17 04 13

the

Sopris Carbondale’s weekly

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

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Sun

Volume 9, Number 10 | April 13, 2017

Don’t try this at home … Unless you’re at least as experienced as Pete Thompson, who has been a climber for 16 years and a slack-liner for 13. He and his friends put together this 411-foot-long, 1-inch-wide high-line near Mushroom Rock on April 1, with Michelle Smith capturing this photo as well as a video you can view at vimeo.com/212489496.

Thompson loved the challenge, but emphasized that he

wasn’t interested in staring death in the face.

“That’s not what this is about,” he said. “We take a lot of care to make it safe, because we can.”

The lines (you'll notice there are two) were firmly fixed to natural anchors and Thompson was wearing a harness and tether the whole time.

“Walking on the line is the most scary part, but it’s

also probably the safest,” he said. “It put me in a very special place, purging emotions and letting myself be in the moment.”

After it was over, he added, the crew not only left no trace, they filled a bag with other people’s trash, leaving the popular destination cleaner than they found it for others to enjoy.

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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, email editor Will Grandbois at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.

Why CRES was the obvious choice

By Trina Ortega I was at my third-grader’s school, Crystal River Elementary School, in an after-school art class watching children apply glaze to ceramic bowls. One student was using the “splatter” technique, and the glaze sprayed anyone who was standing nearby. My maroon dress had just been adorned with a new pattern: small aqua dots of pottery glaze. It was messy, beautiful and funny all at once.

My friend, Maria, looked at my dress and laughed.

I wracked my brain trying to remember the Spanish word for “clean” or “wash” so I could ask: Do you know if it will wash out?

“Lavar en agua, creo que sí?” I bumbled. Maria nodded noting that she understood what I meant, but then shrugged her shoulders. Thankfully, the art teacher confirmed the glaze was water-based and that it would come out.

Maria only speaks Spanish. I am a fifth-generation American who grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in Denver, but my parents didn’t encourage us to speak Spanish — How else would my siblings and I assimilate?

When I really need to communicate with Maria, I lean on her daughter, Jasmine, who is fluent in both languages and willingly plays the translator. Every time I’m in this situation, I feel bad for Jasmine and lament that I cannot speak Spanish. Every day, I am grateful that my son has a daily Spanish class.

And every day, I am grateful that he goes to school with people of different backgrounds — both ethnically and socioeconomically.

In a time when public education is very much at risk with H.R. 899 (the bill that would eliminate the Federal Department of Education); House Bill 610 (funding for a voucher program); and a U.S. Secretary of Education who is a school voucher and school choice proponent, I don’t take Crystal River Elementary School for granted.

Carbondale epitomizes the notion of “school choice.” For a town of only 6,000 people, it always baffles me that we have four K–8 “choices.” (I put choices in quotes because limited enrollment charters and private schools do not guarantee a spot for every child.)

And in my “perfect” small mountain town (where a bad day is based on lack of powder at the ski hill or rain making the hiking trails too muddy), more middle- and upper-class families are for school choice. In my progressive-minded little town, families are giving up on the public education system. Parents are protective and want what’s best for their child.

That’s understandable.

Some days pass and I don’t think much of it. Other days pass and it makes me sad that in such a small town, kids don’t know each other and that instead of bridging the racial divide, school choice is making it wider.

When I first waded through the four-school choice in Carbondale 10 years ago, I came to realize that I was into it for more than just “the best” for my individual kid. The second time around, only four years ago, there was no wading; I knew that CRES page 23

OPINION

Sincerest thanks to our

Honorary Publishers for their generous, ongoing commitment of support.

Jim Calaway, Chair Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert: Habitat for Humanity - RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger

ank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support!

It truly takes a village to keep e Sun shining.

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 news@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.

A cry for help Dear Editor: I am on a team at Carbondale’s Rebecca Lodge which attempts to organize and display community contributions so that bargains can be had and landfill can be saved and the Rebecca’s Near New store can continue their historic charitable giving. Together

with the members of the Rebeccas there are about 20 volunteers getting the job done. But it takes a village, as they say.

We are not a recycling center. Please recycle through your own waste carriers.

Look at the Roaring Fork Valley Resource Guide on wastefreeroaringfork.org which will help you be part of the solution to

an increasing tsunami of the waste stream.

Use local consignment stores. Call them to see what they will take.

Clothing and textiles (excepting pillows and carpets) can be taken to Pitkin County Landfill.

We can only display about 15% of the clothing, bedding, shoes, accessories which are donated and we like them to be clean, the kind of item you still consider useful.

We have limited room for furniture.

We cannot take cvs, monitors, large electronic equipment, humidifiers, children’s car seats or any appliances which do not work or anything with missing parts.

You can call the Near New at 9630340 during our open hours 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday if you have questions.

LETTERS page 23

Feel that?

The Sun is proud to announce the addition of several new board members. We're a bit late in welcoming Faith Magill, third from left, who has already been a huge asset with proofing and more. Joining her as of this week are, from left, Raleigh Burleigh, Marilyn Murphy and Stacey Bernot. We appreciate their time and dedication.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

That’s 24 pages of local news, features, photos and more, plus an additonal eight from the “Rampage” high school paper.

Robust editions like this are made possible by our loyal advertisers and generous donors. If you like what you see — and feel — consider placing an ad or making a donation. We’re also always looking for new perspectives in letters and columns and interesting ideas for stories. Find a way to get involved at soprissun.com or check out our contact info to the right.

To inform, inspire and build community.

Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor Will Grandbois 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Kathryn Camp • 970-379-7014 adsales@soprissun.com Reporters: Lynn Burton, John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie Delivery: Tom Sands CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Cliff Colia • Diana Alcantara Matt Adeletti • Olivia Pevec Faith Magill • Stacey Bernot Raleigh Burleigh • Marilyn Murphy The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the second Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center. Check the calendar for details and occasional date changes.

Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell

The Sopris Sun, Inc. P.O. Box 399 520 S. Third Street #32 Carbondale, CO 81623 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Send us your comments: feedback@soprissun.com The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.

CRMS students relocate problematic osprey nest

By Ruth Oppenheimer and Allie McKinley Special to The Sopris Sun Editor’s note: This story comes to us directly from the students who worked to relocate a pair of nesting osprey, and is one of the final steps in the successful project.

In the last week of October 2016, Steve Hunter, a concerned local citizen, approached the biology program at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) with a problem.

A young couple of ospreys had nested on top of an 80 foot XCEL power pole next to the RFTA Bus Stop along Highway 133 in Carbondale. The birds presented safety issues such as getting shocked or causing a power outage. Additionally, the nest has twice blown off the power line, though thankfully no eggs or fledglings were in the nest yet.

Before the summer, the students’ goal was to work with XCEL energy, who had agreed to donate and instal the poles, and relocate the ospreys by installing a new nesting platform on CRMS property. The students separated into five groups and each chose a certain task to complete.

One group’s job was to research about osprey natural history. They learned many things about ospreys and helped to make sure that we put the new platform in a safe environment

that would not be disturbed by predators and would additionally provide access to rivers to hunt fish. That group also created learning targets that the rest of the class would need to know and eventually be tested on toward the end of the project.

Early on, the biology class met with Mary Harris, a respected member of the Roaring Fork Audubon Society. Harris had several suggestions pertaining to the students’ work, and answered their questions. Later in the month, the class had a Skype meeting with a highly-respected osprey expert and a rockstar in the national and international birding community, Alan Poole from the Cornell Ornithology Lab. Questions for Alan focused on osprey care, health, and migratory patterns.

One of the other groups focused on writing grants to purchase a webcam so that we could live-stream the nesting activities of the birds to the broader community. Anja Simpson, a student on this team spoke about the challenges of a webcam that could stream such a task.

Simpson expressed her concern with the costs early on, but we were thrilled and thankful to receive a grant from Alpine Bank, which ended up funding the camera that the Biology students chose. The classes also used an internal grant, called the Chris Babbs Award, to further fund elements of the webcam system.

A third group in the class focused on a home for the ospreys. Their goal was to research platform designes and build a platform which would support a mature osprey nest, which can weigh as much as two hundredpounds. Ospreys will normally nest on a tall surface like a pole or a dead tree. This group planned extensively in order to build the ideal nesting platform for the guest of honor. In order to entice the birds to their new location, Alan Poole from Cornell recommended that the students collect sticks, pretend they were ospreys, and build the beginnings of a nest on their platform which they did on a late February day in the classroom.

The kids consulted experts and worked with local partners in the process of building a new nesting platform for the raptors.

“Xcel is going to provide and instal the poles,” said Nat Crawford, a student on the platform building crew. “We decided to install two poles: one to host the nesting platform; another, an infrared illuminator (for night vision) 15 feet away, to host the camera, a microphone, and wireless antenna which will stream the video. These birds are going to have a better wireless connection than most of our faculty!”

Nat’s dad, Doug Crawford, helped with the construction of our platform building, In early March, the class met with local ecologist Dee Malone to solicit her opinion on the potential sites we had chosen for the nest.

“Our challenge was choosing a site that did not have too much human traffic but was also visible to people from the campus and community,” said Mayan Davis, another student on the platform building crew. “We want to see and enjoy these birds! We also needed to be close enough to a human structure to access power and internet. This was one of our most challenging decisions.”

We finally decided to put the poles on the west side of the Crystal River just upstream of where 106 road crosses the river on its way past the campus and up toward Spring Gulch.

A final couple of groups were involved in making a video documentary and an podcast to air on KDNK . Comprised of two hardworking freshmen, the video team has been documenting every step.

“We are videoing the process and then we’re going to edit it into a five to ten minute documentary which will live on the project’s website,” said Sophia Lareau, one of those hardworking freshman.

Soren Blachley, a member of the podcast team, reflected on his process added, “It has involved a couple of all-nighters to learn how to use the audio editing program and convert all our audio into a story, but I am excited about the final product”.

On April 5, 2017, our biology class and a team from XCEL Energy erected the two poles. The Top: The ospreys took to their new digs right away. The webcam isn't quite online yet, but ex- process started at 9 a.m. and finpect to see nesting photos soon. Bottom: The CRMS crew poses with the completed platform. ished at 3:15 p.m. and the outcome was one pole with our futuristic Courtesy photos by Tobi Reiffenstein, Kaitlyn Young and Kate Oldham and Kayo Ogilby.

looking, eco-friendly, wireless webcam.

“These things are tall,” laughed our teacher Kayo Ogilby when several students suggested that Biology students ought to monitor and adjust the equipment once a year rather than XCEL. As of this printing we still need to run power to the pole and complete the website before streaming will be live.

“Well... and some birds need to actually decide they want to use this platform,” noted Ogilby as he talked with Steve Hunter, who was also on site all day. Hunter, who echoed the same sentiment of other osprey experts, was optimistic that they would come. “This is the nest of dreams. Build it and they will come”.

Before a betting pool could be established the birds showed up. At about the same time we were erecting our nest local resident and blacksmith Franz Froelicher, whose studio is right near the transformer station where the birds originally tried to build their nest, observed the nesting pair attempting to build again on the top of the transformer tower. The birds were apparently trying to stuff their nesting sticks under the deterrent cone XCEL had installed.

