2009 10 01

Sopris Sun THE

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 34 • OCTOBER 1, 2009

Mixed management Which will have a greater impact on local trails – prior managment plans or the Hidden Gems?

By Trina Ortega and Terray Sylvester

The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association is advocating for trails north of Mt. Sopris to be left out of the Hidden Gems proposal. Photo by Jane Bachrach

T

he Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign has stolen center stage in the local land management debate, but trail and road use in the White River National Forest is expected to change in any case with the release of the forest-wide Travel Management Plan early next year.

Local mountain bike advocates argue that a closure to mountain bikes under the Travel Management Plan would be less restrictive than a closure resulting from a wilderness designation, such as the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal.

That’s significant because the Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop, a lead organization on the wilderness proposal, has argued that there would be little difference between the two forms of closures.

In an ad that has run in area newspapers over the last couple of weeks, the Workshop listed more than 65 mountain bike trails that “will not be affected” by the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal, which would add roughly 400,000 acres of Wilderness to the White River National Forest (WRNF).

Of those, 20 trails may be closed by the Travel Management Plan.

The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association (RFMBA) is currently contesting a handful of trails that the Workshop states are unaffected by the Hidden Gems because they would be impacted by the Travel Management Plan. Some of the trails that would be closed to mountain biking are currently ridable and attractive, such as the Anderson/Petroleum Lakes Trail that diverges from Lincoln Creek Road east of Aspen.

Kirk Hinderberger, treasurer of RFMBA, describes the trail as the only mountain bike option that diverges from the Lincoln Creek Road.

But other such contested trails are patchy, rarely traveled, or difficult to access in the first place.

An example is a user-created trail that RFMBA members hope could one day offer a connection from the Hay Park trail system on the north flank of Mount Sopris, near Dinkle Lake, to the Crystal River Valley. The trail runs through private land and is rarely ridden. But board member Charlie Eckart says that RFMBA would like to leave that terrain open to mountain bike access.

“The connectivity is what we’re looking for,” Eckart said, while acknowledging that it may be“10 to 15 years”before the trail becomes a reality.

Another example of such a conflict is the Huntsman’s Ridge road, which extends north of Highway 133 at the top of McClure Pass.

“My understanding is it’s kind of rocky and steep and could use some reroutes in the future,” said RFMBA board member Mike Pritchard, but noted that nonetheless, RFMBA is

WILDERNESS page 7

Carbondale Commentary

A rash of corruption As far as I’m concerned, insurance companies are the new mob and they shouldn’t even be legal. They sell a service, gambling on the fact that you won’t get sick or start a fire or crash into another car, and then if you do, they don’t even perform their service.

And health care in this country is just an extension of the insurance scam perpetuated by charlatans and conmen (see: sickforprofit.com). Those with insurance, for the same amount or less than they pay now, could be enjoying the carefree lifestyle that comes with full coverage (see: any Canadian); never mind that there are millions of us who would love to have the security of affordable coverage in the first place. No one actually says access to medical care should be denied; it would be barbaric to say medicine is only for the affluent. Not only is that notion completely out of date, but also out of favor with the people here in the land of socialized banking and free, white-man education.

I realize I’m a little farther left than your average Roaring Forker, but I’m comfortable with my spot on the socio-ecopolitical spectrum. I think there should be an aisle in the supermarket with free beans, rice, fruits and vegetables – strictly on the

By Jeannie Perry honor system. Once everyone’s basic needs are met, then the rest of society’s luxuries can be distributed in any manner the capitalists see fit. What do I care if they want to spend all their time at work?

We can have both: basic health coverage for everyone and the option to pay for the best if a young Kennedy breaks his leg football-skiing on Ajax.All we have to do is eliminate the thievery at the top, where they now use gold-plated silverware. (It’s like I’ve always said: you can’t buy good taste.) There might even be enough fat up there to sanction preventative health care.

(I know, I know, blasphemy! How do you expect them to make a profit if everyone’s healthy?!)

I’m about over Congress and their attempts at health (s)care reform. In fact, I think we’d be better off if Washington D.C. was walled up and sealed for our protection, just like that Kurt Russell movie where Manhattan was a prison island and the prisoners were left to fend for themselves. I mean, what are we paying them for? What do they accomplish each day? That is, on the days when they’re not holed up in a motel room with a hooker?

Which brings up an excellent question, do hookers in Washington D.C. have health insurance? If you were to go to Washington and order an escort from one of the discreet ads in the Yellow Pages, would it be likely that she had seen a doctor this year? How about a dentist? Is that a cost that’s factored into the escort services’ overhead, or are the prostitutes left to fend for themselves when they’re ill, or God forbid, injured on the job? Those miserable fools in Washington don’t seem too worried about the health of their constituents when they’re enjoying their escorts and cigars.

Speaking of cigars, where’s our Health Care Knight in Shining Armor? I thought this was the Clintons’ Number One Issue and I don’t understand why they can’t seem to get anything done except make their friends very wealthy – I guess we can assume their friends already have access to good health care. Actually it’s just healthy for them to watch the constant rigmarole and know they’re a major player in the game that is American health care; all the arguing, chanting and sign pumping really gets their blood flowing, which is good for the cardio vascular system. Too bad it happens at the cost of many dead and dying. To these fearful leaders of ours I say, in every aspect of our life on Earth there is room for improvement, and anytime you’re not part of the solution there’s only one other side for you to be on. Better health care for everyone is the solution, so unless you want to play ball in NYC with the rest of the cons and murderers, I suggest you start problem solving instead of profit sharing.

Oh, and you might want to have that recurring rash looked at.

Ps & Qs

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to letters@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

No room to talk Dear Editor: I find it ironic that Gavin Brooke asked “the big philosophical question” of whether Carbondale is “headed down the same road as Aspen and Basalt” at his presentation to the Carbondale Town Council. He also bemoaned the fact that the “contentious and protracted approval process makes Carbondale a more expensive place to live.” (Sopris Sun, 9/24/09).

Brooke is one of the principals in the Bonedale Lofts development that is proposed between Sopris Avenue, Euclid Avenue and Highway 133. This location was, until last November a small mobile home park (think true low cost housing) that was 2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

home to 10 families.

The mobile homes were removed and the space is scheduled to be developed with four 3-story buildings and one 2-story building.

The project will have 23 residential units, 3,500 square feet of commercial space and 55 parking spaces. While I’m no expert on real estate prices, I’ll bet that the residential units will cost more than the mobile homes. I’ll also bet that the project will be a developer’s wet dream and require more than a little attention from Planning and Zoning and Town Council.

Sounds fairly similar to Basalt and Aspen to this Carbondale resident.

Bob Zentmyer Carbondale

Obama speech: fodder for a lesson Dear Editor: Superintendent Judy Haptonstall’s recent decision to ban President Obama’s speech from RE-1 schools represents a lack of critical thinking – quite an irony since this skill is perhaps one of the most important things her students need to learn in order to make effective life and career decisions.

How could she have been swayed by 15 to 30 vocal parents, without even reviewing the text of the speech which was released for preview by educators? Even Laura Bush and Newt Gingrich urged students to watch President Obama’s address. RE-1 has the dubious distinction of being the only district in the state to have taken such action.

As a result, thousands of pupils in RE-1 missed a unique opportunity to be inspired.

What could be more compelling to many students than to hear the first president of the U.S. of color describe his complicated background and then urge all to stay the course and do well in school? Watching the president’s address could have reinforced the fact that all children in the U.S have the opportunity to become all that they are capable of being. With RE-1’s student demographic, this message would have been particularly well heard. Seeing the speech several days later will not be the same.

Perhaps teachers should now show the talk for the inspiration it provides, and then have a discussion of the controversy surrounding the speech and of the role of the media in affecting opinions. Topics could include issues such as, how much media content is honest reporting and how much is influenced by people or organizations seeking certain outcomes or, what are the differences between Rush Limbaugh, the New York Times, and other media sources or, how can one determine whether information has been fact-checked and is reliable to use in one’s own decision-making? Another discussion could be the obligation of leaders and educators in a democracy to expose students to a variety of experiences so that they can form their own opinions.

I hope that Superintendent Haptonstall has learned this lesson, and that she will never again demonstrate cautiousness and flawed leadership that could hamstring RE-1 students by denying them access to inspiring or challenging opportunities.

Bill Spence Carbondale

Vote yes on 1A Dear Editor: In mid October, we’re voting to pass the Energy Smart loan program in Eagle, Pitkin, and Gunnison counties. Without raising taxes, the voluntary program will help create jobs, save energy, protect the environment, and put money in homeowners’ pockets.

Please vote yes on the Energy Smart loan program by mail in ballot in mid October. See voteyes1A.org for more information.

Jenifer and David Cramer Basalt

It’s not about recreation Dear Editor: Many recent letters have warned mountain bikers and other motorized recreationalists that they need to be aware of the impacts

of the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal; that it will have a significant impact on the people living near the White River National Forest. They point out that the wilderness campaign is serious and will have a significant impact on the way our community collectively decides to manage the landscape in which we live, work, and play.

I couldn’t agree more. The Hidden Gems wilderness proposal is a serious response to a serious issue. As a local, national, and global community we have failed to safeguard the natural resources that sustain both humans and other species. Water shortages, global warming and the immense pressure to utilize our entire land-base for industry, food production, and recreation are unequivocal indicators and consequences of this failure. The impetus for the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal does not come from a desire to provide more land for particular type of recreation. It is a thoughtful proposal crafted along ecological principals and designed to ensure the long-term health of the local and regional landscape upon which all members of the Roaring Fork Valley depend.

