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community connector

k E or ID g F NS ri n I

Carbondale’s weekly

E a Ro AG MP RA

Because every town needs a park, a library and a newspaper

Volume 10, Number 46 | December 20, 2018

Spruce Up �e Sun This year’s winner is…

Each year, The Sopris Sun solicits original holiday cover designs from local youngsters. With over 60 entries, it was tough to choose a favorite, but we have to hand it to Simona Rand, a fourth grader at Crystal River Elementary School.

Her design not only embodies the theme of “Let It Snow” with a happy snowman and woodland creatures amid subtle flakes, it also provides us with a cheery indoor scene to warm the cockles of our hearts. Her vision, attention to detail and technique all speak of a tremendous artist now and to come.

But don’t stop there. Check out designs from other budding creatives on pages 6 and 7, and others we didn’t have room for at soprissun.com, and you’ll discover a wide array of images, from outdoor recreation to peaceful landscapes to snow globes. First-place winners in the age categories are: Ella Demerey (preK-first grade), Bella Frisbee (second grade), Perrin Jones (third grade), Edie O’Bryne and Addy Schoon (fourth grade), Charlie Fliss and Zack Bollock (fifth grade) and Anicka Ashcraft (sixth grade and up).

We’d like to thank everyone who sent in work, as well as the judges from our own staff and board as well as Carbondale Arts for tackling such a difficult decision.

For those contestants who would like to pick up their original artwork, stop by our office at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St., Suite 32).

Happy holidays!

Cover contest winner: Simona Rand, fourth grade student at Crystal River Elementary School

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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, email editor Will Grandbois at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.

What do you love?

(About The Sun, that is.)

By Barbara Dills Sopris Sun Board Member We hope that over the past nearly 10 years, you’ve found many things to love about this weekly paper, your paper. Perhaps you remember being especially moved by a spectacular cover photo, an article or column that provided a new perspective, a feature about a friend (or someone you might never have “met” otherwise) or a photo of a child or animal you adore. Maybe you particularly love The Sun for the tributes we write to those no longer with us or the stories we share with you about and by the young people who are our future.

Side-by-side with those memories, imagine all the stories that wouldn’t have been told, in photos or text, had The Sopris Sun never been born — and those that won’t be told if it should disappear in the future.

Don’t worry. Even as the days grow short, The Sun still shines. But with the recent launch of the new Basalt-based Roaring Fork Weekly Journal (whose stated plan is to “focus its creative efforts on the Mid-Valley areas of Basalt, Willits and El Jebel, with a side order of Carbondale and the Fryingpan Valley”), those of us closest to the paper you are reading feel cause for concern. How will a nonprofit newspaper — even one with a stellar decade-long track record like ours — fare next to one that can rely on corporate coffers in lean times?

The answer to that question lies largely with you, the greater Carbondale community. Advertising currently funds the majority of our budget, thanks to the loyalty of local businesses and organizations. (Please support them!) But a good 20 percent of our budget depends on your donations, and that percentage could very well go up as things evolve with the economy, and with the advent of a second weekly paper in the mid-valley.

In 2018, each copy of this paper (print and online) cost us an average of $1.20 to produce and distribute. In 2019, due in part to long overdue wage increases we are instituting for our devoted and talented staff, we anticipate that per copy cost to go up to $1.45.

We are counting on your love, now and in the future, to help The Sopris Sun continue to fulfill its mission. Every little bit helps — there is no such thing as a too-small donation. If you have the means to give more, we hope you will consider doing it now. (Those able to commit $1,000 or more a year can even become Honorary Publishers.) We are nearing the end of our fall fundraising campaign. With your help, we can meet or exceed our $10,000 end-of-year goal.

Hearty, holiday thanks from all of us at The Sopris Sun. PS: It’s super easy to give to The Sun online. Just go to soprissun.com and click the yellow “Donate” button in the upper left-hand corner of the home page. Or, if you prefer, you can send a check to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

OPINION

For whom the bell tolls

By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff I have a confession to make: I try to avoid City Market this time of year. You see, Carbondale is a small town filled with wonderful, big-hearted people who call it home. And many of those people whom I’ve come to adore volunteer their time to ring the bell to merrily solicit donations for the Salvation Army.

I’d rather go hungry than risk offending these friends and neighbors. I’d also rather go hungry than begrudgingly donate to an organization that has actively worked to undermine many of other friends’ and neighbors’ rights.

Don’t get me wrong: my money and I are pretty easily parted. If I have the means, I’m happy to donate whatever I have, whether it’s to a registered 501(c)3 or to the guy on the corner. And so what if said guy uses my money to buy himself a beer, I argue — heck, that’s probably how I was going to spend it anyway!

But when it comes to the aforementioned established organizations, I’ve found over the years that it pays to do your research. I used to always put a dollar into the Salvation Army collection… until I learned that the organization has some pretty fundamentalist roots and has actively lobbied against the LGTBQ+ community. While removed without comment, the organization as recently as 2013 linked to Harvest USA and Pure Life Ministries as resources to deal with “sex addiction” — both of which have been associated with “ex-gay” conversion therapy.

Now, there’s an entire page on the Salvation Army web-

site dedicated to the LGTBQ+ community, where the organization officially states “all people who come to us for services are offered assistance according to their need and our capacity to help.”

Sounds nice, right? But the cynic in me can’t help but wonder if such declarations are more of a public relations effort than sincere stance after a transgender woman in 2014 filed a complaint with Dallas Fair Housing against the charity, claiming she was allegedly turned away from a Salvation Army shelter because she hadn’t undergone surgery to “match” her gender identity.

I’ve heard nothing but lovely things about the local Salvation Army chapter. I personally know many bell ringers. I am sure that local donations executed by the local chapter go toward a lot of good in the community — I’m just also sure that there are a plethora of other organizations that don’t inspire ethical angst.

I know I’ve been beating up on Salvation Army. It’s not the only organization to which I’ve stopped giving. I used to make monthly donations to UNICEF — until GiveWell pointed out the massive charity’s lack of transparency regarding any of its projects, leading to some suspicions as to whether or not some promises are even being kept regarding the use of donors’ dollars. Unfortunately, the list goes on.

Moral of this column: ‘tis the season to give generously, if you can. Enjoy it; I certainly do. I think donations can and should be a highly personal decision, so make sure it’s one you know you can feel good about.

OPINION

Letters

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 500 words via email at news@soprissun.com or 250 words via snail mail at P.O. Box 399, Carbondale CO 81623. please include your name, town, and contact information. The deadline for submission is noon on Monday.

Let’s not sit idly by Dear Editor: Climate change: a phenomenon coursing through global conversation with forecasts of ‘impending doom’, and a possibility of failure to respond to a seemingly benign crisis. Just two degrees of global temperature rise, at best, offers an uncertain future for humanity. Climate change is equally feared and ignored in today’s world; the problem is often panned off to the next generation, addressed by few in the present. The issue, it seems, lies within the fear of facing it. As Dale Jamieson

says in his article A Life Worth Living: “but because no single action, person, industry...brings it about alone, no one feels wholly responsible.”

However, we are no longer left with the ability to exist in a state of blissful ignorance when it comes to climate change. We must be willing to learn what it means to face immediate change within our lives in order to move forward with a determined and thoughtful calm. We must be willing to take responsibility.

Wendell Berry famously says climate change is a “crisis of character”. In other

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

words, climate change is the result of a selfish humanity more concerned with our own well-being and privilege than world-betterment. We need to find how to coexist with the earth so as to preserve what sustains us. Historically, human nature has been to want more. We seek betterment in every aspect of our lives, and justify it by saying “bigger is better”. This mentality has proven to be our destruction: our own immoderation.

