February 28, 2013

LOOK INSIDE:

PAGE 3

PAGE 7

“Bidder 70”

RFHS hoops

the

Sun

Sopris Carbondale’s community

Volume 5, Number 3 | February 28, 2013

supported, weekly newspaper

Help The Sun with your pledge now

BIRTHDAY PARTY

Donate online at www.soprissun.com

TONIGHT

e i n s o invite y r e v E 5-7 PM d at the Pour House A special THANK YOU to our 2012 advertisers …without you the Sopris Sun would not shine.

5 Point Film Festival Ace Hardware-Carbondale Ackerman Log andTimber AllValley MusicTogether Allegria Aloha Mountain Cyclery Alpine Animal Hospital Alpine Bank Carbondale American Legion Post 100 American Seminar Institute Amoré Realty Ann Korologos Gallery Anne Pratt AreDay Aspen Art Museum Aspen Chamber Resort Association Aspen Choral Society Aspen CommunityTheatre Aspen Dance Connection Aspen Eco Fest Aspen Emporium Aspen Filmfest Aspen Golf Club Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Aspen Ski Swap Aspen Solar AspenValley LandTrust AspenValley Ski/Snowboard Club AspenWriters Foundation AspenYoga Society Back Door Consignment Store Back to Earth BodyWorks Barbara Snobble Basalt Chamber of Commerce Basalt Regional Library Basalt Sunday Market BasaltThrift Store Beyond Organics Big Mama’s Home Cookin’ Blue Green Aspen Blue SkyWoodwork BlueTent Marketing BlueTulip Music Production Bob Albright Bonfire Coffee BusinessWorld Brokers, Inc

Campaign to Elect Lorey Esquibel Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Carbondale Animal Hospital Carbondale BeerWorks Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale Community United Methodist Church Carbondale Community Chamber of Commerce Carbondale Community School Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities Carbondale First Friday Carbondale Food Co-op Carbondale Soccer Club CarbondaleWildWest Rodeo CarbondaleYouth Football Casual Culture Cello Piano Church at Carbondale City of Aspen Recreation City of Glenwood Springs CLEER Coldwell Banker Collage! Creative Collections Colorado Educational Consulting Colorado Mountain College Colorado Rocky Mountain School Committee to Elect Jim Breasted Committee to Elect John Hoffmann Committee to Elect Kathleen Curry Committee to Elect Red Cunningham Committee to Re-Elect Pam Zentmyer Cool Brick Studios CORE Crystal Glass Studio Crystal River Spas Dance Initiative Dancing Colours Davi Nikent Debbie & Marc Bruell Diane Kenney Pottery Studio El Montanes Elk Mountain Expeditions Encana Oil & Gas (USA)

Energy & Sustainable Design Evolving Gardens & Grounds Landscapes FamilyVisitor Programs Farmers’Market First Friday Carbondale Frosty Merriott Floral Boutique Footsteps Marketing Forest House Press Four Dogs FineWines & Spirits Friends of Bob Rankin Friends of the Gordon Cooper Library Gallery 809 Garden Planet, LLC Garfield County Clerk Garfield County Housing Authority Garfield County Public Health Garfield County Public Library Gathering of the Americas Glenwood Downtown Market Glenwood Springs Art Guild Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts GlenwoodVaudeville Revue Gordon Cooper Library GrassRootsTelevision Green Miracle Medicinals Harmony Scott Jewelry Harvey for Carbondale Healing Hearts Healthy Horse Boutique Heathy Mountain Communities Heaven’s Gate Heirlooms High Country News HighTone Auto Body Holy Cross HomeCare & Hospice of theValley Independence Run & Hike Isberian Rug Company Jackson Hewitt Jazz Aspen Snowmass Jennifer M Smith PC Jessica Garrow for CU Regent Jim Finch John Foulkrod

Joshua Hmielowski Karen Bradshaw KDNK Kim Nuzzo Kim Stacey Konnyaku / Sake Sushi Bar Labels Lamont for Carbondale Le Cercle LeaTyler Lift-Up LindaWylie Locals for Smarter Growth Lullubelle M3 Marketing MacXprts-Colorado Madd Fox Main Street Gallery &The Framer Mannix Painting Martin’s CentralVacuum Medical Marijuana Centers of Colorado Mi Casita Michael Blakeslee Midland Shoe Miser’s Mercantile Mountain Harvest Festival Mt. Sopris Historical Society Mt. Sopris Nordic Council New Belgium Brewery Novus Auto Glass Osage Gardens Osmia Organics OutWest Antiques Collections PAC3Theatre Peppino’s Pizza Pitkin County Airport Pitkin County Attorney’s Office Planted Earth Polish, A Salon For Nails Pop’s Liquor Potato Day Comittee Potter Farms Protect Our Ranchlands, Rivers and Recreation Public Council of the Rockies

Use this form to mail your donation or pledge to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale 81623 SALE

Take out SALE an ad for your business by contacting bob@soprissun.com or 927-2175

Name (please print legibly) _____________________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ State _____ Zip ________________ Home phone ____________________ Business phone _______________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________________________________

My donation or 2013 pledge: I am donating $ ______ today.

Check enclosed.

Please charge the credit card below.

I pledge $ _________ in support of The Sopris Sun in 2013.

Clip out and bring to the party.

PAGE 2

Disobedience

I will pay this in one sum in the month of _________.

I want to be a “Sunbeam” supporter. Please set me up for monthly donations of $ ____________ per month.

I’m not sure how I’ll pay. Please contact me.

Please charge my: Visa MasterCard Amount to charge credit card $________ Name as it appears on card: _____________________________________________ Card #____________________ Expiration Date ______ 3-digit code on card _____ Authorized Signature _________________________________________________

DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Sopris Sun, LLC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit subsidiary of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation. Sopris Sun, LLC #26-4219405

Quick Mediation Services Rampage Raven Heart Gallery Red Rock Diner Redstone Art Foundation RFHSWorldTravellers Club RiverValley Ranch RiverValley Ranch Master Association RJ Paddywacks Roadside Gallery Roaring Fork Cultural Council Roaring Fork Family Resource Center Roaring ForkTransit Authority Roaring ForkVegetation Robyn Hubbard Rock Bottom Ranch Ross Dress for Less Rotary Club Of Carbondale RPI Consulting Salvation Army Sawyer’s Closet SayYes! to Carbondale Senior Matters Share International MountainWest Sherry Caloia for 9th District DA SOLTheatre Company

COME HAVE A “WAIL” OF A TIME AT FIRST FRIDAY!

Solar Flair Sopris Liquor andWine Sopris Medical Practice Spellbinders St. Mary’s of the Crown Stan Badgett Stash Steve Child for Commissioner Strange Imports Sunburst Car Care Sweet Ruby’s Tastefully Simple The Agency The Blend The Buddy Program The Campaign to Elect Jo Ann Baxter The Campaign to Elect Sonia Linman The Candy Florist The Committee to Elect John Martin The Cowen Center The Fireplace Company The Goat Deli The Orchard The Paonia Chamber of Commerce The Pour House TheWestern Rivers Institute

Theatre Aspen Third Street Center Thunder RiverTheatre Company Town of Basalt Town of Carbondale True Nature Inc. Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist UnitedWay Garfield County UpscaleThrift Shop Valerie Gilliam Valley Events ValleyView Hospital Community Relations Vision Source Viva laWoman Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork Wewer Koehane Wheeler Opera House WhimsicalWomen of theWest White House Pizza WildernessWorkshop Williams &Williams Auctioneers WindWalkers Wyly Community Arts Center Yampah Spa Yoga with Alya Howe

THIS FIRST FRIDAY IS ALL ABOUT LIVE MUSIC!

PAC3, the Black Nugget, Carbondale Beer Works & Steve’s Guitars

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.

To drill or not to drill

By Frosty Merriott That is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to burn clean gas or dirty coal. Is that really the question?

But I progress … for those of us who believe climate change is man made and is a clear and present danger for our kids and grandkids the real question may be: how can the all mighty $Dollar$ make some people so oblivious to something so clearly obvious.

In Carbondale and Garfield County we are making every effort to be the change we seek and to create a balance for the environment. Please don’t label us NIMBYs over Thompson Divide as we enacted our Energy and Climate Protection Plan in 2005, way before it was in vogue. We have set realistic goals to wean off the dirty coal that produces most of our electricity and to reduce our carbon footprint by conserving and moving to renewables. Hey, even our very own Church at Carbondale is onboard, offsetting 100 percent of its electric with a 88kw system and LED lighting. Our recreation center was the first Platinum Leeds building in the country and sports its own 50 kw system. We have enthusiastically supported a state-of-theart RFTA bus system run on compressed natural gas and are talking about a CNG (compressed natural gas) station at the Roaring Fork Valley Co-op and converting our town fleet to CNG. Colorado Rocky Mountain School, with the help of Aspen Ski Co. is home to another 147kw solar farm system, and numerous individuals have installed their own systems on their homes not only to provide clean energy, but because it is the right thing to do.

We are investing parts of our energy mitigation funds from Garfield County drilling back into energy efficiencies and renewables: $80,000 last year and $100,000 this year. This is over and above

our membership commitments to CORE (Community Organization for Resource Efficiency), CLEER (Clean Energy Economy for the Region) and GCE (Garfield Clean Energy), which have yielded benefits too numerous to mention.

Look at all the folks riding their bikes and walking. We are setting the standard with how to move forward to make a difference, to be the change we want to see!

We have enacted residential efficient building codes and are working on commercial efficient building codes. We want to be recognized for our efforts and to partner with reasonable folks to move into a different energy future.

Some of us believe that gas, if properly excavated and transported, can provide a bridge to a cleaner energy future. It will also serve as an engine to our local and national economies. Having said that, it will also require a eureka moment from the energy companies that there are places too special to drill and Thompson Divide is one of them.

