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Volume 8, Number 23 | July 14, 2016
Remembering the late Benjamin Reed By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer
W
hen the Carbondale Mountain Fair opens on July 29, 2016, the traditional invocation and announcements will be made from the 32-year-old Sopris Park Gazebo stage, built in 1984 and dedicated to a man whose death the year before had stunned and saddened the community. The Benjamin H. Reed Memorial Gazebo, as it is informally known, took more than a month to build, according to numerous local volunteers who worked on the project, in time for that year’s Fair. The project had been under consideration for some time previously, according to former Mountain Fair Director Joann Ricci, now living and working in New Orleans, La. “People were just getting tired of putting up a new stage every year,” Ricci recalled, and when Reed died on Dec. 16, 1983, dedicating the new, permanent stage in his honor seemed like a natural fit. A memorial fund was started to raise money to buy materials for the stage, and the town’s parks and recreation commission donated $6,500 in proceeds from the state’s lottery fund to the cause, according to long time local painter and photographer Jim Ryan, who was on the commission at the time. Dick Hunter, an electrical contractor who has lived in Carbondale since the early 1970s but mostly worked in Aspen and Snowmass Village in those early years, said the Gazebo was the first Carbondale project for his company and local musician Denny Egan, who worked for Hunter Electric. Hunter pulled a file out of his records on the project, and reported that the electrical permit for the Gazebo was issued by the town on May 30, 1984, and Hunter’s and Egan’s first day on the job was June 4. He said he signed off on the electrical inspection on July 25, just two days before the Fair opened that year. A marble plaque, bearing Reed’s name but nothing else, was carved out of basically found stone, according to sculptor Greg Tonozzi of Marble, who did the work. “That was back in the days when there was no (newly quarried) marble around, it was all in the woods,” Tonozzi said, referring to the fact REED page 7
Caroline Wisroth, 14, and Dharma share a moment while waiting for their next class during a horse show at Strang Ranch. The Roaring Fork Hounds Pony Club held their fund-raiser at the ranch on Missouri Heights during the weekend. For more photos, please turn to page 14. Photo by Jane Bachrach
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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, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.
E-Board’s climate survey is a “relief ” By Michael Durant My water bill arrived on Friday and just as the Environmental Board promised, the “climate” survey was included. The survey was a great source of comic relief. It was clearly written by activists looking to push an agenda. But don’t be fooled. Costly projects that are not polled in this survey will be justified by the survey, and will make Carbondale a more expensive place to live and a less convenient and less desirable place to shop. Let’s look at a few of the questions: • On the RFTA question – the town currently pays for RFTA services by way of a 1 percent sales tax. Thanks to that tax, we don’t pay a fee out of the town’s General Fund, as is the case with some other municipalities. The tax money pays for the same service that we’ve always had, through the downtown, and RFTA chooses to provide that service with the circulator, rather than running all the buses through town. Any expansion of services would require the town pay RFTA additional fees. There are further costs in bus shelters and ADA compliance; it would be an expensive proposition. Everyone wants expanded in-town shuttles and circulators, but at what cost? The real question is: How much are you willing to pay, or what town services are you willing to forego, to expand in-town shuttles and circulators? • On composting – there is a company providing compost services in town today. If you favor composting, don’t tell the E-Board! Call the company and subscribe! The company is a small husbandand-wife team that has risked a lot to start this enterprise. Give them a chance. If they are successful, other competitors will follow. If they’re not as successful as they hope, they can still make a decent living as the sole provider of these services. And if they fail, well at least they tried. We owe them the opportunity to fail or to succeed based on their merits, and not hindered by government interference. So, here is the survey that I think the town deserves to weigh-in on: 1. Should we measure the successes (or failures) of CORE and CLEER by specific and measurable metrics rather than their own
self-congratulating press releases? 2. Should we demand a high level of transparency from CORE and CLEER on how they are spending our (taxpayer’s) money? Specifically, what are they paying themselves with our money? 3. Should we require the town to get a professional and auditable estimation of sales-tax leakage that would occur if plastic bags and plastic bottles are banned in town? 4. Should we require the town to get a professional and auditable estimation of the additional CO2 generated by citizens driving to El Jebel, Glenwood or Gypsum to buy water in plastic bottles, which they seem to love dearly? 5. Real-estate appraisers have a model that they use to appraise photovoltaic systems. This model was developed by Sandia National Labs, approved by the Appraisal Institute and the Appraisal Qualifications Board, and accepted by Fannie and Freddie. Should we require the town to get an appraisal from a state-certified appraiser for every new PV system the town purchases with taxpayer money? As an appraiser certified in this model, it is my experience that they never appraise for the sales price, even when the sales price is reduced by subsidies, tax credits and accelerated depreciation. I know that advocates and vendors will disagree with this statement; let’s put it to the test. Please realize that all of these initiatives that will be proposed by the town come with a cost. It is only fair to taxpayers that policy makers are transparent about those costs and the benefit that will accrue. We just had an election where the town voted in large numbers and overwhelmingly to reject an energy tax that was to fund many of the initiatives that will be suggested if the E-Board gets the answers they want from this survey. The town and E-Board clearly didn’t get the message.
OPINION
Letters
Dear Editor: I live in Carbondale, and for some 50 years have regularly used public trails such as the Rio Grande Trail for hiking and bicycling. The two-mile section between Catherine Store Road and Rock Bottom Ranch is exceptionally attractive year round, in that it runs between a rushing river on one side and rugged forested hillsides on the other. As reported in the June 30 edition of the Post Independent, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority — the public agency that owns the trail — closed that section of the trail to public use because of cougar kittens being sighted along the trail. The trail is lined by such abundant vegetation that it is reasonable to believe that a mother cougar could be lurking near her kittens, and might attack a person who seemed to pose a threat to them. This same dense vegetation also provides
cover for other species of wildlife – including deer and possibly elk. Over the millennia, these animals have evolved the instinct to use this cover to avoid predators such as cougars, wolves, bears, and human hunters. The animals develop their own sets of trails that enable them to move between places of concealment and sources of food, and they do so largely at night. That is why it is ridiculous for this section of trail to be closed to the public for four months during the winter, allegedly to protect animals that would allegedly be so terrorized by people simply using the trail on snowshoes or cross-country skis as to threaten their survival. Furthermore, I travelled the two-mile section of trail immediately after it was opened on May 1 and examined the animal droppings along it. Aside from goose droppings, I found only 10 piles of deer droppings, some of which were probably deposited be-
Correction Due to varied types of miscommunication, The Sopris Sun published inaccurate information on July 7 about the Mt. Sopris 4-H Club and its members preparing to compete in the Garfield County Fair next month: • Hannah Hayden is not entering swine in nine different com2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUly 14-20, 2016
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 George Stranahan Peter Gilbert James Surls Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein
ank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support! It truly takes a village to keep e Sun shining.
