the health of our soil for many years of productive gardening? Initially, tilling up a new garden space results in a flush of nutrients for the first year or two. After that, we have to get serious about giving back to our gardens.

We can start by making and using compost. Buying compost in a bag can be effective. Getting compost from someone who makes it locally can be better. Making your own is by far the best way to cycle nutrients back into into your garden.

Making good compost is within reach of anyone with

by Jon Ray some food scraps, dry leaves and a pitchfork. As you build Gardner your pile, use the basic rule that goopy stuff from your kitchen and green stuff from your garden is high in nitrogen. Brown, dry, crunchy stuff like leaves, sticks and straw is high in carbon. Add them to your compost pile half-and-half. A bucket of goopy kitchen scraps needs a pitchfork of straw, and so on.

Your compost should be kept moist, but not wet. It is not uncommon in the dry mountains to put drip irrigation on a pile. Your pile will need to breathe. Anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition is what leads to stinky nastiness in your compost pile.

Layering with loose straw or leaves and having spaces in your bin allow for more aerobic (with oxygen) decomposition in your pile. Turn your pile at least once. Spread your finished compost evenly over your garden beds and around established perennials, shrubs and trees.

We can also employ some of our more resourceful friends from the plant kingdom to help us build healthy soil. Many deep tap-rooted plants are capable of reaching down into subsoil to bring up minerals that other plants cannot find. Legumes have a symbiotic re-

Journeys Health

lationship with microbes that fix nitrogen from the air. Dynamic accumulators include comfrey, dandelions, yarrow, clover, yellow dock and plantain. Instead of grumbling about these plants taking over your borders, paths and lawns, you can smile and thank them for all the hard work Of course, do not let too many of them go to seed. After all, they are “weeds.”

Sowing cover crops in your empty garden beds is a great way to keep the living soil active and build humus. Nature is very good at covering bear spots of ground. That is what weeds do best. If you can keep your garden beds busy, they will not have time to get bored and flirt with all those weed seeds floating around. Good cover crops include buckwheat, millet, clover, ryegrass, oats and peas. To avoid becoming a weed, many cover crops need to be pulled or cut down before they go to seed. A good seed catalog will have information on cover crop selection and timing. If you do not get a cover crop on the ground in time, consider a heavy mulch of straw, leaves or wood chips.

Using cover crops builds soil structure without tilling. The healthiest soil in the world has taken years to form. Mechanically stirring the soil can be a great way to turn a compacted yard into a garden, but doing it every year just destroys all of the structure built by plants and soil organisms over time. After tilling your garden the first time, try to maintain structure with cover crops and mulches. Shop around for a good broad fork (also called a “U-bar digger”), a tool that loosens the soil without inverting the natural soil layers. Limit foot traffic to paths and, by all means, do not work or use machines on wet soil.

In the last 100 years, we have lost some 60 percent of the world’s humus. Each little bit you create in your own garden is a step toward healing our stressed earth, and a step toward better health for us all.

Jon Ray Gardner is the owner and manager of Elemental Gardens, a landscaping business dedicated to sustainable practices. He is also starting a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) called Thompson Creek Gardens in the Crystal Valley. For more information and discussion about sustainable gardening and healthy soil, contact him at elemental@stateofmind.net or 319-3128.

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A SERVICE OF THE ASPEN/PITKIN COUNTY AIRPORT THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 11

Community Calendar Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Daily Planner THROUGH MARCH • BIG READ Garfield County Libraries continues its Big Read events (focusing on Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Faclon) with the Gordon Cooper Library’s WhoDunIt Mystery Scavenger Hunt and the “Find the Falcon” contest weekly through March. An All-Book Club Night will be on April 2. For full details and more events, call 625-4270 or log on to www.garfieldlibraries.org.

