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Volume 7, Number 52 | February 4, 2016
Blues brothers, sisters, cousins and friends have been spotted around town of late, tuning up for the actual “Blues Brothers” film that will show at the Crystal Theatre on Monday, Feb. 8. The screening is a fundraiser for The Sopris Sun and theatergoers are encouraged to come in costume for the event. The Blues Brothers, originally a singing duo on “Saturday Night Live” featuring John Belushi as Jake and Dan Aykroyd as Elwood, eventually became a feature-length film based on their SNL characters. Join us for some laughs as Jake and Elwood storm around the country in their Bluesmobile while “On a Mission from God” to raise $5,000 to save the orphanage in which they grew up. Who are the orphanage-loving, blues-blasting renegades from the law pictured here? Guess their identities and we’ll reveal them on Monday night. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. Photo by Jane Bachrach
FEBRUARY 5 TH IS
FIRST FAT FRIDAY! In the Heart of Carbondale’s Creative District
MARDI GRAS PARADE - 5 PM ON MAIN ST.
Carbondale Commentary The views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to the editor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at news@soprissun.com, or call 510-3003.
Republican Party: Like a beetle on its back At this point, obviously, I want Bernie Sanders for president, even you’ll never see him again. Besides, the differences are what make us if he does look like an old geezer from the club. Whenever he speaks interesting to each other, instead of picking on them, why not try to to Wall Street thievery or Big Pharmaceutical addiction I feel like embrace the contrast). one of those bobble heads on the dashboard: uh huh, uh huh. But For argument’s sake, let’s say “no government interference” is the even Bernie admits he can’t do much with this country as it is, and party’s ideal and all Republicans are for less federal regulation. that his campaign is more of an educational convoy Great, but it has to be across the board: no regulation across America. of marriage, marijuana or money. Let’s face it. We’re on the express toll-way to idioc“Why shouldn’t gay people have the right to be as racy and our lowest common denominators are agmiserable as us heteros?” — M.S. gressively speeding along with horns blaring and naked Marijuana: finally a luxury tax that doesn’t penalwomen profile mudflaps waving in the exhaust. (As ize the old guard! If you’re truly the Grand Ol’ Party, witnessed every time Trump takes the podium; or then prove it by planting it, harvesting it and taxing the worse — stands to the side while Sarah Palin spews her spliff out of it. random idiom-speak). As for taxes, pick a percentage. Go ahead, pick a What the hell has happened to the Republican card and let’s get on with it. Everyone (including corParty?! It’s as bad as watching Tom Brady. Just as I start porations) pays a flat tax and our economy can set sail. to feel sorry for them, Ted Cruz says something truly The other problem idiotic and I think to myself “wait — I thought you had By Jeannie Perry to be born in the United States in order to be eligible for The other main problem I see with the new GOP is the presidency?” Why is he still talking? Compared to they don’t stay the course. They seem to have two sets the no-nonsense lock-down tactics of the conservatives in the 1980s, of standards, one for the Big Guys and one for everyone else. I’ll today’s GOP reminds me of a beetle flailing around on its back. And admit that democrats sling enough legislation to choke a hippo, and let’s be honest, the O is growing at an exponential rate while the G because of it we’re turning into a country of pampered participationfades silently into the background … pretty soon they’ll just be the ribbon-wearing pansies, but in this country we are all gonna play by OP – Ol’ Party. the same set of rules. It’s kind of a founding principle. Hey OPers, if you want your party to live to see another generTake the guys from Nevada terrorizing wildlife in Oregon, while ation, then I have a couple of suggestions. The biggest obstacle to claiming to be taking back the land for the people. I can’t help but getting younger generations on board is that you don’t stand for one call them out as ignorant fools. Ignorant of our system of governbig-picture ideal. You get so bogged down in the individual issues ment in that they don’t seem to understand the land already belongs that you can’t agree with yourselves, much less the rest of us. It’s to each and every one of us, ignorant of how taxes are necessary to kind of like attending a wedding where you know both the bride oversee and protect public lands, and fools to think that state manand the groom; just pick a side of the aisle and sit down. (Try talk- agement won’t lead to private ownership. And even card-carrying ing to the guy next to you. Yep, the one with all the piercings and tat- Republicans in their Yosemite Sam hats won’t gain access once the toos. You never know, he might be a helluva guy, and if not, what’s land is privately owned. Call me crazy, but electing a Democratic the worry? It’s a wedding. Unless you’re related to him, chances are socialist doesn’t seem half as scary as a billionaire’s buffoon.
OPINION
Ps & Qs
Letters
The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Letters exceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name and residence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters via email to news@soprissun.com or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. The deadline to submit letters to the editor is noon on Monday.
For your consideration Dear Editor: January was a fantastic, busy month for the Buddy Program! As the new recruitment manager at the Buddy Program, I was pleasantly overwhelmed with community support and interest in what we do. Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron and Carbondale Mayor Stacey Patch Bernot joined mayors from Orlando, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York City and Boston by proclaiming that January is officially National Mentoring Month in their respected cities — Aspen and Carbondale. Ryan Koster at KSPN and Carolyne Heldman at Aspen Public Radio were gracious enough to have us on their radio shows to speak about the current volunteer needs at the Buddy Program, while giving the community insight into the support offered from our case managers to all Buddy Pairs.
Carbondale Beer Works hosted us as their non-profit beneficiary of their first BINGO night, which proved to be a full and intense house of BINGO players and a wonderful way of showcasing the Buddy Program as a fixture in the Carbondale community. In addition to a social media campaign, Mentoring in Real Life, we hosted our annual Mentor and Mingle event at BB’s Kitchen in their private lounge. Over 40 community members came in support of the Buddy Program, enjoyed delicious appetizers and refreshments, learned about our continued need for volunteers throughout the entire valley, and even heard from two Buddy Pairs in our program. Our unique community verified once again that we have an abundance of caring, compassionate individuals, and we, at the Buddy Program, are constantly astounded and grateful to be included in so
Correction Last week’s article about Green Party member Arn Menconi seeking his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate contained some errors. First, current U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet was appointed by Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, and not President Barak Obama. Also, due to reporting errors or miscommunication between reporter and subject, the article reported that Menconi has two young
many of your lives. National Mentoring Month was a momentous success, and I’d like to thank our current Big Buddies, volunteers in the screening process, and future volunteers yet to come. We currently have 37 kids on our valley-wide waiting list, and I hope that you consider and take action in becoming part of the Buddy Program. We’d like to thank Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron, Carbondale Mayor Stacey Patch Bernot, KSPN, Aspen Public Radio, Carbondale Beer Works, and BBs Kitchen for your enthusiasm and collaboration. Thanks to you, The Roaring Fork Valley’s National Mentoring Month was impactful and effective. Laura Crow Recruitment Manager Buddy Program Aspen LETTERS page 19
sons in school in the Roaring Fork Valley (it should have read "a son and a daughter"); and that Menconi was fired from his job as executive director of the SOS Outreach non-profit over a protest at the U.S. Senate in 2014 (it was a protest on Wall Street, against corporate acts contributing to global warming). The Sopris Sun regrets the errors and any confusion they may have caused.
2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
Sincerest thanks to our
Honorary Publishers for their generous, ongoing commitment of support. Jim Calaway Kay Brunnier Bob Ferguson – Jaywalker Lodge Scott Gilbert: Habitat for Humanity - RFV Bob Young – Alpine Bank George Stranahan Peter Gilbert James Surls Umbrella Roofing, Inc.
ank you to our SunScribers and community members for your support! It truly takes a village to keep e Sun shining.
