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Volume 7, Number 42 | November 26, 2015

Observers called it sort of a flash mob on Monday. Carbondale Chamber of Commerce staffers (left to right) Annie Glatz, Cailen Hollenback and Andrea Stewart made the rounds spreading the word, plus tote bags and related materials, about Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. Here they are dropping in on Mary Bos at Mary’s Main Street Spirits. A Small Business Saturday highlight in Carbondale will be a selfie contest. For details, read on. Photo by Lynn Burton

Shop Small this season Sopris Sun Staff Report

Loyalty

As a “Neighborhood Champion” of Small Business Saturday, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce is actively supporting its 475 members and local businesses with a Shop Small campaign, launching to coincide with American Express’ nationwide Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28.

In the run-up to Small Business Saturday, the Carbondale Chamber is distributing Shop Small merchandise and encouraging members to promote the retail day now considered to be one of the biggest retail spending weekends for consumers, according to a press release. Chamber members include boutiques, restaurants, studios, galleries and outfitters across Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration:

Pays P ay ays UIYDOHUR FRP U IYDOHUR FRP

• Small businesses generate two of every three net new jobs and deliver essential goods and services to America’s communities 365 days a year; • In 2014, approximately 88 million consumers “Shopped Small” on Small Business Saturday; • More than 77 percent of consumers said Small Business Saturday inspires them to shop small through the year and not just for the holidays; • Approximately 66 percent of consumers say the main reason they support small businesses is because of their contributions to the community.

“Small Business Saturday is a great reminder that shopSHOP SMALL page 15

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Carbondale Commentary The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.

A New Path takes to the road for e Sun One thing most of you, our readers, probably don’t know is that Lynn Burton, The Sopris Sun’s editor for the past four years, has been doing double duty as our faithful delivery person. After working for days to put out each issue of the paper, which goes to press around 5 p.m. every Wednesday, he’s been getting up at the crack of dawn on Thursdays — and pre-crack in the winter months — to start the route. Delivery entails driving to the Colorado Mountain News Media office in Gypsum, loading 4,500 copies of The Sun in one’s vehicle, and then distributing those papers at over 75 locations from West Glenwood to Aspen. Lynn’s been doing that week-in-and-week-out, sun, rain, or snow, 52 weeks a year.

A key goal of The Sun’s board for this year has been to find a way to hire a dedicated delivery person without reducing the editor’s overall compensation. We want our editor to have the chance to exhale and replenish his well before diving back into production mode for the next week’s paper. We believe this will be good for the paper and the community, as well as for Lynn. Editing the paper requires creativity and focus, both of which benefit from not being “on” all the time.

Thanks to a new partnership with fellow Third Street Center tenant, A New Path, and financial support from you, our readers, that goal is now, finally, becoming a reality.

he says. “We aim to help our guys be both sober and happy, because when life itself is fulfilling, there is far less pull to start using again.”

That’s where the partnership with The Sun comes in. We recently contracted with a member of A New Path’s staff, Cordes Symmes, to oversee the delivery route each week. A New Path is providing their van, with The Sun covering a portion of fuel and maintenance costs. Cordes will be the regular driver, but he will be accompanied by anywhere from one to four recovery clients, who will assist him with the route in conjunction with the community service component of A New Path’s program.

“Part of what comes with addiction is stigma and shame,” says Bate. “A lot of guys, their most recent history is their addiction story. So giving them an opportunity where not only are they able to get back into the community, back into life, but where they feel, ‘I have worth, I have value’ is a great thing. They feel that with someone like The Sopris Sun, not only am I gaining job skills, but I’m really providing a service. I’m helping the community, I’m helping the paper, and I’m helping all the community members that benefit from the paper.”

OPINION

A Win-Win A New Path offers transitional sober living for men in recovery from drugs or alcohol. Founded in 2010 in Carbondale, A New Path serves individuals who have gotten through the initial stabilization phase of recovery but are still in need of support. Services provided include life skills education, job skills, and life coaching to work on what executive director Stefan Bate refers to as “The Now What?” Traditionally, alcohol and drug addiction has been looked at as an acute disease. But, says Bate, it needs to be treated as a chronic condition. “Once people achieve 18 months sober, the chance of a relapse plummets,”

We should all truly celebrate. Two years after the governor’s executive order, we finally have a Colorado Water Plan that lays out measurable objectives and metrics to help guide us toward a secure water future.

In the face of future challenges that include population growth and climate change, Colorado’s firstever water plan is a call to action to all Coloradans to work collaboratively to ensure we protect our scarce water resources by using and developing our water supplies in the most efficient and responsible manner possible.

We applaud those who contributed to this plan, including those involved with the critical work of the basin roundtables.

But, we are far from done.

The success of this plan will depend upon all of us — West Slope, East Slope, agriculture, municipalities and environmentalists — putting aside our individual interests, and coming together to do what’s best for Colorado. This plan must be implemented.

If not, all the years of effort would be wasted.

It won’t be easy. Each of us must be willing to change. We must be willing to experiment, try new ideas and even risk failure. But

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.

You Can Help, Too Your tax-deductible donations to The Sopris Sun will help us sustain this important partnership. (Each week of delivery services costs us $200.) Please include The Sun in your end-of-year giving by becoming a regular SunScriber. It’s easy to do online at www.soprissun.com or by mailing a check to PO Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

Thank you … and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Sopris Sun!

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

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

NOTE: More information about A New Path, which recently opened a second office in Marin County, California, is available at www.anewpath.com.

Call to action is key to Colorado Water Plan

By Eric Kuhn Jim Lochhead

Sincerest thanks to our

we can learn from our mistakes and find ideas and projects that will help prepare us for an uncertain future. It will require leadership, collaboration and energy. It may be uncomfortable at times, and everyone isn’t going to get everything they want. But if we’re willing to roll up our sleeves, we can realize much of what is proposed in this plan, from conservation to land use planning to storage.

The stakes are high. What makes Colorado great are our cities, agricultural economies, recreational opportunities and environment. What will keep Colorado great depends upon what we do today.

The Colorado Water Plan is a road map to help us all prepare for an uncertain climate future and pending water shortages. If we don’t prepare, we only have ourselves to blame for the cost to our citizens, to our economy, to our environment and to our future. So the question we now must ask is: Do we collaborate and implement this plan, or do we do nothing and hope tomorrow takes care of itself? Here’s to a move in the right direction.

OPINION

Eric Kuhn is general manager the Colorado River District. Jim Lochhead is CEO/Manager of Denver Water.