I urge the citizens of the Roaring Valley not to consider the merits of the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal based solely on whether or not a favorite trail is included in the proposal, or whether access for an individual’s cherished form of play is excluded or allowed by the proposal. Instead our community must make a decision about whether or not we want to create some of the solutions to challenging and complex environmental issues. Focusing the debate too strongly on which types of toys are allowed in which parts of the landscape is not only short-sighted but masks the very real issue of solving environmental problems by dealing with it in a trivial manner.

The debate around this issue must shift from considering how we will divide up the landscape for our individual recreationalist pursuits and re-center upon how we as a mountain community will responsibly manLETTERS page14

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Editor: Terray Sylvester • 618-9112 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Anne Goldberg • 379-5050 anne@soprissun.com Reporters: Trina Ortega • Jeremy Heiman Photographer/Writer: Jane Bachrach Page Production: Terri Ritchie Ad Production: Barbara New Paper Boys: Russ Criswell, Mark Burrows Sopris Sun, LLC • P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 www.soprissun.com

GarCo sheriff ‘raises the bar’ on background checks for volunteers

By Trina Ortega Despite some individuals’ concerns that they would be expensive and intrusive, most of the volunteers in the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) have complied with new, tougher rules for volunincluding more extensive teers, background checks.

In early September, Sheriff Lou Vallario met with GCSO staff who oversee volunteer programs – including Search & Rescue, Victim Assistance, auxiliary, jail, and office and administrative programs – to talk about concerns from Search & Rescue volunteers that the requirements were too far-reaching.

“I thoroughly explained that the GCSO is raising the bar when it comes to accepting volunteers. In other words, our volunteers now need to meet the same background check standards that our paid employees do,” Vallario told his staff in a Sept. 8 email.

When it comes to exposing the public to liability situations, there is no legal difference between a paid employee and a volunteer, he explained, and the entire organization gets a “black eye” if an incident occurs that a more thorough background check could have prevented.

When it comes to exposing the public to liability situations, there is no legal difference between a paid employee and a volunteer and the entire organization gets a “black eye” if an incident occurs that a more thorough background check could have prevented.

Lou Vallario Garfield County Sheriff The sheriff’s office relies on nearly 100 volunteers for the various programs that offer support to members of the public.

Volunteers for those programs now will be required to undergo the same background checks as administration staff members. That includes a completed application, a Computer Voice Stress Analysis (lie detector) test and a preemployment drug screen. Vallario said task simulation tests or psychological tests will not be given.

Additionally, financial history has become extremely important in hiring employees and recruiting volunteers because a good or bad credit history “speaks to someone’s character, integrity and responsibility,” Vallario said. “Someone with financial troubles is exponentially more likely to steal from someone than a person with a good history.”

Finally, all volunteers will have their criminal history and driver’s history checked annually.

“The whole process is inexpensive, especially when you compare it to the length we go to with new deputy applicants or think about the cost of a law suit,” Vallario said.

However, some volunteers have said the new requirements are too costly and will inhibit people from volunteering.

Search and Rescue has recently lost five volunteers. Two moved out of state, one resigned due to time constraints, and two “probably left because of this process,” Vallario said.

But Vallario told The Sun that 95 percent of new volunteers have complied with the new requirements. If a potential volunteer is against background checks, Vallario questioned: “Do we really want them to be a part of the organization? All in all, I don’t think so.”

Volunteers’ personnel files fall under the same protections as the GCSO’s 148 employees.

Current volunteers will not undergo the lie detector and other new measurements, but have been required to update their personal information on their applications, according to Vallario. All volunteers have until Oct. 30 to comply with the requirements.

Carbondale trustees discuss new assessment on housing

By Jeremy Heiman

Those aren’t potter’s wheels. Over-bike enthusiasts turned out for Wheels for Wheels, a fundraiser for the Carbondale Clay Center that was thrown on Sept 26.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

Insomniacs watching the Carbondale trustees on Channel 12 have begun to hear the name “Rita” with puzzling regularity.

But the trustees, as they jawbone the latest round of land use applications, are not talking about The Beatles’ famous meter maid. This “Rita” is spelled RETA, and it’s an acronym for “real estate transfer assessment.”

The word has been cropping up recently as the Board of Trustees works to balance town expenditures with income.

The creation of new residential neighborhoods introduces new costs to the town, ranging from the cost of the affordable housing program to maintenance of streets and parks to police patrols.

The new assessment would be paid by the seller of a home, said town manager Tom Baker, though the amount might be passed along to the buyer.

“Strictly residential projects do not pay for the impacts they create,” said Doug Dotson, Carbondale’s community development director. The developer and the town have to create some other source of revenue to handle not just the one-time expenses, but ongoing costs raised by development, Dotson continued.

Baker said it is generally the developer who chooses to institute a RETA. Developers of The Overlook Neighborhood and Thompson Park, both currently being reviewed by the trustees, have elected to introduce RETAs as a way to defray costs to the town and perhaps make their projects more palatable to town trustees. The Overlook is a mixed-use development with some commercial space. It will also

include a hotel – if a hotel operator can be found – but the development is predominately residential.

The RETA proposed for the Thompson Park development, for example, would collect, on the initial sale of each dwelling, .5 percent of the sale price of each unit priced between $250,000 and $500,000, and 1 percent of the sale price of each unit sold for more than $500,000. The rate would be 1 percent on all sales after the initial round.

On average, homes turn over every seven years in Carbondale, and one estimate is that the Thompson Park RETA would generate $37,000 per year on an ongoing basis.

The Board of Trustees has discretion to determine how the revenue from the RETA is used.

A RETA cannot be classified as a tax, Baker said, because it is specific to a particular development, and is not collected jurisdiction wide. For this reason, it is not subject to Colorado’s TABOR (TaxPayer’s Bill of Rights) law, which mandates that all new taxes be approved by election.

A RETA should not be confused with a real estate transfer tax, or RETT, which is imposed jurisdiction wide, said Carbondale town attorney Mark Hamilton. The city of Aspen has a RETT, which was instituted in the 1980s, before TABOR, and contributes to the town’s affordable housing program.

Aspen’s RETT must be renewed by election periodically, but since the passage of TABOR, Baker said, a new RETT can’t be instituted in Colorado, even by majority vote.

THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 3

News Briefs Carbondale Printing closes Carbondale Printing closed its doors yesterday after 13 years in business.

Basalt store manager Cali Gonzalez blamed the closure on the economic downturn. “We had to cut staff. We struggled just like everybody else,” she said, explaining that sales had been decreasing markedly over the last year. The store started the year with two full-time staffers. Store owners laid off one of those workers earlier in the year before making the decision to close.

That decision was made “in the last couple of weeks,” said Gonzalez. The store had basically been shut down by Sept. 25, but continued to offer basic printing services through Sept. 28.

The store was located at 920, Highway 133, in the Sopris Shopping Center.

Gonzalez said Carbondale Printing will merge with Basalt Printing, which is under the same ownership. She hopes Carbondale Printing’s patrons will head up the valley.

“We will have full capability of servicing their needs from [the Basalt] store,” she said.

approve the request for $30,000. The funds will support a 90-day promotion in which shoppers will receive, with every purchase, a ticket good for chances to win prizes.

Though this is a time of extreme budgetary constraint, Carbondale’s staff was able to find the money in a couple of appropriate town funds without draining the general fund or tapping reserves.

Last fall, when they worked out the 2009 budget, the trustees put $60,000 into a contingency fund for community requests. The $12,100 remaining in this fund was allocated to the stimulus project.

The balance requested by the business community, $17,900, was reallocated from a $20,000 budget line item originally intended to pay for a human resources consultant, for the purpose of creating employee manuals and performance evaluation materials.

Carbondale Board of Adjustment, was appointed to full membership in that board, and Brian Epstein was appointed an alternate.

Appointments to the Planning and Zon-

Residents appointed to town boards

Friday, Sept. 25 At 8:15 a.m. a town employee arrived at work to find a man asleep in the front seat of his work vehicle. The man woke up and ran away, but left a few marks on the vehicle: the ignition had been jammed with a hammer and screwdriver and there was urine on the floor.

In their Sept. 22 meeting, the Carbondale Trustees appointed 10 area residents to volunteer boards.

Lynn Ruoff and Jimmy Byrne, alternate members of the Environment Board, were appointed to terms as full members. Jim Duke, Sue Gray and Ana Gabriella Hendelang were also appointed to the E-Board.

Kathryn Rooney was reappointed to the Tree Board and Shara Dame was appointed as a new member. Tucker Farris was appointed student member of the Tree Board.

David Uhlig, an alternate member of the

Economic stimulus funded The Carbondale Board of Trustees approved funding for an economic stimulus program for Carbondale area businesses on Sept. 22.

Members of the business community came before the trustees Sept. 15 to request financial and philosophical support for a plan that would encourage shopping locally.

The board signaled at that time they would

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ing Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Public Arts Commission were made in August.

Cop Shop Wednesday, Sept. 23 At 8:40 p.m. police received a report that two men had been sitting in a car at 7-11 for a half hour. The men told the police they were drinking coffee.

the glass mirrors, not the mounts – were stolen from a Subaru parked on Colorado Avenue.