To inform, inspire and build community. Donations accepted online or by mail. For information call 510-3003 Editor: Lynn Burton • 970-510-3003 news@soprissun.com Advertising: 970-379-0214 AdSales@soprissun.com Reporter: John Colson Photographer: Jane Bachrach Graphic Designer: Terri Ritchie CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS board@soprissun.com Barbara Dills, President Debbie Bruell, Secretary Colin Laird • Cliff Colia Diana Alcantara • Matt Adeletti • Olivia Pevec The Sopris Sun Board meets regularly on the third Monday evening of each month at the Third Street Center. Check the calendar for details and occasional date changes.
Honorary Board Members Denise Barkhurst • Sue Gray David L. Johnson • Laura McCormick Jeannie Perry • Trina Ortega • Frank Zlogar Founding Board Members Allyn Harvey • Becky Young • Colin Laird Barbara New • Elizabeth Phillips Peggy DeVilbiss • Russ Criswell
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Alleged pot shop robbers still behind bars By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The young men accused of robbing a Carbondale cannabis shop at gunpoint last year will be appearing in court later this month as prosecutors continue their efforts to keep the men behind bars, but with added charges against at least the three adults accused of being involved. Erik Jose Colon, 26 of Glenwood Springs; Bryan Flores-Calix, 19, of Silt; and Arturo Nuño-Cervantes, 22, of Glenwood Springs, all are facing as many as seven felony counts over allegations that they engineered the stickup at the Sweet Leaf cannabis shop on the morning of Dec. 7, 2015. They are to appear in Ninth Judicial District Court in Glenwood Springs on Feb. 18. Authorities say two of the men walked into the shop that morning, waved a gun at the employees, and made off with roughly
$1,000 in cash and possibly $3,500 worth of product. An unnamed juvenile suspect, who is accused of having waited in a getaway car with one of the adults, also is being tried, but in juvenile court before Judge Paul Metzger. At a hearing on Jan. 13, the juvenile was informed he is charged with several felonies, including aggravated robbery, kidnapping, menacing and theft. The judge was told the juvenile, who is 17 but about to turn 18, currently is on home detention and is complying with the court’s conditions, receiving counseling and has amassed a record of negative urine analysis tests to determine if he is staying off drugs and alcohol. Judge Metzger agreed with court officers’ assessment that the juvenile is doing well and should be continued on home detention rather than being sent to a juvenile jail.
The next hearing for the juvenile’s case is scheduled for approximately a week earlier than the adult hearings. It could not be determined if a new charge also was added to the juvenile’s case. The four young men were arrested on the same day as the robbery, following a search of the area by multiple law enforcement agencies that ended when police spotted the group in a second getaway car. Police believe the suspects switched cars after they had ditched the red, 2004 Ford Mustang that the two alleged robbers reportedly had driven up to the cannabis shop and then driven away after the robbery was concluded. Nuño-Cervantes also is accused of violating his probation in cases stemming from incidents last year, including one in which he is accused of menacing friends with a pistol during an argument over money, and of stealing the red Mustang allegedly used in
the Sweet Leaf stick-up. Another incident, to which Nuño-Cervantes pleaded guilty, came about after he was arrested in February of 2015 and charged with painting graffiti on a wall in Glenwood Springs. Flores-Calix also is facing an additional set of charges separate from the armed robbery, stemming from his guilty plea last year to charges that he stole the hood off a Honda Civic similar to one he owned, after his own hood flew off his car while he was driving. The district attorney’s office last month added kidnapping charges to the tally of all three of the adult suspects concerning allegations involving a store clerk at Sweet Leaf. District Attorney Sherry Caloia was out of town this week and could not answer questions about the added kidnapping charges.
Carbondale fire district preps for May 3 board election By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District is preparing for a May 3 election of district board members, although district officials are prepared for that election to not be held. At its Jan. 13 fire board meeting, the district’s directors approved a resolution that, first and foremost, appointed Fire Chief Ron Leach as the official “designated election official” or DEO, charged with overseeing the election. The second clause of the resolution provides that the DEO is authorized to cancel the election “if the only matter before the electors is the election of persons to office” and “if, at the close of business on the sixty-third day before the election there are not more candidates than offices to be filled.” There are two seats up for election this year, those currently held by Bob Emerson and Lou Eller, said Leach, who added that there are no term limits that apply to fire district board members. Eller on Tuesday confirmed that he plans to run for re-election this spring. “I have 16 years experience on the fire board, eight years on the Spring Valley Sanitation District board, and three years on the Marble Charter School board,” Eller wrote in an e-mail to The Sopris Sun. “I know the special district regulations fairly well and look forward to serving the district residents an additional four years.” Emerson could not be reached on Tuesday concerning whether he plans to seek re-election. Nominating petitions are available now for prospective candidates, according to Leach, and they must be filled out and returned to the fire district headquarters by Feb. 26 in order for the candidates’ names to be included on the ballot. These are “self-nominating petitions,” Leach explained, meaning that prospective candidates need only fill in their own names, along with a signature by a qualified elector as witness, to be placed on the ballot. Leach, on Tuesday, noted that while he has the authority to cancel the election if only two candidates sign up to run for the vacant seats, there are circumstances under which cancellation is not an option. For example, if both Emerson and Eller
decide to run for re-election, but no one else submits a nominating petition by the Feb. 26 deadline, cancellation of the election might be in order as a way to save district funds, Leach and other officials have said. Board member Mike Kennedy, at the Jan. 13 board meeting, estimated that an election can cost the district up to $18,000 if conducted by mail-in ballot, or roughly $7,000 if conducted at polling places around the district. But, Leach continued, there is a period following the Feb. 26 deadline during which one or more write-in candidates could declare an interest in serving on the board. And while write-in candidates’ names would not appear on the ballot (because the deadline had been missed) the election still must be held to afford all candidates a chance to win election, Leach continued. That write-in deadline date is Feb. 29, three days after the initial petition deadline, and Leach said the decision on whether to cancel the election or not can be made on March 1 at the earliest. The board’s newest member, former fire fighter Carl Smith, in a posting to an Inter-
net-based chat group here in Carbondale last month, urged local residents to get involved with the fire district election. “This is a great opportunity for you to serve your community by seeking a position on the Fire District Board,” Smith wrote. “You may think you can’t do it, but I was never an elected official until two years ago. You do not have to be an expert on fire departments, you do need to want to serve your community and be part of a great organization that provides an excellent service to the community. Think about it.” The district board is made up of five directors, who now include board president Gene Schilling, vice-president Mike Kennedy, secretary-treasurer Lou Eller, and directors Bob Emerson and Carl Smith. Typically, the board of directors meets on the second Wednesday of each month, at 5:30 p.m., at the main fire department headquarters at 301 Meadowood Drive in Carbondale, unless there are special reasons to meet more frequently. That has happened in the last year, as the board dealt with a chronic shortage of funds
thanks to the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, when the district’s assessed valuation of property and thus its main income from property taxes fell by around 40 percent. District voters twice agreed to increase taxes, initially starting in 2011, in the form of a mill-levy override that permitted the district to raise its tax rate under a two-year “sunset clause.” But when the district tried to win a permanent tax hike in 2013, which essentially would have doubled the district’s tax rate with no sunset date, the voters balked. Last year, as the district was staring at serious budget shortfalls and perhaps a need to cut paid staff and reduce other costs, the voters agreed to a second tax hike, again with a two-year “sunset clause” that called for the tax hike to expire after 2017. The district’s board of directors already, at meetings in 2015 and so far this year, has begun debating whether to ask for some sort of tax hike or other revenue measure in 2017 or 2018, to keep the district’s income at a sustainable level for the provision of fire fighting and emergency medical services.