The importance I am going to repeat for those who have not so far paid attention why this is so important. Thompson Divide is a 220,000 acre place of inherent and incredible beauty, not to mention its wildlife habitat (14,000 big game licenses every year), historic rangeland (where our local beef graze), “recreation Mecca” reputation and the clean air and headwaters of 15 watersheds (with tributaries of the Crystal, Gunnison and Colorado rivers).

Carly and I hiked in this area with the Wilderness Workshop five years ago and this pristine and roadless area is not only a big part of our local economy but part of our heritage as a people. It is too special to drill!

DRILLING page 13

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.

IMaGINE thanks Dear Editor: At the IMAGINE fund-raiser on Feb. 16, our community came out in full force to support three local non-profits dedicated to children’s health, well being and safety: River Bridge Regional Center, Early Childhood Network, and Cooking Matters. Local celebrity chef Susie Jimenez provided the delicious menu; the Starletts got everyone dancing; wine and beer were enjoyed and great deals were grabbed up on the silent auction tables. Numerous caring donors, sponsors and volunteers contributed to create a fantastic evening for over 300 guests.

IMAGINE raised over $20,000, funds that will go towards supporting healthy, safe, and well cared-for children.

We wish to sincerely thank our many wonderful volunteers who made this success possible, as well as the following generous individuals and businesses: Land Rover Roaring Fork; Sopris Liquor & Wine; ANB Bank; Bishop Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning; Costco; El Jebeverage; Epicurious Fine Foods; The Floral Boutique; Rifle Brewing Company; Roaring Fork Liquors; Shamrock Foods; White River Bar & Grill; and of course Susie Jimenez with her catering company Spice It Up.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

Ready to get mad?

By Patrick Hunter Let’s see if I can make 98 percent of the readers of the Sopris Sun mad at me. As you know, community members are trying to move heaven and earth to keep oil and gas interests from drilling in the region west of Carbondale and Redstone known as Thompson Divide.

I have spent a little time in that area hiking and biking. There is a good network of trails and old mining and ranching roads. There is even the old Midland Railroad grade that stretches from Glenwood up Four Mile Road to Marion Mine and past that to other coal mines on Thompson Creek. West of Redstone is Coal Creek, named of course, for the coal mines.

In the summer and fall, ATV’s are out and about, and in the winter snowmobiling is popular. A large pipeline scar in the flora runs west from the natural gas compressor station on County Road 108.

There are, according to a website map, producing wells and active pipelines to the western edge of this area.

There is quite a bit of information on the damage and the potential damage of oil and gas drilling. The documentary “Gasland” is a convincing indictment of oil and gas production gone bad.

On the one hand, we know what drives fossil fuel extraction: money. Those very same Wall Street “banksters” are financing the exploration that costs barrels of money.

The major energy corporations are making historic profits. The “One Percenters” are raking it in.

On the other hand, I’m using electricity from coal-fired power plants, natural gas to heat my house and my water, and gasoline to run my car.

And so are you.

So here is the equation: It’s OK to burn fossil fuels that screw up other people’s lives and landscapes, but not ours. The Thompson Divide Coalition was leaning

Within a warm, child-friendly environment, River Bridge provides hope and healing to neglected and abused children and their families through counseling, advocacy and investigation services.

Early Childhood Network promotes the availability of quality, affordable early childhood education and provides childcare information and resources.

Cooking Matters connects children in need with nutritious food and teaches families how to cook healthy and affordable meals.

We are thrilled and grateful to be a part of this very special and caring community!

Blythe Chapman, River Bridge Regional Center Jonathan Godes, Early Childhood Network Cooking Matters, No Child Hungry LETTERS page 13

on RFTA to join their group at the same time as RFTA is bringing natural gas fueled buses on line. One of their spokespeople used the “h” word — “hypocrisy.”

Colorado politicians are being told to burn a lot of political capital to satisfy the desires of people who appear to want to have it both ways. If there wasn’t a lot of campaign money in the valley, I doubt they would give us the time of day. Plenty of other Coloradans are taking it in the teeth for oil and gas.

What is not being talked about is the most fundamental issue: whose fossil fuel are we talking about; and what is the best policy to make use of it? The Glenwood Post Independent just ran a column by Jon Kovash (High Country News) laying out the insanity of U.S. oil companies exporting gasoline. They do that in part to drive up the price of gasoline. Energy companies are also exporting coal in a huge way, and trying to get pipelines in place to export liquefied natural gas.

I believe that energy resources found in this country ought to stay in this country.

I believe these resources belong to the people of this country — not corporations — and that the people should decide how they should be developed and used.

More later.

Patrick Hunter is a longtime Roaring Fork Valley resident and lives in Carbondale.

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 members: Peggy DeVilbiss • Elizabeth Phillips

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.

Wilderness Workshop issues call-to-action on Thompson Divide “Bidder 70” to be shown March 6, 7 and 8 Sopris Sun Staff Report Wilderness Workshop is issuing a call-toaction to help save Thompson Divide from natural gas drilling with a screening of the documentary “Bidder 70” in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Aspen on March 6, 8, 9 respectively. The shows are free and start at 7 p.m.

“Bidder 70” tells the story of Tim DeChristopher – the Utah resident who is now serving a two-year sentence for disrupting a BLM auction of oil and gas leases outside of Arches and Canyon Lands National Parks – and the popular movement he launched.

“The screenings are timely,” said Wilderness Workshop spokesman Dave Reed. “The film combines two of the defining environmental issues of our time (and our valley): climate change and energy development. … They (the screenings) also come on the heels of nationwide protests against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.”

DeChristopher was released from prison in October and is now serving the final six months of his sentence in a halfway house in Salt Lake City, according to the Deseret News.

DeChristopher, 31, grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from Shady Side Academy, attended Arizona State University and moved to Utah in 2005 where he worked as a wilderness guide for troubled and at-risk youth.

His work with at-risk youth led him to reject what he viewed as a political and economic system that concentrates wealth in the hands of a privileged few while ostracizing vulnerable and impoverish U.S. citizens, according to published reports. In 2009 he earned a BA in economics from the University of Utah.

DeChristopher’s road to the big house started on Dec. 19, 2008, when he protested a BLM oil and gas lease auction of 116 parcels of public land in Utah’s Redrock Country. He decided to participate in the auction, signing a Bidder Registration Form and placing bids to obtain 14 parcels of land (totaling 22,500 acres) for $1.8 million. For that action, he was indicted on April 1, 2009, in a two-count felony charge for violation of the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act and making false statements. He pleaded “not guilty” on both charges and faced up to 10 years in prison and $750,000 in fines.

In November 2009, DeChristopher’s team of lawyers claimed a “necessity defense,” which required proof that he was faced with choosing between two evils and that his actions resulted in the lesser of the two to avoid imminent harm where no legal alternative was available.

He lost.

On July 26, 2011, a judge sentenced DeChristopher to two years in prison, imposed a $10,000 fine and ordered him into immediate custody.

In explaining his decision not to appeal his conviction, DeChristopher said, according to

“The film combines two of the defining environmental issues of our time (and our valley): climate change and energy development.”

ere is something new under the Sun Sopris Sun Staff Report As we prepare to celebrate the Sopris Sun’s fourth birthday (party at the Pour House, Thursday, Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m.) with you, we have some important announcements.

Change comes to all organizations and the Sopris Sun is no exception. With 2013 just under way, we have the following comings and goings to report.

Leaving the Sun’s board of directors, four years after having helped to found the newspaper, are Liz Phillips and Peggy DeVilbiss.

Liz was instrumental in helping the Sun get off to a sound financial start and worked tirelessly (and we do mean tirelessly) in the early days to make sure there was no interruption in producing the paper after the demise of the Valley Journal. She promises to stay involved with the Sun on other levels as her busy schedule permits (she has three jobs).

Who doesn’t know and love Peggy DeVilbiss? How many remember that this is not the first Carbondale paper that she helped to found? That’s right. Peggy was there at the beginning of the Valley Journal in the 1970s.

Not many people can say they helped start two newspapers in the same town. Peggy brought instant credibility to the upstart paper. Carbondale cannot thank Peggy enough for all that she has done and not just

for the Sopris Sun. Peggy has also promised to stay involved with the paper as a volunteer.

Trina Ortega is moving on as well, but in her case, to the Bay Area where her husband has accepted a job and his relatives live.

Trina is such an integral part of the community that some may be surprised to know that she grew up in Denver. Trina was not only a board member and founding editor of the Sun, but she also wrote some of the best stories to come out of any newspaper in this area. All three board members will be sorely missed.

Sad as their departures are, The Sun is also excited to welcome three new board members: Will Grandbois, Barbara Dills and Sue Gray.

Will Grandbois has been our website manager since 2009, even while he was at the University of Colorado studying anthropology. He attended so many board meetings that some members thought he was on the board. It was only natural that we correct any misunderstandings and make it official.

Will’s positive and common sense approach to helping The Sun with its web design and maintenance have been invaluable.

Barbara Dills is a relative newcomer to the area (a gift from Portland, Oregon), but she is no stranger. Her son attended Col-

Tim DeChristopher is finishing a two-year sentence following his conviction for disrupting a BLM oil and gas leasing process in Utah. The documentary “Bidder 70” tells his story and is being brought to the Roaring Fork Valley by Wilderness Workshop. Courtesy photo the Common Dreams Web site, “Throughout every stage of this legal process, it has been a predetermined conclusion that I should be punished for standing up to the collusion between government and corporations.”

Reed, from Wilderness Workshop, said the non-profit organization is using the screenings to inspire a citizen movement in defense of the Thompson Divide, the 220,000-acre backcountry area southwest of Carbondale that’s targeted for natural gas drilling.

Houston-based SG Interests has applied to drill in at least six sites in the heart of the Thompson Divide.