Thursday, Sept. 24 At 1:10 a.m. police investigated a car parked, and sitting empty, in the 7-11 parking lot. Presently, two drunk men stumbled up to the officer.

They said neither of them had been driving and that they didn’t know who would be driving in the future. Then they agreed to walk home.

Sunday, Sept. 27 At 3:50 p.m. a woman called from Garfield Avenue to report that her friend had wandered off drunk in an unknown direction and might be a danger to herself. Late in the evening, police spoke to the woman in question. She made suicidal comments but declined to speak with a counselor, explaining that she just wanted “to vent.”

Saturday, Sept. 26 At 12:45 a.m. two unidentified men punched two other men in the face at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets, and then ran away.

Saturday, Sept. 26 Sometime during the previous night, the side-view mirrors – just

Saturday, Sept. 26 At 3:22 p.m. a man was mugged while walking in Sopris Park.

Sunday, Sept. 27 At 8:42 p.m., a woman called to report that her Toyota Scion had been stolen from in front of The Village Smithy. Ten minutes later she called back and stated that a friend had actually moved it.

Monday, Sept. 28 At 9:06 p.m. someone reported a man standing in Highway 133 near Hendrick Drive. When police contacted the man, he said he was hitchhiking to the BRB resort and would stay out of the highway in the future.

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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

Trustees underwhelmed by new ompson Park proposals

By Jeremy Heiman

posal includes combining smaller parks The developer of the proposed Thomp- proposed in an earlier plan into a .59-acre son Park residential neighborhood met park along Highway 133, which would be with only limited acceptance from the Car- dedicated to the town along with a .99-acre parcel that is the bondale Town Council site of the historic when she unveiled changes house. to the project Sept. 23.

Wallison has arThe new proposals from gued that the dedideveloper Frieda Wallison cation of the of Old Snowmass included historic house to a revised public park plan the town as a muand further methods for seum, and provifunding repairs and mainsion of a smaller tenance of the historic .08-acre park, Thompson ranch house, should be considalong with new street conered along with figurations and additional dedication of the bike paths. two larger parks.

Wallison has proposed Stacey Patch Bernot, But the new park building 45 to 85 residenCarbondale Town Trustee plan would bring tial units on a 10.2-acre site the project’s total adjacent to Highway 133 open space to 1.58 north of the North Bridge acres – barely more Drive entrance to River Valley Ranch. The site consists of three sep- than the 1.53 acres (15 percent of the total arate properties that are part of an island site area) required by town code.

“Seventeen percent is not above and beof county jurisdiction near the geographic center of Carbondale. Two of the proper- yond,” said Trustee Pam Zentmyer.

The Carbondale Planning and Zoning ties have yet to be annexed by the town.

The parks issue proved to be the most Commission, in hearings earlier this year, contentious, and the trustees argued with had placed a high hurdle in front of WalliWallison on that subject for the first 90 son and her consultants, calling on them to minutes of the meeting. Wallison’s new pro- go “above and beyond” the requirements

I like the bike paths, but I don’t consider them open space.

My issues are open space, livability and density.

of town code to merit annexation of the property to Carbondale. The trustees have picked up where the P&Z left off, continuing the call for the development to go above and beyond.

Trustees Zentmyer, Frosty Merriott and John Hoffmann all agreed that the park dedication barely met the requirement and failed to meet the “above and beyond” standard. Ed Cortez and mayor pro tem John Foulkrod felt the proposed parks were adequate, but trustee Stacey Bernot said she thought the developer should be coming to the table with parks equal to 20 percent of the site area.

“I like the bike paths, but I don’t consider them open space,” Bernot said.

“My issues are open space, livability and density.”

Trustees conceded that donation of the Thompson house is indeed a noteworthy act, but pointed out that it’s not without cost to the town.

An economic impact analysis by an in-

dependent firm estimates that the initial cost of improving the historic house to function as a public museum would be $61,000 if the property is to be used only in the warm months. The cost would be $182,000 for year-round use. Operation and maintenance costs have been estimated at $56,000 annually.

Due to the cost of winterizing and winter operation, the board concluded that the historic house should be open on a seasonal basis only, at least initially.

Wallison has asked that the operation and maintenance of the museum be supported by a real estate transfer assessment, or RETA (see story, page 3) on resale of properties in the development. A RETA is already expected to be in place to support the affordable housing aspect of the development, and Carbondale Planning Director Doug Dotson said preliminary calculations show that a RETA might generate revenue greater than needed for the housing program.

Next Steps:

The public hearing on the Thompson Park proposal will resume during the Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at Town Hall. Discussion will focus on the development’s potential fiscal and transportation impacts.

Planning & Zoning questions traffic analysis, density of CES proposal

By Trina Ortega A traffic study showing that the highdensity housing proposal at the Carbondale Elementary School site would warrant only minor short-term alterations raised doubt among Planning & Zoning Commissioners and residents last Thursday.

The public hearing on the proposed mixed-use, high-density CES site at Third Street and Capitol Avenue continued at the Sept. 24 P&Z meeting with developer Chuck Perry of the Denver-based Perry Rose, LLC, offering a traffic impact analysis.

The CES project is a planned unit development (PUD) of the Roaring Fork School District, which aims to provide affordable housing for teachers and staff who work in Carbondale, Basalt and Glenwood Springs.

The proposal calls for 120 residences on the 15.8-acre site.

The consulting firm Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Hattan conducted studies on nine intersections around the site in April 2008 and July 2009. Consultant David Hattan said the CES project has the potential to generate approximately 2,026 vehicle trips per day.

Based on that data, Hattan said the project would warrant a southbound left-turn lane at the intersection of Highway 133 and Weant Boulevard in the short term.

“Overall, we think the traffic impacts are relatively minor,” Hattan said, particularly in comparison to when the Third Street Center building was in use as an elementary school.

The analysis incorporated vehicle use for the Bridges Center, Third Street Center and the proposed new Gordon Cooper library, all on the site.

Commission member Bill Spence, how-

ever, said the P&Z needs to take a global look at traffic patterns for the area.

“My concern is that these intersections are going to be stressed by the build-out of Thompson Park and Keator Grove,” Spence said of the fairly new Keator Grove neighborhood and the proposed Thompson Park development across Highway 133.

Long term, it is recognized by both town planners and the consultant hired by RFSD that the area will need improvements, including widening Highway 133 to four lanes and installing traffic signals along 133 at Hendrick Drive/Sopris Avenue, at Snowmass Drive, and at Weant Boulevard.

Safety measures for pedestrians crossing Highway 133 are lacking under current conditions, said P&Z member Kathy Goudy, so she was concerned about an increase in vehicle traffic in the area. As noted

by a Keator Grove resident at a recent board of trustees meeting, the area does not contain a marked crosswalk, a pedestrian signal, or lights.

“Right now, it’s a difficult pedestrian crossing,” Goudy said.

The density of the project has raised concern as well. Originally proposed with 89 units, the PUD is now calling for 120 residences (15 single-family homes, 65 townhouses, and 40 apartments/condos) to make the project more economically viable, according to Perry.

To increase the density is “heading in the wrong direction,” said Rob Comey.

“There’s a lot of homework you guys need to do before this satisfies.”

The area is zoned for high density and is consistent with the town comprehensive plan, noted RFSD school board member Bill Lamont.

Next Steps:

The public hearing on the CES project will continue at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Oct 29. At it’s next meeting on Oct. 15, the P&Z will review the Village at Crystal River.

Meetings begin at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

An increase in density — which would come at the expense of open space — at the CES site is among the concerns for P&Z members and downtown residents alike. Photo by Trina Ortega THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 5

Alpine Bank employs nearly 600 people in western Colorado.

While that may be a small number compared to other companies, the loyalty of our employee-owners speaks volumes.

Scuttlebutt He’s had a long, but hairy, career Becky Young’s dad, Walt Young, lives in Denver and he just retired. What’s notable about Walt’s retirement, however, is that it was announced on the front page of the Sept.

26 issue of the Denver Post. A large photo and an interesting story about his career ran along with the story. You can read that story by going to denverpost.com/ci_13423916.

Ka-pow!

Ka-pow was the winner of KDNK’s Female Arm Rasslin’ competition, which took place last Saturday night at Phat Thai. Her real name is unknown, but according to one source, she was in the finals last year. The same source believes that Ka-pow hails from Carbondale.

Connie.We’re convinced that Connie knows exactly what to expect from her renewed husband cause she had a lot of practice being his wife the first time around. Congratulations Jim and Connie!

Happy belated birthday to: Gayla Tippett Auten, Frank Smotherman, Chrissie Leonard, and Adam Carballeira.

Something is horribly write…

The “tease” above the synopsis on the back cover of Michael Chandler’s new book, “Kincade’s Fear,” reads, “Something is horribly wrong in Tombstone…”. The fact that Chandler has written a sequel to his first book, “Kincade’s Blood,” says to us that something is obviously going right with his career as an author of Western fiction. For this book, Chandler collaborated with his mother, Loahna Chandler, who is also a writer.

Spokes-man speaks

Beth Broome dukes it out at KDNK’s Female Arm ’Rasslin competition Saturday.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

It was very chili

Maybe that’s why Alpine is stronger now than in our entire 35 year history.

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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

…on Sept. 25, because that was the date that Pat Daily won the Missouri Heights Chili Cook-off for the fourth straight year.

