It’s early in the morning, well not as early as I’d hoped, and my first press day as editor of The Sopris Sun. The temperature has cooled and I hear rain drops splattering the gutters outside our window — as good of a sign one can hope for right about now.
I know many of you, and some of you vicariously through my predecessor, Raleigh Burleigh, who I got to see off yesterday from the office at the Third Street Center. Oh, how I look forward to watching his story unfold. Many of you I’ve yet to meet, and I welcome the opportunity.
I won’t say too much about myself, and promise not to take up this coveted page-two column space with my own words very often. I hear Lee Beck, a news aficionado by any right and one of The Sun’s volunteer proofreaders, telling us not to put too much of ourselves in the paper and keep it about the reader. So, like I said, I’ll keep this part short.
Many who’ve fallen in love with this place can’t afford to stay. I know, we’ve all heard it before, but it’s the fact of the matter. I’ll go ahead and add the plug now: These are community-owned, nonprofit newspapers that won’t survive without your support. So please consider making a donation at www. soprissun.com/donate or by mailing a check to P.O. Box 399 Carbondale, Colorado 81623. Thank you.
Sol del Valle, in particular, is perhaps more important now than it’s ever been, keeping monolingual Spanish speakers connected at a time when that may not always feel like the case. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Editor Bianca Godina, who is undertaking her own life transition and will leave a legacy to be cared for by Sol’s next editor. If you know someone who’s bilingual and passionate about community, send them on over to soprissun.com/oportunidad-laboral to find out more.
My mother was raised in Carbondale and graduated from Roaring Fork High School. My father moved from back east to attend Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Most of my family — including four siblings — still live here. I have unwavering respect for those who came before us in Carbondale, from the hippies to the coal miners, and had the privilege of being raised watching my sisters barrel race at the rodeo grounds on Catherine Store Road and some of the last of the cowboys lasso steers in the Thompson Divide.
By James Steindler
Ranch life is hard work, back breaking at times, but people love doing it. Anything one loves enough to pour themselves into, often despite themselves, must be worth it. The folks at Age-Friendly Carbondale come to mind, who’ve set a standard for getting stuff done, not for themselves but their neighbors and the rest of us who want to cross Highway 133 safely and will one day need all those benches around town, just to rest for a while.
Keeping The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle rising each week takes a lot of work, but we’ve got an army behind it, many who do it solely out of that sense to do some good. But most of us can’t afford to volunteer full time, including writers and photojournalists — the beating heart of any paper. I mean, where would we be without them? Well, without a paper, I suppose.
I wanted to save the mileage to drive to Glenwood for their No Kings gathering. Why not bring the message to Carbondale, and be comfortable at the same time? Many drivers were happy to see the message. Many honks, waves and thumbs up. Most had no reaction. I wonder how many people are really following the political changes happening in our country. I was there for 80 minutes. I estimate I was passed by some 375 vehicles. I saw just a few EVs. I assume that many cars were circling the roundabout to get to Highway 82. Unfortunately, Carbondale, like most American towns, was built for automobile travel. I grew up in Seattle, and we had electric trolley, rubber-tired buses. Fares were really cheap. It won’t be long before our roundabout will be maxing out. Others were to be built on Highway 133. Why haven’t they?
Pat Hunter Carbondale
I am honored to write this letter in strong support of my mother as she seeks to serve as mayor of Carbondale. My mom has lived in this community for 29 years; she has witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformation of this small town into a thriving and vibrant place to call home. Her deep roots here have given
For five years and counting, I’ve gotten to work with the OGs (original gangsters) of local journalism, bending the ears of the stewards of The Valley Journal, a paper I flipped through as a kid from time to time. Then there’re those fresh behind the keys, a few from far-off places, inviting a plethora of knowledge and perspective. Mixed together, this team makes for one of the most vibrant newspapers — with 100% original content! Not to mention our growing Youth News Bureau team, who’ve got their own paper to run, The Sopris Stars, and have made it to press every final week of the month since October.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale, The Sun’s new managing editor, brings a strong desire, bolstered with intention, to coach up-and-coming journalists. I’ll continue to heed the advice of our team, particularly that of Terri Ritchie’s, our lead designer, who’s been with The Sun, in one way or another, since the beginning. Because in this business, there’s one thing that’s for sure: the more eyes on it the better.
I’ll leave you with a cliche, but one I stand by. Every voice in this community matters, from our sage elders to the new family who just moved in across the street. The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle will continue to listen and spread the word. Thank you for being a part of The Sun and giving me a chance to steer the ship.
her not only a unique perspective on Carbondale’s growth, but also a genuine understanding of the needs, values and concerns of its residents.
Throughout her time in Carbondale, she has remained committed to the well-being of the community. She has seen the challenges that come with growth — balancing development while preserving the character and charm that make this town special. Her ability to listen, adapt and advocate for thoughtful solutions is one of her greatest strengths. She understands that progress must be guided with intention, ensuring that the voices of residents are heard and respected.
What sets her apart is her dedication to people. She believes in building strong relationships, encouraging open communication, and working collaboratively to solve problems. She approaches leadership with integrity, compassion and a willingness to do the hard work required to make meaningful change. Her vision for Carbondale is one that embraces growth while maintaining the sense of community that has always defined it. In addition to her commitment to the community, she has served as a devoted bus driver — a role that reflects her reliability, patience and care for others.
I have watched her invest her time and energy into this town, not for recognition,
but because she truly cares. She is committed to creating a future where Carbondale continues to thrive for generations to come. Her experience, perspective and passion make her an excellent candidate for mayor.
I wholeheartedly recommend her for this role and am confident she will serve the community with dedication and purpose.
Holley Savoy Carbondale
Dear Carbondale
Greetings, I am Joanne Teeple, running for a seat on the Carbondale Board of Trustees. You can learn about the candidates via the Town website, www.carbondalegov.org. Find “MEET YOUR CANDIDATES!” for bios and Sopris Sun questions. You can listen to the recording of the March 26 Candidate Forum at kdnk.org. Please remember to bring your ballot with your signature and date on the envelope to the drop box at the front entrance to Carbondale Town Hall by 7pm on Tuesday, April 7.
Thank you to The Sopris Sun and KDNK for their efforts. Thank you to all voters for participating in your local government. I would appreciate your vote.
Joanne Teeple Carbondale
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Editor James Steindler 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com
Managing Editor
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale
Sol del Valle Editora Bianca Godina bianca@soldelvalle.org
Digital Editor Ingrid Celeste Zúniga ingrid@soldelvalle.org
Lead Editorial Designer
Terri Ritchie
Partnerships & Engagement Manager Luise Nieslanik
Advertising Department adsales@soprissun.com
Sol del Valle Marketing & Development Manager
Margarita Alvarez margarita@soldelvalle.org
Advertising Designer
Emily Blong
Delivery
Frederic Kischbaum
Bartlett
Proofreaders
Lee Beck
Tracy Kallassy
Ken Pletcher
Hank van Berlo
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Todd Chamberlin 970-510-0246 todd@soprissun.com
Board Members / Mesa Directiva board@soprissun.com
Klaus Kocher • Kay Clarke • Eric Smith
Roger Berliner • Elizabeth Phillips
Anna Huntington • Loren Jenkins
Carlos Ramos • Gayle Wells
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Carbondale wildfire
An 8-10 acre fire spread from what began as an agricultural burn about 5 miles south of Carbondale along Colorado Highway 133 on the afternoon of Thursday, March 26. The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District reported on Facebook that crews had “knocked down the fire and are working to extinguish hot spots” at 4:03pm. The district said in a press release issued later that day that the fire was brought under control. “The fire was actively burning and expanding but the winds were not really high and we were able to get control of the fire spread fairly quickly,” the release states. “We appreciate the rapid response and strong partnership from our neighboring fire department, and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.”
Have you Hurd?
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Pitkin County Republicans announced in a newsletter that U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, who is running for reelection for the Congressional District 3 seat, is now the sole Republican candidate in the race. The district encompasses Pitkin, Garfield and 25 other counties across western and southern Colorado. The announcement follows Donald Trump’s endorsement of Hurd on March 20, a change of heart from his support of Hope Scheppelman, who had been running as a Republican against Hurd. Scheppelman dropped out of the race after Trump invited her to join his administration.
GarCo
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario issued a letter on Monday, March 30 clarifying the role of the Special Problems Enforcement and Response Team (SPEAR) in relation to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “To be clear, SPEAR does not work with ICE or provide information to them,” he wrote, adding later, “SPEAR’s mission is to investigate the most serious crimes that occur in Garfield County.” SPEAR, he wrote, is a multi-jurisdictional crime task force including personnel from Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Rifle Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The letter comes after residents raised concerns during a Glenwood Springs City Council meeting about the management of information collected by inter-agency police.
El Jebel construction
Eagle County announced on Monday, March 30 that construction at an El Jebel intersection, just off of Highway 82, was to begin on Wednesday, April 1. The changes include the relocation of Valley Road around the south and west sides of El Jebel’s Roaring Fork Transportation Authority parking lot, which will be expanded to the north. Sopris Village Boulevard will also be “re-configured,” the county said in a press release. Traffic delays should be expected. “Motorists are encouraged to take the alternate routes of Valley Road to the north, or Willits Lane to East Valley Road to the south,” the release states. “Planning ahead and avoiding the project locations will reduce potential delays caused by construction.”
‘Not-So-Fairy
SoL Theatre Company hosts a “Not-So-Fairy Tales” playwright workshop for kindergarten through fourth grade students. Participants will create a play, from dreaming up characters to building exciting worlds, and then invite families for a performance at the conclusion of the course. Rehearsals occur every Wednesday, April 8 to May 27, from 2:30 to 3:45pm. Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/SoLplaywrights
RFOV
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers’ 2026 Stewardship Season calendar is now available! Folks can choose from a wide variety of volunteer
C.A.R.E. currently has 12 dogs, 14 cats, and 2 chinchillas up for adoption!
A futon frame with a “free” sign on it was recently discovered in the Crystal River, just down from the crossing on Crystal Bridge Drive in RVR. Another photo of the frame circulated on the Carbondale Facebook page. It was quickly revealed that a group of kids had been spotted hauling it toward the river, the futon’s former owner, Ashley Bennett Jardine, relayed to The Sopris Sun, having originally been placed at the intersection of Graceland and Holland Drive in hopes that someone else would make better, long-term use of it. When she learned the futon frame had made its way to the middle of the Crystal, her husband rallied a few friends who went to retrieve it. “We had hoped that it would find a new home, but not in the river!” Bennett Jardine commented on Facebook.
