Peaceful protest
What a great turnout at the Resist protest in Glenwood Springs on Saturday. There were hundreds of folks across Grand Avenue from me where my two signs were the only conservative opinions amongst a forest of southpaw sentiment.
Yet the party of joy and inclusion was heart warmingly kind to me. I’ve never ever had so many people beating their chests while signaling I was #1 in their hearts. It was truly gratifying.
After my arms tired of sign waving I walked back to my Jeep wondering how so many folks could be so unhappy while living in our own little valleys of Eden. I also felt thankful to live in a community where people can peacefully disagree, unlike so many violent protests nationally.
Good job folks.
Bruno Kirchenwitz
Rifle
Aquatics center
This summer, the new Carbondale Aquatics Center will continue to take shape at the site of the old pool, with reopening scheduled for spring 2026. Going without a public pool for two summers is tough, but it also helps us realize how important a town pool is for our community. The new facility will feature a brand-new ADA-accessible bathhouse, a six-lane lap pool with a diving board and climbing wall, a large shallow-entry recreation pool for kids and an in-ground hot tub/spa.
Despite a nearly 50% increase in construction costs, the Town has secured funding for these core elements thanks to healthy fund balances and increased sales tax revenue. Additionally, individuals, families, civic organizations, businesses and grants have contributed over $1.6 million in gifts and pledges, bringing us within $840,000 of our goal.
Community support is needed for the final phase of funding, which will allow us to include key enhancements that align with Carbondale’s core values of sustainability, inclusion and the arts, without impacting other budgets. These features include:
A trellis and solar array — providing shade while advancing our commitment to renewable energy.
Brick artwork and architectural enhancements — celebrating Carbondale’s creative spirit and enhancing Main Street’s character.
High-efficiency heat pumps — ensuring energy-efficient electric heating for the pools and the building, advancing our climate goals.
Spa accessibility features— making the center more inclusive for all ages and abilities.
Rather than scaling back to a basic design, we are striving for a facility that reflects the values and requests of our community. Carbondale has a long history of achieving big things through philanthropic support. Investments from individuals, businesses and organizations allow us to “punch above our weight” and build something exceptional — something we can all take pride in.
To help lead the way, I have personally donated six months of my mayor’s salary to this effort. I invite you to join me in making this vision a reality. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to the finish line.
If you’d like to donate or learn more, please visit www.carbondaleconnect.org/pool
Together, we can create an aquatics center that serves our town for generations to come.
Ben Bohmfalk
Mayor of Carbondale
Pool 2.0
The Carbondale Pool has been a significant part of my life for 30 years. My daughter and I did triathlon training there; I hung out at the baby pool with numerous grandchildren; we trained beginning kayakers there in the early days of my business, Colorado Wilderness Experience. And, most importantly, for more than 25 years, Carbondale Community School (CCS) taught students to swim with instructors at the pool. Every student who graduated from CCS knew how to swim.
I hope you’ll join me in giving generously to the Let’s Make a Splash! campaign to create an aquatics center for Carbondale. You can do that by contacting Brian Froelich, aquatics center coordinator at bfroelich@carbondaleco.net
Francie Jacober
Carbondale
‘Swasticar’
An April 3-9, Sopris Sun article, “Tesla Takedown takes Gypsum,” describes American flags being waved with messages like “Don’t buy a Swasticar” and a sign, “Tesla=Fascist.” Another message, “Deport Elon Musk to Mars.” Elon Musk is a co-founder of Tesla and is loathed because he supports President Trump. The FBI is investigating the violent attacks on Tesla individuals, dealerships, owners and the cars themselves.
A little history on the twisted name of the new vehicle, Swasticar. The “Swastika” was a modern symbol of the fascists of Germany during the early 1930s, extended to the end of World War II. Fascists killed 6 million Jews plus another 3 million non-Jews. Many were also murdered in Soviet prisons. The non-Jews that were murdered were from Poland, Romania and Croatia, including 3 million other disabled individuals.
This is a list of the positive influences of Tesla. The motor is electric and more friendly to the environment. Emissions are zero and it can travel 800 miles on one fast charge. It has blind spot monitoring and collision warning systems. The financial depreciation is at a lower rate and the everyday, lower horse-power model can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds.
I don’t own a Tesla, but my next car will be a Tesla.
Floyd Diemoz
Glenwood Springs
Prophetic warning
When he was 28 years old, Abraham Lincoln delivered a prophetic warning at his Lyceum Address on Jan. 27, 1838. “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time or die by suicide.” We as a country are on the verge of having our democratic republic implode. As a country, we are now on the verge of becoming an oligarchy — a government in which a small group exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. There are 13 billionaires in Donald Trump’s administration, individuals who will not be advocating on behalf of the vast majority of Americans.
As a country, we continue to be burdened by a dysfunctional system that increasingly benefits a very small segment of the population at the expense of the vast majority of Americans. A substantial number of Americans are frustrated and angry about the direction our country is headed. This energy needs to be channeled and expressed in a positive manner. As we unite and move forward, it is wise to embrace the wisdom of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated 57 years ago when he was 39 years old. “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”
In a letter dated Jan. 9, 1790, George Washington wrote, “The establishment of our new government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness by reasonable compact in civil society.” I remain proud to be an American because we are guaranteed the opportunity to unite in a nonviolent manner to defend “the last great experiment” and continue to pursue a more inclusive form of democracy and share in our prosperity.
Jim Coddington III
Saint James Long Island, New York
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