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FARM-FIT FINESSE

WindWalkers hosted its Built for the Barn fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 26, in partnership with Aspen Strength & Conditioning. Teams of three competed in fun fitness challenges, like hay bale tossing and water bucket hauls. The main competition was followed by an inclusive, all-abilities obstacle course presented by Camp Chip-A-Tooth. The event was a fundraiser for nonprofit WindWallkers and their mission to make equine-assisted therapy accessible. Given the spooky season, costumes were encouraged. Better yet, first responders received a discounted team entry. Paragon Group took first place, with Three Blind Mice finishing second, followed by Big Hearts, Small Weights.

We shall fall as the leaves

The Meeker Massacre, as it is known in Colorado history, was the final straw for the U.S. Government in its territorial struggle with the Ute tribes, leading to expulsion from their Colorado homeland.

Famously, the “Meeker Incident” as it’s referred to by the Utes, culminated in a small band of rebels taking women and children captive, one of whom wrote about her experience after she was safely released, giving a rare glimpse into the perspective of the ultimately vanquished Ute band.

In the book, “We Shall Fall as the Leaves — A compilation of events that led to the banishment of the Uncompahgre and Northern Ute tribes from their ancestral Colorado homeland” by Howard E. Greager, Chapter 15 details Josephine Meeker’s story.

OPINION

In a letter she sent to the Weekly Rocky Mountain News, published Nov. 5, 1879, is her account of the incident at the White River Indian Agency on Sept. 29, 1879, the day her father, Nathan Meeker, was killed, and what happened to her, her mother and Mrs. Price with her two children after they were taken captive.

Josephine wrote of her captor:

“Chief Douglass was considerably excited, and made a speech to me with many gestures and great emphasis. He recited his grievances and explained why the massacre began. He said Thornberg told the Indians that he was going to arrest the head chiefs, take them to Fort Steele and put them in the calaboose (jail) and perhaps hang them. He said my father [Nathan Meeker] had written all the letters to the Denver papers, and circulated wild reports about what the Indians would do … and he was responsible for all the hostility against the Indians among the whites in the west.”

“No whites were admitted to the tents while the Utes sang their medicine songs over the sick, but I, being considered one of the family, was allowed to remain. When their child was sick they asked me to sing, which I did. The medicine man kneels close to the sufferer … while he sings in a series of high-keyed grunts, gradually reaching a lower and more solemn tone. The family joins [in the singing] then his voice dies away and only a gurgling sound is heard … The doctor presses his lips against the breast of the sufferer and repeats the gurgling sound. He sings a few minutes more, then all turn around and laugh and talk. Sometimes the ceremony is repeated all night. I assisted at two of these medicine festivals [which] were strange and weird and more interesting than anything I saw in all my captivity of 23 days.”

HISTORIOGRAPHY

By Sue Gray

It seems Josephine took what Chief Douglass said to heart as she wrote about the government response:

“At Denver, Governor Pitkin and his aide William Vickers fanned the attack into a full scale Ute uprising that threatened every community in Colorado. Pitkin telegraphed the Secretary of War that Colorado would furnish all the men required to permanently put an end to this Indian trouble. The Greeley Tribune also declared that the governor’s office was besieged by citizens offering their services to exterminate that savage horde.”

Far from being treated savagely, Josephine described her captors’ tenderness:

“One of the squaws put her hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Poor little girl, I feel so sorry, for you have not your father, and you are away off with the Utes, so far from home … When Mrs. Price came into camp, another squaw took her baby, Johnny, into her arms and said that she felt very sorry for the captives.”

Josephine appears to have been quickly adopted by the band, as she reported:

LETTERS

Re: Bruno

I am writing in response to Mr. Kirchenwitz’s letter last week. I do not know what his “not fit for print” t-shirt said, but did gather from the tone of his letter that he does not appreciate counter views. I remember a time when civil discourse with one’s political opposition was the norm, especially in public, and always from the White House Press Room. Based on Mr. Kirchenwitz’s comments about gray hair, he lived through some of those days-of-old. What has happened to us? Why must we be divided so egregiously?

I was brought up to fight for the freedom of all Americans, and to honor the oath taken in service to the Constitution. Looking out for the interests of others is a foundation of most religions, as well as of most countries with the standard of living for which Mr. Kirchenwitz counts his blessings. And I would stand up for your rights, Mr. Kirchenwitz, if they were being taken away.

We, Americans, will always have differences, and healthy debates should

General Charles Adams was dispatched to recover the women and children and when he reached the encampment where the captives were being held, a council was convened. It was agreed the hostages would be released and transported to Chief Ouray’s house. Ouray was serving as an official negotiator during the period of conflict between the tribes and the U.S. government.

Josephine recounted her journey to the Los Pinos Indian Agency, south of where Montrose now lies:

“We rode on ponies, forty miles the first day, and reached Captain Kline’s wagon on a small tributary of the Grand [now the Colorado River]. Traveled next day to the Gunnison River and the next day … traveled 40 miles and reached the house of good Chief Ouray about sundown … Chief Ouray and his noble wife [Chipeta] did everything possible to make us comfortable … In closing this letter I want to thank Chief Ouray and his wife and General Adams. To them we owe our escape.”

Ouray allegedly said of the tribe’s future, “We shall fall as the leaves of a tree when winter comes.” That turned out to be true.

In 1881, the Utes were force-marched by the U.S. Army to desert reservations in Utah and southern Colorado. They suffered the attempted obliteration of their language and culture with the government practice of sending their children to boarding schools where they were forbidden to be Ute, or “Nuche” as they call themselves.

A hundred plus years had passed since the banishment of the Nuche from their ancestral hunting land in the Roaring Fork Valley, when in the mid-1990s Ute elders Clifford Duncan, Roland McCook and Kenny Frost began returning to share their knowledge, stories and vanishing culture with the people who replaced them.

Ute history came full circle in 2014, when Bull Pasture Park, a bald eagle sanctuary on Highway 133 south of Carbondale, was renamed Nuche Park to honor the first people of this land.

be part of any healthy democracy. But does anyone believe that we still live in a democracy? There has been evidence to the contrary for years; we are technically an oligarchy according to a Cambridge University study (and our current administration’s actions align with the definition of fascism). If corporations are people, and money decides our elections, where do we go from here?

What if we all questioned our own filters? When we receive news, can we be critical? And consider the source? The source’s intentions? Should any of us agree with everything coming from one source? And perhaps most importantly, can we recognize when the news is separating, dismissing and denigrating whole populations? Because that is not news. If you have never questioned your favorite news source, I would beg you to try for the sake of us all. Despotism was frowned upon by our Founding Fathers, and I would argue, by all Americans until very recently. No Kings!

S. Perry Carbondale

Re: Guns in schools

Contrary to what the anti-gun proponents claim, absolutely no one is recommending that unwilling and untrained school personnel carry guns to protect our children from psycho shooters. It is quite slanderous to imply that teachers would be forced to carry guns against their will, but hey, some deceptive people think anything can be said leading up to an election to confuse the voters and salvage their Woke ideology. How about we focus on which candidates will return education to appreciating the beauty of classical music, art, books and teach the four R’s again: reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and rocial studies… possibly adding some humor along the way?

No matter which way the debate about arming qualified, willing and trained school personnel goes, I hope everyone has the sense to understand that a huge attraction to school shooters can be eliminated by never posting signs that advertise to kick us because we’re a “gun-free zone.”

Editor Raleigh Burleigh 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com

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SCUTTLEBUTT

‘Ghost, Goblins, & Ghouls’

Sage pianist Clay Boland Jr. has pulled together a new Halloween-themed album called “Ghosts, Goblins, & Ghouls: A Halloween Introduction to the Instruments of the Orchestra” featuring the works of Bach, Scarlatti, Grieg, Chopin, Shostakovich and MacDowell. Louis Girardot spiced it up with digital editing and some special effects. The project will be available on Spotify.

Día de los Muertos

FirstBank Alpine Bank

Colorado Mountain College

Nordic Gardens

Hilary Porterfield

Basalt Library

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Unitarian Universalist

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Interested in becoming an Underwriter or Nonprofit Partner?

Email Todd@soprissun.com or call 970-987-9866

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist invites the community to a Día de los Muertos potluck and altar celebration at the Third Street Center at 5:30pm this Saturday, Nov. 1. Monica Muñiz will offer a cultural reflection on the deeper meaning of the holiday and participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring a favorite dish (especially one honoring someone who has passed) and a framed photo or memento of a deceased one to place on the communal ofrenda (altar). All are welcome, no RSVP required.

McClure River Ranch

Garfield County approved a preliminary plan and minor modification to a planned unit development for McClure River Ranch near Carbondale, paving the way for residential dwellings and potential affordable housing units on the property, which is home to polo and equestrian events. The development, owned by Aspen Polo Partners LLC, is located between the Waldorf school and Blue Creek Ranch. Formerly the area was designated for high density residential, allowing for 89 dwelling units. The developer proposed a maximum of 38 units, including 12 lots each with an accessory dwelling unit option and apartments in cabins and existing horse barns, with a shared space for events and a community garden.

Red Kettle Kick Off

The Salvation Army kicks off its bell-ringing season with an event at New Hope Church in New Castle this Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 3pm. The organization serves people in need from Parachute to Aspen, providing emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, transportation, prescriptions and shelter; also helping people experiencing homelessness with essentials like tents, sleeping bags, winter clothing, grooming kits and food. Volunteer bell ringers are needed at locations throughout the Valley. To sign up, visit www.registertoring.com

Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship

The City of Aspen is calling for youth and adult applications for its Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship program. The Red Brick Center for the Arts and the Wheeler Opera House have partnered to design and host this program, intended to recognize, showcase and support local artists with funding opportunities. A total of 12 adults will receive up to $5,000 each and 10 youth participants will receive up to $750. The deadline to apply is Nov. 21. Learn more at www.aspen.gov

Vehicle trespasses

Garfield County deputies arrested a juvenile female and adult male in connection with multiple vehicle trespasses and thefts that occurred outside Glenwood Springs in the Canyon Creek and Fourmile Creek areas, as well as outside Carbondale, earlier this month. Several stolen items and evidence from the thefts were recovered with a warrant to search one suspect’s residence.

Oil and gas drilling

An analysis by the Center for Western Priorities found that in the first three weeks of the government shutdown, the Bureau of Land Management approved 308 applications for permits to drill on national lands. This remains consistent with the rate of permitting before the shutdown. The Center for Western Priorities also highlights that changes in the “Big Beautiful Bill” reduced the royalty rate companies pay on oil and gas extracted from federal land from 16.67% to 12.5%. Find the “Trump Drilling Dashboard” at www.bit.ly/TrumpDrilling

Private money

OpenSecrets — nonpartisan, independent nonprofit focused on tracking money in American politics — highlighted last week that the Trump administration’s “decision to spend private, undisclosed money on government operations raises serious concerns about private influence on public services.” The report highlighted the White House ballroom addition with a projected cost of between $200 million and $300 million. Identified donors include tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft. Additionally, billionaire Timothy Mellon anonymously donated $130 million to pay military salaries amid the government shutdown. “These scenarios show directly how private money is entering spaces that are inherently public, raising real risk of pay-for-play, undue influence, and weakened democratic infrastructure that can be controlled by the whims of wealthy interests,” remarked Hilary Braseth, executive director of OpenSecrets.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Lowry Camp, Brendan Cochran, Andrea Harris, Gracyn Overstreet, Claudia Pawl and Trent Reeds (Oct. 30); Julia Lee, Jill Steindler, Marty Voller and Kaleigh Wisroth (Oct. 31); Angel Cruz, Justin Marshall, Don Parkison, Vanessa Porras and Jay Riley (Nov. 1); Marge Palmer and Dave Weimer (Nov. 2); Suzie Brady, Zack Jones, Kay Hagman Knickerbocker and AJ Waski (Nov. 3); Jeff Achey, Debra Burleigh and David Cappa (Nov. 4); Niki Burns and Trina Ortega (Nov. 5).

Spring Valley Ranch strikes (out) again

AMY HADDEN MARSH

Sopris Sun Correspondent

A proposed substantial amendment to the Spring Valley Ranch Planned Unit Development (PUD) on more than 5,900 acres, east of Glenwood Springs, seems to have met its match with local resistance.

On Oct. 27, in a surprise move, Spring Valley Holdings LLC (SVH) withdrew the PUD amendment and rezoning application for the controversial mega-development. In a letter to county attorney Kelly Cave, Community Development Director Glenn Hartman and senior county planner Phillip Berry, SVH representative Daniell Goldberg wrote, “After hearing from the community, we believe it is in the best interest of both the neighbors and the greater community for us to abandon our historic PUD Plan in favor of the Rural zoning regulations in the Garfield County Land Use Code.”