Photo by Skyler Stark-Ragsdale
opportunities, including signature projects such as the Red Hill Trail series, as well as efforts on new terrain, including up Babbish Gulch. RFOV is also inviting volunteers to sign up as Trail Ambassadors, who’ll educate trail users about responsible recreation. Registration is available as of April 1 — no fooling! Find out more at www.rfov.org
Registration for Wild Mountain Seeds’ community supported agriculture (CSA) program is now open, including veggie, eggs and flower options. Signing up for the flower CSA comes with a bonus arrangement workshop. Half shares are also available. For details, visit www.wildmountainseeds.com
Assistant principal hires
The Roaring Fork School District announced three assistant principal appointments, two of whom have already been carrying on with the role in an interim capacity at their respective schools: Missy Britton of Riverview School and Sam Hawk of Sopris Elementary School. Whitney Carper Bell will begin her role as the vice principal of Basalt Elementary School in the 2026-2027 school year, although she is also not new to those halls. “We are pleased to see school leaders growing from our very own classrooms,” said Joel Hathaway, RFSD executive director of schools.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Walter Gallacher, Jake Hawkins, Dave Ritchie, Francis Stuckens and Ed Troy (April 2); Jeff Busk, Lorena Medina Jones, Dan Montoya and Terri Ritchie (April 3); Wendy Damari Avila, Dan Hardin, Marilyn Murphy and Kevin Passmore (April 4); Will Sardinsky and Judy Schilling (April 5); Savanna LaBauve, Maddie Nieslanik, Adam Rudd and Mark Wolfe (April 6); Cassie Cerise, Paula “Sam” Hunter, Ellen Huttenhower, Sonja Linman, Beth Simonetti and Anais Tomezsko (April 7); Trish Anderson, Jeff Finesilver and Cait Kennett and Sarah Sutherland (April 8).
PADDYWACKS offers a “C.A.R.E. package” for new adoptive families, including a for Points” plan and a first time 15% discount for your new pet.
Paddywacks
RJ PADDYWACKS offers a “C.A.R.E. package” for new adoptive families, including a “Paws for Points” plan and a first time 15% discount for your new pet. Connor is one giant lovebug working through his nine lives! After a car accident earlier this year, C.A.R.E. was able to sponsor his hip surgery and get him neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. He has been one brave boy through all of it and still loves to shower people with affection, purrs, and lots of lap time. Now he is looking for a forever home that can support his continued healing and spoil him rotten! For more details, contact C.A.R.E.
400 E Valley Rd. # I/J Next to City Market in El Jebel 970.963.1700 rjpaddywacks.com
Representing You with 19 Years of Experience
KATALINA VILLARREAL
Sopris Sun Correspondent
On March 5, I had the pleasure of sitting down in True
Nature Healing Arts with Meredith Kasper, a Carbondale local, to talk about her game WTFF?! Perimenopause.
Kasper has spent over a year developing this delightful card game for the purpose of connecting people and providing a resource for perimenopause, which is the transition into menopause. Symptoms such as emotional dysregulation, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, libido changes, and more begin affecting daily life as hormone production decreases.
“It shouldn’t just be on women to learn about this,” Kasper said. “It’s geared towards women, but it’s not exclusive.”
WTFF stands for “welcome to fun and facts” and, according to everyone who has played her game, it is relatable and full of laughter.
Originally from the LakewoodDenver area, Kasper has been in the valley off and on since ‘94. For a time, she taught American Sign Language and Spanish at Colorado Mountain College. Now, she offers custom Spanish courses for law enforcement, teachers, medical providers and more for
specialized vocabulary. To boot, Kasper is also a massage therapist!
With this background in education, Kasper created a game that brings people together to talk about a stage of life that affects 42.5 million people at any given moment in the United States. “Menopause is just one day: it is the one year anniversary of your last period,” Kasper said, adding, “Everything after that is postmenopause technically, but we clump it all together as menopause.”
She clarified that people have menopausal symptoms before the end of their period and that those symptoms do not end when the period does.
“I created the game so that women have a fun way to learn about perimenopause and about the symptoms, what’s going on with their bodies, different things that can help, and feel less alone in the process of it all,” Kasper said.
Kasper’s game is designed for three to 16 players. There are six card categories and players roll a dice to determine which card to play. If one is rolled, players choose a card from the first section called “Sketching It Out.” The card says to draw “bloating” and the other players guess the word based on the drawing.
When the dice lands on a two, the category is “Play On Words.” This section has spoonerisms,
like “Flot Hashes” (Hot Flashes) and letter scrambles, like GNATBOIL (bloating). The third category is “Three Things.”
“This category has a lot more education and learning opportunities,” Kasper said. “For instance: ‘Name three things that estrogen influences.’ Some examples are bone strength, heart health, stabilized mood, and cognitive function.”
The first three categories are worth two points and each player has 45 seconds to guess the answers correctly. The next categories are one point. Also, Kasper added the rules at the top of the cards in case of a memory lapse –– a common perimenopause symptom.
Category four is “Did You Know?” This section is all about biology. Players read aloud cards that define testosterone, the mitochondria, and more so everyone learns something! Additionally, the game has a QR code linking a resource Kasper made that lists perimenopause symptoms, defines words like heart, mitochondria, etc., and has articles and podcasts for further research.
“Wisdom” is the fifth section. Cards have quotes to be shared out loud, like: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you,” a quote by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
continued on page 16
MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent
The Carbondale Historical Society will host a night to remember, covering memories of many nights often, to the contrary, shrouded in a euphoric haze, and filled with dance, love and community. On April 9 (6pm) at the Third Street Center, folks are in for a glimpse into the world of the town’s iconic Mountain Fair.
The voices and stories of those who’ve been behind the scenes of the fair’s operations, which has always been powered by the spirit of volunteerism, will move through three chapters: beginning with how it all started, onto the moments that gave shape to what the community knows today and conclude with Carbondale Arts’ vision for the future.
across time in a multimedia format that makes history tangible,” detailed a press release from the Historical Society.
“Attendees can expect moments of recognition, surprise, and connection — the kind that comes from learning how the things we love were actually built.”
I think it’s so important, especially in these crazy times, to remember and celebrate the community that we have and the community that has been maintained so strongly through Mountain Fair.
- Amy Kimberly
“To bring these stories to life, the evening will draw from old photo albums and archival podcast segments, weaving together voices and images
Laurie Loeb, nicknamed “Mother of the Fair,” holds the high honor as a founder. Loeb, who has continually opened the weekend festivities with a community drum circle in front of the gazebo, will fill in some details of the early days. Along with Carbondalians Peggy DeVilbiss, Richie Marks, Wick Moses and several others, the initial thought behind the fair was to emulate a traveling Chautauqua that had passed through in 1971. The vision set the stage for the first Mountain Fair the following year.
The first iteration had a turnout of 800 attendees, a larger sum than the town’s population at the time, which was about
650 residents. Since then, it has grown massively, along with the town.
Many up-and-coming bands have gotten their start on the main stage at Mountain Fair, and local artists, entrepreneurs and small-business owners have set up shop at the weekend-long event year after year. Now, vendors come from near and far, as do the crowds, and it’s become a “must-do” event for locals and visitors alike.
One of the most notable minds behind the fair in the 21st century was Amy Kimberly, or “Miss Moon,” who, in addition to her directorship of the fair for many years, also served as the executive director of Carbondale Arts.
She looks forward to being a part of this conversation. After Kimberly and Deborah Colley, the fair’s current director of operations, were approached by Kade Gianinetti of the Carbondale Historical Society, who pitched the idea, they agreed that it would be a fun
continued on page 16
What: Legends of Mountain Fair
When: April 9, 6 to 8pm
Where: Third Street Center (Round Room)
Cost: Free!
Aspen’s Alex Kelloff and Snowmass’ Dwayne Romero qualify through assembly process, outline similar running points
SKYLER STARK-RAGSDALE
Managing Editor
Two Roaring Fork Valley Democrats will run in the June 30 primary election for the 3rd Congressional District (CD3) seat in the U.S. House, which represents 27 counties in western and southern Colorado, including Garfield.
Aspen’s Alex Kelloff and Snowmass’ Dwayne Romero qualified to run for the seat, currently held by Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, after receiving the requisite delegate vote at the CD3 assembly, held in Pueblo and online on Friday, March 27. The seat has not been held by a Democrat since 2011.
To qualify, each candidate needed 30% of the vote from the district’s delegates, who represent the democratic party in the district. Kelloff — a businessman and co-founder of Armada Skis who announced his campaign for the seat last April — received 51.4% of the 148-person vote, while prominent local realtor Romero, an army veteran who entered the race on March 4, received 48.6%. Fifteen of the 163 total delegates were not present for the vote.
Before the delegate vote, both candidates outlined campaign points, many of which aligned with one another.
“I will fight every day to create good jobs so that we can all live where we work and continue to keep the American Dream alive and well for our families,” Kelloff said. “I will immediately fight for universal health care, ensure that we double down on critical investments in housing, education, veterans benefits, child care, transportation and other critical infrastructure.”
He added that he will protect the district’s public lands and water, as well as stand up to corruption in congress, vowing to uphold the rule of law, condemning “illegalized actions,” unconstitutional
importantly, I will kick Jeff Hurd out of office and bring servant leadership back to Colorado.”
Kelloff and Romero are the only two Democrats running for the congressional seat through the caucus and assembly process. Candidates may run outside of the assembly process, but need 1,500 petitions signed in support of their candidacy to qualify for the primary. As of earlyMarch, Kyle Doster was registered for the race outside of the assembly process, but has since withdrawn or been disqualified, according to Ballotpedia.
executive orders and illegal tariffs.
“I will be the first in line to ensure that Congress gets back to fulfilling its constitutional obligation as a co-equal branch of government,” Kelloff said, “and stopping the illegal wars of choice this administration started.”
Romero also addressed the delegates before the vote, saying that he will fight for affordable housing and work to appeal the One Big Beautiful Bill “to lower health care and childcare costs and make billionaires pay for their fair share.”
“I will fight to protect our public lands, our water and our environment,” he said, echoing Kelloff. “I will fight to get the dark money out of politics and stop our politicians from insider trading. Most
With family roots in Colorado dating back 130 years, Kelloff grew up in northern Virginia, where he went to public school before attending James Madison University. He said he frequented Colorado throughout his early life.
His 30-plus year career has been mostly focused on the telecommunications and technology industry, which he told The Sopris Sun has led to the production of thousands of jobs and helped “build the critical infrastructure we use every day in our lives.”