On Saturday and Sunday CRMS teacher Matt Norrdin observed those birds circling over the new nesting platform on CRMS. “It was amazing to watch - you could tell the birds were scoping out the platform,” he said.

On Monday morning, while our biology class was in session, Joe White of CRMS observed one of the birds carrying its first nesting stick to the platform. He immediately alerted the class and throughout the day we enjoyed watching them continue to build their nest.

“I’m in awe,” said Ogilby. “I can’t believe they found it so fast. It is truly a joyous spectacle to watch and feels so good to see that all the time and effort that these students invested paid off with a safe and sturdy alternative for these birds. It was such a fun process.”

Franz Froelicher recognized the birds as the mating pair from the transformer tower. “One of them has a distinctly white head - almost mistakable for a bald eagle,” he said. “They have found their new home”.

To learn more about this project, visit our temporary site goo.gl/uYdua7. This site will also direct you where to go once our webcam is active.

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 3

Town Briefs

Easter egg hunts, peeps and more The annual easter egg hunt in Sopris Park for ages 1 to 8 will start at 10 a.m. sharp on Saturday, April 15, with registration for the Easter Basket Raffle at 9:30 a.m., Finance Director Renae Gustine relayed in the town’s weekly report. Also, the registration deadline is April 13 to register for the second annual “Where My Peeps At” Scavenger Hunt on April 15. The cost is $20 per team of 2 to 6 people.

Meanwhile…

• Work continued to prepare the town ditch system to be turned on April 17. The process has gone well so far, with help from the streets crew as well as the utilities department, and things are running ahead of schedule, though the pump vaults are still being cleaned. Adjustments have also been made to the channel for the Carbondale Ditch through the True Nature Kiva.

• In addition, the streets crew worked on sweeping and began replacing the deteriorated concrete parking blocks at Town Hall with recycled rubber ones that should have a substantial life. On Third Street, the contractor has been working on earthwork as well as conduit installation and is beginning the lateral extensions for the ditch and will soon be placing the concrete ribbon curb.

• Crews also fixed and removed seed netting on Bonnie Fisher Park Trail and over seeded dry spots, inspected playgrounds for safety, conducted a weed mitigation burn of Delaney Nature Park, set up windscreens at the Darien Tennis and Pickleball courts, tiled and leveled the volleyball courts, and opened up the basketball court at Bert and Ernie Park • With siding, doors, windows and stairs installed, the announcer’s booth is nearly complete at the Gus Darien Rodeo Grounds. The next project is the installation of a picnic shade shelter, which is being donated by Roz and Tom Turnbull in

recognition of the western ranching heritage of Carbondale and to build something that can be enjoyed by families in memory of Bob & Ruth Perry.

• Sales tax for March was up 5.1 percent. The year-to-date is up 2.4 percent over first quarter 2016.

• Town staff participated in a meeting with Garfield County and their consultant to begin work on the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Lieutenant Wurtsmith participated in Glenwood with oral boards to help the District Attorney’s office select a new Chief Investigator.The town hosted a two-day class on Integrity Centered Leadership, with 32 Law Enforcement students participating.

• The recreation department reported that a planning meeting for Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) Carbondale Boat Ramp Project had taken place on site at the Bob Terrell State Wildlife Area with representatives from Roaring Fork Fishing Guide Alliance, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Town of Carbondale and David Hamilton with RFOV. The project is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; interested volunteers can go to the RFOV website to sign up for the project.

• The winter Pickleball League culminated with Jason Thraen taking the men’s golden paddle and Maureen Fitzpatrick leading the women. Winter Adult Coed Volleyball league with finished the season last week with “Girl-ish Power” taking the tournament win over “Las Chivas” in the finals.

• Well pumps have arrived for the Crystal Well, though the town is still waiting on pump motors, baffling and control panels. Staff are also working with a contractor on Nettle Creek work which will be completed later than expected. Finally, with disinfecting and flushing wrapping up, the Gateway RV park water system will be pressurized next week.

REAL LIFE SKILLS FOR THE REAL WORLD

SEEKING COMMUNITY EXPERTS

on everything from building birdhouses to building rockets

Learn more about the Roaring Fork Schools Capstones Program for Graduating Seniors

Share your expertise, give back to the community, build a relationship with a student!

Learn more: 970-384-6009 www.roaringforkschools.com/capstones 4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

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

THURSDAY, March 30 at 10:26 p.m. a 20year-old man was arrested for criminal mischief (less than $300, a third degree misdemeanor) harassment and violation of a restraining order following a report of a disturbance at a residence on Morrison Street.

The charges will be treated as domestic violence for the purposes of sentencing. On April 6, the same man was the subject of a report on a possible protection order violation.

FRIDAY, March 31 at 11 p.m. A report of a disturbance behind Peppino’s Pizza lead to disorderly conduct summons for two men, 31 and 33.

FRIDAY, March 31 at 10:12 a.m. someone on Colorado Avenue reported that the license plates had been stolen off a trailer. On April 5, another plate went missing off a pickup on Meadowood Drive.

SATURDAY, April 1 at 12:38 a.m. police stopped a vehicle for speeding and parking in an intersection near the juncture of Highway 82 and Highway 133. After further investigation, the 33-year-old male driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

MONDAY, April 3 at 11:56 am. officers responded to a damage only accident between a Town of Carbondale vehicle and a parked car.

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L A I C E P S EVENT!

Chick Day April 18

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Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.

Sophia Rojo, Talon Carballeira and Liliana Santos Candela accepted their student-ofthe-month certiďŹ cates from Mayor Dan Richardson on April 11.

Photo

by Will Grandbois

El Jebel roundabout construction Expect some delays at the intersection of El Jebel Road and Shadowrock Drive beginning this week as crews roll out a $2.47 million improvement project centered on a new roundabout. Work is expected to wrap up by Nov. 1. Anyone with questions can contact Sandra Sepaniak, project public information manager, at 720-496-1226 or at sandrasepaniak@smithdelivers.com.

Scrub the ‘Pan and Fork Volunteers of all ages are invited to help clean up around the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork River conuence in Basalt. Arrive by 8:30 a.m. for a free breakfast and bring warm layers, gloves, long pants, a hat and

sunscreen — vests and bags provided. Prizes will be awarded for unusual, useful or particularly toxic trash.

Don’t move a mussel Following the discovery of invasive mussels at Lake Powell, the Forest Service has announced plans to install gates on the Ruedi Reservoir boat ramp, with mandatory inspections planned for May through October. The boat ramp is part of the Ruedi Reservoir developed recreation complex and will be managed similarly to most developed campgrounds, with gates closed until the facilities are staffed and ready to open. For more information call 9632266 or visitcpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/ BoatInspection.aspx.

You Know How Good It Feels

How high is the water?

The Glenwood Canyon bike path is ofďŹ cially open for the season, but it’s still worth checking cotrip.org before you strap on your helmet. We’re still a ways from peak runoff, so parts of the path could be closed on account of being underwater.

Making us proud A little, digital bird told us that local kids (well, adults now) are up to great things at schools around the world. Emily Bruell of Carbondale was named to the dean’s list at Bates College, while Bryn Phinney of Redstone recently performed in “Confessions,� the annual spring dance show presented by Zoe’s Feet Dance Ministry at Wheaton College.

This happy baby just got her photo taken with her mom. Don’t miss out on your chance.

Call Mark Burrows at the number listed above to schedule your appoiment.

They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthdays this week include: Nicole Levesque, Rusty Burtard, Bill Lamont, Jane Munsell and Vicki Peterson (April 13), Dino Baldizan and Ed Brown (April 14), Delores Pulver (April 15),

Town of Carbondale Recreation Department’s

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 15, Sopris Park

Private Mineral Bath, Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage, Day pass to Our Historic V Vapor apor Caves. “A DAY AT THE SP PA� $135

Ages 1-8 10 am Shotgun Start

For Information & Reser For Reser Reservations vations call 970-945-0667 •• yy yampahspa.com ampahspa.com Spa Open 9-9 Salon Salon Open Open 9-7 9-7••One OneBlock BlockEast Eastofofthe theHot HotSprings SpringsP P Pool ool

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

Portraits of moms and their babies born within the past year or children adopted since last Mother’s Day will be featured in The Sopris Sun’s traditional Mother’s Day edition on May 11. Photographer Mark Burrows will hold free sittings April 8, 29 & May 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and April 26 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; call 379-4581 for an appointment (para mås información llame al 274-2472). The sitting itself is free, with mothers with kids of all ages welcome and photos available for purchase.

Whole Foods chef Helen Sander will hold a series of informal discussions about food from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 13, April 25, May 15 and June 7 at the Third Street Center.

Topics include prenatal food cravings, heirloom DNA, and making good stuff taste great. A $25 donation is suggested. For more information contact Helen at 618-0731 or helen@chewbite.com.

Spring Salt Scrub

THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.

Mom’s Day portraits

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April’s Special

The mission of Early Childhood Network is to promote the availability of quality, affordable early childhood education and to provide access to childcare information and resources for the communities RI *DUĹľHOG 3LWNLQ DQG (DJOH FRXQWLHV

HP Hansen (April 17), Stephanie Schilling (April 18) and Leslie Emerson and James Surls and Deb Colley (April 19).

Pre- register by today for 5K! Go on-line to register your team.

www.carbondalerec.com

Around town From listening to several local students up on a literal soapbox sharing poetry in front of the Launchpad to a dress rehearsal in the Bonedale Ballet studio for their “4 Seasons” performance, the streets of Carbondale were alive with activity on April’s First Friday.

If you are interested in some poetry this week, check out Aspen Words’ Community Poetry Slam at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.) at 6 p.m. on April 13.

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 7

Spring Clean-up, waste reduction slated for April 29

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Carbondale’s increasingly popular Spring Clean-up and Waste Reduction Day, scheduled for April 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and sponsored by the town’s Environmental Board and Public Works Department, is expanding this year to include recycling of mattresses, ink and toner cartridges for printers, and other electronic devices.

And, according to organizer Julia Farwell, chair of the E-Board and member of the Waste Diversion subcommittee of that board, volunteers will be handing out twice as much compost as was distributed last year, thanks to an expected increase in demand.

And for the first time, she said, the town is accepting mattresses for recycling at a cost of $10 each. The town also is accepting “textiles,” or clothing and shoes, which must be separated into plastic bags (one for shoes, the other for clothes) in order to be accepted.

Farwell emphasized, however, that the April 29 event does not include hazardous household wastes such as motor oil and other substances, mostly liquids, that are toxic and not meant for local landfills. The household hazardous waste collection day will happen in October, she said.

In general, offer of free (or inexpensive) recycling programs is subsidized out of the town’s bag-ban-fee account, which collects fees from the City Market grocery store

under a ban on plastic shopping bags adopted in 2011 (the ban affects only grocery stores of 3,500 square feet or more).

According to Finance Director Renae Gustine, the town charges a fee of 20 cents per bag issued to customers who come to the store without reusable grocery bags, though the store gets to keep $100 per month to offset its costs for managing the bag-ban arrangement.