“If approved, this would bring the kind of industrial development and impacts now seen in the I-70 corridor to the Roaring Fork Valley, and directly compete with our recreation-

based economy,” Reed said.

All “Bidder 70” screenings will be followed by a Q&A with representatives of Peaceful Uprising (the group DeChristopher founded) and the Wilderness Workshop.

For more information, contact Dave Reed at dave@wildernessworkshop.org.

“Bidder 70” will be shown:

Carbondale: March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Third Street Center; Glenwood Springs: March 8 at 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Springs Recreation Center; Aspen: March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wheeler Opera House.

The Sopris Sun welcomes new board members

Will Grandbois

Barbara Dills

orado Rocky Mountain School. Since relocating to Carbondale, she has jumped right in as a super-volunteer, taking on many issues that interest her. Thankfully, she was most interested in community journalism and has already been a volunteer writer submitting stories to The Sun. Sue Gray is a long-time Roaring Fork Valley journalist who is turning her attention to local issues, such as sustainability, transportation and local food production.

She is one of those many devotees of the paper who read every word of every issue.

Finally, it’s a pleasure to announce that Dottie Daniels is the newest intern at the Sun. Dottie and her husband were the honorary King and Queen of Carbondale’s Fat Friday parade. Even though they live in Snowmass

Sue Gray

(retired from the restaurant business in New Orleans), they brought the idea of the Fat Friday parade to Carbondale and it is sure to be an annual mid-winter crowd pleaser.

Dottie has already written a story for the Sun on the history and spirit of Mardi Gras.

So, if you’re standing on the sidelines reading about these changes and wondering how you too can get more involved in community journalism in its truest form, contact us here at the Sopris Sun. We can always find a place for someone with your interest, whether you get a kick out fund-raising, are a social media maven, or just like to write about your favorite subject. Don’t forget to join with us on Feb. 28 to help thank those who are departing and to welcome those joining us in this great adventure.

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 3

News Briefs

Sponsored by

alpine expands to Front Range Alpine Banks of Colorado has announced its next big move: expansion to the Front Range in 2013. A site in lower downtown Denver has been selected for the new Alpine Bank location with plans to begin serving the public by the third quarter of 2013, according to a press release Norm Franke, a 30-year Alpine Bank veteran, has been named president of the Front Range region. In 1991, he opened the first Mesa County Alpine Bank location and grew the bank’s presence in the region over the next 22 years.

Alpine Bank is a $2.4 billion, employee-owned organization chartered in 1973 with headquarters in Glenwood Springs. With 36 western and southwestern Colorado banking offices, Alpine Bank employs over 500 people and serves more than 130,000 customers with retail, business, trust, asset management, mortgage, and electronic banking services.

GarCo offers online tax payment A new system for online payments is available for Garfield County property tax payers. The new payment portal allows taxpayers to complete property tax payments by credit cards or Echecks, with automatic posting to property tax records and immediate verification of payments, according to a press release.

“We are very excited to offer this service to Garfield County property owners,” said Garfield County Treasurer Georgia Chamberlain. “It makes the process easier for taxpayers, and the payments are applied within our property tax database, so it ensures that the payments are made to their accounts directly.”

The Garfield County Treasurer’s Office had an online payment portal previously, but the new system is integrated with the county’s online database of properties.

Deadlines for 2013 taxes are February 28 and June 17 for taxpayers making two half payments, or April 30 for full payments.

To utilize the online payment portal, taxpayers may visit the Garfield County website treasurer’s home page at garfield-

county.com/treasurer. Click on the button named “Property taxes”, search for the property, and click in the upper left corner of the Tax Account screen on the payment you are processing.

Garfield County has $169,455,617 in taxes certified to be collected through this tax cycle, said Chamberlain.

Jackel joins health committee Carbondale Recreation Director Jeff Jackel has joined the ninemember Garfield County Livewell/HEAL Coalition steering committee, according to a town memo.

They will work this year on creating a strategic plan to reduce and prevent obesity among county residents. “Promoting healthy eating and an active living lifestyle where we live, work and play is the goal,” the memo said.

Livewell Colorado is providing $40,000 to assist Garfield County in creating a sustainable strategic plan that will occur through a county-wide prioritized needs assessment.

The program goals include: • Connecting to residents county-wide, particularly the Hispanic community and low-income citizens, about Livewell’s objectives and goals; • Identifying gaps within the coalition, and the county, so as to include all residents; • Working with both RE-1 and RE-2 school districts, and all their schools, to reach their students and staff regarding collaborative efforts to accomplish our mission.

big game hunting applications due april 2 Hunting licenses for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose sheep, goat and bear are due April 2, according to a press release.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which issues the licenses, encourages hunters to apply for licenses online. For details, call 303-291-7526.

In 2012, more than 474,000 applications were received, and more than 80 percent of those were filled out using the online system.

LOVE T MAT ES? Join Borden Farms CSA Get your own weekly harvest box of

Fresh LOCAL

DELICIOUS Organic Produce all summer long!

Contact the farm by April 1st at www.bordenfarms.com (970) 874-5383 • bordenfarms@gmail.com

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

SOPRIS LIQUOR & WINE Be Responsible!

Cop Shop The following events are drawn from incident reports of the C’dale Police Dept.

WEDNESDay Feb. 20 at 11:58 a.m., police issued a warning to a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta without tires parked in a driveway on Morrison Drive. The police report states, “A vehicle like this should be screened from the public eye according to our ordinance. The vehicle owner came to the police station the next day and was told he has a week to move the vehicle.

WEDNESDay Feb. 20 between the hours of 2:38 and 2:51 p.m., police issued warnings to vehicles parked in a two-hour zone on Third Street north of Main Street.

WEDNESDay Feb. 20 at noon, 3:14 p.m. and 6:41 p.m., police issued speeding tickets to motorists on Snowmass Drive, near the intersection of Highway 133 and Weant, and in the 900 block of Cowen Drive.

THURSDay Feb. 21 between the hours 2:44 and 3:08 p.m. on Highway 133 near the Co-op, Carbondale police issued seven tickets to southbound motorists for passing on the right.

“Grapes of Wrath” revisited The Garfield County Library District’s Big Read was John Steinbeck’s Depressionera novel “The Grapes of Wrath.”

The book, which earned Steinbeck a Pulitzer Prize, follows a fictional family of displaced farmers (the Joads) as they journey from their 40-acre homestead in the eastern part of Oklahoma near Sallisaw, to the land of milk and honey – California.

Hundreds of thousands of poor folks from the midwest and south emigrated to California during the 1930s but the Joads had it especially rough. On their way to California: their dog was run over and killed the first day; Grandpa Joad died and was buried along side of Highway 66 just outside Oklahoma City (he didn’t want to go to California in the first place); Grandma Joad died in the California desert and was buried in a pauper’s grave; the truck broke down a time or two; a strike breaker killed one of the party (Rev. Casy) and then Tom Joad killed the strike breaker and went on the lam while the remaining Joads got flooded out of their migrant farm camp after the daughter had a still-born baby (which Tom sent down the river in a Moses style boat during the flood). And everybody just about starved.

Word has it folks in Oklahoma hated the book because the dialogues Steinbeck created made the Joads sound like hillbillies, when in fact hillbillies were found in Arkansas and elsewhere in the southern hills.

The Gordon Cooper Library wrapped up the Big Read with an old-fashion “Jamboree” (shown here) at the Third Street Center on Sunday.

Sunday’s jamboree brought out folks for food, fellowship, music and a little preachin’. Clockwise from upper left: Crystal River Elementary School first graders belted out all four versus of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land;” Jack Green took on the Rev. Casy persona and told the congregation that maybe everyone is part of the same soul, and a country is headed for trouble when too much wealth is held by too few; Slidewhistle performed Depressionera tunes and at one point teamed up on the bass; the bread line included home-grown butternut squash with curry prepared by CRMS students and kitchen staff.

Photos by Lynn Burton

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 5

Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to news@SoprisSun.com.

anyone remember these businesses?

Carbondale starts celebrating its 125th birthday later this year but at least one old codger is already getting into the spirit. He loaned the Sopris Sun a 1931 business telephone directory for Colorado and Wyoming. Right there on page 14 of the white pages, 20 businesses and one government office are listed for Carbondale. Here’s how they are listed plus (as an added bonus to Sun readers) their phone numbers back then: Bagett Jas grocer (28-J3), Bar Forks Ranch (13-W), Barthell PK produce (44), Bertran MD baker (37-W), Carbondale Garage (37-J), Carbondale Potato Growers Co-op Assn. (47-J), Continental Oil Co (1), Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Co (18-J), Dinkel Mercantile & Lumber Co (4-W), Ferguson MV garage (2), First National Bank (33), Hampton E W drugs (17-W), Leonhardy’s Pool Hall (22-J11), Mt. View Hotel (38), Mountain States Tel & Tel Co (10), Pattison Roy D blacksmith (28-R3), Pings William J general merchandise (40-J), Tubbs W R physician (35), United States Government Forest Service (8), Witchy W A general merchandise (12-J) and Woody J S general merchandise (28-R2). Upon close inspection, it appears that Carbondale might not have had any restaurants or churches back then … a pool hall yes, church no.

Meanwhile, in the 21st century The Sopris Sun’s mystery shopper reports that City Market is now selling digital items such as flash drives and photo-cards for some cameras. And where might these new items be located? They are part of a display that includes diapers – of course.

Turd City, USa Here’s a job you don’t want to fall down on: picking up after your mutt at the Delaney dog park. Falling down is

what dog walkers have been doing for what seems to be two or three months, as there are now dog turds as far as the eye can see at the park. It’s like a mine field out there.

Each year, usually in the spring, volunteers hold a semiorganized turd pick up day. Until then, if everyone will just grab two or three extra bags and put them to work each time they visit the park, the spring pick up day should be easy pickins’.