Michael Durant is a real estate economist.
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.
Open Rio Grande in winter
Sincerest thanks to our
fore the trail was closed in December. Such a light concentration of droppings indicates that the trail receives very modest usage by wildlife, and casts further doubt on the speculation about harm to wildlife on which the closure of the trail in winter has been based. Carl Ted Stude Carbondale
Reality checking Hillary Dear Editor: I don’t know if anybody listens to Denver Channel 4, but Shawn Voyt gives a reality check at times and this last one is really an eye opener. Hillary and Bill Clinton’s reality check is actually the unvarnished truth. Here is someone who tells the whole truth about Hillary. We won’t hear this any place else, not in any newspapers, not on other stations. Shawn’s reality check of the Clintons are LETTERS page 15
petitive categories, but has been in the club for nine years; • Trent Goscha, similarly, is not entering in two categories, but has been in the club for two years; • Brady Samuelson is entering in poultry and archery, rather than photography. The Sopris Sun regrets the errors.
To inform, inspire and build community. Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor: Lynn Burton • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Kathryn Camp • 970-379-7014 adsales@soprissun.com Reporter: John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Colin Laird • Cliff Colia Diana Alcantara • Matt Adeletti • Olivia Pevec The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the third Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center. Check the calendar for details and occasional date changes.
Honorary Board Members Denise Barkhurst • Sue Gray David L. Johnson • Laura McCormick Jeannie Perry • Trina Ortega • Frank Zlogar Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell
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Sopris Park cottonwood draws Trustees, P&Z town’s attention and action continue VRBO discussions
“Cabling” proposed before Fair By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer
Vacation rentals by owner
The Town of Carbondale is trying to save the large, double-stemmed cottonwood immediately to the west of (and somewhat behind) the Sopris Park Gazebo, after tests showed that the aging tree is suffering from internal rot and fungus. As a result, town workers are expected to erect barricades to keep people from parking on the ground above the tree’s root system, and to string supporting cables between the two trunks, so that they provide mutual support and prevent a potentially “catastrophic” rending of the junction of the two trunks, according to town staff and a report filed recently at town hall. Known as a split-stem “plains cottonwood” (scientific name, Populus deltoids var occidentalis, the tree is estimated to be 70-80 years old, according to the town’s arborist, David Coon. The tree towers 95 feet above the southwestern corner of the park, and its branches spread in a roughly 85-foot diameter, providing deep shade to the Gazebo and the surrounding area. During the annual Carbondale Mountain Fair, the tree also shades the heavily used backstage area that typically springs up under a canopy behind the gazebo, and nearby booths staffed by mountain fair volunteers handling such things as T-shirt sales, volunteer registration and sign-up, and other fair affairs.
Tree test The testing of the tree’s integrity was conducted in June by Aspen Tree Service, at the request of the town’s Tree Board and Coon, and at a cost of $750, Coon said. In a highly technical report, the tree was rated as presenting a “moderate” risk of either losing large limbs or, more potentially damaging to its surroundings, falling over. As part of the testing procedures, on June 13 the tree received a “safety pruning” (the arboreal equivalent of a hair trim), and its overall health was pronounced to be “fair” according to standards developed by the International Society of Arboriculture, stated the report by specialists Andrew Pleninger and Jason Jones. But the tree’s structure was judged to be “poor,” owing in part to the fact that cottonwoods characteristically are considered “weak wooded” trees that are “prone to failures in normal weather events and more susceptible to decay” than other species. In fact, according to the report, on June 20-21, “during the completion of this report, a healthy 8-inch diameter branch with no notable decay failed over the parking area, apparently due to what is known as ‘sudden limb drop.’” This typically occurs “during high temperatures and is thought to be caused by increased or disrupted water flow through a branch,” the report stated. The evaluation of the tree included a visual inspection of the “root crown” and trunk from the ground, and an inspection of the upper branches and the crown of the tree using an aerial lift. The inspections, according to the report, showed that the tree exhibits open wounds on its southern side, fungal decay in the trunk and “cavity openings” in some places, which “weaken the structure of wood and structural unions.” The report stated that “the union of the two stems” that divide near the ground is considered a structural defect, but that the union appears to be in good shape. Drilling into the trunk with specialized equipment,
By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer
The 95-foot split-stem cottonwood at the southwest corner of Sopris Park plays a key role during Mountain Fair by throwing shade over the gazebo and backstage area, and farther out into the park during late afternoons. Photo by Lynn Burton
the Aspen Tree Service technicians found decay in the split stems, mostly in the southern stem, which was termed “moderate” in some spots and “high” in others. But overall, the specialists seemed to conclude the tree does not present any great immediate danger and is of some worth to the community.
Significant specimen “The tree is a significant specimen adding aesthetic value and environmental benefits to the site and the community,” the report stated in its findings. “It is generally healthy for a tree of its age, however it is entering overmaturity (sic). Measures should be taken to preserve its health by prohibiting parking on the root zone and aeration of compacted soils” around those roots. The ISA risk rating, the report finds, is “moderate,” and might be improved to a “low” risk level by pruning of some of its branches, as long as the pruning is not so severe as to result in a negative impact on the tree’s health. Coon told The Sopris Sun that the tree will be continuously monitored, though an annual, formal assessment probably is “not necessary.” He said the tree likely will be pruned some more, and the cables installed, before the start of Mountain Fair on July 29, although work on the tree is dependent on Tree Board recommendations. As for the remaining life of the tree, Coon concluded, “It’s really hard to say. I don’t think we’re ready to make those kinds of predictions.” With ongoing TLC, according to Coon, the tree could have “a lot more years” of standing at the corner of South 7th Street and Euclid Avenue.