According to records kept by Farwell, last year the Waste Reduction Day was subsidized to the tune of just over $12,500 from the bag-fee fund, which included $133 for food offered to participants on the day of the event, and $483 for advertising in area newspapers. Additionally, the fund covered nearly $7,000 in tipping fees at local landfill sites, for organic yard waste, metals and general trash.

Costs rise a bit This year, Farwell reported, the day’s activities are budgeted to cost $14,227 in total funding from the bag-fee fund, which stood at slightly more than $40,000 as of Jan. 1, 2017.

The Waste Reduction Day this year happens to coincide with National Drug TakeBack Day, an annual program that permits householders to bring in expired or unwanted medicines or prescriptions for proper disposal, to keep the drugs from polluting landfills and sewer treatment systems.

In Carbondale, citizens can bring their

unwanted drugs to the Carbondale Police Department, located in Town Hall at 511 Colorado Ave., between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 29.

The day’s main events, however, will take place on private property straddling Colorado Avenue at the intersection with North Fourth Street, across from Town Hall.

And among the new features this year will be a semi-tractor parked in the lot just north of Town Hall, for collection of what is expected to be 30,000 pounds of electronic waste, known as “e-waste” — computer equipment, televisions, laptops, cell phones, stereo equipment and more — which also is far more than has been dropped off in the past.

For general household waste (yard waste, appliances, furniture, etc.) the fee for a “regular” pick-up truck load will be $10 for Carbondale residents ($25 for non-residents), and for a “large” pick-up load the fee will be $20 for residents and $35 for non-residents.

As for the e-waste, Farwell said, much of the stuff will be accepted for free from Carbondale residents, or for a fee of 30-cents per pound for large items. Businesses and non-residents, Farwell said, will be charged 30-cents per pound for all electronic waste.

And according to a flier about the waste diversion day (available on the town’s website, www.carbondalegov.org) data destruction for computers is available “off-site” for a fee of $10.

Once the e-waste load has reached 30,000 pounds, Farwell said, the 30-centper-pound fee will be assessed on all further loads.

As has become customary, the Waste Diversion volunteers also will be accepting used tires for recycling, at nominal costs that vary according to the size of the tire.

All tires turned in for recycling must be free of rocks and dirt in order to be accepted.

For a complete list of items that will be accepted on April 29, and the fees that will be charged for certain services, go to the town’s website home page and click on the Waste Diversion Day link.

The online flier also describes educational booths and giveaways that will be part of the day’s activities, offering information about how residents can reduce and divert their personal volume of waste yearround and how to take advantage of publicly sponsored energy-efficiency upgrades to homes and businesses.Each household can also exchange an LED bulb for a spent CFL or incandescent bulb to be recycled, as well as reusable shopping bags and recycling guides.

Waste Diversion steps it up Farwell, in an interview with The Sopris Sun, said this year’s Waste Diversion Day is expected to bring in record amounts of recyclable items, and to see record volumes of compost being distributed to area garSPRING CLEANUP page 21

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8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

How ‘Smiley’ made a name for himself

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Smiley Wise, the current streets foreman for Carbondale’s Public Works department, is a ubiquitous presence around town, checking out the condition of the streets, the progress of ongoing streets projects, and generally being a kind of unofficial ambassador of goodwill for residents and town workers alike.

But on Saturday, April 29, he will be one of the ramrods overseeing the town’s annual Waste Diversion and Spring Cleanup Day, Carbondale's increasingly popular opportunity for clearing out the house or the shed at a subsidized cost (see related story).

Wise initiated the event soon after he came to work for the town 21 years ago, starting out in the parking lot behind the original Carbondale Fire Station at the south end of town, which he said was “a disaster” because he ran out of dumpsters before people stopped bring in junk.

“When they were filled, I had no more dumpsters, so instead of tellin’ people I wouldn’t take their stuff, I just dumped it in the parking lot,” he remarked, “and we had us a gawdawful mess. It took us a week to clean it up.”

These days, the event is largely run by

the Carbondale Environmental Board and its chairperson, Julia Farwell. Noting that Farwell essentially took charge of the event a couple of years ago, Wise gave an enigmatic grin and conceded, “She’s quite a character” with whom he has reached “a happy medium” about how the day of recycling and trash hauling should proceed.

Wise was born in Leadville on May 12, 1948, and, with his family, moved to Carbondale at the age of 7. Over the years, he has worked at a number of jobs, starting with carrying water for construction workers at the age of 12, which he said was “the first job that I really considered a job,” though he also had been hired for potato picking chores by area ranchers even earlier, which earned him “a nickel for a half-sack” of tubers.

After quitting school as a junior at the old Carbondale Union High School, he also has been a horse wrangler for the Redstone Stables, where he learned to shoe horses and work with hot iron; an underground miner for 17 years at Mid-Continent Coal and Coke (Carbondale's main industry for several decades in the mid20th Century); a steel fabricator and driver of an oiler truck on the Glenwood Canyon I-70 four-laning project; a steel fabricator SMILEY page 21

With one of the best smiles in Carbondale, Smiley Wise is quite generous in sharing his broad grin as he drives around town making things happen. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Teller Springs!!

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Breathtaking views from every room in this four bedroom, truly Colorado home. t Mt. Sopris views t 4 bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms t 4,426 sq. ft. with guest wing t 3 car garage t Main level master

Bring the kids 9-9:55am to decorate your own Easter donut!

We will also have donuts for the adults from Sweet Coloradough!

t Gourmet kitchen, inviting great room, covered patio t 5.98 acres of fenced, horse friendly, irrigated pastures

$1,250,000 Call to schedule a tour.

Teller Springs Assets t Shared community horse pasture t Roaring Fork River access t Between Iron Bridge and Aspen Glen golf courses t Fish pond

Listed by: Marianne Ackerman, Broker/Owner Kathy Westley, Broker /Owner

970-379-3546

970-379-8303

marianne@propertyshopinc.com kathy@propertyshopinc.com

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 9

Community Calendar THURSDAY April 13 POETRY SLAM • Aspen Words hosts an all ages slam at 6 p.m. (poets should arrive by 5:15 p.m.) at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.). Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults; cash at the door.

FRIDAY April 14 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “Get Outâ€? (R) at 7:30 p.m. Apr. 14-16 and Apr. 18-20; “The Founderâ€? (R) at 5 p.m.

Apr. 15; and “A United Kingdom � (PG-13, captioned) at 5 p.m. on Apr. 16. Closed April 17.

LIVE ROCK • The Rivers Restaurant (2525 S Grand Ave in Glenwood Springs) hosts Louie and the Lizards from 9 to midnight with no cover charge.

ART WALK • Catch openings at galleries throughout Basalt from 5 to 7 p.m., complete with a free rafe through participating locations: Tonya Dibbs Studio Gallery, Ann Korologos Gallery, Art of Hair Gallery & Salon, Colori Gallery & Studio, The Art Base and Toklat Gallery.

SATURDAY April 15 EGG HUNT • The traditional egg hunt for ages 1-8 kicks off with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. at Sopris Park.

FOR PEEP’S SAKE • Grown-ups can get in on the treasure hunt fun with the second annual adult scavenger hunt. Check in at 8:30 a.m. at Sopris Park.

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday.

Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

The Sun isn’t millions of miles away.

It has a home in a place where kids used to play.

There’s a simple solution to this next clue.

Just look for our ofďŹ ce in a box on page 2.

BREAD BAKE • Bring your dough, a topping or just an appetite to the Carbondale Community Oven (on the south side of the Third Street Center in Bonnie Fischer Park) at 1 p.m. for an authentic wood ďŹ red baking experience.

CU TALK • The CU Carbondale series continues with CU Boulder Professor Samuel Boyd on “Magic, the Bible, and the Biblical Imagination in Jewish Mysticismâ€? at 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.). This event is supported

by Carbondale Arts and the Carbondale Branch Library, in partnership with CU Boulder. RSVPs are appreciated to CUJewishStudies@colorado.edu.

SUNDAY APRIL 16 EASTER SERVICES • In-town options include the Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists at 10 a.m. at the Third Street Center and The Orchard at 10 a.m. (both with egg hunts and other events – see their ads for more info). Further aďŹ eld there’s worship

TUESDAY April 18

at the Trinity Reformed Church in New Castle at 10:15 a.m. and an 8:30 a.m. “sunrise� service on Aspen Mountain.

YOUTH ORCHESTRA • The 50-student Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra’s spring concert takes place at 5:30 p.m. at The Orchard (110 Snowmass Dr.). It is free and open to the public.

MONDAY April 17

WED & THUR April 19-20

HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION • Free opportunities include‌ • One-hour consultation about heart attack prevention, plant-based nutrition, other medical issues. Call retired family doctor Greg Feinsinger, M.D. for appointment (379-5718). • First Monday of every month catch a powerpoint presentation by Dr. Feinsinger about the science behind plant-based nutrition 7 to 8:30 p.m. board room Third Street Center in Carbondale. • Fourth Monday of every month, plantbased potluck 6:30 p.m. Calaway Room Third Street Center.

All events supported by Davi Nikent, Center for Human Flourishing. More information at www.davinikent.org.

CULTURAL SUMMIT • The Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program hosts its third annual summit in Carbondale, complete with a tour of the Historic Thompson House. Tickets and information at eventbrite.com.

Further Out

THURSDAY April 20 YOGA WITH CATS • Join cat-lover Faith Lipori and the felines of Colorado Animal Rescue for a special yoga class. Classes run from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. with mats provided and a $20 minimum donation. Cat adoption fees will be lowered to $25 during the event. Space is limited, so please call 947-9173 to reserve your spot.

MOUNTAIN ART • Catch the opening reception of “The Mountains Are Callingâ€? from 4:30-6:30pm at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.) Carbondale Arts & The 5Point Film Festival co-host the exhibition – a “provocative love letter from the lands that have captured us as well as a celebration of what lies beyond the daily landscape of our lives and what we unavoidably can not live without.â€?

DRUM DANCE • Carbondale Community School (1505 Satank Road) hosts an exhilarating dance class to live African drumming from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All ages and abilities welcome, $12 minimum per person to beneďŹ t the American Civil Liberties Union.

CALENDAR page 11

join us

Carbondale Chamber Business After Hours

When: Wednesday, April 19, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Where: Restaurant Pan & Fork, River Valley Ranch R.S.V.P. : chamber@ carbondale.com

Saturday– October 22,2017 2016 Saturday– April 29, 10:00AM AMto to 2:00 2:00 PM 10:00 PM For the disposal location

)RU WKH GLVSRVDO ORFDWLRQ FORVHVW WR closest to you contact: Carbondale \RX Police Department 511www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov Colorado Ave., Suite 911, Carbondale, CO 81623 970-963-2662

This is a monthly networking opportunity for Carbondale Chamber members.

Please call 963-1890 or email chamber@carbondale.com to learn how your local business can join.