It was sunny at Roaring Fork High School on Jan. 28, with scores of happy smiles adding to the day’s brilliance. The occasion was the formal dedication of the new solar array, which will provide 100 percent of the school’s electric energy for 20 years. For more on the dedication, please turn to page 17. Photo by Lynn Burton
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 3
Town Briefs Recreation Department preps for Fat Friday In his weekly memo to staff and others dated Jan. 29, town manager Jay Harrington said the recreation department plans to enter a float in Friday’s Mardi Gras parade, which will highlight the department’s fitness class offerings. Recreation department staff also plan to pedal “fat bikes in a peloton down the street” during the parade, and to hand out strings of beads with “one-free-fitnessclass” certificates attached. In other news from Harrington’s report, the town of Carbondale is still accepting Christmas trees for recycling at its recycling center east of town hall. And, according to Town Clerk Cathy Derby, “It’ll be around for some time.” She said the tree chipper recently malfunctioned and must be repaired, and an employee responsible for putting the trees into that chipper is taking time off due to a slight injury, but the overall program will continue until a date uncertain at this point. Meanwhile, as usual for this winter, work crews for the streets department and the parks department have been spending a lot of their hours removing snow and ice from city rights of way, some of which has been in response to complaints from citizens about ice buildup on the streets. In fact, in some parts of town, citizens have been spotted using various kinds of tools to do their own ice-breaking work, seemingly as a way to keep the curbs ice-free enough to accommodate parking. As part of the town’s snow-control work, Harrington reported, the parks crew has been concentrating on removing snow and ice from areas “adjacent to trails and sidewalks” because “we have to make room for the next snow event.” A planned bid opening for contractors hoping to build a roof structure over a grandstand at the Gus Darien Riding Arena, originally scheduled for Feb. 2, has been rescheduled for June after Garfield County requested that the town apply for a permit for an
“administrative land-use change” for the arena property, which is in the county. In addition, according to Harrington’s memo, the county wants the two to submit a “location and extent review” of the property “prior to issuing any building permits for improvements to the facility.” Concerning recreation programming, Harrington reported that the winter/spring program brochure is now available for upcoming recreational activities, and that online registration can be arranged at the website, www.carbondalerec.com. Specifically, Harrington reported that the town’s Youth Hockey lessons have attracted 30 participants, between the ages of six and nine years, who are being coached by volunteers. Also, the youth basketball league is continuing its practices from 4-7 p.m., on Mondays through Fridays, at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center (CRCC), 567 Colorado Ave., next door to Town Hall. The league features games each week against teams from Aspen, Basalt and Glenwood Springs. There are 10 teams in the league, Harrington reported. Although the town’s two ice rinks — one in-town at 4th and Main streets, the other at the Gus Darien Riding Arena along Catherine Store Road (Garfield County Road 100) — were solidly iced over and “skating well” as of last Friday, Harrington cautioned that those conditions “might not last long with the warming temperatures and sunny forecast.” That prediction came true over the weekend, as water was observed pooling on the ice at the Gus Darien rink on Saturday. Interested users are urged to go to the recreation department website for the latest on ice conditions and on rink rentals at the CRCC. Harrington noted that the Gus Darien rink was rented for private parties on Jan. 29-31 for periods of up to two hours each day. The downtown rink is not open to rentals, Harrington wrote.
Cop Shop From Jan. 21-28, Carbondale officers handled 269 calls for service. During that period, Carbondale officers and other law enforcement officials investigated the following cases of note:
FRIDAY, Jan. 22: At 9:55 a.m. Carbondale police took a report of a sexual assault involving a juvenile victim. Neither the victim nor the alleged assailant were identified. SATURDAY, Jan. 23: At 1:23 a.m. police were informed of an allegedly vicious dog on Roaring Fork Avenue. After investigating, they issued a summons into court for a 31-year-old local man on a charge of keeping a vicious animal. SATURDAY, Jan. 23: At 1:56 a.m. police contacted a 40-year-old man for allegedly blocking traffic in both directions in the 700 block of Sopris Avenue with his vehicle. After investigating, officers arrested the man on suspicion of drunk driving. SUNDAY, Jan. 24: At 11:06 a.m. police responded to a report of a hit and run accident on Wheel Circle. Officers located the driver of the allegedly “run” vehicle and ticketed him for careless driving and not having a valid driver’s license. SUNDAY, Jan. 24: At 6:13 p.m. police responded to a reported hit and run accident on North 8th Street, involving a parked Jeep. A report was taken, and an unsuccessful search of the area was conducted. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27: At 10:31 a.m. police were informed of several homes along Wheel Circle that had been “egged” by a person or persons unknown.
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4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
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Important notice
Mountain Fair already?
The American Legion will NOT be organizing this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. “Because of a lack of participation, we have decided to retire from the parade preparations,” said an American Legion spokeswoman. “Any organization wanting to take over the parade planning should contact the Carbondale police department for a permit and directions.” For the record, last year’s parade attracted a young man and woman in a Jeep, although a rag-tag bunch of unofficial paraders did march from Peppino’s to the Pour House and back. All is not lost for celebrating St. Patrick on March 17, however. The American Legion will still be serving its traditional beef and cabbage dinner and the public is invited.
The Mountain Fair application deadline for arts & crafts vendor is Feb. 26, while the deadline for food vendors is April 1. For details, go to carbondalearts.com or e-mail Marianne@carbondalearts.com.
Playing a Paonia gig The lineup at the World Music Salon at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 includes Eric Baumheier and Aja McAdams from the Carbondale Rhythm Collective. The audience will also experience the sounds of Turkey, the Balkans, North India, Mexico, Spain and Zimbabwe. For details, call 970-527-7243.
This just in Results from the Jan. 31 Carbondale All Star basketball roundrobin at Roaring Fork High School are as follows: • Eighth grade: Carbondale 35, Rifle 33; Carbondale 32, Riverside 21. • Seventh grade: Carbondale 6’s 31, Carbondale 7’s 27; Carbondale 7/8’s 43, Riverside, 47; C’dale7’s 17, Riverside 50. The next action for the All Stars has the 8th grade in Moab on Feb. 5-6; the sixth and seventh grade at Carbondale Middle School vs. Crested Butte on Feb. 7.
New food co-op manager Maxine (Max) Christopher is the new general manager of the Carbondale Community Food Co-op, according to a press release. Christopher recently moved to town from Durango after several years of commuting back and forth between that town and Carbondale while her daughter was at CRMS. She previously owned and operated a coffeehouse/bakery in Creede, Colorado, worked as a massage therapist, and as a teaching assistant in Hakomi psychotherapy training. On a related note, the co-op has a couple of volunteer shifts open: Mondays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and every other Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers earn up to 25 percent off their groceries.
Bird on the wire … raven cravin’ some berries … or a highflying statue. Take your pick. Photo by Lynn Burton
The secret of a long life … The Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit series kicks off at Paepcke Auditorium in Aspen with “Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life.” The event features Tony Buettner, the national spokesperson for Blue Zones, an organization that puts the learnings of the world’s longest-lived people to work in people’s lives, families and communities, according to a press release. Buettner’s brother, Dan, is a National Geographic Fellow who researched and discovered places around the world where factors combine to allow people to live longer and better. These places are called “Blue Zones.” Among Tony’s topics when he visits Aspen: What factors help to create a Blue Zone community? “Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life” will be presented from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 26. Tickets are $20 and go on sale on Feb. 5. Info: aspenshowtix.com. Other Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit series events include “Making Peace Possible,” featuring Tibetan lama Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche at 5:30 pm. on March 11.
