County Road 110 fire
Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire at 596 County Road 110 the night of Sunday, April 19. Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District responded at 8:40pm, finding the deck and two sides of the home ablaze, according to a press release. Firefighters brought the fire under control at roughly 9pm and remained overnight to monitor the situation. There were no injuries reported. An investigation team was still determining the cause of the fire as of press time. Incident Commander Joe Dell said the location of the fire made getting water to the structure challenging. “We initiated a water tender shuttle to maintain a steady water supply,” Dell said, extending gratitude to Glenwood Springs Fire Department and Roaring Fork Fire Rescue for their support.
Artsy summer camps
Registration is open for Carbondale Arts summer camps, including camps offering songwriting, instrument instruction, mural creation and more. Support children’s ability to participate in the camps by donating to the Carbondale Arts scholarship fund at bit.ly/48gBIee For more information about the camps, visit carbondalearts.com/edu/#summer-camps
River Bridge
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario was honored at an annual benefit on Friday, April 17, for his role in co-founding and maintaining the River Bridge child advocacy center, an organization created in 2006 supporting children who are victims of abuse. “This doesn’t belong to me,” Vallario said in an acceptance speech at the benefit. “There are so many people, from the very beginning to everyone in this room tonight, who made this possible.”
After resignation
Roaring Fork School District Board Director Betsy After resigned last week from the school board, saying she is needed at home to support her son in his recovery following a mid-February ski accident. “His recovery has been a complex journey,” she said in a press release. “My family is now preparing for an upcoming surgery, and it is clear that the place I am needed most is home.” She added that stepping down from the board is a difficult choice, but “is the right one to ensure the board remains strong and my family is supported.” Board President Lindsay DeFrates said the board wholeheartedly understands After’s decision, adding that she will be deeply missed.
Energy assistance
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) advised Colorado residents to apply for Colorado’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) by the upcoming April 30 deadline. “LEAP helps Coloradans in need pay a portion of their winter home heating costs, freeing up household budgets for other essentials like groceries and rent,” stated a press release. Eligible Coloradans must make 60% of the state median income or less, which for a family of four is equal to or less than $83,256. Awarded families can receive between $200 and $1,000 in assistance. Folks can apply at cdhs.colorado.gov/leap
Revamped resource directory
West Mountain Regional Health Alliance, along with Regional Health Connector, recently updated its Resource Directory Guide, where folks with limited income can find health resources within Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties. The guide provides information about organizations in the three counties focused on free and reduced-cost resources, including adaptive wilderness programming, financial planning, medical bill assistance, support for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, health clinics and more. The guide offers ample youth activities, including programming by the Aspen Science Center, The Art Base and Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra. Find the renewed guide at westmountainhealthalliance.org/resources
Aletheia Healing
The Aletheia Healing Center, a medical center offering legal psilocybin facilitation and ketamine-assisted therapy, announced its opening in Aspen earlier this month. “The Roaring Fork Valley I know and love is a community that values worldly cultures, bold ideas, reverence for health and a deep respect for nature,” founder Ashley Denny said in a press release. “Those values shaped me early, and they ultimately shaped the kind of healing work I felt called to bring home.” Born in Aspen, Denny brings 15 years experience in clinical psychology and 10 years experience working with natural medicines to the organization. For more information, visit aspenintegrativewellness.comThey say it’s your birthday! Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Rosemary Dewers, Lori Knotts, Nova Vhrin and Wendle Whiting (April 23); Enrique Abarca, Dick Gibson, Robin Scher and Holly Tullar (April 24); Julio Maciel, Tom McDonald, Hope Sontag and Stephen Shapiro (April 25); Gayle Embrey and Susan Jordan (April 26); Donni Cochran, Sandy Ekier, Rachel Gillespie, Wewer Keohane, Sloan Shoemaker and April Spaulding (April 27); Wes Boyd, Julie DeVilbiss and Julia Morton (April 28); Enzo Bonzi, Diana Sirko and Luis Yllanes (April 29).