Co-Hosted by: The Sopris Sun Restaurant Pan & Fork Marble Distilling Co. Simply Massage

Turn 7XUQ LQ \RXU XQXVHG RU H[SLUHG KRXVHKROG in your unused or expired household SUHVFULSWLRQ RYHU WKH FRXQWHU prescription/over-the-counter PHGLFDWLRQ IRU VDIH GLVSRVDO medication for safe disposal

Carbondale Creative District Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program Mt Sopris Historical Society edible Aspen EverGreen Zero Waste

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

The following items WILL NOT be accepted; 7KH IROORZLQJ LWHPV WILL NOT EH DFFHSWHG

Needles & Sharps, Mercury (thermometers), 1HHGOHV 6KDUSV 0HUFXU\ WKHUPRPHWHUV

Oxygen Containers, 2[\JHQ &RQWDLQHUV &KHPRWKHUDS\ 5DGLRDFWLYH 6XEVWDQFHV Chemotherapy/ Radioactive Substances, 3UHVVXUL]HG &DQLVWHUV ,OOLFLW 'UXJV Pressurized Canisters, Illicit Drugs

Community Calendar

continued from page 10

Ongoing TRIVIA NIGHT • Gather a team of up to six and head to Marble Distillery (150 Main St.) on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. to compete for the chance at $50 off the team tab, plus show off the custom made marble Trivia Trophy for a while.

QUILT GUILD • The Roaring Fork Quilt Guild monthly meeting takes place at 10:15 a.m. the second Saturday of the month at the Carbondale Public Library (320 Sopris Ave.) with quilters and guests from the throughout the valley welcome.

YAPPY HOUR • Colorado Animal Rescue’s Yappy Hour at the Marble Distilling Co. (150 Main St) takes place at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and meet a C.A.R.E. dog, with $1 from every drink donated to C.A.R.E. Bring your own dog along as well.

IMMUNIZATION CLINICS • Garfield County offers immunization clinics at the Carbondale Family Resource Center (in the Bridges Center at 400 Sopris Ave.) the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (Oct. 27 this month). To schedule an appointment, call 945-6614, ext. 2030.

COMMUNITY MEAL • Faith Lutheran Church (1340 Highway 133) hosts a free community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale.com.

BRIDGE • The Carbondale Bridge Club hosts duplicate bridge (not sanctioned by ACBL) from 6:30 to 10 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Third Street Center. $6/per pair

C’DALE TRUSTEES • The Carbondale Board of Trustees holds regular meetings the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Town Hall (511 Colorado Ave.) starting at 6 p.m. The trustees usually hold work session at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays. Info: 963-2733 or carbondalegov.org.

SENIOR RADIO • Diane Johnson talks about senior issues and services on KDNK at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.

YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE • Have you wanted to explore your legacy of living and the wisdom of your experience? Join a free facilitated workshop for writing your personal history, one story at a time, facilitated by Shelly Merriam, historian/writer/genealogist.

First and third Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Glenwood Springs Branch Library (815 Cooper Ave.) Info: 970 945-5958, gcpld.org.

SENIOR MATTERS • The nonprofit Senior Matters, based in the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.), offers numerous programs for senior citizens, including: tai chi with John Norman at 8:30 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday; tai chi with Marty Finklestein at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; Alaprima Painters at 11 a.m. on Thursdays; the Senior Matters Book Club at 4 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday

ART ON DISPLAY • Carbondale painter Andy Taylor brings his colorful, gestural local landscapes to the at the Ann Korologos Gallery (211 Midland Ave., Basalt).

of the month; and the Roaring Fork Brain Train. Info: seniormatters.org; Diane Johnson at 970-306-2587; and Senior Matters, Box 991, Carbondale CO, 81623.

SILENT MEDITATION • Free silent meditation sessions are held at the Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.) from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The public is invited.

LUNCH • Crystal Meadows senior housing hosts a lunch followed by Bingo every Wednesday.

OPEN MIC • Dan Rosenthal hosts an open mic night at Rivers restaurant in Glenwood Springs every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m.

PLANT-BASED NUTRITION • Every Monday morning at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.), Greg Feinsinger, M.D., gives free consultations about heart attack prevention, stroke/diabetes prevention, plant-based nutrition or other medical concerns. Dr. Feinsinger is a retired family physician. For an appointment, call 379-5718.

MINDFULNESS • The Mindful Life Program in the Third Street Center offers group sessions Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation and registration is not necessary. Info: mindfullifeprogram.org and 970-633-0163.

RUN AROUND • Independence Run & Hike hosts a run around town Saturdays at 8 a.m.

Meet at the store 596 Highway 133 (in La Fontana Plaza) and run various distances, with different routes each week. Info: 704-0909.

MUTUAL MAKERS • The Carbondale Clay Center at 135 Main St. presents an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Colorado Mountain College in Aspen’s ceramics program. Info: www.carbondaleclay.org or 970-963-2529.

LIONS MEET • The Carbondale Lions Club meets the first Tuesday of the month at the Gathering Center at the Orchard (110 Snowmass Dr.) starting at 6:30 p.m.

Info: Chuck Logan at 963-7002 or Chris Chacos at 379-9096.

ROTARY • The Carbondale Rotary Club meets at the Carbondale Fire Station (300 Meadowood Dr.) at 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays.

The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita (580 Main St.) at noon every Thursday.

GRIEF AND LOSS • Pathfinders offers a grief and loss support group every other Monday at 6 p.m., and a caregiver support group every other Wednesday noon. An RSVP is required to Robyn Hubbard at 319-6854. Pathfinders offers support groups from Aspen to Rifle and is located in Carbondale at 1101 Village Rd. Info: pathfindersforcancer.org.

LINX • The Linx Business Network meets Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m. at the Sotheby’s International real estate office (201 Midland Ave.) in Basalt. Linx is a networking organization whose members work together to grow and promote their businesses, according to a press release. All dues not used for administration are given to local non-profits each December. Info: Keith at 970-390-8401 or kedquist@usa.net.

¿¿Tienes medicamentos?

Tienes medicamentos?

Entrega tus tus medicamentos Entrega medicamentosno noutilizados utilizadosy ycaducados caducados Prescripción sin receta médica para unaeliminación segura.

Prescripción sin receta médica para unaeliminación segura.

Sábado, 22 de Octubre, 2016 Sábado, 29 de Abril, 2017 10:00 a.m a 2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m a 2:00 p.m.

saber dondese se encuentra encuentra elelcentro dede ParaPara saber enendonde centro reciclaje más cercanoacontacte al reciclaje más cercano usted visite: Estación de Policía en Carbondale www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

511 Colorado Ave., Suite 911, Carbondale, CO 81623 970-963-2662 Los siguientes articulos no serán aceptados: Los siguientes articulos no serán aceptados: Agujas y objetos punzantes, mercurio (termómetros),

Agujas y objetos Los punzantes, mercurio (termómetros), contenedores de oxígeno, Los contenedores oxígeno, radiactivas, Sustancias de quimioterapiade/ sustancias Sustancias de quimioterapia Recipientes a presión/ ysustancias las drogas radiactivas, ilícitas Recipientes a presión y las drogas ilícitas

“Hi, I’m Atka, an 8 year-old Rottweiler with tangible joie de vivre, a one-of-a-kind, silly, smiling fur-baby looking for an adult-only home with a fenced back yard. I can’t wait to give you a sloppy kiss!”

We have 30 dogs and 16 cats waiting for a forever home.

RJ Paddywacks offers a “C.A.R.E. Package” for new adoptive families, including a Paws for Points plan and a first-time 15% discount for your new pet.

RJ Paddywacks Pet Outfitter 400 E Valley Rd. # I/J Next to City Market in El Jebel 970-963-1700 rjpaddywacks.com

Working together for pets and their people

Colorado Animal Rescue 2801 County Road 114 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-947-9173 coloradoanimalrescue.org

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 11

Project Graduation needs support to keep kids safe

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff Writer Around here, most kids don’t go to wild, unsupervised parties on high school graduation night.

Instead, you’ll find most of them at Project Graduation, a parent-sponsored event that got its start in Glenwood Springs 28 years ago and has since spread to Carbondale and Basalt.

“It’s usually at least 90 percent turnout, if not more,” said Cathy Derby, one of the organizers for the Carbondale event this year. “I think even more than prom it’s an emotional day. It’s their last night together, and we want to keep them safe.”

Formatted as a casino night with an array of games and activities, Project Graduation entices students with prizes they can use in college or the workforce. It’s made possible by volunteers, private contributions and business donations.

“The community has been very generous now and in years past,” Derby said. “We have a good problem right now in that the classes keep growing, which means it requires more money.”

The last time Derby organized the event, there were less than 60 students in the graduating class. This year, there are 86 and there are more than 120 freshmen.

As such, there’s a real need for donations and volunteers. That can be a challenge for Derby, who works as Carbondale’s Town Clerk and has to make it clear that any requests are as a parent of a former student and not in her official capacity. Unsolicited contributions are even more appreciated, and can be sent to P.O. Box 1053; email derby@sopris.net for more information.

Project Graduation is not an official school sponsored event, but Vice Principal Kelsie Goodman certainly appreciates the parents who put it together.

“We know there are higher incidents across the nation at prom and graduation … It’s not just about being safe that one night, it’s also about teaching good habits,” she said.

“Graduation is a pivotal moment and it should be celebrated. I love that there’s a really fun and safe opportunity for them to be all together.”

“We have a good problem right now in that the classes keep growing, which means it requires more money.”

Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members recently visited the Roaring Fork Valley to share their culture, build a sweat lodge next to the Crystal River, and generally thank local supporters for their help during the recent Standing Rock Sioux Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) dispute at the border of North Dakota and South Dakota.

Pictured here are Amos Cook (left) and Phyllis Bald Eagle (right), members of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe and two of the principal figures of the anti-DAPL demonstrations, talking with Bill Hildebrand (center-left), who spent nearly two weeks at the Standing Rock site, and his wife, Jenell Hildebrand (center-right). Behind them is the sweat lodge they built, into which they invited locals interested in learning more about Sioux culture. Photo by John Colson

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UNA OCASION PARA PRESENTAR A LOS NUEVOS BEBES Todas las mamás que dieron a la luz un bebé el año pasado serán fotografiadas gratis para la edición especial del periódico del Día de las Madres

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Aimee Cullwick and Delilah

Nan Campbell and Nevee

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Mothers with kids of all ages welcome and photos will be available for purchase.

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Ram junior varsity lacrosse team in its second year Varsity coming in 2019

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Roaring Fork High School girls’ junior varsity lacrosse program is into its second year, with plans for fielding a varsity team in 2019.

The team is composed of nine players from Roaring Fork, with one each from Glenwood Springs, Basalt and Yampah Mountain high schools.

How did the team come to be? Head coach Sarah Klingelheber filled in The Sopris Sun this week.

The current team’s roots can be traced to the Carbondale Middle School’s club about seven years ago, with Joe Lane serving as director. Several have helped to coach the team through the years. As team interest grew, Lane and several parents discussed the need to take girls’ lacrosse to the high school level. “In the Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen was the only school with a girl’s team … Glenwood has had a boys team for about seven years,” Klingelheber said.

Enter Klingelheber herself. The 1998 Colorado girls’ lacrosse Player of the Year out of Cherry Creek, she and her husband, Chris, moved to Carbondale from Missoula, Montana a little over four years ago, when he took a teaching post at Carbondale Middle School.