Our tendency to want for what we don’t need has been our downfall. To overcome LETTERS page 14

Sincerest thanks to our Honorary Publishers

for their generous, ongoing commitment of support.

Jim Calaway, Chair Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert – Habitat for Humanity RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank Peter Gilbert Umbrella Roofing, Inc. Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein Greg and Kathy Feinsinger Carolyn Nelson Jim Noyes Honorary Publishers commit to tax-deductible gifts of $1,000 or more annually. If you’d like to be included please contact Barbara Dills at barbara.dills@gmail.com or 963-5782.

Thank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support!

It truly takes a village to keep The Sun shining.

To inform, inspire and build community.

Donate online or by mail.

P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, CO 81623 520 S. Third Street #32 970-510-3003 www.soprissun.com Editor Will Grandbois • 970-510-0540 news@soprissun.com Advertising: Carol Fabian • 970-510-0246 adsales@soprissun.com Reporter: Megan Tackett Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie Delivery: Tom Sands Current Board Members board@soprissun.com Marilyn Murphy, President Raleigh Burleigh, Vice President Stacey Bernot, Secretary Barbara Dills, Treasurer Debbie Bruell • Cliff Colia Nicolette Toussaint • John Colson Linda Criswell • Klaus Kocher The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the second Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center.

Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell Send us your comments: feedback@soprissun.com The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a proud member of the Carbondale Creative District The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Donations to The Sun are fully tax deductible.

West slope liquor stores, craft brewers brace for end of 3.2 beer

By Justin Patrick Sopris Sun Correspondent The new year will mark the end of a lingering relic of the Prohibition days, that much-confounding “3.2” lowerstrength beer that has surely been the folly of many an unsuspecting tourist and recent transplant.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, grocery stores statewide that hold licenses to sell 3.2 beer will be able to sell full-strength beer.

The weaker brew has been out of production for months as grocery stores phase it off their shelves. Though all but a handful of grocery stores will not be allowed to sell wine and liquor in addition to beer, leaving those products in the domain of independently owned liquor stores, the change in the law has West Slope business owners and craft brewers speculating on what the future will hold.

“We will just have to roll with the punches for a while and see how much beer [grocery stores] actually sell,” said Kiko Peña, owner of Sopris Liquor and Wine in Carbondale. “It’s just business, but it’s going to affect a lot of people…

You got into the game knowing what the rules were, and then they got changed in the middle of the game,” he said.

Chase Engel, Head Brewer at Roaring Fork Beer Company, acknowledged that the scenario had been discussed as many as fifteen years ago and frequently came up in professional circles. He remembered it was on the agenda at his first Colorado Brewers Guild meeting when he entered the industry. While the Brewers Guild initially fought the proposal in the state legislature, now that the law has passed it appears to be working to maximize the benefit for the brewers it represents, which likely means working cooperatively with the major chains.

Under the new rules, an estimated 1,600 grocery stores statewide will be able to sell full-strength beer. West Slope grocery stores may not move as quickly towards adoption as Front Range stores, according to some predictions, but the changes will likely come eventually. Some Roaring Fork Valley grocery stores, such as the El Jebel City Market, have been reorganizing inventory and adding coolers in anticipation of stocking a variety of full-strength beer come 2019.

Peña is concerned with the rule change, claiming that small businesses, craft brewers, and local economies will all take a hit. “I’m scared that most of the craft breweries will close,” he said, because he thinks grocery stores will likely favor more recognizable, mainstream brands, and that with fewer independent stores, craft brewers will have a harder time moving their product. And he emphasized that supporting local liquor stores, as opposed to corporate chains, keeps dollars in the local economy. “When you shop at City Market, all those profits get shipped out…If more than 50 percent of [an independent liquor store’s] sales is beer,

Beginning Jan. 1, full strength beer will be offered in 1600 grocery stores statewide, including locally. How this will affect independent liquor stores and craft brewers remains to be seen. Photo by Will Grandbois you’re going to be in trouble,” he said. per experience for all consumers,” said Beth Maun, owner of Rhumba Girl Greg Junk, the Adult Beverage Category Liquors in Carbondale, is less troubled Manager for Kroger, whose job is to select by the change in law. “Competition is which craft beers will be carried in stores. good,” she said. Consumers will prob- “It’s going to increase the number of Colably buy some beer while shopping, she orado breweries we can represent in our acknowledged, “but I just don’t think stores. Our number one goal is to highlight it’s the end of the Colorado brewerworld.” She said ies,” he said. it may be a chance He said he has for liquor stores to already met with rethink their innumerous brewers ventory and busiacross the state in a ness model, which “speed dating” sesisn’t necessarily a sion to learn what bad thing. they could offer.

She suggested Junk promised that she may end up his door would be simply specializing open to any and all in craft beer, cedcraft brewers, and ing shelf space that that breaking into now contains Budgrocery stores could – Chase Engel weiser and Coors, represent an unprecand instead stock- Head Brewer at Roaring Fork Beer Company edented opportuing more locals’ nity for them. “We favorites. “That opens up far more shelf can look at a specific breweries’ sales, and space for me to put in all the craft beer if they’re doing well in a particular market, I want, and allow that to be the creative we can expand that brand into surroundoutlet. All the craft beers are going into ing stores,” he said. the liquor stores and that’s where people Engel was largely undecided about the will go to buy them… I think all the hand- effect the law would have on his sales, but wringing and gloom and doom is unwar- extolled the virtues of the status quo. “One ranted,” said Maun. of the reasons Colorado is such a great Kroger, the parent company of City state for craft beer is tied into the fact that Market and King Soopers, has said it will you can only have one person own one honor the legacy of craft beer in Colorado, liquor store… It’s much easier to create as have other major chains. “Ultimately it’s that connection when you’re dealing with going to grow the shopa smaller entity than a

“I think it’s going to be great for some breweries, and not great for others…

Our business is making and selling beer and we’re ready to do that with anyone.”

large corporate grocery store,” he said.

Engel fears that tourists and those unfamiliar with the craft market might be confused by the limited selection offered by grocery stores and not explore elsewhere. He is also worried that beer companies in other states, who previously regarded Colorado as an oversaturated market, will now want revamp their efforts by placing their product in grocery stores, thus further harming small Colorado brewers. However, Engel acknowledged that the issue is not cut and dried.

“I think it’s going to be great for some breweries, and not great for others…If I could get into grocery stores everywhere that would be a huge growth thing for us,” he said. “Our business is making and selling beer and we’re ready to do that with anyone.”

Dave Thibodeau, President/Co-founder at Ska Brewing in Durango, was similarly undecided about the law’s long-term effect on his beer sales. He was hopeful that his more well-known brewery with lauded favorites like True Blonde Ale and Modus Hoperandi would have a reasonable chance to expand its brand if offered in chains statewide. That could even lead to his beer being distributed to markets outside the state, he said, a prospect he appreciates. Ultimately, however, he admitted that he “has no idea what’s going to happen.”

Currently

$8,950 towards goal

Help us reach our year-end fundraising goal of $10,000 by Dec. 21, online at soprissun.com/donate or PO Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623 WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WINTER SOLSTICE

The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 3

Scuttlebutt

Send your scuttlebutt to news@soprissun.com.

Down under

Snowmassive

Folks who picked up a copy of Stan Badgett’s new book “Digging in the Dark” might have noticed a review on the back

by Sopris Sun Editor Will Grandbois. This wasn’t part of his official capacity, but we might as well share what he had to say: “These firsthand tales should be required reading for those of us who didn’t live through the mining days on the Western Slope. They are eye-opening, harrowing and absorbing.” More info at skbadgett.com.