Less than a week earlier, on Oct. 22, Garfield County planning staff recommended that the county planning commission deny the application. The proposal included 478

market-rate dwelling units, 24 deed-restricted employee units and 76 deed-restricted units in the affordable housing category. The development also featured two private golf courses, one private ski hill, a fire station, a car wash, a public general store, 15-20 miles of public trails and a 1,320-acre wildlife refuge so that the displaced ungulates and other animals can still congregate somewhere after the historic elk winter range and critical deer habitat are built out.

More than 170 people packed the hearing inside the Ascent Center at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus. The commissioners’ packet included 96 letters mostly against the development. Twenty-eight spoke up at Wednesday’s meeting, also mostly in opposition.

Issues included increased traffic — upwards of 3,300 additional trips per day along County Road 114 and 115 — more pressure on the intersection at Highway 82 and Thunder River Market, water use and sustainability, the aforementioned critical elk winter range and deer habitat and the logic behind the

CARE

ski area. “The proposed ski area on a south-facing slope is an excellent metaphor about how poorly this project considers the local environment,” wrote Doug Greenholz of Carbondale in a comment letter.

Despite developments such as High Aspen Ranch and Homestead Estates on the northeast border of Spring Valley Ranch, and Elk Springs and Lake Springs to the southwest, several local comments focused on preserving the rural character of the area.

“The proposed Spring Valley

Ranch Development is simply wrong for our community,” wrote longtime Carbondale rancher Ginny Harrington.

“We are opposed to developing this land at all. We believe its highest and best use is for ranchland and wildlife habitat.” Harrington’s letter included extensive research on the benefits of ranchlands compared to housing developments. Citing Rick Knight, CSU professor of wildlife conservation, she wrote: “Rural developments promote deficit spending, ecological decline, and cultural loss.”

Carbondale resident Ted Benge, co-owner of Capitol Peak Outfitters, told the Planning Commission that, being in his early 30s, he qualifies as the voice of the next generation. “Maintaining the rural character, open space and wildlife in this valley and in this county is absolutely critical to the culture and to the future and the next generations,” he said. He also backed Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) referral comments about the critical elk and deer habitat on Spring Valley

continued on page 6

Habitat’s Carter condos filling affordability void in Roaring Fork Valley’s tight housing market

JOHN STROUD Sopris Sun Correspondent

The high cost of housing in the Roaring Fork Valley hit home for Glenwood Springs city employee Jacob Zook as soon as he got the rent increase notice for his free-market apartment on Wulfsohn Road at The Meadows.

“I was not able to afford it, so I was pretty desperately looking for other options,” said the 26-yearold, single professional who is just starting to make a career for himself as an economic development specialist for the City.

“Even looking downvalley, it wasn’t much better, and I would have the commute,” Zook said.

But, with help from a down payment assistance program for city employees, a new affordable housing option in Glenwood made perfect sense for his situation.

Zook is among the first buyers at Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork Valley’s The Carter

condominiums, located across the street from where Zook had been renting.

Habitat bought the 88-unit former L3 Apartments last year, and has converted the free-market rentals into studio and one-bedroom condos available for purchase at below-market prices.

“I definitely consider myself lucky enough to be able to move into a place here and make it work long term,” said Zook, who joins a growing list of residents, some of them Valley natives, who’ve finally found a permanent home at The Carter.

“I grew up here and, yeah, I was blessed to have some help from my parents to get this place and be able to make it work financially,” said Matt Mitchell.

Tears welled up in Mitchell’s eyes as he scrolled through photos on his smart phone from closing day.

“It’s hard to find a place here

unless it’s employee housing,” he said of housing options that often tie one’s housing to their employment, leading to insecurity.

“This feels like perfect employee housing, and the location is phenomenal,” Mitchell said. “I’m five to 10 minutes away from anything I need to get to. I love that.”

His good friend, Greg Cwiertniewicz, currently rents one of The Carter units, but is working through the financing process to buy.

“I like the community, and it’s close to my work, so I’m really hoping this works out,” he said.

The Carter was renamed as such earlier this year in memory of the late President Jimmy Carter, who was an advocate and occasional hands-on volunteer builder for Habitat for Humanity.

“He was such a tremendous force for Habitat, and just had such a presence and a humble spirit of volunteerism with the

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organization,” said new Habitat Roaring Fork Valley Chief Executive Officer Darla Callaway. “We wanted to honor that spirit with this new way to serve affordable housing needs in our community.”

The local Habitat chapter long ago moved away from the model of building affordable homes one-at-a-time utilizing volunteer laborers and the “sweat equity” of the buyers themselves.

Recent projects, such as the 20-unit Wapiti Commons in Rifle,

still rely heavily on the volunteer and buyer labor model. But The Carter represents Habitat Roaring Fork’s first purchase of an existing residential development.

Habitat continues to rent to tenants who’ve been at The Carter since before it changed hands, and gives them the opportunity to purchase if they want and can qualify for a loan.

Units are priced based on a buyer’s income level, without income caps, starting at $320,000

continued on page 6

Ranch. “Those ungulates are umbrella species, meaning their health is indicative of the health of the rest of the ecosystem on down the food chain,” Benge added. “Valley-wide, we have declining [elk] calf recruitment rates, declining [deer] fawn recruitment rates and changes to habitual migration patterns as a direct result of development and recreation.”

He said that the SVH plan for a contiguous 6,000-acre parcel would ruin the ability for the elk to continue as a local herd. “The wildlife corridors proposed [in the amended plan], as CPW noted, are basically inaccessible,” he pointed out. “Elk won’t use them.”

Two Colorado Mountain College students spoke about safety, student stress, the environment, outdated data and a student survey about the proposed PUD. One said that 98.5% of the students polled said the development would not be beneficial to the Roaring Fork Valley.

After over four hours of presentations, public comment and discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a motion to recommend denial of the amendment to the PUD with six findings from the county planning staff.

Findings included how the PUD rezoning request and the modification were not in the best interest of “the health, safety, convenience, order, prosperity and welfare of the citizens of Garfield County.” Other findings included lack of general conformance with the county’s 2003 Comprehensive Plan and the county Land Use and Development Code in terms of water source, compatibility, access, wildfire, wildlife and natural hazards.

Commissioners echoed concerns presented by the public. Brett Jolley, a longtime New Castle rancher, said basically that SVH has every right to develop its property. “It’s not giving anything back to the community, but you can do it.” He mentioned problems with Highway 82 and local wildlife management, adding that water is a big concern. “Who really knows [about the water]?” he said. “It’s too late after we approve this and find out there isn’t any.” Georgia-based Storied Development pulled out of the application process last May before a scheduled planning commission hearing, which is when SVH took on the project. Storied is no longer under contract to purchase the land.

Mary Beth Minion, co-founder of the Spring Valley Coalition, which opposed the project, told The Sopris Sun in an email that the group commends SVH “for responding to community concerns by withdrawing the application for the proposed amended PUD and committing to initiate the process of restoring the property’s original Rural zoning.” The group also had an online petition with over 1,300 signatures against the development.

HABITAT

for a studio, $360,000 for a junior one-bedroom and $388,000 for a full one-bedroom, for individuals or families earning 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

The AMI for Garfield County hovers around $72,000 for an individual, and between $82,000 and $103,000 for households with multiple wage earners, according to recent Colorado Department of Local Affairs data.

Costs for the units go up incrementally for buyers with higher incomes, to about $450,000 for a full one-bedroom for those making between 120-150% of AMI, and to about $490,000 for those making over 150% of AMI.

Those prices are somewhat below market for the Glenwood Springs area, where a similar-size, 600- to 700-square-foot unit can easily sell for between $600,000 and $800,000, depending on the property and location.

The Carter sales prices hold monthly mortgage payments to between $1,350 to $1,900, Callaway said.

“We’re meeting people exactly where they’re at, and who are used to typically paying higher prices than that for rent,” she said. “And by purchasing, they are able to come in and build equity.”

Callaway joined Habitat in May, after having worked on affordable housing in the private sector on the design and planning side.

“I was just seeing projects really struggle to get off the ground for many different reasons, so I thought this was a way that I could work on this problem more directly,” Callaway said.

The Carter fills an affordability gap for younger singles or couples who are looking for smaller living spaces that fit their current lifestyles, but its appeal runs the gamut, she said.

“We’re also seeing a lot of retired singles and single moms, so it’s really met the need of a whole sector of the population that was underserved,” she said.

So far, buyers have closed on eight units at The Carter with several under contract and prospective buyers in the process of securing financing.

Habitat did run into delays getting federal approval to convert the units to condominiums, and some loan approvals are also being delayed due to the federal government shutdown, she explained.

Jason Schraub is the chief external relations officer for Habitat Roaring Fork, and leads the various public-private partnerships that helped the project come together.

A priority purchase program raised funds for the initial $35 million property purchase, lining up private and public employers to invest in the project and reserve units on a priority basis into the future.

Those units can be sold to employees, but would not have to be relinquished if a person were to change jobs. However, the employer still retains a priority on other units as they become available, Schraub explained.

Habitat has the ability to sell up to 35 priorities to local employers. They’ve currently sold 21, he said.

Compass Real Estate is handling sales for The Carter units, and Preferred Property Management handles the on-site property management.

For more information on The Carter and other Habitat Roaring Fork Valley housing programs and the Habitat ReStore, visit www.habitatroaringfork.org

A Bond Beyond

Dr. Casey Bowen provides alternative options for family planning

MYKI JONES Sopris Sun Correspondent

Casey Bowen, a longtime Carbondale resident and naturopathic doctor, has returned to her practice, joining Hilary Back at Back to Balance in Carbondale after taking a few years’ hiatus to focus on growing her own family. Dr. Bowen looks forward to working with families in the Valley who are looking to either start or grow their families through combating “idiopathic” or “unexplained” infertility through integrative practices which focus on digging deeper with patients to get to the root cause of fertility challenges.

She provides holistic fertility care for all genders, individuals who want to build up their fertile foundations in the months leading up to a pregnancy, folks preferring to try naturally to overcome their challenges and individuals who hope to improve their chances with in vitro fertilization (IVF).

“Roughly 30% of fertility cases are labeled ‘unexplained’ according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine,” Dr. Bowen told The Sopris Sun. “I see these cases as opportunities to dig deeper. There’s almost always an underlying cause. It just takes the right lens — and a bit of detective work — to find it. And as I like to remind my patients, ‘Once we have a cause, we have a compass!’”

She explained this process further, stating, “My first patient visits are two hours long, allowing us time to explore

every factor influencing fertility. I combine conventional methods like a physical exam and imaging with deeper functional laboratory testing to make sure my patients are on the path that’s best for their timeline and unique challenges.”

Dr. Bowen’s medical background begins even before her education and training. She knew she wanted to pursue medicine from a young age, growing up hearing the stories of her parents, both Level 1 trauma health workers.

“My parents’ dinner table stories were far from ordinary,” Dr. Bowen shared. “Brains coming out of noses after motorcycle accidents, a farmer’s lower leg “de-gloved” by a potato auger — you name it. Most people would run from medicine after hearing that, but I ran toward it.”

Her formal medical education began at Colorado College, where she studied premedicine and evolutionary physiology. She explored various medical professions before settling on naturopathic medicine. She completed her medical studies at Bastyr University in Seattle, earning a four-year doctorate in naturopathic medicine in 2017.

While there are misconceptions surrounding holistic medicine, Dr. Bowen asserts that her practice is integrative and evidence-based, with one principal in mind: Do no harm.

“Symptoms are signs that the body’s physiology and biochemistry are out of

balance. I didn’t want to mask symptoms. I wanted to address what caused them. I loved the idea of having a ‘toolbox’ that extended beyond the pharmacy,” Dr. Bowen explained. “One of the biggest misconceptions about my field is that it’s ‘woo-woo.’ Medicine gets polarized — conventional or holistic, evidence-based or alternative. My approach is integrative and evidencebased. I suppose I’m a doctor-witch, but definitely the Good Witch!”

She continued, “Naturopathic training is rigorous. The first two years of the fouryear program are the same foundational sciences as in an MD or DO curriculum — the ‘ologies’ — while the last two focus more on nutrition, herbal medicine and holistic therapeutics. We’re also trained in pharmacology, and we understand when pharmaceuticals are in the patient’s best interest.”

The route of her medical practice is something deeply personal, as well. She described living with severe endometriosis in her late teens and early 20s, which left one of her ovaries adhered to her uterus. She shared how she and her husband were told they’d likely need advanced reproductive technologies to conceive. With this background and her own family success, she looks forward to returning to her practice to help people of all backgrounds start navigating their fertility journeys.

“When my husband and I were

told we’d likely need IVF to conceive, I didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. That lit a fire under me to explore every avenue of traditional and integrative fertility medicine. I channel our experience in my medical practice. Fertility care can be emotionally and financially draining. Having been through it myself, it’s my greatest passion to walk alongside other hopeful parents on their journey. Naturopathic medicine has so much to offer,” she concluded.