MARCH 26 • SHORTSFEST PARTY On behalf of Aspen Filmfest, DeDe Brinkman, Rick Carlson and Libby Sullivan will host a Carbondale Shortsfest Kick-Off party from 5:30-8 p.m. March 26 at 345 Colorado Ave. & North Third Street #106. Special guest is political satirist Dick Tuck. Taker $1 off each Shortsfest ticket purchased at the party.

RSVP to info@aspenfilm.org. The 18th annual Shortsfest runs April 1-5 in the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and April 3-5 at the Crystal Theatre.

MARCH 26 • PERFORMANCE Carbondale Community School presents its annual Big Event, “Waves of Migration” continuing March 26 at the school. Tickets are available at Sounds Easy. Call the school at 963-9647 for full details.

MARCH 26 • P&Z MEETING Carbondale Planning & Zoning Commission meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. at Carbondale Town Hall.

MARCH 26 • TRAILS MEETING The Trails Committee holds its regular monthly meeting at 8 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Town Hall.

MARCH 27 • CLAY CLASSES The Carbondale Clay Center is registering children and adults for its final session of weekly winter classes that begins March 30. Both hand-building and wheel techniques are offered in the seven-week classes. Registration deadline is March 27.

MARCH 27 • ARTHRITIS CLASS Fitness Instructor Cathy Crum invites senior citizens or anyone else who may be suffering from arthritis to join the new Arthritis Exercise Class at the Pitkin County Senior Center every Friday at 11 a.m. through April 24. Call the Senior Center at 920-5432 to sign up.

MARCH 27 • ANNUAL MEETING Aspen Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will hold its Annual Meeting and Grant & Volunteer Awards Luncheon at noon March 27 at the Aspen Glen Club, 0545 Bald Eagle Way. Guest 12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

Speaker is Nancy Reinisch, author “Chemosabe: A Triathlete’s Journey Through the First Year of Breast Cancer.” RSVP at 920-0250.

MARCH 27 • GRANT DEADLINE Carbondale Rotary is accepting grant applications from organizations with projects that have a direct, immediate and identifiable long range benefit to the quality of life in the mid-valley area of Carbondale, El Jebel, and Basalt and coincide with Rotary International’s goals.

Application deadline is March 27, with the grants awarded April 29. Applications available at Carbondale Town Hall at 511 Colorado Ave., by calling Andy White at 274-2157 and at www.rotarycarbondale.org.

MARCH 27 • LIVE MUSIC The Last Minute String Band hosts an all-acoustic, free evening of old time, Celtic, and American hoedown music from 7-10 p.m. March 27 in the lobby of the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. For more information, email justuspaines@sopris.net, call 945-0350 or visit www.lastminutestringband.com MARCH 27 • ‘LEAP!’ PREMIER The Roaring Fork Valley premier of the movie “LEAP!” will be at 7 p.m. March 27 at the Church at Carbondale, 110 Snowmass Drive. For more about “Leap!” go to the website www.leapmovie.com. Call 963-8979 for reservations.

MARCH 27 - APRIL 3 • MOVIES “The Wrestler” (R) shows at 7:30 p.m.

March 27 through April 2 at the Crystal Theatre.

MARCH 28 • COMEDY SHOW Protect your heart and lighten up with live, local comedy March 28 at Steve’s Guitars.

Local comedian and producer Mark Thomas is coordinating the event through Comedy Mercenary Productions, gathering seasoned comics Todd Hartley, Don Chaney, Scott Hall and Bob Richmond. Advance tickets at Sounds Easy or call Steve's Guitars at 963-3304.

MARCH 28 • PINE BEETLE TALK The Roaring Fork Cultural Council will host a dialogue on the pine beetle epidemic with John Bennett, executive director of For the Forest, and Dr. William Murray, professor of microbiology at San Jose State University. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. March 28 at the Thunder River Theatre, 67 Promenade.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $10 at www.rfculturalcouncil.org.