More big names are headed to the Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) Labor Day Experience again in 2019 with early announcements including Sting, John Mayer, Luke Combs and Portugal The Man. Three-day Early Bird passes are on sale now at jazzaspensnowmass.org. Speaking of Snowmass Village, the town would like you to know that there’s plenty to do there other than skiing, including an alpine coaster, dog sled races, ice skating, arts at Anderson Ranch, indoor climbing at the Limelight and the Ice Age Discovery Center.

I believe I could fly The number of commercial flights at Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is expected to more than triple beginning this week, so travelers are encouraged to show up at least two hours before their flight to navigate longer lines. New this season is the TSA’s terminal curbside parking restriction, with unattended vehicles subject to immediate towing.

Flight information is always available on at aspenairport.com.

Park it Want to get your new year started off on the right foot? Visit cpw.state.co.us/firstdayhikes. Incidentally, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will increase its state parks entrance fees beginning Jan. 1 a result of the passage of Senate Bill 18-143. CPW will also begin offering a hangtag park pass option that will be tied to an individual instead of a vehicle.

Meanwhile, 15 more Colorado state parks will join reservation-only camping, including Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Yampa River, Ridgway and Highline Lake. Book your spot (before you leave cell service) at cpwshop.com or by calling 1-800-244-5613.

North poll The Mount Sopris Nordic Council is considering a variety of capital improvements at Spring Gulch and is inviting users to provide some direction through an online poll (tinyurl.com/springgulchsurvey). Possibilities include new trails, improvement of existing trails, a picnic shelter or a weather station.

Rise from the ranks State Senator Randy Baumgardner withstood attempts to oust him over charges of sexual misconduct, but has announced his retirement early next month. Rumor has it that Carbondale’s own Bob Rankin, currently a state representative, is in the running to replace him — we’ll keep you informed.

They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating another year of life this week include: Don Butterfield, Tyler Thompson, Terry Glasenap and Prema Trettin (Dec. 20); Paula Fothergill (Dec. 21); Jerry Pluger and Carolyn, Jackson and Jessica Hardin (Dec. 22); Bill Lamont (Dec. 23) Caitlin Causey and Emma Danciger (Dec. 26).

Sopris Sun Holiday Ad Deadlines Ad Deadline: Jan. 4 edition Please contact Carol Fabian 510-0246 AdSales@soprissun.com for your reservation

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, NOON Ad Reservation Deadline for the January 3 edition of The Sopris Sun

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• DONATE $30/month is less than $1/day to fight hunger!

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Thank you to our Holiday Food Gift Sponsors: J. Robert Young Foundation

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www.LIFTUP.org THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

The passing of Jim Calaway has inspired a wide array of tributes, from Habitat’s ad in this very paper to Colorado Mountain College’s digital sign to a group howl at Thunder River Theatre’s performances. The Two Rivers Unitarians sent out a statement, and Judith Olesen supplied us with some photos of his 82nd birthday event. The Sun itself hosted folks from several organizations on the radio last week (kdnk.org/post/ everything-under-sun-remembers-jim-calaway), and the station did a piece “in his own words.” We’re hoping to have a full feature after the obituary and closer to the memorial. In the meantime, the most personal touch we’ve heard about was Connie Calaway’s decision to follow through on a longstanding threat to hang his many pairs of colorful socks up in front of the house like prayer flags. Courtesy photos

Two new wells slated for Wolf Creek

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent A pair of new natural gas storage wells are going in at the Wolf Creek Storage Unit in the Thompson Creek area. Rocky Mountain Natural Gas (RMNG), a subsidiary of Black Hills Energy (BHE), submitted a proposal to the Bureau of Land Management in March, 2018 for the maintenance project.

Scott Fitzwilliams, White River National Forest supervisor, told The Sopris Sun that Black Hills Energy has two existing pads and wells that they need to re-do. “They need to re-drill these wells for storage,” he said.

The Wolf Creek Unit is a natural gas storage field for Rocky Mountain Natural Gas customers in the Roaring Fork Valley. BHE bought Source Gas, the previous owner of the Wolf Creek Field, in 2016. RMNG was part of the acquisition. According to a Dec. 10 memo to the Garfield County Commissioners from Garfield County Oil and Gas Liaison Kirby Wynn, RMNG proposes to drill two separate injection wells for natural gas storage, using directional drilling from two existing well pads.

The storage field is on Forest Service Road 300 in Pitkin County. Local roads are maintained by Pitkin County, which invited Garfield County to submit comments for the permitting process. At a recent meeting, Garfield County Commissioners cited concerns about haul routes. RMNG indicates that large drilling equipment would travel in and out of the area using Highway 82, Highway 133, Dry Park

Road, Four Mile Road and 300 Road.

Completion equipment would use I-70 Exit 114, Midland Avenue in Glenwood Springs, Four Mile Road and 300 Road.

It is unclear whether hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” will be necessary. Black Hills Energy Manager for Community Affairs, Carly West, said in an email to The Sun that they do not plan to frack the wells. “RMNG does not anticipate that hydraulic fracturing will be required.

The wells that are being replaced are injection and withdraw wells, through which odorized, pipeline-quality natural gas is injected into the storage field during off-peak times and withdrawn during the peak season...” She added in a phone interview that fracking is something the company initially looked at. “But, it’s not something we’re currently planning on.”

But, David Boyd, Public Information Officer for the BLM’s Colorado River Valley Field Office, said that fracking is used for this kind of well. “There’s no difference between drilling a well to get gas out of the ground and drilling a well to put gas into the ground,” he explained. “They still need to drill down to the formation.

They need to frack it to create space for the gas.” Boyd said.

West said that if any gas is released during drilling operations, it would likely be flared off. “However, as we are utilizing an existing storage field and do not anticipate using hydraulic fracturing, we would not anticipate a significant release

Officials from Rocky Mountain Natural Gas, BLM, USFS, and local government stand on a well pad at the Wolf Creek Storage Unit on the White River National Forest in Pitkin County in September, 2018. Photo courtesy WRNF. of natural gas in the process.”

The Wolf Creek Storage Unit is not part of the US Forest Service decision against drilling new wells in the Thompson Divide, Fitzwilliams noted.

“We were very specific and very clear in the [Environmental Impact Statement] that this is about future leasing,” he explained. “[The Wolf Creek Storage Unit] is an existing lease that they’ve had for a long, long time… Wells need maintenance. Wells need to be replaced so this is well within what we anticipated and well within the decisions made in the past.”

Carbondale’s Wilderness Workshop, a public lands advocacy group, is not op-

posed to existing infrastructure in the Thompson Divide. But, Peter Hart, staff attorney, said that the group will follow the project closely.

“They are going to take a drilling rig up there and the area has some pretty sensitive resources,” he said. “The pads that they propose to drill on are in sensitive watersheds that have Colorado River cutthroat trout and there’s going to be some truck traffic.”

The BLM is reviewing the draft application to drill. Once the draft is approved, the proposal will be open for public comment. RMNG intends to begin work on the wells this summer.

The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 5

Spruce Up The Sun Design Contest 2018

Category Winners

PreK-First grade winner: Ella Demerey

colby june

Second grade winner: Bella Frisbee

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PO Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

Spruce Up The Sun Design Contest 2018

Category Winners

Third grade winner: Perrin Jones

Fourth grade winner: Edie O’Bryne and Addy Schoon

Fifth grade winner: CharlieFliss and Zack Bollock

Sixth grade and up winner: Anicka Ashcraft The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 7

New Year, new health clinic in the mid valley

By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff

Whether it’s shopping for gifts or health insurance, December can feel overwhelming for lot of people.