For more information or to book an appointment, visit backtobalancedoc. com/fertility or call 970-963-6500.

Stefano Da Frè and Coventure crank out TV pilot for Netflix Italy

MYKI JONES Arts Correspondent

Stefano Da Frè — a local filmmaker and president and CEO of Rosso Films International, along with his business partner Laura Pellegrini, has taken on a new endeavor with Coventure in Carbondale after recently finishing a TV pilot for Netflix Italy which follows “Stolen Dough” titled “A Slice of The Family Business.” “Stolen Dough” was a feature-length documentary by Da Frè looking at the origins of Pizza Hut’s stuffed crust pizza and a $1 billion patent infringement suit against them.

The funding for this pilot was made possible through Aurelio De Laurentiis and the National Italian American Foundation, which awarded $10,000 grants to five recipients nationwide. This show, which Da Frè hopes to develop into a full-length, six-episode season, will be shot in the style of an improvisational docu-drama following Anthony Mongiello and his daughter,

Anna, as she attempts to take over the family business, with only one chance to do so.

“I love a story where the daughter goes, ‘Dad, you can’t sell the business. I have been in this business for 35 years; let me prove it to you. Give me two weeks so I can put together a product and show you I can take over the family business,’” Da Frè narrated.

“That’s the story; it’s a true story.”

Da Frè, with the help of award-winning editor Krysia Carter-Giez and Dave Taylor of Cool Brick Studios, wrote and edited the pilot at CoVenture. Da Frè lives full-time in New York but has split his work between the East Coast and the Roaring Fork Valley after meeting Carter-Giez through local creative Alya Howe roughly a decade ago. The working relationship with Taylor followed. Da Frè found the approach to work here in the Valley to be collaborative and artist-forward.

“Krysia had done a few projects in the past and had recommended Dave, and it just

made sense to have everybody in the same town to do a lot of the sound mixing together,” Da Frè stated. “Part of the reason I started coming back to the Valley, a lot, was because I realized how much the Valley values the arts, art programs and artists.”

He continued, “I felt there was a big emphasis on personalized stories here. The pace, I would say, is a lot more delicate and human. Whereas, when I was in New York editing a lot of my own work that I had worked on for TV shows and feature films, the pace of the work is so fast in the city. When I was in

to reconnect and rediscover his connection to his art form. [The most prevalent theme of the story] is the stigma of disability when creating art, and the never-ending idea that the art we make isn’t good enough,” Da Frè explained.

This film will see Da Frè starring in the lead role opposite Clara McGregor, daughter of Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and production designer Eve Mavrakis, who will portray the artist’s love interest. Rosso Films International is hoping to have a rough cut of the film ready by December of this year.

Da Frè says differing perspectives are essential to his level of storytelling, and he is dedicated to maintaining this through the people he works with, as well as continuing to run his company and the projects rolled out from it through a lens of equal partnership.

Carbondale, I just had a sense that I didn’t have a gun to my head. I didn’t feel like we were rushed.”

Additionally, Da Frè’s business partner and he tag team projects they have produced together, including completing post production on a feature film they have been working on for nearly nine years. This follows the story of a painter who slowly loses his eyesight, with two working titles — “A Dream Beyond The Dark” and “The Portrait of a Blind Painter.”

“It’s a true story based on a blind Belgian painter, but the narrative spin is a guardian angel visits him

“I subscribe to an idea of running a company with equal partnership because I’m gonna get a different perspective from editing and producing with a female producer who has a different background and will see footage differently. It expands you, and as an artist, you need people around you from all different backgrounds to make good art,” Da Frè said.

For more information or to stay up to date with new projects, visit www.rossofilmsinternational.com

Nuestras Voces: A community finds refuge onstage

MIKE DE LA ROSA

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Last weekend wrapped “Nuestras Voces: Anhelo un Café con Estrellas,” at the Ute Theater in Rifle. The play, an autobiographical collection of our own Valley’s vignettes, was presented by VOICES, the nonprofit devoted to amplifying local stories and advocating for inclusion and social justice through the arts.

The timing for this production and its message felt urgent. Tensions in the Latino community are ever-present, as divisive rhetoric around immigration remains common and ICE raids persist as an assault on civil rights. As a reprieve, in this small art deco theater, Spanish-speaking families filled the seats, watching their stories unfold in a space that acknowledged their tenderness and agency. For non-Spanish speakers, live translation was available through headsets. On the Saturday before closing, the venue exceeded capacity, with staff rushing additional chairs to meet the demand.

Founded in 2016 by Barbara Reese, VOICES began out of a love for poetry and the spoken word and now produces four devised theater projects every two years. Devised theater, also called “collective creation,” is a collaborative process where ensemble members author the production, merging their lived experiences with theater craft. Each of the four VOICES projects focuses on a different community: Nuestras Voces for Latinos, as well as programs centering LGBTQ+ people, women and “sage” elders.

“Anhelo un Café con Estrellas” revolved

around sueños (dreams), approached through five distinct intimate life scenes.

The cast (and their autobiographical characters) included a radio anchor, teacher, hospital manager, newspaper editor (Sol del Valle’s Bianca Godina) and several students. Some scenes involved real family members performing stylized versions of their own domestic dynamics, for example mother and daughter tending chores. For months before the premiere, the cast met two or three times a week, eventually rehearsing daily as opening night approached.

The play began with radio host Samuel Bernal of La Tricolor radio reflecting on his own dreams and those of his daughter. When she announces, suitcase in hand,

plans to travel the world, Bernal pleads with her to stay. He urges her not to absorb what he calls the “American narrative” of 18-year-old emancipation, expressing instead the Latin cultural norm that families remain together until children begin families of their own. Addressing the audience as his on-air listeners, the “beautiful mountain people,” Samuel delivers his radio broadcast live, offering messages of heritage, solidarity and a constructive future. His story, contrasting migration with belonging, sets the tone for the play.

Audience member Eric Tinajero, a Carbondale DJ known as TEAJ, reflected afterward, “The play captured immigrant experience intimately — the desire to travel in the heart of immigrants, the need

to see what the world is like.” His words spoke not only to those who migrate in search of prosperity but also to the generations that follow, wrestling with a new crop of questions regarding identity.

Other vignettes featured distinct formats: a mother and daughter comparing their lives to a doll’s perfect make-believe story, a puppet show where a dragon’s weak stomach led to its defeat via mild salsa, a diary entry paired with live video commentary and a young girl’s visitation from her future self, who reassures her to stay on course under pressure.

Throughout the play, the dream motif appeared with hope and caution. If arriving in America is itself a dream, then, as Bernal tells his alpine audience, “You are in the ceiling of America — you’ve made it.” Yet the play insists that arrival is only the beginning; dreams must remain active and evolving. The production carried a palpable sense of responsibility, deliberately exploring many avenues in its quest for sincere optimism. As Bernal told this reporter after the show, “Today, so much hostility is official, even federal. It’s our job in communications to express hope. This is a chance to reaffirm what we believe is good.”

This motivation was affirmed by VOICES executive and artistic director MinTze Wu: “There’s always worry about drawing attention. But any time we’re told to be silent, showing up is courage. Fear may still be there, but just as some forces tear us apart, others bring us together.”

continued on page 16

MONDAY, NOV. 3 7PM CRYSTAL THEATRE

Area high school runners qualify for state cross country meet, boys soccer playoffs begin

JOHN STROUD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

Carbondale and Basalt will be well-represented at the Colorado High School Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.

Competing at their Regional qualifying event last week, the Basalt High School cross country team, which combines with runners from Carbondale’s Roaring Fork High, qualified its girls team for the Class 3A state meet, and will send two boys as individuals.

Likewise, Colorado Rocky Mountain School will send its girls squad to the state meet in the 2A division.

Basalt senior Towler Scott was the boys overall winner at the 3A Region 1 meet in Craig on Oct. 24, covering the five-kilometer course at Loudy-Simpson Park in 16 minutes, 16.57 seconds to finish 27 seconds ahead of Moffat County’s Haven Carr.

Scott will be joined by teammate Levi Friday, a sophomore from Roaring Fork, who qualified for state with an 11th place finish (17:46.38).

The boys finished out of the running for team qualifying, taking fifth place out of eight teams, but Roaring Fork sophomore Kaiden Werth finished a respectable 28th out of 62 runners (18:47.13), and freshman Elliot Galbraith was 35th (19:13.33).

In the girls race, Basalt freshman Scarlett Jones paced the team to the third-place qualifying spot, taking second overall out of 60 runners in 19:56.74, holding off Moffat County sophomore Sydney Wattles (19:56.95) in a photo finish. The frontrunner, Coal Ridge junior Effie Fletcher (18:19.95), is among the favorites to win a state title.

As a team, Basalt grabbed five of the top-20 spots to qualify for state. Scoring was rounded out by a pack of Longhorn runners led by senior Caroline Cole (Roaring Fork), 16th in 21:37.56; freshman Jude Tiernan, 17th in 21:52; junior Miley Stuart (Roaring Fork), 18th in 22:01.36; and junior Sadie Silcox (Roaring Fork), 20th in 22:11.81.

Competing at the Class 2A Region 5 meet in Delta, the CRMS girls took the fourth qualifying spot, led by sophomore Kayla Steele in fifth overall out of 54 runners (20:08.48). Sophomore Abigail O’Keefe was 14th (21:37.21), junior Tacie Simmons was 28th (24:04.17), senior India Picard was 30th (24:11.93) and junior Gioia Liker was 34th (25:04.11) to round out the team scoring.

Joining them at state will be freshman Ayla Perry (35th, 25:13.15). The top boy for CRMS was junior Max Peterson, finishing 27th overall out of 74 runners in 19:53.69, but out of state qualifying.

Rams soccer earns 16th seed

The Roaring Fork High boys soccer team concluded the regular season with a pair of wins, and entered the 32-team 3A state playoffs on Wednesday as the No. 16 seed overall.

Roaring Fork was set to host No. 17 Rocky Mountain Prep

Another pair of Roaring Fork runners will join the Basalt team at state, freshman Maggie Cole (22nd, 22:15.63) and senior Emmaline Warner (26th, 22:37).

SMART at Rams Field Wednesday afternoon (results not available by press time for this report).

The Rams concluded the regular season at 9-4-2 overall, with a 5-2 mark to take third in the 3A Western Slope League.

Roaring Fork scored an 8-1 win over cross-town rival CRMS on Oct. 24, and a 3-0 win at Vail Mountain on Oct. 23. Goals against CRMS came from juniors Wesley Serrano (2), Oliver Shook, Dennis Vargas-Herrera and Cal Stone, seniors Jason Clemente, Jesse Pimental and Miles Speiss, and sophomore Alan Rodriguez.

And, against Vail Mountain, junior Cristian Turcios had two goals, and junior Michael Parada one.

Volleyball season concludes

The Roaring Fork girls volleyball team closed things out with a 3-1 win (25-15, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15) at Meeker on Tuesday night, to finish their season at 9-13 overall and out of the playoff picture. The team was 5-5 in the 3A league play.

On Senior Night at home last Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Rams scored an exciting 3-2 win over Cedaredge (25-17, 24-26, 25-23, 12-25, 18-16).

Before the match, a quintet of seniors were recognized alongside their parents, siblings and friends. Playing their final volleyball match on the home court were Nikki Tardif, Yakelin Nunez Hernandez, Hannah Bays, Maddie Applegate and Elleree Richmond.

*Credit Art Classes

*BEZEL MAKING - SEEDORF AT CB Wed, 5:10-9:30pm, 11/5-12/10

*SAND CASTING - Seedorf at AS Thurs, 10:10-2:30pm, 11/6-12/11

*ADV MONO LASER - Clark at AS Tues, 3:30-7:20pm, 11/11-12/9

*Senior Tuition Discount applies. Call campus for Registration.

Adult Community Education Classes

BUILD A CONSULTING CAREER

Tools to maximize your life and career experiences into a viable business and independence. Online Tue, 5:30-7:30pm, 11/11-18

CHOCOLATE

History, cultivation, and tasting followed by handson chocolate making at the Cocoa Club.

Thursdays, 5-7pm, 12/4-12/11

PAPER WINDOW STARS

Fold colored wax paper in patterns of varying translucency to create colorful stars to decorate and/or gift. Sat, 9:30am-12:30pm, 12/6

PAPER ROSE WINDOWS

Fold tissue paper in colorful sunburst patterns that imitate stained glass windows. Sat, 9:30am-12:30pm, 12/13

Clases en español

INTRODUCCIÓN A INTERNET Y CORREO ELECTRÓNICO Esta clase se puede asistir en persona o en línea. Viernes, 6-8pm, 11/7-12/5

INTRODUCCIÓN A LA FOTOGRAFÍA

Martes, 6-8:30pm, 11/11-12/2

Kids Classes

CHRISTMAS COOKIE DECORATING

Wednesday, 3-5pm, 12/3

PAPER WINDOW STARS

Wednesday, 3-4:45pm, 12/10

GINGERBREAD CONSTRUCTION

Saturday, 1-4pm, 12/13

Spring Classes

Start in January

NOW LISTED ONLINE AND REGISTRATION OPENS 11/17

CALENDAR

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

SPOOKY STORIES

Children are invited to hear some no-so-spooky stories and participate in a scavenger hunt at the Basalt Library from 3:30 to 4:30pm.