MARCH 29 • EGG DECORATING The Carbondale Clay Center presents

“Egg Decorating for All Ages” with CCC artist Sandie Gardner. All-day drop-ins are from noon to 4 p.m. March 29. No appointment necessary. All supplies provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult helper. Finished eggs will be fired and ready for pick-up by April 6. Cost is $13/egg, all-inclusive.

For more information, call 963-2529 or email info@carbondaleclay.org.

MARCH 30 • SPRING BREAK The Carbondale Recreation and Community Center offers spring break trips (including Aspen Recreation Center and Banana’s Fun Park & Glacier Ice Arena) taking place the week of March 30.

MARCH 30 • SCHOLARSHIP Roaring Fork Valley college students, graduate students and working professionals can apply for scholarships in the Rotary International Scholarship program. The application deadline is March 30. To learn more or to apply, visit www.rotary.org and click on Student and Youth and then Educational Programs. Applicants may also call Charlotte Vanderhurst at 963-2379.

MARCH 31 • GRANT WORKSHOP

Small business owners, farmers and ranchers can learn about two USDA clean energy grant and loan programs at a workshop from 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 31 at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. The grants and loans can help pay for energy-efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations for small businesses and on the production side of farms and ranches. For more information and to RSVP, go online to www.CleanEnergyEconomy.net.

MARCH 31 • SCOUTS’ FUNDRAISER Carbondale’s Boy Scout Troop 235 is hosting a fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.

March 31 at Arby’s in Glenwood Springs. Have dinner at Arby’s on this night and ask for a Scout coupon. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to the Scouts to support camps and next year’s National Jamboree.

APRIL 1 • HATCHERY TOUR Roaring Fork Conservancy presents a Crystal River Hatchery Tour as part of its 2009 Watershed Explorations series.

The tour will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

April 1. Interested persons ages 8 and up can tour the hatchery, a cold-water facility that raises rainbow, Snake River, and cutthroat trout brood fish. The tour

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is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and registration is required at www.roaringfork.org/events.

APRIL 1 • ROTARY TICKETS Tickets go on sale April 1 for the Carbondale Rotary annual “HAPPENING” event on June 13 at the Carbondale Fire and Rural Protection District headquarters on Highway 133. The “Great Bailout Balls of Fire” will feature a reduced $75 ticket price, hearty American fare and live music from Bill Parish.

Tickets will be available from any Carbondale Rotarian. Proceeds benefit valley nonprofits and the club’s grant and scholarship programs. Information can be found at www.rotarycarbondale.org.

APRIL 1 • DODGEBALL Dodgeball & Derivatives at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center will help third- and fourth-graders burn energy and explore the creative derivatives of the traditional game. Class takes place from 3:45-4:45 p.m. Wednesdays beginning April 1. Cost is $25. Call 7044190 to register.

APRIL 1 • PIZZA TUNES White House Pizza presents Open Mic Night from 7-10 p.m. April 1. Play a tune and receive a free pint of beer. The evening is hosted by Ananda Banks and Brian Sweeterman. For more information, call WHP at 704-9400.

APRIL 2 • MEETING Prospective tenants can learn more about the Third Street Center (nonprofit center at the old Carbondale Elementary School) at noon on the first Thursday of every month. Location is 520 S. Third St. For general inquiries, call Sara Plesset, Land + Shelter, 963-0201.

APRIL 2 • MEETING The Historic Preservation Commission will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

APRIL 2 • PLAY Steve’s Guitars presents the play “Charlie Brown.” Visit www.stevesguitars.net for full details.

APRIL 3 • FIRST FRIDAYS Art galleries and businesses will have extended hours for the First Fridays Art Walk taking place along Main Street and near downtown.

The Carbondale Clay Center will host the annual Resident Artists Exhibit, featuring Mark Harro, Lauren Mabry and Alex Watson. The Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities will show the works of ceramicist Diane Kenney and painter Lynette O'Kane. The SAW (Studio for Arts + Works) is exhibiting "Be-

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fore It Was Pretty," a show of design process with architects, designers and the like. Also, on opening night at SAW is the "Shake Your Model Maker" competition from 8-9 p.m. Other art venues include Crystal Glass Studio, Main St. Gallery & The Framer, Roadside Gallery, Kahhak Arts & School, Harmony Scott Jewelry, and Dancing Colours.