According to a semi-reliable source, the win puts Daily, a longtime local, on course to become the greatest Carbondale chili chef in history – although records from the 1890s to the early part of this century are somewhat sketchy.

Daily earned her title with a brew of stew that included bison and elk, and was so costly to make that a single bowl of it would reportedly cost upwards of $10 if served in the Red Rock Diner where Daily works. For her win, Daily received a $75 gift certificate to Russets restaurant, which sure beats the first place prize the first year, which was a pumpkin. The annual event is sponsored by the Missouri Heights Community Association and as we all know, there ain't no better way to build community than by eating chili together.

We’ve received a letter from one of our most erudite sources, but due to lack of space, we will only quote part of his message to the community: “Dearest Bonedale Bike Lovers, It has indeed been a radical summer of bikes, bikes and more bikes in our town. The full moon cruise – Carbondale style – has grown into a most adventurous bicycle amoeba.

Oct. 4 is the last 9:00 ride till April as winter rides start at 8 p.m. We think the winter rides are even more fun than the summer. It’s easy – just wear your snow gear and get on your bike! Ski helmets, fuzzy accessories, animal noises, one-piece ski suits and three pairs of socks are recommended.

As always, we welcome all sizes and styles of humans and bikes and encourage all to keep it mellow and fun. Bring your lights, your boogie and your friends – leave open containers and attitudes at home. Of course, we ride because we can – in honor of those who are too tired, broke or jaded to ride with us. So if you don’t ride with us, we’ll ride for you. Ka-KAAA. The winter schedule is as follows.

November 2, Beaver Moon; December 2, Corn Moon; December 31, Blue Moon/ New Year’s Eve! January 30,Wolf Moon February 28, Snow Moon March 29, Worm Moon

The second time around Last Friday, Carbondalian Jim Calaway was treated to a surprise lunch at the Pour House by 22 of his closest friends and, according to one of our most reliable sources, the highlight of the lunch was an appearance by professional belly dancer Sondra Games.

Two days later, on Sunday, Calaway exchanged vows in Aspen, to his lovely wife,

This is Spokes-man. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Wilderness continued om page 1 pushing for the trail to be left out of the Hidden Gems Proposal.

“We’re trying to maintain access wherever we currently have it,” Pritchard said. “[The road] is just a good access point to get out on the ridge and there are great views on both sides of the ridge.”

If specific trails are currently rarely ridden, or won’t be accessible for a long time, that doesn’t necessarily bother RFMBA members, who are looking at the landscape not just for its present mountain bike potential, but for the potential it may offer in the future.

While the RFMBA has directed much of its energy toward the Hidden Gems proposal, the group is also working toward a master plan for mountain biking in the valley that would engage area stakeholders in an effort to identify and maintain existing trails, as well as areas that may be suitable for trails in the future, states the RFMBA website.

“It [the master plan] is exactly what we’re working towards,” Pritchard said.

Though he emphasized that the plan is still in its early stages.

The details White River forest planners began crafting the proposal in 2002, as part of its adopted Forest Plan.The Travel Management Plan examines the road and trail system for both summer and winter use, and the final plan will determine which routes should be open or closed and what types of uses will be allowed.The plan is expected to be released in January 2010.

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“The fact of the matter is the Travel Management Plan is going to result in some changes in the way people travel on the White River National Forest,” said Pat Thrasher, public affairs officer for the WRNF. Routes are being closed primarily to protect resources, but closures may also increase public safety and minimize conflict between user groups, he said.

Based on its research and public comment, the WRNF is favoring the management scenario labeled “Alternative G,” which would “decommission” 1,483 miles of summer travel routes, according to the draft plan.

The main reason to decommission trails is to rehabilitate the area and create a healthy forest, according to WRNF transportation planner Wendy Haskins.

Additionally, some routes (totaling about 280 miles) that have not been part of the official system are expected to be open under the new plan, according to the draft.

In contrast to any land designated wilderness by Congress, trail closures under the WRNF’s Travel Management Plan would have some wiggle room at the ground level.

If a group wanted to add a trail to the system, it is not out of the question, Haskins said. The group would need to approach the WRNF, explain why the trail is an important route and demonstrate an ability for maintaining that trail. The trail is subject to National Environmental Policy Act assessments, and the decision is ultimately left for a forest manager.

The route should “make sense,” such as

Bring this ad in on Wednesday for

connecting two trails, Haskins said, to enhance the trail system as a whole.“We’re trying to promote routes that allow for quality experiences,” she added.

Haskins said adding new trails can take anywhere from a few months to a couple years, “depending on cost, commitment and controversy.”

In comparison, Haskins noted: “Once something is declared wilderness, you can’t take that back. If it’s wilderness, it’s horse and hike. That’s OK for some places; it is what it is and that’s what it’ll be.”

Wilderness already in the works As part of its Forest Plan, the WRNF is, in fact, recommending that 81,000 acres be protected as wilderness. Some land would be added to the existing eight wilderness areas in the WRNF. Two areas — Red Table, southwest of Gypsum, and Assignation Ridge, southwest of Carbondale — are large chunks of land that would be designated as new areas.

“We feel, that in looking at the Wilderness Act of 1964 and looking at all of the resources and demands on the national forests, these are very appropriate designations,” Thrasher said.

Existing wilderness in the WRNF amounts to 750,000 acres of land, a little more than 33 percent of the forest.

The 81,000 acres is also part of the Wilderness Workshop’s Hidden Gems proposal, which is calling for roughly 400,000 acres of WRNF land to be declared wilderness.

Thrasher stressed that the two proposals (the WRNF’s Forest Plan and the Hidden Gems) are “separate and independent of one another.”

“Do those two things overlap one another? Ultimately they do; we’re talking about the same acres,” he added.

“The Wilderness Workshop and their partners — Colorado Mountain Club, Wilderness Society, and Colorado Environmental Coalition — these are organizations that have a particular agenda with regard to how national forests are managed. The Hidden Gems reflects their interests,” Thrasher said.

While wilderness designation or changes require congressional approval, Thrasher clarified that individuals or public and private groups can come forward with a proposal on how to manage public lands.

“There are lots of different folks with lots of different ideas on how national forests should be managed,” he said.

Next Steps:

To view the draft Travel Management Plan, visit the WRNF Web site at fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver.

To view the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association’s draft comments on the Hidden Gems proposal, visit rfmba.org/MTB/Advocacy.aspx.

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full schedule now ow online . www www.aspenfilm.org .aspenfilm.or aspenfilm.or p g THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 7

Clay Center exhibit offers a glimpse into the national art scene

By Trina Ortega Carbondale is well known for its thriving arts community, but an exhibit currently at the Carbondale Clay Center offers valley residents a taste of what’s going on in the greater ceramics art world.

The nationally juried exhibition, Carbondale Clay National V, is on display through Oct. 29 at the center, 135 Main St. A First Friday reception will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2.

Twenty-four ceramicists from across the nation are displaying functional work, including plates, jars, bowls and teapots in the show titled “Function With Flair.” More than 30 pieces are on display in the varied exhibition that was juried by Doug Casebeer, the artistic director of ceramics and sculpture at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.

“This show simply brings the national clay scene to our valley,” said Casebeer, who juries national exhibitions regularly and has judged the Clay Center’s Clay National two times.

For this year’s Clay National, he reviewed at least 200 images and applications and narrowed the field down to the 31 pieces that color the pedestals and walls at the Clay Center. A range of work, from earthenware and terra cotta to stoneware and porcelain is in the show.

“Function With Flair” displays eccentric, curious work but keeps it “accessible,” according to Clay Center board member K Rhynus Cesark. Referring to the prospectus inviting artists to apply, Cesark explained: “Really great pots have three hurdles to overcome: get the viewer to look; get the viewer to touch; and get the viewer to engage daily.

“It’s a beautiful show. Everyone that’s come in here has loved it,” Cesark said. “It’s very accessible because they are common objects but done in very uncommon ways. It’s a new way for people to see utilitarian objects.

Logan, Utah, artist Perry Haas’ small wood-fired teapot with a hemp-wrapped handle stood out to Casebeer, who

“Bird Dish” by Arthur Halvorsen, (left) and “Teapot” by Perry Haas, (right) will be on display during the First Friday reception at the Clay Center. The two pieces are part of a nationally juried exhibit. Photos courtesy of the Carbondale Clay Center deemed it Best in Show.

“I thought that particular object had great dimensions and proportions. It was small and personal and the glaze and firing were great. It was one of those pieces where everything came together for the artist,” Casebeer said.

Every clay artist strives for that perfect piece, he said, “when your hands and your ideas melt together to make successful work. That teapot embodies that.”

Cesark said the center is lucky to have Casebeer, a nationally renowned artist and teacher, jury the show. Often, the juror drives the number of applicants, she explained, which is why so many outstanding artists submitted for the show.

But for Casebeer, who marks 25 years with Anderson Ranch this year, jurying the show is a way to see the ceramics work of established artists and new artists alike.

“I enjoy doing this. It keeps me excited about my field, it keeps me engaged in my field,” he said.

Casebeer is also an advisory board member to the Clay Center. He will be one of two American guest artists at the Chinese Academy of Art in Beijing in mid October. For a few weeks, he says, he’ll be producing dinnerware for the Chinese president.

For more information about the exhibition, visit carbondaleclay.org or call 963-CLAY.

