the
Sopris Carbondale’s
weekly, non-profit newspaper
Sun
Volume 3, Number 23 | July 21, 2011
Trustees nix Main Street closure By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer
B
y a 5-1 vote on Tuesday night, the Carbondale Board of Trustees denied a Main Street closure request for the Aug. 5 First Friday event. Lindsey Cynoski, who owns Lulubelle at 320 Main Street, had asked trustees to close that section of Main Street for three hours on Aug. 5 so she could set up a stage for her store’s fashion show, similar to the one she put on last spring. Carbondale is in its first year of a new policy limiting Main Street closures to three events per year after some businesses complained in 2010 that such closures were hurting their business. “We have a policy in place,” said mayor Stacey Bernot.“This is tough … this isn’t a townsponsored event.” This year’s three closures are/were the Rocky Mountain Omnium bicycle race, a block party for the 2011 National Sheepdog Finals in September, and Light Up Carbondale in December, Bernot said. Trustee John Foulkrod, who voted for the closure, supported Cynoski’s Main Street closure idea. He said the First Friday Committee has done a “great job” expanding the monthly event, which now includes street performers, a shuttle service from Highway 133 to Main Street, The Third Street Center and other components. “If we stick to the rules … sometimes the rules don’t work so you change them,” Foulkrod said. The shuttle service proved to be a major sticking point. The First Friday Committee — which was represented Tuesday night by Dave Taylor, Harmony Scott and Terry Kirk — balked at a complete Main Street closure in the 300 block and suggested one lane be kept open for shuttle vans. Police chief Gene Schilling told the trustees the one-lane closure idea was news to him. Schilling said he already had concerns about the proposed closure funneling pedestrians and traffic to Fourth Street, and to add a shuttle to a closed Main Street “is even more of a concern for me.” Schilling concluded by saying if the trustees allow shuttles on Main Street during the closure, he would recommend for denial. Some trustees were also concerned about the Special Events Committee’s involvement, or lack TRUSTEES page 5
Rio Grande detour This eastbound bicyclist turned left on Tuesday morning after discovering the 2.5-mile section of the Rio Grande Trail between the Catherine Store bridge and Rock Bottom Ranch is closed following Monday afternoon’s heavy rain that produced a rockslide that completely covered the trail in sections. Bicyclists can still pedal upvalley on the Rio Grande Trail but must take the Highway 82 frontage road then follow the detour signs. Photo by Lynn Burton
Dubsteppin’ in Bonedale
Peak controversy hasn’t peaked
Revealing burlesque
Page 3
Page 6
Page 11