Corrections: Lynn Burton humbly assumed credit for mistyping his last name within his email address provided in his letter to the editor last week. His email address is lynnburton679@gmail.com Following Lynn’s lead, The Sopris Sun acknowledges its part for not having caught the mistake.
Also, in addition to R&A Enterprises, Alpine Bank, TJ Concrete and Industrial Repair Maintenance Welding also sponsored the installment of the Roaring Fork Rams’ current scoreboard.
Bon voyage
Those lovely contributors for over four decades to the unique fabric that is Carbondale’s business and art scene, Sally and Franklin Norwood, former owners of Main Street Gallery & The Framer (now professionally operated by the talented Cate Tallmadge), are moving to Longmont, Colorado to be closer to Lindsay, Tom, Rivers, and Larkin.
Touch base with them or blow kisses if you see them running wrap-up errands during their final month in town.
Bob Axelson
Glenwood Springs
Noche de Lotería
I didn’t grow up with Monopoly or Scrabble. I grew up with Lotería. I learned to shout ‘Buenas!’ before I learned to shout ‘Bingo!’ I remember the excitement building in me as my grandma got out the Lotería cards, the beans and when she’d give me her stash of coins so that I could place bets too. My family could play for hours. It’s something that brought us together and a memory that I hold very dear to my heart. It’s exciting to share that the nonprofit I work for, The Buddy Program, is going to host our own Lotería event.
On Saturday, April 27 from 6-8pm we will be hosting our very first Lotería event, Noche de Lotería. We will have fun prizes and free traditional food. We are hopeful that this event lets the Latino community know that we value the importance of having Latino mentors. As a Latina, as a big sister and as the eldest cousin, I understand the significance of allowing young people to comfortably speak the language of their choice, empowering them to connect with adults who share similar life experiences and seeing that an adult who comes from the same culture is valued as a leader/mentor within their community.
If you’re interested in learning how to become a mentor or would like to learn more about our organization, then come join us at the Glenwood Springs Community Center! Nos vemos pronto.
Briana Sanchez
The Buddy Program
Donate to EIA
English In Action has come a long way in the 30 years since we started operating out of a few rooms at the Basalt Library and serving just a handful of our Valley’s newest residents. In 2023, we served 380 individuals, a substantial increase over those early days.
English In Action, with the help of almost 300 tutors and community members, helps immigrants learn English and develop the skills they need to pursue their dreams. We bridge cultural divides and offer opportunities to celebrate and learn about our diverse community.
Today, we are on the verge of achieving a significant milestone: creating our new home, the English In Action Center for Communication, in the heart of the midValley. The Center will enable us to serve our entire community better.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of hundreds of donors, we have raised $4.3 million towards our $5 million goal. With just $730,000 left to raise, we are close to realizing our dream. Yet, to achieve this goal, we need your support now more than ever.
I encourage you to visit the English In Action website (www.englishinaction.org) and donate. By doing so, you’re not just contributing financially, you’re joining a community that empowers countless individuals.
Working together, we can make the Center for Communication a reality.
Patrick Curry
Board of Advisors
No Downtowner
You’ve got to be kidding town trustees! $181,500 for a six month taxi service in little Carbondale! For heaven’s sake, someone has a lot of money! Can’t a person take responsibility when they find themselves in need of a ride? How about asking a friend, a neighbor, a family member, The Traveler, WE-cycle? I bet with all of Carbondale’s awesomeness there is a group that could be contacted that would love to help you.
If we have so much money how about considering the following instead of the Downtowner: 1) Paint no parking curbsides throughout town; 2) Hire a second ordinance officer so “newcomer” Ben isn’t so overwhelmed; 3) Hire a person to educate business owners the importance of acknowledging and decorating for Memorial Day Weekend, Independence Day, Veterans Day; 4) Repair/replace sidewalks; 5) Enclose the disgusting port-a-potties on Fourth and Main; 6) Hire a landscaper to plant all pots along Main; 7) Pay someone to remove all the stickers on our beautiful lampposts (minus the breweries, of course); 8) Make available gloves and bags at all parks so guests can leave things better than the way they found it (teach your peeps by example!); 9) New pool need additional funding?; 10) Purchase veggie seeds so those in need can utilize our community garden spots and plant their own veggies.
Just a few suggestions — we all have our “favorites!” Lastly, a huge thank you to the property owners that make an effort to beautify our Town! And remember, Dandelion Day is coming in May! Whether you choose to celebrate it or are reminded to spray them — Happy Spring!
Ramona Griffith
Carbondale
Funding Israel
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Saturday to approve $26 billion in aid for Israel. The U.S. government is operating in the red so that money will need to be borrowed. People who work to supply humanitarian aid say that Gaza is worse than any warzone they have ever seen. One article in the Informed Comment stated that “Since some 13,000 children have been killed that means that a child has been either killed or wounded every 10 minutes.” Children are now dying of hunger, thirst and disease as well as being blown up. A rash of children have been brought into what is left of hospitals with gunshot wounds from snipers.
It’s been reported that Israel has developed AI with facial recognition programs that seek out individual targets. For a low level target, it has been permissible to also kill up to 20 civilians as collateral damage. For high value targets that rises to 100 civilians. They prefer to attack these targets when they are home and indoors. In that case a whole building might be destroyed.
Much of the billions of dollars is to be spent in the U.S. on arms manufacturers for bombs, bullets, rockets and other war supplies. Politicians with these companies in their districts have extra encouragement to vote for the money. Politicians who do not support these payments are very likely to find that Israeli lobbying groups will generously fund opposition candidates at the primaries and general elections. They run for reelection every two years, including this November.
Israel recently bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria killing at least seven including two senior Iranian military officers. Israel just attacked a Palestinian town in the West Bank killing about a dozen people. They used bulldozers to level some buildings. It’s been reported that Israeli settlers in the West Bank are traveling in gangs and killing Palestinians. They will also set fire to buildings, homes and fields.
I’m just scratching the surface. Anybody see a problem in any of this?
Pat Hunter
Carbondale
Eyes on the ‘I(s)’
Illegal immigration and inane inflation are destroying our middle class. But the “I” words have been hidden from Americans’ eyes by our lying leaders and the corrupt mainstream media.
The answer to inflation isn’t Bidenomics. Inflation is sustained by out of control government spending. Printing dollars from thin air is what decimated our buying power.
The illegal immigration of millions of foreign nationals is a modern day Trojan horse. The breaching of Biden’s brittle border has unleashed a lethal threat to our sovereignty and security.
We must open our eyes to the “I” words to survive. We stop inflation by not spending money we don’t have. We need to resume our energy independence because it is the foundation of our economy (drill baby drill).
An open border can’t coexist with a welfare state. We need to return to the secure border policies of Trump for the sake of our children. We must open our eyes to the evil “I(s)”.
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 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.