Klingelheber learned of the middle school team, then went to talk to RFHS Athletic Director Marty Nieslanik and Lane. Together, they pitched the RFHS girls’ lacrosse team idea to the Roaring Fork School Board.

Connect

The Roaring Fork High School girl’s junior varsity lacrosse team is 4-0 mid-way through the season. They finish the season at home against Regis High School at 1 p.m. on May 6.

Photo by Sue Rollyson “There had been a moratorium on new teams following the recession in 2007-2008,” Klingelheber told The Sopris Sun. “We were the first new team.”

Although the school board approved the formation of a girls’ lacrosse team, it did not appropriate any money for uniforms and related costs. “Our team is a self-funded sport,” Klingelheber continued. “This means our team has to raise or find about $7,000 per year to run our program. I have a list of sponsors that have made this possible thus far and we are truly grateful for their support.” The school board has indicated it will fully fund girls’ lacrosse after a few years.

With the school district’s blessing, Klin-

body & soul

gelheber started putting out the word to round up players, coaches and support. The coaching staff this year includes Chelsea Robson and Amanda Wynn.

Then and now According to published reports, lacrosse has its origins in a tribal game played by eastern woodlands Native Americans and by some plains tribes in what is now Canada. Hundreds of Native American men played the ball game with sticks. The game began with the ball being tossed into the air and the two sides rushing to catch it. Because of the large number of players involved, these games generally tended to involve a huge mob of players swarming the ball

and slowly moving across the field. Passing the ball was thought of as a trick and it was seen as cowardly to dodge an opponent.

By the 1920s lacrosse, and its cousin field hockey, became popular in private schools on the East Coast. Today, there are 91 women’s lacrosse teams in the NCAA’s Division 1, 57 in Division II and 201 in Division III, plus hundreds of high school, middle school and grade school teams. “It’s really grown,” Klingelheber said.

Lacrosse is a “stick game” with a basket for catching the ball at the end of the stick.

Like soccer, hockey and field hockey, the goal is to propel the ball into the net for a score. In lacrosse, the propulsion is accomplished via a throwing motion.

There are 12 players on a side in lacrosse.

In high school girls’ JV lacrosse, the games are played in 20-minute halves; in varsity the halves are 25 minutes each.

In high school girls’ lacrosse, contact between offensive and defensive players is not allowed. Players aren’t required to wear a helmet, but are required to wear protective eyewear and teeth guards.

This year’s team captains are junior Megan Rusby and sophomore Hannah Feder. The other players are: Bella Lee, Brooke Knutson, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Allender, Felina Cruz, Hannah Cole, Kody Tomasso, Lecsi Glenn, Lilly Peery, Lucy Meade and Payton Issel.

Midway through this season, Roaring Fork is 4-0 against other Western Slope teams.

“The girls are doing great,” Klingelheber said.

But men began to wonder...

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 13

Fuels specialist Jim Genung (below) inspects new wildlife forage up Avalanche Creek created by a prescribed burn last year. Below right: An Upper Colorado Interagency Fire crew member helps to conduct a prescribed burn on April 7 in Avalanche Creek using the drip torch technique.

Drip torches are used in prescribed burn activities to ignite fires in vegetation. Photos by Lynn Burton

Managed burns help wildlife

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer Bighorn sheep no doubt hate fire, but they will sure chutes with more leaves. warm up to its aftermath following a Upper Colorado “It puts weight on them (the sheep),” Goedert continRiver Interagency Fire and Aviation Management Unit ued. “So they come into spring in better condition. …Wincontrolled burn up Avalanche Creek south of Carbon- ter range is a small subset for them, but it’s most important.” dale on April 7.

The Avalanche Creek bighorn herd, which often Early this week, White River National Forest grazes in the open land across from Penny Hot Springs wildlife biologist Natasha Goedert in the winter, can probably use explained how the controlled fires all the help it can. help bighorn sheep.

Goedert said the herd has “This area is winter range,” Goedbeen on the decline a bit since ert told The Sopris Sun. the 1990s, when it numbered In the Avalanche Creek burn area close to 150 head. In the past (about two miles east of Highway few years, the herd declined to 133) steep, rocky hillsides hem in the about 60-75 but has stabilized valley floor to the north, with spruceat that number. covered hillsides to the south.

“They’ve been holding steady The one-day burn, the third in the since the decline,” she said. past three years with more planned for Colorado Parks and Wildlife future years, covered 90 acres of grass puts GPS collars on some of – Natasha Goedert and brush such as Gambel oak and the sheep to track them and White River National Forest serviceberry. The burn was originally try to diagnose the reasons for wildlife biologist slated to cover 500 acres over 3-5 days the decline. but was called off after the April 7 “This is one of Colorado’s burn due to various conditions. more important herds,” GoedDuring a local press tour for the ert said. burn on April 7, White River National Forest fuels speBighorns migrate to the Avalanche Creek area startcialist Jim Genung said the Avalanche Creek area has ing in late November and stay there through March “lost” two burn-cycles, with each covering 50-75 years, and into April. They start to move higher, after the due to fire suppression after the Crystal River Valley was snow melts, in May, the same month females typically first settled in the 1880s. give birth.

As a result, Gambel oak, serviceberry and other vegAs for the ongoing Avalanche Creek prescribed burn etation have clogged up the valley floor. At the same program, it’s part of the Aspen-Sopris Wildlife Habitat time, piñion-pine and juniper have worked their way Improvement Project, which calls for fire and mechandown to the valley floor from hillsides to the north. ical treatments across approximately 45,600 acres of This makes it more difficult for bighorn sheep and forest, shrubland and grassland in the Aspen-Sopris other wildlife to make their way through the valley Ranger District and small portions of the Eagle and floor, and also makes them expend precious energy dur- Rifle ranger districts. ing the winter.

One part of the wildlife improvement project says, Thick stands of brush also make it harder for “Observations of pinion-juniper, mountain shrub, aspen bighorns to spot predators such as mountain lions and and subalpine grassland vegetation … indicate that this sometimes even golden eagles. vegetation has reduced forage values for bighorn sheep, “They (bighorns) use their eyes to see predators,” elk and mule deer, and a decrease in vegetation composiGoedert explained. “They feel safer in open habitat. … tion that benefits a variety of songbirds, small mammals, Sometimes they use steep cliffs and other terrain to avoid and native fire-adapted plants. Without improvement of them (predators) … So, we like to keep the habitat habitat in key areas, populations are expected to decline open.” In the winter, with deep snow, it’s even harder for beyond desirable levels.” bighorn to escape.

At the Avalanche Creek prescription burn tour last Prescription burns also create more forage the year week, Genung said the White River National Forest has following the operation, as burned brush sends up new used prescription burns since 1977.

“They (bighorns) use their eyes to see predators, they feel safer in open habitat.”

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

Paul and Ted Nieslanik's crew of folks burn the Union ditch along Catherine Store Road outside Carbondale, where they get their irrigation water. Above, Dave burns the brush while below, Arturo Ortiz follows along with water. Photos by Jane Bachrach

Fire & Water

By Will Grandbois Sopris Sun Staff Writer There were several plumes of smoke in the air on April 7 when Brad Palmer, caretaker for the HHH property just east of Carbondale, set to work burning a ditch he’d cleaned out many times before.

He could have moved the bales of hay in the back of the nearby barn, or started with the tall grass on the outside of the barn’s wide slats to create a firebreak before things really got going. He could have scooted the tank of water a little further into the back of his pickup or called one of his neighbors with a full sprayer setup to help.

“Hindsight is 20/20,” he said later. “There’s probably 10 ways I could have done it different … I was just too complacent.”

Not far away, the Nieslanik family had a whole crew burning and dousing along Catherine Store Road, clearing old leaves and undergrowth in the short period when the snow has melted but the green-up hasn’t yet clogged the irrigation ditches. Sopris Sun Photographer Jane Bachrach stopped to snap a few photos, then noticed Palmer’s plume and went to check it out. She chatted with Palmer, a friend of hers, and just before heading out she captured what turned out to be the last photo of the old barn as a reflection in his sunglasses.

Shortly thereafter, things got out of hand. The flames spread to the tall grass, then through the slats to the hay inside the barn. Palmer tried backing the truck in, in an effort to douse the fire, but the tank tumbled out off the tailgate and spilled uselessly on the ground. After a few moments of trying to rake out the smoldering hay, he had to acknowledge it was too late.

“All of the sudden I realized I had to get out,” he said.

“There was no way I was going to be able to put the fire out.”

He called the fire department, then 911 at 11:48 a.m., but by the time crews showed up the barn was fully engulfed. The roof collapsed not long after, leaving a pile of old timber crackling in the center and a pool of molten rubber in place of tires on a horse trailer. No people or livestock were in the building at the time, so the fire department’s main concern was containment.

“Public safety was our first concern,” said Incident Commander Mike Wagner of The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District. “We responded quickly. I feel like we did a great job of suppressing the flames and keeping it from spreading.”

Carbondale Police Department, the Basalt Fire District and Garfield County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the incident.

The fire didn’t touch any of the nearby homes, and insurance is anticipated to cover most of the damage, so Palmer hasn’t caught much grief from the property owner and neighbors.

“Everyone has been very supportive,” he said. “For me, the only solace is that nobody got hurt.”

He’ll be burning again next season, though he certainly won’t underestimate fire in the future, and plans to bring in plenty of help.

The folks at Carbondale Fire also have plenty of good advice for folks planning their own controlled burns, and will share it for free if you give them a call at 963-2491 before you start (if something’s already on fire, just stick with 911).

First, though, Chief Ron Leach wanted something on the record.

“The ranchers are not the problem,” he said. “They have to burn to irrigate their fields to make a living, and they’ve been doing it all their lives. Fire is a tool to them and they know how to use it.”

It’s folks with relative inexperience that scare Leach, particularly when about half of them don’t bother to call in ahead

The ill-fated barn is reflected in Brad Palmer’s sunglasses as he conducts a controlled burn on April 7. Photo by Jane Bachrach.

With most of the barn in ashes, fire crews work to douse the still smoldering contents. Photo by Julie Albrecht of time. If they did, he’d be able to give them a weather report for the day, and would tell them to have it done by 11 a.m. when the wind almost invariably kicks up. In the choice between a smokey morning and a fiery afternoon, he knows where he stands.

“Fire safety wise, it’s best to burn in the morning; air quality wise it’s best to burn in the afternoon, so it’s a conflict,” he acknowledged.

Deputy Chief Rob Goodwin, for his part, thinks it’s all about good judgement and not biting off more than you can chew.

“Smaller bites, maybe,” he said. “You don’t have to burn

it all in one day.”

He echoed Palmer’s recommendation for enough people to control the fire, and added that anything beyond the reach of a garden hose requires a water supply with a substantial tank and a sprayer. A fire extinguisher isn’t a bad idea, either.

“When you put a fire on the ground you take a lot of responsibility on yourself,” he said. “It can get out of control really easily.”

As for what some warm weather and one out of control burn (in addition to a couple other barn fires downvalley) say about the fire danger all summer long, it’s too early to tell.