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: 970-379-0214 AdSales@soprissun.com Reporter: John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Colin Laird • Cliff Colia • Diana Alcantara 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

The Sopris Sun, Inc. • P.O. Box 399 520 S. Third Street #36 Carbondale, CO 81623

970-510-3003

Correction A name in the Nov. 12 Sopris Sun about ASCENT Private Air Club included an incorrectly spelled name. The correct spelling is Tom Filippini.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

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Trustees sort through 58 funding requests from non-profits

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Carbondale’s elected leaders have pared down a list of community funding requests from 58 non-profit organizations, totaling more than $190,000, to just under $62,000 in grants that range from close to what was requested to a small fraction of what the organizations wanted.

The annual requests for funding from Carbondale and other municipal and county governments was once known in government and media circles as the “beg-a-thon,” in which representatives of the organizations showed up at meetings to make their case in person before the government bodies.

Carbondale now follows a funding methodology that gives the Board of Trustees a maximum amount, or “funding cap,” for the combined requests, which the trustees must not exceed.

The trustees review the overall requests and, after mulling over the available funding and the nature of the organizations seeking financial assistance, come up with each individual trustee's idea as to which requests should receive funding, and how much.

“It’s all up to the trustees,” said Town Manager Jay Harrington, explaining that town staff arrive at the funding cap (it is $62,000 this year) after going through the budget proposed for the coming year, to determine how much income the town will have and how much of it can be used as grants to the non-profits.

The differences between the request and the amount granted can vary widely from organization to organization.

For example, the Advocate Safe House, an organization that provides shelter and assistance to battered spouses, this year asked for $2,000 and received $1,750, or more than 85 percent of the requested amount.

And Senior Matters, aimed at meeting the needs of senior citizens in the area, received $3,110 compared to its request for $4,000.

The same was true for many other organizations, which generally received perhaps half or more of what they asked for, approximately.

But a number of the community organizations did not fare nearly as well as others.

Garfield County Libraries, which asked for $2,000, got a mere $85, while the Blue Lake Pre-school asked for $10,000 and received $40, and the Thompson Divide Coalition asked for $10,000 and got $1,250.

Harrington noted that some organizations, such as the Thompson Divide Coalition, have gotten support from the town in other ways, and Mayor Stacey Bernot remarked that TDC director Zane Kessler was not actually expecting to get the full amount.

the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, a total of $26,500, which includes the town's annual membership payment of $20,000 and $6,500 in funding toward the costs of putting on the monthly First Friday celebrations. The Chamber had asked for $30,000, including money to put out a red carpet to a bicycle race or tour of some kind. But during discussions at a recent work session the trustees pointed out that no such event has yet been planned and declined to provide funding for something that might not come to pass.

At the same time as the above grants were decided, Harrington said, there were 11 requests from organizations that once were funded by the town’s own departments but now are listed under the general fund (which primarily covers day-to-day operational expenses), mainly to reduce the drain on the special recreation fund that is fed by a special sales tax and is meant to cover the ongoing repayment of bonds that paid for construction of the recreation center.

These requests, too, were subdivided into

categories, — special events, and recreation — and each grant was the same amount as the request.

5Point Film Festival The largest special event request, for $8,000, came from the 5Point Film Festival, and during the work session Trustee John Hoffmann said the event is old enough and well enough established that “it seems like it should be able to pay its own way by now.”

But others on the board, including Mayor Stacey Bernot and Trustee Frosty Merriott, countered that the event brings people to town every year.

“That's an economic driver for that weekend,” said Merriott, adding that it brings in “lots of folks” and is a significant factor in fostering high name-recognition among potential tourists to the area.

“I’d hate to see us lose this over a couple thousand bucks,” Merriott concluded, expressing the concern that if the town seemed not to be supportive to the 5Point event it

might move somewhere else.

Others in the special events category were: KDNK Blues and BBQ ($1,500), the Mt. Sopris Music Festival ($1,500), Festival de las Americas ($1,500), and Concerts In The Park ($7,000).

In the recreational category, the biggest grant ($5,000) went to the Mt. Sopris Nordic Council, which operates the Spring Gulch Cross-Country ski area, followed by $2,000 for the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, and $1,500 for the Red Hill Council, which manages the Red Hill trails north of town.

The Board of Trustees was scheduled to take a final look at the community requests list on Nov. 24 night (too late for the Sopris Sun’s early news deadline due to the Thanksgiving holiday), and perhaps make further changes to the list of grants.

Town Clerk Cathy Derby said that once the 2016 budget is formally adopted, the list of community requests and grants will be posted on the town website (www.carbondalegov.org) for public review.

Five categories The community requests were split into five separate categories: • Health & Human Services, with a total of $59,500 in requests and $21,785 in grants; • Education, with $48,850 in requests and $15,285 in grants; • Environmental, $21,500 in requests, versus $7,190 in grants; • Cultural, $58,800 versus $16,810; • Regional Collaboration, $1,500 versus $905.

The largest of the cultural grants went to

This is probably not the kind of turkey you’ll be chowing down on when Thanksgiving Day arrives. You’ll be cutting up domesticated turkeys, while the wild ones shown here will be going about their normal day. One bit of wild turkey trivia: the birds have about 5,500 feathers, with males sporting 18 tail feathers that compose their fan. Photo by Jane “Gobble Gobble” Bachrach THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015 • 3

Town Briefs

Crews removing gravesite decorations Sopris Sun Staff Report Crews began removing gravesite decorations at Evergreen Cemetery that are not in compliance with the town’s recently revised code that governs cemetery decorations, improvements and alterations, according to Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to staff, trustees and the public. (Editor’s note: Among the new code’s provisions, decorations are limited to a three-square-foot area, and all decorations that are not expressly permitted are prohibited.)

In other news from Harrington’s report: The final Alohacross Cyclocross bike races will take place on Thanksgiving Day at the North Face Bike Park and Roaring Fork High School. The event is organized

by Aloha Mountain Cyclery, which rents the park for the race series.

The Carbondale streets department was kept busy last week, sanding streets after the Friday snow storm, cleaning up leaves and branches at the Leaf Days dumpsters at 4th and Colorado, hanging Christmas lights, wreaths and garlands on trees and public buildings, and performing maintenance work on drainage facilities and street signs around town.

The Parks Department, over the same period, did trash removal and dog-waste chores, replaced a stair at Stairway Park,

installed a memorial bench on a cemetery path, installed two handicapped-accessible swings at Sopris and Miners park playgrounds, and prepared a cemetery plot at Evergreen Cemetery for a burial on Friday.

A contractor started work on a new outdoor classroom shelter adjacent to the Community Bread Oven at Bonnie Fischer Park, on the south side of the Third Street Center.