“My career was focused on building physical telecommunications infrastructure, things like laying fiber optic networks in the communities,” he said. “It was critical infrastructure, but it also created a lot of good jobs. And many of those jobs were construction type jobs, focused on trades and unions.”
continued on page 16
ANNALISE GRUETER
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Colorado and Roaring Fork Valley snowpack plummeted in March, due to a combination of above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation. Early in the month, watershed nonprofit Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) raised alarms in a community newsletter, highlighting that snowpack in the Valley was at 65% of normal on March 4, with average site depths of 8.7 inches — 4.7 inches lower than the historical median.
By March 26, that snowpack data dropped to 36% of normal. RFC believes that the melting through March indicates that the region reached peak snowpack for the winter on March 10, with 9.3 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE). The Roaring Fork Valley historically reaches peak snowpack in early April, with an average of 17.1 inches SWE. Barring significant April or May storms, RFC anticipates that this year will break the previously documented record for lowest peak snowpack, set in 2012 at 11.4 inches SWE.
Earlier this month, Aspen Journalism reported that February temperatures in Aspen
broke records; the month-average of 31.6 degrees Fahrenheit, based on Aspen-Pitkin County Airport data, is about 6 degrees above average. The airport is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) station and began collecting climate data in 1998.
Measurements indicate that the total precipitation up valley, from November through February, was the lowest in 30 years, and among the driest ever recorded. The airport-based
temperature sensor recorded 89 days at above-average maximum temperatures, or daytime highs, during the 120-day period, and 94 days with above-average minimum temperatures, or nighttime lows, during that same period. So over three-quarters of the temperature measurements during that time frame were above average. Those temperatures differ so much from historical measurements that local meteorologists and
state-level climate scientists have predicted that 2026 is likely to be a record-setting outlier for years, despite the observed warming trend over decades.
Though more precipitation is imminent, consistent with the current low-pressure system and additional forecast April storms, local environmental organizations doubt that snowpack in the Roaring Fork Valley will return to, or surpass, the March 10 measurement. From March 19 to March 26, SNOTEL
sites throughout the Valley measured daytime temperatures at 15 degrees warmer than average, which has contributed to rapid snowmelt and significantly above-average river flows for this time of year. RFC reported that the McClure Pass and Schofield Pass SNOTEL sites, at the headwaters of the Crystal River, lost 6 inches and 4.1 inches of SWE, respectively, that same week.
These rapid changes are impacting local recreation and the economy. Sunlight Resort, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands all closed earlier than planned due to rapid meltoff. Sunlight, located southwest of Glenwood Springs, closed on March 22 due to lack of snowpack. The resort had originally planned to stay open until April 5. Buttermilk, the lowest of the Aspen-Snowmass resorts, closed on March 25 with only two days notice, given increasing hazards from rapid melting. It had also intended to continue operations until April 5.
Aspen Highlands’ planned closing date was set to be April 12. The mountain’s famous closing-weekend parties typically bring hundreds of revelers
continued on page 16
Alzheimer’s Support Group
2nd Tuesdays
April 14 | 3–4 p.m.
Responding to Dementia Behaviors
Tools for Caregivers
April 30 | 3:30–5 p.m.
AMY HADDEN MARSH Sopris Sun Correspondent
No Kings III drew about 3,500 people from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys to Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs on Saturday, March 28, local organizer Mountain Action Indivisible stated in a press release. The march and rally were part of a national, non-violent day of action against government corruption and the drift toward authoritarianism in the U.S. Nationally, No Kings III drew millions with international solidarity protests from London and Rome to Paris and beyond.
The Glenwood Springs crowd lined Grand Avenue to 10th Street, chanting slogans and carrying signs against facism, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, the wars in the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump and more.
Local entertainer Mugsy Fay took to the stage in the park and led the crowd in chants and songs along with the Joyful Resistance Choir and the Raging Grannies. Chesca Smotherman of Mountain Action Indivisible, journalist Zoё Rom and Alex Sanchez of Voces Unidas de las Montañas spoke passionately about issues, including public lands, ICE in local communities and the agency’s possible collaboration with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. Sanchez encouraged everyone to maintain the momentum. A similar protest in Aspen drew about 100 people.
JOHN STROUD
Sopris Sun Correspondent
Roaring Fork High School’s girls lacrosse team is off to a 5-1 this season, with their only loss so far coming to a tough Battle Mountain team, 16-5, on March 17.
Since then, the Rams have run the slate, scoring a 12-9 win at home against Steamboat Springs on March 19, defeating Grand Junction on the road 15-7 on March 24, and topping Summit 13-2 at home on March 26.
The cooperative team combines student-athletes from Roaring Fork, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Basalt, and Glenwood Springs high schools.
Led by senior captain Jordyn Miller, averaging four goals per game, the Rams are looking to improve upon a 12-5 season and third-place finish in the 4A Mountain East League last year.
“Jordyn leads the team in ground balls and draw controls, and our defense is anchored by senior Alivya Malcolm [goalie], Ava Montemayor and Hazel Barker,” head coach (and Jordyn’s dad) Dahl Miller said.
Montemayor leads the team in caused turnovers with eight, and Malcolm has recorded 59 saves through the first six games.
Returning midfielders this season are juniors Aurora Cherney and Marin
“Where we need to improve is on possessing and taking care of the ball, starting with draw controls and fewer unforced errors,” he said. “A team goal is to make it deep in the state playoffs.”
Last season, the Rams opened the 4A playoffs with a 12-4 win over Mullen; bowing out with a second-round loss to Green Mountain, 20-7.
Upcoming home games for the Lady Rams include: April 9, 4pm versus Battle Mountain; April 14, 5:30pm vs. Eagle Valley; April 21, 4pm vs. Fruita; and April 23, 4pm (senior night) vs. Aspen.
Goscha tourney
Many sports are idle during spring break this week, except the Roaring Fork baseball team which hosts the annual Trent Goscha Memorial Tournament Thursday-Saturday, April 2-4, at Ron Patch Memorial Field.
The tournament is played in memory of Goscha, a promising youth baseball player who died unexpectedly before reaching high school 10 years ago. Proceeds from the tournament support the Trent Goscha Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded to one of this year’s senior players.
The Rams are off to a 1-2 start through the early going. They’re set to play Montezuma-Cortez to open the tournament at
In other recent spring sports action
The Roaring Fork girls soccer team (0-3-2) lost 1-0 at home against Grand Junction on March 25, and tied at Aspen 1-1 the following afternoon.
sophomore Levi Friday, third in the 1600-meter run (4 minutes, 59.42 seconds), and sixth in the 800-meter (2:16.04); junior Davey Noyola, fifth in
I’m running for re-election to build on successes over the last 4 years:
Affordable Housing
Helped support resident purchase of two mobile home parks—protecting homes for 139 families (about 500 residents)—and helped over 20 families create affordable housing units.
Livability
Invested in safer streets with crosswalks and bike lanes, and expanded mobility through WeCycle and the Downtowner.
Community Resilience
Upgrading water and wastewater systems, transitioning town facilities to cleaner energy, and working with the fire district to reduce wildfire risk.
Community Investment
Smart planning and fiscal responsibility to keep Carbondale a thriving place to live, work, and raise a family.
with Miranda Watson
Learn the basics of painting and mixing water-based oils.
Tuesdays, 5:30-8:30, 4/7-4/28 Register Today
WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Learn all about colors and how they mix to create stunning and harmonious paintings.
Tues, 1:30-4:30pm, 4/7-4/28
FUNDRAISING FOR NON-PROFITS
Learn development tools to build your resource base. Tues, 5:30-8:30pm, 4/7 ONLINE
SWING DANCE - LINDY HOP
Build on the basics with Charleston Lindy Hop.
Wed, 6:30-8:30pm, 4/8-4/29
PLANTING A NATIVE MEDICINAL POLLINATOR PARADISE
Plants that attract beneficial insects, and improve soil. Thursday, 7-8pm, 4/9
MEDICINE OF OUR TREES
Learn the healing properties of several RF Valley tree species. Thursday, 6-8pm, 4/23
UTE AND INDIGENOUS CULTURE
CONVERSATION FREE TALK
Tuesday, 6-7:30pm, 5/19 Exhibit on campus 5/15-5/29
US CONSTITUTION FREE TALK Wednesday, 6-8:30pm, 5/20
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: EN PLEIN AIR Wed-Thurs, 1-5pm, 5/20-5/21
DRAWING ESSENTIALS*
Mon-Thurs, 5/18-5/21, Aspen
CONTEMPORARY CRITIQUE* Thurs, 6-8:20pm, 5/21-7/9, Aspen
GRAPHICS FOR APPAREL* Thurs, 5-7:20pm, 5/21-7/9, Aspen
*Call for more information and registration. Open to community members. Senior Discount.
‘ANYTHING GOES’
The Glenwood Springs Library hosts an opening for “Anything Goes,” an art exhibit consisting of works by members of the Glenwood Springs Art Guild, from 4 to 6pm. The show will be up through May 15. Visitors can vote for their favorite pieces, and awards will be doled out once the exhibit closes.
FIGURE DRAWING
Mike de la Rosa hosts a figure drawing class at The Art Base every first and third Thursday from 5 to 7pm. All skill levels are welcome, but artists are to bring their own supplies. To register, visit www.theartbase.org
WILD THINGS
Colorado State University Extension Office of Garfield County screens short films about rangelands and pastoral communities across the globe from 6 to 8pm at the Crystal Theatre. The event, in celebration of the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, also includes two guest speakers: rangelands researcher Dr. Maria Fernandez-Gimenez and explorer and storyteller Meriwether Hardie. Tickets at www.tinyurl.com/ RangelandsAtTheCrystal
FUN & GAMES AT CLUB MARBLE
Club Marble (formerly Marble Distilling) hosts an evening of board games and fun from 6 to 8pm. Everyone 21+ is welcome.
PASSOVER SEDER
The Jewish Diaspora observes the second night of Passover, a week-long tradition commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
FAREWELL TO THE BARD
Olivia The Bard “bids farewell to her home of 25 years. Will she be back? Of course she will!” Catch the concert at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
BEAUTY OF WATER
The Basalt Library hosts an opening exhibition for “The Beauty of Water,” a watercolor exhibition featuring local artists, from 4 to 6pm.