Turding tip: the scooping is smoother when the temperature is a few degrees above freezing. Below freezing and you could be dealing with dreaded bag rip.

Circle the date The Steve Skinner band (sic) opens for the Young Dubliners at PAC3 on March 14.

Solar group honors Weiss The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association recently honored Johnny Weiss with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Weiss co-founded Solar Energy International in 1991.

He is a solar educator, consultant, certified industrial trainer and solar building professional, according to a press release.

As an associate professor for 10 years at Colorado Mountain College, he helped develop and teach a hands-on vocational training program in solar thermal, photovoltaics, energy efficiency and construction skills. He currently serves as a consultant for Solar Energy International, and is helping develop SEI’s Alumni and Friends Association.

Mountain Fair deadlines Arts and crafts vendor applications for the 42nd annual Carbondale Mountain Fair are due on March 1, and food vendor applications on April 5. For details, go to carbondalearts.com.

Cody Adams Ace Hardware of Carbondale Paint Expert Since 1999

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

The Carbondale Board of Trustees recognized Students of the Month at their meeting on Feb. 12. From left to right (front) are: Yulissa Sanchez, Sam Schoon, Nicole Topete and Dalton Groom; (back): Aldo Pinela. Not shown: Tavia Teitler. Photo by Lynn Burton

Town seeks GCEa board members The town of Carbondale is accepting applications to serve on the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board. For details, call 510-3003.

They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: Kate Feinzig and Dick Hallagan (Feb. 2), Heather Smith (Feb. 4), Tim Bauer (Feb. 5) and Gwen Garcelon (Feb. 6).

Ram boys and girls head to post-season tournaments

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer March Madness for Roaring Fork High School boys and girls starts on Feb. 28 as both teams head for postseason play.

The boys take a 16-3 season record to the court after winning the 3A Western Slope League championship. They face Coal Ridge at home at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28. If they win that game they play in Palisade at 4:45 p.m. on March 1 and March 2. They must finish in the top four teams to advance to the next round, according to head coach Larry Williams.

The Rams dropped their first two games of the season to 4A teams Steamboat Springs and Eagle Valley, then went on a tear, winning their next 12 games before losing to Aspen at home.

The Rams are led by seniors Trae Moxley (6’5”), Dakotah Grett (5’10”) and Israel Leyva (5’8”). Other players seeing a lot of action are juniors Jack Fisher (6’1”), Dwayne Yin (6’3”) and Tanner Nieslanik (5’8”), and sophomore Ben Carpenter (5’11”).

Moxley and Grett lead the team in scoring; Moxley leads in rebounds and Grett in assists.

For the season, Roaring Fork averaged 51 points per game and held their opponents to 43.

Statewide, Roaring Fork is ranked seventh by the Denver Post and eighth by Maxpreps. The other teams in the Western Slope League are Aspen, Basalt, Coal Ridge, Moffat County, Grand Valley, Cedaredge, Olathe and Gunnison.

Girls The Lady Rams finished fourth in the 3A Western Slope League with an 11-5 record (11-8 overall, with one loss a forfeit due to a CHSAA rules violation). Moffat County won the league championship with a 15-1 record, with their

Last week’s final game was Parents Night at Roaring Fork High School.

To the left is Marianne Ackerman with daughter Georgia Ackerman.

Photo by Sue Rollyson Dakotah Grett (left) and Israel Leyva (right) fist bump before the regular season’s final game last week. Both are seniors. Photo by Sue Rollyson

only loss coming at the hands of Roaring Fork. They face Coal Ridge at home at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.

Roaring Fork is led by seniors Megan and Hattie Gianinetti (both 6’1”), Shaeley Lough (5’6”), and juniors Maddie Nieslanik (5’10”) and Toni Gross (5’5”). Other players seeing a lot of action this season include senior Georgia Ackerman (5’9”) and Autumn Grandberry (5’7”). Other players rounding out the team are Daniella Santana, Emily Fisher,

March Maintaining Good Health before & during Pregnancy Learn about some simple, practical steps you can take that will help to insure a healthy pregnancy.

Presenter: Brooke Halliwell, D.O. Women’s Health Thursday, March 7, 2013 • 7:00 pm Valley View Hospital Conference Rooms 3A & 3B RSVP to 945-2238

Find credible health information on the internet with Jean Winkler, VVH Connie Delaney Medical Librarian and Pat Conway, branch manager of Glenwood Springs Library “Consider the Source” • Tues., March 19 1:00 to 2:30pm • GWS Public Library “Getting There from Here” • Thurs., March 21 1:00 to 2:30 pm • GWS Public Library

Ruby Lang, Heidi Small and Kristen Joiner.

Megan Gianinetti leads the team in scoring with a 12point average, followed by Hattie Gianinetti and Maddie Nieslanik with 9.

If Roaring Fork wins at home against Coal Ridge on Feb. 28 they are guaranteed a birth in regional play. If they lose but are the highest seed not making it to the tournament in Palisade they will also land a spot in regional action.

AT VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL

Tobacco Cessation Classes

Blood testing Predraws for Valley View Hospital’s Community Health Fairs

Monday, March 4 • Noon Second floor classroom at Valley View Hospital. Small group classes are taught

by Sandy Hyra, RN and Deb Meader BSN, CCRN. Please register by calling VVH Respiratory Therapy at 384-7834.

VVH Auxiliary scholarships Teeny Jeung Memorial Scholarships Valley View Hospital Auxiliary offers four scholarships in memory of Teeny Jeung, a long time nurse at Valley View Hospital. Any local graduating high school student who has been accepted into a Health Sciences program at a college or university is eligible.

Valley View Hospital Auxiliary Health Sciences Scholarships The Health Sciences Scholarship is for those entering or continuing with studies in the medical field.

Two scholarships will be awarded. Any person wishing to study or to continue studies in the medical field is eligible for this scholarship.

Completed applications are due Friday, April 12, 2013 by 5 pm. For further info and applications for either of these scholarships, please call Michele Orton, at 384-6656.

N E W L O C AT I O N PreDraws for blood draw only (no appointment needed)

Mountain View Church, 2195 Co Rd. 154, next to the Old Buffalo Valley Wednesday, February 27 • 6:30 to 10 am Wednesday, March 20 • 6:30 to 10 am Blood draw includes cholesterol, cardiac risk, blood sugar, kidney and liver function for $45.

Add Prostate Specific Antigen for $35 Blood count $20. Colorectal kit $15. Requires fasting 12 hours before blood draw. 18 years and older.

Health Fairs

Saturday, April 6, 7-11 am Roaring Fork High School, Carbondale Saturday, April 13, 7-11 am Coal Ridge High School, New Castle Saturday, April 27, 7-11 am Glenwood Medical Associates, Glenwood More information: 384-6651

UPCOMING EVENTS

Roaring Fork Valley WOMEN’S HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

April 20, 8:00am to 2:30 pm The Orchard in Carbondale Fitness and How It Impacts Your Health/Disease Process • Free Lectures • Free screenings • Free child care (6 months to 12 years) Keynote speaker Allison Gannett - world renowned Extreme Mountain Skier, Global Climate advocate & originator of multiple non profits including Save our Snow To register: visit www.vvhfoundation.org

Valley View Auxiliary invites you to “High Tea” Get together with friends, your book club, sorority or your daughter and granddaughter to celebrate spring!

Wear your favorite hat, or your grandmothers hat and gloves. Create memories. For information call 384-6656

VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL 1906 BLAKE AVENUE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS • WWW.VVH.ORG • 970.945.6535

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 7

Karen Nieblas drives for the basket in Saturday’s PEG League tournament in Glenwood Springs. The Carbondale Middle School eighth-grade girls team won the tournament and ďŹ nished the regular season with a 5-1 record. This weekend they play in Delta.

Photo by Gregg&Cath/Gregg Adams Photography

The Best place to warm up after playing in the snow!

February’s Special

Chocolate Bliss Wrap Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage Private Natural Thermal Mineral Bath and a Day Pass to the Vapor Caves “It’s a Day at the Spa� $115

Historic Underground Vapor Caves

-VY 0UMVYTH[PVU 9LZLY]H[PVUZ JHSS ‹ `HTWHOZWH JVT :WH 6WLU :HSVU ‹ 4HQVY *YLKP[ *HYKZ ‹ .PM[ *LY[PÄJH[LZ (]HPSHISL

soprissun.com

You Are On Line We Are On Line!

Read the Sopris Sun e-edition 8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

At Bridges: strong relationships, personalized approach

By Debbie Bruell Sopris Sun Correspondent

“real’ for the students; history teacher John Cordasco focuses on giving students the tools they need to be active citizens, engaged in issues that impact them personally.

the importance of getting out of her office and into classrooms every day. “That helps me know what kids and teachers are doing, helps me build trust and helps to show the kids that learning is still fun for me,” she said.

Bair identified the small size of Bridges as their main challenge in that it means that she has a small staff and limited funds. This financial challenge is particularly difficult, Bair said, because many of these students’ needs are great, especially with special education students.

Another challenge Bair noted is the school’s reputation in parts of the community as being an easy school filled with unmotivated students. In fact, Bair explained, over half of Bridge’s graduates exceed the district’s graduation requirements.

Bair said her dream is to expand Bridges High School to include seventh/eighth graders. She would also love to see the Bridges model transferred to a larger school. “A large school could divide up into little academies, smaller groups of teachers and students,” Bair said. “The model of caring for other people is where we need to be going; focusing on telling kids, ‘You are a valuable part of our community and we will help you reach your goals.’”

Roaring Fork School District Superintendent Diana Sirko and the Board of Education are in the process of developing a plan for a district visioning process.

