In February, the Aspen Art Museum (AAM) unveiled a new decade-long initiative. Titled “AIR,” the program aims to facilitate and amplify interdisciplinary conversations between visual art, music, science and philosophy. One of the first major events of the AIR initiative is just around the corner: a private artists’ retreat in late July, followed by a […]
Annalise Grueter
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Board focuses on Maroon Bells service heading into summer
The June 12 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting opened with public comments. Several community members proposed solutions for improving community services. Teresa Salvatore lives in Satank and asked RFTA to improve river access there. She said it is a public amenity that deserves more attention. Next, Aspen High School Principal Sarah Strassburger joined […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Aspen Literary Festival’s first draft due Sept. 26-28
EDITOR’S NOTE: Annalise Grueter is a member of the Aspen Writer’s Network and participant in its Summer Words workshops. Currently, a tribe of people devoted to painting a picture in black and white for the mind’s eye are eagerly discussing their craft in Snowmass Village. This is the 49th anniversary of Aspen Words, and the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Penny Hot Springs improvement plans slowly flow forward
On June 3, proposed improvements to access, parking and drainage at Penny Hot Springs were approved by the Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission. Access work at the non-commercial springs off Highway 133 has been under discussion for about six years. In 2022, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST) opened a public survey to […]
Posted inEducation
Dr. Jim Withers to present at Albert Schweitzer Days, June 30 and July 1
“The only thing of importance, when we depart, will be the traces of love we have left behind.” –Albert Schweitzer It is difficult to describe Albert Schweitzer briefly. The man lived more in both years and actions than most people do. In his 90 years, he was a classically-trained organist who performed across Europe, a […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA housing capacity challenges highlight Valley housing obstacles
This spring, a former RFTA bus operator reached out to The Sopris Sun sharing concerns following the loss of his RFTA employee housing. Steve McQuiston worked for the transit authority for years, and has since moved out of the Valley. He said, “There is no way I could have remained in the Valley without a […]
Posted inBusiness
Community acupuncture offers affordable holistic healthcare
Acupuncture, the practice of physical treatment by placing small needles at specific points in the body, is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. While it is sometimes met with skepticism by Western medicine, it has been a pillar of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. In recent decades, Western medicine has […]
Posted inEducation
RFSD Report: Bidding adieu to 2024-2025, and prepping for next school year
Last month, the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) announced new school leaders, reviewed district policies, recognized departing high school graduates and navigated public tensions. Busy agendas marked a year of challenges, changes and resilience. On May 6, RFSD announced two additional assistant principal hires, following earlier administration appointments made in late March and early April. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
New classical quartet hits the right notes for music access on the Western Slope
This month, the Colorado Plateau Chamber Music Society (CPCMS) played several concerts in Carbondale and Fruita. This new spring concert series was a celebration of sorts for its members. The group was founded just last year and recently acquired official nonprofit status. At the Mother’s Day concert in Carbondale, they filled a sunny room in […]
Posted inNews
September symposium to confront existential questions of life, the universe and humanity
Nonprofits from Texas and California are partnering with local media to present Frontiers of Knowledge on Saturday, Sept. 13. The symposium will bring together 10 experts from the fields of physics, cosmology, natural and social sciences, and psychedelics research for four educational lectures. This ambitious event aims to explore topics from physics and astronomical understandings […]