APRIL 3 • AUTHOR TALK Molly Swanton and Carla Peltonon will bring their writing alias “Lynn Erickson” to life at the Gordon Cooper Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. April 3. Aspiring writers are invited to join Molly and Carla during First Friday for a free talk about the Business of Writing. They will discuss the essential elements that must be part of any book in order to get it published. The author talk is free. For more information call the library at 963-2889 or visit www.lynnerickson.com.

APRIL 3-5 • SHORTSFEST Aspen Filmfest presents the 18th annual Shortsfest playing April 3-5 at the Crystal Theatre. From a Tibetan Kingdom to a Parisian café to the jungle of Burma, Shortsfest promises to bring you the world... in 30 minutes or less. Films also screen April 1-5 at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. For full program description, visit www.aspenfilm.org.

APRIL 3 • LIVE PAINTING Majid Kahhak will paint live from 6-8 p.m. April 3 (First Friday) at Kahhak Fine Arts & School, 411 Main St. The painting will be inspired by Easter/Spring renewal. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served. For more details, call 704-0622.

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Food, Beer & Wine Tastings

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APRIL 3 • LIVE MUSIC Seventies’ folk artist Steve Forbert is touring to promote his latest album,

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“The Place and The Time.” He will bring his down-to-earth songs and heartfelt vocals to Steve’s Guitars on April 3.

Week to Week

KINDER INFO: Tours to observe kinder classes at Crystal River Elementary School are available at 8:30 a.m.

Wednesdays. A Kinder Information Night to meet teachers will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 9 and Registration Day will be from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

April 10. Call 384-5620 to schedule a tour or to get more information.

DESIGN DEADLINE: The deadline to submit designs for the town of Carbondale Environmental Board’s Dandelion Day Poster and T-Shirt Design Contest is April 10. A $100 prize will be awarded for the winning design. All entries are due to Stacy Stein at the KDNK office by 5 p.m. April 10. Electronic submissions in pdf format can be emailed to stacys14@yahoo.com. Include name, phone number, mailing address and email address. Dandelion Day is May 9.

ART PROGRAM: Opportunities are available for artists to be part of the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities curriculum-based art program at Roaring Fork High School and Carbondale Middle School. Proposals from teachers are imaginative and varied.

CCAH pays for the artist’s time and furnishes all supplies. Time requirement is usually about two hours per day for a one week. Call 963-1680 for details.

HEALING ARTS: True Nature hosts a variety of classes, including yoga, capoiera, Music Together, meditation, sacred music and Buddhist philosophy, throughout the week. Go to 549 Main St, call 963-9900, or visit www.truenature.us for further details.

T-SHIRT DESIGN: The Mountain Fair Poster Design is off and running. This year's theme is “Localmotion.” The deadline for entries is April 24. Go to Mountain Fair Poster Design at www.carbondalearts.com for more information. The artist of the winning design will be awarded $500 plus 10 T-shirts.

Painting by Majid Kahhak Painting Courtesy of Majid Kahhak

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THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009 • 13

Carbondale Commentary Teens need help deciphering TV fantasy from matter-of-fact reality

By Evan Zislis

Last week I watched television for the first time in years and was shocked. Ever wonder why our young people are sex-crazed and body-image obsessed? Watch 20 minutes of prime time cable television and you may get the picture. I was outraged to watch a graphic ad for Levis button fly jeans, explicitly depicting a teenage couple engaging in what could only be anonymous unprotected sex. Flaunting the brashly unapologetic logo, “Live Unbuttoned,” Levis neglects to remind viewers about teen pregnancy, birth control or the transmission of sexually transmitted disease.

