No Kings, Bonedale
I wanted to save the mileage to drive to Glenwood for their No Kings gathering. Why not bring the message to Carbondale, and be comfortable at the same time? Many drivers were happy to see the message. Many honks, waves and thumbs up. Most had no reaction. I wonder how many people are really following the political changes happening in our country.
I was there for 80 minutes. I estimate I was passed by some 375 vehicles. I saw just a few EVs. I assume that many cars were circling the roundabout to get to Highway 82. Unfortunately, Carbondale, like most American towns, was built for automobile travel. I grew up in Seattle, and we had electric trolley, rubber-tired buses. Fares were really cheap.
It won’t be long before our roundabout will be maxing out. Others were to be built on Highway 133. Why haven’t they?
Pat Hunter
Carbondale
Mom for mayor
I am honored to write this letter in strong support of my mother as she seeks to serve as mayor of Carbondale. My mom has lived in this community for 29 years; she has witnessed firsthand the remarkable transformation of this small town into a thriving and vibrant place to call home. Her deep roots here have given her not only a unique perspective on Carbondale’s growth, but also a genuine understanding of the needs, values and concerns of its residents.
Throughout her time in Carbondale, she has remained committed to the well-being of the community. She has seen the challenges that come with growth — balancing development while preserving the character and charm that make this town special. Her ability to listen, adapt and advocate for thoughtful solutions is one of her greatest strengths. She understands that progress must be guided with intention, ensuring that the voices of residents are heard and respected.
What sets her apart is her dedication to people. She believes in building strong relationships, encouraging open communication, and working collaboratively to solve problems. She approaches leadership with integrity, compassion and a willingness to do the hard work required to make meaningful change. Her vision for Carbondale is one that embraces growth while maintaining the sense of community that has always defined it. In addition to her commitment to the community, she has served as a devoted bus driver — a role that reflects her reliability, patience and care for others.
I have watched her invest her time and energy into this town, not for recognition, but because she truly cares. She is committed to creating a future where Carbondale continues to thrive for generations to come. Her experience, perspective and passion make her an excellent candidate for mayor.
I wholeheartedly recommend her for this role and am confident she will serve the community with dedication and purpose.
Holley Savoy
Carbondale
Dear Carbondale
Greetings, I am Joanne Teeple, running for a seat on the Carbondale Board of Trustees. You can learn about the candidates via the Town website, www.carbondalegov.org.
Find “MEET YOUR CANDIDATES!” for bios and Sopris Sun questions.
You can listen to the recording of the March 26 Candidate Forum at kdnk.org.
Please remember to bring your ballot with your signature and date on the envelope to the drop box at the front entrance to Carbondale Town Hall by 7pm on Tuesday, April 7.
Thank you to The Sopris Sun and KDNK for their efforts. Thank you to all voters for participating in your local government.
I would appreciate your vote.
Joanne Teeple
Carbondale
CAFCI endorsements
The Carbondale Age-Friendly Community Initiative (CAFCI), a registered 501(c)(4) organization, recommends voting for Erica Sparhawk for mayor. Erica has demonstrated her effectiveness as a municipal leader through nine years of service as a town trustee, and it would be a loss for the town to forgo her considerable experience. Her values align with those of many Carbondale residents, particularly her strong advocacy on environmental issues.
We also recommend re-electing Chris Hassig and Colin Laird to the Board of Trustees for similar reasons. Both have shown a strong commitment to listening to community voices, making themselves accessible outside of formal Town meetings, and maintaining independent judgment — even when it means dis-
agreeing with fellow trustees.
In addition, we recommend Kade Gianinetti for the trustee seat being vacated by Erica. Of the two candidates for this position, Kade stood out to us as both a capable leader and a creative thinker who can bring fresh ideas to the community.
We believe he will be particularly effective in working with developers on the Town’s behalf.
We were also impressed by Joanne Teeple and encourage her to continue her public service, whether through one of the Town’s commissions or by running again in a future election.
CAFCI Board
Gerald Ford
At his inauguration on Aug. 9, 1974, Gerald Ford proclaimed: “The long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”
Food for thought. Vote blue in November.
Kay Maynard
Carbondale
Thanks, Pitkin, Barbara & Tim!
There’s nothing like trucks full of soil and compost when you’re prepping your spring gardens.
Mountain Valley Greenhouse recently received very generous donations of soil and compost from Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, horse manure compost from Barbara Dills and a supporting donation from Tim Bergman.
We now have 14 tons of topsoil and a ton of compost to fill our recently renovated raised beds.
These beds, built to be accessible to folks using mobility aides, will soon be growing tomatoes that we will sell this summer at the Glenwood Market on 7th Street. The tomato starts will also be available during our Spring Plant Sale on May 16!
These donations saved us over $1,300 in materials that we can now use to grow even more plants and veggies for our community.
Our spring gardens will be bountiful thanks to Tyler at Pitkin County Solid Waste Center, Barbara and Tim!