SPRING INTO WELLNESS
The Spring Into Wellness First Friday event is back, featuring wellness practitioners and businesses at the Carbondale Rec Center and downtown from 5 to 8pm. Pick up a Spring Into Wellness Bingo card at the Rec Center and check off boxes by visiting various participating organizations. For details, visit www.tinyurl.com/ WellnessCarbondale
MORE FIRST FRIDAY
Carbondale Arts hosts an activation of “Sweet Excess,” where William Lanzillo “brings to life a giant contraption extruding an impossible cannoli,” at 5pm; Mountain Tide Provision Co. hosts streetside cornhole, 5-8pm; KDNK DJs spin tunes from Chacos Park, 5-8pm; and Lauren Sterritt hosts a DIY birdhouses workshop at Rootz Hair Salon, 6-8pm. For details, visit www.carbondalearts.com/events
VAUDEVILLE’S SPRING SHOW
The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue kicks off its spring show at 6pm tonight, running every Friday and Saturday through June 27. For tickets, visit www.gvrshow.com
‘CHROMATIC HARMONY’
Carbondale Clay Center hosts an opening for “Chromatic Harmony” at Main Street Gallery & the Framer (399 Main Street) from 6 to 8pm.
CRYSTAL THEATRE
“Project Hail Mary” continues its run at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm tonight, tomorrow and Monday. Catch a captioned showing on Sunday at 5pm.
STEVIE LIZARD
Stevie Lizard performs at Townline Trucks, at the east end of Main Street in Carbondale, from 7 to 10pm.
THE WOOD BROTHERS
The Wheeler Opera House presents The Wood Brothers at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
FLY TYING TO CASTING
The Silt Library will host part one of a three-part flyfishing workshop, “River Ready: Flyfishing to Casting,” from 11am to 1pm. The workshops are designed for “adults who want to learn the fundamentals of fly fishing in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment.” Part two of the workshop will be held at the same time and place on April 11, and part three will be held from 10am to noon at the New Castle Boat Ramp on April 25. For details, call the library at 970-876-5500.
POWWOW
Aspen Indigenous Foundation hosts a powwow from 4 to 5pm at the Sister Cities Plaza in Aspen. For details, visit www.aspenaif.org
ARTFUL STORY HOUR
The Powers Art Center hosts a themed story and craft hour for kids from 11am to noon. For details, visit www.powersartcenter.org
FRUIT TREES & SHRUBS
Sharpen your tools and learn fruit tree and shrub pruning techniques with Vanessa Harmony at Colorado Mountain College’s Lappala Center in Carbondale from noon to 4pm. To register, visit www.tinyurl.com/CMCpruning DAY RETREAT
True Nature offers the “Into the Bloom Day Retreat,” from noon to 5pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
CONTRA DANCE
Roaring Fork Valley Contra Dance presents “Balance and Swing,” with lessons beginning at 7pm and the dance starting at 7:30pm. The event will be held at the Carbondale Community School. A $10 to $20 donation is appreciated.
SOPRIS MOUNTAIN BOYZ
The Sopris Mountain Boyz perform at El Dorado from 8 to 10pm.
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
EASTER MEDITATION
An Easter meditation service based on the teachings of Parama Hansa Yogananda takes place at True Nature from 9 to 10:30am. Free and open to all.
EASTER EGG HUNT
The Glenwood Hot Springs Resort hosts an Easter egg hunt at 10am for ages 12 and under.
EVOLUTIONARY MESSAGES
A Spiritual Center hosts “Evolutionary Messages of Easter for These Times” from 10 to 11:30am in Room 31 of Carbondale’s Third Street Center.
CAVE BUNNY
The Easter Bunny hops by the Glenwood Caverns from noon to 3pm. ‘WALL-E’ AT THE CRYSTAL
The Crystal Theatre screens “Wall-E” today at 1pm and again on early release Wednesday, April 8 at 2:30pm.
found at its website: www.kdnk.org Ballots for Carbondale and Basalt’s municipal elections are due at the ballot box at their respective town halls by 7pm
SOUND IMMERSION
Ananda Mandala guides a sound immersion experience at the Glenwood Library from 3 to 4pm. Participants should bring a yoga mat, camping pad or cushion, plus a blanket, pillow, eye mask, water bottle, journal and pen.
ECSTATIC DANCE
DJ Gabriela Mejia plays tunes at the Old Thompson Barn in River Valley Ranch for a full-moon ecstatic dance from 5 to 7pm. To RSVP, email alya@alyasumbrella.com
MONDAY, APRIL 6
‘COMMON GROUND’
Anderson Ranch staff exhibit, “Common Ground,” will be on display today through June 16. A closing reception will be held on June 9 at 5pm. For details, visit www.andersonranch.org
MARIO KART SHOWDOWN
Teens and younger kids pair up to compete in a Mario Kart Nintendo Switch tournament at the Basalt Library from 4 to 5pm. Details at www.basaltlibrary.org
FUNGI TALK & BOOK SIGNING
Western Colorado Mycological Association and White River Books host Dr. Gordon Walker, author of “Dr. Fun Guy’s Passport to Kingdom Fungi,” for a talk and book signing at the Carbondale Community School from 6 to 8pm. Free and open to all.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
SMARTPHONE CLASS
Discover the nuances and tricks to your smart phone with a class at the Glenwood Library held every Tuesday at noon. Spanish interpretation available.
SHORTSFEST
Aspen Film’s 35th annual Shortsfest kicks off at the Wheeler Opera House today at 4pm. For the full weekend lineup and tickets, visit www.aspenfilm.org
MUSIC TRIVIA
The Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program hosts Music Trivia at Carbondale Beer Works. Doors open at 6:30pm, trivia begins at 7pm. Teams of six can register at www.tinyurl.com/AZYEPtrivia All proceeds benefit youth radio.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
PET HEALTH
Join the veterinarians from Mountain Paws Vet at the Carbondale Library from 4 to 5pm for an event designed to keep your pet happy and healthy.
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club doodles together at Townline Trucks, on the east end of Main Street in Carbondale, at 6:30pm.
C.A.R.E. BINGO
Colorado Animal Rescue hosts its final Bingo Night fundraiser of the season at Carbondale Beer Works. Cards will be available for purchase at 6:30, and the first round starts at 7pm.
TIM MEADOWS AT THE UTE
Comedian Tim Meadows, who was once the longest-running cast member on Saturday Night Live, performs at the Ute Theatre in Rifle at 7pm. For tickets, visit www.utetheater.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
NO MAN’S LAND FILM FESTIVAL
Dive into wild stories and bold films where no limits exist! The Roaring Fork Women’s Triathlon Team brings the outdoor filmfest featuring women, trans and the genderqueer community to the Crystal Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 and the film starts at 7pm. For tickets, visit www.roaringforktriteam.com
LEGENDS OF MOUNTAIN FAIR
The Carbondale Historical Society hosts a panel of Mountain Fair hooligans, who’ll cover the vibrant history of Carbondale’s favorite festival and where it’s headed, from 6 to 8pm in the Round Room of the Third Street Center. Come one, come all.
STATE OF THE RIVER
The Colorado River District hosts its Middle Colorado State of the River meeting at Morgridge Commons, upstairs of the Glenwood Library, at 6pm. The event will cover snowpack, drought and river negotiations.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
BOOT TAN FEST
Boot Tan Fest begins at Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, bringing together women and the genderqueer community to enjoy the mountains together. Though the lifts won’t be running due to a lack of snow, the festival will carry on until April 12. For tickets, visit boottanfest.com
ELEVATE
Roaring Fork Leadership will host a regional forum, ELEVATE 2026, centered around female leadership, community and connection. The event will take place from 1 to 6pm at Morgridge Commons in Glenwood Springs, upstairs from the library. To register, visit www.bit.ly/4m283Lt
We are delighted to offer you, our community, the opportunity to take advantage of low-cost blood tests
June 5 and 6
ASPEN
Aspen Ambulance Building
Aspen Valley Health Medical Center 0403 Castle Creek Road
June 7
EL JEBEL
Eagle County Community Center 20 Eagle County Drive
Lab Tests Offered
• HealthScreen w/CBC – $79 Includes CBC, CMP, Ferritin, Iron Panel, Lipid Panel, TSH and Uric Acid (Fasting Required)
• hsCardio CRP – $42
(Complete Blood Count) –$32 By appointment only 8-11:30 am
• Hemoglobin A1C & EAG –$44
Visit aspenvalleyhealth.org/health-fair or scan the code for complete details. Make your appointment starting April 22.
COLUMN BY SARAH
PLETTS
Special to The Sopris Sun Flashback to 1979 in the Roaring Fork Valley.
I had been living here a short time, having moved in January of 1974. The Rocky Mountains called out to me. And the major attractions for me as a professional dancer were the Aspen Music Festival and ballet classes with Ballet West in a miraculous outdoor tent in Snowmass. The temporary dance floor was smooth and buoyant, Toni Marks was a world-class instructor and the midday view when the tent flaps were up was looking down a valley over lush meadows to shining mountains.
Having left exciting, but crowded ballet and Broadway jazz classes in Manhattan, I was thrilled. The year I drove back to New York City and decided I needed to reverse my circumstances — living here and performing elsewhere — was the best decision of my working life. Those first winters were rough though, because summer arts professionals went home and the overriding conversation was of snow conditions on the peaks or going up noses in bar restrooms.
I wasn’t a druggy, though I’m a hippy through and through and proud of it. But as I struggled earning my living with graphic design jobs and illustration assignments mailed to and from NYC, things improved. And that autumn in 1979, I met Ellen Kohner Hunt.
The festival founder sat behind a foldout table in front of the Isis with signs that said FILMFEST with Gail Holstein, too. Two lit-up, friendly, cultured women who had also been around the arts block. They and others (thank you!) were showing new films for a small bit of cash (you could also volunteer) made by innovative creators. Wow. Ellen began meaningful discussions — as aesthetically evolved as anyone I’d met in North America or Europe. And she possessed that rare quality of infusing respect for art with good business. Those who said, “this will never fly, or good luck” as if the organizers were crazy and audacious, were not listened to.Those who were curious and eager were.
Was I living in a utopia? Well part time anyway. Lorenzo Semple III also lived here. He was a superlative screenwriter who could be seen walking Main Street many mornings, to his writer’s den. We became friends and he encouraged my film making dreams like no other. It was the critic Gene Shallot (when I worked in Manhattan in publishing) who awoke me to my favorite film written by Lorenzo. It’s called Sheena, Queen of the Jungle. Huh? Through the medium of “camp” we watch a feminine force protect nature and wildlife. Interesting. I go for content, not prestige.
I’ve attended the Cannes Film Festival three times. What is good there is that story comes first. Not who’s who?