“I quit trying to predict fire seasons long ago,” he said.

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 15

Town environmental charter details will take time

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Carbondale Board of Trustees is working its way to taking a renewed look at an old question — how the town can best articulate its broad environmental goals, which include reducing the town’s carbon footprint, safeguarding the quantity and quality of Carbondale’s water supplies and cutting back on the amount of trash heading to local landďŹ lls, among other things.

A discussion on the topic, at one time scheduled for April 18, is meant to address the idea that Carbondale could use an “environmental charter� or an “environmental bill of rights,� as has repeatedly been proposed by Trustee Frosty Merriott in recent months.

For several reasons, the trustees on Tuesday decided to hold off until a meeting later in the year, to provide more time for the trustees to reďŹ ne their thinking and come up with proposals to present to the board.

Trustee Frosty Merriott, who was out of town the last time the trustees discussed the idea, on March 21, told The Sopris Sun this week that the idea for an environmental bill of rights ďŹ rst came out of a conversation he had with Trustee Heather Henry and Julia Farwell, chair of the volunteer Environmental Board that advises the board of trustees.

That conversation, according to Merriott, arose after the board of trustees declined, at least for now, to go along with an oft-stated goal of Merriott’s, to both

broaden the town’s ban on plastic shopping bags and add to that a ban on the sale of “single-useâ€? plastic bottles ďŹ lled with water. “As I remember it, Heather said that what we really need in Carbondale is an environmental charter, a framework for our goals,â€? Merriott said — an idea that prompted immediate agreement from Merriott and Farwell.

It was Merriott, though, who ďŹ rst brought the topic up at a board meeting several months ago, after Farwell had sent him links to the efforts of other towns along similar lines. “We’re not reinventing the wheel here,â€?

Merriott stressed, noting that the City of Aspen and Pitkin County long ago adopted an “Ecological Bill of Rights� (EBOR).

The EBOR, adopted in 1989, is posted on the city’s Environmental Health Department website, and Henry passed around a copy of the document to the other Carbondale trustees at the trustees meeting on March 21.

Henry, at that meeting, told her fellow trustees that she had seen other, similar documents adopted by other towns, but that they all “tend to read a lot like this,� pointing to the Aspen document.

Henry said at the meeting that, to her, the larger climate-change issues being debated nationwide and worldwide are linked to energy-related issues, such as recycling and composting as a way of keeping certain materials out of area landďŹ lls; energy-

efďŹ ciency in government buildings, businesses and homes to cut down on the emission of greenhouse gases; and the town’s Green Building Codes that connect energyefďŹ ciency goals to the development process in area towns and counties.

The trustees talked about ways to encourage public support for a Carbondale environmental charter, perhaps by holding public hearings to explain the concepts behind the charter and gauge public sentiment about the whole idea.

Trustee Katrina Byars suggested the town could adopt the Aspen EBOR by resolution, then get to work modifying the document to suit Carbondale’s speciďŹ c needs.

And the mayor added that he liked the idea of a document proclaiming the town’s “intentions� concerning environmental programs and acts.

Merriott, in a phone interview with The Sopris Sun on April 7, reported that he had met with the mayor on April 5 to talk about the environmental-charter idea, and said it “went very well. I believe we’re all on the same page about this.�

He added that his own environmental activism started when he was in his early 20s, living in Louisiana, and would often take off on trash clean-up missions along local country roads.

Since then, he said, he has broadened his thinking to include opposition to the use of plastics, which he noted have been blamed for the creation of garbage “gyres� or huge

trash whirlpools in the world’s oceans. “There’s six times more plastic in the oceans than there is plankton,� he said, citing environmental studies of the issue.

Closer to home, Merriott said, the Pitkin County landďŹ ll (where Carbondale sends some of its trash) processed 25 million single-use plastic bottles in 2015, according to his calculations. “If people are still using single-use plastic bottles without feeling guilty,â€? Merriott declared, “they are either irresponsible, or ignorant, or both on this issue.â€?

Adoption of an environmental charter, bill of rights, or whatever it is called, might be the best way of keeping the matter at the forefront of local policy discussions and educating the populace at the same time, Merriott maintained.

At the March 21 meeting, Mayor Dan Richardson concluded that the trustees might want to follow a two-step process — ďŹ rst work up a Carbondale Environmental Charter, possibly modeled after the Aspen/Pitkin County document; then link it to the town’s already adopted Environmental Action Plan, which has been the framework for the town’s eco-active programming over the past decade.

The other trustees agreed that the entire idea is worth pursuing, and that it should be placed on a future agenda of a regular trustee meeting, rather than a work session, although the date of that meeting has not been decided.

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16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

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Trustees weigh in on TD court battle

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Carbondale’s town leaders on April 11 agreed to “intervene” on behalf of federal land managers in a court fight over a recent decision to cancel oil drilling leases in the controversial Thompson Divide region southwest of town.

But the Board of Trustees declined to take a second step that, according to Mayor Dan Richardson, would have gotten the town involved in the litigation in a much more direct way.

“I was comfortable saying ‘no’ and following Jay’s (Town Manager Jay Harrington) recommendation, until we can get more information,” said Richardson in a telephone interview the following morning.

The issue behind the lawsuit is a decision late last year by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to cancel 18 Thompson Divide gas drilling leases held by SG Interests, as well as seven leases held by the Ursa drilling company in the same area.

Carbondale, along with the governments of Pitkin County and several other municipalities, has long opposed industry efforts to drill for natural gas in Thompson Divide, based on local insistence that drilling would be harmful to area water and air quality, ranching interests and recreational activities, as well as to the region’s economy, among other reasons.

According to the town’s special counsel for the Thompson Divide issue — Mike Chiropolos of Boulder — SG’s suit against the BLM claims the decision was improperly made and in violation of federal law. SG, Chiropolos wrote, maintains that the BLM is required by law to approve gas drilling in the Lake Ridge Unit that is part of the Thompson Divide.

Ursa, according to Chiropolos, has accepted payment from the BLM to compensate for its canceled leases, and those leases are now considered permanently removed from future threats of leasing.

Chiropolos, in a memo to the trustees, wrote that the

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In other action, the trustees: • Approved a “consent agenda” that included a contract for work on the Crystal Well; • Approved several liquor license requests for local establishments and special events; • Adopted a salary survey intended to help the town offer competitive salaries to prospective and current employees; • Approved outdoor dining facilities for two restaurants in the commercial core; • Approved a recreational marijuana license for the Tumbleweed Carbondale cannabis shop, as well as a permit allowing the shop to transfer from its original intended location on Main Street to a location at 304 Highway 133; • Took part in a “good governance training” session conducted by an official of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Christ is Risen!!

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Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers return to home base for a free dinner after helping to build singletrack dirt trail alongside the Rio Grande Trail on April 8. The work followed the RFOV kick-off party, sponsored by SGM. Photo by Jane Bachrach

BLM’s process leading to the lease cancellations “was a comprehensive process involving several local governments as cooperating agencies and resulting in a balanced decision solidly supported by “cooperator” input, public sentiment … and federal law,” as well as a previous decision by the White River National Forest to remove the Thompson Divide from future leasing consideration.

The town, by intervening, would be joining with other entities supporting the BLM decision, including Pitkin County, the Wilderness Workshop, the Thompson Creek Cattlemen’s Association and Trout Unlimited, according to Chiropolos.

The further step, Chiropolos wrote, would involve designation of a specific town representative to submit a “Standing Declaration” of the town’s involvement in the lawsuit, which was further than the trustees wanted to go without more information about the possible consequences.

T A P

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Good Friday Service: 7 p.m. at Basalt Community UMC, 0167 Holland Hills Dr. – a reflection on the approaching darkness

EASTER SUNDAY! Community “Sonrise” Service: 7 a.m. (on the lawn behind the Carbondale church) Easter Worship: 8:30 a.m., Basalt 10:30 a.m., Carbondale

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 17

Neighbors protest building permit on Euclid Public hearing May 11

By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer Residents in a neighborhood immediately southwest of Sopris Park are protesting a building permit that allows for a five bedroom, 4,455-square foot house (with basement and second floor) on a 7,040-square-foot lot, according to documents filed at town hall on March 31.

The property, at 728 Euclid, sits between the old Ferguson “farm-house” that is undergoing an extensive renovation, and a single-story contemporary house to the west.

The property owner, Pat Kiernan, said in his plans that the entire footprint covers 1,485 square feet. The ground floor includes one bedroom, one office and 1.5 bathrooms.

The building permit says the basement and second floor will be “unfinished”. The basement includes one bedroom and two bathrooms. The second floor is configured for three bedroom suites, each with a bathroom and “study” area or “sitting” room.

Fourteen neighbors/households put their names on a document addressed to the Carbondale Board of Adjustment, appealing building inspector John Plano’s issuance of a building permit. They are appealing the permit primarily on two points: 1. The proposed structure does not meet the language in Section 3.2.3 (Old Town Residential), whose purpose is “to allow residential uses and densities that are consistent with the historic character of Old Town Carbondale,” the appeal states. The appeal goes on to say the neighbors feel the structure does not meet the OTR standards due to its size, massing, bulk and siting” and concludes, “There does not seem to be any consideration of its surrounding context in the proposed design.”

2. The protest also says the proposed structure is “designed to accommodate multiple renters” and “is closer to a Boarding House (sic) than a single family residence.”

In addressing the boarding house issue, Kiernan told The Sopris Sun the new structure is actually co-housing, and it’s within the town’s code that allows unrelated adults to live in the same house.

“This creates affordable housing,” Kiernan said.

The building permit protest letter on file at town hall lists Mark Mahoney, who lives next door to Kiernan’s property at 742 Euclid Avenue, as the first signatory. Mahoney did not respond to a Sopris Sun e-mail for comments.

Zoning/process Carbondale’s Unified Development Code calls for five residential zone districts: AG, OTR (Old Town Residential), R/LD, R/MD and R/HD. Permitted uses in the OTR zone district are: manufactured/factory-built dwellings, single family detached, transit stop, park/open space/playground, community garden, sale of produce and plants raised on premises and other uses as a tent structure for single-vehicle

The vacant lot at 728 Euclid has a somewhat controversial recent history, after the Carbondale P&Z voted to deny several variances that would have allowed a single-family home and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in May 2015. This time around, property owner Pat Kiernan has a building permit in hand to build a 4,455-square-foot, five-bedroom house on his property, but neighbors are protesting. Photo by Lynn Burton parking. Special and conditional uses include: a group home, religious use, day care (fewer than seven children), and bed and breakfast. Boarding houses are listed under Lodging Facilities in the UDC, along with bed and breakfast, hotel, hostel, hotel and motel. Boarding houses are not permitted in the OTR zone district.

Town Planner Janet Buck told The Sopris Sun the Planning and Zoning Commission will act as the Board of Adjustment at May 11 public hearing. The UDC allows “any person aggrieved” by the decision of an administrative officer. At the public hearing, each side will have an opportunity to present evidence and argument relevant to the appeal. The Planning Commission (acting as the Board of Adjustment) will issue a final decision, which can be appealed to the Garfield County District Court. Buck said the Board of Adjustment only considers 1) an appeal of an administrative decision; or 2) a request for a variance from the zoning parameters in zone districts, i.e., building height, setbacks, etc.