Town planning staff are hoping to present proposed new rules governing “short-term rentals,” otherwise known as vacation rentals by owner (VRBO) and other terms, to the board of trustees (BOT) by some time in August. But in the meantime, the BOT and the town’s planning and zoning commission (P&Z) are scheduled to take the matter up at a joint work session later this month. The trustees directed the P&Z in May to take a look at the town’s regulations of such rental activities, in light of their effect on more traditional lodging businesses such as hotels, motels and B&Bs, on neighbors of the places offering short-term rental accommodations, and on the town’s revenues. Essentially, according to town documents, a short-term rental is defined in most towns and counties around Colorado as a rental of anything from a house or a room, lasting 30 days or less, although Vail defines it as 14 days or shorter and Pitkin County’s definition is a room or home that is “used by visitors from time to time.” In general, said Carbondale planning director Janet Buck, the town does not include motels, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts (B&Bs) or other “more traditional types of lodging facilities” under the definition of short-term rentals. But, Buck told The Sopris Sun, “There’s so many terms that are tied to commercial websites (offering short-term lodging), I started just calling them short-term rentals (or STRs).” According to town staff, there are about 36 short-term rentals operating in Carbondale, as far as the town is aware, although there very well may be more. There are 44 lodging businesses licensed in the town, including four “commercial motel/hotel/campground” licenses and four that “are considered B&Bs,” according to town finance director Renae Gustine. Gustine, in an e-mail to The Sopris Sun, reported that the 36 licensees generated $3,377 under the town’s 2-percent lodging tax for the months of January through May of this year, where the lodging tax revenue from all 44 licensees, taken together, came to nearly $32,000. She calculated that “roughly 10.6 percent of the lodging tax revenues,” therefore, comes from the short-term rental operations. The town also collects a 3.5 percent sales tax on lodging charges, but that information was not included in her report.
Complaints At a P&Z meeting on June 2, the commission heard from a local resident, Tim Brogdan, who lives on North 7th Street and complained that a VRBO in his neighborhood had been causing him trouble with noise, parking congestion and “people hanging out in the alley” behind his home and the VRBO. “He stated that as long as there is no oversight or restrictions for short term rentals that there will be more people complaining,” according to the minutes of that meeting. Brogdan, according to the minutes, maintained that the matter needs to be considered a zoning question, because VRBOs are commercial in nature. “Tim said that the owners of the VRBO next door are not available when there are issues and that they don’t provide parking, as well as not responding to noise complaints,” the minutes recounted. Brogdan also said he has called police over the matter several times, and predicted he would need to keep doing so because he expects there to be more VRBOs in his neighborhood soon. After distributing packets of information on various kinds of short-term rental operations to the commissioners, Brogdan “said that the differences (between the business types) boil VRBO page 7
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUly 14-20, 2016 • 3
Town Briefs
Town working on boat ramp Sopris Sun Staff Report Carbondale town staff recently met with officials from Colorado Parks & Wildlife to discuss installation for up to a half-dozen posts along the banks of the Roaring Fork River near the boat-put-in at the Gateway Park boat ramp, to allow rafters to tie their boats up out of the way of the loading ramp itself, according to Carbondale Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to town trustees, staff and others. In other news from Harrington’s report: • New benches have been ordered for playgrounds at Sopris Park and Miners Park. and that they will be installed when they are delivered. Also, a broken wooden step at Stairway Park, in the old Crystal Village subdivision on the western side of town, has been replaced by the parks crew, which also last week pulled thistles at the town-owned property on Mesa Verde St. and at the White Hill Cemetery. • The town’s parks and recreation commission recently approved a recommendation by a safety inspector from CIRSA, the town’s insurance carrier, that the tree-slide in Sopris Park (near the John M. Fleet Municipal Pool) be removed due to “safety and aesthetic concerns,” Harrington wrote in the memo. The structure is about a decade old and in need of repairs and maintenance,
Harrington wrote, and parts are no longer available from the manufacturer. • The staff at the pool reported that pool use has increased this summer as of July 8, over user data from the same period in 2015 — 2,705 users this year between May 28 and July 8, which is up by 98 users over last year. But, for the week of July 2-8, according to Harrington, the pool reported 466 users, down a bit from the 507 people who used the pool for the same week in 2015. On July 4 this year (a Monday), 110 people used the pool, compared to 146 on the holiday in 2015 (a Saturday). • At Gateway RV Park, for the week of July 1-8, 122 of the available 133 spots were booked this year. For the week of July 9 -15, reservations showed 50 sites were rented. • Town staff met with a representative of the owner of the Stein property (at the northeast corner of Main Street and Highway 133) to discuss an application to rezone the property from PCC to Mixed Use. • Sales tax collections for June were 7.5 percent higher than for June, 2015, and the town’s sales tax collections for the year to date overall are up by 6.1 percent, Harrington reported. The town’s 2016 budget anticipated a 4 percent increase in sales tax receipts.
Cop Shop From June 30 to July 7, Carbondale police officers handled 229 calls for service. During that period, Carbondale officers and Garfield County deputy sheriffs investigated the following cases of note:
FRIDAy, July 1: At 8:34 p.m. police were called to the intersection of Main Street and Weant Boulevard about a disturbance. They arrested a 42-year-old local man for “chasing children and being disorderly” and took him to the Garfield County Jail. FRIDAy, July 1: At 10:47 p.m. police stopped a vehicle for driving down the middle of Highway 133, and subsequently arrested the 34-year-old male driver on suspicion of drunk driving. FRIDAy, July 2: at 2:16 a.m. police stopped a vehicle for speeding, and subsequently arrested the 20-year-old male driver on suspicion of drunk driving, possession of fake identification, and drug possession. SATURDAy, July 2: At 9:14 p.m. Garfield County deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a suicidal woman outside the Carbondale town limits. An investigation lead to the arrest of the woman on several warrants. She was taken to the county jail. SUNDAy, July 3: At 12:47 p.m. police were told by a local woman that her husband may have sexually assaulted their two children. The case is under investigation. TUESDAy, July 5: At 8:20 p.m. police were called to an address on Garfield Avenue about a report of men drinking outside the entrance of an apartment complex. Three young men were issued summons for being minors in possession of alcohol, and one man was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of minors. THURSDAy, July 7: At 8:47 p.m. Garfield County deputies were dispatched to a reported health emergency outside of Carbondale. After investigating, they arrested a 35-year-old woman on the premises on charges of harassment, domestic violence and failure to comply with a court order. She was taken to Garfield County Jail.
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The Town of Carbondale Parks & Recreation Commission has approved a recommendation by CIRSA, the Town safety insurance inspector, that the tree slide located in Sopris Park near the swimming pool be removed due to safety and aesthetic concerns.
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is approximately 10 years old and is in need of repairs and replacement parts that are no longer available from the manufacturer. The Parks & Recreation Commission will be discussing recommendations for replacement of this play structure at their next meeting to be held Wednesday, August 10th, at 7:00 pm, at the Sopris Park Picnic Shelter. Local neighborhood residents and Carbondale citizens are welcome to attend and weigh in on the discussions. If unable to make the meeting, but would like to provide comments or recommendations, please contact Town of Carbondale Recreation Director, Jeff Jackel, at 510 -1214 or email him at: jjackel@carbondaleco.net.