TRUNK OR TREAT

Ascendigo Autism Services hosts its annual Trunk or Treat inclusive event at the Carbondale Town Hall parking lot from 5 to 6pm with a petting zoo, decorated cars and lots of treats. Non-food treats will also be available. Learn more at www.ascendigo.org

GARCOWRIMO

Garfield County Libraries hosts Garfield County Writing Month, kicking off with a workshop at the Glenwood Springs Library from 5 to 7pm. All Thursdays in November, the library will host writing collaboration spaces with writer presentations from 5 to 7pm. Learn more at www.gcpld.org/GarCoWriMo

HAUNTED HOUSE

Roaring Fork High’s Student Council presents a Halloween carnival and haunted house for elementary schoolaged kids through high schoolers starting at 5:30pm.

CAPTION THIS!

The Art Base hosts a live cartoon captioning contest with Sopris Sun artist Larry Day from 6 to 8pm. This event is free and open to the public.

‘BEYOND THE VEIL’

Honor the spirits of the departed through ceremony and connection, guided by Becky Hesseltine and Jocelyn Laferriere, at True Nature from 6 to 8:30pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

GENEALOGY MEETS AI

CMC’s Glenwood Center hosts a free session, “Genealogy Meets AI: Promise, Peril and Possibility” with David Use from 6 to 8pm, teaching how to use AI in family history research.

BOOKS IN BARS

Join the Carbondale Library at La Raza for a discussion of “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones at 7pm.

CRYSTAL THEATRE

Catch “Rocky Horror Picture Show” tonight at 7pm (with goodie bags, but no live show). “KPop Demon Hunters” shows on Nov. 2 at 2:30 and 5pm and “Coco” shows on Nov. 5 at 2:30pm (English) and 5pm (Spanish).

HAUNTED HOUSE 18+

About 15 minutes up the Crystal, a private residence is hosting an outdoor Haunted House of Representatives, a fundraiser for Palestine. Up to five adults (18+) can sign up per half-hour slot, from 7 to 9pm. Find our review on page 18. and register online at www.bit.ly/HHoR

BØRNS AT TACAW

BØRNS performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 31

AMERICAN LEGION

The American Legion hosts a Halloween fundraiser to support disabled veterans beginning at 5pm. This will include a costume contest and live music by 432One Band beginning at 8pm.

HALLOWEEN AT HEATHER’S

Heather’s Savory Pies hosts a Halloween party with live music by Sónica from 5 to 10pm. There are first, second and third cash prizes for best costumes.

SOUND JOURNEY

Dr. Zachary and Krista Cashin guide a sound journey in the Kiva at True

Nature from 6:30 to 8pm. Join the waitlist at www.tinyurl.com/CashinSound

BONEDALE SPOOKTACULAR

The Crystal Theatre Alliance, KDNK and Thunder River Theatre Company host a costume dance party-fundraiser with live music by Mugsy Fay and Sweet Jessup and the Dirty Buckets, plus latenight DJs and a screening of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with the Roaring Divas. The fun begins at 7pm. Find tickets for some or all of it at www.thunderrivertheatre.com

EL DORADO PARTY

El Dorado hosts a Halloween party, featuring Kid Knowledge and DJ Benny, from 9pm to midnight. A costume contest begins at 10:30pm with prizes ranging from free drinks to The Magic Beans concert tickets.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1

ZEN RETREAT

Zen Buddhist and certified meditation teacher Billy Wynne guides a half-day Zen meditation retreat at True Nature from 8am to 1pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com

U-PAINT-IT

The Carbondale Clay Center hosts a Día de los Muertos U-Paint-It Party from 10am to 1pm — while supplies last!

RED KETTLE KICK OFF

The Salvation Army kicks off its bell-ringing season with an event at New Hope Church in New Castle from 1 to 3pm with food, entertainment and a silent auction.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist invites the community to a Día de los Muertos potluck and altar celebration at the Third Street Center at 5:30pm. Monica Muñiz will teach the deeper meaning of the holiday and participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring a favorite dish and a framed photo or memento of a deceased one to place on the communal ofrenda.

‘11 TO MIDNIGHT’

Catch a special preview of the off-Broadway dance premier of “11 to Midnight” at the Wheeler Opera House at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.wheeleroperahouse.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2

DIVINE MACROVERSE

Jeanne Soulsby and Golden Sha present a channel by cosmic elders, transcending the ego’s grip, at A Spiritual Center (Room 31 of the Third Street Center) from 10 to 11:30am.

DEAD BREAD

Join Garfield County Libraries at the Third Street Center community oven for a morning of bread baking, hot cocoa and storytelling, from 10am to noon.

ARTISTS TALK

Artists Maria de Los Angeles and Gabriela Mejia will share about heritage and home at the Aspen Art Museum at 3pm.

ARTE DE LOS MUERTOS

The Aspen Art Museum celebrates Día de los Muertos with music, dance, food, family portraits and artmaking from 3 to 7pm.

ART OF CONVERSATION

Have a meaningful conversation with a stranger at the Carbondale Library every first Sunday of the month from 6 to 7pm.

HEADS AND TALES

Steve’s Guitars presents an evening of live music with local band Dead Reckoning and storytelling to celebrate Day of the Deadheads beginning at 7:30pm.

theSopris Stars

Volume 1, Number 1 | October 30 - November 26, 2025

Must political diversity breed division?

ANNA SOPHIA BROWN

Sopris Stars Correspondent

The Roaring Fork Valley spans three counties and several voting districts. It includes members of all major political parties as well as a wide variety of lifestyles. Does this diversity breed a divide? Nationally, a clear social and political divide is emerging between generations, genders and the two major political parties.

With this increasing divide, several acts of political violence have surfaced, transforming differing opinions into dangerous territory. From Aspen to Parachute, things have remained relatively peaceful in national comparison. There have been a series of protests in recent years, including “No Kings” marches and a rally for Charlie Kirk — the right wing political influencer who was shot and killed in September. Through this clear diversity in political affiliation and beliefs, is it possible to prevent differences from sowing increasing divisions?

Heightened tensions between political parties, locally and nationally, continue to grow following recent acts of political violence, notably the assassinations of Kirk and Melissa Hortman — the 61st speaker of the Minnesotan House of Representatives.

The Sopris Stars spoke with Eric Sgambati, a local high school civics and world history professor, who said that trends of political violence often arise “when there are factions of us against them” and “when one group of people feels like they are not represented .... or feel that they are targeted.”

He explained that while the motivations of perpetrators of political violence are often unknown or differing, the result often follows a pattern.

“There’s a hardening of views on both sides, and people are actually less likely to concede or listen to each other,” he said.

A cycle of blame develops, Sgambati said. In other words, political violence can perpetuate itself and create more tension between already opposing parties.

Four students at Roaring Fork High School, all in different places on the political spectrum, provided some insight. Notably, they all claimed to feel a strong divide, especially among young people.

“[Political violence] makes me sad. Our country was

built on free speech, and, I mean, loving each other. Nowadays, it seems that as political violence is on the rise, you can be killed for your voice,” said Gus Cerrone, a junior who considers himself a Republican. “And if we can’t speak about our opinions, this country will not become greater. It will only become more divided and more divisive.”

Sam Stableford, a left-leaning senior, elaborated on his own experience after Charlie Kirk was killed.

“Even if the violence was against someone who I fundamentally disagree with, like Charlie Kirk, it makes me nervous and sad,” he said. “People who are in power tend to use [political violence] as a tool to further corrupt, blame and divide our nation. I think it does so much more harm than it does good … It continues to push the narrative that we’re broken as a nation, or that we can’t hold each other accountable, and that we can’t even have dialogue.”

All parties who were interviewed referenced social media as a key player in furthering divisions and increasing the likelihood of political violence.

Maddy Lucks, a left-leaning junior, stated, “Young people are becoming more skewed towards political extremes,” citing social media as a cause. “Your algorithm feeds you what you’ve already interacted with, so it supports one belief and makes you believe even more strongly in that belief, while pitting you against people who believe other things.”

Sgambati explained confirmation bias in social media.

“Our feedback loops are 100% things that we view,” Sgambati said. “People don’t interact with people they disagree with, nine times out of 10, unless they are yelling at them. That is why you’re seeing a divide.”

Despite each participant identifying differently politically, social media was the stated overwhelming culprit of political divide. When both the students and professor were asked how to reduce division, the verdict was open conversation.

Wishing upon The Sopris Stars

COLUMN BY LOU GALL Youth Editor

We are proud to introduce The Sopris Stars, a youth publication funded by The Sopris Sun newspaper and dedicated to delivering news relevant to tweens, teens and young adults throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Seven Gen-Z interns have come together in the noble pursuit of journalism and to curate this new publication, which will print within The Sopris Sun every last Thursday of the month during the school year.

Some say that print journalism is a dying industry, but here at The Sopris Stars we have poured our hearts into keeping it alive and ensuring its presence in the ever-changing future.

THIS MESSAGE GOES OUT TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THE VALLEY WHO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY: THIS IS YOUR NEWSPAPER!

While TikTok and the rise of artificial intelligence go unchecked, The Sopris Stars will be a reliable source of information. When and if we make a mistake, we’ll be the first to let readers know. The Sopris Stars will be a place for the exchange of ideas and information, particularly among young people. If you want to respond to an article, send a lead on a story or give a shoutout to someone, the community can always reach us at youthnews@soprissun.com

Fashion Trends Letter from the Editor

academic stimulation; Anna Sophia Brown, a senior at RFHS, who has always been passionate about communications and believes The Sopris Stars offers a unique opportunity to help young people be heard; Kate Ott, a junior at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, who plans to fine-tune her photography skills and contribute the fruits of visual storytelling; and myself, Lou Gall, a junior at GSHS, who is proud to take the helm as the first editor of The Sopris Stars.

The high school internship program at The Sopris Sun isn’t new, however. It launched in 2021 and has trained participants whose work was previously interspersed throughout the weekly newspaper. As interns, we continue to receive instruction from professionals in the industry, many of whom volunteer their time and are some of the best in the business. Every Wednesday afternoon, the youth team gathers at the Sopris Sun office in Carbondale, a supportive learning environment where mentors offer academic and practical guidance — both inside and outside of the office — while we chase stories.

The team behind this new resource includes: Aurora Egan, a sophomore at Glenwood Springs High School (GSHS), who aims to make a lasting impact through storytelling; Arthur Cherith, a junior at GSHS, who does everything from cartooning to writing to co-hosting Everything Under The Sun, the newspaper’s weekly radio program, every Thursday at 4pm on KDNK Community Access Radio; Giselle “Gigi” Rascon, a senior at GSHS, who intends to explore the humanism behind each story; Vivienne Shapiro, a freshman at Roaring Fork High School (RFHS), who is excited to gain a wider perspective through reporting, as well as the extra

We can only do this work thanks to the wonderful community, including every single one of our readers and supporters. Thank you for picking up the first issue of The Sopris Stars and being a part of this work. A special thanks to Sopris Stars instructors James Steindler and Skyler Stark-Ragsdale for their support, leadership and efforts to make this youth publication possible. We are very grateful.

BY GISELLE "GIGI" RASCON Sopris Stars Correspondent

Wandering through the Glenwood Springs High School hallways, new trends have dri ed in like autumn leaves. Low-cut ankle UGG boots and rugged Carhartt jackets are taking over the hallways and classrooms.

UGG

Comfort and nostalgia define the autumn season. The UGG brand, footwear modeled after shoes first used in the early 1900s by sheepherders and farmers, was officially founded by an Australian surfer in the 1970s, helping the surf community stay warm after cold waves. UGG shortly became an iconic fall-winter staple in the early 2000s. Their new low-cut revival brings that same cozy energy back.

The Sopris Stars

Youth Editor Lou Gall lou@soprissun.com

Anna Sophia Brown anna@soprissun.com

Arthur Cherith arthur@soprissun.com

Aurora Egan aurora@soprissun.com

Kate Ott

katelynn@soprissun.com

Giselle “Gigi” Rascon giselle@soprissun.com

Vivienne Shapiro vivienne@soprissun.com

Youth Journalism Director James Steindler james@soprissun.com

Youth Journalism Instructor Skyler Stark-Ragsdale

Graphic Designer

Terri Ritchie

Carhartt

The Sopris Stars, at its core, is youth-based. So this message goes out to every young person in the Valley who has something to say: This is your newspaper! We want to hear from every reader. What do you want to see in The Sopris Stars newspaper? What issues need to be addressed? We are here to listen.