Their judges include actors, writers and artists, some known, some not. And here we are 47 years hence, with an international line-up of short films showing in our Isis Theatre and Wheeler Opera House next week.
Firstly, here are some numbers regarding Aspen Film’s Shortsfest, running April 7-11. Sixty-one films were selected from over 3,200 submissions, including 37 Colorado premieres, and representing 25 countries. You could likely find something to like. As a filmmaker, I regard figures, but then think. As an innovator, I surmise that
originality is not always included in impressive lineups.
But we live in a small, thinking community, not run (for the most part) by outside opinion. Some shorts featured at the festival include “Zwermen,” from Netherlands and Belgium; “Jah! (Yes!)” from Estonia; “Balconada,” from Bulgaria and France; “The Boys and the Bees,” from Georgia (our bees need us); “A Shot at Art,” from Netherlands; “The Baddest Speech Writer of All,” from U.S. (concerning Martin Luther King Jr.); and “O’Sey Balamia,” from India (confronts
continued on page 15
Our professional photographer is taking reservations now for photo sessions:
• Sunday, April 19 and Saturday, April 25 from 9am-1pm at The Sopris Sun o ce at the Third Street Center, 520 S. Third Street, #26 in Carbondale
• Sunday, April 26 at the Glenwood Springs Library from 10am-12pm.
Please email Terri Ritchie at terrir@soprissun.com or call 970-510-3003 to schedule.
Llame a 970-274-6513 Klaus Kocher o mande un correo electrónico a klauskocherfotograf@gmail.com parahacer una reservación. Se habla español.
Please reserve by Friday, April 17.
solitude). You read I’m a peace and love gal so take my listings with that in mind and check out the Shortsfest calendar yourself at aspenfilm.org.
Innovative filmmakers contribute to creating society and we need them more than ever. I haven’t seen any of these films yet and I’m excited. And I trust that viewers absorb the personal transformation stories AND put that much called-for evolved care into our communities and lamenting world.
Aspen Film honors their founder with the Ellen award each year. How essential it is to remember that theatres, festivals, ski companies, our administrators and the filmmakers do not pop up like weeds after it rains (though many I’ve met act like they do).
Aspen Film is a remarkable 47-year achievement that is a result of countless people who love the expression of human feelings portrayed on a giant film screen.
How fortunate we are here to still be able to occupy a comfy red velvet chair, in a safe dark, quiet space, and contemplate. Please come, buy tickets, listen, watch and stand in the lobby or on the sidewalk after and reflect out loud about what you experienced. Brava.
‘I don’t want to survive, I want to live’
EDITOR’S NOTE: Spoilers lie ahead, but this review is well worth the read and has already resulted in the editor wanting to finally see the film. Youngsters and their adults will have the chance to catch showings at the Crystal Theatre ... read through the end for details ...
Winner of the 2009 Oscar for best animated picture, “Wall-E” (2008) was a hugely successful collaboration between Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Set in the distant future, the Earth has become a wasteland covered in an ocean of trash. Human beings have long ago abandoned the planet and foisted the responsibility of cleaning up after themselves on robots. Spoiler alert: This is way more than a fleet of Roombas could handle.
Man is not depicted in a favorable light in this movie. Human beings have become complacent, clueless, immobile and gargantuan. Unable to move around under their own steam, they glide around recumbent on gravity-defying loungers, reliant on robots to satisfy their every need. Readers who have experienced life on a large cruise ship may well relate.
A cute cuboid robot named Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter — Earth-class) spends his days compacting trash into cubes, which he then painstakingly stacks into giant misshapen skyscrapers. His evenings are spent back in his metallic burrow, hanging out with his only friend, a lively cockroach-like insect. He relieves his loneliness by playing with the handful of curiosities he has managed to sift from the sea of trash, including a dinged up Rubik’s cube. Wall-E longs for more meaningful companionship, torturing himself by rewatching romantic excerpts from “Hello, Dolly!” played on a dusty old VCR.
By DJ Sugar Monkey
The endearing and curious Wall-E scoots around the rubbish strewn landscape on caterpillar tracks, tirelessly performing his monotonous duties. Then, one day, a more advanced robot named Eve (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) unexpectedly arrives from space looking for signs of sustainable life. Wall-E becomes infatuated with the new visitor and, in an attempt to impress her, shows off his hoard of vintage trinkets. Eve slowly warms to him, but when he presents her with the pièce de resistance of his collection, a small plant, she grabs it and rushes off back to her mothership, the Axiom.
Heartbroken that he may never see Eve again, Wall-E clings to her in a robotic embrace and the couple are teleported onto the massive spaceship, home to what remains of the human species.
The disruptive presence of the curious Wall-E coupled with the flimsiest of evidence that life has returned to the trashed planet ignites a curiosity within the listless passengers of the Axiom. When he sees the plant that Eva has brought on board, the human captain of the enormous floating starship determines to return to Earth. His plans, however, are initially thwarted by a domineering AI named AUTO, who is highly resistant to the idea of repopulating the Earth.
Reminiscent of Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), AUTO refuses to cede control of the vessel to the captain and battle between man and machine ensues. Eve and Wall-E team up to help the captain achieve his aim, AUTO is defeated, and the AXIOM returns to Earth. The seedling is replanted and vegetative life proliferates once again.
Beyond the charming romance between the two robots and unquestionably impressive animation, Wall-E makes for a touching commentary on environmental neglect, man’s overreliance on technology and the overarching power of hope and curiosity. The only disappointing aspect of it, in my opinion, was the mediocre song “Down to Earth” performed by Peter Gabriel, which accompanies the end credits,
The movie’s release in 2008 coincided with the election of Barack Obama, when climate became a mainstream policy priority in the US. For me, it is a reminder of how far we have come, of how far we have regressed and ultimately of how far we still need to go. “Wall-E” is visually impressive and remains popular with children and adults alike.
The Crystal Theatre will screen “Wall-E” at 1pm on April 5 and again at 2:30pm on April 8.
Accomplishments while on Town council:
New solar powered community swimming pool
Regulations to address youth vaping
Funding for mental health staff in schools
Additional affordable housing units
Funding for purchase of mobile home park
Short-term rental regulations
Pushed for WeCycle, Downtowner and mobility projects
Leadership at Colorado Communities for Climate Action
Single hauler contract for trash and recycling
Intensive planning for drought
Partnership with Fire District for emergency and wildfire preparedness
Leadership during pandemic
from page 4
Category six is a mix of cards like “No More Gaslighting,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Reframe,” “Cultural Twists,” and “Wild Card: All Play Stronger Together.” This section is information dense and played by the whole group, so after reading the card, the players can pick from a different category.
One card from the gaslighting section says, “Your symptoms are valid; if you feel off you’re not imagining it. Example: body temperature swings. One minute you’re freezing, the next you’re sweating through your clothes. It’s not all in your head. Your hypothalamus –– the body’s thermostat –– is being influenced by hormonal fluctuations. Reflect and share. Have you or others dismissed your symptoms?”
The reframing section is very sweet; an example we pulled said to “honor your fine lines and wrinkles as powerful markers of your wisdom and life experiences. Share a story about a time of growth, strength, resilience, or a time that made you smile,” and reminded us that “aging isn’t the enemy, we are just at a different stage.”
The “Cultural Twist” cards remind players that in different cultures, they embrace aging and perimenopause differently than we may have been taught. For example, indigenous
from page 6
He has owned a two-bedroom condo in Aspen for the past 11 years and moved to the town just over six years ago, though his parents married in Aspen in the 1960s and his grandparents lived in Carbondale in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Kelloff’s campaign address is based in Old Snowmass, where he is currently building a house.
Born and raised in southeast Texas and graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Romero brings with him to the campaign military experience and multiple decades of public service in Colorado and the Roaring Fork Valley. He is a combat veteran of the first Gulf War, where he earned a Bronze Star.
Romero and his family have lived in the district for the past 30 years, between Carbondale, Aspen and Snowmass Village. He currently sits on the Snowmass Water & Sanitation District board
from page 7
to the Valley to celebrate the season alongside locals. Like Buttermilk, the mountain’s early closing was officially announced with only 48 hours notice. Highlands closed on March 29. While both Snowmass and Aspen Mountain remain open as of March 31, high temperatures and rapid melting have contributed to skepticism as to whether the resorts will make it to the intended closing dates of April 12 and April 19, respectively.
The Roaring Fork Watershed remains in “exceptional” drought,
cultures in Africa, China, and even Greece have the crone archetype where elderly women are seen as knowledgeable, authentic and intuitional.
Towards the end of our conversation, I noted that every phase in a woman’s life is another puberty where women continue to go through rebirths. Kasper replied beautifully, saying “We are going out as other people are coming in.”
There are “New Ladies Night” events facilitated by Kasper. “I’ve really enjoyed all of the events because there are a lot of ‘me too!’ and ‘I didn’t realize that!’ moments,” Kasper said. “It is a comfortable place for women to share.” There will be another event this April. Also, if you would like to host a private event, that is available! You can get a group together and Kasper will help facilitate it.
Kasper’s game WTFF?! Perimenopause aims to destigmatize all of the misunderstandings and misinformation about this stage of life.
The game can be found on Etsy and in 12 stores across Colorado. Local stores include Lulubelle, True Nature Healing Arts, The Launchpad, Bleu Door Boutique, and Aspen Emporium.
Listen to an interview with Meredith Kasper on KDNK Community Access Radio on Thursday April 2 at 4pm.
and runs Romero Group Realty, a real estate management company based out of the Roaring Fork Valley.
“It employs over 100 full-time Coloradans,” he said. “We support dozens and dozens and dozens of working class families associated with our employees.”
He has also served on Aspen City Council, as well as Aspen Fire Protection District and Aspen School District boards, and was appointed as the state’s economic development director during former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s first term in office.
The winner of the primary election will, on Nov. 3, face Hurd, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump. Hope Scheppelman, a candidate from southwest Colorado who had registered in the race as a Republican, announced the suspension of her campaign on March 20. Pueblo’s Heather Barton is registered to run as an unaffiliated candidate.
the most severe rating by the United States Drought Monitor. The rest of Pitkin and Eagle counties, and much of Garfield County, are in extreme drought, making the region (including bordering Summit, Grand, Routt and Rio Blanco counties) one of the worst drought areas in the Western United States. Basalt is following the example of Front Range communities, implementing stage 1 water restrictions starting Wednesday, April 1, in anticipation of continued water stress through the spring.
My river is about to die. The once-mighty Colorado River has been dying a slow death by a thousand cuts for years, but now it is going for good.