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Fair Affairs
Check out the Main Street planters. This one, at Third and Main Street, includes corn, beans and squash, which have not yet come up. It was put together by Rita Marsh “and friends.� Chris Chacos and others organized the Main Street planter project with the help of the Town of Carbondale at least four years ago. Stay tuned for planter updates as the summer goes on. Photo by Lynn Burton
Markhams celebrate 70th
Take the E-Board survey
Paul and Annie Markham, former residents of Redstone, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with a reception in Brighton, Colorado (14789 Harrison St.) from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. Cards may be sent to Paul and Annie at 856 Colorado Ave., Carbondale, or best wishes conveyed at 316-249-9313.
The Environmental Board and Town of Carbondale want to hear from you and you and you, concerning environmental programs and initiatives. To better understand the community’s priorities, the E-Board has posted a survey on the town’s website homepage at carbondalegov.org. The survey takes less than ďŹ ve minutes to complete and will be
As it has for the past few years, CCAH will rafe off 24 shade-tent spaces for Mountain Fair. You can enter only one name per family in the lottery at carbondalearts.com through July 22, according to a press release. Names will be drawn at 3 p.m. on July 25. Winners must conďŹ rm they are taking their spots by noon on July 26. There is a $50 deposit to enter the lottery, and a total fee of $100 should your name be drawn. All other deposits will be refunded 14 business days after the lottery has been drawn. Winners must set up their 10x10-foot shade tents between Thursday, July 28 at 6 p.m. and Friday, July 29 at 3 p.m. For details, call 963-1680. In other Fair Affairs, it’s time to sign up for a volunteer shift performing various crucial duties, such as: Peace Patrol, selling Tshirts, helping with the Green Team, trash collecting and more. Volunteers who give four hours of their time receive a Friend of the Fair T-shirt, and are entered into the rafe for a New Belgium cruiser bike. To sign up, go to carbondalearts.com, call 963-1680 or stop by the Launchpad (on Third Street).
What to do, what to do The Carbondale Parks & Recreation Commission will discuss what to replace the old “tree slide� in Sopris Park with during a meeting at the picnic shelter starting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10. The 10-year-old slide, located near the
swimming pool, needs repairs but replacement parts are no longer available from the manufacturer, according to a press release. If you can’t attend the meeting, recreation director Jeff Jackel is taking comments at 510-1214 or jjackel@carbondaleco.net.
Alpine Bank announces promotions Alpine Bank has announced a round of promotions, including: • Tara Bair to eBanking ofďŹ cer; • Kristi Shelton to executive vice president in human resources; • Ross Bentzler to assistant vice president, Central Operations-IT; • Jessica Miller to assistant vice president, Operations Compliance Control; • Karla Felkey to chief risk ofďŹ cer, Risk Management; • Chinella Mozingo to banking ofďŹ cer, Risk Management; • Dan Markoya to vice president, Willits; Chartered in 1973, Alpine Bank is an employee-owned organization with assets exceeding $2.8 billion. It’s headquarters are in Glenwood Springs with 38 banking ofďŹ ces across Colorado and nearly 600 employees.
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: John Tolan (July 14); Don Voltmer and Meghan Gillespie (July 15); Diana Alcantara and Tony Spires (July 16); Jason Steinberg and Eric Brendlinger (July 17); Jacque Whitsitt, Laurel Sheehan and Heidi Paul (July 18); Tony Comer and Edgar Reyna (July 19); and Amy Burdick July 20.
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WE WERE HERE WHEN THE ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL LANDED IN ASPEN
THE PREMIER U.S. Hunt Ranch, located just upvalley from the Missouri Heights schoolhouse, was listed for $17 million according to the online Land Report, after the Garfield County commissioners turned down the owners’ development proposal in 2008. The property eventually sold at the end of 2015 for $4.1 million, according to Garfield County records. Photo by Lynn Burton
Hunt Ranch sells; horse facility slated By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Ranchers and other residents of the area around Garfield County Road 102 on Missouri Heights have been concerned for years that developers might build a large subdivision of homes on the 562-acre Hunt Ranch (located at 893 CR 102). But Garfield County's 2008 rejection of a development plan, which proposed construction of 93 homes, appeared to cool the interest of developers. The proposal was submitted in the name of an entity known as Hunt Ranch LLC, by planning consultants JAM Development LLC, OTAK and DDA, Inc. The property was bought last year by a man whose formal address is in Hawaii, according to county records, and who reportedly has assured his neighbors that he intends to keep things as they are. According to records accessible at the Garfield County Assessor's website, David Carswell, whose home address is given in the records as a post office box in Hanalei, Hawaii, bought the ranch at the end of last year for $4.1 million, reportedly in partnership with another man who lives in the Roaring
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that while the Yule Marble quarry had been inactive for some time, there were plenty of blocks and pieces of marble left over from earlier quarrying activities and scattered around the community. “I did it with honor, and a lot of emotion,” Tonozzi remembered. “To me, it’s not the stone itself, it’s the essence, kind of, of the person it’s being done for.” When people look on a piece of memorial marble, he said, “It brings up the memory of the person. It kind of keeps their memory alive.”
Ben’s story Reed, who was 30 when he died, grew up in the East and was a high school chum of another Carbondale character, Bill Bullard, who died in Idaho in 2003 only months after moving there from Carbondale.
Fork Valley region. Carswell reportedly also has long-time ties to the Roaring Fork Valley. The ranch, according to the records, had gone into foreclosure in 2013, and Carswell's 893 Hunt Ranch LLC finalized purchase of the property on Dec. 30, 2015. Carswell, according to his neighbors, currently is out of the country and could not be reached for comment on his plans for the property. But he reportedly has told more than one neighbor that he plans to build equestrian facilities, including an outdoor riding arena now under construction and a large barn that has yet to be built. Tamra Allen, acting planning director for Garfield County, told The Sopris Sun in an e-mail that there has been no development plan submitted to the county since the 2008 residential proposal, and that she was unsure whether any kind of permits would be needed for the current redevelopment activity at Hunt Ranch. If the building meets the county's code definitions of a “riding stable,” Allen noted, the building activities would be deemed a “use by right” and would not require any permits.
