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Volume 7, Number 35 | October 8, 2015
Through the Carbondale Branch Library’s outreach program, library staffers Jeannine Stickle and Maura Masters approached Coredination owners Alexandra (center) and Anthony Jerkunica with the idea of leading rehearsals for Thrill the World. Their first public appearance (shown here) was as a flash mob at First Friday on Oct. 1. Their next appearance is slated for the library’s south lawn at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. Look for dancers in their full-on zombie attire. Photo by Lynn Burton
“Thrilling” zombies to invade library in international event By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer
C
arbondale zombie dancers are in final rehearsals for an international event that includes similar dancers in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and other cities. Organizers said they think this is the first time Carbondale folks have joined in Thrill the World, slated for 2:30 p.m. (MST) on Oct. 24. At that time and date, zombie dancers will simultaneously perform the choreography to Michael Jackson’s 1982 “Thriller” video, in a
Guinness Book of World Records-style effort. The Thrill the World website says the event was founded by Ines Markeljevic in Toronto, Canada in 2009 as a way of bringing people together to honor “the genius” of the late pop singer. Alexandra Jerkunica, along with her husband Anthony (who own Coredination and Bonedale Ballet), told The Sopris Sun she bought the “Thriller” album when she was seven years old. “I always loved his music … but never done the dance … I was spooked by the video. It freaked me out.”
Alexandra and Anthony have led rehearsals for an hour every Wednesday since August. They taught the dance “piece by piece.” You don’t need to be a dancer to perform the dance, but it’s tricky. Some moves are repeated throughout the dance, but in a specific order. “That’s the most challenging,” Alexandra said. For example, when dancers do the “Stomp” part then look over their shoulder, the number of stomps varies so participants must make sure they’ve got the right count. On Oct. 24, each dancer will come in their very best zombie outfit. Alexandra bought a
Full line-upp and ticket information f at MoabFolkFestival.com
wedding dress at Miser’s Mercantile. “Kat Rich said I should run over it in my car” to make it torn and authentic, Alexandra said. Anthony will be wearing a tuxedo. Expect to see painted faces, lots of big hair, red sequins and other colorful attire. The local Thrill the World crew numbers about 15-20, with three under the age of 11 and others into their 50s and 60s. When asked if she thinks Carbondale participation in Thrill the World might become a yearly tradition, Alexandra said “I hope so. You can never have too many zombies.”
Carbondale Commentary The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.
Proposed school needed now, and in the future By Matthew Hamilton Building a school in Eastbank was a challenging proposition for me. After much discussion, and a review of the history of land-use decisions made over the last decade, I’ve ultimately come to believe that the timing is right to build this school to meet the needs of the current neighborhoods of Ironbridge, Elk Springs, Pinyon Mesa, Westbank Mesa, Westbank Ranch, Teller Springs, Coryell Ranch, Aspen Glen, H Lazy F mobile home park, Mountain Meadows mobile home park, Auburn Ridge and Pinyon Pines apartments, among others. Did you know that each and every morning our students living in Pinyon Mesa board a bus at 6:24 a.m.? By 6:30 a.m., that bus is almost full. This begins a 1.5-hour journey to Sopris Elementary School (SES). This is repeated in reverse each and every school day. If students are not riding a bus from these neighborhoods they are joining the morning commute into Glenwood across 27th Street and down a very congested Midland to SES. Alternatively, they are driving clear across Glenwood to get to Glenwood Springs Middle School (GSMS). Building a school in Eastbank takes cars off of our roads, shortens distances traveled and allows our students to get much-needed rest to be ready to learn each and every day. As I began to ask questions about Eastbank I learned that the aforementioned neighborhoods contain approximately 320 students today. This is not about building a school for neighborhoods of tomorrow — it’s about building a neighborhood school today for communities that Garfield County established long ago. These neighborhoods continue to grow. Ironbridge is about to
begin work on its third phase, and Pinyon Mesa is growing quickly. What is the current enrollment situation like at SES and GSMS? SES and GSMS are currently operating over capacity by more than 150 students despite the fact that we have already removed preschool programs from SES. Growth of an additional 100 students in the SES attendance area is expected within the next five to seven years. Today, modular facilities and hallways are being used for classroom space, which creates added challenges and stress for our teachers and students. Overcrowding inhibits the development of an optimal learning environment at these schools. Our preschool programs are a critical part of our instructional programs. Preschool programs integrated into elementary schools improve a child’s learning experience by providing continuity for the child during a critical development phase. Our preschool programs are temporarily being housed at the transportation maintenance facility due to overcrowding. Re-establishing the preschool program at SES is essential. With these additional preschool students, SES and GSMS would be over capacity by nearly 210 students (not including projected growth). The development of the Eastbank school will alleviate overcrowding in both SES and GSMS, and allow the preschool program to be moved out of the transportation center and integrated back into SES. The option of enrolling these students in the Carbondale schools would not address the problem of the long distances traveled by students and is not possible as the available capacity of Crystal River Elementary School
OPINION
and Carbondale Middle School is not sufficient to serve all of these students. Are there other places in Glenwood that could accommodate a school? An elementary school campus requires 15 acres of land; a combination elementary/middle school campus requires 15-20 acres. Three other sites were considered for an elementary/middle school expansion in Glenwood Springs and were eliminated for a variety of reasons, including inadequate size of parcel, lack of proximity to projected area of growth, and unstable soils/geologic conditions not suitable for a facility the size of a school. Without a new pre-K-through-eighthgrade school, Glenwood schools’ overcrowding problem will become a serious impediment to learning. Building a new preK-8 school on land already owned by RFSD in the Eastbank area will relieve overcrowding in Glenwood schools and accommodate growth in Glenwood Springs. Building in this area also reduces students’ travel time to school, locates a school close to an area of high population growth, and provides sufficient space for outdoor fields and recreational space for students. As much as we all struggle with growth issues, I’ve become convinced that building in this location is a response to growth that has already been approved and will occur regardless of our school’s presence. Vote yes on 3B. Bond Together builds neighborhood schools, reconstructs Glenwood Springs Elementary School, creates affordable teacher and staff housing, enhances the safety of our schools and revitalizes our aging middle schools. Matthew Hamilton is a member of the Roaring Fork School District board.
Letters
The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to news@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. The deadline to submit letters to the editor is noon on Monday.
Thoughts from the chief Dear Editor: I would like to share some observations regarding the use of the town’s new roundabout. We have been witnessing and receiving reports of inappropriate driving, cycling and pedestrian habits. We are also observing children riding their bicycles across the crosswalks on heavy traffic roads without watching for the road traffic. I would like to offer some important perspectives. • Vehicles that are in the roundabout have the right-of-way, so cars wanting to enter must yield until it is safe to enter. • Cyclists may use the roundabout, operating as a vehicle, but must obey all the same laws of any vehicle. Darting across the road on crosswalks is dangerous and may cause an accident. Cyclists causing wrecks in this manner may be cited. • Pedestrians should use the button for the flashing yellow light. They were placed there for our safety. Pedestrians should proceed only
when it is safe and appropriate to do so. • Vehicles should only enter the roundabout where designated to do so. Several motorists have been seen entering from crosswalk access. Finally, I would like children to dismount their bicycles and walk across crosswalks! We see children use crosswalks without looking. We also see parents leading their children across major roads in crosswalks riding their bikes and this is just not safe! We are starting a campaign to get all children and parents to dismount their bikes and walk across crosswalks only when safe and appropriate. The Recreation Department along with the Police Department offers a bicycle safety fair every year for those that would like to enhance the safe operation of their bicycles. Thank you for your time and consideration. Gene Schilling Carbondale Police Chief
2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
Third Street Center thanks Dear Editor: The staff, board of directors and tenants at the Third Street Center want to thank the quick actions of our neighbor Kelly Harding for rushing to our aid and extinguishing the fire in the Center for Independence space on Sept. 16. Kelly’s quick action and bravery prevented a much larger fire and greater loss. We are forever grateful. We also want to thank the building sprinklers, the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District, and the Carbondale Police Department for their timely assistance. Despite the damage and disruption, we feel fortunate that the arson event was quickly and efficiently contained. Finally, we want to thank the well-wishers and folks offering help to Third Street and the Center for Independence. Working through this sad event is easier in a supportive community. LETTERS page 15
Sincerest thanks to our
Honorary Publishers for their generous, ongoing commitment of support. Jim Calaway Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert Bob Young – Alpine Bank George Stranahan Peter Gilbert James Surls Umbrella Roofing, Inc.
ank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support! It truly takes a village to keep e Sun shining.
To inform, inspire and build community. Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor: Lynn Burton • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Bob Albright • 970-927-2175 bob@soprissun.com Reporter: John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Colin Laird • Cliff Colia • Diana Alcantara The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the third Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center. Check the calendar for details and occasional date changes.
Honorary Board Members Denise Barkhurst • Sue Gray David L. Johnson • Laura McCormick Jeannie Perry • Trina Ortega • Frank Zlogar Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell
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Local trio releases film critical of gas drilling Focuses on Garfield County By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer A locally-produced film about oil and gas drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and the use of water in those industrial enterprises will be shown on Oct. 14 in the Calaway Room at the Third Street Center in Carbondale. Carbondale-based film makers Hamilton Pevec and Austin Lottimer, with their partner and co-producer Aaron Milton of Glenwood Springs, have come up with a film that they believe tells the inside and underside story of water use in the booming natural gas industry in Garfield County and the West in general, entitled “Before The Last Drop.” Pevec, who also has been working to bring relief and help to victims of last April’s earthquake in Nepal (he has a Nepali wife, Devika, who is due to give birth to their baby next April), told The Sopris Sun recently that he first heard about the issue of water use in the natural gas industry from Milton in 2012, shortly after Milton had quit a sixmonth job in the industry. Once the trio — Pevec, Lottimer and Milton — had met and talked about their ideas, they started working on the film, with funding initially coming from an online Kickstarter campaign that yielded $10,000 in donations, and later from the personal accounts of the three partners. “The project was a huge education for me,” Pevec said, explaining that he had barely heard about the issue prior to talking with Milton. What he expected to be a six-month project turned into considerably more, he said, noting, “That six-months turned into 16 months.” Milton told The Sopris Sun that he observed a wide range of questionable activities while working for the Encana energy company in the Garfield County “gas patch,” as it is known, ranging from a lack of safeguards for workers to the use and pollution of vast
amounts of water needed for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the extraction technique that is the key to the current boom in gas drilling nationwide and worldwide.
