News

Carbondale’s dance scene has been going through some busy times lately, at least as far as the Dance Initiative organization, housed in the Launchpad facility on S. Fourth Street, is concerned.
A series of planned artistic events, classes in the local schools and now a move by the dance group’s founder, Peter Gilbert, to help re-energize the struggling Glenwood Center for the Arts in Glenwood Springs are all part of Dance Initiative’s growing presence in the lower Roaring Fork Valley.

May 19, 1977: The Town of Carbondale, and the Carbondale Fire District, were feuding over the ownership of the district’s headquarters building at 76 S. Second Street (currently KDNK). The fire district claimed it is the building’s rightful owner, and the town should pay fair market value for it, which it said was $5,000.

The Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists in Carbondale are prepared to become the valley’s first sanctuary church, although at this point there in no one in line to seek their sanctuary.
The program was announced publicly at an interfaith “vigil” in Glenwood Springs on Mother’s Day, May 14. Rev. Shawna Foster, the minister of the TRUU, is also a politically active participant in other social-justice causes, such as the recent mission to send of goods and assistance from Carbondale to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

The tire tracks traced the upward slope of the hill and veered across the road to where a group of teens stood by a broken fence, a rough wooden cross and a steadily growing floral memorial on the lip of a 200 foot drop. School had just let out on May 15, and friends of 17-year-old Ayleen Ruiz Alvarado had come to pay their respects at the site of the car accident that had claimed her life and sent five others to the hospital the night before. The accident on the evening of May 14 — Mother’s Day — was all too reminiscent of the other incidents that have marred graduation season here and elsewhere, right down to the spot on Thompson Creek Road (CR 108) known as Sweet Hill.

A last minute change in a housing mitigation plan ruffled some feathers at the Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting on May 9, but didn’t stop things from moving forward. In the original plan submitted to the trustees and reproduced in the packet, the construction of the remaining 18 units of a 27 unit development in the Kay Planned Unit Development next to the Carbondale Community School on Dolores Way would have included 11 income restricted apartments.

Achieving 100 percent recycling and composting, and zero trash, at events such as Dandelion Day may not be possible as long as there are babies that must be diapered, and folks who tote in non-recyclable items such as waxed paper, Styrofoam, Magic Markers and a few other others. “We can’t rule on what people bring in,” said EverGreen ZeroWaste co-owner Alyssa Reindel.

The Carbondale Homeless Assistance coalition (or Carbondale Habitat-Challenged coalition, as some prefer it) has been in business for about a year and a half, and has successfully helped local habitat-challenged individuals with everything from dental surgery to meals to showers at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center (CRCC).

Up to 45 eighth graders at a time have been staying late at Carbondale Middle School on Mondays to discuss social issues and will offer suggestions at a forum in Denver, and propose a resolution to the Carbondale Board of Trustees. The students are members of the school’s new Issues Club. Speakers so far have included a 9th Judicial District public attorney, a police officer, local mayor, and spokespeople from Planned Parenthood and the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, among others.

The Town of Basalt has reached an agreement with town manager finalist Ryan Mahoney, who is expected to sign a contract with the town later this week. Mahoney currently works as the Development Services Director for the City of Marana, Arizona and previously served as town manager in Buena Vista and Dolores.

The Sopris Sun is conducting a series of interviews with folks you may not have seen in the paper before – a sort of introduction to your neighbors. This week, meet Dave Dixon, the proprietor of Strange Imports on the Main Street level of the Dinkel Building.
THE SOPRIS SUN: Is the Carbondale Strange Imports the only location?
Dave Dixon: Right now, yes. We used to have a few others. One in Vail for a few years, one in Aspen for a couple as well.