Engaging students The goal of this visioning process is for stakeholders in Bair told the Sopris Sun that students are very involved each community to work to define what they believe in their own learning process as well as the workings of would make an outstanding school district. In preparation the school as a whole. Every quarter, each student writes a for the visioning process in Carbondale, The Sopris Sun is self-assessment outlining the goals they set for the quarter running a series of articles on district schools inside the and reflecting on their success or challenges as they worked town limits, giving the principal of each school an oppor- toward those goals (including academic, social and behavtunity to describe the essential asioral goals). pects of his or her school. The Students also participate in evaluating following article on Bridges High teachers, making suggestions for the kinds School is the fourth in this series. of classes they would like Bridges to offer Lyn Bair, principal of Bridges and about 8 to 10 students each year parHigh School, points to four key eleticipate in a Student Accountability Comments that are central to her mittee, which monitors schools climate school’s approach to learning: and student involvement and provides crit• Strong teacher-student relaical feedback about various aspects of the tionships; school.

• A personalized approach; • Engaging students in the enClear expectations Daily schedule: tire process of their schooling; Every teacher outlines exactly what will • Very clear and explicit expecMost classes are offered between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Ocbe done in the class — and why — at the casionally, night classes are offered that run as late as 9 tations and tracking of stustart of every quarter. In addition, each stu- p.m. Bridges works to create class schedules that work well dents’ progress.

Lyn Bair, Principal dent has a clear outline of the steps they According to Bair, most students for students’ and families’ needs.

Bridges High School need to accomplish in order to graduate. come to Bridges because they have All classes are 50 to 70 minutes long.

Bair has a large color-coded poster in her felt “disenfranchised” from the regOn average, Bridges students are in class about 30 hours ular school system — sometimes socially, sometimes aca- office charting each student’s progress toward graduation. per week. demically. (Bridges includes special education students as This visual display helps students understand how the difBridges students can also take elective classes and well as highly advanced students.) Because these kids have ferent choices they make will impact their progress toward other specialized and/or advanced classes offered at the struggled at other schools, Bair explains, staff’s ability to graduation. other district high schools.

Staff also provide frequent feedback to both students make strong connections with each student is critical to and parents about the student’s progress. Every Monday their success.

Additional info on Bridges High School: “School should be a loving, caring place; it shouldn’t be afternoon is “Parent-Teacher Time,” during which all staff are available to meet with parents and/or students.

Students grades 9-12: 80; Latino, 57 percent, Anglo focused primarily on numbers, percentages and proficien43 percent.

Bridges staff are also using the district’s Infinite Camcies,” Bair said.

Every student participates in a grade-level advisory pus Internet program, to which both parents and students Students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch: 41 percent. group of about 12 students, which meets weekly. Advisory have access, to document upcoming assignments and reAverage class size: 12. teachers help each student identify goals and checks in reg- port grades on past assignments.

Like the other RFSD schools, Bridges holds two to three Note: In contrast to other district high schools, Bridges can ularly with each student regarding the progress they’re making toward those goals as well as their plans for their parent-teacher conferences each year. Unlike other schools, only accept a limited number of students – 80 students maxfuture, including summer work opportunities and apply- however, Bair told The Sun that staff ensures that 100 per- imum. Students are accepted on a first come, first served cent of Bridges students participate in two parent-teacher basis. ing to college.

Each student’s advisory teacher also functions as that conferences each year. student’s individual advocate and support person throughout the school year.

Other highlights • Senior Project: Every senior writes a thesis on a career option Personalized approach Bridges, which is located in the former Carbondale and then spends 40 hours actually Middle School building on Sopris Avenue, focuses on working in that industry. At the end building each individual student’s “personal resources.” of the year every senior does a 20Staff talks with each student about what resources they minute oral presentation to the Poet Myrlin Hepbring (emotional, mental, financial, support systems, role whole school about their thesis, worth visited with the models, etc.), and what resources they could work on de- their hands-on experience and their Creative Writing class veloping. (See Ruby Payne’s book, The Underresourced future plans. Examples of Senior at Roaring Fork High Projects include: making bio-fuel, Learner).

School this week.

Before a student is even admitted to Bridges, Bair meets making straw-bale structures, meHepworth will perwith each applicant and his/her parents to discuss the stu- chanics and beauty school. form with students • A strong focus on commudent’s educational goals, identify resources that the student and other local poets brings with him/her and begins exploring what resources nity-service: All students are inat the First Friday volved in two service projects each they could work on developing at Bridges. poetry slam at Steve’s As a very small school, teachers can focus all of their at- year, such as volunteering for Guitars at 7 p.m. on tention on a limited number of students and get to know Habitat for Humanity.

March 1. Photo by • Community support: Bridges those students well, which enables them to “personalize” Tomas Karmelo/ the curriculum. By connecting the learning to the individ- has been able to draw upon comParazol Studios ual students’ lives and passions, teachers can help students munity support to bring in the resources they need to serve their understand and appreciate the value of their education.

Bair points to the following examples: English teacher students well, such as offering a Ronnda Kuhr draws on the specific interests of individual climbing class and bringing in a students to get them hooked on reading even when they’ve college counselor.

• Involved principal: Working never enjoyed reading before; science teacher Suzanne Fitzgerald gets kids connected with specific environmental as an assistant principal under efforts such as the plastic bag campaign, to make science Cliff Colia, Bair said she learned

“School should be a loving, caring place; it shouldn’t be focused primarily on numbers, percentages and proficiencies.”

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 9

Community Calendar THURSDAY Feb. 28

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com. View and submit events online at soprissun.com/calendar.

8:30 p.m. at the Third Street Center. The suggested donation to Davi Nikent is $10. info: 970-989-3329.

ROTaRy • Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita every Thursday at noon. Sopris Sun board member Frank Zlogar is today’s speaker.

PaRTy WITH THE SUN • The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s community supported nonprofit newspaper, celebrates its fourth birthday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Pour House on Main Street. There’ll be music (Guilty Pleasure) FRIDAY food (including Midge’s fabMarch 1 ulous chocolate sheet cake) MOVIES • The Crysand fun. Everyone’s invited as tal Theatre presents the Sun honors three of its “Life of Pi” (PG) at founders: Trina Ortega, 7:30 p.m. on March Peggy DeVilbiss and 1-7. “Life of Pi” is a Elizabeth Phillips. Info: drama about a 510-3003. young man on a C-TOWN • KDNK fateful voyage who, radio presents C-Town at after a spectacular PAC3 in the Third Street disaster, is hurtled Center at 8 p.m. Talent into an epic journey like you won’t believe. of adventure and It’s free. Info: kdnk.org.

Peggy DeVilbiss and Trina Ortega discover. He beLIVE MUSIC • The comes marooned on Black Nugget in the Dinkle Building presents a lifeboat he must share with the ship’s only solo artist Timothy Carey at 8 p.m. No cover. other survivor – a fearsome Bengal tiger with aRT TaLK • The Carbondale Council on whom he makes an amazing and unexpected Arts and Humanities presents a panel discus- connection. The film won an Oscar for best sion titled “How to go from ‘Starving Artist’ director, cinematography, visual effects and to ‘Artiste’” (that’s French for successful) from score. “‘Life of Pi’ is a miraculous achievement 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Third Street Center. Panel of storytelling and a landmark of visual masmembers include Dick Durrance (photogra- tery,” said Roger Ebert. pher), Wewer Keohane (mixed media), Nancy POETRy SLaM • The Aspen Writers’ FounLovendahl (sculptor) and Ashley Todey (arts dation presents a poetry slam and spokenmanagement). Info: carbondalearts.com. work performance featuring Myrlin HepMETa-MEDICINE • Integrative health spe- worth at Steve’s Guitars at 7 p.m. Poets’ regcialist Jon Robson explains meta-medicine’s istration is at 6:30 p.m. The slam is free but approach to problems with the liver, spleen donations will be accepted. Judges will be seand pancreas (third chakra) from 6:30 to lected from the audience.

50# Corn Chop

$17

07

FEED THE BIRDS

50 lb. Black Oil Sunflower Seed

99 We are now offering Large $31 Animal Feed and wild bird seed

Call us today to place your order, discuss your needs or for more information 963-1700

Open seven days a week Next to City Market in El Jebel, 400 E Valley Rd. Ste I/J 963.1700 | Open M-F 10-6:30pm | Sat/Sun 11-5pm

THEaTRE • The Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” continues at 7:30 p.m. on March 1-2 and 2 p.m. on March 3. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for students at 963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com. The final performances are March 7-9. Thunder River Theatre is located west of the Dinkle Building on the red brick walkway.

LIVE MUSIC • PAC3 in the Third Street Center presents the Wailers performing “Survival.” Tickets are $30/$35 and the show starts at 8 p.m. Info: pac3carbondale.com.

LIVE MUSIC • The Black Nugget in the Dinkle Building presents the Roosters (featuring Josh Phillips) at 9 p.m. No cover.

LIVE MUSIC • Carbondale Beer Works presents Chicago’s Marbin Band (Israeli jazz stylings) from 8 to 11 p.m. Check them out at marbinmusic.com. No cover.

SPaGHETTI DINNER • American Legion Post 100 serves up spaghetti from 5 to 8 p.m.

The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for kids. The post is located at 97 Third St. FIRST FRIDay • Galleries and shops are open late and some bars will be presenting music for First Friday.

CLay CENTER • The Carbondale Clay Center at the east end of Main Street hosts an opening reception for Sarah Moore and K Rhynus Cesark from 6 to 8 p.m. Info: 963-2529.

arts and crafts, games and – a birthday cake!

Info: 963-2889.

CONTRa DaNCE • The next Carbondale contra dance takes place at the Third Street Center at 7:30 p.m. The caller will be Jeff Haemer from Boulder and admission is $8.

Info: Dana at puragusta@hotmail.com.

LIVE MUSIC • Carbondale Beer Works presents percussionist Lyn Byers and friends on sax, guitar and violin from 6 to 9 p.m. No cover.

LIVE MUSIC • The Black Nugget in the Dinkle Building presents Trout Steak Revival (bluegrass) at 9 p.m. No cover.