The two buddies joined forces in Colorado in the 1970s, remembered Bill’s widow, Barb Bush, who lives in the north side of Carbondale. They came here to work on a house and barn for Bill’s parents, the late Bill, Sr. and his wife, Jean, who now lives in the Seattle, Wash., area. Both Reed and the younger Bullard ultimately ended up making Carbondale their new home. Reed was a universally well-liked man from the start, according to those who knew him well or just as an acquaintance. “He was a good guy,” said Carbondale Fire Chief Ron Leach, who knew Reed fairly well. “I remember him as a really good carpenter, but he did all kinds of stuff. I liked him a lot.” For the Gazebo project, Leach recalled, “I placed that piece of marble; I cut it into
MUSIC SI FESTIVAL ASPEN/PITKIN COUNTY
AIRPOR T EMBRACING THE CHARACTER OF ASPEN
SINCE 1948
N O N - STO P — CHI C AGO DE N V ER LOS A NGEL ES S A N F R A N CIS C O H O US TO N DA L L A S / F T WORT H
GAZEBO page 12 THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUly 14-20, 2016 • 7
“Voodoo in a bowl” at Cajun Clay
The 18th annual Cajun Clay night was held last Saturday at the Carbondale Clay Center where over 300 tickets were sold. Rather than cars, Main Street was lined up with handmade bowls displayed on shelves so ticketholders could choose their favorite and fill it with homemade gumbo prepared by Andreas Fischbacher, owner of Allegria. There was face painting at the kids’ corner, live music by Chimney Choir and of course the star of the show was the alligator cake, which humans eagerly consumed rather than being consumed by the gator. Photos and text by Jane Bachrach
8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUly 14-20, 2016
Community Briefs Deaf Camp benefit returns The legendary Deaf Camp Benefit “picnic” returns for its fourth year in Snowmass Village on July 16, according to a press release. The Pimps of Joytime will perform as the headliner. The benefit is free and attendees are encouraged to make donations to Aspen Camp, which go towards scholarships for kids along with the proceeds from a silent auction. The Deaf Camp benefit (originally known as the Deaf Camp Picnic) was established in the 1960s with the help of John Denver, Jimmy Buffet, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to support the things Aspen Camp does for deaf and hard of hearing kids. Gates open in Base Village at noon and the schedule is as follows: • 1 p.m. – Mack Bailey, Bobby Mason & Rich Ganson; • 4 p.m. – Jes Grew • 6:30 p.m. – Special performance by Deaf Campers of Aspen Camp • 7 p.m. – Pimps of Joytime Concert-goers are encouraged to take advantage of the free RFTA transportation between Aspen and Snowmass and the Snowmass Village Shuttle Service from Town Park Station (Rodeo Lot) to Base Village and the Snowmass Mall.
CMC survey seeks input Colorado Mountain College is conducting a survey to help it understand how to best serve the community’s needs. To take the survey, go to bit.ly/298VMmr or the CMC website at coloradomountaincollege.com. Complete the survey, and you can enter a drawing for an iPad Air 2, or pair of hand-built CMC ski’s (winner’s choice). Three other winners will receive $75 Amazon gift
Please submit your community briefs to news@soprissun.com by noon on Monday.
cards. Questions include, “Please rank the top three items from the following list from the most important (1) to the less important (3) for you and your family:” • Keep tuition affordable; • Keeping classes small; • Building and maintaining high-quality educational facilities; • Providing college courses in high schools; • Strengthening the College’s collaboration with local business; • Providing specialized training; • Providing additional support for veterans; • Providing lifelong learning courses.
KDNK Board meets The KDNK Board of Directors will meet at the station (76 S. Second) at 5:30 p.m. on July 18. The meeting is open to the public. An agenda is posted at the KDNK office and at kdnk.org, or call 963-0139.
Fire district 911 calls Here are the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District’s emergency calls for the week of July 3-9: • Medical emergencies (6), • Standby requests (5), • Fire alarm responses (5), • Trauma emergencies (3), • Medical alarm response (1), • Vehicle accident response (1), • Vehicle fire response (1), • Brush fire response (1), • Carbon monoxide alarm (1), • Smoke alarm response (1), • Odor check response (1).
Whitney Will of Roaring Gardens put together some flower arrangements for the company’s booth at the Carbondale Farmers’ Market on Wednesday. The market at the Fourth Street plaza runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 28. Look for fresh veggies, bread, eggs, coffee and more. Photo by Lynn Burton
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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUly 14-20, 2016 • 9
Community Calendar THURSDAY July 14 GUIDED OUTINGS • The Wilderness Workshop and Audubon Society lead a free guided hike for birding at Hay Park west of Carbondale. This is part of the Wilderness Workshop’s “Hikes with a Purpose” series. Naturalist Brandon Jones leads the hikes. Info: 963-3977 and Brandon@wildernessworkshop.org. On July 18 at 6 p.m., Jones leads a full-moon hike in Hay Park. Info: Wildernessworkshop.org (hikes). CRC • The Crystal Caucus holds its meeting at the Church at Redstone starting at 7 p.m. Agenda items include: Highway 133 safety/turn lane report (Bill Argeros); finalizing the Crystal River Master Plan (changes suggested by the Pitkin County Planning Department include agriculture, growth, development and other issues); “Should Wolves be Restored to Colorado?” (Delia Malone). BRAIN TRAIN • Senior Matters holds its first Brain Train session from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 9:45 a.m. to 2 a.m. The program is at capacity but Senior Matters is accepting applicants for its wait list. Info: Diane Darling at 818-800-1092 until July 17, and 970-987-3754 after that. RODEO • The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo takes place at the Gus Darien Arena at 7:30 p.m. and continues on Thursdays through Aug. 18. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with slack at 6 p.m. and the Grand Entry at 7:30 p.m. The arena is located a mile east of Carbondale on County Road 100. Info: carbondalerodeo.com.
To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com. View events online at soprissun.com/calendar.
ROTARy • The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita at noon every Thursday.
THURS.-SAT. July 14-16 HEWMAN RESIDENCy • Dance Initiative presents the New York-based dance company HEWMAN in an open rehearsal at the Launchpad from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 14, and a work in progress titled “This is Nothing Without You” at the Launchpad at 8:30 p.m. on July 16. Info: carbondalearts.com.
FRIDAY July 15 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “Maggie’s Plan” (R) at 7:30 p.m. July 15-21 and “Dark Horse” (PG) at 5:30 p.m. on July 16-17 (July 17 show is captioned). lIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars in the old part of the Dinkel Building presents live music every Friday night. Info: 963-3340.