Officials moved closer to accomplishing another long-awaited town project – construction of a roof over a grandstand at the Gus Darien Riding Arena rodeo grounds on Catherine Store Road (County Road 100) east of town. Harrington reported that the “project manual” and a request for proposals (RFP) was set to be advertised this week for bids by interested contractors. The bid opening is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2016, Harrington wrote in his memo.

The town-sponsored Early Release youth activities program, intended to offer facilities at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. when local schools dismiss students earlier than usual, failed to draw participants in September and early November.

School officials have been contacted to see about finding ways to make students aware of the program and boost participation.

The recreation center’s sports pro-

grams are “picking up,” Harrington wrote, specifically mentioning adult basketball on Wednesday nights, adult soccer on Friday nights and adult pickleball on Saturday mornings.

A portion of the Carbondale Police Department attended a one-day STOPS training program, focusing on traffic and pedestrian contacts and “the safest methods to conduct them,” Harrington reported. The training involved the use of a laser-sensitive vest, worn by the participating officers, which delivers a shock to the vest belt when an officer is hit by a laser fired by another officer, and other “realistic training” exercises, according to the memo. The equipment was paid for by a grant, and is expected to be used in future training sessions, including an “active shooter” program.

The public works crew is expecting to receive a Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant this week, which will pay for replacement of some roofing sections, installing insulation and fire-proofing parts of the Nettle Creek water treatment facilities, as well as the installation of a fire hydrant on the South Nettle Creek raw-water line.

That line is meant to allow water to be drawn in the event of a wildland fire in the vicinity. The project cost is estimated at $236,306, Harrington reported.

Cop Shop From Nov. 12-19, Carbondale police officers and other agencies handled181 calls for service. During this period, officers investigated the following cases of note:

FRIDAY, Nov. 13: At 12:58 p.m. officers took a report about a vehicle trespass on Meadowood Drive. The case is closed pending any new leads.

FRIDAY, Nov. 13: At 4:08 p.m. police arrested an 18-year-old man at the intersection of North 7th and Main streets on charges of providing cigarettes to a minor, illegal possession of alcohol or drugs and obstructing a police officer or fireman in the course of doing his duty.

SATURDAY, Nov. 14: At 5:40 p.m. police were called to a store about a shoplifting case, and arrested a juvenile on a charge of petty theft.

SUNDAY, Nov. 15: At 2:30 p.m. police stopped a vehicle in the Sopris Shopping Center for speeding, and after investigating arrested the driver on charges of drunk driving.

MONDAY, Nov. 16 & TUESDAY, Nov. 17: Police were informed of two hit and run accidents, one at the corner of South 8th St. and Sopris Avenue, the other at the City Market parking lot. The cases are under investigation.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18: At 3:14 p.m. Garfield County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a citizen complaint about two older dogs running at large on Lariat Lane near Carbondale. The dogs were caught and taken to an area animal shelter to be housed.

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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

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Please note

The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District has continued the public hearing for its 2016 budget to Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include: review of the 2015 division objectives (Carl Smith), preview of the 2016 division objectives (Carl Smith) and discussion of proposed budget (Ron Leach). The hearing takes place at the Carbondale ďŹ re station on Meadowood Drive. For more information, call 963-2491.

Meanwhile, over in Glenwood Springs, the RE-1 school board holds a special meeting on Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m. to review the next steps in upcoming construction projects after voters approved a $122 million bond issue on Nov. 3. Meeting topics will include project/oversight committees, affordable housing projects and bond issue construction. The meeting takes place at the RE-1 headquarters on Grand Avenue.

Time to color The Sun The Sopris Sun is once again holding its “Spruce up the Sun� holiday cover design contest. This year’s theme is “Magical Moments.� The contest is open to grades pre-K through high school. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on Dec. 11. For details, please see the ad on page 11 or call 510-3003.

Swirbul signs letter of intent Basalt High School senior Hailey Swirbul has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Alaska-Anchorage, according a press release. Swirbul is a Nordic racer for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club. She is ranked third nationally in her age group, was most recently a member of the 2015 World Junior championship team, and a Rocky Mountain Select team member for 2015-2016.

Dicuollo in recognition of her project management expertise, design, marketing and human resource management skills, according to a press release. In the past year, Dicuollo has been lead project manager on several projects, including the Basalt River Restoration Project, and high-end single-family residential projects in and around Aspen. DHM Design is a 50-person employee-owned planning and landscape architecture ďŹ rm with ofďŹ ces in Denver, Carbondale and Durango in Colorado, and in Bozeman, Montana and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information on DHM Design, visit dhmdesign.com.

Doctors at Roaring Fork Foot & Ankle Center recently completed a mobile foot and reconstructive course. Left to right are: Drs. Anna Moore, Charles Daniel, Laura Wetstine, Doulgas Goforth and John Field.

RFFAC is in the Midvalley Medical Center in Basalt. Courtesy photo

TRUU recognizes Johnson Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist Congregation honored Ashley Johnson with its TRUU Justice Hero award at the Third Street Center on Nov. 22. Working through a funding site, Johnson raised $25,000 for Planned Parenthood after the GarďŹ eld County commissioners cut the non-proďŹ t group’s funding for 2016. “TRUU gives this award in recognition of Ashley’s courage, commitment and compassion and because her action exempliďŹ es our ethical principles,â€? said a TRUU spokeswoman. “The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations afďŹ rms the worth and dignity of every person as well as the goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, and thus afďŹ rms the access to family planning and reproductive health care including birth control, ageappropriate comprehensive sexuality education and abortion.â€?

DHM C’dale names new associate DHM Design has announced the promotion of Jennifer

Sunlight chooses mini-mayor OfďŹ cials at Sunlight Mountain Resort have named fouryear-old Elijah Mattson as its ďŹ rst mini-mayor. “The move comes after Mattson launched a spirited campaign on social media, earning him a free season pass,â€? said a Sunlight spokesman. On Nov. 14, Matson took to Facebook and Twitter to soap-box for an early opening to the 2015-16 ski season. Within hours, his campaign – imploring ski area ofďŹ cials to open early – drew nearly 1,000 impressions. A source at Sunlight said after seeing the impact of Mattson’s campaign, resort ofďŹ cials huddled in the East Chamber of the Sunlight Lodge, noting that Matson had raised an underlying “point of great importance.â€? Days later the formation of the new executive ofďŹ ce was unanimously approved and Mattson became Sunlight’s ďŹ rst elected mini-mayor.

They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: Terra Salamida and Dan Richardson (Nov. 26); Richard Fuller and Paul Hassel (Nov. 28); Naomi Pulver (Nov. 29); Chuck Dorn (Nov. 30); Sadie Dickinson (Dec. 1); and Elizabeth Robinson, Ted Brochet, Paul Stover and Sierra Palmer (Dec. 2).

