August 2015

Nearly a decade and a half after plans first emerged for development of a 24-acre parcel of land on Carbondale’s western edge, the town government has received paperwork meant to start a development review process for a new grocery store and associated businesses on a portion of what once was known as the Crystal River Market Place site.
Last week, according to Town Manager Jay Harrington, the town’s planning department accepted “an introductory application” from King Soopers (locally known as City Market under the corporate banner of the Kroger grocery store chain).
The land in question is located to the north and west of the intersection of Highway 133 and Main Street, and does not include the existing 7-Eleven store at that corner, or the real estate office next to it.

After the smashing success of last summer’s inaugural Shindig, the Mt. Sopris Historical Society fund-raiser returns with an even finer tuned program, including Telluride Bluegrass Festival MC Pastor Mustard, the pre-announced Hattie Thompson award recipient (Mary Lilly), a roving actress playing Thompson, historical exhibits, a Charlotte Graham book signing and more.
Because the historic Thompson House is closed for the time being due to nearby construction, the whole shebang has been shifted to River Valley Ranch barn, where Shindiggers will have the run of the spread, both inside the barn and out on the patio and grounds. There’ll also be plenty of pit barbecue.
It all takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 9. Tickets are $75 at the door, the Pour House and mtsoprishistoricalsociety.org. For details, call 781-632-3326.
Friends of Mary Lilly will want to head to RVR to see her accept the Hattie Thompson award. Lilly, who is 99 years old but still attends weekly peace vigils at the town hall flagpole, first discovered Carbondale and the Crystal River Valley when she visited with her husband John in the 1950s. She and her son Charles moved to a small ranch between Carbondale and Redstone in the early 1970s and she quickly became involved in several civic, religious and political organizations, including the League of Women Voters.