Hollis Vanderlinden
Mountain Valley Greenhouse
I’d vote Teeple
If we hadn’t moved our house off Mt. Sopris Ranch to Satank, and I lived within Town limits, I would vote for Joanne Teeple. She is dedicated and informed, and she would make an engaged and thoughtful Town of Carbondale trustee. Not to mention, she looks more like a Perry than I do!
Jeannie Perry
Satank
Vote for Erica
I first came to the Roaring Fork Valley in the early 1970s and, like many others, never seriously considered leaving. Over the decades, I’ve watched Carbondale and the surrounding valley grow and change in ways both inspiring and challenging. Through it all, I’ve relied on thoughtful, dedicated public servants — people willing to step forward and represent the interests of this community with care and integrity.
That’s why I’m writing in support of Erica Sparhawk for mayor of Carbondale.
Erica has proven her commitment time and again through her service on the Carbondale Board of Trustees since 2017, when she was selected to fill a vacant seat. She brings not only experience, but a deep personal connection to this town. Born and raised in Redstone and Carbondale, educated in our local schools and now raising her own family here, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing local residents.
Her roots in this community matter. They give her perspective, accountability and a genuine investment in Carbondale’s future. Combined with her education at Colorado State University and years of public service, Erica has developed a strong, practical understanding of the issues that matter most — from supporting local families to guiding responsible growth.
As our town continues to evolve, I believe Erica Sparhawk has the leadership, insight and dedication needed to guide Carbondale forward while preserving what makes it special.
When you receive your mail-in ballot, I encourage you to support Erica Sparhawk for mayor. I’m confident she will serve this community well.
Greg Fitzpatrick
Carbondale
Fire survey
I took the Carbondale wildfire risk survey and cleaned up some of the more egregious accumulations of dried leaves and flammable stuff around our house. I even took a few pickets out of the cedar fence.
But I’m not sure the fire risk in town is as high as sometimes portrayed. The fires in the last decade that have raged through towns have occurred in places with long records of regular, intense winds. The winds in these places have names, for example: Chinook winds, Marshall/Louisville, Colorado; Santa Ana winds, Palisade, Altadena and others in Southern California; Kaua’ula or Ghost wind, Lahaina, Hawaii; Diablo wind, Santa Rosa & Oakland Hills, California: Jarbo Gap winds, Paradise, CA.
These are regularly occurring, often several times every year, lasting for a half-day or even days on end. They start at 40 mph, with gusts in the Marshall Fire reaching 110 mph. Carbondale itself is actually exceptionally calm. People here talk about windy days when the weather station measures 15mph. Our most unique weather feature is the very strong temperature inversion, associated with the calm, that often keeps the town colder than places up or down the valleys.
I’m a little peeved that after raising both sales and property taxes for the fire department, the Town of Carbondale still needed to contribute $100,000 for a fire mapping consultant. And I’m also peeved at the state, which produced maps in 2022 and 2025 with vastly differing fire hazard zones. The 2022 map showed varying risk zones over most of the town. The 2025 map shows no risk in most of the town, except for medium risk zones in RVR, including Old Town and Thompson Corners. There are no intervening low risk zones. The resolution went down in 2025, with ratings assigned to 10-ish acre hexagons. So now we need to do it ourselves for accuracy. The assessment of fire spread in town will be better with more accurate inputs of the materials and conditions at homes, so hopefully folks will take a few minutes to fill out the survey.
I’m a fan of hazard mapping. Our house in Boulder was flooded in 2013. Not long before that, the City developed flood maps using airborne LIDAR to determine precise topography. In my neighborhood, the flood followed the predicted 500-year flood contours almost exactly. That map also showed that an undersized culvert a half-mile away would divert water to my street. Hopefully, detailed maps here will show crucial areas that can be mitigated to reduce risk for all.
Fred Porter
Carbondale
Flock cameras
FlockSafety is a Georgia based company. I did not know the term or the difference between Flock and speed-ticketing cameras, but needed information and thus I pass some on to you. If surveillance and privacy regarding personal data are topics of concern to you, now is the time to learn more and voice your thoughts. The Glenwood contract with Flock is up for renewal.
If you live in or pass through Glenwood Springs, know that there are 21 Flock cameras here that have been here for three years, surveilling us. It appears they have been unclearly supervised within an unknown system by unknown person(s). In three years, “Glenwood Springs” has been searched six million times by “organizations” in the United States. That is a staggering number. Supposedly, Glenwood is suggesting limiting searches of Glenwood in the database to only Colorado. Is that a small enough search area, and is there trust in Flock Safety and local monitoring?
These are some facts you may not have known, as I did not. I am shocked that for three years, I have not been aware of these cameras, that there are 21 of them and that data is being collected — for whom and why? Should you choose to do some research, you will be amazed at the specific data that can be surveilled.
Personally, with the issues regarding government surveillance at this time, I cannot support this contract renewal in Glenwood Springs, nor the move to have two cameras in Aspen. I urge you to learn more about this topic and use your voice now.
Cheryl Cain
Glenwood Springs
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