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“Bottle bombs� found at RVR

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Police on Monday discovered several devices, described as “bottle bombs,â€? at the ďŹ shing pond in River Valley Ranch. But while the devices might have caused harm if disturbed by an unsuspecting or curious bystander, according to Carbondale Police Off. Michael Zimmerman, that did not happen. “Fortunately, the items had been improperly mixed and did not explode, so ofďŹ cers were able to dispose of (them) properly,â€?

Zimmerman said in a press release.

The devices, according to Zimmerman, initially were noticed by an RVR resident who was near the pond when he saw one of the “bombs� at the edge of the slightly frozen body of water.

The resident approached to examine the item, concluded it might be hazardous and called police, Zimmerman told The Sopris Sun on Monday.

OfďŹ cers showed up to take control of the scene, and the plastic bottle ďŹ lled with cleaning solution and aluminum foil.

While inspecting the area, the ofďŹ cers noticed two other, similar plastic bottles on the thin ďŹ lm of ice that covered the pond, but were unable to retrieve them due to the thinness of the ice.

CPD Lt. Chris Wurtsmith said on Tuesday that the department had contacted the RVR Home Owners Association to alert residents about the remaining two devices.

And, Wurtsmith continued, ofďŹ cers will retrieve the remaining two bottles “when it's safe,â€? either after the ice has thickened enough to bear an ofďŹ cer’s weight, or a thaw sets in and melts the ice ďŹ lm away.

Zimmerman explained that the “bombs� are designed so that the cleaning solution reacts with pieces of foil, and the resultant expansive gasses are what make the “bomb� go off. “In a contained area, it can be pretty volatile,� Zimmerman said. “It can be a pretty violent reaction.�

In the case of the devices found at RVR, Zimmerman said, “It doesn’t appear to be in any malicious manner. It looks like people were just experimenting with the chemicals.�

The incident is under investigation, Zimmerman said. “If you run across any of these, make sure the bottle is not swelling or swollen as it could go off,� cautioned the department’s press release about the incident. “Attempting to relieve the pressure can cause the cleaner to spray out into your eyes and skin.

Contact the police department so it can be disposed of properly.�

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Alternative 4: What it does and doesn’t do On the ompson Divide

By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer Opponents of gas drilling in the Thompson Divide area rejoiced recently after the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed recently to cancel 18 oil and gas leases in the hotly contested back-country region, and significantly reduce the size of seven others.

But there remain 40 leases located within the original boundaries of the 225,000-acre region known as Thompson Divide, that were left in place under existing lease rules and stipulations, as well as the seven leases that were reduced in size, all of which still are open to exploration and mineral extraction.

And as part of its recent proposal, the BLM has predicted that under its proposed Alternative 4, which cancels some leases and shrinks others, those leases essentially left whole and developable could represent several hundred wells drilled over a total land mass of more than 50,000 acres.

Alternative 4 “We’re still going through the details, but our initial take is that if adopted, BLM’s proposal will protect tens of thousands of acres in the Thompson Divide from development, and ensure that pristine roadless lands aren’t bulldozed for new oil and gas development,” wrote attorney Peter Hart, a conservation activist who works with the Carbondale-

based non-profit group, Wilderness Workshop.

The BLM issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Nov. 18, detailing the agency’s analysis of 65 oil and gas leases in the Thompson Divide area, and the conclusion that 25 of those leases should be either canceled or modified.

The analysis was required following a court challenge roughly a decade ago to the issuance of the 65 leases over the past decade or so, which critics argued were illegal because insufficient environmental analysis had been done by the agency.

The BLM, in its initial decision-making process about the leases that started more than 10 years ago, had based its analysis on an EIS conducted by the U.S. Forest Service in 1993. The BLM’s Interior Board of Land Appeals agreed with critics of the leases, including Wilderness Workshop and other advocacy groups, that a more up-to-date analysis was needed, and ordered the BLM to start over with its own study.

The resulting DEIS, which is open for public comment until Jan. 8, offered five different alternative proposals, starting with Alternative 1, a “no action” plan that would have left all existing leases intact and unchanged, and ending with Alternative 5, which would have proposed that all 65 of the existing leases be canceled outright.

The “preferred alternative,” known as Alternative 4, calls for outright cancelation of 18 leases covering 28,400 acres, reduction in size of seven leases by about 4,500 acres, and only technical “stipulation” changes for the remaining 40 leases.

The BLM decision is in keeping with a 2014 Forest Plan issued by White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, which temporarily withdrew roughly 61,000 acres of the Thompson Divide area from further leasing considerations for the next 15 to 20 years. The BLM and the WRNF together oversee oil and gas leasing decisions affecting the White River district.

The leases that would be canceled or shrunk under the BLM’s draft EIS generally are located south of Sunlight Peak, west of Dry Park, Jerome Park and Assignation Ridge, and north of Coal Basin, and east of areas adjacent to Middle Thompson Park and Bald Mountain.

The seven leases to be reduced in size, according to the DEIS document, would either be offered at the new size to the companies holding the leases, or the companies could agree to allow the entire leases to be cancelled.

In the cases of lease cancelation, the BLM would refund lease payments and “bonus bids” paid by the companies when the leases originally were issued.

What’s possible elsewhere The remaining 40 leases left largely unaltered under Alternative 4 in the DEIS, amounting to approximately 52,000 acres, are to be found in the section of the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office district that stretches westward from the leases recommended for closure or modification.

All of the 40 leases are south of the Colorado River, except for one in Rio Blanco County near Meeker, and the area where the 39 other leases are located begins south of THOMPSON DIVIDE page 14

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY • SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES • NOVEMBER 28

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

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2015 Nominations: Nov. 28

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Send to Carbondale Chamber, P.O. Box 1645, Carbondale, CO, 81623 or Carbondale Chamber Gift Certificate participating businesses. andrea@carbondale.com

The nomination deadlineCONTEST is noonDETAILS: on Wednesday, October 2014 Take a selfie at the8,participating For more information or questions, please a member of the Nominating business oncontact Saturday, November 28 withCommittee: the SNAP &

SHARE heartAndrea located within the business. Post the selfie on Facebook, tag @ x Executive Director: Stewart, andrea@carbondale.com x President: Karen Eden, karen@imwaste.com CarbondaleChamberofCommerce, #ShopCarbondaleCO, #ShopSmall. Posts must be uploaded on x President Elect: Travis Stewart, Western Slope Materials, tjs@ws-materials.com Saturday, November 28, 2015. The more selfies posted, the more chances to win. No purchase x Secretary: Donni Cochran, AFLAC Donni Cochran Insurance Services, LLC, donnicochraninsurance@gmail.com necessary. Winner will be notified on Monday, November 30. PARTICIPATING BUSIx Treasurer: Heather Beach, Beach Resource Management, NESSES: Bonfire Coffee Co., Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities (CCAH), heather@beachresource.com Carbondale Clay Center, Crystal River Spas, Harmony Scott Jewelry Design, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Independence Run & Hike, lulubelle, Marble Distilling Co., Rachel’s Sewing, P.O. Box 1645; 520 S. Third Street, Suite 3 Ragged Mtn. Sports, True Nature Carbondale, CO Healing 81623 Arts.