HOCKEy FOR HOPE • The Aspen Valley Foundation holds its third annual Hockey for Hope fund-raiser at the Aspen Ice Garden (233 W. Hyman Ave.) at 7 p.m. There’ll be Smoke chili and cornbread, beer, Tasters pizza, tunes from DJ Echo Dafunk, a chuck-a-puck contest and more as the Snowmass firefighters take on the Aspen police. VIP tickets are $100. There’ll also be free skating at 5 p.m. Info: 544-1298.

SATURDAY March 2

MONDAY March 4

CELEbRaTING SEUSS • The Gordon Cooper Library throws a birthday party for the late Dr. Seuss at 1 p.m. There’ll be a Seuss storytime with special guest reader, music,

SUNDAY March 3 aSC • A Spiritual Center in the Third Street Center holds an open discussion at 10 a.m.

The guest speaker on March 10 is Tanai Starrs.

LIVE MUSIC • The Black Nugget in the Dinkle Building presents Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats at 5 p.m. No cover.

JaM SESSION • Carbondale Beer Works on Main Street hosts an old time jam session with Dana Wilson Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

CALENDAR page 11

Learn to Salsa!

SALSA DANCE CLASS!!

WHEN: Saturday, March TIME: 6 to 8pm WHERE: Roaring Fork High School Auditeria

2nd

$6 for Single / $10 for Couples

ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY IS WELCOME!!

Parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, and even FRIENDS from OTHER schools!

GRAB YOUR DANCING SHOES AND PARTNER! *Sponsored by RFHS Junior Class* 10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

Community Calendar Bring your banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, spoons or washboard; all skill levels are invited. Info: 704-1216.

TUESDAY March 5 LIVE MUSIC • PAC3 in the Third Street Center presents Joe Pug at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10/$15. Info: pac3carbondale.com.

WEDNESDAY March 6 LIVE MUSIC • PAC3 in the Third Street Center presents the New Orleans Suspects at 8 p.m. Info: pac3carbondale.com.

NaTURaLIST’S NIGHT • Andrea Holland Sears presents “What’s in the air: Air quality on the White River National Forest” at 7 p.m.

continued from page 10

at the Third Street Center. It’s free. The presentation is part of the Wilderness Workshops Naturalist’s Night series.

WaCKy • The Carbondale Recreation Center presents Wild-n-Wacky Wednesdays for kids 2-5-years-old from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The cost is $5 for members, $6 for non-members. Info: 510-1292.

HICK aRRIVES • Roaring Fork Leadership presents Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Base Village Conference Center in Snowmass Village. The topic is “Hickenlooper 2.0: Leadership in Action.”

Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the door, which includes appetizers and a beverage.

Further Out FRIDAY March 8

aNDy TayLOR SHOW • Korologos Gallery in Basalt hosts an opening reception for “Andy Taylor: Current Works” from 5 to 7 p.m.

SUNDAY March 10 RIVERSIDE CHaT • Loren Jenkins, a PulitzerPrize winning reporter and former NPR senior foreign editor, will speak at the Basalt Library from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 (minimum donation). Info: 927-4311 ext 1008.

FRIDAY March 15 PaIRINGS • The Carbondale Clay Center hosts “Pairings” from 6 to 9 p.m. Featuring over 30 local and national artists, “Pairings” brings together the handmade cup with delicious handcrafted beverages provided by distinguished Colorado distilleries, wineries and

brewers, as well as other non-alcoholic beverage makers. The community is then invited to choose a cup to purchase and "Pair it" with tastings of handcrafted beverages. Beverages from past “Pairings” events include local wines, vodkas, spirits, beers, coffees and teas. The Carbondale Clay Center is located at the east end of Main Street. Info: 963-2529.

SUNDAY March 17 SHaMROCK HUNT • St. Patrick’s Day fun includes a shamrock hunt at Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel from noon to 2 p.m. Starting at the pavilion, come walk the park, find a shamrock and redeem it for a “lucky” prize. This event is for children, ages 6 months to 12 years, one shamrock per child. The one-mile path is stroller accessible and leashed-pet friendly. Info: 963-6030 or crownmtn.org.

Ongoing MEMbERSHIP DRIVE • KDNK’s winter membership drive continues through March 1. The station — at 88.1, 88.3 and 88.5 FM — airs National Public Radio shows, music from more than 50 volunteer DJs, local news, Youth Radio and more. For details, call 963-0139 or go to kdnk.org.

PHOTO SHOW • Colorado Mountain College’s ArtShare Gallery features current and past students from the school’s professional photography program through March 2. The photographers are: Andrew Braun, Copi Vojta, Elizabeth Moreno, Guadalupe Laiz, Beth White, Jury Jerome, Martin Cowell, Freya Fennwood, Charles Engelbert, Seth Andersen, Tracy Trulove, Sarah Schwab, Bruna Velloso, Sergio Carrasco, Ryan Martinek, Spencer Herford, Dan Hall, Anthony Williams, Justine Cranford, Amy Painter, David Gillette and Jeremy Joseph. The gallery is located at 802 Grand Ave. in Glenwood Springs and the hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: 947-8367.

STRaNaHaN CONCLUDES • “George Stranahan: Looking Back” concludes at the Wyly Community Art Center in Basalt on Feb. 28.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Info: 927-4123.

VVaS CONCLUDES • The 33rd annual Valley Visual art show continues at the Third Street Center and Bonfire Cofffee through March 1.

More than 60 valley artists are included. Info: the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities at 963-1680.

TaLLMaDGE CONCLUDES • The Main Street Gallery presents Catherine Tallmadge through February. Raised in Carbondale, Tallmadge recently returned to the valley after living in Chicago for nine years where she graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. This collection of work features multimedia collages that draw their inspiration in the veneration of Patron Saints and other idols but with a whimsical application.

Hold the Presses LEaRN TO SaLSa! • The Roaring Fork High School junior class is sponsoring salsa dance lessons at the school from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 2. The cost is $6 for individuals and $10 for couples. Everyone is welcome.

P&Z TaLKS TO HPC • During the Carbondale Planning & Zoning Commission meeting at town hall on Feb. 28, the commission will discuss historic preservation incentives with the HPC; discuss with CCAH a possible creative district; and discuss downtown issues, including parking.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Public comments will be taken at approximately 9 p.m. For a complete P&Z meeting packet, go to carbondalegov.org.

PITCO’S FOUNDING • The Aspen Historical Society presents a discussion on how the state of Colorado created Pitkin County in 1879. It takes place at the Aspen Community Church at 5:30 p.m. and admission for non-AHS members is $8.

We never stop working to make your airport experience more enjoyable.

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport It’s your airport

LOCAL LEGEND LOCAL LEGEND BOBB BOBBY Y MASON MA SON N O N - S T O P C H I C A G O D E N V E R L O S A N G E L E S S A N F R A N C I S C O H O U S T O N D A L L A S / F T. W O R T H

A SPEN A IR PORT.C OM

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 11

Community Briefs Please submit your community briefs to news@soprissun.com by noon on Monday.

RFHS looking for mentors Roaring Fork High School is looking for adults who will help mentor and tutor students in math and English from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays. The school is also looking for volunteers to help with book clubs. For details, contact Drew Adams at dadams@rfschools.com.

CMS book drive continues The Carbondale Middle School book drive is continuing. The school snagged a matching grant of up to $3,000 and is shooting for 10 grand. Books purchased will go in the school’s library. Donations of actual books are also being accepted. For details, call the school.

CSa deadline coming soon The deadline to join the Borden Farms CSA is April 1. Members enjoy farm-fresh produce during the growing season. For details, call 874-5383 or e-mail bordenfarms@gmail.com.

Community School accepting applications The Carbondale Community School, a K-8 charter school, is accepting applications through April 5. For details, call 963-9647.

Emergency notification system in place The Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority has implemented a new emergency notification system to alert citizens of emergencies that may affect them and also provide community news when needed, according to a press release.

The Everbridge system enables public safety agencies to provide information for fires, floods and other emergency situations. The messages can be delivered to a cell phone, e-mail address VoIP phone and more. To sign up, go to www.garco911.org.

Carbondale accepting library proposals The Town of Carbondale is accepting requests for proposals (RFP) from organizations that want to lease the Gordon Cooper Library when the new library is opened this summer. The deadline is March 22. For detail, call 963-2733.

aVF accepting grant applications The Aspen Valley Foundation is accepting community grant applications until noon on April 5. They are available at the foundation office at 616 E. Hyman Ave., by calling 5441298 or e-mailing info@aspenvalleyfoundation.org.

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

Katrina Byars practices her routine at a recent Green is the New Black fashion show rehearsal at PAC3. The fashion extravaganza is produced by CCAH and is slated for March 8-9. Photo by Jane Bachrach

The Sopris Sun welcomes new Carbondale Chamber members tyler WARE 1901 Dolores Way Carbondale

Meier Skis 7800 Hwy 82 Carbondale

New Path 520 S. Third Street Carbondale

This ad sponsored by

Drilling continued om page 2 OK, so who wants to drill it? A company called SG Interests is at the forefront of the movement. It was SG Interests that conspired with Gunnision Energy Corporation to rig leases (Civil Action No 12— cv-00395-RPM-MEH) and were fined an obscenely low amount for their carefully worded admission of guilt. It’s a company whose president, Russell Gordy, now owns four ranches in Wyoming and Montana; the largest at 70,000 acres and the last he bought (44,000) acres cost $40 million.

Heck, he already owns his own personal Thompson Divide. What does he have to say about this?

“I’ll definitely never develop” (the 44,000 acre ranch) he told the Bozeman, Montana Daily Chronicle in an April 13, 2002 article; though he made his money drilling other peoples’ land he will never drill his own.

