CorrectionS: Standard Solar is headquartered in Maryland, not Massachusetts, as described in the “State of renewables, part one” article in last week’s paper. Wild Flight’s song “Home is Just a Memory” was incorrectly labeled “Home Assisted Memory” in last week’s article “Wild Flight to see ‘full circle’ performance at Crystal Theatre.”
Art Around Town
On behalf of the Carbondale Public Arts Commission (CPAC), we want to say a huge thank you to this community. The turnout and enthusiasm for this year’s Art Around Town was nothing short of incredible, and it is a true testament to how much Carbondale loves and values its art.
This annual event unveils the new rotating sculptures installed throughout town, and watching the community show up to celebrate the artists and their work never gets old. Nights like this remind us exactly why we do what we do.
None of it would be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to Connie and Carey at Marble Distilling for hosting the artists reception, and to Rebekah’s Lodge for their continued support. You make this event what it is.
We also want to take a moment to recognize longtime CPAC member Kris Elice, whose final Art Around Town this was. Kris gave many years of dedicated service to this committee, and her insight and passion have left a lasting mark on this event and this community. She will be deeply missed.
For a list of participating artists
and sculptures, visit tinyurl.com/ArtAroundTown or the CPAC page on the Town’s website.
Michelle Shaver,
CPAC Chair
Lesia Rehl,
CPAC Vice Chair
Highway 82
Highway 82 doesn’t care about county lines.
For everyone living on this side of Independence Pass, this road is our shared lifeblood — and, increasingly, our shared bottleneck. Yet for years, Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties have evaluated growth and development in isolated silos, completely ignoring the cumulative traffic gridlock crushing our valley. A new subdivision or commercial project approved in one jurisdiction directly impacts the commuter stuck in traffic two counties over. We are rapidly approaching a fundamental crisis of carrying capacity, and it’s time to ask our local leaders and state planners a couple of hard questions: When is enough, enough? What can be done about this?
We desperately need a coordinated, region-wide discussion about how much more volume Highway 82 can realistically handle before our economy stalls and public safety is severely compromised. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will not likely address this big-picture crisis unless the community forces the issue. That is why an upcoming meeting with CDOT Region 3 leadership is so critical for all valley residents, regardless of where they happen to pay property taxes.
On Monday, June 15, from 8 to 10am, top CDOT officials — including the regional transportation director and heads of Garfield County engineering, traffic and environmental planning — will meet with the Garfield County Commissioners at 108 8th Street in Glenwood Springs. While Garfield County is hosting, the infrastructure issues on the table affect everyone from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. Time for public questions will be tight due to a packed agenda, but a packed room of concerned citizens speaks volumes. We need residents from all three counties, especially Pitkin and Eagle, to show up, stand together and demand a regional solution to a regional problem. If you are tired of the endless bumper-to-bumper commute, please plan to be there.
Susan Sullivan
Carbondale
Thank you, ANB Bank
Many thanks to Tony Spires and ANB Bank in Carbondale for its recent donation to the Cozy Home Project. Mountain Valley Developmental Services (MVDS) has had good success to date with this campaign to shore-up its residential homes. Mountain Valley currently owns and operates 10 homes and 5 apartments throughout Garfield County. Over 75 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in these residential homes.
Like any good homeowner, MVDS is not only committed to maintaining the high standards in its homes but also creating a cozier atmosphere for its residents.
The donation from ANB Bank will make a big impact in the lives of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities we’ve been serving for over 50 years.
Sara Sims
Glenwood Springs
Climate candidate
Our planet is in dire straits. Living in Colorado, we see that on a daily basis, with water shortages and diminishing snowpack, increased wildfires and climate pollution from oil and gas extraction right here on the Western Slope. In the next couple of weeks, we all have something we can do about that by voting for a new Colorado governor. And my vote is going to Attorney General Phil Weiser for his incredible understanding of and willingness to act on environmental issues. Weiser’s “Roadmap for a Resilient Colorado” includes expanding solar and wind projects, strengthening the grid through battery storage, enforcing clean air and water standards, ensuring that data centers don’t drive up energy costs for everyone else and much more. All things that we need to keep Colorado communities healthy and resilient.
Senator Michael Bennet, who has a secure seat in the senate until at least 2028, wants to leave D.C. and become governor. And while I understand why any sane person would want to leave D.C. right now, that is exactly where we need him. And as an environmentalist, I believe Bennet’s climate policy falls very short on the specifics. As AG, Weiser has been fighting for Coloradans for eight years and has an incredible track record. Let’s put him in the governor’s seat and let him continue to fight for all of us and our land, water and air.
Laurie Stone
Carbondale
Vote for Phil
Got 10 minutes? That’s all it’ll take to convince you that Phil Weiser is the best candidate for governor. If you’ve been following the candidates closely at all, you’ve probably already made up your mind to vote for Phil. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to hear him speak, or read about him, here’s the short list of why he’s the best candidate for governor of Colorado.
Phil listens. His agenda for the state has come from his discussions with fellow Coloradans about what matters to us about our state. I’ve heard him speak a few times now, and at the end of every speech he opens the floor to the crowd to address their concerns, and then addresses ALL of them. The issues that come up most often are water security, lack of affordability, the environment and standing up to the unlawful actions of the Trump regime.
Phil has solutions. He has concrete plans for defending our state water rights and conserving the water we have, including stopping rich investors from taking water from rural communities to expand suburbs on the Front Range.
Phil is a fighter. As Colorado’s attorney general, he has sued the Trump administration over 60 times, and won the vast majority of them. As governor he will fight to protect: federal funding for the state, voter rights, reproductive rights, civil rights.
Phil gets things done. He knows what we care about and has plans to address our needs. If you’re still undecided, check out his website where he provides details, not platitudes, about how he plans to take care of our state. philforcolorado.com/issues
Marc Bruell
Carbondale
Republican or
Trump defender?
Republicans, including Representative Jeff Hurd, are in a terrible bind. While the president is popular with his base, he is increasingly unpopular with the rest of America. Republicans are defending an unpopular and costly war, high inflation caused by the president’s tariffs, wars and tax cuts for millionaires. They are also stuck supporting sex offenders, January 6th terrorists (and the slush fund that will financially reward them), racism and white supremacy. This isn’t what the GOP once stood for, but having passed up the chance to impeach Trump they now have to deal with his total grip on the party.
In normal times Jeff Hurd would be a good choice for our Representative. He is likable, focuses on local issues and meets with local leaders. Unfortunately, he also bows to pressure when it matters most and is afraid to stand up to the abuses of the Trump administration. We wouldn’t be facing hospital closures on the Western Slope, or cuts to the Forest Service and BLM if Representative Hurd had voted against the Big Bad Bill – it passed by only one vote. Hurd, like other Republicans, must decide if he is a true Republican or just a Trump defender.
Peter Westcott
Missouri Heights
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