The Sopris Sun, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inform, inspire and build community by fostering diverse and independent journalism. Donations are fully tax deductible. The Sopris Stars is made possible thanks to The Sopris Sun.

The Sopris Stars team is beyond thrilled to continue journeying through the world of journalism and making sure that youth voices remain a prominent force.

Readers can reply with feedback and suggestions by sending a letter to the editor, story ideas or shoutouts to youthnews@soprissun.com

Carhartt jackets also have their roots planted in hard labor. Founded in 1889 for railroad workers, the brand’s sturdy pieces later caught the eye of skaters, artists and hip-hop communities. By the 1990s, Carhartt had transformed from simple workwear to streetwear — thanks, in part, to New York City drug dealers who utilized the plethora of pockets — popularizing the trend and transforming it.

Seeing these two garments side by side in the school hallways feels like watching two worlds meet, toughness and softness, all blending into one e ortless look. ese two pieces further demonstrate modern fashion rewriting history.

Every cell phone has a pocket at RFHS

VIVIENNE SHAPIRO

Sopris Stars Correspondent

Every 50 minutes, an electronic bell reverberates through Roaring Fork High School (RFHS). Students stand and shove papers into their backpacks before crowding by the door. They aren’t necessarily eager to leave the classroom, but rather itching to be reconnected with the digital world. They encircle the three-foot-tall blue and yellow pocket system, which stands next to the door and holds each of their cell phones, reaching as frantically as a child might in a candy store.

“Thats how humans work,” said Edward Danahey, a teacher at the school responsible for introducing the pocket system there. “You can tell people something is bad for them all day, but if it makes them happy, it doesn’t matter.”

enforced. Having eventually found a way to make the pocket policy in Fruita successful, Danahey chose to introduce it in his classroom at RFHS as well, which sparked a trend.

“I had administrators coming into my room and reviewing my [phone] policy during that year because they were, like, ‘Wow, this guy’s a new teacher [and] his phone policy is effective.’” He was then set on expanding the policy schoolwide.

“I went and talked to the dean here,” he said, “and we put in the phone policy, I believe at the end of the 20212022 year.”

“IT’S JUST LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE. IT SHOULD BE USED IN MODERATION.”

-

Edward Danahey

After graduating from Colorado Mesa University in 2021, Danahey started his career as a student-teacher in Fruita. “They had a huge issue with phones,” he told The Sopris Stars. “I figured that once I started teaching, I [would have] control of the classroom.” Regardless of his new role, however, the students persisted.

Danahey had also previously been very frustrated by the use of technology in college. “Being in a room full of adults who are supposed to be leaders and they are checking their phone[s] while a professor is talking is just so lame,” he said. “So I was, like, ‘You know what? I’m going to be really, really harsh and strict about the phone policy and set really clear expectations.’”

Danahey’s school in Fruita had already implemented the pocket policy by the time he started working there. The issue wasn’t a lack of regulations, but rather the extent to which they were

At Roaring Fork, Danahey is known for valuing the maturity of his students. He believes that any student who is capable of completing a college level AP course should be treated as such. Danahey has had to find a balance between allowing students to make their own choices and stepping in to help make those decisions when it’s called for.

“It’s one thing to have autonomy … but phones are intentionally designed to be addictive,” he said.

“The dirty secret is if you walked into class every day and you just said, ‘I don’t have a cell phone,’ I would just trust you because that is me treating you like an adult,” Danahey said. .

When asked to share a glimpse into his own technology use, Danahey shared the screentime on his iPhone. He averaged 2 hours, 12 minutes daily.

“I think it’s pretty bad actually.” He proceeded to do some complex mental math and declared with disgust, “I don’t want to embarrass myself here, but that’s like 6% of my day on my phone, right?”

Regardless of his conviction, Danahey admitted that “phones have made us more connected than we’ve ever been, for better or worse.”

“It’s just like everything in life,” he said. “It

Balancing AI at Glenwood High

AURORA EGAN

Sopris Stars Correspondent

Artificial intelligence is everywhere.

The technology is found in daily life, including on social media, search engines and in art and education. With the rapid growth of these learning systems, generative AI tools are becoming more and more accessible to the public. It may come as no surprise

that students are often using these tools to assist with their work, whether that be a seemingly responsible use or blatant cheating. Notably, some teachers have also begun to utilize various AI resources in the classroom.

Paul Freeman, principal of Glenwood Springs High School (GSHS), believes that these tools can be used as assistive technology to help

should be used in moderation.”

Isaac Moore, a teacher at Basalt High School, has used the same pocket policy as Danahey, but instead of draping it over the classroom door he uses a rolling whiteboard. All of the teachers at RFHS have now adopted Moore’s method. When it came to his contribution to the pocket policy, Danahey said he didn’t deserve all of the credit. “It was all of the hard-working teachers here at RFHS that made these agreements,” he said. “I think that’s like the thesis: people coming together to make strong lasting decisions.”

save time. He added that he utilizes large-language models himself. These models are AI systems trained to process massive amounts of text and information to comprehend and generate human-like responses, such as ChatGPT, which is developed by the company OpenAI.

In the past, Freeman has used these models to generate a syllabus for his Intro to Business class as well as exercises for the class to work through. Freeman reiterated how — though he could, indeed, come up with these ideas for his class himself — using ChatGPT in this way saved him an immense amount of time.

Freeman advocated that AI be used as a tool by both students and teachers, but in a responsible way.

“In corporations, businesses, they feel like they’re saving about 20% of their time by using AI,” Freeman told The Sopris Stars, “I would like every teacher and every student to have access to that saving power of AI.”

However, he criticized using AI to complete schoolwork. Freeman emphasized that using these resources to cheat is not productive, as it robs the student of an actual learning experience. Cheating using these tools also makes it appear to the teacher like the student knows more than they actually do, he explained.

When asked about how GSHS handles students who use AI to cheat, Freeman said it comes down to integrity.

The first time a student is caught using AI to complete assignments, the school will sit them down and emphasize the importance of why using generative AI to cheat on schoolwork is such a big issue and a disservice to themself.

Freeman is concerned that students who use AI to cheat will develop a pattern and continue that misuse in the future, such as in college. He fears that such habits may escalate over time and as will the consequences for individual students, causing them even more trouble — from failing a class and having to retake it to getting kicked out of college.

Concerning teachers using

artificial intelligence, Freeman clarified that the many teachers who are opposed likely have limited to no experience with it. Understandably, when teachers see the influx of AI being used in schoolwork, many immediately stand against the technology altogether. Freeman encouraged that teachers use AI for their planning the same way that he has in the past.

As these learning machines become increasingly advanced, many have expressed concerns about the future of things like job security, but Freeman holds a positive outlook on these advancements in technology. At the same time, he understands that people have a fear of the unknown and that the rapid technological advancement in recent years has compromised the norms of which people have grown accustomed to.

Still, he ended on a positive note.

“I am really looking forward to the day when I can have a robot clean my house and cook my dinner,” Freeman said. “I’m very positive about it.”

From farm to table at CRMS

BY KATE OTT Sopris Stars Correspondent

One of the core pillars of education at Colorado Rocky Mountain School (CRMS) is contributing back to the school community, so much so that service is incorporated into the weekly curriculum. One of the most established facets is its Garden Program, where students, alongside staff, plant, grow and harvest produce, which offsets 40% of the school’s vegetable costs annually. There’s student involvement at every step, from the garden to the kitchen, where students help prepare the food, to the cafeteria, where they enjoy a meal they helped prepare — from start to finish — in their daily meals and during the annual Harvest Dinner.

Zane Bergman, a right-leaning sophomore, stressed that “social media has really divided us, and it’s almost impossible to have a respectful, open minded conversation with a lot of people.” He said that difficult conversations should be approached without an intention to disprove one another.

Sgambati emphasized the importance of listening with intention. “When we talk to people, we talk to them to get them to understand a point; we end up trying to attack or convince them. When the first thing we should be doing is listening, because there is common ground among everyone,” he said. ”If you start with the common ground, then you can talk about the differences. But if you start

with the differences, nothing ever gets done.”

Lucks expanded on the “eye-opening” benefits of having conversations with people she disagrees with. “You’re more logically consistent if you can understand both sides of an argument,” she said.

Another phenomenon that seems to have gained traction over the last decade, but is nothing new, is bandwagon politics — when people agree with whatever it is their party is promoting— which has led to the election of political figures more based in party than in policy.

“There are districts in this country that are Republican. No matter what happens, they are going to vote for a Republican, and there are districts

that are Democrat, that will vote Democrat no matter what,” Sgambati said. “Therefore, our political leaders are rarely talking to the middle ... If you look at them, they talk to their own party now, they don’t talk to the American people.”

There can be a disconnect between people in power and the people of the opposing party. The villainization and othering of people based on disagreements arises when people separate themselves through labels.

Cerrone aims to challenge the group-think trend.

“I classify myself as a traditional Republican, but when I talk to people who classify themselves as Democrats, I find we agree on most issues and disagree on very

The CRMS greenhouse in the morning light ahead of harvesting. Several lines of different plants grow there each year, along with wildflowers. This is also where the students and director of the garden program, Heather McDermott, process and sort the produce — and honey from the bees, who get pollen from the garden — before sending it to the kitchen or prepping it for sale.

few. When the conversation ends at ‘I’m a Republican, and you’re a Democrat,’ people think there is a much greater separation than there is,” Cerrone said.

Among the students, similarities in their values and what they consider to be the most important issues were clear. Their answers reflected the Roaring Fork Valley’s values — climate action, outdoor recreation, family, compassion and respect.

Students agreed that the deepening chasm of disagreement leads to a general lack of communication and misunderstanding, and that deep-rooted morality and a desire for unity are common threads.

“We can find common ground,” Bergman said, “so maybe we aren’t that different after all.”

Local artist Cassidy Willey presents fluid, mixed-media landscapes at Carbondale’s Main Street Gallery with an opening reception on Nov. 6 from 5 to 7pm. This piece, “Legacy in Serpentine,” traces the Crystal River from Slate Creek through Marble on mineral paper. Willey’s work is also on display at the Joy & Wylde gallery in Redstone and she will be interviewed on Everything Under The Sun this Thursday at 4pm on KDNK. Courtesy art

MISTER WHATEVER

John Mulaney, aka Mister Whatever, performs at the Wheeler Opera House at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3

MORNING MEDITATION

Roaring Fork Zen offers a weekly meditation at 8am Mondays at True Nature.

AFRICAN DANCE

Carbondale Rhythm Collective meets at the Glenwood Library from 6:30 to 8pm for African drumming and dance.

‘ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN”

The Sopris Sun shows “All the President’s Men,” an award-winning film about ethical journalism starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www. bit.ly/SoprisRedford

ROARING FORK INSIGHT

Join meditation practitioners forming sangha at Room 31 of the Third Street Center from 7 to 8:30pm.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

PROFOUND ILLUSIONS

Author Larry Gottlieb presents “Exploring Our Culture’s Profound Illusions” at True Nature from 4:30 to 6pm. This is the first in a four-part series.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Local author Nathanial White discusses his book, “Conscious Designs,” at the Glenwood Library at 5pm. The book explores the human psyche, disability, culture, tech and consumerism.

YARN GROUP

Knitters and crocheters meet on Tuesdays at the Basalt Library to work on projects from 5 to 7pm.

MINDFUL MEALS

Literacy Outreach drops by the Basalt Library for the Mindful Meals series, where people share a meal and learn about local organizations.

DRAWING CLUB

The Roaring Fork Drawing Club meets up at Steve’s Guitars at 6:30pm to sketch along to a live jazz jam.

‘399 FOREVER’

Catch an award-winning documentary about the world’s most famous grizzly bear, Grizzly 399, at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm with a Q&A with wildlife guide and cast member Bo Welden following the film.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

RAGING GRANNIES

Join the Raging Grannies to sing lively and creative songs for social justice from 4:30 to 5:45pm at the Third Street Center every Wednesday.

FOREST SOUND BATHING

Megan DiSabatino guides a restorative sound journey and forest bathing at ACES Hallam Lake from 5:15 to 6:30pm. Registration at www.aspennature.org

ORCHID 101

Learn how to keep your orchids thriving with Didi Lawrence and Leslie Buettner at Botany Houseplant Shop from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Registration at www.botanyhouseplantshop.com

‘ORWELL: 2+2=5’

Aspen Film shows “Orwell: 2+2=5,” a documentary about authoritarianism at the AF Isis Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org

TELL IT LIKE IT IS

The Aspen Chapel Gallery hosts a roundtable discussion with journalists and artists Curtis Wackerle, Paul Andersen, Liss Ballionger, Geoff Hansen, Raleigh Burleigh and Regan Mertz, moderated by Andrew Travers, as part of the reception for “Tell It Like It Is,” an art show about journalism benefitting Aspen Journalism. Stop by between 5:30 and 7:30pm.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

10,000 VILLAGES

The 10,000 Villages Fair Trade International Craft Fair returns to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glenwood Springs from noon to 6pm today, 10am to 6pm tomorrow, 10am to 5pm Saturday and noon to 4pm Sunday. All proceeds benefit the artisans.