“I just love that country” he continued, not unlike those of us who love Thompson

Divide. “I won’t mess it up. I think people will find me a good neighbor.”

Well Mr. Gordy we are asking you to put your money where your mouth is and be our good neighbor, to do the right thing and let the controversial leases expire. You have been offered a fair price. These leases were after all acquired with the knowledge that they were part of a proposed roadless area and in violation of the Forest Service Area Conservation Rule. This of course comes as no surprise to some of us as it took place during the Bush Administration.

We remember them. They exempted fracking fluid from the Clean Water Act.

Let’s partner To Mr. Gordy, we would really like to be your partner in going toward a clean energy future. Gas can be a part of it, but not with an in-your-face attitude of “I got mine, too bad about yours” attitude currently being exhibited by some gas companies. After all,

Gunnison Energy, one of your partners in the aforementioned lease rigging (and owned by Bill Koch) was criticized by a federal judge for its “unrepentant arrogance.”

So we ask you and others in the energy business to join us as partners in a clean energy future. You will still make plenty of money and maybe, just maybe, we can still stop climate change in the process.

We implore you to admit that there are places too special to drill. Enlist our cooperation and our good will. Make this a proverbial win-win situation. Sell your leases for a reasonable amount and don’t drill the Thompson Divide. Set a new example for our county and our country, and be an integral part of a new dynamic of cooperation. We are after all in this together.

If not, where does that leave us?

Because of who we are, we will continue to try to do the right thing. We will write letters. We will show up. We will further educate ourselves. We will conserve. But we

probably won’t support any more CNG facilities or convert our fleets to CNG. In short, we will continue to do our best and fight you tooth and nail to preserve our own special place — Thompson Divide. We also recognize the time could come when cattle drives go up and down Four Mile at all hours and some of the cows choose to nap in the road for hours on end, when farm machinery breaks down inexplicably, and old hippies (and hopefully some young ones) put on their headbands and tie-dyes and remember back when “conscience did not make cowards of us all and the native hue of resolution did not cloud the pale cast of thought.

And enterprises of great pith and moment were not lost in the name of action. Soft you now! ” – Shakespeare.

Frosty Merriott is a certified public accountant and member of the Carbondale Board of Trustees.

Letters continued om page 2 More on railroad history (Editor’s note: This letter as submitted was 1,600 words long, so the Sopris Sun is running it in two installments).

Dear Editor: It’s always enjoyable to read a nostalgia article in the local newspaper. It provides flavor and context for the dry facts of history and helps us all better understand this place we call home. But all too often these articles neglect or distort accurate history for the larger feel-good aspects of the story.

Such, I believe, is the case with the recent “Looking Back” articles on the history of railroads in the Crystal River Valley. While they did indeed evoke a sense of the period, many of the associated facts backing the story were incorrect, perpetuating myths or creating conflicting accounts that muddy future attempts to paint an accurate picture of the valley as the old-timers who remember it directly fade from the scene.

It’s probably easiest to understand the differences by giving a quick overview of the railroads that were identified in the article: the Colorado Midland (CM), Denver &Rio Grande (D&RG, later Denver & Rio Grande Western), Aspen & Western (A&W) and Crystal River (CR, later Crystal River & San Juan, CR&SJ).

As mentioned in the article, the Colorado Midland (CM) came from Leadville via Hagerman tunnel and down the Frying Pan. At Aspen Junction (Basalt) the line split, going upvalley to the silver mines at Aspen and downvalley to Glenwood Springs and beyond, eventually making it as far west as Grand Junction.

In the vicinity of Carbondale the line was roughly on the same grade as present-day Highway 82, crossing over the Roaring Fork west of the old Satank bridge and the confluence with the Crystal River. A stone abutment from the bridge is still visible at the edge of the river. The line then crossed through what is now Coryell Ranch subdivision and along roughly what is now County Road 109 into Glenwood Springs. A branch left the main at

Cardiff, climbed Four Mile and crossed over the ridge separating Four Mile and Spring Gulch, then known as Jerome Park, near the present day Sunlight ski area. This line served the coal mines at Sunlight, Marion, Union and Spring Gulch.

At no time did the CM have any tracks up the Crystal River Valley as stated in the article. Most likely the person interviewed for this point remembers the Crystal River railroad, if the property was in the vicinity of the creek that bears the same name.

The Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG) built east from Glenwood Springs on what is now the RFTA bike path to Aspen, entering Carbondale but bypassing Aspen Junction (Basalt) via Emma and Hooks Spur. Both railroads were trying to reach Aspen first, a race the D&RG won on Oct. 28, 1887. The CM reached Maroon Creek on Dec. 1, but didn’t enter Aspen proper until Feb. 4, 1888, because of the time it took to complete the iron bridge over Maroon Creek (re-used after about 1918 as the Highway 82 bridge until just a few years ago).

As stated in the article, the Aspen & Western was incorporated in 1886 but construction didn’t start until some later date. Track was completed into Willow Park (not Willow Peak) by April 1, 1888. It was indeed the first railroad into the Crystal River Valley (but not Carbondale). However it was hardly a coup that the D&RG furnished the material to construct the track. In fact it was a fairly common practice at that time, especially if the larger railroad anticipated taking over the smaller upon completion. And the D&RG charged Colorado Fuel & Iron predecessor Colorado Coal & Iron Co. more than $86,000 for the work. The D&RG also constructed a number of railroad service buildings in Willow Park, none of which survive.

As the article pointed out, the A&W only hauled a small amount of coal (113 tons according to state records, not 150 tons) during its one year of operation, for the reasons stated in the article. This would have amounted to about four to six carloads,

probably no more than a single train. This would seem to be a colossal blunder given the amount of money expended for so little return, unless Osgood had larger goals in mind.

There is some speculation this might have been the case.

In 1892 the Crystal River Railway (CR) was incorporated, joining together the A&W and three other projects that were never constructed but existed on paper: the Elk Mountain Railway, the Colorado & Utah Railway and the Crystal River Toll Road. These companies had value because of the rights-of way they controlled. The CR began at the D&RG depot in Carbondale and utilized approximately three miles of A&W track, to about the long-gone siding of Grubbs. From that point to Redstone the CR constructed its own grade utilizing the Colorado & Utah and toll road rights-of-way. It did not use the grade of the Elk Mountain Railway in this part of the valley as stated in the article, that is present

day Highway 133. The old CR grade can be seen on the opposite side of the river from the highway for most of this stretch. Several local roads and driveways also utilize the old grade.

Ray Sauvey Carbondale

(Editor’s note, part II: For five years, Ray Sauvey was general manager of the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin; for four years he was director of the Steamtown Institute, a cooperative association with Steamtown National Historic Site, in Scranton, Penn.; for one year he was director of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. He has also taught numerous railroad history and administrative courses, both for volunteer training, Elder Hostel programs and national symposiums. He provided a bibliography for this letter to the editor but it was too long to publish).

The female figure at Fourth and Main wore a shawl on Sunday but as the day warmed up she shucked it, only to put it back on the following day. Photo by Lynn Burton

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 13

Free pizza contingent upon Mountain Fair T-shirts Sopris Sun Staff Report

The venues include:

Other action includes:

It’s time to rush to your summer drawers (and we’re not talking underwear here) and dig around for a favorite Mountain Fair T-shirt.

Why? Because Peppino’s is handing out free slices for everyone who shows up in a fair T-shirt to help celebrate First Friday on March 1!

Beyond Mountain Fair T-shirts and free pizza, this month’s First Friday theme is “A Wail of a Time” to note reggae legends The Wailers at PAC3 plus other great music and related entertainment options around town, starting at 5 p.m.

• PaC3 – The Wailers not only worked with Bob Marley but with many other international musicians. Tickets are $30/$35 at pac3carbondale.com. The show starts at 8 p.m.

• The black Nugget – It’s the Roosters with Josh Phillips (blues rock) at 9 p.m. No cover.

• Steve’s Guitars – Hip-hop meets poetry at a slam featuring Phoenix-based poet Myrlin Hepworh and local high school students. Hooting and applause are encouraged starting at 7 p.m. Poets’ sign up is at 6:30 p.m. Donations are asked.

• Carbondale beer Works – The Chicago-based Marbin plays world, rock and jazz starting at 8 p.m. No cover.

• The Carbondale Clay Center showcases new work by former co-directors K Rhynus Cesark and Sarah Moore, with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

• The Crystal Theatre presents “Life of Pi” (see Calendar for details).

• Thunder River Theatre Company presents “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” (see Calendar for details).

• True Nature Healing arts on Third Street presents kirtan singing with Gayan & Laura, plus raw chocolate and tea sampling.

• CCaH presents Sybarite5 at the Third Street Center at 6:30 p.m. It’s free.

Shopping | Dining | Culture | Recreation

VISIT BASALT & EL JEBEL At the confluence of Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Rivers Woods was formed.”

Lowe, a professional designer from Chicago, orchestrated the Eco Fest fashion show in Aspen for three years, and has been satisfying her customers growing concerns for environmentally friendly products ranging from natural cosmetics and candles to home furnishings and clothing. There is also a wide variety of organic teas and coffee beans. The beans are even fresh roasted in Carbondale.

“Carbondale is an important setting for sustainability,” says Lowe, who is currently designing the True Nature Healing Arts Project in conjunction with Dennis Powell of DK Architects.

The project, when it opens this spring, will feature a tea and raw chocolate room adjacent to new gardens. “It’s an exciting project and will coincide with the grand open-

Corky Woods: Keeping “green” all year round

By S. Michael Jundt When you enter Corky Woods, the “green” department store on Midland Avenue in Basalt, you will find an eclectic mix of products Owner Michelle Pauline Lowe has brought her passion for doing right by the environment and broadened its exposure to like-minded shoppers.