Phone: (970) 963-1890

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

Community Briefs Medicare advice at TSC Senior Matters offers Medicare open enrollment information at the Third Street Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 2, according to a press release. State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselors, and trained RSVP volunteers, will be available for assistance. To schedule an appointment call Diane Johnson at 306-2587. Please bring your Medicare cards and a list of your prescription drugs, or the drug bottles. Medicare open enrollment ends Dec. 7.

Open enrollment is the time each fall when Medicare recipients can change their Medicare D prescription drug coverage.

BLM roads closing; TT gate closed Annual winter closures to motorized and mechanized vehicles will go into effect Dec. 1 on certain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado River Valley Field Office to protect critical big game winter range and prevent road damage, according to a press release. These seasonal gate closures occur annually from Dec. 1 to April 15 in Eagle County in the Hardscrabble area and several points in the Castle Peak area, in Garfield County at East Elk Creek, and in Pitkin County on Light Hill and the Crown. All of the areas continue to be open to non-motorized and non-mechanized recreation opportunities such

Please submit your community briefs to news@soprissun.com by noon on Monday.

as hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and skiing. In addition, the lower gate at Transfer Trail above Glenwood Springs was closed on Nov. 23 to maintain snow conditions for snowmobiling. For additional information or to report violations in these areas call 876-9000.

Driver safety classes offered RSVP and Colorado Mountain College offers four-hour driver safety classes in El Jebel and Glenwood Springs on Dec. 9. The class at the El Jebel Community Center (0020 Eagle County Dr.) takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the class at the CMC Blake Center in Glenwood Springs takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Topics include understanding a vehicle’s safety features and new vehicle technology. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. To register, call 384-8747 or RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteers Program).

Bustang rolls out Bustang, Colorado’s first-ever state-owned and operated bus system, started its Interstate 70 weekend service from Glenwood Springs to Denver on Nov. 21. The Colorado Department of Transportation’s new interregional express bus service offers one round trip on Saturdays and Sundays: Glenwood Springs to Denver in the morning, and Denver to Glenwood Springs in the late afternoon. “The weekend service is being added due to strong

Carbondale Middle School students delivered more than 900 items to LIFT-UP for its Holiday Food Drive on Nov. 18. The school-wide drive ran from Nov. 9-13 and was part of a CMS Crew class that stresses compassion and being thankful. The drive included a school dance, with the price of admission a can of food. That’s LIFT-UP/CMC coach Joe Markham to the right. Inset is Charlie Candela, stocking LIFT-UP shelves.

Photo by Wendy Hayden public demand and the route’s success on weekdays,” said a CDOT spokesman. This is second expansion of the service. CDOT began providing non-stop weekend service between Denver Union Station and Colorado State University in Fort Collins in September. For details, go to ridebustang.com. Bustang also operates on the I-25 corridor, connecting Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs. Each coach is equipped with restrooms, bike racks, free WiFi, power outlets and USB ports.

Valley Visual entries soon due The deadline to enter the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities’ 36th annual Valley Visual Art Show is 5 p.m. on Dec. 4. The show is open to all artists who are current CCAH members and live in the 816 Zip code. All work must be original, created in the past 12 months, and not previously shown at CCAH. Applications are available at carbondalearts.com or the Launchpad. The show opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 15.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY • SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES • NOVEMBER 28

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015 • 9

Community Calendar

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.

THURS.-FRI. Nov. 26-27

SAT.-SUN. Nov. 28-29

REDSTONE CASTLE • Special holiday tours of the Redstone Castle take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Visit the baronial home of Redstone’s founder, J.C. Osgood. Regular guided tours are offered through the winter at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets available on the day of the tour in Redstone. Info: 970-963-9656 or redstonecastle.us.

CHRISTMAS MARKET • The Orchard’s second annual Christmas Market takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

More than 20 vendors from around the Roaring Fork Valley will offer pottery, jewelry, knitted wares, baked goods, skin-care products, essential oils and more.

Santa will also put in an appearance. Booth space is available for $35; e-mail Melissa@theorchardlife.com.

Admission is free but a donation of nonperishable food for Lift-Up is encouraged.

The Orchard is located a 110 Snowmass Drive. Info: 963-8773 ext. 105.

THURSDAY Nov. 26 ROTARY • The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita at noon every Thursday (except today).

FRIDAY Nov. 27 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “Brooklynâ€? (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27Dec. 3. CLOSED Nov. 26.

LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars in the old part of the Dinkel Building presents veteran blues/jazz guitarist Walter Parks. Among other credits, Parks was lead guitarist for folk-icon Richie Havens, was one-half of the folk-duo The Nudes, and leader of the neo-Southern rock group Swamp Cabbage.

Info: 963-3340.

LIVE MUSIC • DJ Ras Gis spins roots rock reggae at Belly Up Aspen as opening act for Na’an Stop, a lively reggae/rock band from Boulder. DJ Ras Gis performs from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Win rasta swag. No cover.

SATURDAY Nov. 28 CLASSICAL MUSIC • The Carbondale Branch Library hosts classical pianist Amanda Gessler in a free recital at 3 p.m.

Gessler, known for her deeply insightful and emotionally charged performances across the United States and Europe, will play the music of Beethoven. Refreshments will be served. Info: 963-2889.

THEATRE • Sopris Theatre Company pres-

ents “The Real Inspector Hound� at the CMC Spring Valley campus starting tonight at 7 p.m. The play continues Dec. 3-5 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. “The Real Inspector Hound� follows theater critics Moon and Birdboot, who are swept into a comic spoof reminiscent of the whodunits mystery writer Agatha Christie popularized.

This play within a play draws on playwright Tom Stoppard’s experiences as a theater critic and is directed by G. Thomas Cochran.

Tickets are $18 for adults, and $13 for seniors, students, CMC faculty and staff. Info: coloradomtn.edu.