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6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
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Blues Brothers trivia With The Sopris Sun presenting “The Blues Brothers” on the Crystal Theatre’s big screen at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8, some readers are no doubt clambering for a bit of related trivia. Here you go, as found on imdb.com (where there is even more): • 103 cars were wrecked in the film that brought a new generation to James Brown, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker and others; • The Bluesmobile hit 118 mph under the elevated train line in Chicago; • During the making of the movie, one of the actors, Stephen Brown, got separated from the vehicle caravan and drove the Bluesmobile 100 miles west on Interstate 80, to the city of Spring Valley, Illinois. When stopping at a gas station for directions he was arrested by the local police for no registration (the plate was a prop), and no valid drivers license. With a telephone call, the set director was more concerned with the return of the vehicle than with the return of his actor.
They say it’s your birthday Folks celebrating their birthday this week include: Sara McAllister (Feb. 10).
Dance Initiative announces 2016 AIR lineup Scholarship deadline April 15 Sopris Sun Staff Report “When Dance Initiative first opened the Launchpad in the fall of 2014, we had much room to grow and immediately set our sights on making the studios at the Launchpad a place where both local and regional dance artists could create dances,” said founder Peter Gilbert in the group’s recent newsletter. “In 2015, Dance Initiative forged ahead with a whole new Artist-in-Residency program that hosted nationally known artist Molissa Fenley & Company, regional dance artist Patrick Mueller, and local choreographer Alya Howe,” Gilbert continued. “Each of these artists created original work, held open rehearsals, and shared their work through studio performances that many … were a part of.” Each residency helped the Dance Initiative community grow throughout Colorado and nationally. In 2016, the spring program will include Denver-based dance artists Meg Madorin and Laura Ann Samuelson, who will collaborate with local CoMotion dancers. In July, HEWMAN, a collaborative and unconventional dance project from New York, will join Dance Initiative for a week of innovative and creative fun. In October, the program will be bring in Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener. Mitchell and Silas are former Merce Cunningham
Company members and are currently at the forefront of movement research in the New York City dance scene. “We hope you mark your calendars and plan to join us,” Gilbert said. The Artist-in-Residence schedule is as follows: • Meg Madorin and Laura Ann Samuelson in April-May, with a studio performance June 3-4. Madorin recently re-located to Denver from New York where she worked with several creative artists. She was also a member of the Trisha Brown Dance Company from 2012-2014. Madorin has been a teaching artist at the Denver School of the Arts and Gibney Dance in New York. Samuelson is a three-time recipient of the Encore Performance Award at the Boulder International Fringe Festival and has been an artist-in-residence at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance and at SKOGEN arts in Gothenburg, Sweden. She was named one of Colorado’s most creative minds in Denver Westword’s “100 Colorado Creatives Series” (2014). Madorin and Samuelson will be working with dancers of CoMotion, a Carbondale dance company produced by Dance Initiative. • HEWMAN on July 11-16, with a studio performance on July 15. HEWMAN is an unconventional collaborative dance project from New York City and was founded by
Rashaun Mitchell (shown here) and Silas Riener close out Dance Initiative’s Artistin-Residence program on Oct. 17-22, and perform on Oct. 21-22. They were recently featured on the cover of Dance magazine, and worked together as members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. Photo by Paula Lobo Juilliard graduates Jason Collins, James Lindsay Harwell and Ingrid Kapteyn. HEWMAN’s works are considered unique in that they strive to involve at least one medium other than dance, are created through collaborative and open-ended creative processes, and present dance in new spaces where dance performance is not usually found. HEWMAN’s residence will include an open rehearsal, a presentation for youth at the
Carbondale Branch Library, a workshop and a studio performance of their work in progress. To learn more about HEWMAN, visit their website. • Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener on Oct. 17-22, with a studio performance on Oct. 21-22. Their faces recently graced the front page of Dance magazine. Rashuan Mitchell + Silas Riener are from New York. DANCE INITIATIVE page 8
“We’re putting the band back together.”
The Sopris Sun presents another
Classic Movie Night 75
72 69 66
01A4538 BLUES, ELWOOD 6’1” 220 lbs.
Monday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Crystal Theatre Doors open at 7 p.m. Drawing tickets for great prizes available for purchase! Costumes encouraged! Tickets $10 at the door
01A4537 KE BLUES, JA s. lb 5 2 2 ” 5’8
Featuring
THE BLUES BROTHERS Starring John Belushi & Dan Aykroyd A benefit for your non-profit community newspaper.
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 7
A sign of the times. As noted below, Bonfire Coffee will close at 2:30 p.m. on Superbowl Sunday (Feb. 7). Other bars, restaurants and businesses are putting up the same signs and inviting customers not to come in. Photo by Julie Albrecht
Realizing the Joy of Generosity with Rev. Florence Caplow
Join us Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 – 10 a.m.
Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist (TRUU) @ Third Street Center
www.tworiversuu.org Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist
Inspirational, Contemporary Music by Jimmy Byrne Heather Rydell, Youth Program Minister Childcare Provided
The Sopris Sun is hiring! Seeking an outgoing person to join our team as the ad rep. Part-time, weekdays, with strong earning potential Visit soprissun.com for a full job description and more info. Our mission: to inform, inspire and build community
8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
Dance Initiative om page 7 “Dance Initiative is privileged to host Mitchell and Riener, as they are leading-edge artists in the contemporary and modern dance scene in New York,” Gilbert said. Mitchell and Riener worked together as members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and began collaborating on varied performance projects in 2009. They are particularly known for continually pushing at the boundaries of dance and for creating dance in response to complex and active spatial environments, often incorporating elements of fantasy. Mitchell and Reiner’s residency will include an open rehearsal, a presentation (location to be announced), a workshop, and a studio performance. To learn more about Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Reiner visit their website.
Performances etc. • Dance Initiative commissioned Alya Howe (an Artist-in-Residence in 2015) to create a new work in the same year. Howe is back in 2016 with another new work, which will involve multi-media and the community. Her career includes dancing professionally with the critically acclaimed Jose Limon Dance Company in New York, performing as a soloist with renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain, and serving as a faculty member at the Laban/ Bartenieff Institute in New York. Her choreography has been performed internationally. She currently teaches yoga in Carbondale, and is co-curator and founder of The Salon, Writ Large, and the Poetry Brothel at Justice Snows in Aspen.
She is also teaching Dance Initiative’s professional training class for CoMotion Company Members. • The Spectrum Dance Festival returns to Carbondale on Sept. 23-24. It will feature performances of original choreography by some of Colorado’s most exciting dance companies as well as local dance artists and a series of workshops for the purpose of entertaining, educating and developing awareness and appreciation for the art of dance. “We are currently working on our lineup of artists and we are overwhelmed with the exciting possibilities. Stay tuned,” Gilbert said. • The deadline to apply for Dance Initiative’s Development Grant or Promise Scholarship is April 15. Every year, Dance Initiative offers up to $2,000 through its Development Grant program. The grant goes to one experienced dance artist or teacher seeking financial support to further their education or artistic development in dance. Applicants are not required to demonstrate financial need but rather to select a dance program to attend that has demonstrated a standard of excellence. Dance Initiative also offers a $1,000 grant to one serious student of dance who has exhibited determination, commitment and passion for dance and has been recommended by his/her teachers as having significant “promise” of achieving a professional dance career. Applications for both the Development Grant and the Promise Scholarship are available a www.danceinitiative.org. For more information, mail danceinitiative@gmail.com.