“For me, raising a healthy family meant using healthy and natural products,” says Lowe, “and wanting to bring that awareness and availability to others is how Corky

Basalt to host National Fly Fishing Championships

Event last May. “Hosting the national event only increases our exposure on a national level,” the spokesman continued.

Much like the regional qualifying event, scoring is based on number of fish caught in addition to total inches caught in five, three-hour sessions taking place over three days in and around Basalt.

Though anglers must qualify at a regional championship or be invited by Team USA to participate, there are spectator and volunteer opportunities for fishing enthusiasts who wish to be involved.

Upwards of 70 to 100 sportsmen will be competing in this event.

Sopris Sun Staff Report Basalt had been awarded the National Fly Fishing Championships for Fly Fishing Team USA to take place Oct. 4-6, according to a press release.

“We feel very fortunate and would like to thank all who made the regional qualifying event such a success last May,” said a Basalt Chamber of Commerce spokesman.

Basalt hosted the Rocky Mountain Regional Qualifying

We’re Ready!

Are You?

Now accepting spring/cruise clothing, shoes, jewels, art, household, furniture & giftables.

970-927-4384 144 Midland Avenue Basalt, Colorado 81621

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013

ing of a second Corky Woods outlet on Main Street, Carbondale,” says Lowe. The Main Street outlet, now in progress, will display Corky Woods “green” home products, but will also add furniture and accessories.

BASALT RECREATION Check out these NEW classes for 2013!

Girls Basketball Camp for 1st through 3rd grades with Coach Kari Strobel.

When: Feb. 26, 27, 28, Mar. 4, 5, 6 Time: 3:20 - 4:20 PM Where: BES Gymnasium

Art Club with Ms. Devine We have TWO classes to choose from; Tuesdays, March 5 and 12 or Fridays, March 8 and 15. Class is $38.

1st - 3rd Grade Boys Basketball Camp This is another opportunity for the young players to get out on the courts and learn new skills and drills and play games with others. Lots of game time so come join us for this great camp after school on March 18, 19, 20, 21.

www.basaltexpressrec.com

Dealing with Mondays; a few passages help It’s Monday today as I write this column for Thursday. I don’t care for Mondays. My reasons are many. If I’m not careful this sets me up for failure.

Without the right frame of mind I’m easily distracted, put out and offended. This of course this usually makes for Mondays ending up exactly as I anticipated — grim.

Only one thing seems to help start not just my Mondays but every day out in a way that’s appropriate for me.

There’s a daily journal I keep that starts out on the left hand page with what I call my morning readings. The ďŹ rst thing written down is a Bible verse from a daily book of devotional

By Bill Kight reading that a friend gave me.

Then I search for the next page bookmarked of the Tao Te Ching and write down the most important quote from that reading.

Lastly is a randomly selected page from “The Little Book of Positive Quotations,� compiled and arranged by Steve

Common Ground

Deger and Leslie Ann Gibson. Random is the key word here.

It’s my way of exerting my will on the day.

That’s more than enough to chew on and try to remember. Give me more than three things to do or remember and you can forget it ‘cause I will most deďŹ nitely not remember.

Next I meditate on those words of wisdom. I’ve written them down so I can refer to them when things get rough and chaos reigns. I ask Creator to help me be the man I should be.

Spending this quiet time to center myself makes a huge difference in my day. When I’m in too big of a hurry (translated to “I don’t get up early enough�) and don’t do this, usually the day ends up a train wreck.

The verse that came up this morning proves that Creator has a sense of humor ‌ “in everything give thanks.â€?

Yeah right. Give thanks for Mondays? You got to be kidding. How do you give thanks for something you don’t like?

And the Tao? “True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering.�

Great. More pearls of wisdom.

Let’s hope I can ďŹ nd some comfort in today’s quotation.

It’s by Katherine Anne Porter: “Experience is what really happens to you in the long run; the truth that ďŹ nally overtakes you.â€?

Don’t know if that really helped thinking about the experience of this coming Monday overtaking me.

So does this stuff work? Am I going to make it through the day a better person because I prepared myself this way?

There’s probably one way to ďŹ nd out.

The best way to tell would be to ask my co-workers, friends who know me well, people I come in contact with.

The proof is in the way people are treated.

The bottom line for me has nothing to do with money.

And I don’t need a shelf full of books on ethics. It’s really quite simple and can be summed up in ďŹ ve words, “Love your neighbor as yourself.â€?

I can read all the verses in the Bible and write down all the Tao my whole life and think positive thoughts till Hell freezes over but the true test is how well am I keeping the so-called Golden Rule.

So no matter how much I dislike Mondays or dread heading out the door or fear what may happen to derail me today the true test of my humanity lies in my ability to love others and treat them accordingly.

That’s a tall order for any of us. Let me know how I’m doing.

Bill Kight has spent over 30 years helping to manage America’s public lands. He is currently community liaison for the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District and member of Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team A.

altitude Filmworks celebrates ďŹ rst anniversary Sopris Sun Staff Report To celebrate their milestone one-year anniversary in January, Altitude Filmworks has just released their 2013 Aerial Reel.

The online video is a compilation of aerial footage that the company shot in its ďŹ rst year of business in locations throughout Colorado, Utah and Idaho.

In January the company also welcomed Garrett Edquist to the team as a camera operator and editor. Edquist’s most recent work includes editing the documentary “Vail: The Rise of America's Iconic Ski Resort,� which aired on Rocky Mountain PBS earlier this year, according to a press release.

Altitude Filmworks specializes in aerial ďŹ lming and photography using remotecontrolled cinema helicopters. Their ďŹ lming projects include adventure sports, commercials, TV productions, documentary ďŹ lms, resort properties and special events.

The Carbondale-based company was founded in January 2012 by Jon Fredericks and Louis Wilsher, and their upcoming projects include TV productions, documentary ďŹ lms and resort promotional shoots.

Their 2013 Aerial Reel can be seen on their homepage at www.AltitudeFilmworks.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AltitudeFilmworks.

Altitude Filmworks’s “aerial camera platformâ€? allows the company to y low and slow or up to 400 feet and 40 miles per hour. Courtesy photo

Service Directory Help for families in need.

Food is available at LIFT-UP’s seven area food pantries, made possible by support from our caring community.

Mid-Valley Food Pantries Carbondale: Third Street Center, 520 South 3rd Street, #35 Mon, Wed & Fri: 10am-12:30pm • 963-1778 Basalt: Basalt Community United Methodist Church 167 Holland Hills Rd. • Wed & Thur: 11am-1pm • 279-1492

Learn more at www.liftup.org and join us on facebook!

Support The Sopris Sun while The Sun supports your business!

Service directory ads start at just $40.

Contact #PC "MCSJHIU at 970- or CPC@soprissun.com

Unclassifieds Submit Unclassifieds to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by 12 p.m. on Monday. $15 for up to 30 words, $20 for 31-50 words.

B Z - B E J F T f % FTEBZ— O E F 8

Z &WFS

WANTED: Town of Carbondale Tree Board Volunteers.

Do you have a passion for TREES and would like to get involved? If you are a citizen of the Town of Carbondale and would like to volunteer, please contact Tony Coia at 963-1307, Public Landscape Manager.

RII D )XOO 6HUYLFH 2LO &KDQJH RU RII DQ\ )XOO 6HUYLFH :DVK 3DFNDJH %XJJ\ &LUFOH &DUERQGDOH

ZZZ VXQEXUVWFDUFDUH FRP

See Thundercat at

CARBONDALE ANIMAL HOSPITAL 234 Main Street

(970) 963-2826 www.carbondaleanimalhospital.com

Dr. Benjamin Mackin Mon., Tues., Thurs., Friday 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday 10:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m.

GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Rates start at $15. Email unclassiďŹ eds@soprissun.com. *Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 948-6563. Checks may be dropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailed to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 618-9112 for more info.

Spring it on

Miser’s Mercantile NOW ACCEPTING SPRING CONSIGNMENTS 303 Main St. • Carbondale • 963-3940 • OPEN 7 DAYS

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s community supported newspaper • FEbRUaRy 28, 2013 • 15

four

E

EB

R AT I N G

Y

E

C

L

AR

the s

ris sun p o

F OUR

Carbondale’s community supported, weekly newspaper!

4TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Thursday Night, February 28 5-7 p.m. at The Pour House Help The Sun with your pledge now Three easy ways to support the Sun Donate online at www.soprissun.com Use this form to mail your donation or pledge to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale 81623 SALE

Take out SALE an ad for your business by contacting bob@soprissun.com or 927-2175 linda@soprissun.com or 379-5223

Name (please print legibly)

________________________________________________________________________________

Celebrate

The Sopris Sun’s fourth year of publication and join us in honoring Trina Ortega, Peggy DeVilbiss and Liz Phillips.

GREAT FOOD LIVE MUSIC

Address______________________________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ State _____ Zip ____________________ Home phone ____________________ Business phone __________________________ Email ________________________________________________________________________________________________

courtesy of

Guilty Pleasure

featuring Dave

Taylor and Lyn Byers

My donation or 2013 pledge: I am donating $ ______ today.

Check enclosed.

Please charge the credit card below.

I pledge $ _________ in support of The Sopris Sun in 2013.

I will pay this in one sum in the month of _________.

I want to be a “Sunbeam” supporter. Please set me up for monthly donations of $ ____________ per month.

I’m not sure how I’ll pay. Please contact me.

Please charge my: Visa MasterCard Amount to charge credit card $________ Name as it appears on card: _____________________________________________ Card #____________________ Expiration Date ______ 3-digit code on card _____ Authorized Signature _________________________________________________

DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Sopris Sun, LLC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit subsidiary of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation. Sopris Sun, LLC #26-4219405

FANTASTIC DOOR PRIZES! Contributions from the community ensure our team of journalists, designers, ad reps, distribution master and others have the resources needed to put out a great newspaper every week.

Your donations will also help us expand our reporting staff and explore new ways of delivering news to our community.