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The People of the Carbondale Community United Methodist Church

invite you to

RETHINK CHURCH October School Begins October 4 Sundays in October at 4:00 pm Topic: “Good Grief?”

Study Books: Out of the Canyon by Art Daily and Allison Daily Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

For information call 379-5686

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors It’s what we do.

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

e Southwest cast in glass: CCAH showcases the desert art of Jared Davis

By Terray Sylvester Through a blend of Swedish and Italian art glass traditions, Jared Davis’ vivid work offers a unique perspective of the desert Southwest. His glass creations, and those of 10 other artists, will be on display for“Glass,” the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities’ (CCAH) October fine art show.

The show will open from 6-8 p.m. tomorrow, during the First Friday art walk at the CCAH gallery at 645 Main St. Other area artists participating in the show include Dylan and Jacqueline Balderson, Spencer Crouch, Mary Matchael, Sally Lawrence, Shannon Muse, Charlie Pace, David Powers and Kathy Steckel.The exhibit will include many varieties of art glass – blown, sculptural, slumped, etched and cast works.

Davis was born in New York City but grew up on Missouri Heights and attended high school in Aspen. His father, Brad Davis, is a painter, and Jared studied photography when he was younger, but he says he never expected his life to take the creative turn it has. “[Glass working] picked me. I didn’t choose it,” he says.

As Davis describes it, he stumbled into glass blowing almost by accident. Eighteen years ago he was working a construction job, helping build the K Dahl glass hot shop in Crawford. During the construction, K Dahl’s assistant glass blower abruptly quit, and by the time the new hot shop was complete,

Davis had been hired on as the replacement.

In 1996, Davis studied Italian-style glass blowing and sculpting at The Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle,Wash.That same year, Davis met two Scandinavian glass masters who invited him to study with them in Transjö, Sweden. With one young child and another on the way, he and his wife, Nicole, crossed the Atlantic to study in Transjö for two years.

These days, the couple owns and runs North Rim Glass Studio LLC in Crawford.

Davis explains that Sweden and Italy are the sources of the two major art glass traditions.

“The Swedish stuff is a lot less forced,” Davis says, explaining that Swedish glass artists are generally more willing to let heat and gravity smooth off the edges of their work. Italian pieces, in contrast, tend to be more conical, sharp and straighter edged “like an Italian car or dress – very concise,” Davis said.

Davis says his work is informed by both traditions, but that many of his pieces are more “free-flowing and rounded” and reminiscent of the Swedish style. But more than anything, Davis says, the three works CCAH will showcase in October were influenced by the desert.

“The fragile grandeur of the desert Southwest to me is like an open book allowing a close-up inspection of the forces of creation,” Davis says.“Most of the time we are blind to these forces.”

More First Friday happenings

Studio for Art + Works For October, Studio for Art + Works (SAW) will feature new work by Steven Colby, including several painted, covered jars. The studio’s First Friday reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. at SAW, 978 Euclid Avenue, near Beijing Tokyo. The show will run through Nov. 6.

SAW will also host the Artstream Ceramic Library, a lending library of roughly 30 cups fashioned by 13 different potters. The public is invited to check out a cup for a week at a time. For more information, visit artstreamgallery.com, or call SAW at 963-0201.

Jared Davis blends European art glass traditions with the colors and shapes of the desert Southwest. Photo courtesy of North Rim Glass Studio LLC Those forces are evident, though, in the wildly striated patterns of his work. Davis achieves those patterns, in part, through an Italian technique called “incalmo,” which involves joining two or three sections of blown glass together while hot. Each section has to be the same diameter and right temperature to fuse correctly.

Davis stresses that even after nearly two decades of glasswork, each piece surprises him.

“Every piece is related to the piece previous,” he says. “Experience, experiment: you could probably interchange those words and you wouldn’t be stating it incorrectly. Putting on color – you don’t know how it’s going to turn out. It’s very exciting.”

Parkside Gallery New works will be on display at the Parkside Gallery at 50 Weant Boulevard this Friday. New pieces in the sculpture yard will include metal sculpture by Michael Lindsay and wire sculpture by Janet Nelson. Mixed media abstract florals by Cindy Hansen and Susan Reed will be on display inside. The gallery’s First Friday reception will be held from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 2. For further details, call 963-1401.

Kahhak Fine Arts and School Majid Kahhak will paint live from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Kahhak Fine Arts & School, 411 Main St. The painting will be inspired by autumn/Indian summer.

Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be served. For more information, call 704-0622.

THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 9

Community Calendar THURSDAY Oct. 1 JIM HIGHTOWER • KDNK will host America’s number-one populist, Jim Hightower, at a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. at the CRMS barn.

Bring your questions, comments and a copy of the Constitution. This KDNK membership drive event is free, but donations will not be refused. For more information, call KDNK at 963-0139.

YOGA • Jeff Jackson will begin offering a second yoga class from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at True Nature Healing Arts at 549 Main Street. For more information email dyeworks@fastmail.fm.

EDUCATION SPEAKER • The Roaring Fork School District presents a free lecture by nationally renowned speaker and author, Nathan Levy, at 6:30 p.m. at Glenwood Springs High School. Levy specializes in gifted education and working with bright minds. For more information, call Paula Marr at 384-5563. Parents and teachers encouraged to attend.

THIRD STREET MEETING • Third Street Center holds a monthly brown bag lunch the ďŹ rst Thursday of the month. Location is 520 S. Third St. For general inquiries, call Sara Plesset, Land + Shelter, 963-0201.

FRIDAY Oct. 2 FIRST FRIDAY • The First Friday art walk will take place from about 6-9 p.m. Galleries and businesses will host artist receptions and extended hours.

THEATRE • Thunder River Theatre Company presents “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?â€? on Oct. 2,3,4,8, 9 and 10. Sunday showings are at 2 p.m.; all others are at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit thunderrivertheatre.com or call 963-8200.

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com.

Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre shows selections from the Aspen Film festival, Oct. 2-4.Also showing: “Food, Inc.â€? (PG), at 8 p.m., Oct. 5-8.

will be held 9-1 p.m. in Carbondale. It is required to ďŹ nalize divorces in many jurisdictions.

To register, call Tammy Perry at 963-1010.

DANCE CLUB • Deejay Deeogee spins for the under 21 crowd from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Friday at The Lift on Main St. in Carbondale.

CONTRA DANCE • A contra dance will be held 8-10:30 p.m. at the Waldorf School at 16543 Highway 82. The Last Minute String Band will provide the music. Pat Tognoni will be the caller. Beginners should arrive at 7:30 p.m. for instruction. For more information email justuspaines@sopris.net, call 945-0350, or visit lastminutestringband.com.

SATURDAY Oct. 3 CHAKRA WORKSHOP • Kristine Meyer offers a Chakra Yoga Therapy Workshop 4-6 p.m. at True Nature Healing Arts at 459 Main Street. Classes to continue on the ďŹ rst Saturday of the month. Registration fees.

For more information call 963-9900.

SOLAR HOME TOUR • The local leg of the 2009 GarďŹ eld County Solar Home Tour will occur on Saturday, Oct. 3. Owners will open their homes for free tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Bob Millette at 9479613 or bob.millette@rmc.sierraclub.org.

FISH FRY • The Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion of Carbondale is planning to dispatch care packages to U.S. troops stationed abroad. To fund the effort, the Auxiliary will host a ďŹ sh fry at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Legion Hall at 97 Third Street. For more information, call Julie Cevette at 309-5417.

PARENTING THROUGH DIVORCE • A class to teach parents to raise healthy, well-adjusted children despite the challenges of divorce

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RACE FOR LITERACY • The Glenwood Canyon Shufe Race for Literacy will be held at 9 a.m. on the bike path in Glenwood Canyon. Events include a half-marathon run and relay race, and a 5K run/walk. Register online at active.com, or contact Dennis Webb at (970) 876-0768, or djwebb@sopris.net.

SUNDAY Oct. 4 THOMPSON COALITION BENEFIT • A fundraiser for the Thompson Divide Coalition will be held 5-10 p.m. at White House Pizza at 801 Main Ct. Includes live bluegrass and a rafe for a cruiser bicycle and other prizes. Rafe starts at 7 p.m.

MONDAY Oct. 5 DANCE CLASS • Learn African and Caribbean dances with live drummers and fun rhythms. All ages and abilities welcome. $10. Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Carbondale Community School, 1505 Satank Road. Call Steve at 379-8422 with questions.

TUESDAY Oct. 6 TAG MEETS • The Teen Advisory Group (TAG) will hold a meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room at the Gordon Cooper Library. Teens will help choose new materials for the library shelves. For more information, call 963-2889.

FLY FISHING CLINIC • Crystal Fly Shop will offer a free beginner’s y ďŹ shing clinic on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. at 208 Main St. The class consists of detailed casting lessons and other instruction. Equipment provided.

Call 963-5741 to reserve a space.

WEDNESDAY Oct. 7 SENIOR THEATRE • Senior Matters offers an introductory acting class for seniors from 1:30-2:45 p.m., Wednesdays, in the Third Street Center at 520 South Third Street. Free.

No experience required. For more information, contact Randy Vanderhurst at 963-2379 or randyvan@comcast.net.

OPEN MIC • Ananda Banks will host Open Mic Night at White House Pizza at 801 Main Ct. Sign up starts at 7 p.m. Sing a song, get a free pint. No cover. For more information, call 704-9400 or visit whitehousepizza.com.