It must have happened in my sleep, because I don’t remember becoming such a prude. I lived in Germany through high school and watched plenty of risqué “European television,” complete with partial nudity in ads selling everything from shampoo to yogurt. But here in the United States, where we have the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world, commercials promoting cavalier sex among teenagers is nothing less than reckless and irresponsible.

In 2007, Pitkin County reported four pregnancies among 18-19 year olds, while Garfield County reported 30 pregnancies among girls 10-17 years old and 56 pregnancies among 18-19 year olds. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports two out of three teen mothers never finish high school, leaving them unprepared for the job market and exponentially more likely to raise their children in poverty. These alarming statistics do not include rates of abortion, STDs, rape, sex under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or the emotional damage premature sex can have on male and female teens alike.

As a member of our valley’s emerging Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, I urge you

One in three girls in the United States becomes pregnant at least once before her 20th birthday.

to get involved. Our young people are bombarded with a barrage of images promoting sexual activities harmful to their physical and emotional health.

So-called reality television programs and advertisements depict young people engaged in a variety of tempting choices that leave everyday teens stuck with real-world consequences. Reasonable adults must intervene to help young people decipher television fantasy from matter-of-fact reality.

Ask your daughters to consider the fact that one in three girls in the United States becomes pregnant at least once before her 20th birthday. Remind your sons what it means to be a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease. Remind these young people what it takes to be responsible, financially sustainable nurturing parents. Talk to your teens – ask them to consider the emotional consequences of premature sex and the dangers associated with the kind of adolescent promiscuity they see on television every day.

Want to get your teenagers’ attention? Challenge them to ask their friends about date rape, STDs, day-after pills, clinic abortions, unplanned pregnancies, and the emotional trauma that can only come with being sexually active.

Talk with your teens about these ads. View the Levis “Live Unbuttoned” campaign at: • www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ88l6Swly0&feature=related • www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ88l6Swly0&feature=related • www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eItccb-qt4&feature=related • www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eItccb-qt4&feature=related

YouthZone has helped families and communities raise happy, responsible young people for over 30 years. For more information on the valley’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, call YouthZone at 945-9300 or call Sandy Swanson at the Family Visitor Programs at 945-1234.

Evan Zislis is YouthZone’s Division Manager for Aspen-Carbondale.

Letters continued from page 2 constitute a compelling reason. This same group also claimed that they couldn’t support “single species management” — another good example of why they should listen to the real experts. Any student of ecology knows there’s no such thing as “single species management” because all aspects of ecosystems are so interrelated that the parts cannot be viewed independent of the whole. Even if this were a valid approach, it’s pretty obvious that this approach would be applied one species at a time until there were none left to worry about.

In reality, the Audubon Society has named many neo-tropical species, which would benefit tremendously from in-

creased closures. It might even help revive what had been the valley’s richest fawning grounds, which were destroyed in the peak of birthing season when trail construction commenced in June several years ago. If you value our wildlife, let RFTA know by e-mailing trails@rfta.com. In hopes that our nation’s environmental trickle-down is working faster than the economic trickle-down, you might also contact the state and federal EPA enforcers of the Categorical Exclusion used to implement this wildlife destruction and ask them to enforce the conditions of this document, which have been largely ignored by RFTA. This includes CDOT’s Region 8 environmental coordinator, tam-

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AFTERSCHOOL FOR ALL 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • March 26, 2009

mie.smith@dot.state.co.us, and her federal supervisor, eva.ladow@fhwa.dot.gov.

Jim Duke Carbondale

Clay center is for the community Dear Editor: Thank you so much for the article regarding the street closure for the Clay Center’s new event La Dolce Vita. We really appreciate the town’s support in granting us the closure. We also greatly appreciate everyone’s support for the Clay Center.

I want to say that we, at the center, are not working “against” anybody, let alone other businesses on Main Street in Carbondale. The center is “for” being a part of

the community and creating an atmosphere where anyone can create and learn about art making and the ceramic arts.