In this case, Kiernan is not asking for any variances or relief from setbacks and building height.

It’s apparently fair game for the public to protest a building permit issued by a town administrator. “As far as I recall, there has been no appeal of administrative decision to issue a building permit since I started with the Town in 2001,” Buck said.

The plan “My vision is for this house is ‘net-zero’,” Kiernan told The Sopris Sun. That means the structure will make as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. To accom-

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plish a net-zero structure, the house will include solar panels on the roof, which are shown on the building plan (available for viewing in the planning office at town hall). Keeping the building “simple” will help with energy efficiency, as well as other construction and design features. “I think this fits great with Carbondale,” Kiernan said. One problem with net-zero, however, is a building must be oriented with its long axis going north/south to attain the maximum solar gain. This can create a lot of building mass from the façade facing the street. “That’s not ideal,” Kiernan said.

Addressing the larger picture, Kiernan said “ … look at the planet” and the impacts of heating and cooling buildings. “ … to be fair to the global environment … I’m doing my best to do that.”

Wrapping up Kiernan, 61, moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Wisconsin to work for Rocky Mountain Institute in 1987. He later became an independent energy consultant and electrical contractor. These days, he’s studying philosophy and psychology, and focusing on his house.

Kiernan’s current go-around with the town is actually his second in the past two years or so. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on variance requests for a similar proposal that called for an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) above a detached garage. Many of the same opponents to Kiernan’s current plan also attended a public hearing to protest on May 28, 2015.

The P&Z voted 6-0 to deny the variances, according to minutes from that meeting.

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18 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

Sopris eatre Company presents ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ Sopris Sun Staff Report

Ken Kesey

It’s a story so embedded in our psyches that many of us refer to it off handedly.

Who hasn’t teased a cold-hearted friend that she’s acting like Nurse Ratched?

Sopris Theatre Company is bringing the award-winning play “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” to the New Space Theatre at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley on April 14-23.

The play, based on a novel by Ken Kesey, centers on the story of McMurphy, who’s faked his insanity to avoid a prison sentence and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. The novel was adapted into a play by Dale Wasserman in 1963, and later an Academy Award-winning film in 1975 based on a screenplay different from the play or book, according to a press release.

The play has had two revivals. In 2001 it a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, both for outstanding revival of a play. Equal parts comedy and drama, the play features characters who will make you laugh and cry as you watch how institutionalism and individual freedom collide.

Because of adult themes, the play is not suited for those under 15 years old.

Curtain time for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is 7 p.m. on April 14-15, and 20-22, and 2 p.m. on April 22-23.

Tickets are $18 for adults, and $13 for students, seniors, and CMC staff and faculty.

For more information or tickets, go to coloradomtn.edu, or call 947-8177.

Many folks remember Kesey from his novels “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Sometimes a Great Notion” and also as the central figure in Tom Wolfe’s non-fiction book “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.”

You might not know that Kesey was born in La Junta, Colorado in 1935, and moved with his parents to Springfield, Oregon when he was just a few years old.

His parents were dairy farmers. He was a star wrestler and football player in high school, and went on to wrestle at the University of Oregon, according to published reports. In college he also developed an interest in theater. Kesey married his high school girlfriend Norma Faye Haxby in 1956, and after briefly considering a career as an actor, relocated to Palo Alto, California, when he won a scholarship to the graduate program in writing at Stanford University.

While attending Stanford, in 1960 Kesey volunteered as a paid experimental subject in a study conducted by the U.S. Army in which he was given mind-altering drugs and asked to report on their effects. He also worked as an attendant in a hospital’s psychiatric ward. These experiences served as the basis for “Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1962. In 1975 the book was made into a film directed

by Miloš Forman and starring Jack Nicholson. Kesey reportedly hated the script and refused to watch the film, but many other people didn’t. After receiving much critical acclaim, it would go on to take all five of the

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From left, Aide Warren (Mason O’Flinn) checks in with the nurse’s station in Sopris Theatre Company’s production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” as Nurse Ratched (Lisa Langer) and McMurphy, (Brendan Cochran) battle for control. Directed

by Wendy Tennis, performances are April 14-15 and 20-23 at Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley. Photo Scot Gerdes major Academy Awards—for best picture, director, screenplay, actor and actress. Kesey died in Oregon at the age of 66.

Dale Wasserman The late Dale Wasserman wrote the play of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1963. The play only lasted 82 performances

on Broadway but was later produced in two revivals, the first of which was off-Broadway in 1971, then as a Broadway production with Gary Sinise as McMurphy in 2001.

Besides Sinise, McMurphy has been played on stage by Kirk Douglas in the original production, Leonard Nimoy, Christian Slater in the U.S. and others abroad.

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 19

Carbondale’s darkest day From the archives of the Roaring Fork Valley Journal April 14, 1977 Preliminary results from the US. Bureau of Census survey showed that Carbondale had expanded faster than the rest of incorporated GarďŹ eld County combined since 1970.

As of March 1977, the town had 1644 residents, compared to 726 just seven years before. Glenwood Springs, by contrast, had barely grown with 4090 compared to 4040.

The next closest community in terms of growth was Silt, which had bloomed from 434 to 856.

April 16, 1981 Following an explosion in MidContinent Resources’ Dutch Creek Mine Number One near Redstone, 15 miners were missing and presumed trapped underground.

Although rescue operations were underway at press time, all turned out to have perished. They were: Kelly Greene, Kyle Cook, Richard Lincoln, Loren Mead, Ronald Patch, Terry Lucero, Glen Sharp, J.R. Ayala, John Rhodes, Robert Ragle, Thomas Vetter, William Gutherie, Daniel Litwiller, Hugh Pierce and Brett Tucker.

April 17, 1997 Town council voted unanimously for Gene Schilling to replace retiring Carbondale Police Chief Fred Williams out of a pool of 12 applicants.

A Roaring Fork High School graduate, Schilling had worked as a lift operator, coal miner and GarďŹ eld County Sheriff’s OfďŹ ce dispatcher before being hired on as a police ofďŹ cer in 1983. One of his highest priorities, according to the Journal, was to increase foot and bike patrol to put ofďŹ cers more in touch with the community. – Compiled by Will Grandbois

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Nathan Woodliff-Stanley (left), Colorado Director for the American Civil Liberties Union, ďŹ elds the ďŹ nal questions of the night following a standing-room-only presentation at the Carbondale Branch Library on April 8. He related the history of the ACLU (it was founded in 1920) and talked about the importance of Colorado's potential role in protecting civil rights if national political upheaval results in the cancellation of such things as the Supreme Court’s 1972 Roe v. Wade decision giving women the right to have an abortion, and the national allowance of same-sex marriages. The Mt. Sopris Historical Society co-sponsored the talk, which was made possible by Jim and Connie Calaway. Photo by Lynn Burton

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20 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • APRIL 13-19

JOHN FROST MERRIOTT Certified Public Accountant

Office 970-704-1101 Fax 970-704-9101 Email frosty@frostycpa.com Web frostycpa.com 1101 Village Road LLA2 Carbondale, Colorado

Smiley

om page 9

for Pitkin Iron (part of the Mid Continent family of businesses); a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era; and a Sno-Cat mechanic for the Aspen Skiing Co. After being laid off by the SkiCo, Wise saw an ad for a job as a grader driver for the Town of Carbondale and, needing to earn a living to support his wife and children, signed on in 1996.

“It was a lot shorter commute, very short,” he remarked with a laugh, although these days he has a much longer commute from his home in Mack, Colorado (west of Grand Junction, near the Utah line), where he and his second wife, Terri, moved to about a year and a half ago to take advantage of lower housing costs.

Wise said he earned his nickname, Smiley, after getting two of his front teeth knocked out in a fist fight at the Redstone Stables job.

He said the boss of the stable got into the habit of calling out to him when he brought horses for the tourist customers.

“For some reason, I’d come ridin’ in and the guy would say, ‘Smile, Martin,’ and I couldn’t help but smile,” he recalled — giv-

ing everyone present a laugh at his gaptoothed grin and giving him a moniker that has lasted to this day.

Aside from his knowhow with machines, Wise also has something of an artistic streak that came to the fore in 2005, when he was helping to put up the Art ’Round Town sculptures that each year are gathered by the Carbondale Public Arts Commission.

“I was makin’ fun of some of the stuff they were calling art,” he recalled, “and a lady told me to put up or shut up. So I made a piece, and everybody said, ’Oh, you’re quite an artist. I didn’t know.'”

Two of his remarkable sculptures, fashioned of horseshoes welded together, can be seen on Weant Boulevard: one at the Mt. Sopris Historical Society museum cabin, the other in a corner of Glassier Park adjacent to the Bridges High School building.

“I’ve been called an artist,” Wise said with a bemused smile. “I’ve been called a lot of things.”

But mostly, he’s known simply as “Smiley,” a man who makes things happen and who has a friendly word for just about everyone, every day.

“For some reason, I’d come ridin’ in and the guy would say, ‘ Smile, Martin,’ and I couldn’t help but smile.”

Spring Cleanup om page 8

After two years of working on this 6-foot-2 inch commissioned sculpture, Bob Johnson held an open house at his studio to let folks that have been asking to see it, take a gander before the part-time valley resident/owner came to pick it up and drive it to his home in New York.

Johnson said the owner gave him the basic idea for what he wanted, then he took it in a personal direction. The sculpture’s title is “Saint Michael Killing the Dragon with a Sword.” Johnson told The Sopris Sun he’s “happy, relieved and sad” after finishing the project, which is made out of walnut, mahogany and steel.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

deners and others.

In 2016, she said, volunteers had given away more than 8,000 pounds of compost by 11:30 a.m., and approximately 16,000 pounds by the end of the day, all of it from the Pitkin County Landfill.

Roughly the same amount of compost, or more, is expected to be distributed this year.

In a memo to the town Board of Trustees, Farwell reported that she has been working with the town’s public works department to make sure that the recycling mission is accomplished smoothly and efficiently.

She particularly noted that Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman “has developed a comprehensive RFP to ensure the maximum amount of waste than can be diverted is actually diverted” as well as a record-keeping system that will allow Waste Diversion organizers to track the loads of recyclables and other material from the collection point to their final destinations.

Overall, Farwell emphasized, the goal is to help citizens recycle as much as they can and thus keep as much material as possible from being sent to the area’s landfills, all of which are said to be under pressure and nearing capacity levels.

SOPRIS THEATRE COMPANY Season Producers: Connie & Jim Calaway Producers: Tom Buesch • Kelly & Jim Cleaver • Hal Sundin Associate Producers: Mary and Bob Axelson New Space Theater • CMC Spring Valley Campus

April 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 • 7:00 pm April 22 and 23 • 2:00 pm (no performance on Easter Sunday, 4/16)

by Dale Wasserman from the novel by Ken Kesey

Directed by Wendy Tennis

$18 $13

general admission Students, Seniors, CMC Faculty | Staff

RESERVATIONS: 970-947-8177 • svticketsales@coloradomtn.edu

© 2017, Sopris Theatre Company

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 21

Commentary

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…

CRES om page 2 my second child would attend CRES. I want a well-rounded experience for my children that has less to do with the teaching method and more to do with operating in a diverse society. Don’t get me wrong, the school has to be good and retain quality teachers, but in my decision, the latter point about being part of a diverse society was weighted more heavily than the individual… even when the individuals are my own kiddos.