Synopsis According to a written description of the film, “‘Before The Last Drop’ explores how water is the key to America’s new gas resources, but there is not enough water left in the west to accommodate the growing energy industry. The over-drilled gas fields of Garfield County collide with the Colorado
“In the sense that the old Soviet Union could shut down … dissent … to me we’ve got that here in the U.S.” – Judy Jordan, former Garfield County liaison to the energy industry River, putting the entire American west in danger. Leaking wells, systemic venting of methane and corrupt local government has forced this small county into the spotlight.’” The film makers took their cameras around Garfield County, to such diverse locations as the towns of Parachute, Silt and Rifle, as well as the Mann Creek region, filming gas wells in operation, industry tankers sucking water out of the Colorado River, interviewing Garfield County Commissioner John Martin and former commissioner Trési Houpt about their opposing views of the industry, and generally compiling 86 minutes of film that carries a decidedly negative view of the industry’s presence and effects on Garfield County. Among the interviewees was Rick Roles, a rancher in the Mamm Creek area who said he has lost “all my livestock” due to air and
water pollution caused by nearby drilling and other industry activities, as well as being severely sickened himself. They interviewed the late energy and environmental activist Randy Udall, of Carbondale, who told them “water and energy are symbiotic. You need each one of them to unlock the other,” and cautioned viewers about the energy industry’s consumption of water to the tune of five million gallons of water for a single hydraulic fracturing shot. “The film features local heroes,” Pevec wrote in a promotional statement for the showing. Among them, he said, are: • “The late, great Randy Udall;” • Judy Jordan, former Garfield County liaison to the industry who was fired for being critical of the industry’s activities; • Trési Houpt, former Garfield County commissioner; • Rick Roles, rancher; • and a host of others including locallybased authors Craig Childs, John Waterman and Pete McBride. Udall’s views open the film and are featured prominently throughout. “The greatest infusion of new energy was turning on the Alaska oil pipeline in 1977,” Udall says on film. “That was the energy equivalent of a sugar high. What we have seen from fracking just in the last four years, has been two Alaska pipelines worth of energy coming onto the market. Fracking has been the energy equivalent of a hit on a crack pipe.”
And Jordan, the county’s fired liaison official, offered a cautionary word about the power of the industry to overcome its critics. “Any industry that has as much power as they have, is something to be feared, in my view,” Jordan said in the film. “In the sense that the old Soviet Union could shut down any kind of dissent among its people, well, to me we’ve got that here in the U.S. Only it’s not the government, it’s the industry puppeting the government for their own profit motivated purposes.” Pevec, who is listed as co-director, will conduct a Q&A after the screening. He said in an interview that, while the group hoped the film would gain a wide audience through showings at film festivals, “It got consistently rejected from every festival” where they applied. “Which was strange, to me, because we got nothing but positive feedback” from an early “wrap” screening, he added. “It’s not a ‘hold-your-hand’ documentary as it walks you through it,” he said of the film’s content. “It assumes the audience is intelligent, which is not what most documentaries do. You have to pay attention.” The film is scheduled to be shown at 6:45 p.m. (doors will open at 6 p.m.), and a donation of $10 to $20 is being requested of those who attend. The proceeds will go for relief, aid and rebuilding efforts in Nepal. Pevec told The Sopris Sun that he expects the limited seating to fill up fast, and recommended that people get there early.
E-Board eyes Grassroots for PSAs By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The volunteer members of Carbondale’s Environmental Board, as part of a broad educational campaign aimed at local residents, want to use Public Service Announcements (PSA) on Grassroots TV concerning the town of Carbondale’s annual Leaf Days program and possibly alerting residents to “wood burning best practices” for those residents who use wood stoves to provide heat to their homes. The Leaf Days program happens every fall, when the town places containers in the gravel lot across 4th Street from Town Hall and invites residents to rake up their leaves into bags and deposit the bags in the containers. According to information supplied by EBoard member Julia Farwell, in 2014 the town paid out just over $2,000 for the Leaf Days program. The burning of firewood has long been an issue in town, largely thanks to periodic wintertime temperature inversions that trap wood smoke in a low-hanging cloud covering
the town and its environs. This has led to town restrictions about the use of wood stoves in Carbondale, and to periodic announcements of the type being considered for the PSAs. Grassroots TV is a community-access television station mainly serving Aspen, showing Aspen-oriented programming, but with an office at the Third Street Center in Carbondale. The station is available to Carbondalearea television viewers on Comcast Cable Channel 82 and on Channel 12 of the Pitkin County translator system. According to a proposal from John Masters, executive director of the station, producing a PSA could cost as much as approximately $1,400, although in a letter to the E-Board Masters commented “the probable cost will be $1,000 to $1,250, based on our discussion.” And, Masters told The Sopris Sun, once a PSA is produced, it can be used repeatedly as long as the information used in the announcement does not change. E-BOARD PSAs page 15
She’s outta here … see ya next year. Such was one scene last Wednesday at the final Carbondale Farmer’s Market of the season. As for other vegetable shopping opportunities, local grocery stores seem well stocked for Halloween. Photo by Jane Bachrach
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 3
Town Briefs
Cop Shop
Projects keep town crews busy Sopris Sun Staff Report In his weekly memo on town operations, sent to the Board of Trustees and to town employees, Town Manager Jay Harrington highlighted the various ways that town crews have pursued their labors. The streets crew, Harrington reported, continued to clean up a piece of leased property known as the “laydown yard,” where the town stores gravel, dirt and other material. As part of the process, Harrington reported, the crews are hauling “clean material” to an area of the Nieslanik Ranch on White Hill where earthmoving and storage activities already are taking place. Street crews also cleaned Main Street for last week’s First Friday event, and did some curb and gutter work along Main. Now that last weekend’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal and E-Waste Day is over, the town got busy getting set to offer its annual collection of fall leaves raked up by locals. The collection Dumpster was scheduled to be set up this week at the vacant gravel lot at Colorado Avenue and 4th Street, across 4th Street street from Town Hall. The parks crew has been continuing with its summertime duties of mowing, knocking down weeds along the town’s trails, cleaning bathrooms and maintaining trash, recycling and dog-waste stations. In addition, the crew will be making and placing signs at the two town-owned cemeteries, advising citizens of new rules for decorating grave sites. Notices of violations of the town’s codes will be placed directly on the plots where the alleged violations have been observed. The town’s arborist, David Coon, recently responded to calls from the public about trees that needed maintenance or “possible risk mitigation,” Harrington wrote. The calls concerned a
dead blue spruce located on private property on Sopris Avenue, and a large spruce at Thompson Park, where he placed a “temporary protection zone” around the tree, which is surrounded by a construction project. With wintertime approaching, the town has inventoried its stock of LED lights for the trees along Main Street, and will soon begin putting those lights up, Harrington wrote. A corps of Eagle Scouts, let by Matt Wampler, last week finished rebuilding a foot bridge over the irrigation ditch at Nuche Park (on the south side of town). The foot bridge permits visitors to get access to the Crystal River. A new youth program of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, called the Sustainable Outdoor Leadership program, started work last week on the nature interpretive trail along the Crystal River’s Riverfront Park at the River Valley Ranch subdivision. The student volunteers will be thinning and cutting back the underbrush along the trail, cutting back and bagging noxious Canadian Thistle, and if time allows may do some restorative work to the wooden interpretive signs along the trail. Mary Harris, president of the Roaring Fork chapter of the National Audubon Society, has called this trail as “one of the premier locations for identifying native bird species along the Crystal River,” Harrington reported. The town this week received an estimate to trim and paint the Senior Matters concession stand and rodeo registration booth at the Gus Darien Riding and Rodeo Arena on Catherine Store Road east of town. Work is going well on the Industry Way water line project, Harrington wrote, “despite the traffic that is constant the length of the street.” He reported that two of the three hydrants are in place, as is the 8-inch water service tap.
From Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, Carbondale Police Officers handled 243 calls for service. During this period, Carbondale police officers and other agencies investigated the following cases of note:
FRIDAY, Sept. 25: At 8:45 a.m. police received a report of a theft that had occurred at an address on South 2nd Street. FRIDAY, Sept. 25: At 7:30 p.m. police responded to the RFTA park and ride lot about a report of an intoxicated woman sleeping in her car. Police contacted the woman and arrested her on suspicion of drunk driving. SATURDAY, Sept. 26: At 12:02 a.m. a local woman reported her 2003 Dodge pickup had been stolen. The keys reportedly were inside the vehicle, which was parked on Garfield Avenue. SATURDAY, Sept. 26: At 2:04 a.m. police contacted a man sitting inside a running vehicle at North 2nd and Main streets. Upon investigation, they arrested the man on a charge of drunk driving. MONDAY, Sept. 28: At 3:57 p.m. police responded to a reported assault on Clearwater Road in Carbondale. Officers arrested a local man and took him to the Garfield County Jail. COP SHOP page 17
Colorado’s 2012 “Outstanding Regional Theatre”
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Directed by Sue Lavin Featuring Missy Moore With Cassidy Willey, Brendon Cochran, Kari Sea, Jesse Monsalve
October 9, 2015 • 6:00-10:00PM The Gathering Center a att The Orchard • Carbondale TICKETS: $40 per person • $75 per couple • $45 at the door
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Hillary campaign hits town
A little Sun housekeeping
A Hillary for America Coffee & Conversation meeting is slated for Bonfire Coffee (433 Main Street) at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 8. Brad Komar, director of Hillary of Colorado, will be on hand. RSVP at blancainaspen@aol.com.