But in 2019, Mountain Family Health Centers officially opens the doors of its Basalt Integrated Health Center. Development Director Garry Schalla sees it as an opportunity to serve a much larger patient base — up to 3,700 annually — but also as an opportunity for people to reinvest in themselves.

“We offer a sliding fee scale, which makes it affordable for people to invest in wellness and health,” he said. “If you’re not invested in your own well being, if you don’t have skin in the game, you’re not going to get better. It’s not a handout.”

But, he continued, you don’t have to have insurance in order to receive care.

“We take private insurance just as well as we take the uninsured; we’re a full clinic that way. Hopefully, people were able to get on the exchange, but even that’s not affordable, especially in a strong economy. People are actually getting raised out of being in these support programs. We’re hoping that this is going to offer another avenue: with a freestanding clinic, it’s more in tune with what people think of for a family practice or a private practice.”

That’s not to say that the new clinic is a direct competitor to existing practices, Schalla emphasized. Quite the opposite: the Basalt Integrative Health Center is a result of deep collaboration. Mountain Family Health Centers is one of six entities that comprise the Valley Health Alliance, along with Valley View and Aspen Valley Hospi-

Dr. Connor Rivers and Dental Assistant Aracely Solis work on a patient. At the new Basalt Integrated Health Clinic, there will be three full-time dental chairs. Courtesy photo tals, Pitkin County, the City of Aspen and Aspen Skiing Company.

“It was a concerted effort [of leadership] sitting down and making sure we could find solutions that worked for everybody,” he said. “There’s a lot of legalese, but in the end, you’re going to see a product that is truly a result of working ahead and working towards a healthier long term community.”

Pitkin County leases the 123 Emma Rd. building to Mountain Family Health — but Aspen Valley Hospital pays $150,000 of the valued $250,000 annual rent, and the county donates the remaining in-kind. The $3.4 million renovations to the space cre-

Help us bring back the sun!

Pagan Ritual, pageant, bonfire, cider & cookies, song!

Anyone wearing an animal costume can be part of the pageant.

Join in the ancient yule-tide ceremony!

Thursday, December 20 at 5:30pm | Third Street Center 520 S 3rd St Carbondale, CO 81623 More info? Contact Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist office@tworiversuu.org or 970-989-9680 8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

ated the capacity for three full-time dental providers, as well as two behavioral health group rooms.

That level of fully integrative care, including the mental health component, is particularly exciting for Pitkin County Commissioner Greg Poschman, who was an advocate for the Mind Springs Health hospital in Aspen and has been a vocal proponent for mental health first aid training. “[It] is a program anyone could take to recognize and communicate with someone who may be suicidal or perhaps they have a drug program. I’m pushing really hard to

get that training,” he said, noting that some in- and after-school programs are already on the horizon. “Then along comes Garry Schalla, and yeah, I’m in. What’s been most exciting for me is it’s integrated healthcare: you go in for a toothache or just because you’re feeling crappy, but if they think there might be a need for behavioral health counseling, they’re there and they know how to do it. It’s like one-stop shopping.”

It’s also proving to be a sort of incubator for ideas to continue increasing accessibility to healthcare in general. Though too soon to specify details, Schalla confirmed that the Mountain Family Health minds behind the new clinic are experimenting with different payment models that would likely hinge on a monthly membership fee structure.

“It’s in the test phase, and we’re not ready to roll it out valleywide yet,” he said.

“It’s definitely not an insurance product, but it’s a way for, we hope, people to be able to invest in their total wellness — mental, physical and dental health — at a much more reasonable cost than they’re doing now.”

In the meantime, the health center is already booking appointments and has a tour and presentations slated for its Jan. 7 opening. Tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and the public is welcome to stay until about 2 p.m., Schalla noted. “We’ll definitely have pieces in that presentation that are strictly Spanish. We’re always very conscious of our Latino populations and being really culturally sensitive to our partners who are really part of that community.”

As for patients, “they should be reaching out now,” he said. “They should be calling our call center: 945-2840.

New book by S. K. Badgett Available at Amazon.com

Attendees of the Love Knows No Borders event at the Third Street Center drafted letters to Sen. Michael Bennet opposing current immigration policies. Photo by Megan Tackett

Locals recognize International Migrants Day with Love Knows No Borders

By Megan Tackett Sopris Sun Staff By the end of the event, newly licensed attorney Laura Horst was inspired. She doesn’t have any experience yet with immigration law, but that’s not stopping her from wanting to volunteer with Claire Noone on her next expedition to the southern border.

“I’d love to tag along,” she told Noone after Noone’s standing-room-only presentation about her recent experiences in Tornillo, Texas at the Third Street Center.

It was her second trek to an isolated immigration facility in the desert. Last summer, with money raised locally via her GoFundMe page, she visited the for-profit Dilley detention facility — officially titled the South Texas Family Residential Center.

It’s the largest detention center in the country, with a capacity of 2,400.

“My job was to go meet with the children and their mothers in private — as much privacy as you can get in those situations — and get them to tell me their stories,” she said of the asylum seekers. “A lot of these women and children are in such trauma that they don’t tell their stories in a kind of arc of narrative, so it’s really important to help them craft [that].”

She and fellow attorneys help asylum seekers focus on the most relevant facts legally for the next step in the process, the credible fear interview (CFI).

Then there’s the language barrier.

“There are a lot of kids from Guatemala that speak indigenous languages, so we have to get a phone translator, and they translate into Spanish, and then I have to write it in English, so there is so much room for error,” Noone said. “I was sitting in on a CFI interview, and she said, ‘Yes, I was raped multiple times,’ and the translator reported, ‘Yes I was harassed multiple times.’

So how many of those happen without someone present to [intervene]?”

A growing issue Noone was one of several speakers at Love Knows No Borders: Voices from the Border. Hosted by Sanctuary Unidos, the Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists (TRUU) parsonage, the lineup also featured Glenwood Springs immigration attorney Jennifer Smith.

It wasn’t always like this, Smith lamented.

“This is a self-created problem for media attention,” she said of the immigration processing backlog. “We have systems in

place. We have extreme vetting — it already existed! People are not getting asylum willynilly. These cases are tough to win.”

And in some ways, they’re getting tougher, she continued.

“As part of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and chair of the Colorado chapter, we see every day the crazy things our government is doing that flies under the radar of the general population to affect people’s ability to seek justice in the United States,” she said. “This isn’t a brand new thing — it’s not just this administration. It’s an ongoing effort by our government to continue to build what we call the invisible wall.”

TRUU Reverend Shawna Foster knows too well some of the tactics officials use to bolster that invisible wall. She recently went to San Diego, Calif. and Tijuana. When she talks about it, she gets fired up.

“Politically, what the Trump administration wanted was a spectacle of thousands of people trying to get across the border, but the caravan wasn’t getting there fast enough, so they put down the number of asylum processors at the Tijuana-San Diego port of entry so that thousands would swell up,” she said.

In San Diego, Foster was answering a call to action put out to faith leaders by the American Friends Service Committee to witness the increased militarization of the border on Dec. 15 at La Posada at Friendship Park. Established by then-First Lady Pat Nixon who famously said, “May there never be a wall between these two great nations, only friendship,” the binational park provides an opportunity for families to see each other across the border. La Posada is a Christmas tradition, re-enacting the Bible story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter.