SACRED WATER

Roaring Fork Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy present “Sacred Water, Wondrous River” with Lorelei Cloud, a Southern Ute Tribe member, and Johnny Le Coq, an avid fly fisher and founder of the company Fishpond. The conversation takes place at TACAW beginning at 5:15pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org

HIGH SCHOOL PLAY theater club, Upstage Productions, presents “The 39 Steps,” adapted from the novel by John Buchan and film by Alfred Hitchcock, tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 6pm.

BASALT REGIONAL LIBRARY

KIDS’/TEENS’

TUESDAYS

4PM-5PM *ADVANCED BREAKING WITH JOH 3:45PM-4:45PM BREAKING WITH JOH

WEDNESDAYS (AGES 6+) NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1 *FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN 5+ CLASSES WITH JOH

Town celebrates Girl Scouts for making safety fun

WILL BUZZERD

Sopris Sun Correspondent

During this week’s meeting, members of Girl Scout Troop 17080 were awarded with special new badges and a round of applause from Town Council for their contribution to Basalt’s Safe Routes to School project.

Since 2022, the Town of Basalt has been investigating ways to improve sidewalks and pedestrian crossings around Two Rivers Road, Cottonwood Drive and the Emma Bridge to make the area safer for students walking to and from Basalt Elementary and Middle schools. As part of its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, local planning firm Design Workshop dedicated a day to working with members of Troop 17080 who brainstormed creative, colorful solutions to make the busy pedestrian intersection more fun and safe. That year, the Town implemented the Girl Scout’s feedback with the temporary installation of rainbow crosswalks and bollards.

In August of this year, Basalt received a $573,200 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program for the construction of permanent features implementing more of the Girl Scouts’ feedback.

The project is planned to be completed in two phases. The first phase includes a redesign of the Emma Bridge surface and is currently out to bid for construction. After investigation, town staff found that

the current planters on Emma Bridge are unlined and have eroded the concrete below them and now the planters and the bridge surface alike need replacement. Parents of students at Basalt schools volunteered to save some of the vegetation in the planters and replant them on school grounds. The more comprehensive second phase of the project includes the construction of continuous bike lanes, more accessible and visible sidewalks, improved signage and pedestrian level lighting and new drainage elements. The second phase is currently in

its final design period. During the meeting, Council unanimously approved easement agreements with Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Station 41 and 7-Eleven.

In recognition of their contribution to making Basalt a safer place, Town Council distributed one-of-a-kind Two Rivers Road Improvement badges to members of Troop 17080 to affix to their sashes.

EJ Crossing

Council was asked to draft a referral letter to Eagle County for an application to construct a 20-acre, 111-unit workforce

housing community located northwest of the El Jebel Road and Highway 82 intersection. Representatives of the applicant, Aspen One and Crawford Properties, LLC, came forth to present their proposal.

Titled EJ Crossing, the property for the development project is located in unincorporated Eagle County yet still within Basalt’s Three Mile Planning and Urban Growth Boundary as well as its 2020 Master Plan future land use map. The proposed development includes 14 deed-restricted units price capped at 80% to 100% of the area median income. Due to its location in unincorporated Eagle County, the property is not subject to Basalt’s housing guidelines. However, because the housing community will rely on Basalt infrastructure, the Town requested changes to the project to make it more in line with its code.

The project’s proposed density of 5.45 dwelling units per acre is below the property’s designated residential density of 6 to 11.9 dwelling units per acre. The Town of Basalt recommended that the number of dwelling units be raised to between 122 and 242 in order to fall within the density range designated by the property’s location in Basalt’s urban growth boundary.

In addition, Basalt recommended that the proportion of deed-restricted housing be at least doubled from 12.6% to a minimum of 25% to be in line with Basalt’s housing mitigation code.

continued on page 19

CARBONDALE REPORT

Honing in on a 2026 budget

RALEIGH BURLEIGH

Sopris Sun Editor

Tuesday’s trustee meeting, Oct. 28, was sparsely attended with the main focus being next year’s budget. All trustees were present with Jess Robison joining via Zoom. The consent agenda included meeting minutes, accounts payable and a special event permit for KDNK and Thunder River Theatre Company’s Halloween party — for which Chris Hassig, a KDNK employee, abstained.

During trustee updates, Erica Sparhawk floated the idea of contributing funds to Lift-Up with the looming possibility of federal food assistance ending this weekend. Mayor Ben Bohmfalk said he will speak with Lift-Up to get a sense of their needs. Christina Montemayor has participated with a coalition advising the City of Aspen and Pitkin County regarding upvalley transportation. She said they have four meetings left “to take it somewhere” and are looking at options like allowing cars to share the bus lanes for a price. With no public comments, trustees then heard from Lyn Williams with YouthZone giving an update about that nonprofit’s work, offering counseling and restorative justice for Valley youth. Williams requested $15,000 from the Town’s general fund to support their operations, anticipating less money from Garfield County in 2026. “We’re supporting Carbondale a lot,” he said, “and we love to do it.” He emphasized that the annual cost to taxpayers of detention for one individual is $137,000, so diversion programs like YouthZone are “just a really awesome return on investment.”

YouthZone and Stepping Stones, along with Family Resource Center, have previously received a share of the tobacco tax revenue. For 2026, each had applied for a community grant from the Town, capped at $7,000. Bohmfalk suggested looking at funding these organizations again at a higher level from the tobacco tax fund (projected at $225,000 for 2026) and removing them from the community grants program.

Next, trustees discussed again applying for the Colorado Energy Office’s Local IMPACT Accelerator grant, awarding approximately $200,000 toward new policy adoption and $1.8 million for implementation. Lauren Suhrbier with Clean Energy Economy for the Region has been formulating a proposal with town staff. The application suggests 25 categories for proposals, narrowing options. A

letter of intent is being drafted that could tie in long-term funding for Garfield Clean Energy, which would involve the support of other local governments. Bohmfalk requested not drawing overly on staff time unless strategically aligned with Carbondale’s goals and projects.

The 2026 budget discussion kicked off with Police Chief Kirk Wilson presenting his department’s requests. A detailed memo highlighted changes from 2025. He noted the cost of tasers and radios both increased substantially and new equipment will be phased in to offset that increase. The budget also requests more money ($25,000) for training and conferences because Colorado Mountain College has not been running its police academy lately, though it seeks to revive that this spring. Wilson asked if the Town would donate a decommissioned police vehicle “with well over 100,000 miles” to the training program.

He also gave an update about the construction of electric vehicle charging stations at Town Hall. This includes 10 designated chargers for the police department and six for public use. The police fleet will add three new all-electric cruisers this year (due next month) and three more next year for an additional $254,755. Wilson noted that electric vehicles are more expensive to upfit for police purposes given the delicate electronics. Nonetheless, these upgrades are staying under budget, he said. The Town will maintain a few gas-fueled vehicles in case a “we face a horrific winter storm that cuts power for a week,” Wilson said, or some other disaster.

Lastly, Wilson was proud to announce that School Resource Officer Arthur Fields is teaching a popular cooking class at Bridges High School. The police department budget proposal requests $1,000 for Fields to purchase ingredients to continue the program for another two semesters.

Moving on to a more general budget discussion, Chacos Park topped the list. There was disagreement among the Board on how to proceed. Consensus was that undergrounding the power lines with designated Xcel Energy funds is “a no-brainer,” in the words of Robison. Town Manager Ryan Hyland explained that fund has about $290,000 with the opportunity to borrow three years’ worth of future funds, around $45,000 per year. However, it will take a long time to replenish for a similar project.

RFSD

program

ANNALISE GRUETER

Sopris Sun Correspondent

In October, the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) held two regular Board of Education meetings and a special session, Oct. 15, for a superintendent review. The board conducted its annual review of Dr. Anna Cole’s performance in the role. Next week, district voters will elect two new board members for four-year terms.

Oct. 8 meeting

During the superintendent report, assistant superintendent Dr. Stacey Park presented a review of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) program review with Amy Fairbanks, the district’s director of the program. This included data and analysis of the program for each school plus action plans for future years. RFSD shows consistently higher English language learning access across the district, with an average of 6% higher access across grades and some grades showing 10% to 17% higher access than state averages.

For the remainder of this school year, the district’s goals for language teaching focus on strengthening rigorous learning for all students and improving consistent lesson design for emerging bilingual students. Priority performance areas are: attendance, math testing performance and elementary early literacy. Following the data presentation, Park and Fairbanks shared an introduction to a recommended deep dive on district CDLE programs to build background knowledge for board members for more informed decision-making.

The board heard a second reading of several policies for revision ahead of final hearing and approval scheduled for the Oct. 22 meeting. These included: school board member compensation, expenses, insurance, liability; a board resolution accompanying a stipend change; relations with state and federal agencies and specifically relations with federal immigration officials. The board also held a first reading of policies around accreditation, superintendent recruitment and school administration.

Oct. 22 meeting

During the second regular October session, Dr. Anna Cole and director of student and family services Kelly Medina presented updates on strategic priorities for student-centered partnerships and operational excellence. In addition to supporting family and teacher communication, the district is increasing leadership-level community outreach through social media and superintendent “coffee talks” with Dr. Cole. RFSD intends to increase trust

My heroes have always been cowboys

There’s an ache in the Valley these days — a silence that settles over the land like morning fog. In the span of a few short months, Carbondale lost three men who embodied everything I ever understood about what it means to live with honor, integrity and an unwavering commitment to community. Ernie Gianinetti, Paul Nieslanik and Tom Bailey weren’t just neighbors, they were the living definition of the cowboy code that built this place.

The grief sits heavy, not just for me, but for all of us who were fortunate enough to call these men friends and mentors. When I look across the pastures and ridgelines they knew so well, I’m reminded that heroes don’t always wear badges or carry titles. Sometimes they wear Wranglers and weathered hats.

Ernie, Paul and Tom came from a generation that understood the land wasn’t something you conquered, it was something you partnered with, something you respected and passed on better than you found it. They knew every creek bed, every fence line, every patch of good grass and rocky ground. But more than that, they knew many families in our community, they understood our struggles and never hesitated to lend a hand.

dust. Deals were made not on paper, but on the unbreakable currency of a man’s word.

As I read their obituaries, I feel a profound sense of responsibility. The cowboy code — that unwritten understanding about doing right by your neighbors, protecting those who can’t protect themselves and leaving things better than you found them — didn’t die with Ernie, Paul and Tom.

GUEST OPINION

By Ron Speaker

What strikes me most about losing these men isn’t just the personal grief, but the recognition of how much learning happened in their presence, without any of us realizing it was school.

Watching Ernie honor Carbondale’s traditions while also adapting to its changing landscape and new residents was a masterclass in community and family evolution. Seeing Paul work 16-hour days to help a neighbor bring in hay before a storm showed us what commitment really looks like. Observing Tom’s careful stewardship of his land and water demonstrated a kind of environmental wisdom that came from decades of paying attention.

While each man pursued his own path during the week, Thursday summer evenings brought them together. At the rodeo grounds, if you knew where to look, you’d find them gathered around tailgates, boots propped on bumpers, cold beers in hand. This was where the real work happened. Land and water issues, job opportunities and community concerns were settled with handshakes in the parking lot

Here’s a question worth asking ourselves: Will we leave our community better off than we found it? When we’re gone, will people say we built something meaningful, lifted others up and moved things forward — or that we just consumed the good life our community provides?

For us in the younger generation, whether we run cattle or not, whether we wear boots and hats or suits and ties, we have inherited something precious. We’ve been given a template for living with integrity, building community and facing challenges with grace and determination. The question isn’t whether we’re worthy of that inheritance, it’s whether we’re willing to carry it forward.

If we listen carefully, the Valley echoes with their wisdom. When we face disputes, we can hear their voices counseling patience and fairness. When the temptation arises to take shortcuts or prioritize personal gain over community good, we can remember how they chose differently, consistently, for decades.

My heroes have always been cowboys — not because of the hats they wore or the horses they rode, but because of the code they lived by. They showed us what it looks like to live with honor, to serve with humility and to build something lasting through daily acts of integrity and generosity.

They’re riding ahead now, but the trail they blazed was clear. It’s time for us to take up the reins, carry that legacy forward and prove ourselves worthy of the community they entrusted to our care. This isn’t a burden — it’s an opportunity. It’s a chance to honor their memory not with words alone, but with lives lived in service to something greater than ourselves.

The Valley may be quieter without their voices, but their example rings louder than ever. It’s our turn to answer the call.