SATURDAY July 16 lEMONADE DAy • YouthEntity’s Lemonade Day Roaring Fork Valley is held in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The day gives kids their first business experiences, and will teach goal setting, planning and more. In Basalt, Lemonade Day is held during the Aspen Valley Marathon. Outside the Art Base, there’ll be lemonade stands, face painting, a DJ and bounce house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Carbondale, Lemonade Day hooks up with Jay Walker Lodge’s “Anything is Possible” 5K from 9-11 a.m., with other stands on Main Street until 2 p.m. In Glenwood, there’ll be a lemonade crawl downtown
from 2-6 p.m. To register, visit rfv.lemonadeday.org. Sponsors include: Richard and Nancy Rogers/Mary Kay Inc., Alpine Bank, Brewster McLeod Architects, the Aspen Club & Spa, Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty, Larkin Construction and House (a design build company). Info: 963-4055 and youthentity.org.
food tasting and demonstration at 6 p.m. It’s for ages 21 and older. Info: gcpld.org.
5K • Jaywalker Lodge’s inaugural Anything is Possible 5K starts at 811 Main Court at 9 a.m., with registration starting at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $25 for runners 13 and older; $20 for Jaywalker Lodge alumni (kids 12 and under are free). For details, go to jaywalkerlodge.com.
UlTIMATE FRISBEE • League and nonleague folks play ultimate Frisbee at Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel at 5:30 p.m. It’s for beginners and experts. Info: aspenultimate/free on Facebook.
lET’S JUST DANCE • The Spaghetti Western Band plays at Let’s Just Dance at the Third Street Center starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15. Info: billypat4gmail.com or 948-3006. COMMUNITy MEAl • Faith Lutheran Church (south of Main Street on Highway 133) hosts a free community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The meals are offered the third Saturday of the month. Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale.com. GUIDED HIKE • Wilderness Workshop continues its “Hikes with a Purpose” series with an excursion up East Maroon Creek near Aspen. The hike starts at 7:30 a.m. and it’s free. Info: and to sign up: wildernessworkshop.org and then /hikes.
MONDAY July 18 RAW FOOD • The Carbondale Branch Library presents Darrell MacAulay in a raw
TUESDAY July 19 MEET THE MAyOR • Carbondale Mayor Dan Richardson holds his weekly “Office Hours” session at the Village Smithy from 7 to 8 a.m. Drop by and say hi.
DANCE lESSONS • Head over to the Third Street Center for free dance lessons in two-step, East and West Coast swing, cowboy cha-cha, line-dancing and more from 7-7:30 p.m. Partners are not needed. After the lessons, there’ll be an actual dance ($8 per person, $14 per couple). Info: billypat4@gmail.com or 948-3006. lIBRARy • Rocky Mountain Puppets roll in to the Carbondale Branch Library to tell folks about health, nutrition and other related topics at 10:30 a.m. The presentation is part of the library district’s “Mount Healthmore” series. Info: 9632889 or gcpld.org. ASPEN WORDS • Novelist Paul Griner discusses his work from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Woody Creek Community Center.
WEDNESDAY July 20 FIlM • The Basalt Regional Library shows CALENDAR page 11
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Community Calendar the Beatles’ film “A Hard Day’s Night” at 5:15 p.m. It’s free. FARMERS’ MARKET • The Carbondale Farmers’ Market at Fourth Street Plaza goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 28. Look for fresh veggies, bread, eggs, coffee, lunch, live music and local art all summer. Info: carbondalefarmersmarket.com. HEPWORTH RETURNS • Spoken word artist and teacher Myrlin Hepworth, who has inspired many young voices in the Roaring Fork Valley through his work in the schools, returns to Carbondale for a hip hop show from 8 to 10 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars in the Dinkel Building. The show is part of the Eulogy Tour, a celebration of music and storytelling making its way from Phoenix through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. A limited number of presale tickets are available at Backdoor Consignment or contact Aliza Mitchel at Alizamitchell@gmail.com. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 7 p.m. More info is available on Facebook (www.facebook.com/events/305551053167819/).
Hold the Presses TRE • Betsy Bowie leads Tension and Trauma Releasing exercise at the Third Street Center (Suite 28) at 6 p.m. on July 22. A $10 donation is suggested. Bring a mat and water bottle. For details, call 379-3486.
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Further Out
THURSDAY July 21 DISABIlITIES INTERVENTION • Valley Life for All’s 2016 speakers panel will discuss the topic “Early Intervention” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Third Street Center. This is for parents of disabled children 3 years old and younger. Panel speakers will explain why and how to access services. Questions will include: What does ‘inclusion’ mean to you; why do children under 3 need early intervention; how are intervention and inclusion connected; how do I access these programs; are these programs appropriate for my loved one or me? English to Spanish interpretation is available (RSVP required) and childcare will be provided (please bring the child’s bag of toys). To RSVP, e-mail community@valleylifeforall.org. Info: valleylifeforall.org or VLFA’s Facebook page. lIBRARy • The Carbondale Branch Library holds a wine, cheese and book tasting at Sopris Liquor & Wine. Avalanche Cheese will also be represented. It starts at 6 p.m. for those 21 and older. Info: 963-2889 and gcpld.org.
MONDAY July 25 BRUNA BOOK SIGNING • John Bruna holds a book signing for his book “The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness” at the Third Street Center starting at 6:30 p.m. Bruna, the director of Way of Compassion Foundation, and cofounder of the Mindful Life Program, will also give a talk on how living a meaningful life helps people cultivate genuine happiness, well being and resiliency. Light refreshments will be served. To read reviews and to order
roaringfork.org. Info: 927-1290. Other sponsors are the Aspen Historical Society, and City of Aspen Parks and Open Space.
the book, go to ameaningfullife.us.
TUESDAY July 26 lIBRARy • Juggler Ann Lincoln entertains kids of all ages at the Carbondale Branch Library starting at 10:30 a.m. Info: 963-2889 and gcpld.org.
WEDNESDAY July 27 HOlDEN WORKS TOUR • Roaring Fork Conservancy and others offer a free tour of the historic Holden Lixiviation Works from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required at
FRI.-SUN. July 29-31 CARBONDAlE MOUNTAIN FAIR • CCAH’s 45th annual Carbondale Mountain (aka the “Roaring Fork Valley’s Best Party” takes place in Sopris Park. Food, music, arts/crafts and more. Admission is free. Vendors open their doors at noon on Friday, with opening celebrations at 3 p.m. Festivities conclude at 9 p.m. on Sunday. Info: carbondalearts.com or 963-1680.