The event organizers put out their own call to action that night. Donation jars for organizations that fund attorneys at the border were well labeled. Tables were set up and ready for signatures, letters to Colorado Congresspeople and holiday cards to detainees at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, a for-profit facility in Colorado that now houses 1,532 people (up from about 150 in 1986).

“The stories mixed with an inability to take action, that’s the weight on a lot of our hearts,” Noone said. “I can better hear the stories, better process, by action.”

“A sincere and challenging volume that transports readers into the heart of American coal.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Its first-hand tales are eye-opening, harrowing, and absorbing . .”

—Will Grandbois, Editor of The Sopris Sun

Also by S. K. Badgett “A book of passionate search, of questioning, delving, and discovering.

Questions of faith, betrayal, madness, sanity, blessing and curse erupt throughout the work.”

—Karen Chamberlain, Co-Founder of the Aspen Writers Foundation, prize-winning poet

S. K. Badgett’s poems and essays have appeared in dozens of literary journals and some anthologies including The Norton Anthology of Creative Nonfiction. He has a master’s in Language and Communication from Regis University and a master’s in English from Middlebury College. He worked several years at the Mid-Continent and Snowmass coal mines.

skbadgett.com

The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 9

Community Calendar THURSDAY Dec. 20

SOLSTICE CELEBRATION • The Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists celebrate the shortest day and longest night of the year beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a bonfire, pageant and ritual outside the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.) followed by coffee and cookies inside.

POPUP • Reina Katzenberger of The Project Shop and Megan DeNev Wussow of DeNev Designs take over Batch (358 Main St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. to show off their work.

HILLBILLY SOUL • Carbondale Beer Works (647 Main St.) hosts Marilyn and the Millers at 6:30 p.m.

FRI to THU Dec. 21-27

MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre (427 Main St.) presents “Mary Queen of Scots” (R) at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22, Dec. 26-27 and at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.

Closed Dec. 24-25.

FRIDAY Dec. 21

CHRISTMAS FILM • The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits) screens “Elf” at 5:30 p.m. free of charge.

MAGIC SHOW • Doc Eason performs sleight-of-hand tricks to amaze and entertain from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Basalt Regional Library (14 Midland Ave.). Adults are $20 (and the target audience) and kids are free but must be accompanied.

UGLY SWEATER CONTEST • Showcase your hideous holiday sppirit and enjoy Christmas cocktails from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Phat Thai (343 Main St.). $5 cover and bring a canned good to donate to Lift Up.

To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday.

Events take place in Carbondale unless noted.

FRI Dec. 21 – SUN Dec. 23

DIVA CABARET • The Valley’s collegeage shining stars bring Christmas tunes and Broadway hits to the Thunder River Theatre (67 Promenade) at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $25 at thunderrivertheatre.com.

SATURDAY Dec. 22 JOURNAL MAKING • Begin a reflective journey through the winter nights with whatever art materials, cherished paper and embellishments you might have on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Helios Center (601 Sopris Ave.).

JAZZY CHRISTMAS • Jeannie Walla and her friends share the holiday season beginning at 8 p.m. at The Temporary (360 Market St., Willits). $13 in advance at tacaw.org or $20 at the door.

SAT Dec. 22 – SUN Dec. 23

BAKERY & TRUNK SHOW • A new addition to this year’s Deck the Walls Artisan Market, Carbondale Arts presents its first annual Pop-Up Holiday Bakery and Trunk Show with pies, cakes, jams, jellies and other fun and funky goods from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).

Lessons and Carols

Sing the stories of the holidays, with our TRUU Singers!

A relaxing way to enjoy and celebrate our families being together.

Rev. Shawna Foster Join us Sunday, December 23, 2018- 10 a.m.

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist (TRUU) @ Third Street Center, Community Room

www.tworiversuu.org

Music with Christina Wenning and the TRUU Singers, Religious Exploration with Ana Chynoweth, Preschool with Justice Bouchet

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist

Ongoing WRITERS GROUP • Wordsmiths of all experience and abilities gather at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month.

BOOK CLUB • Join friends and fellow readers to discuss great books at Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month; call 9632889 for this month’s selection.

STORYTIME • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.) hosts stories, songs and more for ages four and up at 10:30 a.m.

Thursdays and three and under at 10:30 a.m.

Wednesdays. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

STORY ART • Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.), in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, invites kids to learn about artists and create masterpieces of their own at 4 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.

YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE • A free facilitated workshop for adults, writing your personal history, one story at a time. Facilitated by Shelly Merriam, historian/writer/ genealogist. First and third Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library, (815 Cooper Ave.). Info at 945-5958 or gcpld.org.

LIFE DRAWING • Drop in for figure drawing with Staci Dickerson at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at SAW (525 Buggy Cr. Unit C) LET’S JUST DANCE • Feel great, have fun and dance Tuesdays at The Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). Catch a free lesson at 7 p.m., then from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. it’s open dancing with two-step, swing, waltz, line dance, salsa and more. No partner or experience necessary. $8/person; $14/couple. Questions? Call 970-366-6463 or email billypat4@gmail.com.

SANSKRIT MANTRA • Devika Gurung demonstrates how chant is about more than spirtuality, but also breath and rhythm at 4:30 p.m. Sundays at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN • Staff and sources talk about this week’s paper and more at 4 p.m. Thursdays on KDNK (88.1 FM).

SENIOR RADIO • Diane Johnson talks about senior issues and services on KDNK at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.

SENIOR MATTERS • The nonprofit Senior Matters, based in the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.), offers numerous programs for senior citizens, including: tai chi with John Norton at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; tai chi with Marty Finklestein at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Alaprima Painters at 11 a.m. on Thursdays; the Senior Matters Book Club at 4 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month; and the Roaring Fork Brain Train. Info: seniormatters.org; Diane Johnson at 970-306-2587; and Senior Matters, Box 991, Carbondale CO, 81623.

CALENDAR continued on page 11

y p p a H s y a d i l o H CELEBRATING 21 YEARS! 1997-2018

Happy Holidays Thank You Carbondale!

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Community Calendar

continued from page 10

Ongoing BRIDGE • The Carbondale Bridge Club hosts duplicate bridge (not sanctioned by ACBL) from 6:30 to 10 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.). $6/per pair. Contact Marlene for more info: 928-9805.

RUN AROUND • Independence Run & Hike hosts a run around town Saturdays at 8 a.m. Meet at the store 596 Highway 133 (in La Fontana Plaza) and run various distances, with different routes each week.

Info: 704-0909.

RF INSIGHT • Monday Night Meditation meets from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. at Roaring Fork Aikikai (2553 Dolores Way) and offers instruction in the Buddhist practice of Vipassana. RFI also offers secular mindfulness at the Carbondale Community School and is working with CMC to provide a class on “Zen and the Art of Dying” — more info at roaringforkinsight.org.

MEDITATION • Free silent meditation sessions are held at the Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.) from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (info at 3061015).

MINDFULNESS • The Mindful Life Program in the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.) offers group sessions Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation and registration is not necessary. Info: mindfullifeprogram.org and 970-633-0163.

GRIEF AND LOSS • Pathfinders offers a grief and loss support group every other Monday at 6 p.m., and a caregiver support group every other Wednesday noon.

An RSVP is required to Robyn Hubbard at 319-6854. Pathfinders offers support groups from Aspen to Rifle and is located in

Carbondale at 1101 Village Rd. Info: pathfindersforcancer.org.

ROTARY • The Carbondale Rotary Club meets at the Carbondale Fire Station (300 Meadowood Dr.) at 6:45 a.m.

Wednesdays. The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at White House Pizza (801 Main Ct.) at noon every Thursday.

YOGA • Get a donation-based introduction to Hatha Yoga Tuesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).