Opting for local, open-enrollment schools is about being part of the social fabric of a community. There is value in that beyond the ABCs. My children are happy, thriving and safe. (OK, so my high schooler wants school to start at 9:30 and end at 1:30 … and he also wants music every day.)

On that note, we should deeply examine why more families of privilege are choosing charters and private schools, and we should consider where and how our public schools are exceeding and where they need improvement.

I support public education. I want open-enrollment public schools so that our kids can know one another, grow up together, be part of the greater social fabric that reflects a community, where they can learn compassion by simply interacting daily with a person from a different cultural background.

Can we have that in a public school while also providing quality academic teachings for the individual? Yes, but not if families continue to opt out of the public education system. For my neighbors who’ve never set foot in the doors of the local open-enrollment schools and to those who’ve left, I invite you to come back.

Let’s work together to envision the public schools we want for all our children.

Will it take hard work and, at times, a little faith? Absolutely.

It is sometimes messy? Count on it. But like the glaze the student was splattering on her bowl (and her surroundings), the end result stands to be absolutely beautiful, colorful and functional. I won’t try to wash that away.

It’s Spring and with it comes the time for testing. content areas for reasons such as students that just For many this is a dreaded time of year, but for all a skip taking the test, without a parent excuse, the time to take sample online practice tests and put on school or district’s plan type will be lowered one the thinking cap. I remember when I was in school level. What is a plan type? These are the overall ratand nervous about taking tests, my ings of a school or district. There are mother would tell me “Wear your Sunfive ratings for a district. From highest day best clothes. You’ll feel better and to lowest: Accredited with Distinction, perform better.” Somehow it gave me Accredited, Accredited with Improvean edge, or so I thought. Here’s a little ment, Priority Improvement and Turninsight into the testing that Colorado around. Of the 51 districts in the third students will be involved in this month. congressional district, 29 were rated AcColorado’s measurement of student credited with Distinction or Accredited progress is called Colorado Measures for the 2015-16 school year. The others of Academic Success or CMAS. These had various other ratings including intests will be given between April 10th sufficient data and low participation and April 28th, and include math, Engwhere no ratings were applied. It will lish language arts, science and social the be interesting to see how the state and studies. The Partnership for Assesscongressional districts do this year with

By Joyce Rankin ment of Readiness for College and Camore parents understanding the process reers (PARCC)-developed, English language arts and implications. All of the information for schools (ELA) and mathematics assessments. This can be and districts can be found on the Colorado Departconfusing to say the least. There is heated contro- ment of Education’s website. versy about testing for various reasons. Just ask anySo students, and parents, it’s going to be a serious one in your community who has a student in school. time in school this month. My advice: “Put on your One of the issues related to testing is a Federal law Sunday best and take the test.” Then understand that requires 95 percent of the students to be tested, how you’re doing in school. confounded by a Colorado law that allows parents to opt their students out of taking the tests.

Joyce Rankin is on the State Board of Education Colorado allows parents to opt their students out representing the Third Congressional District. She by written note, which excuses their student from writes the monthly column, "Across the Street" to taking the tests, without penalty. However parents, inform constituents in her district. The Departif they choose to “opt out” of the test, will not know ment of Education, where the State Board of Edutheir child’s academic attainment and growth for the cation meets, is located across the street from the year. If their school district doesn’t meet the 95 per- Capitol. She is also a Legislative Assistant for Repcent participation rate requirement in two or more resentative Rankin.

Across Street

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Your focus I’m afraid to start writing a column about state government this month. Can mundane details about only 600 legislative bills and a mere 28 billion dollars of spending attract your interest?

I worry that you, the dedicated readers of my monthly wanderings, are all focused not on Colorado’s issues but on the President’s latest tweet. How to keep you reading a whole 500 words when the TV is reporting about Russia, the Supreme Court and Syria and who knows what’s next?

Well this should get your attention: $28 Billion total spending by the state, $12 Billion from your Colorado sales and income tax, $7 billion from fees that you pay to the state, and $9 bilthe lion from your Federal taxes. We just ďŹ nished our yearly marathon of

By Bob Rankin budget presentation, amendments and then amendments to the amendments to get the “Long Bill� through the Colorado Senate and House. As a Joint Budget Committee member, I represent 27 other house minority members who suddenly want to know what I’ve actually been doing across the street since last November. And then they want to change it. It may be weird but I really do enjoy the process.

As of this writing we aren’t ďŹ nished. We are still working on the two big issues of the budget year. The ďŹ rst is the Hospital Provider Fee. Since the revenue from this “feeâ€? is under the TABOR spending cap, we’ve put a restriction on its size this year and that action will reduce revenue to our hospitals. The rural hospitals that I represent are truly in trouble and are not happy. The second issue is an ongoing debate as to how we should fund our transportation needs. A bill in circulation would ask the voters to approve a sales tax increase. Some in the legislature believe we can fund payments for a large bond by cutting back spending from current programs.

And on top of our current budget problems, uncertainty looms.

What will the new administration do with health care reform?

Block grants for Medicaid will put a tremendous decision making and management burden on the state. Since we are a Medicaid expansion state, we now have a lot more people dependent on Medicaid services. And changes in areas other than health care will no doubt provide opportunity as well as difďŹ culties.

I’ll be introducing my favorite bill of the year this week.

Representative Hamner and I have been working for several years with a bipartisan informal coalition to put a process in place that will allow all of the pieces of our statewide education institution to work together to deďŹ ne and communicate a vision for what Colorado education should be in the future. We intend to shift the dialogue, with legislative leadership, from one which only includes the need for more funding to a visionary strategy that can be the pride of all of Colorado.

I’m still working on other bills and collecting signing pens from the Governor. Thanks to all of House District 57 for the opportunity to serve you.

Under Dome

Representative Bob Rankin represents House District 57.

He writes the monthly column "Under the Dome" hoping to inform and engage the constituents in his district. He serves on the Joint Budget Committee and represents GarďŹ eld, Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties.

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Letters continued om page 2 We can also provide you with a list of items we cannot take if you stop in and see us.

Please stop and shop.

Food can go to Lift Up. Carbondale’s Waste Diversion and Cleanup Day is April 29. So we have a part of the village solution. Here’s to continuing it throughout the year.

Citizens of our beautiful valley have made extraordinary strides in addressing the waste issues generated by our abundance and we see that with numerous people who already help us with responsible reuse of unwanted items.

Thank you for using the great resources right at our feet.

Adele Hause Carbondale

Join Amigos de Inmigrantes Dear Editor: My husband and I moved to Aspen in 2006 from Portland Oregon. In our Portland neighborhood our house was sandwiched between a lesbian couple on one side and a family from Tonga who wore their traditional grass skirts on Sundays and celebrated several times a year by slaughtering and roasting a pig in their backyard. Two doors away, lived Snoop Dogg’s uncle Rio, who had a barbeque truck. He roasted salmon for our wedding. I am in favor of greater diversity, not less.

My ďŹ rst year in Aspen, I experienced a bit of culture shock. Joyfully, we have lived here for 11 years. Recently, I’m observing our community with refreshed eyes and I believe it is because of the following series of experiences that at ďŹ rst I might not have linked.

Last summer I had the pleasure of working with Hudson Reed Ensemble’s Shakespeare in the Park. The production in its entirety was multi-generational and multi-cultural. Everyone brought dedication and talent. It is the nature of theater to come to know each other and gain deeper understanding through our efforts.

In the fall I worked on voter registration with my friend Cari. We presented information sessions to ESL classes, doing our best to demonstrate the registration process and ďŹ eld questions to those eligible to vote.

Most recently, I was part of the creative team VOICES. Our project was an intense immersion with Basalt High School students who chose the theme of PANIC and gave artistic expression to personal experiences of fear and panic.

About half these wonderful students are Latinos and questions about the border and deportation are real fears.

Each of these engagements deepened my awareness and connection to communities within our community: creative communities, educational communities, and in particular, the Latino community.

This is my refreshed observation.

When I reach out, what I receive feels much greater than what I give. I feel like my glasses were cleaned because wherever I go: the grocery store, the coffee shop, the hospital, the Glenwood Mall, any of our schools; exchanges always include a brown-eyed smile, a chatty exchange with a musical accent. My day is richer for it.

With the current challenges to immigration and the border, I try to imagine what our community would look like or how it would feel without all our amigos. My answer: devastated, it would feel devastated.

Some caring hard-working RFV citizens have formed Amigos de Inmigrantes, Friends of Immigrants in concert with the ACLU. Our mission is to be a source of clear information for our Latino community, to address questions and fears, to communicate friendship and recognition of our bigger and beautifully diverse community.

If you would like to be an amigo with us, please visit our Facebook page and join us.

Shere Coleman Aspen

Emergency responders appreciated Dear Editor: We are so very fortunate to have the wonderful EMT team that serves us when an emergency occurs. I wish to thank two policemen and all the EMT responders who came to our house this past Sunday.

Isa, my 14-month old granddaughter, was sitting on the couch next to her aunt eating a piece of apple when a piece stuck somewhere in her throat and prevented her from swallowing.

She screamed and cried, could breathe but kept reaching her hand in her mouth to relieve herself of whatever was there keeping her from swallowing normally.

We called 911 and the EMTs arrived very quickly. They were kind, gentle and thorough in checking her out, made sure the airway was open

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and suggested we go to ER to make sure she had not aspirated anything.

We did that; Isa vomited in the car and again while going into the ER, and that last heave got out the offending piece of apple and Isa was ďŹ ne, back to her usually cheerful self. We are so very grateful for all the EMT professionals who helped us so kindly and the ER team who were also very thorough to make sure she had not aspirated anything.

It’s scary when these unexpected things happen that could be life-threatening and we are all so lucky to have competent help nearby.

Thank you to all who helped us!

Illène Pevec, Isa, Devika and Hamilton Pevec, Zuleika Pevec, aunt and Hosa, cousin, John Lawyer, great grandpa

Legal Notice PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Board of Adjustment for the purpose of considering an appeal of an administrative decision to issue a building permit for property located at 728 Euclid Avenue (Original Townsite Carbondale Block: 24 Lot: Parcel A aka the westerly 1.5 feet of Lot 3, all of Lots 4 and 5, and the easterly 12.5 feet of Lot 6, Block 24, Town of Carbondale). The applicant/owner is Patrick B. Kiernan.

The appeal was filed by Mark Mahoney and others.

Said Public Hearing will be held before the Board of Adjustment at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 7:00 p.m. on May 11, 2017.

Copies of the appeal application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The appeal may also be reviewed on the Town’s website at www.carbondalegov.org.

Janet Buck Town Planner

Published in The Sopris Sun on April 13, 2017.

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • APRIL 13-19 • 23

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