And together it felt. Children filled the aisles, and one woman marveled that it was her first time in a theater that wasn’t showing movies. This was a new experience for the community, custom ordered for them. As director and kindergarten teacher Gabriela Espinoza said in her opening remarks, “Everything here is done by your community, people just like you.” It was a revelation of the community’s potential, fully on display. In a moment when visibility can feel risky, perhaps even reckless, “Anhelo un Café con Estrellas” offered a kind of consolation: a dialogue reaching beyond survival toward fulfillment. The play urged courage, inviting its audience to nurture the ambitions that so often find them under assault. The performance left its audience with a reminder that dreaming itself is an act of freedom. As encouraged in more than one vignette: “Échale ganas” — do it like you mean it.

With national politics polarizing the country minute by minute, it’s easy to forget that most politics is indeed still local. And in a town like Carbondale — enviably supportive and neighborly — the challenge isn’t in finding agreement, but in feeling free to disagree, particularly with those we respect and admire. It’s really uncomfortable. And really important.

So I’ll get to the uncomfortable point: I’m here to ask you to consider voting “no” on the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD) ballot issue 7D.

This ballot issue requests a 1.5% increase in sales tax within the district, and expects to raise $3.7 million annually for the CRFPD. An additional $30 million bond issue for the CRFPD is on the same ballot. Taken together, they set the organization on a new financial path, and it’s easy to appreciate the result. Every community can use more fire fighting capability and emergency call capacity, and every service-based organization

All taxes have consequences, let’s rethink 7D

could use more funds for training, hiring and replenishing reserves. And we certainly need more affordable housing in this valley: $21.5 million of the bond issue is earmarked for the construction of 24 units dedicated to paid and volunteer CRFPD members.

The sales tax initiative is my primary concern. When combined with a .25% proposal by supporters of an early learning district, this CRFPD proposal would push Carbondale sales tax to 10.15% and into the top six in all of Colorado. There is a psychological upper limit to sales tax rates, and we’d be heading there on the express train. At some point, shoppers draw the line and downtown retailers simply choose to locate elsewhere.

Both ballot proposals are made in good faith, but they don’t occur in a vacuum.

Consider the many vital local organizations that rely on tax revenue streams to provide services to our community: RFTA, the Roaring Fork School District, CMC and the Town of Carbondale, including its own

GUEST OPINION

By Ross Kribbs

first responders, the Carbondale Police Department. Housing, hiring and capital improvements are fundamental challenges faced by them all. On the heels of this sizable tax request by the CRFPD, it becomes that much harder for any one of them to propose a similar initiative, no matter how small or how necessary. So, we could argue what’s more important or who’s more deserving — plowed roads or safe schools, faster accident response or better pedestrian crossings, etc. — but we shouldn’t. We should talk.

Imagine a semiannual roundtable discussion among these entities, where future needs were discussed openly, where mutual support was the goal. Would a .5 % or .75% proposal have emerged from that type of meeting, threading the needle and leaving room for future revenue needs for the CRFPD and others? Quite possibly. Could that process help to separate each organization’s nice-to-haves from their want-to-haves and their absolutely-need-to-haves? I think so.

I spoke at length with CRFPD Fire Chief Rob Goodwin recently, and I can’t imagine a better person to lead this organization. His enthusiasm is infectious, his love for Carbondale self-evident and his knowledge thorough. I’m certain he’d rather be teaching the next generation of firefighters than dealing with confounding changes to state tax law, but he also took time to listen to my concerns. I want to thank him again here for that conversation.

Goodwin — and of the CRFPD at large — leaves me confident that the department can survive and thrive for a year while this tax proposal is reconfigured. I know that’s not at all what they’d like to hear, but I promise my full-fledged advocacy for a plan grounded in stronger communication and collaboration.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll have a conversation with your neighbors, weigh the many needs of the community and feel free to vote as you see most prudent. I’ll be voting “yes” on 7E with some reservations, and “no” on 7D. I’m optimistic that we can avoid finger pointing and get to the holding-hands-together part in short order.

It just might take a hard decision or two to get that process started.

Ross Kribbs is a member of the Carbondale Board of Trustees. While this opinion represents his insight from serving in that position, it is not intended to speak for the

THEATER REVIEW: Local activism is changing the game

Carolyn Clough and Janelle Togno are changing the game in local activism and putting their money where their mouth is by doing something about their personal pain caused by war and our government, not just complaining about it. The Haunted House of Representatives, Located at a private residence just up the Crystal River from Carbondale, came out of a cry of injustice and missing community to lean on during uncertain times. An experience and a political play, the curated outdoor tour is full of artistic and terrifyingly real commentary on our current political landscape.

to the devil. Dead babies decorated the meeting room, dismembered people were scattered in bits. The strobe lighting and chilling music gave a disjointed feel as we flurried down the winding forest paths in fright and despair. A witch cackled, bent over her cauldron. Can her spell make it all better?

Make the war in Gaza go away?

GUEST OPINION

Feeling like I was in an escape room, my primed sensory bank wanted to solve puzzles and bust free into a new reality. That would be preferred, because the story that comes to life in my friend’s backyard is bleak and truly haunting. It’s a short story, and without much of an introduction to settle into, but still packs a punch — you get the gist that some politicians are beyond evil and simply voting won’t solve the problem.

By Melina Laroza

All the elements of a truly haunted house are included, with a political narrative twist. Everything is thought out, down to hot apple cider and doughnuts. So much work has been put into this project’s execution, and no one is making a cent. The decorations are chilling and memorable, the acting is convincing and fun, the creepies are creepy. Hauntedness is achieved.

The production quality is over-the-top, with actors wearing realistic make-up that stumble around with vacant eyes and zombie-like, aim-to-kill movements. I actually felt fear, and so did my companions. We got a glimpse into the power-hungry men ruling the world, making dark transactions that sell their souls

All the proceeds go to a Gaza circus school to help them rebuild and” keep these kids smiling who have nothing left,” according to Clough. The last showing is this Thursday, Oct. 30, right before Halloween. It also took place on Oct. 24 and 25, giving Carbondale a good taste of hardto-swallow activist medicine. May we take the message to heart and be inspired.

And you can bet they did not forget the escaped convict murderer at the end with a chainsaw, because what is a haunted house without being chased away by the scream of a chainsaw?

BASALT REPORT

from page 14

Town Council was not required to sign an ordinance during this hearing or take any action other than decide on a referral letter for the project.

Councilors Richard Stevens, Dieter Schindler and Hannah Berman abstained from the motion at the request of the applicant due to potential conflicts of interest with Aspen One. The referral letter, with requested changes, was approved by the remaining councilors with the exception of Councilor Ryan Slack, who argued that the area is reaching its limits for how many commuters it can support.

CARBONDALE REPORT

from page 15

Disagreement surrounded $500,000 budgeted for additional improvements at Chacos Park. Colin Laird said, “I don’t know why we’d start another big project” when the Parks and Recreation Department’s reserve fund is already down to around 26%. “Why not wait a year, do our capital plan, understand what other things we have to do other than upgrading a park that’s already a park?” A Town policy requires the Rec Department’s reserves be replenished back to 80% within three budget cycles. The 2026 budget draft also calls for a $500,000 transfer toward that purpose, which trustees asked be spread over three years.

“There are so many other priorities,” Ross Kribbs agreed, “not least of which is the pool.” He suggested focusing on pool operations before taking on another big project, stating “prudence does not equal failure.”

Other budget topics were adding an additional driver for the Downtowner service to cut wait times during peak hours. The total cost of WE-cycle and Downtowner for 2026 is $947,049 with Roaring Fork Transportation Authority grants covering $366,714. Laird advocated for transferring more money into the affordable housing fund, which took a $1.1 million hit to help purchase the trailer parks this year and now sits at $248,829. The draft designated $200,000, which he asked be brought to $500,000. Hyland said staff would come back with something in between.

Hyland also requested a $10,000 increase for Carbondale Arts for economic development and $20,000 for wayfinding for tourism. The Carbondale Homeless Assistance’s request for $4,000 was heard, with the trustees’ proposal to instead bring their historic amount of $1,500 up to $2,000 and transfer more mid-year if necessary. The trustees’ next regular meeting falls on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. They will not meet then and instead make the Nov. 18 work session a regular meeting.

RFSD

REPORT from page 15

and collaborative relationships between teachers and parents, and improve two-way communications between schools and families.

The board shared a memo and discussion about the Oct. 15 superintendent review special session. Ahead of the mid-October performance evaluation, the district surveyed families and employees. An online survey was available to the entire community between Sept. 16 and Oct. 3. There were a total of 426 responses, with over half of input from parents, followed by 27% of respondents identifying as certified employees. Around 14% of responses came from middle and high school students.

Survey results were majority positive, with an average of 70% approval and 15% to 20% impartial responses. The survey was in both English and Spanish for maximum accessibility. The overall evaluation of Dr. Cole’s performance was positive and appreciative of her work and growth in the position.

Using the survey input and other metrics, the school board identified several desired areas for growth for Dr. Cole moving forward. These include accelerating efforts to close persistent achievement gaps, expanding engagement with Spanish-speaking families and diverse community partners, continuing to plan proactively for declining enrollment and financial challenges and strengthening systems of instructional leadership to ensure consistent progress across all schools.

The November RFSD Board of Education regular meeting takes place on Nov. 19 at 6:15pm in the Colorado Room of the Carbondale District Office, 400 Sopris Avenue. Given the observance of Thanksgiving later in the month, it will be the only meeting in November. RFSD board meeting agendas are always available on the board website. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTube and recordings become available afterward for public accessibility.

Where Support Meets Independence

Choosing care for a loved one is never easy. At Roaring Fork Senior Living, we provide peace of mind, where every resident is known by name, cherished, and supported with dignity. From maintenance-free living to life-enriching activities, we create moments of meaning. Whether your loved one needs daily support or specialized memory care, our dedicated team is here every step of the way.

Latin American Legends: The Demon on the Staircase

FELIPE PEREZ

Sol del Valle

Friar Martín de Porres was a Peruvian religious figure well known for his humility, charity and service to those most in need. Also called Saint Martín de Porres, or “the mulatto of charity,” his virtues were remarkable, especially his humility and deep commitment to serving the poor.

Friar Martín was said to possess supernatural gifts, such as miraculous healing, bilocation and levitation. But there is one particular event that stands out among all the miracles of his life…

He often visited the infirmary near his cell, where he lovingly cared for the sick and suffering. To get there more quickly, he would take a shortcut, a hidden, narrow staircase that few people knew about.

One night, he was making his way down that secret, dimly lit passage, his arms full of clean linens for the patients and a small lit brazier at his feet. That’s when everything changed. As he neared the bottom of the staircase, he was confronted with a sight so terrifying it could have frozen anyone’s blood.

A monstrous, misshapen figure blocked his way. Its white eyes glared at him with hatred and pure malice. There was no doubt, it was the devil himself.

Martín, curious and unafraid, approached and asked with the calm that only absolute faith can grant: “What are you doing here, wretch?”

The proud spirit replied in a smooth, honeyed voice: “I’m here because I feel like it… and because tonight, I win. I intend to take advantage of it.”

“Go back to the cavern you came from,” the saint ordered firmly.

The defiant demon stood his ground, refusing to move, his face twisted into a hateful grin. Friar Martín, knowing there was no point in arguing with evil and that duty called him onward, decided to act.

He gently set down the brazier and the linens, removed the leather belt from his habit and, with unwavering determination, struck the unclean spirit. Though the being had no physical body, the blows, driven by faith, landed with great force.

Realizing he could neither defeat the friar nor provoke him into anger, the infernal creature

vanished without resistance.

Martín then took a burning ember, traced a cross on the wall, and knelt to thank God for the victory. Calmly, he continued on his way to the infirmary.

Thus, this saint taught us not to waste time with the devil or his useless tricks, but to wield the whip of faith and spirit to strike evil with authority.

PROMEX BAKERY RECIPE: CONDENSED MILK COOKIES

Recipe for 12 large or 20 small cookies, ready in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

- 75 g unsalted butter (⅓ cup), at room temperature

- 200 g sweetened condensed milk (about ½ can)

- 1 egg yolk

Instructions:

- 205 g all-purpose flour (1¼ cups)

- ½ teaspoon baking powder

- Strawberry, blackberry or raspberry jam (for filling)

- Melted chocolate (for decorating)

1. Make the base dough: In a large bowl, beat the butter and condensed milk together until smooth and creamy. Add the egg yolk and mix until fully incorporated.

2. Add the dry ingredients: Sift the flour together with the baking powder. Gradually add to the butter mixture, stirring with a spatula or your hands until a soft dough forms. It should be slightly sticky but not stick to your fingers.

Note: If the dough feels too soft, refrigerate it for 10–15 minutes.

3. Shape the cookies: Take portions of dough about the size of a walnut (approx. 25 g each) and roll into balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each one. Make an indentation in the center with your finger or the back of a small spoon.

4. Add the filling: Spoon a small amount of jam into each indentation. You can also leave some plain to decorate later with melted chocolate.

5. Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

6. Decorate as desired: Once cooled, you can drizzle with melted chocolate, draw little Halloween faces using a fine-tipped bag, dust with powdered sugar if left unfilled.

Share your works in progress with readers by emailing illustrations, creative writings and poetry to fiction@soprissun.com

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

SPOOKTACULAR SIGHTINGS

CARE. PRIMARY REGION’S LARGEST NETWORK OF

With board-certified pediatricians, internists and family medicine physicians on our team, primary care at Valley View is here to care for your needs, regardless of your age or circumstances. We are proud to have multiple offices and locations in Carbondale, Eagle, Glenwood Springs, Silt and Willits, providing multigenerational primary care across the region. vvh.org/primarycare

The best is ahead. Because Valley View is behind you.

PeopleCare. That’s Valley View.

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work very hard to remain stupid,” -Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Glenwood Springs

Howdy neighbors. Sick of the phony Christianity at the core of the national MAGA movement but not sure what you can do about it? Here’s your chance. Vote locally in the RE-1 school board to elect two thoughtful candidates and prevent a couple of right-wing extremists from taking over your children’s education.

First the threat. Jodi Barr and Elizabeth Taylor couch their extremism in nice sounding platitudes. But you don’t have to scratch deep below the surface to reveal that their primary motivations are imposing a fundamentalist worldview based in fear and exclusivity. To wit, their main concerns seem to be about gender and diversity… dog whistle coming through loud and clear?

Elizabeth Taylor has a twitter account called “DOGE the schools.” Anyone who paid a lick of attention to what DOGE actually did (gutted the oversight agencies looking into Musk’s illegalities and cost billions more than it saved) ought to be alarmed. Reality rejection has no place in our schools.

Further, these MAGA candidates are openly supported by Cornerstone Church in violation of the laws prohibiting nonprofit electioneering and constitutional separation of church and state. Both explicitly dismiss separation of church and state in Sopris Sun interviews, suggesting that the authors of our Constitution didn’t really mean it. They cite (in lock step) a letter Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut to suggest that separation only means keep the state out of the church but not the other way around. In his letter, Jefferson didn’t draw this distinction, explicitly using the phrase “a wall of separation between Church and State.” It couldn’t be clearer and more unambiguous.

If those red flags aren’t bright enough, both candidates’ campaigns are funded in no small measure by out-of-state donors. Really... can’t find enough local support? Oh, and they want teachers carrying guns

Fortunately, we have solid alternatives.

District teachers consider Tammy Nimmo to be a parent super volunteer, reliably and frequently showing up at school to help as needed. And she’s a substitute teacher, giving her first-hand experience in what resources and support teachers need to do their jobs. She knows the complex realities of teaching and learning, and is known for her positive, collaborative influence on whatever she engages in.

Kathryn Kuhlenlberg is an incumbent known for her thoughtful and deliberate approach to leadership on the Board. A friend of mine who sits on a district committee that advises the Board on policy says she’s seen how Kathryn asks good questions and takes the time to research everything before drawing conclusions. The Board needs her steady hand and reliable expertise.

Schools should be a welcoming place for all students, not just those indoctrinated into a fundamentalist Christian worldview grounded in fear and exclusion.

Sloan Shoemaker Carbondale

Do your homework Arm teachers?

Put religion in schools?

Not in our valley! Do your homework and vote for those who uphold our values. We haven’t turned into Texas (yet). Ok, here are the CliffNotes: Vote Nimmo and Kuhlenberg.

Kay Maynard Carbondale

Support 7B

On Nov. 4, Basalt Library will be on the ballot, Measure 7B. In the 1980s, Pitkin and Eagle commissioners designed a midvalley library district with Basalt being the hub and spokes extending to Blue Lake, Missouri Heights, Old Snowmass and up Frying Pan Road. Voters approved that district, and the library that was built in 2010 is now both a library and community hub serving all ages.

The library board has recently restored the library’s roof ($650,000) and paid off its bond debt a year early — two years’ payments in one year, $1.67 million. It must now look to the future.

The library is asking voters to extend the 1.08 mills that were used to pay off the construction bonds and to use that amount to maintain essential services. This works out to $67 (or $5.60 per month) per $1 million of assessed home value. This amount will be used to (a) offer competitive wages for staff; (b) maintain and repair the building; (c) keep collections, technology and digital resources current; (d) support diverse programming for all; and (e) maintain convenient open hours each day.

The 1.08 mill levy represents a ceiling, not a fixed annual rate. The library board will collect only what is needed to sustain operations and maintain stability through future economic changes. Please vote “yes” on 7B to ensure that Basalt Library remains a well-maintained, fully staffed, beloved resource for the midvalley community for years to come.

Carolyn Kane Basalt

Yes on LL and MM

As a parent and volunteer for the American Heart Association, I believe no child in Colorado should have to worry about the cost of lunch or skip a meal because their family cannot afford it. For many healthy kids, breakfast or lunch at school is the most nutritious meal they will eat all day. Kids spend more time in school than at home, and with busy schedules, every child deserves access to healthy meals at school. This should not be a privilege for some. It should be a basic right for all.

In the Roaring Fork Valley, our children are the future generation of athletes and coaches. We must ask ourselves, what are we feeding our children? They say you are what you eat, and if you ask me, that should be a top priority on the ballot this November. There have been times when I could not afford fresh produce for my family, and it affected my health. More importantly, it impacted my children’s health and their lives. Thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All Program, Colorado schools now provide over 600,000 free, nutritious meals to students across the state every day. All our kids deserve access to healthy food. Vote yes on LL and MM so every child in Colorado can continue to receive a healthy meal at school.

Laura Segura Carbondale

NOTICE

MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to §38-26-107, C.R.S., that after 10:00 a.m. on November 13th, 2025, final settlement with FCI Constructors (“Contractor”) will be made by the Marble Charter School(“School”), for its project located at 420 W Main Street, Marble, Colorado, 81623, subject to satisfactory final inspection and acceptance of the Project by the School.

Any person, as defined in C.R.S. 2-4401(8), that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor or its subcontractor in or about the performance of the work on the Project or that has supplied laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work whose claim therefor has not been paid by the Contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the Project, may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on such claim at the Marble Charter School located at 420 W Main Street, Marble, CO 81623. Failure to file such verified statement of claim prior to final settlement will release the School and its employees and agents from any and all liability for such claim and for making final payment to said Contractor.

s/s MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL

• First Publication: 10/23/25

• Final Publication: 10/30/25

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that on November 12th, 2025, at 12:00 pm final settlement will be made with BRYAN CONSTRUCTION INC. (BCI), 4700 Innovation Dr, Bldg C, Fort Collins, CO, 80525 by the TOWN OF CARBONDALE, 511 Colorado Ave, Carbondale, CO, on a contract for labor and materials for a project known as NIESLANIK AVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING PROJECT and that any person, co-partnership, company, association of persons, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against BCI, or its subcontractors, for labor and materials, may, at any time, up to closing of business the last work day prior to final settlement, that is, by November 12th, 2025, file a verified statement of the amount due with the TOWN OF CARBONDALE (Attn. Kevin Schorzman) kschorzman@ carbondaleco.net pursuant to Section 38-26-107, CRS, as amended.

Failure on the part of the Claimant to make such verified statement, prior to the final settlement on the contract with BCI, will relieve the TOWN OF CARBONDALE from any liability for such Claimant’s claim.

PUBLISHED BY THE ORDER OF TOWN OF CARBONDALE.

Published in The Sopris Sun on October 30, 2025.

PARTING SHOTS

ABOVE: Fellow varsity player Alan Rodriguez (#21) steps up to greet Roaring Fork High School senior Jason Clemente and his family during Senior Night honors at halftime of the Montrose game at Rams Field in Carbondale on Oct. 21. Also recognized were seniors Johan Soto, Eli Norris, Miles Speiss, Jesse Pimental, Salbador Vasquez, Peter Brennan, Manny Loeza, Anthony Alvarado and team manager Amyah Clayborne.

Photo by John Stroud

RIGHT: The Lady Rams volleyball team bid adieu to graduating student-athletes (from left to right): Hannah Bays, Elleree Richmond, Yakelin Nunez-Hernandez, Nikki Tardiff and Maddy Applegate.

Photo by Anthony Alvarado

EAGLE

Active Aging Wellness Expo

Active Aging Wellness Expo

Friday, October 31 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Friday, October 31 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Eagle County Community Center

20 Eagle County Dr. El Jebel, Colorado

County Community Center 20 Eagle County Dr. El Jebel, Colorado

Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event!

Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event!

P RE S E N T A TI ON S

P RE S E N T A TI ON S

Don’t Wait Communicate: Planning Your Living Will Sue O’Bryan, Alpine Legal Services 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Don’t Wait Communicate: Planning Your Living Will Sue O’Bryan, Alpine Legal Services 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

More Than a Signature:

More Than a Signature: The Responsibilities of a Power of Attorney

The Responsibilities of a Power of Attorney

Matthew Trinidad, Alpine Legal Services 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Matthew Trinidad, Alpine Legal Services 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Colorado Historical Hauntings

Colorado Historical Hauntings

Christi Couch, Eagle County Healthy Aging 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Christi Couch, Eagle County Healthy Aging 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

+ RESOUMORERCES!

+ RESOUMORERCES!

Contact: Mandi Dicamillo mandi.dicamillo@eaglecounty.us 970-379-0020

Contact: Mandi Dicamillo

mandi.dicamillo@eaglecounty.us 970-379-0020

Roarin g Fork

EXPLORE

Yout h Activi ti e s

The Sopris Sun is excited to introduce programs that let kids try new activities, build skills, and connect with their community in fun and meaningful ways.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE

Sketching and Drawing Level II

Age 10-17

Students with some experience loose sketching will continue to advance their skills by sketching and drawing di erent forms, including pets and humans to introduce anatomical proportions, and landscapes to introduce perspective.

Wednesdays, 3-4pm, 10/15-11/5

Christmas Cookie Decorating

Ages 8+

Get creative and decorate your own special Christmas cookies while learning pro techniques from the Pastry Chef Lab. Cookies and decorating supplies provided. Instructor is bilingual. Parent participation is welcome with your younger students. Wednesday, 3-5pm, 12/3

CALL FOR MORE INFO CALL 970.963.2172

690 Colorado Ave, Carbondale

• TAEKWONDO AND KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS

Start date: January 1, 2023 - End date: December 31, 2025 Time: 6 - 7pm • Location: CRCC East Gym

Martial Arts classes for children & adults. Improve your balance, strength, coordination, and flexibility. Integrate body, mind, and spirit using the Taekwondo tenets: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. Sahn Taekwondo classes are taught by Nationally and Internationally certified instructors: Master Instructor Cedar Rose Guelberth, 4th Dan, & Grand Master Richard Hodder, 9th Dan. Six-month pre-registration discounts available. Ages: 7 years & up (6 year olds are considered on an individual basis and if joining with an adult or older sibling)

Days: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-7pm, Saturdays 10am-11am

Dates: Year Round

Cost: $90/month; $73/month (2nd member of family); $53/month (3rd and more family members)

For more information call Ms. Cedar Rose (970) 948-8774

THANKSGIVING SPECIAL

Looking for fun during Thanksgiving break?

Join us for a 3 day camp that will get kids moving!

Monday: Dodgeball and Indoor Soccer

Tuesday: Climbing Wall and Capture the Flag

Wednesday: Basketball and Kickball Campers will meet at the rec center at 2pm. Pick up will be at 4pm

Dates: Monday, November 24 - Wednesday, November 26

Times: 2-4pm • Cost: $65 • Ages: 8-12

GARFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES

Children of all ages can explore, play, and learn through a wide variety of our engaging programs o ered each week.

From storytimes that spark a lifelong love of reading—whether for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, or the whole family—to active sessions like “Get the Wiggles Out” and “Shake Your Sillies Out,” there’s something for every energy level. Creative minds can dive into hands-on fun with “Spark” and “STEM Exploration” events, while bilingual and sensory-friendly programs ensure every child feels welcome and included.Across all six library branches—Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, Rifle, and Parachute—families will find opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re looking to introduce your little one to their first storytime, inspire curiosity with science and art, or enjoy enriching cultural experiences, the libraries are here to help your child’s imagination soar.

FOR MORE INFO: www.gcpld.org

CARBONDALE CROSSFIT

Get Your Kids Moving at Carbondale CrossFit

Carbondale CrossFit is excited to o er a special promotion for our Kids classes. Designed for children aged 5–12, our CrossFit Kids program introduces young athletes to the fundamentals of movement, basic gymnastics, safety etiquette, mobility, and flexibility—all while having fun with their friends. Classes are held on Mondays and Fridays at 4:00 PM, providing a great opportunity for kids to stay active and healthy. To make it easier for families, we o er a $20 drop-in rate or a 10-class punch pass for $145.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: carbondalecrossfitco.com or CALL: 561-972-1240