I am a small irrigator and water user with good rights. Because of this, I am on the Division 5 — Colorado River Mainstem Call Change list of contacts. The most recent notice I received reads: “The river is being administered per the 2007 Shoshone Relaxation Agreement, therefore reducing target flow at Dotsero Gage to a one-turbine call of 704 cubic feet per second (cfs) starting Wednesday, March 18, 2026.” That’s exactly half of what would normally flow when the Shoshone rights are calling their full amount of 1,408 cfs.
This “relaxation” agreement was made between Denver and Xcel Energy in 2006 to cut the Colorado River flow to the Shoshone power plant in Glenwood Canyon by half, when Denver’s reservoirs are projected to be at or below 80% full by July 1, and the National Resource Conservation Services’ April through July projected flow volume on the Colorado River at Kremmling is estimated to be at 85% or less of average.
By Chuck Ogilby
Now, Denver
Water is trying to extend the Shoshone Relaxation Agreement through the entire summer, forever, and it’s time for us all to call foul.
That means the Colorado River flow can drop by 704 cfs for the next two months (or longer if Xcel Energy and Denver Water want to extend the shortfall, but only if West Slope entities also agree).
Now, Denver Water is trying to extend the Shoshone Relaxation Agreement through the entire summer, forever, and it’s time for us all to call foul.
As the new Colorado Water Plan was being negotiated, which I participated in for most of the last 20 years, the big Water Buffaloes insisted that this halving of the river supply through Glenwood Springs could not be negotiated. But two other big
diversions are coming soon: the expansion of the Windy Gap Project, through the construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir by the Northern Colorado Municipal Subdistrict, taking another nearly 8,500 acre feet out of the upper Colorado in Grand County; and the further planned expansion of the Moffat Tunnel diversions to fill Denver Water’s Gross Reservoir Enlargement Project with another 10,300 to 11,800 acre feet out of the Fraser River, also in Grand County.
Just imagine the Colorado River without this 20,000 acre feet when these diversions are fully implemented out of an already massively depleted river.
Now, our only guard against these huge depletions for the lower Colorado River is the call at the Shoshone Power Plant. And for the next two months, and maybe longer if Denver Water gets its way, half of that water will be gone to the Front Range.
To make matters worse, the “historic” 2013 Colorado River Cooperative Agreement (CRCA) between Denver Water and the West Slope obligated Denver to support the permanent protection of the Shoshone Water Rights. But where is Denver now that a permanent solution is within grasp? Actively fighting against the solution in water court.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis just activated the state’s Drought Task Force. One of the tasks of this group is to balance the health of the river and the recreation it provides. I do not have much faith in this group placing this as a top priority based on what I am already seeing from the state. My river is gone.
Denver’s attempts to reinterpret the 2013 CRCA to extend the relaxation through the summer months underscores exactly why the West Slope needs to stand together to protect the Shoshone Water Rights and to protect our own water future.
Chuck Ogilby has been fighting for free-flowing rivers for years.
way to provide space for longtime locals to reminisce and an education for newcomers now calling this place home.
“Many years down the line, we’re going to hear some stories that happened in this current day and age that’ll be too hard to believe,” Kimberly told The Sopris Sun. “Especially if people are new to town, they should come, because this will give them great insight into what this community is really about, and they’ll meet so many people who have helped shape it.”
Kimberly first became involved with Mountain Fair in 2004. Though she was involved for many years and expressed pride and gratitude in the work she had done, she is excited for the stories rooted in a time that came before her.
“My timespan of directorship was pretty mild compared to some of the stories from the past. Fifty-five years is a long timespan, especially when so many of the original people are still involved, and [now] their grandkids are involved and we’re starting that almost fourth generation,” Kimberly said. “So I think it’s so important, especially in these crazy times, to remember and celebrate the community that we have and the community that has been maintained so strongly through Mountain Fair.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Roger Berliner is a Sopris Sun board member, but has submitted this guest column outside of that capacity.
Land use issues, without a doubt, rank at the top of the hard work you do. I know. I spent 12 years as the equivalent of a county commissioner back east representing a district of 200,000 residents. And land use was the hardest work I did. I was even hung in effigy for agreeing that we could do better on the site of a struggling, old shopping center.
But not all of the decisions are hard. Some are just so wrong. I respectfully submit that the Harvest Village proposal coming before you, a proposal that would put upwards of 5,000 people, 1,500 dwelling units and a hotel on 283 acres at the confluence of Cattle Creek and the Roaring Fork River should not be hard to decide. It is so wrong.
Here is one way of framing the issues: 1) what has been the conclusion of those you have entrusted to advise you on planning matters; 2) is it consistent with our county code and plan for growth; and 3) if it
passes both of those thresholds questions, does it enhance or degrade what makes this part of our county so special?
1) Planning staff and your Planning Board came to the same conclusion: this plan should not be approved.
2) The evidence submitted by the Cattle Creek Confluence Coalition to the Planning Commission at the public hearing on March 11, definitively demonstrated that the proposal meets neither the county’s adopted comprehensive plan or the county code in almost countless ways. Additionally, as deficient as the proposal is, it is not even binding on the developer since the promises put forth in the application were not “regulatory” commitments, but merely unenforceable pledges. These failures are not minor – they go to the heart of what citizens have the right to rely upon.
3) The evidence on the merits is equally clear: Consolidating 1,500 homes and a hotel on these 283 acres along Highway 82 and our Roaring Fork River degrades the very qualities that make this part of the valley so extraordinary.
presence of trout, herons and so much more that only thrive in pure flows, and the livelihoods of those who depend upon the river’s national reputation. All degraded.
Fundamentally, the proposal is totally incompatible with the rural nature of this part of our county. Instead, it creates a new urban center that looks like it belongs in Denver or Dallas, not Cattle Creek.
Nature. The pristine flow of the Roaring Fork River. The elk herds and other wildlife that pass through. The bountiful
Fundamentally, the proposal is totally incompatible with the rural nature of this part of our county. Instead, it creates a new urban center that looks like it belongs in Denver or Dallas, not Cattle Creek. Rather than solving problems, it creates more nightmare scenarios. Our traffic gets much worse, not better. Emergency evacuation is compromised. Large quantities of precious water will be lost at a time when droughts are becoming more common and water levels are heartbreakingly low. The only county priority that the proposal purports to address is workforce housing. But at just 150 units, it’s the bare minimum required for a project of this magnitude. Units
By Roger Berliner
that stretch the definition of “affordable” beyond recognition. Units that could come at the beginning of the project or the end, and look like anything, including housing stacks. There is no debate over the need to more aggressively address the issue of affordable housing. Yet how it is achieved is equally important. The challenge is in finding paths forward that don’t come at the expense of the very qualities that make this part of Garfield County so special. And we can do that. Finally, there is also general agreement that something responsible could be done on this acreage. What should happen, and what you should seriously consider encouraging, is a process that brings the
continued on page 19
Years ago, I wrote a children’s book based on the true story of a lost shoe floating in the Colorado River. I titled it “Little Chaco.” All of 12 pages with a line or two per page, “Little Chaco” is an easy and fun read, containing all the magic I gained on my one-and-only river trip through the Grand Canyon.
It was 2009 and I had just shaved my head at Diane Kenney’s champagne-andshave-your-head party, to support her journey through cancer treatment. We all donated our hair for wigs and drank champagne, while comparing our naked skull shapes. (Diane looks fabulous with-or-without hair, by the way.)
That summer, my husband was lucky to get a permit for a private trip in the Grand Canyon. Clint started putting together a group of river rats who could just up and leave their lives for three straight weeks. At the same time, Tai Jacober was working for Tom Bailey on the ranch that used to belong to my grandparents, just south of town. They were building a new house for the ranch manager and the last remaining structure from the Mt. Sopris Hereford Ranch sat too close to the building envelope. It would have to be gone in order to obtain a C.O. from Garfield County.
By Jeannie Perry
Tai offered Clint the house right there on the jobsite, with the condition that we could move it on a day’s notice. So, that’s what we did. We hired Bill Bailey to pick up Nancy’s house (as it was always called on the ranch) and move it down the road to Satank. Of course, the timing coincided with the river permit and so one of us would have to stay in town to oversee the house move, while the other would float down the Grand Canyon for 21 days. I’ll give you one guess …
Yes, that’s why I have only done the second half of the Grand; walking in with friends to meet up with the rest of our group and float for about 10 days. It turns out ten days was plenty of time for me to reach a Zen level of daily life on the river. In fact, the trip was so profound, I came home and wrote a children’s book about it.
There’s a children’s book by Ingersoll Lockwood that keeps resurfacing, just like “Little Chaco” stuck in a wave. Written in 1889, “Travels and Adventures of Little Baron Trump and His Wonderful Dog Bulger” bears a striking resemblance to Trump’s life story. That’s right, Big Orange Baby himself, or BOB, for those of you listening at home.
The coincidence of this has been dissected over and over again on the internet, and there are rabbit holes galore talking about the possibilities of time travel, alternate universes and just plain black magic. I say magic is real and we have to hold onto it for as long as possible — especially because our current society hangs by a thread, only as strong as our weakest link. Speaking of our weakest link, I’m inspired to write another children’s book.
Because really, the story of life on this planet is that water moves through the canyon.
Whaddya think of this storyline: As BOB sails through his waterworld neighborhood, bullying and robbing his friends and family, he ends up with nothing but dirt and dust bunnies in his pockets. He travels farther and farther away from home, trying to collect enough gold to buy his way into the lighthouse tower, where he imagines all the really rich guys live like ketchup kings. But every time he steals someone else’s gold, it turns to dust.
Finally, BOB arrives at the gates (made of pearl) and starts trying to talk his way in … When — poof! He suddenly disappears through a wormhole, sucking with him all the negativity and hate that follows him like a permeating odor. Just gone, as if through an open door on a plane in mid-air. Bye! Then the good villagers go back to navigating life on the river, with all its currents and eddies, even taking a break to picnic on the shore together now and then.
Because really, the story of life on this planet is that water moves through the canyon.
The end.
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community and the developer together to find common ground. It worked in our county previously, most notably in the context of what is now River Valley Ranch, which turned out pretty darn good.
Bottom line: Say no to this. Make it clear the sheer scale is unacceptable. Encourage the developer to sit
I moved to Aspen in the summer of 1958, and that fall began second grade.