Looking up at Sopris on a clear, cold, windy day, it’s easy to wonder “How come there’s not a weather station up there that could automatically send down reports on how cold and windy it is up there?” If you have an answer to this question, feel free to e-mail it to news@soprissun.com. Photo by Jane Bachrach
24th Annual
Ski for Sisu
Sunday Feb. 7
Cross Country Skiathon Fundraiser
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m.
A Fun, Non-competitive, Family Event for Skiers of All Ages and Abilities*
31/2 K, 10K, AND 121/2K LONG DISTANCE LOOP Refreshments • Short Course for Youngsters • Silent Auction
Spring Gulch Trail System Turn west on Main St. towards CRMS, continue up hill for 6 miles on Thompson Creek Rd. / CR 108
Minimum Donation $15 Individual, $15 Family Entry forms available at Ajax Bike, Bristlecone Mountain Sports, Ragged Mountain Sports, Cripple Creek Backcountry or email info@springgulch.org.
Help us reach our fundraising goal of $5,000 by collecting sponsorship from friends, family and associates or make a donation of any amount when you sign up.
Sponsored by
Ski for Spring Gulch! For further information email info@springgulch.org All proceeds to benefit the Mount Sopris Nordic Council for the Spring Gulch Cross Country Trail System
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 9
Community Calendar THURSDAY Feb. 4 KINDERGARTEN TOURS • Crystal River Elementary School (on Snowmass Drive) holds kindergarten tours for new families from 8 to 9 a.m. on Feb. 4; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 23; and 1 to 2 p.m. on March 15. To schedule a tour, call 384-5620. WALDORF TOURS • The Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork holds tours at 8:30 a.m. RSVP at 963-1960. ROTARY • The Mt. Sopris Rotary meets at Mi Casita at noon every Thursday.
FRIDAY Feb. 5 MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents “The Big Short” (R) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5-6; “Spotlight” (R) at 4:45 p.m. Feb. 6; closed Feb. 7; “The Blues Brothers” (R) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 (a benefit for The Sopris Sun) and “Room” (R) at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-11. LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars in the old part of the Dinkel Building presents live music every Friday night. Info: 963-3304. LIVE MUSIC • Rivers Restaurant in Glenwood Springs presents the Leonard Curry Trio at 9 p.m. (no cover). The rest of Rivers’ Friday night lineup for February is: the Steve Skinner Band, Whiskey Stomp and Valle Musico. FAT FRIDAY • The First Fat Friday parade returns to downtown Carbondale starting at 5 p.m. Info: 963-1890. Other First Fat Friday events include a tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mary’s Main Street Spirits (the Palisade Brewing Company and Worldwide Beverage); Artists Beat from 6 to 8 p.m. at the
To list your event, email information to news@soprissun.com. Deadline is noon on Monday. Events take place in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the Community Calendar online at soprissun.com. View events online at soprissun.com/calendar.
Launchpad featuring folk duo Pam & Dan and more; Carbondale Clay Center opening for “Our Collection” from 6 to 8 p.m. (special guest CCC founder Diane Kenney); RFSD DAG • Today is the deadline to apply for a seat on the Roaring Fork High School Design Advisory Group. The group will review and make recommendations for security measures at the schools during upcoming $117million construction projects. Hard copies of the application are available at the RFSD district office (1405 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs). Info: rfsd.rfsd.k12.co.us. Applications are available in Spanish and English. TRANSPORTATION • CLEER and others present the forum “Mobility, Fuels & Funding: Exploring Solutions for 21st Century Transportation” at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. Registration is $35 in advance, which includes morning refreshments and lunch. Info: cleanenergyeconomy.net or 704-9200.
SAT.-SUN. Feb. 6-7 SKI SPREE • It’s Ski Spree time at Sunlight Mountain Resort and around town. On Saturday at 5 p.m., there’ll be a chili cook-off at the Hotel Colorado, followed by fireworks at 8 p.m. A treasure hunt goes on all day Saturday. On Sunday, it’s the Need 4Speed team race starting at 11 a.m.
SATURDAY Feb. 6 LIVE MUSIC • The District Eight Honor Jazz Band, sponsored by Jazz Aspen Snowmass, gives a free concert at Roaring Fork High School starting at 5:30 p.m. On Friday, more than 100 middle and high school musicians and vocalists from Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Summit County, Steamboat Springs, Granby, Rifle and Moffat County will take part in workshops and rehearsals for Saturday’s performance. Info: 920-4996 and jazzaspensnowmass.org. RFHS HOOPS • Roaring Fork High School basketballers host Grand Valley (2:30 p.m. girls, 4 p.m. boys). CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA • The Children’s Mini College at the CMC Blake Center in Glenwood Springs hosts its 13th annual Chocolate Extravaganza from 6 to 7 p.m. The free event features chocolates, door prizes and a huge silent auction with more than 175 donations from merchants and individuals. Info: 945-2446. SATURDAY MARKET • Eagle Crest Nursery hosts an indoor Saturday farmer’s market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 15. Items include local produce, eggs, fish, meats, bread, pastries, spices, jewelry, arts, apparel and more. Info: 963-1173.
SUNDAY Feb. 7 SKI FOR SISU • The Mount Sopris Nordic Council holds its annual Ski for Sisu fund-
raiser starting at Spring Gulch at 9 a.m. and finishing at 3 p.m. All ages are invited; the course distances are 3.5K, 10K and 12.5 K. The skier who brings in the most pledges wins a new pair of skis. There’ll also be a silent auction for outdoor gear and apparel. Proceeds go to the Mount Sopris Nordic Council, which maintains the Spring Gulch Nordic trail system (seven miles west of Carbondale). Info: springgulch.org and info@springgulch.org. The event sponsors are Alpine Bank, Cold Mountain Ranch, Berthod Motors and Bighorn Toyota. CONTRA DANCE • The monthly contra barn dance is held at Carbondale Community School (1505 Satank Rd.) starting at 7 p.m. All dances are taught and partners are not needed; the Wooden Nickel String Band will provide the music. Tickets are $8 at the door. ASC • A Spiritual Center in the Third Street Center meets at 10 a.m. sharp (social time starts at 9:45 a.m.). Info: 963-5516. TRUU • Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist meets at the Third Street Center at 10 a.m. Info: tworiversuu.org.
MONDAY Feb. 8 FILM • The Sopris Sun’s third annual Classic Movie Night features “The Blues Brothers” at the Crystal Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m., the film starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $10. Costumes are encouraged. Proceeds benefit The Sopris Sun. SPECIAL PRESENTATION • Colorado Mountain College’s Gift of Learning presentation features Barbara Johnson, who will exCALENDAR page 11
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PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARIN HEARING G ADOPTION A DOPTION PROCESS PROCESS
F February ebruarry 18th 18th @ 7:00 7:00 pm pm Carbondale Carbondale Town Town Hall Hall 51 511 1 Colorado Colorado Ave. Ave. Join Join us for for the the adoption adoption process process and and provide provide your your input input on the the Carbondale Carbondale UDC UDC (u (updated pdated zzoning oning and land land use code). code). Learn Learn more feedback at and and provide provide your your feedback at www.carbondaleudc.com www.carbondaleudc.com
Read to Me at Home Raising A Reader reaches 2,100 local children every week by providing a red bag full of storybooks. Each week, every Raising A Reader child exchanges his or her books for another set. Parents receive guidance by attending workshops and chat sessions.
info@rar4kids.org www.rar4kids.org
In the first five years of life, engaged, positive talk between parent and child has a profound effect on brain development, language acquisition and consequently, on reading success later in school. Please help with a donation today!
THIS COMMUNITY AD SPACE DONATED BY COOL BRICK STUDIOS.
