For many, if birds and climate change are mentioned in the same sentence, it conjures an image of the canary in the coal mine. These delicate, beautiful creatures are sensitive to ecosystem changes and respond to differences more quickly than we large, heavy bipeds do. These days, mining in the Roaring Fork Valley is minimal […]
Annalise Grueter
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Budget, First and Last Mile Mobility, employee support
The Aug. 8 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board of directors meeting saw quick approval of several resolutions. The group unanimously passed resolutions on adopting a proposed zero-emission fleet transition plan, RFTA’s new Climate Action Plan and authorizing First and Last Mile Mobility (FLMM) reserve grants. There was more discussion around the 2024 Strategic Plan […]
Posted inEducation
Downvalley schools see early enthusiasm for hands-on learning models
Introductory-level environmental education has become a staple for Valley elementary schools. Each year, Basalt Elementary, Crystal River Elementary and Aspen Elementary welcome full-time educators from Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES). This program, which started at the Aspen schools in 1975, is a cherished facet of elementary education for many local children and adults who […]
Posted inSports
Elk Mountain Ultimate turns Frisbee into a mindfulness and mentorship practice
It started out as just a casual thing. Yet Ultimate Frisbee has always had loftier ambitions. Those aspirations are simply different from other sports. In the Roaring Fork Valley, Elk Mountain Ultimate has weaved its own story into the broader thread of the counterculture sport played by millions worldwide.Ultimate Frisbee evolved in the mid-1960s at […]
Posted inEducation
Empowering community through learning at Basalt Library
The Basalt Regional Library’s renewed mission statement, “The confluence of community, freedom and fun. A Place to Go. A Place to Gather. A Place to Grow,” was approved during its July 15 board meeting. The adjustment to the mission statement is just the beginning of a larger strategic plan update slated for 2025. Executive Director […]
Posted inEnvironment
Increasing wildfire frequency and size have insurance in jeopardy
Another July in the books, and with it, many wildfires. Smoky air weighs not just on our lungs but also on our minds. As wildfire frequency and damage have increased in recent decades, homeowners and renters alike have begun reconsidering how to protect themselves against the possibility of fires starting close to home. As of […]
Posted inEducation
History of Roaring Fork Valley experiential education programs
For families who have lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for multiple generations, experiential education (ex-ed) programs feel like a joyful legacy and a tradition. What those rites of passage look like varies between individuals who have participated in school-based programs compared to private or summer programs, but the skills and confidence gained are consistent. […]
Posted inSports
Fastest couple above 14,000 feet set another record
Can you imagine hiking over 300 miles and 140,000 feet in under two weeks? For an avid hiker that distance and gain is a full summer and autumn worth of weekend outings. For Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton it’s another stitch in the fabric of their romance.The morning of July 15, the pair passed a […]
Posted inNoticias
Consolidar el apoyo de la comunidad está en el corazón del centro de abstinencia de Glenwood Springs
Por Annalise Grueter Corresponsal de Sopris Sun Traducción por Dolores Duarte El nuevo centro para el manejo del síndrome de abstinencia de Mind Springs Health en Glenwood Springs se inauguró oficialmente el mes pasado, creando un nuevo recurso de apoyo para los miembros de la comunidad y aliviando la presión sobre la capacidad de los […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Rolling up on South Bridge and CEO transition
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s (RFTA) July 11 board of directors meeting kicked off with community comments. Rachel Richards made a passionate argument regarding community support for the entrance into Aspen. Mark Rinehart suggested that the transit authority prioritize expansion of electric vehicle charging capabilities through the Valley. And general appreciation was expressed for the […]