My childhood and schooling were idyllic, but my mother had always told me that when ninth grade came around, I was heading “back east” to boarding school, to be, as she put it, “polished.” When I reached that scary age, I came to Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) for an interview with Wells Kerr, who had been the dean of Exeter, one of the most prestigious Eastern boarding schools. He was a Shakespearean scholar and had been John Holden’s teacher at Exeter. Ironically, Wells had expelled John from Exeter, but when the Holdens started CRMS, John so respected Wells that he hired him as a faculty member in 1959, at the age of 75.
down with the community and bring a proposal back that complies with both the county’s code and its plan for growth and a plan that will enhance, not degrade the Roaring Fork Valley. I conclude with a thank you for your continued stewardship of the county we love.
Wells Kerr, born in 1895, was just shy of 80 when he invited my mother and me into his apartment for our interview. I spoke with Wells for a bit, and then he sent me off with John Holden to tour the school. John knew I had a horse, so he showed me the stables and talked about the riding program. As we walked into the tack shed, there was a pack rat insouciantly running into the back room. John grabbed a .22 caliber rifle in the corner and took a quick shot at the rat. We then went back to the main house, and I was assigned to a work crew. Our crew climbed into the back of the green truck and headed up to Pizzatti Peak, which was the CRMS ski area, just this side of Spring Gulch. We grabbed clippers and scythes and climbed the ski hill, working for a couple of hours cutting and cropping the bushes and grass. Twenty students and me, grooming our own ski hill with its one rope tow.
I came back for dinner with my mother and Wells, and was asked to be a waiter (all dinners were sit-down). After dinner, I donned a waterproof apron and washed dishes. Then we shook hands with Wells, thanked him, and said goodbye. On the way home, my mother asked me what I thought, and then said, “How would you like to go to CRMS instead?” The next fall, my mother, my horse, and I arrived at CRMS. Leaving home in 1965 was frightening — on the heels of a presidential assassination, with two more assassinations to take place while I was a student there. It was scary and unsettling to witness the unfolding corruption of the Vietnam War, and to watch the explosion of the civil rights movement on small, grainy, black-and-white TV screens.
By A.O. Forbes
My father, a bomber pilot in WWII, loved a quote by the novelist Nikos Kazantzakis, “We are soldiers reporting to our commanding officer on a mortal mission — to live life honorably.” He tucked this notion away, knowing that, amid life’s ups and downs, this simple mantra could tether him to decency and sanity. As a teenager at CRMS, I began to appreciate my father’s sensibilities, and Wells Kerr became my answer to what it might look like to live a life tethered to decency, to idealism.
Our mortal mission at CRMS was fleshed out in Wells Kerr’s Shakespeare class, where the full spectrum of humanity was put on vivid display. Wells used to say that if you want to learn about who you are, and who you might want to be, read Shakespeare. Wells’ personal integrity and warmth allowed him to look into our adolescent eyes and see courageous souls struggling honorably for decency and dignity. On my first Spring Trip, we piled into the back of the green truck, burrowing into nests amongst all the packs for the long drive to Canyonlands. Dinner that night was cooked by students, and when it was finally served, hungry students rushed to the front of the line. Wells stood and waited until all the students had been served before getting his plate of dinner. And I noticed. I told myself that evening that I wanted to be like Wells, the teacher who persuaded my mother to send me to CRMS.
Hopefully, we all have people in our lives like Wells Kerr: people who offer a warm, quiet humanity for us to follow. Decency is a small word that suggests so much more, a perfect mantra reminding me to thank Wells daily and to remember that decency, wedded to kindness and mercy, is the source of true power. This predisposition to decency, if not the cure, is our north star through these scary times: a brilliant, ever-reliable beacon that our self-serving leaders can’t see. Infused with the disease of greed, they voraciously steal, with a diabolical disregard for decency, fairness, or moral constraints. Their cynicism bewilders the human spirit. Yet the power of decency is being piqued by their thuggish behavior and will rise … Shakespeare and Wells Kerr told me so.
The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
- “The Merchant of Venice,” Shakespeare Wells died in 1976, beloved by his entire community and generations of students and colleagues. On his page in the CRMS yearbook, students sent him off with a bit of Hamlet, “Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince.”
April is Autism Awareness Month, also known as Autism Acceptance Month. Although the official day is April 2, it is observed throughout the entire month. These observances are relatively recent: only not long ago did we feel the need to designate a day to accept difference. Perhaps because our social cognition — our collective brain — tends to push aside anything that falls outside the myth of normal. And there is no myth more flawed than that one.
Today, I want to share what I have learned about autism, not from an informational standpoint, but through a real and deeply human story — that of a child. From children, I have learned far more than from the limited formal trainings I have received in my profession.
Recently, I came across a post on social media. It was about Pau. I want to begin with his own words:
“I am Pau, and I am autistic. I don’t have autism, because it is not a disease. Diseases are cured. I am Pau, and that’s how I should be described. I am me. I am autistic, yes — but I don’t have anything wrong with me.”
And how right he is. When someone is ill, they cannot go about their life as usual: they stop going to school or work and require ongoing treatment. Often, both the individual and their family begin to relate more to the illness than to the world around them. But what Pau proposes is something entirely different: There is nothing here to cure. There is, instead, a whole world to discover.
nonconventional ways. From him, I learned that there are not just five senses, but many more: proprioception (the ability to perceive oneself), the vestibular system (related to balance and spatial awareness), among others that shape how we experience the world. So I wonder: What would happen if we discovered a new sense each day? If we paid attention to what we take for granted? Pau learns them, names them, lives them. He learns how his “square wheel” moves through a world that many of us navigate without thinking.
Shouldn’t we be making the same effort?
Because, if we think about it, we are all different. Not because we are all on the autism spectrum, but because each person is unique, shaped by their experiences and biology. The problem is not difference; it is the obsession with normal — the idea that everything must fit into a single mold, as if society required a kind of cognitive cleansing. Perhaps the challenge is not only to include, but to question that assumed normality. Autism is not a deficit or a disease. It is a different way of being in the world. An entry point, not an exit.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in 31 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism, and boys are three to four times more likely to receive a diagnosis than girls. Most are identified before the age of eight, although many cases are diagnosed later.
He then shares a powerful analogy: “Have you seen the video of the square wheel?” A square wheel would seem impossible to use. Yet in the video, bicycles with square wheels move forward smoothly on a track designed with undulations that perfectly match their shape. They fulfill the same function as a bicycle with round wheels.
The metaphor is clear: it is not the wheels that need to change, but the paths.
It also challenges another common myth — the idea that neurodivergent people do not understand metaphorical language. This example shows the opposite: not only do they understand it, they inhabit it deeply.
As philosopher Jürgen Habermas suggested, the social world should be built through consensus, adapting to the needs of those who inhabit it. And in that world, we all coexist: square wheels, round wheels, triangular ones. In the end, we are all bicycles with the same purpose — to move forward. What changes is the track.
In another video, Pau says, “I have the talent of autism.” He calls it a talent because it allows him to perceive life in different,
In school settings, this means that in nearly every grade level there is at least one child with autism. For this reason, it is not enough to acknowledge a date on the calendar. Concrete actions are needed: education about neurodiversity, openness to new perspectives and spaces that not only include, but truly understand.
In everyday life, we are that undulating track. We are the environment. It is up to us to adjust our perspective, to pause, to build bridges. To remember, as Pau says: “I am.”
And perhaps that is the most important lesson: to stop measuring others against the standard of normality and begin to recognize what emerges when that standard disappears. Because in the end, it is not about fixing the wheel, but about finally learning how to build better paths.
Visit Pau’s Instagram account at @paupautista
At Sol del Valle, we celebrate our community within the autism spectrum and invite our readers to continue learning, listening, and fostering a more inclusive society.
Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com
By Tom Mercer Carbondale-ish
It was a rainy August morning when Alan first heard the scratching on his front door. Initially, Alan simply ignored the sound, assuming it was a tree branch that had broken off of the tree in his front yard. But for a half-hour the sound persisted, so Alan stood up and went to the door to silence the scratching.
Upon opening the door, he was surprised to find a small, sad-eyed dog looking up at him. The dog was not overly cute, but Alan could not find it in his heart to simply shoo it away. Somehow, Alan sensed that the dog was in some sort of distress and needed help. So, Alan invited the animal into his home. He briefly considered a trip to the local dog pound, but that was before Alan became aware of the visitor’s special talents …
There was no collar identifying the dog or his owner’s address, so the dog spent the night in Alan’s garage. Alan simply threw a rug down on the floor, gave the animal half of a leftover sandwich, closed the mechanical door and went to bed for the night.
The following morning, Alan checked on his canine guest. The dog seemed to be in much better spirits, expressing appreciation for the safe place to sleep by licking his host’s hand. Alan understood immediately.
For the next week, Alan checked the local papers and bulletin boards for postings of a lost dog, but there was nothing. While he was at the grocery store, Alan bought cans of dog food. Upon returning home, he placed an old blanket on the floor inside the house. So, after just a few more nights, Alan had a housemate.
The two of them got along very well. Alan knew what the dog needed, and, somehow, the dog (whose name was now Charlie) displayed an uncanny knack for knowing just what Alan was thinking. At first, Alan thought that Charlie had simply recognized Alan’s day-to-day routines, but it soon became apparent that there was more to it.
For instance, if Alan thought he should take the garbage out to the curb to be picked up in the morning, he would walk into the kitchen and there would be Charlie, sitting right next to the bin. If Alan went to bed at night but had neglected to turn off the kitchen lights, Charlie would wake Alan and lead him to the light switch. If a serious storm warning was issued in the middle of the night, Charlie sensed the danger and would press his cold nose against Alan’s arm to alert him. If Alan was even thinking of taking him out for a walk, Charlie would appear at his side, leash in mouth. The two became inseparable. Each supported the other, and their non-verbal communication became better and better.
Sadly, Alan passed away six months after Charlie’s arrival at his front door.
Ms. Connor lived just a few blocks from Alan’s house. She was in the middle of breakfast when she heard a scratching noise. She got up from the table and went to her front door, and when she opened it she found a sad dog looking up at her. And just like that, Charlie had found a new home.
Comparte tus proyectos creativos aún en proceso con nuestros lectores. Puedes enviarnos un correo electrónico con tus ilustraciones, creaciones literarias y poesía a fiction@soprissun.com
Rick Davis Glenwood Springs
We laid on the blanket and looked at the stars. It was a moonless night and the sky was ablaze, a million-billion stars gazed down upon us as we looked out at them.
Staring into the vastness of the night sky, we imagined that we looked deep into infinity. She said, “There is mystery out there”. Indeed, there might be.