Just a reminder that the best way to see your press release or PSA in print is to email it as body text or a Word attachment. Lots of individuals, businesses and nonproďŹ ts send their announcements in newsletters, PDFs or JPGs that can create headaches for the Sun staff, and lead to those kinds of e-mails not making it into the paper. Also, while we’re at it if you’re still reading, please don’t send announcements via Punchbowl, as the editor must print out those e-mails to use them, and when said editor tried to print one out this week the printer cranked out about 30 pages of unrelated announcements. Also, don’t e-mail items that require the editor to click on a link to get out the announcement. Thanks for your consideration in this matter.
RMS receives an AED Pitkin County EMTAC recently chose Ross Montessori School as a site for a new automated external deďŹ brillator (AED), according to a press release. The Carbondale Rural & Fire Protection District helped the school to apply for the grant; the school now has seven staff members trained to use the AED in the event of a cardiac emergency. According to the Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. “It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere and at any age,â€? said a Red Cross spokesman. “An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for someone with no medical background.â€? The AED at Ross Montessori School will be accessible to the public during school hours. Other AED locations include the Third Street Center.
This just in
Website:
pitkinvotes.com Elections Hotline: 970-920-5180 EXT 5 Elections Office: 530 East Main St Aspen, CO
Have you noticed that more and more folks say they have “reached outâ€? to someone or other that they got in touch with rather than the traditional “called?â€? For some reason, these people now think it’s better to use two words (“reach outâ€?) than to “callâ€? or e-mail.â€? It used to be in simpler and more literal times, “reach outâ€? meant to get in touch with, talk to, or call someone they wouldn’t normally talk to, such as a Democrat “reaching outâ€? to a Republican, or a communist to a capitalist. And while we’re really at it and trying to ďŹ ll up some space here, more and more people are replacing dots with dashes between
A bird’s-eye view? Well, maybe if the bird was ying on his back. In this case, however, Bill Parish looked up from his deck on Sept. 23 and spied a pair of hang-gliders (center) looking down on a ock of geese. Parish reports he was pressing his camera shutter as the hang-gliders drifted down and on his fourth snap the geese came ying over his house. “I’d like to take credit for the composition, but it was serendipitous.â€? Photo by Bill Parish digits in phone numbers for no good reason (example: 970.555.1949). Here’s something that’s even worse, because it’s taking too many newspaper editors too long to ďŹ gure it out. Some folks are sending out dates with the year ďŹ rst, then month, then day, such as 15/10/4 (Oct. 4, 2015) instead of the traditional 10/4/15. Why are people switching to this new style
ASPEN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 435 WEST MAIN STREET, ASPEN, CO
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: Jody Ensign (Oct. 8); Charlotte Vanderhurst (Oct. 10); Rick Borkovec (Oct. 12) and Carrie Close (Oct. 14).
13th Annual
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of dating an event? Who knows, maybe someone can “reach out� and explain it to The Sopris Sun at news@soprissun.com.
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CDOT was scheduled to install a new stop sign at County Road 335 and I-70 Exit 105 in New Castle on Oct. 5, according to a press release. The intersection will now become an all-way stop.
While we’re at it
This will also be the location of the Aspen VSPC for the 2016 Presidential Election. DURING EARLY VOTING (OCT 26-NOV 2) OR ON ELECTION DAY, ELIGIBLE ELECTORS CAN: • Register to vote • Update an address • Legally change name • Affiliate with a political party • Cast a ballot • Drop off a mail ballot • Secure a replacement mail ballot IF YOU HAVE MOVED, don’t forget to update your voter registration record at pitkinvotes.com
TRACK YOUR BALLOT WITH — SIGN UP AT PITKINVOTES.COM 6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
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Friday, October 9: Celtic Fest 5pm-9pm 7pm-9:30pm 8pm
Irish Pub (Beer Tent) Open Live Music with Potcheen Men’s Best Legs in a Kilt Contest
Saturday, October 10: Oktoberfest 11am-1pm 11am-2pm 1pm-5pm 11am-9pm 11am-9pm 1:30pm-3pm 2:30pm-5:30pm 3pm-5pm 6pm 7pm-9:30pm
Kids’ Pumpkin Carving FREE! The Average German Band Cornhole Tournament (Pre-register!) German Biergarten Authentic Austrian Cuisine Women’s Nail Driving Competition Those Austrian Guys Men’s Nail Driving Competition Liter Holding Competition Live Music with The Starletts
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Carbondale becoming a hotspot for dance Spectrum returns on Oct. 16-18 Sopris Sun Staff Report Dance presentation, creation and education opportunities are increasing rapidly in Carbondale. With the 2014 addition of the functional and beautiful Launchpad studio spaces in downtown Carbondale, augmenting the existing studios operated by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Coredination, more classes and workshops in different aspects of movement have been developed and offered this past year than ever before, from traditional ballet, jazz and contemporary dance to aerial artistry, acro yoga and Nia. Lovers of partner dancing have had just as many options from country to swing to tango. With the availability of the studios, Dance Initiative has offered residencies to renowned choreographers. Molissa Fenley and Patrick Mueller, from New York City and Denver, have had the opportunity to create new dances during their recent residencies at the Launchpad. These works have been performed in Carbondale to enthusiastic audiences but will have life beyond our community. Fenley’s piece will be performed by her company in New York City later this year. According to observers, one important development noticed during the residencies was the increased community support and appreciation for the performances and open rehearsals. Evidence that people seem to be more interested in dance was provided by Christiana Axelsen, one of the Molissa Fenley company members, who commented to Dance Initiative, “The community is so cool. There is such a rich vein of creativity in Carbondale. You have such an exciting opportunity to share dance with people who are really appreciative and active viewers. That was by far one of the best audiences we have ever had in terms of people being present, engaged and responsive.� Dance Initiative has been instrumental in supporting the growth of dance through its mission to promote dance, support dancers and teachers of dance and create opportunities for those interested in taking classes, in creating dance, rehearsing and performing as well as those who simply want to watch various genres of dance.
Peter Gilbert, Dance Initiative’s executive director, noted “The Spectrum Dance Festival, Oct. 16 to 18, encompasses all Dance Initiative’s mission with wonderful dance to be presented at Thunder River Theatre, performed by some terriďŹ c local dancers on October 16. On Oct. 17, some of the ďŹ nest Colorado dance companies, including Control Group Productions, Wild Heart and Grass Roots Project, (the newest company founded by renowned choreographer, Rennie Harrisâ€?) will perform. Meagan Shapiro, one of the dancers who is performing on Oct. 16, in a work created by Patrick Mueller but also in a piece of her own creation, noted, “Moving to Carbondale, I was delighted to discover what Dance Initiative brings to the valley. To be exposed to choreographic and educational opportunities from world-renowned dancers and choreographers in this rural setting speaks volumes about the commitment it has made to engage and inspire local movement artists. My own experience working with DI’s artists in residence and being supported in sharing my work has been profoundly enriching and exciting.â€? The educational opportunities during the Spectrum Dance Festival are signiďŹ cant with eight different dance workshops offered at the Launchpad on Oct. 17-18, with something for every interest and age. King Charles, who travels the world to perform and teach his energetic style of dance (Chicago Footwork) will be conducting two workshops, one for youngsters free of charge. On Oct. 18, at the Launchpad, choreographer Alya Howe, who is Dance Initiative’s current Artist in Residence, will present her in-progress dance creation. Howe professionally danced with the critically acclaimed Limon Company, served as a faculty member at the Laban Institute, and has performed with renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain. She currently teaches yoga in Carbondale and Denver and curates Justice Snow’s Salon. Howe’s residency will be community oriented with her work set on community members. For more information on Dance Initiative, please go to danceinitiative.org.