TRAIL MEETING • An open house and community-input session on the Wulfsohn Mountain Park Open Space and Trails Plan in Glenwood Springs will be held 6-8 p.m. at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. For more information call 963-7172.

THURSDAY Oct. 8 P&Z MEETS • Carbondale Planning & Zoning Commission meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Town Hall.

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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

Community Briefs Donate to Dennis at the co-op The Carbondale Community Food Co-op is taking contributions for Dennis Collins, the longtime Carbondale resident and owner of Moonbeam who broke his back on Sept. 21.

Collins was injured after falling down the steps to the basement in his residence. He did not injure his spine, although he did crush vertebrae. He is up and about now, but limited in his movement.

He recently relocated both home and business from Carbondale to Glenwood Springs. Moonbeam is now located in the mall at 727 Grand Ave., next to Sacred Grounds coffee shop, and his new home is located at 908 Blake Ave. The Food Co-op, at 559 Main Street in Carbondale, is collecting contributions for Collins, who, in addition to being out of work, lacks health insurance.

Solar Home Tour The Roaring Fork Group of the Sierra Club and other sponsors will hold the local leg of the 2009 Garfield County Solar Home Tour on Saturday, Oct. 3. Owners will open their homes for free tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Solar experts will be on hand to answer questions.

Community members will have the opportunity to tour, learn and ask questions at local solar-powered homes. The solar homes on tour range from remodels to new construction, and showcase solar electric, hot water and radiant heat systems as well as passive solar designs. The homes also will feature a wide variety of green con-

struction techniques.

Four of the homes are located in Carbondale; two are in Glenwood. To find the Carbondale homes, look for directional signs along Highway 133 south of Main Street, and off Highway 82 at Catherine Store Road.

In Glenwood Springs, look for directional signs near the Glenwood golf course and up Four Mile Road.

Review a tour map at rmc.sierraclub.org/rfg and look for solar tour yard signs on the day of the event. For more information, contact Bob Millette at 947-9613 or bob.millette@rmc. sierraclub.org.

Chamber hosts business conference The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will host its annual business conference and expo from 1 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 13, at the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection Training Center at 301 Meadowood Drive.

The event is designed to help local business owners weather the economic downturn by “getting back to basics.” The intent is for locals to help each other by sharing best practices and discovering that all the resources for business success are available right here in this valley. Local experts will participate in panel presentations on marketing, business strategies, technology and financial planning. The conference will also feature an expo that will include over 20 local businesses and will offer an opportunity for attendees to meet the panelists. The expo will conclude with a catered networking mixer.

Tickets are $40 for non-members and $50 for members. Ticket price includes the con-

ference, expo, appetizers and one drink. For tickets or information, call 963-1890.

First Friday bash at Floral Boutique The Floral Boutique is turning 20 this year, and in honor the occasion is throwing an anniversary block party from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. The party will include complimentary appetizers, free live entertainment by Funky Munky and the ThunderLuv, and a 20 percent discount on everything in the store. The Boutique is at 453 Main Street.

For more information, call 963-0866.

Teens: help select library materials The Teen Advisory Group (TAG) will hold a meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the conference room at the Gordon Cooper Library. Teens grades 6-12 are invited to help choose new movies, books, music, graphic novels, and programs for the library shelves.

Snacks will be served. Time spent at TAG can also be used to fulfill volunteer requirements for scholarships and college applications. For more information call 963-2889.

donations may be sent to, Attention: Care Packages, 97 Third Street, Carbondale, CO, 81623.

The Auxiliary is open Mon.-Fri. from 3-9 p.m., Sat. from 12-9 p.m., and Sunday 12-8 p.m. For more information, call Julie Cevette at 309-5417.

Scarecrow contest The Gordon Cooper Library will host its first annual scarecrow contest at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. Design your scarecrow at home and bring it to the library. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. and winners will be announced at 2 p.m. Contest categories include: “scariest,” “funniest,”“traditional”and“most original.”

Scarecrows must have been made in 2009.

One entry per household or group. No food items are allowed in the scarecrows, and scarecrows may be sitting, free-standing or self-supporting, but no taller than 5 feet.Winning entries will be displayed at the library throughout the fall.

For more information, call the library at 963-2889.

Rotary accepting grant applications

Support our troops The Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion of Carbondale is planning to dispatch care packages to U.S. troops stationed abroad. To fund the effort, the Auxiliary will host a fish fry at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Legion Hall at 97 Third Street. Minimum donation: $10.

If you would like to donate an item for a care package, there will be a drop-off box, and a list of needed items at the fish fry. Cash

Grant applications are now being accepted from organizations whose missions focus on the Roaring Fork Valley and Carbondale community. Priority goes toward projects that have a direct, immediate, and identifiable long-range benefit to the quality of life in the mid-valley area of Carbondale, El Jebel, and Basalt and coincide with Rotary International’s goals of literacy, health, hunger, COMMUNITY BRIEFS page 13

“Deepest appreciation to Carol Craven for this memorable award winning photo and to Iron Rose Ranch for maintaining their final resting place.” xoxo Lynn THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 11

Contents under pressure Thunder River presents a raucous, tender, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?”

By Terray Sylvester

From left to right, Charlie DeFord, Holly Freeman, Jeff Carlson and Valerie Haugen star in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” the opening production of the Thunder River Company’s 15th season. Photo courtesy of Thunder River Theatre Company

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F O R MOR M O R E INF I N F O . A B O U T T H E H 1 N 1 V I R U S V I SI S I T: T: WWW.ASPENPITKIN.COM W W W. A S P E N P I T K I N . C O M OR O R WWW.AVHASPEN.ORG W W W. AV H A S P E N . O R G T H E R E IS THERE I S ALSO ALSO A H HOTLINE O T L I N E WITH W I T H A LIVE LIVE P PERSON E R S O N TO TO A N S W E R Y O U R Q U E S T I O N S AT AT 1 - 8 7 7 - 4 6 2 - 2 9 1 1 REMEMBER R EMEMBER – WE WE NEED NEED YOU YOU TO TO BEAT BEAT THE THE FLU! FLU!

The Thunder River Theatre Company joked, wept and tore its way into its 15th season last week with a satisfying rendition of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” The production swings from companionship and comedy, to desperation, broken bottles and right on to would-be adultery.

The script might be interpreted more bleakly.“Woolf” could be, in the end, a harsh look at a climactic reckoning in a middle-aged couple’s marriage. But in the hands of the Carbondale-based company, “Woolf” is also a romance – and at times, a darn funny one.

After all, as the company’s executive artistic director, Lon Winston, sees it: “It really is a love story – it’s just that love/hate thing.”

But that may be a bit of an understatement.

“Woolf” is a tale of two climactic hours in the married life of George and Martha. At root, the two appear to love one another; but their love has warped under the pressure of decades of failed expectations, transforming over the years into its red-hot counterweight in frustration and – in moments when the cast successfully elicited cringes from Saturday night’s audience – outright rage.

Fueled by booze, and with two young guests to help them focus their attacks, George and Martha transform two latenight hours into a no-holds barred attempt to shred the fantasies that have helped keep them together – and at each other’s throats – for at least the last 21 years.

With its violent range of emotions, the

play is an undertaking. But that’s why TRTC chose it as an opener for its 15th season in the first place. TRTC originally began rehearsing “Woolf” in February, but illnesses in the company prevented it from being staged in the spring. By scheduling the play at the beginning of the season, the company is making a statement.

“We did feel compelled to say we’re back and we’re back like gangbusters,” said Lon Winston. “We’re coming back from a hellish year and want to do the tough stuff.”

And in large part, TRTC succeeds.

Holly Freeman presents a sensitive, satisfying Honey, who comes across as innocent without being annoying, and a bit lost -- intellectually -- without ever appearing dull.

As George, Jeff Carlson faces a demanding role. He must evolve over the course of the play from the butt of the joke to the most aggressive and creative character of the production.

Carlson’s smiles in the first half of the production might leave the audience wondering whether he can portray George at his most devilish and best, but his ferocity in the second half erases those doubts.

But Valerie Haugen delivers the most impressive performance of the play. As Martha, she flickers from cuddly to aggressive, jovial to desperate, all while subsiding, through the course of the production, from the most forceful character to the most vulnerable.

Her performance is captivating and convincing and, much like the production as a whole, a pleasure.

What’s to come at TRTC

Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” will continue on Oct. 2-4, and 8-10. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

For tickets and more information, call 963-8200 or visit thunderrivertheatre.com.

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

Community Briefs continued om page 11 water management, and youth services. However, other applications will be considered.

Rotary funds will be used for the purchase of physical or tangible items for these projects.

The application deadline is Oct. 16, and grants will be awarded Nov. 25. Applications are available at Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave., by calling Andy White at 2742157, and on the Carbondale Rotary Web site at www.rotarycarbondale.org.

The Carbondale Rotary meets at 7 a.m.

Arts Briefs

every Wednesday at the Carbondale Fire House off Highway 133.

Pumpkins and slow-smoked pork Starting Wednesday, fall festivities will come to St. Peter’s of the Valley Episcopal Church.

The church will host a daily pumpkin patch sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 7-10, at the church at 200 Elk Run Drive in Basalt.