MAKERSPACE • Children and teens are invited to design, create, tinker, and play with art and technology to design and create with 3D Pens, make stop-motion animation films, engineer duct tape creations, build their own video games, and more from 2 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Carbondale Branch Library (320 Sopris Ave.).

DHARMA • The Way of Compassion Dharma Center holds a Dharma talk and meditation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and a silent meditation and Buddha of Compassion practice at 8 a.m. Saturdays at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.).

WORLD DANCE • Learn rhythms from various countries and cultures for $12 per class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Carbondale Community School (1505 Satank Rd.).

BLUEGRASS JAM • Bring the instrument of your choice or just your voice for a weekly jam session first and last Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at Steve’s Guitars (19 N. Fourth St.) and all other Sundays at the Glenwood Springs Brew Garden (115 Sixth St.) LOSS SUPPORT • The Compassionate Friends of the Roaring Fork Valley, a group for parents, grandparents of siblings who have

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LOVE ADDICTS • Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, a 12-step group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Holland Hills United Methodist Church (167 Holland Hills Rd. Basalt).

HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION • Free opportunities include: One-hour consultations Monday mornings by appointment (379-5718) about heart attack and other chronic illness prevention through plant-based whole foods lifestyle with retired family doctor Greg Feinsinger, MD. New at 6 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Oct. 23, a livestream of Just 1 Thing 4 Health’s interviews with featured doctors. At 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month, a Powerpoint presentation about the science behind plantbased nutrition. Finally, at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month, participate in a plant-based potluck. All events take place at the Third Street Center (520 S. Third St.) and are supported by Davi Nikent Center for Human Flourishing.

YAPPY HOUR • Colorado Animal Rescue’s Yappy Hour at the Marble Bar (150 Main St.) takes place at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Sip on handcrafted cock-

COMMUNITY MEAL • Faith Lutheran Church (1340 Highway 133), in collaboration with Carbondale Homeless Assistance, hosts a free community meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month. Info: 510-5046 or faithcarbondale.com.

Further Out MONDAY Dec. 31

CRYSTAL PALACE REVIEW • After a 4-year hiatus, Aspen’s Crystal Palace alumni are back — but in Carbondale! Catch new musical numbers and hilarious political satire directed

by Nina Gabianelli at 8 and 10:30 p.m. — tickets at thunderrivertheatre.com.

STONES COVERS • Emotional Rescue invites you to break out your bell bottoms and party as if you were born in a crossfire hurricane from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Carbondale Beer Works (647 Main St.).

FUNK ROCK • Dirty Revival comes together with an open bar, champagne toast and dessert buffet from 9 p.m. ‘til midnight at The Temporary (360 Market St. WIllits). $100 in advance at tacaw.org.

Christmas Eve

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KARAOKE • The Black Nugget (403 Main St.) and Sandman bring you over 30,000 songs to choose from and a quality sound system to release your inner rockstar at 9 pm. every Thursday.

PARENT CHILD CLASSES • Waldorf on the Roaring Fork hosts musics, movement and merrymaking for kids under 5 and caregivers at 9 a.m. Mondays; sweetness, self care and singing for the under 1.5 crowd at 9 a.m. Wednesdays; and pals, play and puppetry for ages 1.5 to 4 at 9 a.m. Fridays.

More information and registration at www. waldorfschoolrf.org.

December 24 from 5:30-6:30 P.M. in Basalt, CO

10% to 20% discounts throughout the store!

FREE

OPEN MIC • Take the stage at Riverside Grill (181 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt) from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Food and drink specials. Free.

tails and meet a C.A.R.E. dog, with $1 from every drink donated to C.A.R.E. Bring your own dog along as well.

Family Service at Grace Church

YEAR-END

Look for lots of other sale prices, too!

lost a child of any age, meets at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 and subsequent meetings the first Tuesday of the month at The Orchard (110 Snowmass Dr.).

Carbondale, CO

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••

(970) 963-2220 The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 11

Town Report

Cop Shop

The following items are drawn from Town Manager Jay Harrington’s weekly report to staff, trustees and others.

From Dec. 7 through 13, Carbondale Police handled 190 Calls for Service.

During that period, officers investigated the following cases of note:

ICE RINKS were flooded last week in hopes of having them ready by Christmas break or sooner. Please stay off rinks while they’re under construction and closed and keep an eye out at carbondalerec.com for opening announcements. Skate rentals are available at the Rec. Center at the rate of $10 for at least one week.

FRIDAY Dec. 7 at 1:29 p.m. After responding to an accident, police issued a summons to a 24-year-old man whose license had been revoked.

TREE CITY USA membership goes back 25 years in Carbondale, with 88 memorial trees in public spaces utilizing the Kay Brunnier Tree Fund — a cost-share program that pays half of the cost of a new 2.5” caliper tree. Town Arborist Mike Callas has submitted a renewal application and is working on planting more trees for Arbor Day in May.

SATURDAY Dec. 8 at 2:11 a.m. A speeding stop led to a driving under the influence summons for a 23-yearold woman.

SUNDAY Dec. 9 at 2:05 a.m. Following a traffic stop for failing to maintain a lane, police arrested a 43-yearold man on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest and other charges.

REC BROCHURES are available online at carbondalerec.com if you didn’t pick one up in last week’s paper.

BASKETBALL REFEREES are being sought, along with other recreation assistants — contact wtempest@carbondaleco.net or 510-1279. Climbing instructors and customer service representatives (510-1214) as well as group fitness and Silver Sneakers instructors (510-1280) are also wanted.

DODGEBALL has 19 kids registered, and there’s room for more.

BASE CAMP CYCLING is a training program that runs Tuesday and Thursdays at 7:15 a.m., noon or 6 p.m. through March and the cost of $68 monthly. Space is limited; sign up at carbondalerec.com.

THREE BIRTHDAY PARTIES took place this weekend at the Rec. Center.

PARK BATHROOM renovations — funded by a Garfield County FMLD Mini-Grant — continue, with porta potties available in the interim.

MAIN STREET MARKETPLACE legal documents are under review by Planning Staff and Town Attorney. Water line installation continues for the property.

Carbondale Native Isabel Leach had her first day as a Police Officer on Dec. 17 after passing her POST test.

Photo by Will Grandbois A PARASITOTIC PUMP at Roaring Fork Water Treatment Plant was replaced.

THE 2019 BUDGET was adopted on Dec. 11 and will be posted to the Town website as soon as the book is compiled.

PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT reference books are being updated.

SUNDAY Dec. 9 at 4:06 p.m. A Be On the Lookout call for a car behaving erratically on Highway 82 and 133 led to the arrest of a 40-year-old man on suspicion of driving under the influence, careless driving, weaving and driving while revoked.

TUESDAY Dec. 11 at 4:14 p.m.

Following a report of a domestic disturbance, officers arrested a 30-year-old man for trespass and harboring a runaway.

THURSDAY Dec. 13 at 6:42 p.m.

Police responded to a hit and run accident near Main and Highway 133 but have yet to identify any suspects.

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Who started it?

By Paige Meredith

For over two months, I have been silently agitated by a previous column in The Sopris Sun. I agreed with many of the thoughts by the writer concerning the lack of understanding of the issues by American voters.

Quoting the writer: “…millions of Americans are deeply uninformed: 34 percent of Americans reject evolution.”

Other remarks about “diminished capacity” brought a bit of American history to mind. I wonder if the men who authored and signed the US Constitution in 1787 were “ deeply uninformed” and suffered from “diminished capacity”. Could it be that we are the beneficiaries of a lucky set of fortuitous and random circumstances similar to evolution that brought these men together to agree on a previously unknown principle of self-governance? Darwin’s theory was unknown to these men as it was published some 72 years later. Even more strangely, at least 50 of these 55 signers were orthodox members of one of the established Christian communions.