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-VY 0UMVYTH[PVU 9LZLY]H[PVUZ JHSS -VY 0UMVYTH[PVU 9LZLY]H[PVUZ JHSS ‹ `HTWHOZWH JVT ‹ `HTWHOZWH JVT :WH 6WLU : WH 6WLU :HSVU 6WLU :H : SVU 6WLU ‹ 6UL )SVJR ,HZ[ VM [OL /V[ :WYPUNZ 7VVS ‹ 6UL )SVJR ,HZ[ VM [OL O /V / [ :WYPUNZ 7VVS THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 7
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Taking turns Sopris Sun Staff Report It takes a lot of core strength to turn the wheel of an apple press, especially if you’re a kid in the third grade. Last Wednesday at Crystal River Elementary School as students waited their turn to take a turn on the wheel of the press during a presentation by Jimmy Dula of the Heritage Fruit Tree project. He kicked off the session by talking about the importance of locally grown food, healthy food options and more. Soon after that, the students eagerly stepped up to twist, turn and crank the press to squeeze North Fork Valley apples into cider. And after that, they all drank up. The session was a collaboration between the school’s Health and Wellness Committee, PTO and the Roaring Fork Food Policy Council (RFFPC). Since 2012, the RFFPC has teamed with RE-1 Food Service Director Michelle Hammond to offer North Fork Valley pears and apples to elementary schools. Distribution of fruit to CRES started the second week of school. For more on local foods in local schools, e-mail gwen@ roaringforkfood.org or angelahanley17@gmail.com. Photos by Jane Bachrach
8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
Cat committee reaches compromise; trustees next By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Carbondale's cat controversy appears to be nearing resolution, after members of a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees agreed last week to a series of compromise recommendations to send to the BOT. The recommendations, according to committee member Mary Harris, call for refinements and revisions to the town's existing “nuisance cat” ordinance, which has been on the books for decades but not generally known to town officials or citizens. The trustees, as a group, may get their first, formal looks at the recommendations at the board's regular meeting on Oct. 13, according to Town Clerk Cathy Derby. Harris, who first brought up the issue last July, had warned the trustees that she and her organization, the Roaring Fork chapter of the National Audubon Society, believed that cats who run wild have been killing too many birds, and in fact have been pushing some bird species toward extinction. Her claims were disputed, however, by a local real estate broker, Cindy Sadlowski, who has been catching, spaying or neutering and then releasing “feral” cats in the Roaring Fork Valley for 15 years under the organizational name of Street Cat Coalition. Sadlowski maintained that what Harris claimed to be a growing problem actually was no problem at all, at least not locally. Caught between the two factions, the trustees initially had town staff draw up an ordinance to regulate the local cat population. But after negative reactions from some trustees and some members of the public, the board in September put the proposed new ordinance on hold and appointed the committee to look into the question. Over the course of three meetings, the committee went from an atmosphere of hostility and confrontation to one of conciliation and compromise, centered around making changes to the town's existing cat-related ordinance rather than trying to
make new law. And at the committee's last meeting, on Sept. 29, Harris and a fellow committee member, veterinarian Julie Martin, informed the others that they had sat down a few days earlier to mull things over and, in a letter summarizing their work, declared, “We feel like we came up with a good solution.” Harris, reached at home on Tuesday, said of the Sept. 29 meeting, “It was a real good session.” As for the recommendation to the trustees, she said, “I feel really confident they'll accept it.” The recommendations are: • to require rabies vaccines for all domestic cats in town; • to “strongly encourage” cat owners to spay/neuter their cats, and to “encourage” the town to issue vouchers to help low-income residents meet the costs of the treatments; • to “strongly encourage cat owners to collar and license or chip [have an identification chip inserted under the cat's skin) so that any cat picked up can be returned to the owner; • to raise the fines for violations from the current $10-$20, to issuance of a warning and a brochure about town cat policies on the first violation, and assess fines of $30 for a second violation and $50 for a third. Subsequent violations would bring escalating fines, although the committee balked at setting an upper limit on fines; • before the new fines take effect, conduct “a lengthy grace period” to accommodate “a strong awareness program, coordinated by the town of Carbondale, Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE), Street Cats Coalition and Roaring Fork Audubon. The summary of the recommendations also offers ideas for conducting the awareness campaign, starting with the proposal that it be conducted in both English and Spanish and that it encourage “responsible ownership by keeping your cat inside to protect our wildlife and protect your cat.” Harris pledged that she and Roaring Fork Audubon will remain involved in the overall effort to get the word out regarding the changes to the town's code regarding cats.
Early morning clouds near Carbondale. What do you see? Let The Sopris Sun know at news@soprissun.com. Photo by Jane Bachrach
is S u n r p o S The present K N KD and
LET’S MAKE THE INVESTMENT NOW!
enhance the safety in all of our schools develop affordable housing for district employees in all three communities create school environments in which our students can thrive GET THE FACTS: RFVBONDTOGETHER.ORG QUESTIONS? Matthew Hamilton 970 274 6894
Community Election Forum Thursday, October 15 KDNK will broadcast the forum live from 6 to 7 pm on October 15
Join community members at the KDNK Broadcast Learning Center for a public discussion of the Roaring Fork School District and the Carbondale and Rural Fire District ballot questions.
We’ll open up the mic for public comments and have representatives from RFSD and CRFD to answer questions.
of ad e h a Questions may be emailed
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Paid for by Bond Together: Yes on 3B: Bill Anuszewki, Treasurer; Box 2042, Carbondale, CO 81623
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 9
Community Calendar THURSDAY Oct. 8 FILM • Hamilton Pevec’s ďŹ lm “Hanuman Airlines Fly Over Everestâ€? is shown at the Third Street Center at 6:30 p.m. The 29minute documentary follows pilot/kayaker Sanobabu Sanuwar and Everest guide Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa on a dangerous journey from the mountain’s summit to the sea. The suggested donation is $10-$20. Proceeds will allow Pevec to continue providing relief supplies and doing construction for victims of the Nepal earthquakes earlier in the year. ROTARY • The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita at noon every Thursday.
FRI.-SUN. Oct. 8-10 THEATRE • Thunder River Theatre Company in downtown Carbondale concludes its production of “The Mineola Twinsâ€? on Oct. 8-10. The New York Times calls the play “ ‌ a most ingenious comic satireâ€? while Variety says it’s “ ‌ a bright cartoon of a play ‌ divinely funny.â€? Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $14 to $25. For more information, visit thunderrivertheatre.com or call 963-8200.
FRIDAY Oct. 9 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “Pawn Sacrificeâ€? (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9-15; “Meruâ€? (R) at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 and “Grandmaâ€? (R) (captioned) at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 11. CELTIC FEST • Plan on an evening of bagpipes, beer, Austrian cuisine, Celtic tunes a “Best Legs in Kiltâ€? contest and more at Fourth Street Plaza starting at 5 p.m. The featured
To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com. View events online at soprissun.com/calendar.
band, Potcheen, takes the stage at 6 p.m. LIVE MUSIC • K’GEN Asian Cuisine in Willits (next to Smoke) presents the Roaring Dub Stars (roots rock reggae) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. No cover. Info: 510-5956. FILM/BOOK SIGNING • “The Horse Boyâ€? will be screened and followed by a book signing at the Third Street Center at 6:30 p.m. “The Horse Boyâ€? was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary ďŹ lm is based on a book by the same name that follows the quest of the Isaacson family as they try to ďŹ nd healing for their autistic son, Rowan. Tickets are available on eventbrite at hbmoviecarbondale. OPEN HOUSE • Smiling Goat Ranch (near the rodeo grounds at 271 Willow Lane) hosts at open house from 4 to 6 p.m. The ranch is the newest afďŹ liate of the Horse Boy program. Come meet the goats, rabbits and horses. The Horse Boy Method is a proven means of gaining communication, and repatterning the brain, for people on the autism spectrum, with those with ADD, ADHD, anxiety, and for military veterans with PTSD. The method uses horses, movement and the natural environment. Horse Boy founder Rupert Isaacson will be in town Oct. 8-11 to answer questions and meet with the public.
SATURDAY Oct. 10 OKTOBERFEST • It’s time to dust off last year’s stein and ďŹ ll it full with this year’s beer. Oktoberfest kicks off at Fourth Street Plaza at 11 a.m. and promises to be a day full of
fun with German bands, food, and beer. Half and full-liter steins will be available while supplies last. There’s be pumpkin carving for the kids beginning at 11a.m. Register for the cornhole tournament by visiting www.carbondalerec.com or stopping by the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center. Test your metal at the “Liter Holdingâ€? contest or “Nail Drivingâ€? Contest. Dance the Hokey Pokey or the Chicken Dance, and round out the evening with live music from The Starletts. CAFÉ FILM • The Beat on Main Street presents a ďŹ lm at 8 p.m. LIVE MUSIC • “John Denver, the Tributeâ€? with Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon play Paepcke Auditorium at the Aspen Institute at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 and $60. Info: aspenshowticks.com and 920-5770. BREAD BAKE • There’ll be a Carbondale Community Oven bread bake at the Third Street Center. Bread goes in at 10 a.m. Info: carbondalecommunityoven.weebly.com and 306-1015. BLESS THOSE ANIMALS • CARE and Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists present the ďŹ fth annual “Blessing of the Animalsâ€? across the road from the CMC Spring Valley campus (2801 CR 144). Attendees are encouraged to bring their crated feline friends or well-socialized, leashed dogs. Other pets or pets’ photos also are welcome. Also on tap: live music, breakfast food and fun. Frasier, the friendly courthouse dog that works at River Bridge Regional Center and accompanies children to family court appearances, has in-
dicated he will attend. Suggested donations include small bags of cat and dog food, canned kitten food and cash contributions. It all starts at 10:30 a.m. HORSE BOY TRAINING • The ďŹ rst level to become a Horse Boy practitioner is offered at Aspen Valley Polo Club (3275 County Road 100 near Catherine Store) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $375 for participants; $50 for auditors. Info: horseboyworld.com.
SUNDAY Oct. 11 RHS DRIVE • The Redstone Historical Society holds its annual membership drive at the Redstone Castle starting at 5:30 p.m. Local author Darrell Munsell will be presenting his latest release “Colorado Artist Jack Roberts, Painting the West.â€? The event is free and open to the public; new members are always welcome. Info: Sue McEvoy at 704-1843. ASC • A Spiritual Center in the Third Street Center presents Lisa Chiles (“The Illusion of Thoughtâ€?) at 10 a.m. Upcoming programs are: Oct. 18, pastor Andy Stanley (“Loopholes and Principlesâ€? CD); Oct. 25, Mary Reily (spiritual astrology). Info: 963-5516.
MONDAY Oct. 12 CARBONDALE LIBRARY • The Carbondale Branch Library offers bilingual help with computers on a ďŹ rst-come/ďŹ rst served basis from 4 to 6 p.m. on Mondays. Info: 9632289 or gcpld.org. Reservations are appreciated. Please be prepared with all appropriate passwords and other account information. CALENDAR page 11
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10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
Community Calendar TUESDAY Oct. 13 CARBONDALE LIBRARY • The Carbondale Branch Library offers elementaryschool aged kids a different program each week starting at 4 p.m. The first Tuesday of the month is Story Art with the Aspen Art Museum; second Tuesday is Book Buddies; third Tuesday is Legos at the library; fourth Tuesday is The Good, the Bad, and the Gross; and the fifth Tuesday is librarian’s choice. Info: 963-2889 or gcpld.org. DEBATE WATCH • The Glenwood Canyon Brewpub hosts a Bernie Sanders Debate Watch party. The debate starts at 7 p.m. but space is limited to plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m. or reserve a seat at berniesanders.com/events. The Riverside Grille in Basalt is also hosting a debate watch party.