WEDNESDAY Dec. 2 SMALL BIZ PARTY • Today is the deadline to RSVP for the Orchard’s inaugural small business Christmas party, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12. Tickets are $65, with centerpieces starting at $5.

Bravo will cater the buffet dinner (bring your own beer or wine only). There’ll be a DJ and dancing.

VALLEY DIVAS • The Valley Divas women’s networking group meets at noon on the ďŹ rst Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Info: 704-1711.

ROTARY • The Rotary Club of Carbondale meets at the Carbondale ďŹ re station on Meadowood Drive at 6:45 a.m. Info: rotarycarbondale.org.

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

Further Out THURSDAY Dec. 3

CO-HOUSING • Carbondale Co-Housing holds Thursday night potluck discussions and planning sessions every other week from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Third Street Center. The next potluck is Dec. 17. “This is multi-generational living at its best,â€? said a Carbondale Co-Housing spokesman. Info: Philip Hone Williams at uiux@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY Dec. 4 ART OPENING • The Wyly Annex in Basalt opens Kris Cox’s show “Botanicus Mysteriousâ€? from 5 to 7 p.m.

ART MART • The Wyly Art Center opens its Holiday Art Mart from 4 to 7 p.m. The sale continues from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 5-6.

The mart includes an array of handmade goods from local artists and articans.

FRI.-SAT. Dec. 4-5 HOOPS • The Brenda Patch basketball tournament returns to Roaring Fork High School on Friday and Saturday. The girls play at 6 p.m. on Friday and the boys at 7:30 p.m.; on Saturday, the girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 p.m.

The visiting boys teams are: Eagle, Valley, Aspen and Rie; for the girls it’s Steamboat Springs, Aspen and Rie.

FRIDAY Dec. 4 LIGHT UP CARBONDALE • CCAH and others join forces for Light Up Carbondale. Santa will visit the Launchpad from 3 to 7 p.m., and also help light the trees on Main Street at 5 p.m.

CALENDAR page 11

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FREE FREE Community Community Meal Meal th, 2015 December 55, December 2015 11:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Faith Lutheran Church Highway 133 Faith 1340 Lutheran Church Carbondale, CO 1340 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO

Free Food, Music & Fun! areMusic welcome!

FreeAll Food, & Fun! All are welcome!

For more information: For more information: Call: (970) 510-5046 or Website: faithcarbondale.com

Call: (970) 510-5046 or Website: faithcarbondale.com

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

Community Calendar

continued from page 10

Further Out continued from page 10

Hot chocolate will be served at the Fourth Street Plaza starting at 5 p.m. SoL Theatre’s Muppets will be on hand to sing; CCAH’s Deck the Walls show will be open for shopping until 8 p.m. Info: carbondalearts.com or 963-1680.

VALLEY VISUAL ENTRIES • Entries for the 36th annual Valley Visual art show at the Launchpad are due by 5 p.m. The show is open to CCAH members who reside in the 816 Zip Code. Info: carbondalearts.com.

SATURDAY Dec. 5 CELEBRATION OF LIFE • A celebration of life will be held for Ro Mead from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Recreation Center. The community event will commemorate the extraordinary life and exceptional contribution Mead made to her beloved Carbondale for the past 40 years. Monetary contributions may be made to CCAH for a Ro Mead student scholarship

and/or the traveling art classroom bus named “Rosie Belle.” Info: 963-1680.

FREE FOOD • Faith Lutheran Church (1340 Highway 133) hosts a free community meal for the public from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There’ll also be some music and fun. Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale.com.

SATURDAY Dec. 12 WAY OF COMPASSION • Buddhist scholar Tenzin Priyadarshi leads a retreat on the “Eight Versus of Thought Transformation” at Carbondale Community School. Priyadarshi will be hosted by the Way of Compassion dharma center, a Buddhist center based at the Third Street Center. “We have been working to make this happen for two years, and are thrilled to see this come to fruition,” said Way of Compassion director John Bruna. Info: 510-0583 or wocdharmacenter.org.

Save the Date

Ongoing DECK THE WALLS • CCAH’s Deck the Walls holiday show at the Launchpad continues through Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, Thursdays until 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show features gift items from local artists and artisans, including candles, wool hats and gloves, silk scarves, blown glass, ceramic kitchen wares, one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments, cards and more. Info: carbondalearts.com or 963-1680.

CLAY CENTER • The Carbondale Clay Center’s annual Holiday Invitational Exhibition and Sale takes places through Dec. 18. Participating artists include: Alleghany Meadows, Angus Graham, Anne Goldberg, Brandon Whitacre, Bryan Hopkins, Chandra DeBuse, Collette Spears, Donie Hubbard, Doug Casebeer, Elina Jurado, Frank McGuirk, Ginny Beesley, HP Bloomer, John Cohorst, K Rhynus Cesark, Lisa Ellena, Liz Heller, Lori Dresner,

Matthew Eames, Mike Stumbras, Molly Berger, Peg Malloy, Rain Harris, Sandie Gardner, Staci DeBolt, Steven Colby, Susie Pentelow, Tyler Bopp and others. Items for sale include handmade cups, bowls, plates, vases, pitchers, cream and sugar sets, ceramic jewelry, small sculptures and more. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. with holiday weekend hours in December. The Holiday Invitational is sponsored by Prism Work Spaces (prismworkspaces.com). Info: 963-2529 or director@carbondaleclay.com.

MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat with Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy.

FREE MEDICAL ADVICE • Greg Feinsinger, M.D. offers free, one-hour consultations about prevention and treatment of disease through nutrition and other medical issues.

Info: 379-5718.

Hold the Presses

FRI.-SAT. Dec. 4-5 FILM FESTIVAL • The Thompson Divide Coalition hosts the Wild & Scenic film festival at the Crystal Theatre. The festival will feature conservation and adventure films that illustrate the Earth’s beauty, the challenges facing the planet and the work that communities around the world are doing to protect the areas they cherish. Tickets are available at salsalabs.com. Last year’s festival quickly sold out so another day has been added this year. Partners in the festival include CLIF Bar, Sierra Nevada, Patagonia and others.

FRIDAY Dec. 11 THEATRE • Thunder River Theatre Company opens a two week run of the comedy/drama “Bakersfield Mist” by Stephen Sachs. TRTC Associate Artistic Director Corey Simpson will direct the play, which features Trary Maddelone and Mike Monroney. Info: thunderrivertheatre.com or 963-8200.

CYCLOCROSS • Aloha Mountain Cyclery holds its final cyclocross races of the season at North Face Park, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the first race at 9:30 a.m. For details, go to alohamountaincyclery.com.

SANTA UPDATE • Santa Claus pulls up a chair at the Eagle County building in Crown Mountain park from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 5. Admission is free. Info: crownmtn.org or 963-6030.