I was once a disciple of Darwin, having a degree in education with a biology major. I was fed a steady diet of evolutionary dogma. Fortunately, I was gradually alerted to the fact that evolution stands on extremely shaky ground. If this is true, why doesn’t someone stand up and declare it to the world? Well, because even science, the paradigm of objectivity, is conducted by fallible humans who often have priorities that override truth. A book by a European bioscientist, Matti Leisola, makes the case that

for those scientists who see the overwhelming flaws in the evolutionary theories of life, many fear being called Darwin deniers and therefore, the loss of their jobs.

But, back to basics. The following is reported by Ann Gauger, a scientist who received her BS degree from MIT, a postdoctorate from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from the U. of Washington’s department of zoology. Her writing has appeared in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Nature, among others. She has reported on mathematicians from Cornell (math being the “purest” of the sciences) who ask the question how hard it is to get a bonding site in DNA. This is a site at which chemical substances can combine and create only one mutation.

Their answer: It takes 60 thousand years for a mutation to arise and 6 million years for it to become general in the population. At this point we hit the real roadblock.

If you need two coordinated mutations, it takes 210 million years. For evolution to occur these mutations must be coordinat-

ed and appear simultaneously in the same individual in order to be passed on to the next generation. If you don’t have enough time to get one or two complementary mutations, how is it possible get enough to change from an ape to a human?

Stephen C. Meyer, a Cambridge University trained philosopher of science asks a different question than evolutionary scientists: “They assume that the degree of difference in the sequence of similar genes from different organisms indicates how long ago they diverged from a common ancestor.”

Instead, his question is on the origin of the information, i.e. the DNA coding necessary to produce the first life.

He compares it to the operating system of a computer which regulates the timing and expression of information stored in the data files. As you read this, you may remember that with the discovery of the human and other genomes, humans and chimps (supposedly) have a 98 percent similarity in their genomes, and therefore,

OPINION

Mutt & Jeff

“Even science, the paradigm of objectivity, is conducted by fallible humans who often have priorities that override truth.”

a common ancestor. However, it turns out that those studies were done on an analysis of only the 2-3 percent of the genome that encodes for proteins, that is- for information, based on the assumption that the rest of the genome was nonfunctional “junk”.

Since then it has been discovered that the remaining 97-98 percent of the genome is not just “junk” but does, indeed, function analogously to the operating systems in a computer utilizing the information in the 2 or 3 percent and is therefore indispensable.

“So what?” you ask. Answer: The 9798 percent of the previously ignored DNA in chimps and humans has been found to be strikingly different. So what? If alleged genetic similarity suggests that chimps and humans came from common ancestors, doesn’t evidence of genetic disparity suggest independent and separate origins; that apes have always been apes and humans have always been humans?

I was recently discussing this subject with two friends. One stated “If you ask an evolutionist if he believes in “spontaneous generation” he will unequivocally deny that he does. Friend number two immediately added “but if you ask if he believes spontaneous generation plus a billion years he readily accepts it.” To which number one replied “Oh yeah, it’s like claiming that zero times zero equals something.” So where does this lead us? Perhaps to the original information provider.

Meredith alternates this monthly column with fellow conservative Stan Badgett.

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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 13

Upturns, downturns and changes From the archives of the Roaring Fork Valley Journal Dec. 21, 1978

Dec. 23, 1998

The Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (now just Carbondale Arts) was in the process of transition. Practically synonymous with former director and Mother of the Fair Laurie Loeb since its creation in 1972, it was now in the hands of 29-year-old Gwen Hansen, who was pushing for a broader array of events.

The organization also took the step of opening its first office and taking out a listed phone number.

There was even a desire to bring other local organizations, like the Crystal River Opera Association, under a common umbrella.

In other news… The old safe from Kenny’s Drug Store was sold to an unidentified local.

Part-time Missouri Heights resident Marc Holtzman accepted an appointment in Governor Bill Owens’ International Trade Office. At a wage of $1/hour, he hoped to put his experience in the emerging markets of post- communist Eastern Europe to work improving the state’s economic ties. Still a globetrotter, he nevertheless said he’d never been more pleased to be in one place than in Carbondale.

In other news… Aspen doctor Neal Beidleman’s “AvaLung” design was becoming a reality thanks to Black Diamond Equipment.

Dec. 18, 2008

Business leaders gathered for a roundtable on the economic downturn and how to deal with it. The outlook was surprisingly optimistic. “Carbondale already has Dec. 22, 1988 this ability to be self-supporting and selfThe Aspen Art Museum landed a ma- sufficient,” said Steve Novy of Greenline jor Georgia O’Kefee exhibit thanks to its Architects. “It’s a concept people have connection with the Gerald Peters Gallery embraced, and it’s a way to stay healthy in Santa Fe, which arranged the show. in a weak economy. Moreover, unique soThe support of Morton and Linda Hell- lutions and different thinking were billed er, Marcia Rothblum and Mel and Bren as easier to implement in a small town.

Simon didn’t hurt. After stops in Tokyo, Mostly, panel participants hoped that Osaka and Phoenix, 30 oils, watercol- folks would learn their lesson about the ors and pastels from public and private spending habits and greed that led to the collections were on display alongside a crisis in the first place. “memory plan” video through February.

In other news… An array of decorative In other news… The World Alpine Ski rocks were removed from the Fourth Street Championships were coming to Vail. after10:34 a senior MERRIOTT_qtr_Christmas_122118.qxp_Layout 1 Plaza 12/14/18 AM citizen Page 1tripped over one.

Letters from page 2 this, we must ask the question “what can we live without?” As Jamieson says, “Every action we take ripples into the future.” Every purchase we make, drive we take, every time we consume meat, we change something in the world.

Aldo Leopold likens both the climate and the world to the ecosystem of a mountain in his article Thinking Like a Mountain. In short: a mountain is a balance of plants and animals: without one, the other ceases to thrive. He explains that a mountain is at its best when there are deer to graze upon the plants and the land, and wolves to eat the deer so that there are sufficient plants to sustain both the mountain and the organisms that reside on/in it. If the wolves disappear, the deer eat themselves into extinction, unchecked in their constant consumption of the land. Who will be our wolf?

We can be the wolf we are waiting for. Let’s heed the advice of Leopold and “think like a mountain”. A mountain sees the whole picture, understands everything has its place, and values every contribution made to it. Humanity must do the same. Astronaut and climate scientist Piers Sellers reminds us, “This is an absolutely beautiful planet; it’s shatteringly beautiful.” So let’s be saviors of this beautiful planet, and change course from our current path of destruction.

All that is needed for success is a willingness to sacrifice, a recognition of the problem, and a determination to forge into what others have deemed impossible. We will no longer sit idly by. In the words of poet Dylan Thomas, we will not “...go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Lillian Peery Carbondale

A lot of nasty Dear Editor: John Hoffmann’s letter says Trump supporters are “day dreamers (that) don’t have a clue, (have) dangerous suggestions, (are) underhanded liars, deceitful and pure evil.”

Phew! That’s a lot of nasty there Johnny. But I want to thank you, because of the immense satisfaction I get from your whining displeasure. I can feel the hate eating up your life.

Pure evil? Pure BS! Bruno Kirchenwitz Rifle

Stille nacht, silent night Dear Editor: On Nov. 11, we celebrated the 100year anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. I thought of the unauthorized Christmas armistice in 1914.