WEDNESDAY Oct. 14 LIVE MUSIC • Sara Thomsen, one of Minnesota’s finest young singer/songwriters and dubbed as the new Joan Baez, is coming to Colorado for four concerts – one of them in Carbondale. The Minnesota Women’s Press Association describes her soulful voice as “cutting through to the heart and soul of the human experience” and “the best butter . . . on a big, generous, meltingly gorgeous piece of bread right out of the oven.” Thomsen performs at the Third Street Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at davininkent.org and $18 at the door. The concert is sponsored by Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists and Davi Nikent. FILM • The first public screening of Hamilton Pevec’s film “Before the Last Drop” is
continued from page 10
presented at the Third Street Center at 6:45 p.m. The 86-minute documentary explores how water is the key to America’s natural gas resources but there is not enough water in the West to accommodate the growing energy industry, according to a press release. Philip Hone Williams will also show his work “What the Frack: The Violation of Mother Nature” and “The Decline of Water.” Proceeds benefit victims of this year’s earthquakes in Nepal. The suggested donation is $10-$20. ROTARY • The Rotary Club of Carbondale meets at the Carbondale fire station on Meadowood Drive at 6:45 a.m. Info: rotarycarbondale.org. POLICE ACADEMY • Basalt’s Community Police Academy is held at town hall starting at 6 p.m. The weekly class, which explains police procedures and related topics, is free and continues through Oct. 31. Info: 927-4316. LIVE MUSIC • Dan Rosenthal hosts an open mic night at Rivers restaurant in Glenwood Springs from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.
Save the Date THURSDAY Oct. 15
ELECTION FORUM • The Sopris Sun and KDNK present an election forum at the radio station’s Learning Center (76 S. Second St.) from 6 to 7 p.m. Open for discussion will be the RE-1 school bond issue, and the Carbondale Fire District’s tax hike ballot question. Questions from the public can be sent ahead of time to info@soprissun.com.
Further Out THURSDAY Oct. 15 AUTHOR SPEAKS • Bestselling author Sam Kean discusses his book “The Disappearing Spoon” at the Carbondale Branch Library at 7 p.m. The book is this year’s One Book One Town selection and is available for checkout at the library. Following Kean’s presentation, there’ll be a book signing with refreshments. His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Psychology Today and other publications, and featured on NPR’s “Radiolab,” “All Things Considered” and “Fresh Air.” Info: 963-2889.
THURS.-MON. Oct. 15-19 DANCE CAMP • Roaring Fork Social Dancers and instructor Ari Levitt present and adult dance camp in Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Learn swing, blues, waltz, fusion and other dances. For details, go to meetup.com (RFVdance) or e-mail jaeg1@comcast.net.
FRI.-SUN. Oct. 16-18 DANCE • The fourth annual Spectrum Dance
Festival returns with several performances and workshops at Thunder River Theatre and the Launchpad. Out-of-town companies, choreographers, dancers and instructors include Wild at Heart, Control Group productions, Rennie Harris and his Grass Roots Project, King Charles and more, plus local dancers including Co-Motion. Workshops are $15 each or three for $40; festival passes are available. Info: danceinitiative.org.
FRIDAY Oct. 16 DECK THE WALLS • The deadline to enter CCAH’s “Deck the Walls” holiday show is Oct. 16. The show runs Nov. 20 to Dec. 30 at the Launchpad. Info: 963-1680 or carbondalearts.com.
MONDAY Oct. 19 HOOPS • Practice for the Carbondale Middle School seventh grade basketball team starts at 3:30 p.m.; eight graders go from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Info: Jason Kreiling (seventh graders) at 384-5736; and Joe Markham (eighth graders) at 963-1109.
Ongoing CLAY CENTER • The Carbondale Clay Center presents new work by Bradley Walters and Paul McMullan through Oct. 30. KOROLOGOS GALLERY • The Korologos Gallery in downtown Basalt features Andy Taylor, Simon Winegar, Elizabeth Sandia, Marie Figge Wise and Dan Young through Oct. 9. CCAH • The Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities continues the show “CrossCur-
rents” at the Launchpad. The show features Lynette O’Kane, Meris Barreto and Wendy Prellwitz, and continues through Nov. 7. The Launchpad is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Info: carbondalearts.com. MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat with Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy.
Park Pavilion Shelter
Construction Cost Proposal Bids Town of Carbondale is soliciting construction cost proposal bids to build a 26 ft. x 20 ft. wood timber park pavilion shelter structure to be located over the community bread oven in Bonnie Fischer Park behind the Third Street Center. Project plans and architectural construction drawings of the park pavilion shelter structure are available at Carbondale Town Hall to assist in determining material and labor needs to Bid the construction of this project.
Submit construction cost bid proposals to the Town of Carbondale, 511 Colorado Ave. Carbondale, CO 81623 marked as
“Park Structure Proposal”
no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Questions on this project should be directed to Jeff Jackel at (970) 319-8049.
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 11
Community Briefs Watch out for phone scam The most recent scam in GarďŹ eld County involves individuals using pre-paid burner phones and representing themselves as a GarďŹ eld County Deputy. “The caller then goes on to explain that a family member has one or more warrants out for their arrest and/or accumulated ďŹ nes that need to be paid immediately,â€? said a GarďŹ eld County Sheriff’s OfďŹ ce press release. The caller will then try to extract a credit card number or pre-paid card number from the victim with an associated dollar amount. “When done they hang up the phone and drain the account or card you gave them of all funds,â€? the article continued. “Law enforcement ofďŹ cers will not call you and warn you about an outstanding warrant that is about to be served, nor will they ask you for the payment of ďŹ nes through the phone or in person.â€? The sheriff’s ofďŹ ce reminds the public that if someone calls you in a supposedly ofďŹ cial capacity, you have the right to get their information. “Return their call only after verifying the validity of the number or by using an alternative number obtained from a different source.â€?
This just in Water for Carbondale’s irrigation ditch system will be turned off on Oct. 15, according to a press release.
Orchard going Shoe Box again The Orchard will again serve as a collection point for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box drive, according to a press release. Residents are asked to pack shoe boxes with gifts (including small toys, personal care items such as hair brushes, hair accessories, toothbrushes as well as school supplies and hard candy) that will be distributed to children in more than 100 coun-
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Please submit your community briefs to news@soprissun.com by noon on Monday.
tries who are suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty. In 2014, the Roaring Fork Valley contributed more than 700 shoe boxes to the Operation Christmas Child effort. This year organizers have set a goal to collect 1,000 shoe boxes from area families, kids, churches, schools and civic organizations. “Operation Christmas Child is a unique opportunity to do something as simple as packing a shoe box that will have a lasting impact on a child a world away,� said Rosalind Fowler, Operation Christmas Child drop-off site coordinator. Operation Christmas Child kicks off Oct. 25, with packing and wrapping events slated for November and December. To register shoe box gifts and learn what country they were sent to, go to samaritanspurse.org. For more information, call Kara Montie at 963-8773 ext. 104.
BLM temporarily closes recreation site The BLM is closing the South Canyon recreation site west of Glenwood Springs to begin construction on a boat ramp extension, according to a press release. The site will reopen in time for the spring ďŹ shing season. Users oating South Canyon before the launch reopens can take out downstream at Tibbett’s Landing (accessible only on eastbound I-70) or New Castle. For more information on the improvements and the closure, contact Greg Wolfgang at 876-9068.
Highway 133 blasting canceled CDOT blasting on Highway 133 and road-closure near Paonia Reservoir has been canceled for the foreseeable future, according a press release. Motorists can still expect 20-minute trafďŹ c delays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.
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The GarďŹ eld County library board has named Sandi Kister as interim director of the six-county library district. She earned a master’s degree in Library and Information Services at the University of Rhode Island. Most recently, Kister served on the GarďŹ eld County library board and stepped down from that position to take the interim director post. The position came open when former library director Amelia Shelley left to take over as executive director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District in Washington. "We are fortunate to have someone who has intimate knowledge of our work, and is also qualiďŹ ed to take the reins. We feel very comfortable with the transition," said library board member Marilee Rippy. Courtesy photo
00 Ă…` T`ZLSĂ„L Ă…` T`ZLSĂ„L AIRPORT OUT OF ASPEN/PITKIN COUNTY AIRPOR T [ From From the heart of Pitkin County to the heart of Moscow. Moscow. ] WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPEAR IN AN AD? TAKE TAKE A SELFIE AT AT THE AIRPOR AIRPORTT OR YOUR DESTINA DESTINATION ATION AND USE #ASPENAIRPOR #ASPENAIRPORTSELFIE TSELFIE SUBMIT YOUR SELFIE ON TWITTER @FLYASPENAIRPORT @FL FLLY YASPENAIRPORT
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Art classes choose Best of Show sculpture Sopris Sun Staff Report Art classes from all Carbondale schools were the judges for Best of Show honors in the 2015-2016 Art aRound Town exhibit. And the winner is … “Purgatory/China” by Washington, D.C. artist Matthew Duffy, according to a press release. This was the first year students were jurors for the Carbondale Public Arts Commission show, “ … It was a most exciting and enlightening process” said a CPAC spokeswoman. Some classes created their own criteria for choosing a Best of Show winner, and lengthy discussions ensued. Matt Haugh’s students at Colorado Rocky Mountain School considered the artistic appeal and quality of execution as well as the commercial appeal of each piece. Susan Annabel reported that her fourth grade class at Crystal River Elementary voted using a rubric that included craftsmanship, creativity and aesthetic beauty. Annabel said, “ … it was a wonderful cross-curriculum opportunity, not just critiquing art but also using math through the rubric, geography by learning how to read maps and follow directions, and physical education by walking to each of the 14 sculptures.” Duffy’s “Purgatory/China” is made of recycled cast glass and stainless steel, and stands more than six-feet tall. When asked about the process and concept behind his sculpture, Duffy replied, “While experimenting with a glass casting process that involves making relief images in plaster dust, then melting float glass in a kiln to fill the void, I realized the resulting details were incredible. If you were to cast an impression of your hand you could read all the fingerprints in the resulting glass. At the time I was going through a spiritual growth, and contemplating the concept of purgatory. What is purgatory? Is it a repository for lost souls? I created the glass faces from an acupuncture model, as a collection of ‘lost souls.’ In the detail, one can see the ‘chi’ points in the face. The ancient Chinese had a strong association between chi, the soul and water. With the glass representing water, I thought all of the elements fit nicely together.” The sculpture features 60 identical faces of clear or frosted glass, set within the piece’s frame, and back lit by alternating colors of blue, purple, orange and red. “Purgatory/China” is located outside,
at the northeast corner of the Carbondale Branch Library. Duffy said he found his love of sculpture by taking a steel sculpture class while majoring in architecture at the University of Maryland. He left architecture to concentrate full time on the arts, receiving his MFA at Goldsmith College at the University of London in 2009. He currently teaches art at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. After class he creates public sculptures and fabricates steel structures for other artists. The Best of Show award brings with it a check for $1,000.