HEART HEALTHY • Ardis Hoffman shows the film “Forks Over Knives” at the Third Street Center starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30. Admission is plant-based snack or light beverage to share.

Info: ardishoffman@gmail.com.

GAIA CEREMONY • The Roaring Fork Food Alliance (formerly the Roaring Fork Food Policy Council) hosts a gaia blessing ceremony at the True Nature Healing Arts fire pit from 4 to 4:45 p.m.

Break out the paints, sharpen your pencils, it’s time for the

DESIGN THE HOLIDAY COVER

“Spruce Up The Sun” ANNUAL HOLIDAY COVER DESIGN CONTEST This year’s theme is “MAGICAL MOMENTS.” The contest is open to grades pre-K through high school.

Artwork must be on 8 ½” x 11” paper, vertical orientation.

• • • •

You may use a variety of media, such as watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc.

Brighter colors are encouraged.

No glitter please.

Please keep designs 2-dimensional in order for us to scan the artwork for publication.

Let your imagination run wild and get those creative juices flowing.

Spruce Up the Sun contest winners receive the honor of having their artwork in the Dec. 17 issue which is distributed throughout the Roaring Fork Valley as well as being posted on the Sun’s website.

The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. FRIDAY, DEC. 11.

Drop them off at The Sopris Sun office in the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St., #36 – at the end of the “long hall”) or send them to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623, postmarked by Dec. 7. Please include your name, grade, age, and phone number ON THE BACK of your entry.

For more information, call The Sopris Sun at 510-3003.

THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015 • 11

EAT. SHOP. PLAY. CONFLUENCE OF RIVERS, RECREATION & CULTURE

Non-profit Health Link helps workers get in shape

By Steve Jundt If you are a person who has experienced the benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating, then this next revelation will come as no surprise to you: “Exercise in the workplace improves job performance.

In China, qigong is done in a group before work starts. In Malaysia, a quick oneto-two minutes of stretching and jumping is practiced. In India, yoga is performed before work. The bottom line — making time for employee exercise during the work day gives companies more efficient employees who work better together. Also, health care costs can be expected to go down for employees who exercise regularly at work, resulting in fewer sick days, better attendance and more cooperation between co-workers.

Enter Health Links.

Health Links is a non-profit initiative

Coffee with the

Mayor

spearheaded by health and safety experts at the Center for Health, Work and Environment within the Colorado School of Public Health. Health Links Colorado is here in Pitkin and Eagle County and its lead advisor is Amanda Wagner, who is ready to help you create a worksite wellness program.

Wagner was born and raised in Glenwood Springs, is a graduate from CU Boulder and currently lives in Carbondale. A lifelong athlete and lover of all things outdoors, she said she felt a need to get back to her passion of health, wellness and fitness that so inspired her youth.

In 2011, she helped create The Aspen Clinic, a one-stop health and wellness resource and education center in Basalt.

Wagner is committed to helping individuals find their own motivation and reasons for changing by helping them to identify and remove the obstacles to their health

Amanda Wagner and assist them in achieving successful outcomes. She realizes that to help individuals there needs to be a focus on the

“whole person,” which includes their work life.

“Organizations that foster health and safety at work have healthier, happier employees,” said Wagner, “and healthier bottom lines, too. It’s more than good business. It’s good business strategy.

Healthy and safe employees are the key to success for any business.”

Health Link’s mission is to simplify how worksite health and safety is accomplished. By doing so, Health Links is helping to build healthy, vibrant businesses and a stronger local economy. For small businesses that are just getting started, Health Links provides support through the KickStart program, which awards seed funding and provides free advise to qualified business for successfully building worksite wellness and safety programs.

For more on Health Links, e-mail Amanda.wagner@healthlinkscolorado.org.

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.

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.

The next Coffee with the Mayor is:

Wednesday, %FDFNCFS at 8 a.m.

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

NOW ACCEPTING WINTER CLOTHING ITEMS FOR CONSIGNMENT Also accepting furniture, jewelry, art, housewares and gift items SPIRIT LIFTING CONSIGNMENT

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Honkers head out on a recent afternoon at River Valley Ranch. They didn’t fly far, however. The flock landed about a seven-iron south of the 9th hole. Photo by Lynn Burton

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015 • 13

ompson Divide om page 8 New Castle and continues westward for about 40 miles, nearly all the way to the town of DeBeque — areas that already are host to numerous wells.

According to charts drawn up by the BLM, the closure of the 18 leases under Alternative 4 would withdraw from future development approximately 18 potential “vertical” or “directional” wells and perhaps one “horizontal” well, which could be drilled from perhaps three well pads.

That would leave the industry with the potential to drill perhaps 365 wells, which could descend from up to 55 drilling pads, including some level of development on the seven leases proposed for reduction in size but still open to drilling.

According to David Boyd, information officer for the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office, it is important for the public to understand that Alternative 4, if it is finally adopted, does not mean all those wells will be ready for drillers to go to work.

“We’re not approving or authorizing these at all,” Boyd said of the wells covered

by Alternative 4, and the amount of devel-

Workshop, noted that there would be some restrictions on development of the remaining 40 leases, such as “no surface occu-

“The leases that would be canceled or shrunk under the BLM’s draft EIS generally are located south of Sunlight Peak, west of Dry Park, Jerome Park and Assignation Ridge, and north of Coal Basin, and east of areas adjacent to Middle Thompson Park and Bald Mountain.” opment represented by the leases. “This is what we would anticipate for our analysis.

This is the most development, under this alternative, that we think is reasonable.”

Peter Hart, speaking for the Wilderness

pancy” rules for leases in areas that historically have been essentially roadless.

But, he conceded, the industry still can drill into the underground gas reserves below those leases using horizontal

drilling technology.

Hart said the WW, along with others advocating elimination of drilling in the 225,000-acre Thompson Divide, will continue to push for the permanent cancelation of all 65 leases addressed in the DEIS, based on the assessment that the leases were issued illegally in the first place.

“The best thing for the BLM to do would be to just cancel all these leases and start all over again,” Hart said, adding that the WW will be reaching out to its membership to write letters to that effect.

“This is certainly critical for the Thompson Divide, and also for roadless areas in the White River National Forest,” he remarked.

In its approach to a letters campaign, Hart said, “I think we’ll tell them (the BLM) they should take it one step further and clean the slate,” getting rid of the contested leases and moving on to other issues.

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.

RFSD bond issue thanks Dear Editor: Three weeks have passed since the successful conclusion of the Bond Together campaign. Over the coming years a number of critical infrastructure projects will be completed throughout the schools of the Roaring Fork School District. I want to extend my thanks to our community for their continued support of our schools. Winning any election is a team effort. No matter how small, your support was critical.