On Dec. 25, we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ. I’ll think of the unauthorized Christmas armistice in 1914. It was one of the most telling and poignant events in history.

The war was in its early stages, but already it was apparent how pointless and futile this unending bloodbath would be.

The British, French, and Belgians pushed the Germans back a bit in Belgium, but the forces of the Kaiser dug in. The allies did likewise and they slugged it out, neither gaining an advantage.

LETTERS page 15

MERRIOTT_qtr_Christmas_122118.qxp_Layout 1 12/14/18 10:34 AM Page 1

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just dreaming like the ones I'm of a white I usedChristmas to know Just likethe thetreetops ones glisten Where Iand used to know children listen Where treetops To hearthe sleigh bells glisten and children in the snow listen To hear sleigh bells the snow of a I'mindreaming

white Christmas

I'm dreaming of a With every Christmas white Christmas cardevery I write With Christmas May your days card I write be merry bright May yourand days be And may all your merry and bright Christmases be white And may all your Bing Christmases beCrosby white White Christmas

Bing Crosby

White Christmas

JOHN JOHN FROST FROST MERRIOTT MERRIOTT

Certified Public Accountant

f rCertified o s t yPublic c p aAccountant .com frostycpa.com

Inviting you to join Inviting you to join in celebration: in celebration:

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at The Orchard at The Orchard 3 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.

3 p.m., 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.

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110 110 Snowmass Snowmass Drive Drive Carbondale Carbondale || 970-379-8663 970-379-8663 || theorchardlife.com theorchardlife.com 14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018

J E W E L RY D E S I G N

Letters from page 14 On Christmas Eve 1914, the homesick Germans began singing their favorite carol. The language was foreign to the allies, but the tune was familiar.

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht Alles schlaft, Eynsam wacht As the sacred notes wafted over no man’s land, the allies soon chimed in.

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace Before long, the combatants put down their arms and climbed outta their trenches toward each other. They exchanged handshakes and gifts of cigars and liquor.

In some areas, the goodwill lasted ‘til New Year’s. In others, the fighting resumed after Christmas Day. Nothing like this was repeated for the duration of

Parting Shot the war. With each progressive year, the soldiers were so inured with hatred and bloodlust, they wouldn’t dream of making nice with their adversaries.

Even when peace was declared on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month of 1918, many of the embittered troops got in as much killing as they could before and after the deadline. Twenty million souls passed from this earth in what was basically a squabble between the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” is what the angels said to the shepherds on the night of the Nativity (Luke 2:14). I see that more as a command than an acclamation. Peace, or perish.

Fred Malo Jr. Carondale

Submit to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by Friday 12 p.m. Rates: $15 for 30 words, $20 for up to 50 words. Payment due before publication.*

GETTIN’ TIPSY: This display featuring Marble Distilling’s specialty vodka release FIRE & ICE appears to be a bit tipsy due to the camera angle, but it actually wasn’t.

We can’t speak for the patrons who were there to toast local firefighters on Dec. 14 as part of a fundraiser cosponsored by the Zach Burn Foundation.

GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Rates start at $15. Email unclassifieds@soprissun.com.

Photo by Jane Bachrach

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*Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 970274-1076. 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.

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF CARBONDALE ORDINANCE NO. 18 SERIES OF 2018

TOWN OF CARBONDALE ORDINANCE NO. 19 SERIES OF 2018

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a Special Use permit to operate a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a Special Use permit to operate a Medical Marijuana Cultivation Facility.

The property is located at 615 Buggy Circle, Carbondale, CO.

The property is located at 615 Buggy Circle, Carbondale, CO.

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING SUMS OF MONEY TO THE VARIOUS FUNDS AND SPENDING AGENCIES, IN THE AMOUNTS AND FOR THE PURPOSES AS SET FORTH BELOW, FOR THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE, COLORADO, FOR THE 2019 BUDGET YEAR

The applicant is Rocky Mountain High DBA Durango Alternative, LLC. .

The owner is Michael Weiser.

The applicant is Rocky Mountain High DBA P&C Express, LLC. .

The owner is Michael Weiser.

NOTICE: This Ordinance was introduced, read, and adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Carbondale, Colorado, on December 11, 2018.

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL SUMS OF MONEY TO DEFRAY EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THE GENERAL FUND, LODING TAX FUND, DISPOSABLE BAG FUND, CARBONDALE HOUSING FUND, DEVELOPMENT DEDICATION FEE FUND, CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUND, SALES AND USE TAX FUND AND BOND AND INTEREST FUND OF THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE, COLORADO

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 7:00 p.m. on January 10, 2019.

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 7:00 p.m. on January 10, 2019.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication of this notice. The full text of said Ordinance is available to the public at www.carbondalegov.org or at the office of the Town Clerk, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, during normal business hours.

John Leybourne Town of Carbondale

John Leybourne Town of Carbondale

Published in The Sopris Sun on December 20, 2018.

Published in The Sopris Sun on December 20, 2018.

Service Directory

THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE _________________________ By: s/s Dan Richardson, Mayor

50% off initial visit

NOTICE: This Ordinance was introduced, read, and adopted at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Carbondale, Colorado, on December 11, 2018.

This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication of this notice. The full text of said Ordinance is available to the public at www.carbondalegov.org or at the office of the Town Clerk, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, Colorado, during normal business hours.

THE TOWN OF CARBONDALE _________________________ By: s/s Dan Richardson, Mayor

ATTEST: __________________________ s/s Cathy Derby, Town Clerk Published in The Sopris Sun on December 20, 2018.

ATTEST: __________________________ s/s Cathy Derby, Town Clerk

GreenWalls Painting

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John Ackerman, LMT Massage Therapist

Evening appointments available

WINDSHIELD REPAIR & AUTO GLASS REPLACEMENT

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Locally Owned by David Zamansky

500 Buggy Circle, Carbondale, CO

The property is located at 159 Sopris Avenue (Lots 16, 17 and 18, Block 4, Town of Carbondale).

The applicants/owners are Jerod and Sharon Samuelson.

Said Public Hearing will be held at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO at 7:00 p.m. on January 10, 2019.

Copies of the proposed application are on file in the Planning Department office, Town Hall, 511 Colorado Avenue, Carbondale, CO and may be examined by interested persons during regular working hours, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application may also be reviewed on the Town’s website at www.carbondalegov.org.

Published in The Sopris Sun on December 20, 2018.

GREEN WALLS PAINTING_SvcAd_111518.qxp_Layout 1 11/12/18 10:

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission for the purpose of considering a Minor Site Plan Review to renovate the existing structure on the site and convert it into an additional single family dwelling unit. The request will require a variance from the minimum front yard setback of 5 ft. to allow a 0 ft. setback and a variance from the minimum side yard setback of 5 ft. to allow a 0 ft. setback. The variances are required to accommodate the existing structure.

Janet Buck Town Planner

Published in The Sopris Sun on December 20, 2018.

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The Sopris Sun, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018 • 15

For over a decade, Jim Calaway has been an enthusiastic supporter of our work at Habitat. Along with Connie, his commitment to helping us build homes with our partner families has been transformational and truly inspiring. And, our new ReStore would not have been possible without Jim as a lead donor and our greatest cheerleader. He was indeed a “Gem” in our valley and a friend to so many in need. So, while Jim may no longer be with us, he will forever be part of our community and in our hearts.

This ad is underwritten by one of our donors who wanted to honor Jim by encouraging other members of our community to pay it forward.

So, this holiday season, please consider showing Jim some love by supporting a local non-profit. He would be thrilled to know he inspired you to give.

16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • DECEMBER 20-26, 2018