“I created the glass faces from an acupuncture model, as a collection of ‘lost souls.’” Matthew Duff Washington, D.C. artist The Carbondale Public Arts Commission organizes the Art aRound Town show every year. A “call” is sent out to national artists each fall. Submissions typically range from 60-90 pieces of outdoor sculpture. CPAC members then review and select 14 pieces for display from June through May each year. The Carbondale Public Arts Commission was created in 1999 to promote all forms of visual art for the cultural enhancement and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. The Art aRound Town program was initiated by CPAC in 2002 to bring sculpture to the streets of Carbondale. The first exhibition featured five sculptures from local artists and the exhibition has grown in national stature each year. In addition to the annual rotating exhibit, CPAC has also acquired 26 sculptures for a permanent Carbondale collection. These acquisitions have come from artist donations, individual purchases that were later donated to the town, as well as CPAC purchasing sculptures through the town’s 1 Percent for the Arts program, which was initiated in 2003. Photos by Lynn Burton
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 13
GarCo and CRMS move toward CR106 solution By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer
The contentious debate over the fate of County Road 106, which bisects the campus of Colorado Rocky Mountain School near Carbondale, moved a step further toward resolution this week. The Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Monday maintained their 2-1 split over how County Road 106 bisects the campus of Colorado Rocky Mountain School, this time voting to forego certain proposals from the school, accept others, and urge the school to move ahead before winter hits to create a clearly marked bike/pedestrian pathway along the historic road right-of-way. As things now stand, the pathway will consist of an eight-foot bike and hike lane, marked out by painted lines on the western side of the existing pavement for about 300 feet along the southern portion of its route through the school. At that point, the path is to switch to the eastern side of the road and change to a softpaved trail, separate from the roadway, following the rest of the historic right-of-way alongside a soccer field to where it connects with Dolores Way at the northern edge of the campus. The new arrangement eliminates “removable” fencing that Garfield County Commissioner John Martin proposed across the road about midway through the campus, to block motorized traffic (other than emergency vehicles) from traveling from one end
of campus to the other yet still allow bikes and pedestrians through. School officials, objecting to the fence, argued that it would force some of the school’s traffic to use a southern gated connection onto Dolores Way, which would further congest the already problematic intersection of Dolores Way and Highway 133. Elimination of that fence line also means the school will not need to modify its existing permit from the county, which allows the school to use the old road as an internal driveway for school-related traffic, and for other school-related purposes. In agreeing to forget about the fence, the BOCC also agreed that the point where the bike path crossed from the west side to the east side of the road could be repositioned a short distance further south, to avoid a patch of planned new parking spaces next to a new administration building at the southern end of the campus. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky cast the sole dissenting vote, after his fellow commissioners Martin and Mike Samson together rejected the school’s request that the historic road be closed to bicyclists and pedestrians at night. Jankovsky said he was fine with the new trail alignment and other details, but that he agreed with school officials that the public trail through campus poses safety and security hazards, and that it should not be open to the public at night. Martin countered, “No nighttime closure. It’s a right-of-way,” explaining that the county
does not close any of its other roads at night to accommodate adjacent landowners, and that the security issue is something the school should deal with rather than the county.
“No nighttime closure. It’s a right-of-way.” John Martin Garfield County Commissioner
“The security issue falls upon the user outside of that right-of-way,” Martin said, meaning the school’s private grounds on either side of the road. He suggested that, if the school truly is worried about security and student safety, it should hire a security firm. Other changes to the planned trail — which has been in the works since last spring due to public demands that the historic roadway remain open to non-motorized, public traffic despite school efforts to close off public access entirely — include a realignment and soft-surface paving of the trail at the southern end of campus where it passes through a gap in the school’s perimeter fencing and intersects with County Road 108. The soft-surface paving of that portion, as well as the trail alongside the soccer fields at the other end of campus, is to be
accomplished using limestone “fines” that are crushed into a sturdier surface than gravel or dirt. The road, which dates back to the late 1800s and once was the main road between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, was closed to motorized traffic in 1979, when the BOCC at the time agreed that having the motorized public driving through the campus was not a good idea, but opted out of vacating the road and turning the underlying land over to the school. Instead, the BOCC at the time voted to keep the old road open to bicyclists and hikers, but also to permit the school to make use of some of the road’s 60-foot right-ofway for parking and other internal uses. The school has twice tried to convince the county to vacate the roadway through campus and turn the underlying property back over to the school’s control, but those appeals have been rebuffed. At the meeting this week, the commissioners indicated that they would continue to review the costs of the planned trail work, to determine how much the county might be willing to pay toward getting the trail finished. Initial estimates put the cost at approximately $39,000. CRMS is a private, non-profit boarding school founded in 1953, located just west of Carbondale along the Crystal River, with a student body of approximately 170 and a teaching staff of about 40, according to information posted online.
Non-profit highlight
ROTARY CLUB OF CARBONDALE
THE MANAUS FUND
has a pretty darn good library
October with Carbondale Rotary
about education, both schooling and community organizing. Located in its space in Suite 9 in the round room of the Third Street Center.
You are welcome to come in and browse or chat.
The catalog is available at
www.manausfund.org then click on Manaus library.
ROTARY CORNER
2015-16 Rotary International Theme
“Be a Gift to the World” “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”
RI President K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran of Sri Lanka Carbondale Rotary Practicing Service Above Self, at home and around the world …
We meet at 6:45 a.m. each Wednesday at the Carbondale Firehouse. Visitors are welcome to join us for our weekly program and learn about the wonderful work Rotary does in the community and around the world.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER PROGRAMS: Oct. 7 – Robert Baker, Heritage Park Care Center Oct. 14 – Bob Delavan, Rotary District Governor Oct. 21 – Clare Foss, MD, Aspen Dermatology, skin cancer in the Roaring Fork Valley Oct. 28 – Club Meeting Nov. 4 – Darrell, Munsell, Crystal Valley Historical Perspective
Carbondale Rotary members recently placed memorial plaques honoring longtime Rotarians Ron Robertson and Don Voltmer at the Evergreen Cemetery Memorial Wall in Carbondale. Rotarians gathered for a special commemoration on Sept. 30. Nov. 11 – Veterans Day special honors Nov. 18 – Matt Hamilton, Aspen Skiing Co. Sustainability Director, “What SkiCo is doing for sustainability”
For program suggestions, contact Rick Carlson, rccarlson@gmail.com
For membership and other Rotary Club information, visit www.rotarycarbondale.org
14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
Best-selling author speaks at library
E-Board PSAs om page 3
Sopris Sun Staff Report were also named Amazon top-five science It’s time for One Book, One Town when books of the year. The “Disappearing Spoon” the Carbondale Branch Library encourages was a runner-up for the Royal Society of Loneveryone to read the same book and meet don’s Book of the Year award for 2010. “The their neighbor. The 12th anViolinist’s Thumb” was nominual One Book, One Town nated for the 2013 PEN/Wilson selection is “The Disappearaward for literary science writing Spoon” by Sam Kean. ing. His work has appeared in The author will be visiting the New York Times magazine, Roaring Fork High School Psychology Today, Slate, Mental and Carbondale Middle Floss and other publications, and School when he is here next he has been featured on National week. On Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., Public Radio’s “Radiolab,” “All Kean will give a presentation Things Considered” and “Fresh on his book at the CarbonAir.” He has given well over 100 dale Branch Library. A retalks on his books, in five differception and book signing ent countries and in two-dozen Sam Kean will follow at 8 p.m. states. “It is impossible to pick a book that The One Book, One Town local event everyone will like, but Sam’s might be the ex- started with the Friends of the Gordon ception,” said Mollie Roache, Carbondale Cooper Library and has brought in authors Library Branch Manager. “We picked ‘The such as Helen Thorpe, Jonathan Waterman, Disappearing Spoon’ partly because it is so Greg Mortenson, and last year’s author different from last year. This book has sci- Franny Billingsley. The event is sponsored by ence, history, humor and biography all rolled the Carbondale Branch Library book sale and into one. It is a book with wide appeal and would not be possible without the help of volthe author is both funny and interesting.” unteers Mary Clement and Sidney Poncelet, Kean is the New York Times bestselling who dedicate numerous hours each week to author of “The Tale of the Dueling Neuro- make it the best little book store in town. surgeons,” “The Disappearing Spoon” and For more information about this event, con“The Violinist’s Thumb.” His first two books tact the Carbondale Branch Library at 963-2889.
The E-Board is encouraging residents to “mulch” their leaves using a lawnmower, leaving the pulverized leaves in place as fertilizer for next year’s lawn, rather than sending bags full of leaves to the local landfills. According to Farwell, that will both save the town money and reduce the amount of material sent to the landfills each year. That idea was behind the “Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em” informational table at the E-Board’s recent Eco-Learning Day, on Oct. 3, where the board teamed up with the Carbondale Ace Hardware store to offer discounts on the price of a special “mulching” lawnmower blade. Farwell told The Sopris Sun that Sustainable Settings and Wild Mountain Seeds, two alternative farming operations located just south of Carbondale, both are interested in taking some or all of the leaves the town collects, for use as fertilizer on the farms’ fields. The E-Board is planning to pay for the PSA announcement from the proceeds of the town’s “bag ban fund,” which contains money from the sale of paper grocery bags at the City Market grocery store. The store sells the paper bags under the provisions of the town’s 2012 ban on plastic shopping bags at the grocer.