10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
Free Community Meal Sat., Feb. 20 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
We are located on Highway 133 between Sopris Ave. and 8th St. Please call if you you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Community Meals will be every 3rd Saturday. Come join us for a tasty meal, music and socializing. Faith Lutheran Church 1340 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO 81623 www.faithcarbondale.com (970) 510-5046
Community Calendar plore the topic “How People Learn.â€? The free event takes place at 5 p.m. at the CMC Center in Carbondale. Info: 963-2172. WRITERS GROUP • The Carbondale Writers Group meets at the Carbondale Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. on second Monday of each month. Everyone is welcome from beginners to experts. Info: 947-9593.
TUESDAY Feb. 9 BRAIN INTEGRATION • Davi Nikent presents “The BeneďŹ ts of Brain Integration (crossinology) with Yolanda Del Hierro from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Third Street Center. Admission is by donation. Info: davinikent.com. FILM • The Aspen Historical Society continues its winter ďŹ lm series with ďŹ lms from the 1950s: “Winterskol,â€? “Little Skiers Big Dayâ€? and “Ski Time in Aspen.â€? Show time is 5:30 p.m. at the Isis Theatre. Tickets are $10. Up-
continued from page 10
coming Tuesday shows are: From the 1960s, “Ski with Buick,�“Aspen Winter Mood� and “It Happens in Aspen (Feb. 16); and from the 1970s, “Dogs of Aspen,� “Snowmass in 1967,� “Grand Opening of Snowmass� and “Highlands Fling� (Feb. 23).
WEDNESDAY Feb. 10 FIRE BOARD • The Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets at the Carbondale Fire Station (301 Meadowood) on the second Wednesday of the month. The meetings start at 5:30 p.m. For an agenda, go to carbondaleďŹ re.org or call 963-2491. ROTARY • The Rotary Club of Carbondale meets at the Carbondale ďŹ re station on Meadowood Drive Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m. Today’s speaker is Jack Brendlinger (“Don’t Get Mad, Get Even.â€?) Info: rccarlson@gmail.com.
Further Out THURSDAY Feb. 11
LIVE MUSIC • The Ottawa Valley-based April Verch Trio plays the Glenwood Vaudeville Theatre in downtown Glenwood Springs at 7 p.m. Verch performs Ottawa Valley (Canada) roots music, with ďŹ ddling, singing and step dancing (sometimes all at once). The show is presented by Blue Heron Productions. Info: gvrshow.com and 945-9699.
FRIDAY Feb. 12 POETRY SLAM • Aspen Words presents its third annual Youth Poetry Slam starting at 6:30
p.m. at the Third Street Center. It’s hosted by Myrlin “Myrlindoâ€? Hepworth, Mercedez Holtry and Logan “Dirty Verbsâ€? Phillips. Admission is free. Sign up is from 5:30 to 6;15 p.m. Judges will be chosen from the audience. Info: 925-3122. RFHS HOOPS • The Roaring Fork High School basketballers travel to Olathe (5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys). Remaining regular season games are: Moffat County at RFHS on Feb. 13 (2:30 p.m. girls, 4 p.m. boys); RFHS at Coal Ridge on Feb. 16 (5:30 p.m. girls, 7 p.m boys); RFHS at Gunnison on Feb. 19 (5:30 p.m. girls, 7 p.m. boys).
Ongoing LIBRARY • The Carbondale Regional Library hosts the Harry Potter Fan Club (kids 7-11) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. Feel free to bring a snack.
counseling on Monday mornings at the Davi Nikent ofďŹ ce in the Third Street Center (Suite 24D). For an appointment, call 379-5718. If you have recent lab test results, bring them.
ART • The “Best of the Westâ€? group show at the Ann Korologos Gallery in downtown Basalt continues through Feb. 16. Info: 927-9668 and korologosgallery.com.
LIVE MUSIC • Lyn Byars hosts open mic nights at Carbondale Beer Works the ďŹ rst and third Monday of each month. Sign up begins at 7 p.m. Info: 948-8228.
VVAS • The 36th annual Valley Visual Art Show continues at the Launchpad and BonďŹ re Coffee through Feb. 20. The show features more than 70 local artists. Info: 963-1680 and carbaondalearts.com.
LIVE MUSIC • Dan Rosenthal hosts an open mic night at Rivers Restaurant in Glenwood Springs from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.
REDSTONE CASTLE • Guided tours of the historic Redstone Castle take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. through the winter. Info: 963-9656. MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS • Dr. Greg Feinsinger offers free heart, diabetes and stroke
SATURDAY Feb. 13 REDSTONE • Redstone’s WinterFest 2016 includes bike and snowshoe races, kids crafts and movies, the 10th annual dog parade and doggie games, beer tasting and music, a bonďŹ re and more. WinterFest is is presented by: Aloha Mountain Cyclery, Bighorn Toyota, Alpine Bank, the Redstone Inn, the Redstone Castle and the Redstone Community Association. Info: redstonecolorado.com. LIBRARY • The Carbondale Branch Library hosts a “wine and junk food pairing and tastingâ€? at 5 p.m. Rhumba Girl and Mary’s Main
MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat with Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy. RUN AROUND • Independence Run & Hike hosts a run around town Saturdays at 8 a.m. Meet at the store in La Fontana Plaza and run various distances, with different routes each week. Info: 704-0909.
Street Spirits will be represesented. Admission is free but participants must be 21 or older. Info: 963-2889 or gcpld.org.
WEDNESDAY Feb. 17 NATURALIST NIGHTS • The Wilderness Workshop/ACES Naturalist Nights free speaker series continues at the Third Street Center with “Do Spruce Beetles Make Forest Fires More Severe?  Field Evidence from the San Juan Mountains.â€? The speaker will be Robbie Andrus, from the biogeography lab at the University of Colorado-Boulder. The program will be repeated at ACES in Aspen at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18.
Membership Drive FeB 15-26 Join KDNK & Win Early Bird Prizes We have some great prizes for folks who join or renew before our drive begins including dinner for two at Juicy Lucy’s along with passes to Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Sustainable members have a chance to win $150 grill pack from Sustainable Settings. So renew early!
TOWN OF CARBONDALE RESIDENTS are required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks 24 hours after the snowfall. BUSINESSES are required to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks 4 hours after the snowfall. It is also prohibited to deposit snow and ice into a public street, sidewalk or public property from private property.
Visit the Town of Carbondale website for additional information. Thank you!
Join or Renew online at KDNK.org/Donate See us 76 S. 2nd Street, Carbondale Mail us PO Box 1388, Carbondale, CO 81623
More info at kdnk.org
Chocolate and Cherries... So Decadent Chocolate Cherry Body Wrap, Back, Neck, Shoulder Massage, Private Thermal Mineral Bath and a Day Pass to the Historic Vapor Caves “It’s a Day at the Spa� $125
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Drop in on Mark Gray’s guitar class at Roaring Fork High School and this is some of what you’ll find. On a related note, RFHS presents a free concert featuring District Eight Honor Jazz Band members at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 6. The concert and related workshops at the school on Feb. 5 are sponsored by jazzaspensnowmass.org. Photo by Sue Rollyson
Garfield County Humanitarian Service Awards
CALL for NOMINATIONS Honoring those who give their time and efforts to residents of Garfield County
Nominations due Friday, March 4
Please submit a nomination form and 3-6 letters of support that convey your nominee’s dedication to humanitarian efforts.
Nomination form and rules available online:
www.garfield-county.com or call (970) 309-4658
for forms by mail and information. 12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
999-999-9999 Address City, State Zip
Alleged pot traďŹƒckers suspended in “limboâ€? Following bust in Ohio By John Colson Sopris Sun Staff Writer A pair of Carbondale men were arrested on Jan. 13 in Ohio and currently are facing stiff penalties over charges of marijuana possession, and possibly marijuana possession with intent to distribute, after police reportedly found 123 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle during a trafďŹ c stop. But as of Tuesday, the cases against the two men seemed to be suspended in a kind of legal “limboâ€? between two different levels of Ohio’s court system, according to one ofďŹ cial. Kelly Lance Harding Kelly Lance Harding, 47, and Craig Andrews Voigt, 46, both of Carbondale, reportedly were driving east along I70 through Ohio when they were stopped by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) about 25 miles west of Columbus, allegedly for following too close to another vehicle. The troopers who stopped the 2014 Subaru station wagon driven by Harding, according to a press release by the OSHP, said that undisclosed “criminal indicatorsâ€? were observed involving the two men, and that a drug-snifďŹ ng dog detected the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search allegedly turned up the 123 pounds of pot, which police say was worth more than $600,000. According to news and online reports, the two men face up to 16 years in prison and a ďŹ ne of up to $30,000 if convicted of the charges against them. Both men currently are being held in the Tri-County Jail facility in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, while awaiting a hearing by the local grand jury, which is the agency that will issue any formal charges against the two, according to ofďŹ cials with the Madison County Common Pleas court. According to conversations with court clerks and police ofďŹ cials, the two initially were arrested under the jurisdiction of the municipal judicial services, were jailed in that ca-
pacity, and were arraigned by the local municipal court. But on Jan. 22, according to a clerk with the municipal courts, the case was transferred to the Common Pleas court, a step up in court procedures that deals with charges of a more serious nature, such as felonies. Currently, according to the Tri-County Jail’s website, the two are charged solely with possession of marijuana, and are being held in lieu of payment of a $50,000 bond. A check with both levels of the court system revealed, however, that neither the municipal system nor the Common Pleas clerk’s ofďŹ ce could locate the ďŹ les concerning the two cases. “It’s really just kind of sitting in limbo right now,â€? said one clerk for the Common Pleas ofďŹ ce, who added that beCraig Andrews Voigt cause the two men had not yet been “indictedâ€? by the grand jury, their ďŹ les were not a matter of public record. A call to the local prosecutor handling the two cases, Nicholas Adkins, was not returned as of press time. The case involving the two men has attracted the interest of at least one marijuanalegalization advocacy group. POW420.com, which apparently combs the Internet for cases such as the one involving Harding and Voigt, maintains a database of defendants arrested and charged with marijuana-related offenses, as well as a news organ, The website POW420.com “The Prohibition Times,â€? that is sent to more than 300 inmates accused of non-violent, marijuana-related crimes. “Horribly,â€? the website declares, “both men are facing up to 16 years in prison and a $30,000 ďŹ ne. Sixteen years for a plant? No one belongs in jail for a plant.â€? The website reports that the two men are charged with possession of marijuana as well as with “trafďŹ cking marijuana,â€? although the second charge could not be conďŹ rmed by telephone with the Ohio agencies involved. One court clerk, after ďŹ rst insisting that the date of the grand jury hearing concerning Harding and Voigt was not a matter of public record, relented and said that the next hearing of the grand jury will occur on Feb. 10.
“No one belongs in jail for a plant.�
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THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 13
Cheers to RFHS Rams
Fans were treated to a great show by the Roaring Fork High School cheerleading squad during the girl’s and boy’s basketball games on Jan. 30. The grand finale came during their pyramid, which the squad has worked on for the past several weeks. Photos by Sue Rollyson
14 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
Rams hoopsters split with Skiers
Photo by Sue Rollyson
Photo by Sue Rollyson
The Roaring Fork Rams hosted the Aspen Skiers on Jan. 30. The Lady Rams notched a win while the boys came up short. Clockwise from upper left: Ashley Hall, Lorenzo Andrade, Jassiel Petetan and Ashley Hall. For the teams’ remaining games, check out this week’s Calendar section.
Photo by Lynn Burton
Photo by Sue Rollyson THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 15
EAT. SHOP. PLAY. CONFLUENCE OF RIVERS, RECREATION & CULTURE
New shows open at Art Base and Art Base Annex Sopris Sun Staff Report The Charles J. Wyly Gallery at The Art Base will feature Basalt resident and artist Ada Christensen, in an upcoming exhibition titled “Colorscapes.” The opening reception is Feb. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. and the show continues through March 5. “Colorscapes will present Christensen’s landscapes on mahogany, inspired by the transitions from day to night (sunset and twilight), and night to day (early dawn),” according to a press release. Developed from her painting technique of using layers of lacquer applied after washes of acrylic, she accentuates the natural features in the wood grain, evoking the feeling of a meditative landscape. Christensen holds a BFA in studio art from the University of Denver. After moving to Aspen in 2005, her paintings became infused with imagery from the local landscape. Her work has been exhibited at The Red Brick Center for the Arts, the Aspen Art Museum, the Aspen Chapel Gallery, Aspen City Hall, and Kenichi restaurant in Aspen, and in Denver at the Victoria H. Myhren Gallery, and Pirate: Contemporary Art Space. Christensen
maintains a studio in Basalt where she continues to create and collaborate with clients on commissioned paintings. “A recovering ‘watcher of drying paint’, my powers of observation prove useful as I listen to the story the wood has to tell. I then play off the twists and turns created by the grain, layering sections of the panels with a variety of colored lacquers. I’m excited by the interaction that takes place between one layer of lacquer upon the layers below ... like looking through many layers of colored glass. I hope that my work calls attention to the vital energy and individuality of each unique panel of wood, and transports the viewer into a meditative state.” Christensen will discuss her work in an art talk with Art Base Executive Director Genna Moe at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12.
graphic images and experiences, “Out of Sight Insight” will feature a retrospective of Hill’s work, and more recent work by Lovins, according to a press release. As landscape fine-art photographers, both seek to share the mystery of nature, offering the viewer differing perspectives. Judy Hill Lovins co-founded the Hill Gallery of Photography in Aspen in 1971, and closed it in 2000. In addition to showcasing her own portfolio, Hill represents the work of select fine art photographers from across the nation. Among her many clients are Rocky Mountain Institute, Federal Home Loan Bank in Dallas, Vail Associates, and Tulane Medical School’s Center for Bioenvironmental Research in New Orleans. “I take great pleasure in the creation of the photograph: the travel, the research, the logistics, and just plain dumb luck. My mission is to inspire, renew, and encourage visiting Earth’s special places to understand our role as stewards of nature’s treasures,” Hill said in a prepared statement. Lovins guided and photographed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, as well as North Wales and northwest Scotland during summers from the 1960s to 1980. He
Hill and Lovins At the Art Base Annex, “Out of Sight Insight” features the work of photographers Judy Hill and Amory B. Lovins. The show opens at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 and continues through March 5. Spanning more than four decades of photo-
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On Wednesday mornings, after a Tuesday night Council meeting, visit in an informal setting with Basalt Mayor Jacque Whitsitt for coffee and a chat at Saxy’s Coffee Shop, 104 Midland Avenue. This is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, make comments and catch up on what’s happening in Basalt. All issues and topics welcome.
