Correction: Last week’s GarCo Report covered the GAME Act, a proposed legislative land exchange, regarding lands on the Roan Plateau. The article did not mention B Scott Smith’s Out of Bounds Ranch (OOB) on County Road 115. Bureau of Land Management land near the OOB Ranch may be subject to the potential land exchange. The GAME Act has yet to be introduced in Congress. The Sun is looking into this clarification and will provide more information as it becomes available.
Welcome to Camp Bonedale
Some might say, “It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating 55 years of Mountain Fair,” but anyone who has been part of the spirited and mighty volunteer crews that have planned, built and run this fair year after year wouldn’t be surprised at all. Mountain Fair has an enduring magic and momentum, fueled by the love, generosity and dedication of this community.
In our 55th year, we’re tipping our hats to Mountain Fair’s legendary “Camp Bonedale”— an unofficial but beloved gathering spot within the fairgrounds during the 1980s and 1990s, where friends and family reunited and spent time together throughout the fair.
Over the past five and a half decades, the Carbondale Mountain Fair has taken many forms, shaped by the unique cast of community members who have contributed something special year after year. Some traditions have endured, like the Pie & Cake Contests, while others have faded and later returned, like Tug-O-War.
Through it all, the fair’s strongest and most enduring tradition has been its multigenerational volunteer spirit — the force that has kept Mountain Fair joyful, vibrant and free for all.
We invite you, dear fair-goer, to bring your own special offering to the 55th Carbondale Mountain Fair in whatever way you are able!
Jamie Abbott
Executive Director
Carbondale Arts
Deborah Colley
Chief of Operations
Mountain Fair
A community inspiration
I was shocked and saddened to learn of Linda Criswell’s passing from the lovely obituary in the July 2-8 issue of The Sopris Sun. I did not know Linda well, though I admired her greatly, so the news of this loss had not trickled to me. Living on Missouri Heights, as I have for the past four years, I no longer bump into the grapevine like I did when I was in town.
My admiration for Linda was mostly from afar, even then: for her leadership in establishing the community oven and the sharing it facilitated (I only participated once or twice, but loved it); founding a (too early for me) morning meditation group open to all; and so much more.
I did have the chance to serve briefly with her on the board of The Sopris Sun during my final year as president. There I got to appreciate up close Linda’s straightforward style and sense of humor. Also, her deep commitment to this paper, which she understood was critical to the community building that was her passion.
What most do not know is that it was thanks to Linda’s quiet efforts as her friend and liaison that Mary Lily was able to include The Sopris Sun in her will, establishing the paper’s first ever Legacy Gift. The beautiful tribute to Mary on the back page of last week’s paper describes how critical this generous donation was to the paper’s well-being and future at the time. In this, as in all things, Linda never sought the spotlight. But she was an inspiration to many, myself included.
I look forward to heralding her many gifts and contributions with the community this Sunday, July 19, from 3 to 5pm at the Third Street Center. My heartfelt condolences go to Russ, her whole family and all who knew and loved her.
Barbara Dills
Carbondale
Easy entry
The Carbondale community is asking for an accessible entrance that allows every resident to enter Town Hall independently. The Town has long acknowledged this barrier, and we appreciate that funding for this project has finally been included in this year’s budget. But a budget line is not the same as an accessible entrance.
For at least the past three years, members of our community have repeatedly asked the Town to install an accessible push-button entry. Yet the barrier remains.
Most public meetings are held in the evening, when the reception desk is unstaffed. If someone cannot open the door independently, there is no reliable way to get assistance. Residents have come intending to participate in public meetings, found themselves unable to enter the building, and gone home. They were excluded from participating in their own local government simply because they could not get through the front door.
This is not just an issue for older adults or wheelchair users. These doors are heavy and awkward. Anyone recovering from an injury, using crutches, pushing a stroller, carrying a child or transporting packages may struggle to enter.
This barrier is more than an inconvenience. It denies people the dignity, independence and equal opportunity to participate in the civic life of our community.
We recognize there are other accessibility improvements that also deserve attention. But none is more fundamental than ensuring people can get through the front door. Without access, there can be no participation. After three years of discussion, we respectfully ask the board and staff to publicly establish a specific timeline for completing the accessible entrance and to make this project a priority.
We also request an immediate temporary solution until the permanent entrance is installed. A simple video doorbell system with a speaker and monitor in the Community Room would allow residents to request assistance during evening meetings.
As an Age-Friendly community, Carbon-
dale has committed to ensuring residents and visitors of all ages and abilities can fully participate. We know many efforts have been made toward improvements, but we have been dragging our feet too long on this one.
Sue Zislis
Carbondale
Editor’s note: After Age-Friendly Carbondale showed up to the trustee meeting on Tuesday, Town Manager Ryan Hyland committed to installing an accessible front door by the end of September, according to Zislis.
Basalt planning
Why can’t the Basalt Planning Commission just say no?
I recently attended the Basalt Planning Commission meeting regarding the proposed Marriott Residence Inn at the old Movieland site in El Jebel, and I left utterly baffled.
During the hearing, a clear con-
sensus emerged: Each and every planning commissioner expressed major reservations about the project. The overwhelming majority of public comment echoed these exact concerns, painting a clear picture that this massive extended-stay hotel is fundamentally incompatible with our community.
Yet, despite a room full of red flags and their own deep misgivings, not a single commissioner could bring themselves to simply say, “No.”
Instead of denying a clearly flawed proposal, the commission voted to continue the discussion in one month, kicking the can down the road and giving the developer yet another bite at the apple.
Why are we continuing the agony? When a project is this poorly aligned with the community’s vision and the Master Plan, the standard shouldn’t be: Let’s see how much the developer can patch up in a month. The standard should be a firm denial, allowing the developer to withdraw, regroup and come back in the future with a genuinely viable, community-
minded proposal.
By bending over backward to accommodate a mismatched development, the Planning Commission is wasting their own time, valuable civic time and stretching the community’s patience thin. It’s time for our local leaders to listen to the public, trust their own instincts and find the courage to reject proposals that just don’t fit.
Susan Sullivan
Carbondale
Re: Therapy Pool
Fred Malo makes some interesting claims in his Therapy Pool opinion in the July 9 Sopris Sun. He calls the USA the most racist country on Earth, even though we had just elected a Black president. Fred cried “tears of joy” over Barack’s win, though he didn’t vote for Obama twice.
Fred admits DEI and Affirmative Action are described as reverse discrimination. “So what?” he says, “We owe them.” Fred fights racism with more racism. How woke is that?
Mr. Malo states CRT (Critical Race Theory) “is a strictly intellectual movement that’s nowhere present in our schools.” Google begs to differ. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) provides CRT material to train future teachers in 38 states, according to a report from Defending Education.
Not only is CRT being used to train future teachers, it’s being used to indoctrinate our kids with liberal garbage. In case you haven’t heard of the SPLC, they were just charged for paying millions to the KKK and other groups, for cross burning and member recruitment
In closing, Mr. Malo, you are allowed your opinions and Trump Derangement delusions. You are not allowed to make up your own facts. And know, sir, your royal “we” does not include me nor the vast majority of U.S. citizens.
Bruno Kirchenwitz
Rifle
Letters policy: The Sopris Sun welcomes local letters to the editor. Shorter letters stand a better chance of being printed. Letters exclusive to The Sopris Sun (not appearing in other papers) are particularly welcome. Please, no smearing, cite your facts and include your name and place of residence or association. Letters are due to news@soprissun.com by noon on the Monday before we go to print.