Hundreds of pumpkins in all sizes will be

Senior introductory acting classes Theatre auditions Senior Matters will offer an eight-week acting class at the Senior Center in the Third Street Center titled, “Acting Up! An introductory acting class for seniors of all ages.”

Participants will explore and share theatre games and acting experiences that will awaken their imaginations. Through a series of safe and entertaining exercises, they will discover their personal resources for theatrical creation and performance. The group will grow in its trust and freedom, and develop a foundation for dramatic interpretation and performance.

The class will be offered from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Wednesdays through Nov. 18. No experience needed. Interested seniors of all ages are welcome. Classes are free but donations are accepted. For more information, contact Randy Vanderhurst at 963-2379 or randyvan@comcast.net; or call Richard at 987-4034.

Thunder River Theatre Company is seeking a few 20- and 30-somethings for its next two productions. Auditions will be held at 6:30 p.m on Oct. 15. One young man is needed for “Visiting Mr. Green," by Jeff Baron, which will run Dec. 3-19. A young woman and two young men are needed for Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” which will run Feb. 25 – March 13.

TRTC will ask actors to read from the play or plays they are auditioning for, and suggests actors familiarize themselves with the plays beforehand.

Call TRTC at 963-8200 for information.

Symphony opens with Latin flair Symphony in the Valley will open its 17th season at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Roaring Fork High School, and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Glenwood Springs High School. The symphony will present “Viva

available. The church will also offer a “country store” stocked with local honey, jams, jellies and coffee.

On Oct. 10, the church will host a barbecue from 4-7 p.m. Chef Drew Scott of Elevation Restaurant will cook up a menu of slow-smoked pork, McClure red potato salad, sweet Olathe corn and red pepper cole slaw and pumpkin grits. Local microbrews and wines will also be served. The Last Minute String Band will be playing bluegrass.

Barbecue tickets are $15/adult in advance, or $18 at the event. Children’s tickets are $3.

Take-out dinners will be available.

To kick off the sale, St. Peter’s invites interested Basalt area preschools to come visit the patch on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and take home a free “mini” pumpkin and treat bag for each child.

To schedule your preschool’s visit, or for more information, call Sissy Sutro at 987-1545 or visit stpetersbasalt.com/harvest2009.

España,” a Spanish-flavored performance, featuring classical guitarist Javier de los Santos of Grand Junction playing Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.” The concert will also include the orchestral work, “La Oración del Torero,” or the “Prayer of the Bullfighter” by Joaquin Tu-

rina; and “Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo”

by Malcolm Arnold.

Purchase season and individual tickets at SymphonyInTheValley.org, or purchase individual tickets at the door. Ticket prices: adults, $12; seniors, $10; young people aged 3-18, $6; families, $30.

Volleyball

On Oct. 8 the Rams will play Colorado Rocky Mountain School, at CRMS.

Sports Briefs RAM sports update

Sept. 24 vs. Aspen: RFHS won in three sets (25-13; 25-12; 25-18); Sept. 25 vs. Olathe: RFHS won in three sets (25-17; 25-12; 2521); Sept. 29 vs. Hotchkiss: Scores not available at press time On Oct. 2 the Rams will play Gunnison, at Gunnison. On Oct. 9 the Rams will play Basalt, at Basalt.

Soccer Sept. 24 vs. Coal Ridge: 1-0 (RFHS); Sept. 26 vs. Moffat: 1-1; Sept. 29 vs.Aspen: 2-1 (RFHS)

Football Sept. 25 vs. Olathe: 33-7 (Olathe) On Oct. 2 the Rams will play Gunnison, at Gunnison.

Golf

After a successful performance at the regional tournament in Steamboat Springs on Sept. 22, RFHS golfer Arrick Zeigel will compete in the state tournament on Oct. 5 in Trinidad.

THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 13

Letters continued om page 2 Bounce into Education

Carnival The Roaring Fork Public Education Foundation and the Roaring Fork School District would like to thank our wonderful sponsors, donors and volunteers who made our Bounce Into Education Carnival possible.

It was the generosity of the sponsors and donors, and the commitment and hard work of the volunteers that made our event such a success.

The money raised will fund technology grants for the twelve schools of the Roaring Fork School District. It truly takes a community.

Alpine Bank All Valley Maintenance and Mechanical Aspen Party Rental Carol & Tom Carnish Dalby, Wendland & Company Fay & Barton Sackstein Glenwood Insurance Agency Greenside Up Landscaping Hobbs & Murphy CPA Land Title Guarantee Company McDonalds Morris & Fyrwald, Sotheby’s International Realty Nancy Ball Outlaw Medical Arts Phil Weir R & A Enterprises Rainy Day Designs Rock Leonard Jim & Jackie Dallman, Rocky Mountain Architectural Metals Sally Shiekman-Miller Theodore K. Guy Associates T J Concrete Timberline Bank Title Company of the Rockies United Site Services Wells Fargo Bank Special thanks to Roaring Fork School District employees Larry Estrada, Matt Phillips and Brad Ray

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

age and protect the exceptional landscape in which we live as part of the tremendous effort needed to ensure a sustainable environmental future.

Will Roush Aspen

Hidden Agenda Dear Editor: Be aware of the Hidden Gems hidden agenda! Did you know that this current Hidden Gems wilderness proposal (450,000 acres) is only the first phase of the big land grab? Phase two consists of hundreds of thousands of acres in the Flat Tops area, and who knows where else. Not surprisingly, the Wilderness Workshop has taken this information off their website. It seems as though their true intentions are to keep the public in the dark as long as possible. So far, so good! I believe the federal government and the state of Colorado have done an outstanding job of recognizing and protecting our most valued and treasured places. Locally we have the Maroon Bells Wilderness, Holy Cross Wilderness, and the Flat Tops Wilderness, just to name a few. Colorado is rightfully the home to dozens of National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments. These lands are protected to maintain their beauty, wildlife habitats, and natural resources, while maintaining a balance for human use. Say no to the big land grab! Say no to the extremists!

Say no to the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal! Say yes to public land! Say yes to public use! For ease of contacting elected officials at every level, please visit whiteriverforestalliance.com.

Nancy Williams Glenwood Springs

Wilderness for generations Dear Editor: I am writing as a mother of four, grandmother of nine, and great grandmother to two.

It is imperative that the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal succeeds. Having been raised in the city and now living in and near pristine wilderness, I have a unique perspective on this preservation proposal. Existing near the untainted wild lands and the beasties that call it home is healing physically, mentally, and spiritually. It affects all who live and visit our marvelous valley.

Edward Abbey said, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.”

Let’s protect, preserve and pass on to those who will come after us the gift of the untouched and untainted wilds.

Though I am not as physically nimble as I used to be, dwelling near and experiencing true wilderness keeps my mind and my spirit strong. Let’s offer the same for those who will come after us. Supporting Hidden Gems gives all of us the opportunity to be altruistic tenants of this beautiful place we are blessed to call home.

Rosemary Acton Woody Creek

Know the proposal Dear Editor: We have an incredible opportunity to make a tremendous impact on our environ-

ment, culture and ourselves by encouraging Congress to pass the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal.

We are defined by our landscapes. Our clear streams, recreation opportunities, wildlife, and mountains make us who we are.

We are all members of our land community.

We are charged with being stewards and protecting it from future degradation. People in our valley value public land tremendously. I would venture to guess that all user groups enjoy viewing wildlife, seeing beautiful scenery, appreciate clean water, and find peace in quiet backcountry settings.

However, we are loving our public lands to death! It is unintentional and not even recognized by most. With increased mechanized recreational use on our public lands we are tearing them up quickly. Our passions and our culture include being out, climbing mountains, exploring rivers, skiing, traveling fast through wild places on mechanized vehicles, and generally being adventurous people. We need to step back and look at what we’re really doing.

As you visit areas that are species rich, valuable habitat, and watersheds for our drinking water, consider your impacts.We are unintentionally depleting our culture as we continually deplete our landscape of its ecological integrity. We must protect our land as wilderness as a mechanism to protect our culture, health and integrity.

The Hidden Gems campaign is pushing to protect lands that have been thoroughly inventoried and determined to be of wilderness quality (habitat, species richness, water quality, ecological integrity). In this day and age of increased development and motorized use, it is difficult to find public lands that hold strong wilderness qualities that would allow them to be considered in a wilderness proposal. They are places we have not completely loved to death, yet. They have a chance to remain wild forever if designated as wilderness.

Take time to educate yourself on wilderness. Look carefully at the Hidden Gems maps, identify trails you have issue with and talk about them mile by mile with the campaign staff. There is room to make adjustments for the good of our community. This Roaring Fork Valley is known for fighting for the integrity of our open spaces and public landscapes; let’s continue to fight for our wildlands as a community united to protect our land and ultimately our culture.

Sarah R. Johnson Carbondale

1A will put locals back to work Dear Editor: In mid October, Pitkin and Eagle county residents will have a chance to vote for an Energy Smart loan program that will do a critically important thing for our valley: put the construction trades back to work. Energy Smart (Referendum 1A on your Pitkin County ballot) will create new jobs for carpenters, plumbers, and other tradespeople as homeowners install new windows, insulation and clean energy systems. Please vote yes on 1A via mail-in ballot!