Letters continued om page 2 Thanks,
Colin Laird Director Third Street Center
Yes on 3B Dear Editor: As a teacher, a parent and a community member of Glenwood Springs, I ask all voters within the Roaring Fork School District to vote yes on 3B this fall. I attended Glenwood Springs Elementary School as a child, my children attend school in this community, and I am honored to teach at GSES. While the school where I teach has certainly received a lot of attention for the huge rebuild we will receive when the bond passes, today I’d like to share with you the importance of the middle school renovations in all three communities. My daughters just completed three years at Glenwood Springs Middle School. Like Carbondale and Basalt middle schools, GSMS is one of the oldest unchanged buildings in the
district. It is dim and cramped with narrow, dark hallways. In addition, some classes are held in modular buildings that are in need of repairs. Educational research shows that adolescents, particularly at the middle school age, benefit from learning spaces that are built for community, designed with a “heart” at their center. The bond will allow for all three of our middle schools to have modest redesigns that optimize the environment for the adolescent brain. In addition, all three will receive energy efficiency upgrades. Now, my daughters attend Glenwood Springs High School. In the bond, the high school will receive a remodeled performance art space. Basalt High School, along with support from the Basalt community, plans to build a small performance space as it currently has no auditorium. Carbondale Community School will receive a learning lab. We are fortunate to live in a country where public education is available for all children. I believe we, as a community, have a responsibility to provide not only high
No on 3B Dear Editor: Two years ago we voted for the school bond issue. I am thinking just why are we going to vote for more money for upgrading the schools again? When you can show me that the upgrade and building of new schools in the district made a huge difference overall of the students learning in this district, where as a new coat of paint may brighten the rooms and some smaller renovations would be helpful, then I can’t see voting for a new school. Let’s see some rise in over all averages of
the learning of the students in this District. Perhaps 50 percent and/or 75 percent? Just questioning the need for more schools: the old Carbondale Union High School in Carbondale never fell down. The upgrade in that era is still in use. A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference if what you are saying is true, I don’t believe we need any more new schools. I am voting for the fire district and I only have so much money to spend. I am really tired of the same old “we can’t retain good teachers” so I guess your lumping the teachers of yesteryear as not being sufficient to have turned out a lot of well rounded, educated students? Just something to think about. Our economy has not turned around either sufficiently for me to consider this school bond Issue. It’s kind of like the old saying: You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Brand new schools are not the answer. Jane Spaulding Carbondale
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quality instruction, but also facilities that are safe and optimal for learning. These are just some of the projects our communities will receive that will greatly enhance education for our students, if the bond is passed. Please join me in voting YES on 3B this fall. Kim Worline Glenwood Springs
The ordinance was passed as a way of keeping the ubiquitous plastic bags out of local landfills and encouraging consumers to bring reusable cloth or other recyclable bags to the store for transporting their groceries home. The store is required to charge a bagfee of 25-cents per paper bag, per customer, at the cash register. The store is then permitted to keep 25 percent of the bag fee, up to a maximum amount of $100 per month, to cover the store’s costs in administering the program, with the balance to be turned over to the town, according to the ordinance. As of Sept. 29, according to Town Finance Director Renae Gustine, the bagban fund contained $28,970. The fund has seen annual collections of $7,766 in 2012; $14,515 in 2013; $16,663 in 2014; and $8,539 so far in 2015, Gustine reported. Although the bag-ban currently is limited to City Market, there has been discussion of extending it to other businesses in Carbondale, although the town has yet to take that step. According to Town Clerk Cathy Derby, the PSA proposal has been sent to the Carbondale Board of Trustees for consideration, and is likely to be part of the trustees’ meeting agenda for Oct. 13.
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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 15
EAT. SHOP. PLAY. CONFLUENCE OF RIVERS, RECREATION & CULTURE
Element by Westin now accepting reservations Sopris Sun Staff Report
Denver Park Meadows as the brand’s second property in Colorado. The Element hotel in Willits Town Center is set to open in early De“This hotel will redefine the extended-stay and short-term stay cember and is now accepting holiday and 2016 reservations, according experience in the Aspen area by offering guests an affordable, smart to a press release. and sustainable lodging with close proximity to world-class ski reHotel owners, Denver-based Silverwest Hotels, LLC, have also welsorts and outdoor recreation,” said Welly. comed hotel and resort management executive Michael Welly as the Element Basalt-Aspen will boast light-filled studios as well as onenew general manager. Welly most recently worked for Cairn Consulting bedroom suites featuring a fluid design of modular furniture, swivelas president, offering evaluations and advice regarding hotel and resort ing flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and operations, staff performance, annual business plans, capital plans and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer fully equipped project management. kitchens and the signature Heavenly® Bed. Bathrooms will feature Prior to Cairn Consulting, Welly worked for the Longboat Key Club a rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Other brand signatures will in& Resort in Sarasota, Fla., as managing director where he managed the clude a 24-hour fitness center, salt-water pool and outdoor hot tub, resort and its 2,000+-member golf and tennis club, oversaw operations and 626-square-foot meeting room with modular furnishings that of the 221-suite condominium hotel, including its six restaurants, 45 can be customized to meet any business or social need. Guests can Michael Welly holes of golf, 38 tennis courts, spa, and deep water marina. Welly also borrow bikes. There is also complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the worked for Wyndham International in Dallas as a senior vice president, hotel, the hotel’s signature RISE breakfast, RELAX evening recepResort & Luxury Operations. tion, and salon bar carts stocked with premium wines and beers, soft drinks and “With more than 35 years of experience running top-tier chains and resorts, Welly snacks, available after hours. is highly qualified to oversee the running of Basalt’s newest hotel,” said Ed Mace, partElement is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. ner in Silverwest Hotels, developer of the hotel. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) The newly constructed Element Basalt-Aspen offers 113 rooms. It will join Element certification for high-performance buildings.
Coffee with the
Mayor
Residential Weekend Leaf Drop
On Wednesday mornings, after a Tuesday night Council meeting, visit in an informal setting with Basalt Mayor Jacque Whitsitt for coffee and a chat at Saxy’s Coffee Shop, 104 Midland Avenue.
Residents can bring leaves, brush and sticks to the following locations for free disposal:
October 10 -11 • Arbaney Park October 17-18 • Willits Soccer & Rugby Field October 24-25 • Southside Soccer Field Oct. 31-Nov. 1 • Arbaney Park November 7-8 • Willits Soccer & Rugby Field 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, make comments and catch up on what’s happening in Basalt. All issues and topics welcome. Go to
The next Coffee with the Mayor is:
www.basalt.net
Wednesday, 0DUPCFS at 8 a.m.
for more information
NOW ACCEPTING FALL CLOTHING ITEMS FOR CONSIGNMENT Also accepting furniture, jewelry, art, housewares and gift items SPIRIT LIFTING CONSIGNMENT
970-927-4384 144 Midland Avenue, Basalt, Colorado 81621
Scoops
Ice Cream
Open daily Basalt’s Only Ice Cream Shop
16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
Please DO NOT drop off yard waste outside of these times. Separate leaves from twigs and branches before bringing to the receiving site. Brush and stick trailer also provided.
Counties’ emergency managers a breed apart Over this past year I’ve had the privilege dinate anything requested that might help reof working with some of the best incident store civilized order during a community crisis. Barry Smith was also involved in the and event management teams in our region. Teams whose members are always prepar- preparation and successful conclusion of two emergency drills this summer: ing for disasters, praying none “Gypsum Fire Exercise” and come on their watch. Vail’s “Hot Potato,” both simuLaw enforcement officers and lated wildfires. other official emergency responFires and floods happen ders train for the unexpected, where we live. Being prepared never quite knowing the full and for these and other major inimmediate potential for whatever cidents is what emergency disaster they will encounter. managers do. What better way to be preChris Bornholdt is Garfield pared when chaos comes callCounty’s emergency manager. ing — not if — than doing your Chris was instrumental in professional best during some bringing Federal Emergency high-profile event where thouManagement Agency (FEMA) sands are gathered. By Bill Kight trainers to Rifle this spring. Such was the preparation that went into planning and executing pub- Why? To better prepare emergency responlic safety preparedness by Eagle County ders and responsible officials for negotiating Emergency Manager Barry Smith during the the political incident management dance, 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships in how it will be danced and for whom as well as to what tune. February in Vail and Beaver Creek. It’s all part of getting the disaster reMost people may not know that counties have emergency managers who respond in a sponse job done. Pitkin County has Valerie Macdonald as multitude of ways when disaster’s dragon is its emergency manager. She works with the raining havoc in their communities. County emergency managers are a spe- county incident management team I have cial breed that live and breathe their jobs, had the privilege of working with as a liaison officer for the Forest Service. often times 24/7. Local teams like this are the first line of deTheir job is to help bring things back to as close to normal as possible with minimal fense in what is called an All Risk incident management team. Put simply, that means they will damage to lives and property. And when necessary they also establish take on any and everything coming at them. Such was their response the last five years Emergency Operations Centers to help coor-
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of the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race when their team was ready to deal with any and all emergency incidents that might happen during the event. They were monitoring and managing every race-related detail to make the race as safe for the public as possible. What makes this special team click is the inclusiveness they operate under, a willingness to bring whoever is needed into their circle of influence to better serve the public. They do it with a healthy dose of humor, knowing how important it is to poke fun at and with one another. That’s how you lessen the stress inherent in emergency situations. And when these emergency managers are not busy planning for or being in a real big deal incident they write grants to fund their needs because county budgets are like all government budgets in the times we live in — sparse. To be successful, emergency managers are first and foremost public servants. In Pitkin and Garfield counties they work directly for the sheriff helping keep us safe. Whenever I train with or serve with one of these individuals or teams I am reminded how fortunate we are to live where we do, lucky to have such professionals whose job it is to serve us in times of need. Bill Kight has over 30 years of experience in land management agencies including emergency and crisis management. He shares his thoughts and concerns with Sopris Sun readers monthly.