Let’s Explore:
The sound of birds in the air, a hundred birds, a thousand birds, hundreds of thousands of birds taking wing, a murmur of sound, a murmuration of Starlings. Behold a dark, moving, flowing image in the sky before you. Moving like smoke in the wind, fluid, continually changing shape, direction. It expands, it constricts,
it flows and rolls, turning in on itself, expanding outward always moving.
It is almost magical to watch. It almost looks like a single organism, moving in an orchestrated dance. Group thought, collective thinking, perhaps.
Some day we may know more. But right now we know this, each bird is aware of approximately seven other birds in its proximity, moving with, reacting to the others. Imagine,
seven birds each affecting seven more, in four-steps it grows from seven to over sixteen-thousand birds.
As humans, if we could each gather seven like minded together, and those seven each gather seven more like minded together, and so forth, just imagine …
The Carbondale Age-Friendly Community Initiative (CAFCI), a registered 501(c) (4) organization, recommends voting for Erica Sparhawk for mayor. Erica has demonstrated her effectiveness as a municipal leader through nine years of service as a town trustee, and it would be a loss for the town to forgo her considerable experience. Her values align with those of many Carbondale residents, particularly her strong advocacy on environmental issues.
We also recommend re-electing Chris Hassig and Colin Laird to the Board of Trustees for similar reasons. Both have shown a strong commitment to listening to community voices, making themselves accessible outside of formal Town meetings, and maintaining independent judgment — even when it means disagreeing with fellow trustees.
In addition, we recommend Kade Gianinetti for the trustee seat being vacated by Erica. Of the two candidates for this position, Kade stood out to us as both a capable leader and a creative thinker who can bring fresh ideas to the community. We believe he will be particularly effective in working with developers on the
We were also impressed by Joanne Teeple and encourage her to continue her public service, whether through one of the Town’s commissions or by running again
Age Friendly Carbondale
At his inauguration on Aug. 9, 1974, Gerald Ford proclaimed: “The long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
Food for thought. Vote blue in November. Kay Maynard Carbondale
Thanks, Pitkin, Barbara & Tim!
There’s nothing like trucks full of soil and compost when you’re prepping your
Mountain Valley Greenhouse recently received very generous donations of soil and compost from Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, horse manure compost from Barbara Dills and a supporting donation from Tim Bergman.
We now have 14 tons of topsoil and a ton of compost to fill our recently renovated raised beds.
These beds, built to be accessible to folks using mobility aides, will soon be growing tomatoes that we will sell this summer at the Glenwood Market on 7th Street. The tomato starts will also be available during our Spring Plant Sale on May 16!
These donations saved us over $1,300 in materials that we can now use to grow even more plants and veggies for our community.
Our spring gardens will be bountiful thanks to Tyler at Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, Barbara and Tim!
Hollis Vanderlinden
Mountain Valley Greenhouse
If we hadn’t moved our house off Mt. Sopris Ranch to Satank, and I lived within Town limits, I would vote for Joanne Teeple. She is dedicated and informed,
and she would make an engaged and thoughtful Town of Carbondale trustee. Not to mention, she looks more like a Perry than I do!
Jeannie Perry Satank
Vote for Erica
I first came to the Roaring Fork Valley in the early 1970s and, like many others, never seriously considered leaving. Over the decades, I’ve watched Carbondale and the surrounding valley grow and change in ways both inspiring and challenging. Through it all, I’ve relied on thoughtful, dedicated public servants — people willing to step forward and represent the interests of this community with care and integrity.
That’s why I’m writing in support of Erica Sparhawk for mayor of Carbondale.
Erica has proven her commitment time and again through her service on the Carbondale Board of Trustees since 2017, when she was selected to fill a vacant seat. She brings not only experience, but a deep personal connection to this town. Born and raised in Redstone and Carbondale, educated in our local schools and now raising her own family here, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing local residents.
Her roots in this community matter. They give her perspective, accountability and a genuine investment in Carbondale’s future.
Combined with her education at Colorado State University and years of public service, Erica has developed a strong, practical understanding of the issues that matter most — from supporting local families to guiding responsible growth.
As our town continues to evolve, I believe Erica Sparhawk has the leadership, insight and dedication needed to guide Carbondale forward while preserving what makes it special.
When you receive your mail-in ballot, I encourage you to support Erica Sparhawk for mayor. I’m confident she will serve this community well.
Greg Fitzpatrick Carbondale
I took the Carbondale wildfire risk survey and cleaned up some of the more egregious accumulations of dried leaves and flammable stuff around our house. I even took a few pickets out of the cedar fence.
But I’m not sure the fire risk in town is as high as sometimes portrayed. The fires in the last decade that have raged through towns have occurred in places with long records of regular, intense winds. The winds in these places have names, for example: Chinook winds, Marshall/ Louisville, Colorado; Santa Ana winds, Palisade, Altadena and others in Southern California; Kaua’ula or Ghost wind, Lahaina, Hawaii; Diablo wind, Santa Rosa & Oakland Hills, California: Jarbo Gap winds, Paradise, CA.
These are regularly occurring, often several times every year, lasting for a halfday or even days on end. They start at 40 mph, with gusts in the Marshall Fire reaching 110 mph. Carbondale itself is actually exceptionally calm. People here talk about windy days when the weather station measures 15mph. Our most unique weather feature is the very strong
continued on page 22
temperature inversion, associated with the calm, that often keeps the town colder than places up or down the valleys.
I’m a little peeved that after raising both sales and property taxes for the fire department, the Town of Carbondale still needed to contribute $100,000 for a fire mapping consultant. And I’m also peeved at the state, which produced maps in 2022 and 2025 with vastly differing fire hazard zones. The 2022 map showed varying risk zones over most of the town. The 2025 map shows no risk in most of the town, except for medium risk zones in RVR, including Old Town and Thompson Corners. There are no intervening low risk zones. The
NOTICE OF A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE GUNNISON COUNTY LAND USE RESOLUTION FOR THE CREATION OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL LICENSE PROGRAM
HEARING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION: The Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners meeting room, Gunnison County Courthouse, 200 E Virginia, Gunnison, CO, to hear public comment concerning proposed amendments to the Gunnison County Land Use Resolution.
PROPOSAL: The Community Development Director has recommended amendments to the Gunnison County Land Use Resolution to create a Short Term Rental License program as specified by BOCC Strategic Business Plan Goal D. DELIVER HIGH QUALITY SERVICES: 2. “By December 31, 2025, Gunnison County will implement licensing procedures for short-term rentals”.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The public is invited to submit verbal or written comments at the hearing, or to submit written comments by email: planning@gunnisoncounty.org or letter (Community Development, 221 N. Wisconsin, Suite D, Gunnison, CO 81230), so long as they are received by 5 p.m. the afternoon before the date of the meeting so that they may be submitted for the public record during the hearing. A copy of the application is available online at: https://www.gunnisoncounty. org/436/Permit-Database. Select “projects” and type in LUC-26-00005 to view the file. Additional information may be obtained by calling (970) 641-0360.
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Anyone needing special accommodations as determined by the American Disabilities Act may contact the Community Development Department prior to the day of the hearing.
/s/ Hillary Iza Seminick, AICP Planning Director
Published in The Sopris Sun on February 26, March 19 and Aprl 2, 2026.
BY ALISON OSIUS Sopris Sun Correspondent
The first annual Carbondale Whistling Contest was a smalltown community event in full glory or rather hilarity. The March 26 event at the Crystal Theatre was attended by 40-45 people, all ages, with contestants variously dressing in costume (like a hot dog), providing back stories (“my friends are used to me whistling on ski lifts”), and hamming it up. Children gamely whistled away in their division. Throughout, a spicy little crew of youngbloods yelled from the center of the theater, with one, Ben (last name not provided), loudly attempting to bribe the judges ($5). Decked in dark Blues Brothers glasses, Ben may not have made the final round but leapt onstage anew and, going rogue, whistled the tiebreaker tune, “La Bamba,” anyway. Earlier rounds featured entrants’ choices of music, with people doing everything from “Zip-A-Dee-DooDah” to the theme song to “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” — a winner for the tuneful Marc Bruell. Daniel Schnider, who came second, only entered at the end after the emcee Jessica Palomarez said, “OK, that’s all. Anyone else?” Seated near the front, Schnider smacked his fist and exclaimed, “I’ll do it!” He stood and whistled with heart, and then chased down an organizer to pay his $10 entrance fee. In third was Katia Galmos, doing a Taylor Swift number complete with choreography. The prizes were generous, starting with, for first: $200 cash, a $100 JC Food Truck certificate, and a $100 Crystal Theatre Alliance movie punch pass. The event organizer, Trino Camacho of JC Food Trucks, was last seen talking about “next year.”
from page 23
resolution went down in 2025, with ratings assigned to 10-ish acre hexagons. So now we need to do it ourselves for accuracy. The assessment of fire spread in town will be better with more accurate inputs of the materials and conditions at homes, so hopefully folks will take a few minutes to fill out the survey.
I’m a fan of hazard mapping. Our house in Boulder was flooded in 2013. Not long before that, the City developed flood maps using airborne LIDAR to determine precise topography. In my neighborhood, the flood followed the predicted 500-year flood contours almost exactly. That map also showed that an undersized culvert a half-mile away would divert water to my street. Hopefully, detailed maps here will show crucial areas that can be mitigated to reduce risk for all.
Fred Porter Carbondale
FlockSafety is a Georgia based company. I did not know the term or the difference between Flock and speed-ticketing cameras, but needed information and thus I pass some on to you. If surveillance and privacy regarding personal data are topics of concern to you, now is the time to learn more and voice your thoughts. The Glenwood contract with Flock is up for renewal.
If you live in or pass through Glenwood Springs, know that there are 21 Flock cameras here that have been here for three years, surveilling us. It appears they have been unclearly supervised within an
unknown system by unknown person(s). In three years, “Glenwood Springs” has been searched six million times by “organizations” in the United States. That is a staggering number. Supposedly, Glenwood is suggesting limiting searches of Glenwood in the database to only Colorado. Is that a small enough search area, and is there trust in Flock Safety and local monitoring?
These are some facts you may not have known, as I did not. I am shocked that for three years, I have not been aware of these cameras, that there are 21 of them and that data is being collected — for whom and why? Should you choose to do some research, you will be amazed at the specific data that can be surveilled.
Personally, with the issues regarding government surveillance at this time, I cannot support this contract renewal in Glenwood Springs, nor the move to have two cameras in Aspen. I urge you to learn more about this topic and use your voice now.
Cheryl Cain Glenwood Springs
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