Ongoing SIlENT MEDITIATION • Free silent meditation sessions are held at the Launchpad from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The public is invited.
Street Center (room #31) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Donations are accepted. Info: Kelli Welsh at 417-893-8578.
SENIOR MATTERS • Martin Finkelstein leads tai chi workouts at the Sopris Park gazebo at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
THE lAUNCHPAD • CCAH continues “From Our Valley to the World: Four National Geographic Photographers.” The show features David Hiser, Peter McBride, Dick Durrance and the late Nicholas DeVore III, all of whom live or lived in the Roaring Fork Valley. Info: 963-1680 carbondalearts.com.
NEW FARMERS’ MARKET • The new afternoon/evening Farmers’ Market continues from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays behind the Carbondale Recreation Center. MAKING MUSIC • The Carbondale Songwriters Circle meets in the Carbondale Branch Library after-hours parking lot from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday. Bring instruments and songs to share. Everyone is welcome. Info: Amy at 970-470-1750. EMPATHS MEET • The “RFV Empaths Unite” support group meets at the Third
SENIOR MATTERS • Bring a partner to Senior Matters bridge at the Third Street Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Info: Diane Morgan at 963-0424. FIRE DISTRICT • The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District holds master plan meetings the fourth Wednesday of the month, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the main fire station on Meadowood Drive.
LEADING TOWARD JUSTICE: AN EVENING AT THE RESNICK ASPEN ACTION FORUM David Rubenstein
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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • JUly 14-20, 2016 • 11
Gazebo om page 7 the wood at the edge of the stage.” Tonozzi, who knew Reed as a ditch walker for the East Mesa Ditch Company, recalled, “He was a sincere gentleman — and I mean a gentle man.” “He was a dancing fool,” said Bush, who met Reed through her future husband. “He’d go anywhere there was music. And he was at the joiners’ table in the Village Smithy every morning,” greeting and eating with friends and neighbors. A wide range of locals counted Reed as a friend, although they admitted to not having known him closely. “I knew him,” said local real estate broker Cindy Sadlowski. “Everybody knew him. I thought he was a really nice guy.” Reed lived in this area for six years, according to a Dec. 22, 1983 story in the Valley Journal newspaper about his death, and every year he would be a central figure in the 15-man crew (or so) that put up the Mountain Fair stage. Laurie Loeb, a founder of the fair and of the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities for which the fair is a chief fundraising event, recalled that the stage project every year involved donated materials and labor, and that “Ben was the consummate volunteer, heading up that crew.”
Ben’s demise It was on Dec. 9, 1983, that Reed and Bullard were driving south on Highway 133, headed for the ditch-walker’s shack Reed lived in along Nettle Creek at the base of Mt. Sopris.
At a point along the highway near the ranch driveways of the Sewell family and what is now Sustainable Settings, according to reports, a thermos bottle Bullard kept under the driver’s seat rolled forward and got lodged under the brake pedal of the car. Bush told The Sopris Sun that when Bullard, who was driving, reached down to grab the thermos, the car hit some ice and slid off the highway and into a ditch, slamming Reed into the door frame on his side of the car and causing massive brain damage. Bullard was less seriously injured. Reed was taken to St. Mary’s hospital in Grand Junction where he spent a week in a coma and died on Dec. 16. According to the news story, for weeks “an uncounted number of people went about in a daze, disbelieving the testimony of their ears and their eyes,” unable to accept Reed’s passing. “He just died way too young,” said Dick Hunter, summing up the feelings of many. Per instructions on Reed’s driver’s license, his heart went into the donor pool and was soon transplanted into the chest of a 48-year-old man from Ohio, whom Barb Bush said regularly received Valentine’s Day cards from former Carbondale resident Elva McDowell, a founding member of a popular local band, the Sirens of Swing.
The project The conversation about building a permanent stage quickly coalesced around the idea of making it into a memorial for Reed. Architect Ron Robertson, another late
The late Ben Reed came to town in the 1970s and quickly became known not only as a good guy, but good carpenter as well. A marble block inscribed with his name is embedded on the west side of the Sopris Park gazebo. Courtesy photo and lamented community character, was recruited to draw up plans for the Gazebo. Local builder Jim Wood, who now lives mostly in Montana, was brought in as the general contractor and pulled a building permit some time in May, although town officials said that particular record has been lost. And the same carpenters, electricians and others with construction know-how, who had been building the annual temporary stage with Reed over the years, pitched
in to help build a permanent memorial for their fallen friend. “Everyone just kind of pitched in, doing whatever,” recalled Chuck Bauer, reached at a home he and his wife, Marti, own in Moab, Utah, describing the crew that came together every year to build the stage and, that year, to put up the Gazebo. “I think most everybody that lived in the town, at my age, anyway, was part of it,” Bauer said.
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12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUly 14-20, 2016
Help you Help yourself, rself, help you yourr town, town, help you yourr neighbor neighbor
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right here; and you help your neighbor because most of Carbondale’s store and businesses are locally owned.
VRBO om page 3 down to those owners that live on site and those that do not.� The same point was made at the May 18 meeting of the BOT, at which trustees maintained there is an increase in the number of local properties that are being purchased and used strictly for shortterm rentals, not homes for the property owners and their families.
Trustees comment Trustee Marty Silverstein, following up on a presentation by planner John Leybourne, counted out three kinds of short-term rentals that the town is interested in — owner-occupied homes that offer rental space to visitors; homes where the owners goes away and rents the entire property to visitors; and properties used solely as proďŹ t-making rental facilities. At one point in the meeting, Silverstein said he favors some type of licensing and taxation of the latter category of enterprises. In reaction, Trustee Katrina Byars suggested that while owner-occupied short-term rentals may not need regulation, the other kinds might need some kind of controls because it is a “(kind of land use) that in fact sacriďŹ ces the local cultureâ€? by removing potential affordable housing from the town’s stock of houses and apartments. She said of owner-occupied homes that rent rooms to visitors short-term, “That’s what we’re doing in our own personal homes,â€? which she found more acceptable. “A lot of what we do is making sure that what people do on private property does not compromise public welfare,â€? Byars declared at one point in the meeting. Acting Mayor Dan Richardson, adding to what
Byars said, concluded that the P&Z needed to analyze three different aspects of the problem — the reduction of affordable-housing opportunities, the idea of placing a cap on the number of shortterm rentals allowed in town, and the idea of imposing a permit process and taxes or fees of some kind on non-primary residences that are rented out to visitors. At the June 2 P&Z meeting, chief planner Janet Buck told the commissioners that the current town code does not directly address short-term rentals (it does address motels, hotels and B&Bs), but that the code does deal with safety issues, occupancy limits and ingress-egress requirements, all of which could be used to regulate short-term rentals. Buck pointed to a comparative chart, compiled by GarďŹ eld County staff, showing how other towns and counties in the region and the state have dealt with the issue. The chart details what other towns and counties have done in terms of creating regulations of such things as whether a permit is required (yes in fewer than half of the jurisdictions listed); whether occupancy is limited (yes in only ďŹ ve of 19 jurisdictions); and if a local responsible party in residence is required (yes in 11 jurisdictions); among other variations in regulations. At least one P&Z member, Yuani Ruiz, remarked that in terms of traditional lodging operations, the town “doesn’t have the accommodations available to (house) 250 people for a large event like a wedding,â€? according to the June 2 minutes, implying that short-term rentals may be a necessary part of the larger lodging picture in Carbondale. Town staff will continue working on proposed regulations for governing short-term rentals, with an eye toward putting something before the BOT and the P&Z at a joint meeting later in July.
