The Pollinator Conservancy has had a busy year. Flitting between community events and speaking before local municipalities, founder and Valley resident Lisa McKenzie is on a mission to raise critical awareness and education about our most vulnerable creatures: the pollinators. A vast collection of species, pollinators consist of bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats and others […]
July 2025
Posted inBusiness
Sunfresh Flowers changes with the times
A wide variety of events and celebrations take place in the Valley and many of them share something in common: flowers. Whether it’s a wedding in Redstone or a dinner in Aspen, lots of those flowers come from a local flower shop, Sunfresh Flowers, run by Laura Lucero. Lucero grew up in Fort Collins but […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Snowmass Comedy WKND returns with focus on inclusion
This July 11-13, Snowmass Comedy WKND at The Collective is gearing up for laughs, free events and sets from a diverse line-up of rising stars and fledgling big shots with network credits from Netflix, Comedy Central and more. A headliner event will take place each night of the weekend at 7:30pm at The Collective Hall. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Town considers tax hikes to fund housing
On July 10, the Town of Basalt will celebrate the groundbreaking for the construction of the new Midland Residences at 140 Basalt Center Circle. Located at the corner of Two Rivers Road and Midland Avenue at the site of the old Clark’s Market, the new edifice will also feature a market and restaurant operated by […]
Posted inColumns
A writing initiation: Awestruck steps into the world of [Aspen] Words
Editor’s Note: Annalise Grueter is a member of the Aspen Writers Network. This column details her recent experience at the Aspen Summer Words juried workshops. If you’ve been reading The Sopris Sun for at least a couple of weeks, you already know that this valley harbors an impressive roster of passionate writers. From local journalists […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Defending Shoshone water right, Medicaid concerns
Glenwood Springs resident Judy Haynes returned to talk to the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) Monday about Medicaid and the threat to local hospitals. Haynes was one of several members of Mountain Action Indivisible, a local citizens group, who approached the BOCC in late May about supporting the retention of Medicaid in light of the threat […]
Posted inEnvironment
CPW Commission clarifies role at special meeting
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission, replete with two new members Dr. John Emerick and Frances Silva Blayney, continued the discussion at a special meeting on Monday, July 7, about the Copper Creek grey wolf pack. The discussion wasn’t much different than a discussion at the regular June meeting. The usual wolf update wasn’t […]
Posted inColumns
From diagnosis to dreaming: How community, art and connection have shaped my path through illness
Six years ago, I joined The Sopris Sun as a part-time employee, not knowing this place — and community — would become a lifeline and family during some of my darkest days. What began as a job soon became a calling, deeply woven with stories of resilience, strength and the transformative power of connection. My […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Kim Spence to retire from Roaring Fork Family Practice
On Sept. 1, after more than three decades of service, Dr. Kim Spence will retire from Roaring Fork Family Practice in Carbondale. But Spence doesn’t necessarily see it as a permanent end of his career. “I’m officially unemployed on Sept. 1,” he said. “But I’m kind of gonna view it more as a one-year sabbatical. […]
Posted inColumns
Money Juice: You aren’t addicted to stress
It’s no mystery that we are a nation of stressed-out, overworked, undersupported humans. Many people think we’re addicted to stress, but I’m going to lay out a different hypothesis. We’re addicted to relief. A common pillar between many religions, cultures and societies is: if you sacrifice and put in tremendous labor in this life, you […]