Cop Shop continued om page 4
MONDAY, Sept. 28: At 9:26 p.m. a resident of the Latigo Loop neighborhood reported that some time the night before someone had siphoned gas out of a vehicle that was parked on the street. Approximately 12 gallons was taken. MONDAY, Sept. 28: At 9:53 p.m. police were sent to a location on Harris Drive about a report of an intruder in the home. The occupant was awakened by a flashlight in the home, yelled at the intruder to leave, and the intruder left. Police searched the home and found no intruder, and nothing apparently had been stolen. TUESDAY, Sept. 28: At 9:52 p.m. police covered a hit and run accident on North 11th Street, in which a 2005 Volvo was hit in the left front quarter panel. MONDAY, Oct. 5: A 37-year-old Crystal River Valley resident was charged in Pitkin County court with illegally growing marijuana, illegally making cannabis concentrate at his home, possession with intent to distribute marijuana or marijuana derivatives, as well as child abuse for allegedly allowing his five-year-old daughter to be inside the house where the alleged activities were taking place. The charges came on Monday, based on an arrest on Aug. 27 by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.
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BONFIRE COFFEE 433 Main Street, Carbondale Thurs, October 15 • 8:30 - 9:30am In these informal sessions John will show you layout plans for a new terminal and runway reconfiguration and explain the what’s new with the Environmental Assessment now underway. Join us to learn more about the future of YOUR airport, to ask questions and share your thoughts.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF YOUR AIRPORT! THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 17
Mayor reflects on Carbondale past and present (Editor’s note: This column was edited for length and style. To read the complete version, check out volume two of “Memoirs of a River … Up the Crystal.”) By Charlotte Graham Sopris Sun History Columnist What an honor when invited by The Sopris Sun to begin a monthly local history column based on my recently released volume two of “Memoirs of a River … Up the Crystal.” Yes, Carbondale, it’s ALL about You! From the humble beginnings of the original settler’s site, south of town, known as Sustainable Settings now, all the way north to the rest of Carbondale’s zip code boundaries: Satank and Missouri Heights. The indexes in both volumes of “Memoirs of a River … Up the Crystal” attest to my desire to honor people and places of this incredible valley. This monthly column will highlight features of different chapters therein. It was tough to decide which chapter to feature first. After all, there is a wonderful love story by a 101-year-old local, Guido Bagett, that came about because of Potato Days, the 106th of which was celebrated on Sept. 26. Then, there is a fun story in Memoirs, Volume One titled “Hunting in the High Country,” featuring a number of local hunters’ stories, such as octogenarian Wallace Parker and fifth generation local Cole Wilson. No question — all here love living life in ‘Bonedale. So, who’s in charge of leading this town’s future? Volume two begins with tossing a hat called “Mayor’s” in the ring. Volume two, Chapter 16 tells us who all in these past 100-plus years has had a hand in guiding the growth of this beloved little village. Let’s jump to the last first!
A high bar Current mayor, Stacey Bernot a fifth generation local, was elected major in 2010 as the first woman and at 32, the youngest mayor in Carbondale’s history. Stacey started out her governing life as a trustee for a term and a half, and before that served on the Parks and Recreation Commission. In 1999, when she and her husband moved back to Carbondale, they felt the town had not prioritized youth. On the Master Plan, one of the things everyone wanted was a recreation center but it was too expensive, and other projects were easier to do. Stacey went to trustees to prioritize youth sports and she was frustrated that “they were out of touch with lower or middle-class younger families.” Her husband got tired of hearing her complaining. “So he said ‘Stop complaining, do something,’” Stacey laughed, ruefully. Stacey ran for trustee in the next election. There were five seats open and 11 people were running. It was a busy election. Stacey received the fourth highest number of votes and received a partial term of two years. She ran at 25 and was 26 when sworn in. John Stroud of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent newspaper ran a piece about how she was the youngest trustee in Carbondale history. “I think I hit a pretty high bar,” Stacey laughed. Two years later, Stacey ran and retained her seat. By then, her predecessor, Mayor Michael (Hassig) was term-limited and she had had a good working relationship with him. “Enough people encouraged me to run for mayor. It came up a 80 to 20 split vote-wise,” Stacey said. “I am in my fifth year now, 11 years as an official.” She wasn’t challenged in spring of 2014 when she came up for reelection. “I tended to stay away from that (political) area. But I felt my voice and perspective were needed. The town is going to change. But there seemed to be a new mentality that wasn’t reflective of our historical Carbondale or how I was raised, and as to how to balance those needs. “It is expensive to live here. To me, part of our fabric is not about the buildings but the people. And if we can‘t keep a spectrum of young and old, families and single people, we lose that community spirit. Not that I have control on maintaining it, but that is what I base a lot of my decisions on as to how can we keep progressing but also make sure we don’t go too far to where people are priced out or we have only one kind of person in Carbondale.”
Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot (right) and John Foulkrod (left) discuss local affairs in the Pour House on election night 2010. Photo by Jane Bachrach I ask, “You must have a cast iron constitution … For a younger person to come in and guide, how did you do it?” Stacey replied, “Over time, I’ve proved to myself that it’s not always about age. I have gained a lot of perspective from life circumstances and it just is what it is. I have two kids and am appreciative of a supportive husband and family. We have been youth coaches and I work full-time, and a lot of stuff is going on and yet, part of giving back, if we’re not involved [with community] what are we doing?” Stacey continued, “Because even though we are grinding away trying to make it work here, the very reason we are doing it is to make it better for our kids and other folks in Carbondale. And if we are not [giving back] now, when? Another time? It’s not guaranteed. I know a lot of folks wait until they have the time to give back, but there’s no guarantee in that so I’d rather just make it part of my family’s routine.”
The plan Stacey is term-limited and in 2018, her term is up. I asked her, “What’s your plan, Madam Mayor?” She answered, “Interesting thing is it is never about me or about my colleagues. It is about being able to respond to issues in a thoughtful manner for the benefit and greater good of Carbondale and also trying to look ahead. Like this road project (the roundabout at Highway 133 and Main Street). It was an almost 20-year planning process to secure the money for the $11 million rebuild. To see it happen and to be part of it is great because it sets the commercial and safety aspects … and sets us up on good footing for the next 10-20 years. “A lot of times you don’t get to see until you are out of office what happens, but with our new comprehensive plan, and that we are redoing our land use code, I think this will help alleviate some of the tumultuous meetings we had in the past at the end of the recession. That’s the challenge … with a lot of the newcomers that come to town, I am very welcoming of newcomers or else I wouldn’t be here, but folks need to understand what Carbondale is all about and what our resources are, where we don’t have amenities or service levels of Glenwood or Aspen because we don’t have the budget for it.” She continued, “The biggest challenge to me is holding on to that true fabric of Carbondale but to also guide us on how we’re going to grow. Because we have to allow for folks to come in, I have a hard time with the self-appointed gatekeepers that have moved here, and it usually happens around the 15-year mark, where folks say ‘OK, close the gate behind me.’ No one has done that to them and they have no right. I’m
18 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015
fifth generation here. I have no right to do that to people. But we can have some smart growth. And it’s a challenge.” As for change, Stacey said, “ … there’s been good and bad. I try to be as open as possible but there are times, [I tell people,] ‘NO, we aren’t going to have that. You have that in California, New Jersey, Texas, from wherever you came but we’re not going to have that here and you’re going to have to deal with it.’ Granted, there are some things we can improve upon, absolutely. “One of the things we’re trying to build on is recreation, tourism, arts and creative outlets, and if we can get a foothold in health care (alternative or mainstream) we are able to supplement what Carbondale is doing for our economy. We are not going to be a retail shopping center, or a large employer for service industry, or manufacturing, because of land prices. We are focusing on tourism and offshoot businesses like a small manufacturing for specialty products.” Stacey explained that Carbondale needs to build on the town’s assets of being close to Aspen and Glenwood Springs “ … and being a base camp … I am also torn, to be honest with you, because all the marketing and getting Carbondale on the map does have unexpected consequences. And sometimes I do cringe. For instance, there’s been a debate over the years about a Carbondale sign on the highway and I cringe because I think ‘enough people have found Carbondale’ but there again, our business owners need more business to make it all work, there’s always that balance. It’s really hard. If we only cater to one type of group, that’s what we’re left with.” These and a million more decisions and questions face the next mayor of Carbondale. Interesting to see what history serves up the next five, 10 or 20 years from now, not such a long time, eh? Especially when I realize how the entire Northern Ute culture and population in this valley was wiped out in less than 20 years. Let’s all place our predictions and bets in a tube sock and meet here at the town elections of 2025! After 18 years as full-time residents of Marble and Redstone, Charlotte and her husband, Doug Whitney, are setting compass for ports unknown “other than south and warm” in their full-time motoring coach lifestyle this winter, working on their music and writing goals in between, seeking out natural hot springs. For more information about “Memoirs of a River…Up the Crystal” volumes one and two, go to: www.charlotte-graham.com. If all the stories therein are true, they, too shall return to their favorite heart space, the Crystal River/Roaring Fork Valley!
Evergreen Events and the Pitkin  County LandďŹ ll shoveled up free compost for folks who brought  their bucket, tub or other large container to last Saturday’s Hazardous Waste Day. The event included booths from the CMC Sustainability Studies program, CORE, the town’s E-board and Ace hard ware. Photo by Lynn Burton
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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • OCTOBER 8-14, 2015 • 19
Distinguished Visiting Artist:
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Oct. 2, 2015 – Jan. 3, 2016 The Jerome M. Westheimer, Sr. and Wanda Otey Westheimer Distinguished Visiting Artist Chair
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art The University of Oklahoma 555 Elm Ave. Norman, OK 73019–3003 fjjma.ou.edu James Surls U.S. (b.1943) Walking Through the Thorn Vine [detail], 2014 Bronze and stainless steel 135 x 133 x 64 in.
For questions and accommodations on the basis of disability, please call (405) 325-4938. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo