Carbondale Commentary The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.
Four years and counting Four score and . . . well, it really wasn’t that long ago. It was actually in February of 2009 that The Sopris Sun published its first issue as your community-supported weekly newspaper. We’re happy and proud to still be doing it four years later. Late last year, we thanked the 85-or-so community volunteers who, in one way or another, helped put this paper together. On the front cover of this issue, we are thanking the many people who donated to The Sopris Sun last year. Next week, we will be thanking all the advertisers who supported us in 2012. Without all of your support, this community paper could not exist. We would like to add your name, or the name of your business or organization, to at least one of those lists this year because it takes a lot of money to get the paper on the street and into your hands each week. And while we’re at it, come join us at the Pour House in celebrating The Sopris Sun’s fourth birthday next Thursday, Feb. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. We’ll have music, food and some special door prizes (including an autographed copy of the very first edition of The Sopris Sun). This year’s party will be especially important as we honor three individuals who helped get The Sopris Sun going: Peggy DeVilbiss (who also helped to found the Valley Journal); Liz Phillips (a founding board member); and Trina Ortega (the founding editor). So come join us and bring your friends and families because Carbondale just wouldn’t be Carbondale without its community-supported newspaper. P.S. – We like gifts (donations).
V O LU N T E E R D O N AT E A D V E RT I S E
Laurie Loeb helps the Sun shine at the Mt. Popa shrine (preBuddhists spirits) near Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) earlier in the month. Courtesy photo
2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 21, 2013
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. The deadline to submit letters to the editor is noon on Monday.
an insult to ducks Editor’s note: This letter was addressed to the Carbondale Board of Trustees, except for John Hoffmann. Dear Editor: I would call you all big ducklings in a small pond, but that would be an insult to ducks everywhere. The proposal by the Garfield County commissioners, CDOT and residents of Satank to connect Dolores Way with the traffic light at Village Road is sane and practical, (maybe that’s why you won’t approve it?) especially compared to the idea of a right-turn only at Dolores and Highway 133. That intersection is a ticking time bomb as far as safety’s concerned. With the business traffic for Ajax Bike & Sport, American National Bank, NAPA, The Paint Store, etc. and all the soccer moms coming and going twice a day, someone’s gonna lose more than an eye. Yet it’s not a priority for Carbondale, even though all those businesses are inside the town limits. Are you sure you’re not cutting off your nose to spite your Satank? We Satankians get the message loud and clear (even those of us who “only came to town about twice a year.” – Steve Earle). But this plan is sound; the land is already for sale and the light is already there. And there would be no need for traffic to cross the precious Rio Grande Trail except at the light where all the traffic on Highway 133 currently crosses it. Plus, I don’t imagine RFTA will be too happy when their brand-new park ’n ride is in constant use as a U-turn for everyone trying to get to Dolores from the south, but we could ask the Carbondale representative/RFTA board member about that. She just so happens to be mother duck, i.e., the most outspoken opponent of the proposal. What a small pond it is. Jeannie Perry Satank
Concerning those trains Dear Editor: The history of the Crystal River and Roaring Fork Valley is extremely interesting. The stories of the early day builders of these railroads and why they built them add to our understanding and enjoyment of this area. Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough space to go into all the details in some other areas like the mining operations in Coal Basin, which was one of the major reasons for the railroad. Not everyone realizes that this wasn’t ordinary coal; it was the best medium-volatile coking coal in the western United States. It was also one of the gassiest, steepest, highest elevations, deepest and most difficult mines to operate in the country, if not the world, and right in our backyard. For anyone interested in the technical details of this mine, and the stories of the miners, I highly recommend “The Mines of Coal
Basin – The Untold Story – 1956-1991: It was never easy” by John A. Reeves. It’s available at the Book Train in Glenwood Springs. Thanks (to The Sopris Sun) for the “Looking Back” snap shots of local history. Bill Grant Carbondale
attention getting Dear Editor: If the recent spell of bitter sub-zero temperatures didn’t get your attention, the heating bills inextricably linked to it probably will. The additional expense leaves many people wondering how to stay comfortable and keep within a household budget. If you’re someone who believes you can’t afford the efficiency upgrades that would keep your heat indoors and save you money, here is some good news. There is a new option for homeowners throughout our region that makes it easy and affordable to reduce the cost of heating your home. Established last autumn, it’s called the Energy Smart Loan. It can be used to fund air sealing, additional insulation, heating, water heating, more efficient windows and even solar energy. Funding Partners, a financing non-profit organization in Fort Collins, administers the LETTERS page 5
To inform, inspire and build community Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor/Reporter: Lynn Burton • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Bob Albright • 970-927-2175 bob@soprissun.com Linda Fleming • 970-379-5223 linda@soprissun.com Photographer: Jane Bachrach Ad/Page Production: Terri Ritchie Webmaster: Will Grandbois Sopris Sun, LLC Managing Board of Directors: Debbie Bruell • Barbara Dills Will Grandbois • David L. Johnson Colin Laird • Laura McCormick Trina Ortega • Jean Perry • Frank Zlogar Honorary board member: Peggy DeVilbiss
Sopris Sun, LLC • P.O. Box 399 520 S. Third Street #35 Carbondale, CO 81623
970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Visit us on facebook.com Send us your comments: feedback@soprissun.com The Sopris Sun is an LLC organized under the 501c3 non-profit structure of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation.