Imagine a swarm of ecologists, birders, soil scientists, climate scientists, teachers and students descending upon a landscape for several days. Toting equipment and personal hydration systems, they peer into magnifying glasses at insects and plants, take soil samples, identify birds, wildlife and water sources, and take photos of everything – all to figure out what […]
August 2024
Posted inOpinion
CVEPA Views: Who was Nikos Patsantaros?
Graffiti on public buildings, carving into soft desert sandstone and covering signs with insipid stickers all seem endemic these days. Is there a point when vandalism becomes artifact? Reflecting back on my high country meanders, I treasure the shepherd’s tree carvings the most. Throughout the boreal forest on Colorado’s Western Slope one can still find […]
Posted inLetters
Letters
Re: Three-legged stoolThis is in response to Richard Vottero’s letter in last week’s Sopris Sun. Three-legged stools are great! Balanced and stable, I’d sit on a good one without thinking twice. A three-party system would be great, too. I would love to vote for a third-party candidate with humble roots, original ideas and a realistic […]
Posted inEducation
From law enforcement to education
After nearly a decade in law enforcement, Dustin Gehring found himself at a crossroads. “At the time, I was married, we had kids growing up and the long hours were not congruent with having a family,” he recalled. The demanding nature of the job began to clash with his personal life, prompting a pivotal decision […]
Posted inEducation
Carbondale schools reaffirm commitment to music education amid challenges
Chris Bank, the in-school director for Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS), has stepped in to fill a critical gap in Carbondale’s music education for the 2024-25 school year. He acknowledges that Carbondale school’s music programming is pivotal, stating, “I am now hopefully the one-year person until they can get it back on track.” In response to […]
Posted inSports
Rams Report: Fall sports preview
Team leadership is a big focus for the Roaring Fork High School football team coming into the 2024 season, as the Rams look to return to the varsity ranks after a one-year hiatus to rebuild the program. Recently, 19 of the team’s upperclassmen took part in a two-day Teen Leadership Breakthrough camp, held at the […]
Posted inEducation
Wading into the Arctic from Carbondale
For Sarah Johnson of Wild Rose Education, an environmental education program based in Carbondale, switching between the microcosm of the Roaring Fork Valley and the global scope of climate science can be perplexing. “It’s kind of incredible,” Johnson told The Sopris Sun. “I sit here in my office in the Third Street Center and I’ll […]
Posted inEnvironment
Valley avian trends reflect warming climate
For many, if birds and climate change are mentioned in the same sentence, it conjures an image of the canary in the coal mine. These delicate, beautiful creatures are sensitive to ecosystem changes and respond to differences more quickly than we large, heavy bipeds do. These days, mining in the Roaring Fork Valley is minimal […]
Posted inSports
Skyrunning championships in Spain taking Carbondale, other U.S. runners to new heights
There’s trail running, and then there’s mountain “skyrunning,” as it’s called. The major difference, explained Carbondale runner and member of the U.S. Skyrunning Team Joseph DeMoor, is a greater emphasis on vertical gain and navigating courses that reach well above treeline. “Skyrunning has its roots in Europe, and that’s still the heart of the sport,” […]
Posted inNonprofits
Outgoing Ascendigo CEO aims to emBOLDen disability community
On July 25, Ascendigo Autism Services announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dan Richardson, who has been with the organization for more than six years, will be stepping away to pursue a new business venture. This latest venture, called BOLD: Empowering People and Property, will specialize in property management services for adults with disabilities. Ascendigo […]