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Wednesday, 'FCSVBSZ at 8 a.m. 16 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
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worked in 35mm color, almost entirely with a hand-held camera. Lovins’ landscape photographs have been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and its counterparts in Edinburgh, Scotland; Belfast, Ireland and Cardiff, Wales. Lovins co-founded the Rocky Mountain Institute in 1982. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009. “Landscape photography is far from my professional focus on energy or my main background as a recovering physicist,” Lovins said in a prepared statement. “Yet it has been an avocation since the gifted, but little-known Welsh mountain photographer Philip Howell Evans, introduced me to it around 1968.These somewhat eclectic images (in “Out of Sight Insight”) span several years of world travel, often with Judy. Judy masterfully printed all these digital images in the Aspen studio of our joint photographic business (www.judyhill.com).” “Out of Sight Insight” opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 12. The show continues through March 5. The Art Base Annex is located at 174 Midland Ave. (next to Café Bernard). Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 927-4123.
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A day to remember Roaring Fork High School dedicated its new solar array under blue and sunny skies on Jan. 28, in an event that literally brought out the whole school, plus RFSD administrators, non-profits and for-profit businesses, plus print, radio and TV media. Thanks to a student-initiated effort that started several years ago, the array will provide 100 percent of the school’s electric demands for the next 20 years. The day was literally a dream-come-true for Rams Energy Club members Fiona Laird, Emily Mata and Tavia Teitler (upper left), who first proposed the array in middle school. “We didn’t know it would ever actually happen,” Laird said after the ribbon cutting. “It always seemed more like a fun thing to talk about.”
Fun things turned into serious business, when the RFSD, Sunsense Solar, CLEER, Sunforce Solutions of California and Samuel Energy worked through numerous and sometimes difficult details to make the array a reality. Key to the array is a power purchase agreement that allows a private company to use school district land for the array, in return for federal tax credits. During his remarks on Jan. 28, principal Drew Adams praised Wendy Boland at RFHS, and Michael Logan at Carbondale Middle School for inspiring their students to “dream big.” The remainder of the photos from upper right: cheers from RFSD administrators, students and others; a bird’seye view of the proceedings; RFHS student Morgan Needham capturing a moment.
Photo by Lynn Burton
THE SOPRIS SUN, Carbondale’s weekly community connector • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016 • 17
And now for something completely different … balance board yoga. “Shake up your yoga practice and challenge yourself in this vinyasa flow fusion class,” said a press release from Shaboomee Stand Up Paddle Boarding. “Simulating yoga on water, practice on fitness balance boards made by local paddleboard company Shaboomee,” the press release continued. Shaboomee is offering free classes in balance board yoga at the Launchpad at 5:55 p.m. on Tuesdays through March. Class size is limited. For details or to reserve a spot, go to supyes.com. Photo courtesy Shaboomee/Jordan Curet
Carbondale Police Department
is now accepting applications for the position of Police Officer I and II. “Laterals welcome to apply”
We are looking for a highly motivated individual who will enjoy working in a TEAM / Community Policing environment. Starting There will be a mandatory Pre-Bid m salary is $48,822.00. Ability to work shift work, weekends and holidays a must. We offer an excellent benefit package. Spanish speaking is a bonus. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have or ability to obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license and no felony convictions. Applicants must complete background checks, complete physical agility test, and participate in a ride-along program. Send application, resume and references to Carbondale Police Department, 511 Colorado Ave., #911, Carbondale, CO 81623 or to Lt. Chris Wurtsmith, cwurtsmith@carbondaleco.net.
Deadline is February 19, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
18 • THE SOPRIS SUN • www.SoprisSun.com • FEBRUARY 4-10, 2016
Letters continued om page 2 Concerning Rep. Rankin Dear Editor: In our state Rep. Bob Rankin’s Sopris Sun column “Under the Dome,” he ends with “the Joint Budget Committee is faced with recommended cuts to an already stressed system.” Before that sentence he wrote: “There will also be some attempts to revise TABOR … .” TABOR stands for the Taxpayers Bill of Rights. This measure was approved by voters in 1992 and controls the amounts that governments in Colorado can spend and raise in taxes. Thanks to TABOR, for example, the spending by the state for education was decreased more than any other state; 69 percent in adjusted dollars. A once shining example of public education is so wounded that the low percentages of kids that manage to graduate from our high schools rarely succeed at higher education and are not prepared for jobs in the state. The real purpose of tactics like TABOR are simple: reduce taxes. Who stands the most to benefit from less tax? The very wealthy. Who financed the propaganda cam paign that persuaded Colorado voters to ap prove the measure in the first place? The very wealthy. Colorado billionaires don’t send their children to public schools and do not rely on public services in general. The population of Colorado was reported to have increased by 100,000 last
Unclassifieds
year alone. The state has no shortage of people or of property values that can put forward sufficient amounts of money to properly fund our state and local governments. TABOR should be abolished in its entirety and taxes should be levied to take care of the needs of the population. These policies of “austerity” have led to downward spirals in quality of life around the world. It is time to recognize the severity and scope of this trend and put a stop to this “redistribution of wealth” upward. Patrick Hunter Carbondale
Eat less meat; don’t hunt Dear Editor: After noticing a trend in the local papers alluding to the need to teach our youth the importance of hunting and fishing in order to “protect wildlife,” I thought I would offer a reality check. You don’t have to hunt to support wildlife. You can donate money to a nonprofit organization working to protect habitat and wildlife. If you prefer to support The Fish and Wildlife Department or Colorado Parks and Wildlife, you can donate money directly to one of the many conservation efforts they head up without killing a single thing! You might argue hunting for meat is more eco-friendly than supporting factory farms (which is true) but not if we all do it. One of the most hunted animals in Colorado is the mule deer (approximately 40,000
Submit to unclassifieds@soprissun.com by Friday 12 p.m. Rates: $15 for 30 words, $20 for up to 50 words. Payment due before publication.*
killed annually). Unfortunately the deer is facing a huge decline in numbers. This decline is being caused by habitat loss due to the massive human population growth Colorado is experiencing. The Roaring Fork Valley alone is estimated to grow by 50 percent over the next 15 years. We have to change the way we are thinking about consuming land and wildlife. Colorado has lowered the number of deer-hunting licenses issued per year and increased the number of predator hunting licenses in an effort to increase the deer population. The deer population continues to decline. It’s ridiculous to kill more mountain lions, bear and coyote when it’s plain to see the issue is with an influx of humans. We can’t stop people from moving here. So what can we do to protect our state’s wild places and animals such as the mule deer? We can teach our children to take less and give more, eat meat only on special occasions and show respect for the sacrifice of life required for each bite. Educate our children that responsible hunting and fishing is OK but certainly not sustainable if we all do it. Teach our children that one of the most powerful things you can do to respect life is to choose not to take it. Eat less (or no) meat and don’t hunt. Let’s all take a collective deep breath as we watch our little valley turn into a big valley, and start talking and teaching about self-sacrifice and the very human choice we all have to consume less of everything. Cholla Nicoll Carbondale
HELP WANTED. Part-Time Retail Merchandiser needed to merchandise Hallmark products at various retail stores in the Carbondale area. To apply, please visit: https://hallmark.candidatecare.com EOE Women/Minorities/Disabled/Veterans. THE SOPRIS SUN IS HIRING. Seeking an energetic, outgoing, detail-minded person to join our team as a part-time (20-30 hours/wk) ad sales representative. Strong computer skills required. Some direct sales experience preferred (need not be for newspapers). A positive attitude and commitment to The Sun’s mission (“to inform, inspire and build community”) are equally important. This is a great growth opportunity for the right person. Flexible weekday hours. Contact barbara.dills@gmail.com or 970-9635782 for a detailed job description. GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Rates start at $15. Email unclassifieds@soprissun.com. FREE CLASSIFIED ADS for kids and teens to promote their businesses enterprises. Thirty word maximum. Please send to unclassified@soprissun.com. *Credit card payment information should be emailed to unclassifieds@soprissun.com or call 948-6563. Checks may be dropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailed to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 510-3003 for more info.
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