Catch this summertime sight while you can: mule deer in velvet. In late August or early September, they’ll start scraping their velvet-coated antlers on small trees or bushes to get rid of it. By mid-September to early October, the job should be done. The velvet comes with antler growth, which usually starts in February or March, after the deer have shed their previous year’s model. The velvet protects the soft, developing antlers and provides a constant supply of blood for the growth, according to the monstermuleys.com website. Photo by Jane Bachrach
Administrative Assistant - Full time Year round The administrative assistant reports to the controller, supports managers and employees through a variety of tasks related to organization and communication. The administrative assistant is directly responsible for fielding all telephone calls, receiving and directing customers in the business office, word processing, creating and maintaining spreadsheets, filing, and other tasks as assigned.
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Girls & boys and dogs & horses Photos and text by Jane Bachrach
Riders wearing black boots, jackets and helmets — along with their horses whose glistening coats were either brown, black, chestnut, white or a combination of colors — dominated the landscape at Strang Ranch on July 9-10 while competing in the Roaring Fork Hounds Pony Club’s annual fund-raiser. While little boys played games on their tablets and dogs played with each other, competitors warmed up, competed or took a break in the shade. Competitors top left to right are: Amber Nieslanik, Grace Hall and Lauren Sherry. As for the local Pony Club, it’s part of a nation-wide non-profit Pony Club Foundation. According to its website, the foundation’s cornerstones are “education, safety, sportsmanship, stewardship and FUN.”
14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • JUly 14-20, 2016
New federal law is a prescriptive mandate By Joyce Rankin
dents were in attendance wearing “HOPE” T-shirts. FolThe Colorado Board of Education doesn’t normally lowing arguments from both sides, the board voted 7-0 meet in July. This year, however, there were timelines to meet to keep the school operating. and emergency situations that required board votes. So this Peabody filing past week, I hopped on the Bustang and headed to Denver. The second board vote involved the Southern Routt The meeting was originally billed as an Every Student County (Soroco) School District south of Steamboat Succeeds Act (ESSA) study session with the Colorado DeSprings. As a result of Peabody Energy filing Chapter 11 partment of Education (CDE), explaining to the Colorado bankruptcy, and not being able to pay property taxes, the Board of Education the latest federal law and the accomschool district could not meet payroll through the sumpanying federal Department of Education’s proposed regmer. Soroco Superintendent Darci Mohr contacted the ulations. A pair of time-critical items were later added. Colorado Department of Education to see if it could The more than three-hour ESSA session brought out the help. During one of my town hall meetings in Steamboat frustrations with the alignment between the law (ESSA), Rankin the same week, Mohr attended and expressed her deep (written by the fed- By Joyce the subsequent proposed regulations concern for the district and asked for assistance. I met eral Department of Education), and Colorado state law. The board has until Aug. 1 to submit its concerns to the federal De- with the Colorado Department of Education, where I was told issue partment of Education, and there are many. As an example, one part would be presented at the August board meeting. Later that week I of the federal law includes a statutory “may,” however in the regula- was able to move the item to the July agenda, allowing Soroco to tions, the word “must” appears. This takes the new law, which prom- apply for a $1 million Contingency Reserve Grant. The board voted 7-0 to allow the grant process to move forward. The legislature will ised flexibility, into a prescriptive federal mandate. work to restore money to this fund for future emergencies. The August 10-11 Colorado School Board meeting will be held Hope Online at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. One of the agenda The first of the two additional items on the agenda that required items will be Pueblo School District 60 and its plan to improve stua vote by the state board involved Hope Online charter schools. Hope achievement. All meetings are open to the public and I invite dent Online operates 29 learning centers in Colorado. Five are within Auyou to attend. rora Public Schools (APS). In order to continue operating in Aurora, Thank you for the honor to represent you. Hope submitted its required memorandum of understanding to APS.
Across Street
Aurora Superintendent Rico Munn rejected Hope’s memorandum. HOPE had an opportunity to appeal the decision before our board and did so this past week. More than 100 supportive parents and stu-
Letters continued om page 2
Joyce Rankin is the Third Congressional District’s representative on the Colorado State Board of Education and lives in the Carbondale area.
some of the things that have been on TV of late finest. Apparently, when the political fat cats in and on Facebook. All the past “good works of Washington think they maybe replaced they tend Hillary are not exactly the unvarnished truth. Its to follow the money and or promises. Hillary seems that she and Bill really like to spread the and Bill act like they have never been linked to BS. The reality check is Hillary has never done any crimes at all. The fact is that the prosecutor half of what she claims to be about, and the De- that was supposedly trying to find evidence mocrats are going to suck up to her as much as that Hillary is guilty of anything has been paid they can. You can bet that Bill Clinton’s little off. He has known them for a lot of years and he talk with Loretta Lynch was pretty much not a understand that no matter what either of them social visit. He gave her a note explaining that do, he values his life. if she will not prosecute Hillary that they will Hillary is not the answer to our problems in see that she has a position in the government this country. She has already and will do more when Hillary becomes president, bribery at its damage as time goes on. I find the mute button
very effective, or just watch something else. I can’t think of anybody worse for this country than the Liar and the Thief, and the misfits to run this country than Hillary and Bill. Foreign money talks and BS needs to walk right out of our lives. Too bad Bernie Sanders has nobody to push for him to stay in there and fight. Hillary is not going to do anything for you. She is too self centered to do that. Another narcissistic idiot that we don’t need. Audrey Jane Spaulding, Carbondale
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