The Oct. 10 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board of directors meeting focused on the 2025 proposed budget and strategic planning. Before heading into the agenda, Vice Chair Greg Poschman and others commented on the significant upvalley traffic they noticed while traveling downvalley for the meeting in Carbondale. Others noted that daily traffic extends onto […]
Annalise Grueter
Posted inNews
Carbondale tree update
Carbondale has been recognized as a “Tree City” for three decades. The designation through the Arbor Day Foundation means a lot of things, including that Carbondalians care about the flora within town limits, which can require careful evaluation and planning.In 1994, the Board of Trustees approved the formation of the Tree Board in response to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Colorado Wildland Fire Conference facilitates conversation and best practices
On Oct. 2-3, 251 attendees from across the American West converged on Snowmass Village for the 2024 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference (CWFC). The gathering, which was first held in the 1990s, occurs every 18 months. Host cities rotate around the State of Colorado to ground the conversation and the broad vulnerability to wildfires. Paul Cada […]
Posted inEnvironment
Exploring the experience of plants in ‘If Flowers Could Talk’
Local florist and landscaper Daniela Standley knows flowers like family. “I’ve always had a calling [to] flowers. It’s easy for me to know what they need and want,” Standley shared with The Sopris Sun. She realized her affinity for flowers as a teenager and graduated high school early in order to attend a vocational college […]
Posted inEducation
Buddy Program teaches Valley youth how to LEAD
What started out as a creative solution to mentorship waitlists has become a staple of 10 Roaring Fork Valley schools. The Buddy Program’s Leadership through Exploration, Action and Discovery (LEAD) courses began in 2013, offering additional support and mentorship to local teenagers. There is always a need for more adult buddies to fill one-to-one matches, […]
Posted inEducation
Inaugural Backcountry Symposium aims to encourage safety
This Saturday, Oct. 5, the who’s who of Colorado outdoor athletes and safety experts converge on The Art Campus at Willits (TACAW) from 11am to 5 pm. Aspen Public Radio and TACAW present the first annual Backcountry Symposium, starting with a resource fair, following Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club’s (AVSC) Community Sports Swap just […]
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September RFTA board report centered around change
Change was at the heart of the Sept. 12 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting. The gathering saw celebration of recent successes and grants, recognition of member departures and warnings and considerations of upcoming challenges. After quickly approving minutes from the August meeting, the floor was opened for public comment. Public and board commentsPatricia […]
Posted inBusiness
Community enthusiasm encourages Aspen Daily News membership model
“I believe independent local newspapers are the last bastion in written communication,” declared David Cook, longtime publisher and co-owner of the Aspen Daily News. He and Director of Development Megan Tackett introduced a membership model as an option for readers to support the paper just five weeks ago. Based on the community response, locals agree. […]
Posted inEducation
At Marble Basecamp, experiential education is free and accessible
“All kids need this. All humans need this.” That’s the guiding philosophy for Brian Hightower, Aspen Valley Land Trust’s (AVLT) outdoor education coordinator. He taught eighth-grade social studies at Aspen Middle School for 12 years, and has been involved in outdoor education consistently for over two decades. “Our vision is to create as many opportunities […]
Posted inNews
The future of RFV public transit is electrified
Good news travels fast. It’s only been three weeks since the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the allocation of $31.7 million in new transit grants. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) was granted nearly half of those funds, winning $15.5 million to add 10 new electric buses to its fleet. Valley residents have been […]