Rob Russell Basalt

Veggie gardens: fertile ground for friendship I followed up with Ron after the commuI loved apprenticing on community supported agriculture farms in the ’90s. Every nity’s first growing season, and this is what he day was so rich and simple. We rose and set said about their motivation: “I … could feel by the sun and the moon. Our alarm clock the movement, so to speak, in the ground about growing local. We had the extra land was the rooster’s call. that was only being used as On one farm, we had open space. I felt it had the what we called the “social chance to bring a few people harvests.” Basil, spinach and together for the common arugula were picked leaf by good. In our first year we leaf. We worked in pairs, have developed new friendshooting the breeze – often ships, learned a tremendous straight into the gutter. (We amount about growing and were young!) Gradually, just how much we don’t though, these social harvests know. The summer has been let us open our hearts and a delight; we stayed home share the “oogier” stuff peomore, soiled our clothes and ple often keep close. We culmet other growers that we tivated friendships, bent over wouldn’t have otherwise had those rows. Our meals were the opportunity to with a a daily celebration of both short visit to the farmer’s our labors and our community – that of our farm, and

by Geneviève Joëlle market. We feel more connected to our community.” the members that made our Villamizar So cool! community supported agriAlexandra and Anthony, new friends of culture (CSA) even possible.

Reading the first issue of The Sopris Sun mine, are growing on a smaller scale. I had last spring, the “article” that intrigued me met them at a dinner party weeks ago and most was actually an ad.A valley fellow, Ron, they glowed as they raved about their first sought a garden manager to help start a veg- season of harvesting and eating their own gie plot for his community of four families. I vegetables, grown in their sunroom and in got in touch with him just to find out: What containers. I wanted to see this.

As Alexandra describes it, “It was a cowas he hoping for?

Ron and his family had actually been CSA creational, date-like experience.” (They are members the season before. After a visit to married). “Placing the seeds in our mouths “their” Paonia farm, they felt inspired to try before planting them; planting on days that it themselves and grow what they really liked. coincided with auspicious Zodiac charts;

placing a bird feeder next to the seedlings so that – much in the same way a newborn might enjoy the benefits of classical music – the seeds were serenaded.There was a kind of mythology or lore we chose to marry with practical gardening principles as a vehicle to become closer to one another and the earth throughout the process.”

I didn’t know what I expected to see when I visited, but certainly not such vigorous stuff.

Their chard was almost 2 feet high. There were matching swollen beets, lacey carrot tops, and a rather large broccoli from which they were still cutting – all in a system Anthony, a builder, had created himself.

“When the fresh veggies were harvested,” Alexandra went on, “mindfulness accompanied the process. When they were washed there was gratitude. When they graced our dinner table [as] a delectable entree, well, shall we say, that was the ultimate fruition.”

Anthony and Alexandra have continued to harvest all season. Growing so much, they sent us home with a salad that afternoon. It was fun, picking and choosing each green leaf with them, dragging out our “good-byes.”

There is an incredible grounding and connecting that comes from growing our own foods – especially when that leads to health and new friendship.

Getting Grounded

2009 Garfield County Tour of Solar Homes

After a first successful season at the Mayfly Bend Garden, friends, family and the growers enjoy a very local feast. Photo by Geneviève Joëlle Villamizar

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THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009 • 15

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Gallegos Corporation; P.O. Box 821 Vail, CO 81658 / (970) 926-3737, has filed an application for a Regular (112) Construction Materials Operation Reclamation Permit with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board under provisions of the Colorado Land Reclamation Act for the Extraction of Construction Materials. The existing operation is known as the Conger Harvesting Area, and is located at or near the corner of Sections 21, 22, 28, Township 11 South Range 88 West, 6th Prime Meridian. The Gallegos Corporation operates under a valid existing 110 Permit (M-1998-022) and wishes to include 23.33 acres of USFS lands into its permit area. This application converts the existing 110 permit to a 112 permit.

The proposed date of commencement is ongoing, and the proposed date of completion is + 30 years.

The proposed future use of the land is Wildlife Habitat. Additional information and tentative decision date may be obtained from the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567, or at the Gunnison County Clerk and Recorder's office; 221 N. Wisconsin Suite #C Gunnison, CO 81230, or the above-named applicant.

Comments must be in writing and must be received by the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety by 4:00 p.m. on November 4, 2009.

Publish: 2 of 4 on October 1, 2009 in The Sopris Sun

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VARIANCE REQUEST at the REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BOARD October 8, 2009 at 1:30 P.M.

HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION: The Gunnison County Environmental Health Board will conduct a public hearing Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in the Planning Commission Meeting Room of the Blackstock Building Gunnison County Plaza, 221 N. Wisconsin, second floor for the purpose of hearing a special review request for the denial of an individual sewage disposal system (ISDS) permit request. The public is invited.

APPLICANT AND LOCATION: The applicants are Larry and Dana Darien, for Lot 3 Darien Subdivision, near the Town of Marble. An Individual Sewage Disposal System Permit was denied because the proposed siting for the ISDS does not meet the required setbacks from water features. (ISDS Regulations 6101.13.a).

REASON FOR PERMIT DENIAL: The Gunnison County Individual Sewage Disposal System Regulations, Section 6-101.13.a states: "Each component of each ISDS shall have a minimum horizontal distance from pertinent terrain features, including streams, lakes, water courses, wetlands, dwellings, etc., as listed in table 2". During the site inspection of July 31, 2008, the County found that the setbacks from water courses, including streams and wetlands were not met.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The public is invited to submit verbal or written comments at the meeting, or to submit written comments by FAX (970) 641-8585, or by letter (to Gunnison County Environmental Health, 221 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230), so long as they are received by 5 p.m. the evening before the date of the meeting so that they may be submitted for the public record during the hearing. Additional information may be obtained by calling the office, (970) 641-5105.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Anyone needing special accommodations as determined by the American Disabilities Act may contact the Environmental Health Office prior to the day of the meeting.

Richard Stenson Gunnison County Environmental Health Official

Publish: 1x on October 1, 2009 in The Sopris Sun PUBLIC NOTICE

GARFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO NOTICE OF COORDINATED MAIL BALLOT ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Election Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Election Type: Mail Ballot Election Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Ballots will be mailed between October 13th and October 16th to all eligible registered voters. Property owners residing outside the participating districts

must request a mail ballot from the Garfield County Election Department. Voters who do not receive their ballots may request replacement ballots in person at the following Clerk and Recorder locations from October 13th through November 3rd.

Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:00 109 8th Street, Suite 200 Glenwood Springs, CO 970-384-3700 Option 2

Drop-off sites for voted ballots:

Garfield County Clerk & Recorder 109 8th Street, Suite 200 Glenwood Springs, CO Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Election Day Open 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

New Castle Town Hall 450 W. Main Street New Castle, CO Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Including Election Day

Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:00 144 E. 3rd Street Rifle, CO 970-625-0882

If you will be away from home please make your request for a Mail-In Ballot, to be sent to an alternate address in writing. You must include your full name, date of birth, physical address, mailing address and your signature. Mail-In Ballot request forms are available by calling either of the County offices or on line at garfield-county.com. The last day to request a Mail-In Ballot, to be sent to an alternate address, is October 27, 2009.

Mail requests to: Garfield County Clerk and Recorder 109 8th Street, Suite 200 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 E-mail: elections@garfield-county.com Or jalberico@garfield-county.com

Fax requests to: 970-947-1078

Parachute Town Hall 222 Grand Valley Way Parachute, CO Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Including Election Day

Rifle Branch Office 144 E. 3rd Street Rifle, CO Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Election Day Open 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Silt Town Hall 237 N. 7th Street Silt, Colorado Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Including Election Day Questions: 970-384-3700 Option 2

Publish: 1x on October 1, 2009 in The Sopris Sun

Unclassifieds 3 BD, 2 BA HOME, clean, quiet, close. Sunroom, nice yard, garden, DW, W/D, big freezer, 2-car garage + storage. NS. Pets considered. Min. 6 mos. lease, $2000/mo, 1st, dep. Call Tom, 963-5515 or tladk@attglobal.net.

FOR SALE: Slide Show CD. Mt. Sopris Hist. Society photos, as seen at the Potato Day dance. $10. 963-9371.

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PROFESSIONAL WRITER AVAILABLE for press releases, annual reports, letters and special projects. Call Lynn Burton at 963-1549.

AD REPRESENTATIVE for The Sopris Sun. Work on commission, exible hours, lots of community interaction. Email news@soprissun.com.

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SPORTS REPORTER. The Sopris Sun seeks a volunteer to cover RFHS sports. Call 618-9112.

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TRUE NATURE HEALING ARTS

EST. 1995

On Cooper by the train

Glenwood Music Inc. 715 Cooper Ave. 928-8628

WINDSHIELD REPAIR AUTO GLASS REPLACEMENT

connecting with the truth of who we are

Thai Massage with Bettina Strecher

A combination of breath work, massage, gentle assisted stretching , joint mobilization and meridian work... you will leave the session calm and full of bliss. www.truenature.us 549 main st. • carbondale, co 963-9900 • 379-5853 cell

16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • OCTOBER 1, 2009

DAVID ZAMANSKY – Owner Operated License & Insured

970-963-3891

500 Buggy Circle Carbondale, CO.

Auto Glass & Side Mirrors

DROP DEAD 2008 TAX DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 2009

J. FROST MERRIOTT

Office 970-704-1101 Fax 970-704-9101

Email frosty@sopris.net Web frostycpa.com

Certified Public Accountant 1101 Village Road Carbondale, Colorado

LLA2 81623