A special thanks to the following individuals who gave selflessly throughout the campaign — Debbie Bruell, Kimi Mischke, Doug Pratte, Colleen Barill, Rachel Schaefer, Carolyn Glasgow, Amelia Potvin, Audrey Hazleton, Julia Lang, Autumn Riviera,

Karl Hanlon, Diana Sirko, Rob Stein, Jeff Gatlin, Nikki Jost, Shannon Pelland, Suzanne Wolff, Jen Rupert, Ellen Freedman, Ted Busch, Jonathan Lowsky, Phil Gallegos, Tom Penzel, Paul Freeman, Bill Anuszewski, Sheryl Barto, Cortni O’Brien, Linda Fiske and Kara Williams. Without the boundless energy of this group and so many others we would not have secured our community’s support!

What are the next steps?

• Launch a section of the RFSD website dedicated to tracking progress on these projects and keeping you informed about opportunities for community input.

• Secure the services of a firm providing owner’s representative services. This firm will help the district develop a master

schedule for all projects and serve in a dayto-day management process throughout the duration of all projects (except housing-related projects).

• Conduct a special meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the District Office to review next steps including, but not limited to, composition of project/oversight committees, bond issue structure and affordable housing projects. This meeting is open to the public.

If you have any questions regarding next steps, do not hesitate to contact Shannon Pelland, assistant superintendent and CFO, (384-6003), or Jeff Gatlin, COO, (384-6024).

Matthew Hamilton Carbondale

The Garfield County commissioners recently recognized Joe Carpenter for his years of service as the county’s veterans’ service officer. Since 1999, his responsibilities have included assisting veterans in the Veterans Administration system, locating records and more. Carpenter is a Navy veteran. In October 1968, while deployed on the USS Essex, he was engaged in the recovery mission for the Apollo 7 spacecraft. From left to right: Tom Jankovsky, John Martin, Joe Carpenter and Mike Samson. Courtesy photo

14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015

Check your tread Dear Editor: The first snows have reached our valley floors and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to be prepared for winter driving conditions.

Check your tires for adequate tread depth.

Understand that summer highway tires, even with adequate tread depth, will not perform as well as snow tires during the winter months.

Be sure to check all your fluid levels, especially your windshield washer level, and the various oil levels and coolant levels so you minimize your chances of being stranded alongside the road.

Carry a blanket or two and a candle with matches or a lighter in your car at all times. If you are stranded alongside the road for an extended amount of time or need to assist another motorist, the blankets will be handy. If you are unable to keep the engine running, the heat from one candle will help to raise the temperature within your car until help arrives as well as provide light and comfort.

We are all responsible for each other’s safety when we sit in the driver’s seat.

You protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and the visitor from out of town when you act responsibly and prepare adequately.

Keep yourself and those around you safe this winter and we will all be ready to enjoy next spring and summer in Colorado as the seasons change.

Colorado has traction and chain law requirements for all motorists and types of vehicles. These requirements and fines apply to commercial drivers as well as the average citizen. They are designed to improve the health and safety of all travelers on Colorado highways this winter.

Lou Vallario Garfield County Sheriff

Shop Small om page 1 ping locally creates jobs, increases sales tax revenue and builds a sense of community,� said Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Director Andrea Stewart. “Carbondale has an amazingly diverse retail offering with its boutiques, studios and stores offering all kinds of products that could probably take care of your entire holiday shopping list.

To go with Small Business Saturday, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce is also hosting a Shop Small SelďŹ e contest.

Shoppers can enter to win a $150 gift certiďŹ cate by snapping a selďŹ e at participating businesses, posting it on Facebook, and tagging @CarbondaleChamberofCommerce. Be sure to also include the hash tags #ShopCarbondaleCO, #ShopSmall. Each selďŹ e taken at the participating businesses enters the snapper into a contest to win a $150 Carbondale Chamber Gift CertiďŹ cate, redeemable at any of Julie Ivansco, owner of Sawyer’s Closet, seems ready for Small Business Saturday after being paid a visit by the chamber’s Annie Glatz, Cailen Hollenback and Adrea Stewart.

Thanksgiving Day weekend is considered to be one of the biggest retail sales days of the year, and the chamber is encouraging folks to keep their shopping dollars at home this Christmas season. Photo by Lynn Burton

the Carbondale Chamber’s gift certiďŹ cate  participating businesses.Â

Here are the contest details.

Service Directory

Submit to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by Friday 12 p.m. Rates: $15 for 30 words, $20 for up to 50 words. Payment due be fore publication.* COME SAY HI. Aunt Pansy (sewing room kitty at Martin Vacuum) says that starting Nov. 27, there will be jewelry/craft items from three generations of Martin ladies. Free cookies. Please come.

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS for kids and teens to promote their businesses enterprises.

Thirty word maximum. Please send to unclassiďŹ ed@soprissun.com.  GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Rates start at $15. Email unclassiďŹ eds@soprissun.com. *Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 948-6563. Checks may be dropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailed to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 510-3003 for more info.

 Â

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Reba, the store-dog at Mary’s Main Street Spirits, shows her support for Small Business Saturday with a brand-new kerchief. If you’re out and about on Saturday, keep an eye out for promotional headgear (and don’t try to control your laughter). Photo by Lynn Burton

Take a selďŹ e at the participating business on Nov. 28, with the “Snap & Shareâ€? heart located in the business. Post the selďŹ e on Facebook, tag @CarbondaleChamberofCommerce, #ShopCarbondaleCO, #ShopSmall. Posts must be uploaded on Nov. 28.

The more selďŹ es posted, the more chances  necessary. The winto win. No purchase is ner will be notiďŹ ed on Nov. 30. The selďŹ e participating businesses are: • BonďŹ re Coffee Co.; • Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities (CCAH); • The Carbondale Clay Center; • Crystal River Spas; • Harmony Scott Jewelry Design;  Â

• Independence Run & Hike;  • lulubelle; • Marble Distilling Co.; • Rachel’s Sewing;  • Ragged Mtn. Sports; • True Nature Healing Arts.

American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, to help businesses increase customer trafďŹ c and promote local shopping. Since then, the promotion has grown. In 2011, the U.S. Senate ofďŹ cially recognized the day, with several states and governors signing up. In 2013, approximately 1,450 Neighborhood Champions signed up to promote local shopping. In 2014, the Small Business Consumer In that consumers sights survey estimated spent an estimated $14.3 billion at small, independent businesses during the Shop Small Saturday that year. Â

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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2, 2015 • 15

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