Our event has outgrown our center lawn and we, as all other nonprofits, are in desperate need of funds to keep going. Selling the most tickets possible to a FUNd raising event is a means to keep the center alive and thriving, which can only benefit everyone in Carbondale.

We invite everyone to our new event, La Dolce Vita, Saturday, May 30, 2009.

Thank you, again, for your support! We need it!

Lauren Kearns Director Carbondale Clay Center

Sports Boys track take eighth at first meet

Hanna Burleigh and two outstanding shots from Danelia Abarca, according to Muñoz.

The Lady Rams go up against Rangely on April 2 at home and face Vail Mountain again on April 6 away.

The Roaring Fork High School Track Team competed in its first track meet March 21 in Hotchkiss.

“Overall we did great,” said Coach Hadley Hentschel.

The boys took eighth overall, and the Rams had many top 10 finishes: Jon Araujo took second place in discus and third in shotput; Tyler Thompson, first in both long jump and triple jump; Bryan Salinas, second in 300 hurdles, sixth in 200m; Taylor Browning, eighth in the 200m; Adrienne Ackerman, seventh in 300 hurdles; and Raleigh Burleigh, 10th in both the 800m and 1600m.

The boys 4x100m relay placed fifth.

The next meet is March 28 in Cedaredge. After spring break, the Rams compete April 11 at Glenwood Springs High School. Track meets begin at 8 a.m.

Other upcoming athletics

Upcoming games for the RFHS boys baseball team are: March 28 vs. Grand Valley at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at home and April 4 vs. Olathe at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at home.

The girls Tennis Team plays Hotchkiss away on March 28 and Fruita Monument away on April 3.

Unclassifieds MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL Staff openings for 200910 school year: Full-time K-3 Elementary Teacher, Parttime SPED teacher, Part-time Music teacher. Contact marblecharter@hughes.net

Lady Rams game stopped due to weather The Lady Rams Soccer Team was looking strong March 23 before keeper Alli Zeigel suffered an injury in the second half and a blizzard shut out the game against Grand Valley. Grand Valley had scored one goal in the first half.

“We started the season with 30 girls on the roster and the number has been dwindling down to where we only have 13 to 16 girls,” said Coach Ivone Muñoz.

The Lady Rams lost 6-2 in Saturday’s game against Coal Ridge, with Yesica Campos and Shawn Clapper strong on defense.

“But we were weak in the midfield and in the forward positions. Our mids and forwards had to compensate for players that could not play for this game,” Muñoz said.

The March 17 game against Vail Mountain was a tighter matchup. Varsity played hard, with goals from

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Superman: Bryan Salinas practices his hurdle jumps recently at the RFHS track. At the March 21 meet, he placed second in the 300 hurdles and sixth in the 200 meter. Photo by Trina Ortega

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Will our forests withstand the pine beetle?

The Roaring Fork Cultural Council is pleased to host a dialogue on this topic with forest health

John Bennett and Dr. William Murray.

experts

John Bennett, former four-term mayor of Aspen, Colorado, is the executive director of “For the Forest.” Dr. William Murray is Professor of Microbiology at San Jose State University.

Also:

The evening will include a showing of Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Greg Poschman’s compelling short film, “For the Forest.”

When:

March 28, 2009, 7:30pm

Where:

Thunder River Theatre, 67 Promenade, Carbondale, Colorado

Tickets: $10

Seating is limited. Please purchase your tickets today at www.rfculturalcouncil.org.

More information:

www.rfculturalcouncil.org

The Roaring Fork Cultural Council will host a series of events this year, featuring prominent experts on cultural, political and ecological issues.

“Our purpose is to make an affordable, lovely opportunity for all the people in the Roaring Fork Valley, hoping it will last into the future, long after I’m gone, to enrich and benefit our lives.”

– Jim Calaway, co-chairman