Re: Rams Run
On April 25, Crystal River Elementary Schoolers ran in the 12th annual Rams Run. The fundraiser continues to be a well-loved tradition, with parents, grandparents, siblings and friends alike coming to cheer on and join the students. The kids run as many laps as possible in 30 minutes, raising money either by flat donations or a pledged amount per lap for the Physical Education and specials programming at CRES.
We have been so fortunate to watch this event grow not just in popularity, but in the immense amount of support received from our community. This year, we had 23 sponsors, a new record! Our title sponsor, Xen Technology, donated $1,000! And with contributions ranging anywhere from $350 to $500, we were supported by the businesses that follow, in no particular order: Imperio Restaurant, Rocky Mountain Ranch Services, JVAM Law Firm, Confluence Architecture, Katie J Photography, Isberian Rug Co., White River Books, Handmakery, Martin Insurance Group, Blazing Adventures, Premier Party Rental, TE Builders, Level Build, SGM, Blue Sky Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Carly Passchier Real Estate, IRMW Welding, Decorative Materials, Valley Ortho, Comfort Dental, Ridge Runner Construction, and New Jammies. Without these incredible sponsorships, the possibilities for how we can support our children’s learning diminishes greatly.
Our community also came through in a big way, as it does every year, through the incredible help from volunteers. A huge nod of gratitude to the parents, teachers and even grandparents who come through for us in a myriad of ways; from setting up the course, to providing and distributing snacks, ticking off lap counters and cleaning it all up at the end, these people make it possible for this event to run like a well-oiled machine. Additionally, this year Brion After with Independence Run and Hike provided the top boy and girl lap runners in each grade with a brand-new Nalgene water bottle. Thank you, Brion!
I would also like to give a major shout of appreciation to Carbondale’s own Sue Rollyson, who has come out to support our kids and these schools for decades. She shoots momentous photos in the way only she knows how, and her generosity of time and dedication to our community is nothing short of legendary. Thank you, Sue.
To Marty Madsen, who created this event, and Jess Klumb who does indelible work behind the scenes and on the day, you are wonderful! Crystal River Elementary has the best PE teacher there is, and the families who support this programming are the best partners we could ask for. Thanks to all of our sponsors, we raised $8,950 and can’t wait to add the final number accumulated by the kids and their supporters. We are so thankful for this community!
Autumn Evans-Lough
Crystal River Elementary
Re: Climate
I’m surprised at the defensive position of local groups on “climate change” and “global warming” (“Earth Day panel discusses policy implications,” The Sopris Sun, May 1). It seems this is an attempt to broaden appeal, but it feels like self-censorship or “obeying in advance.” I do think “climate change” just allows a rebuttal of “the climate has always been changing.” But I prefer the more assertive “global heating.” It doesn’t seem hard to explain that heat-trapping exhaust gases from burning and leaking fossil fuels act like triple glazing, and that this trapped heat is building up, verified by measurements and observations over 150 years. Further, while changes in parts per million seem tiny, the atmosphere’s temperature is in a delicate balance; it’s like a trailer, where shifting the load a little moves the hitch a lot.
And to deal with it, we now have great substitutes for combustion. My favorite Earth Day was in 1979 at Rocky Flats, where Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne sang for wind and solar power and against nuclear reactors (and bombs)! It’s taken too long, but last year wind turbines and solar panels worth $770 billion were installed worldwide. Nuclear reactors, about $60 billion. Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation probably peaked last year. China’s coal use went down 5% in Q1 2025.
This weekend, the incumbent Labor Party swept the Australian elections with a platform of “building.” In particular, they called clearly for an acceleration of building solar and wind. These are now displacing 40% of fossil generation there, and being added at 4% per year, aiming for 8% per year to get to 80%+ renewables by 2030. Lots of batteries and heat pumps involved too. The other “coalition” called for a lengthy, expensive shift to nuclear power and was trounced.
Here, the Democrats and Kamala Harris waffled about “clean” energy and “I guess we can’t stop fracking.” This timid, bland “triangulation” didn’t get them elected.
Fred Porter
Carbondale
Better angels
While celebrating First Friday at Carbondale Beer Works, I witnessed an extraordinary act of compassion. Amid all the revelry, I noticed a young guy lying on one of the benches, unable to get up.
I sat down to connect with him to ascertain his condition and help him sit up. Based on my experience, knowing someone with a fentanyl addiction, I believe this is what he was on.
Within three minutes or so, a member of the contracted security team showed up to take over the situation. Soon after, the rest of the team showed and began, in a very gentle way, to help. A few minutes later, two officers showed up. The officer first said, “You’re not in trouble, and we’re not here to arrest you.” Together, they were able to get him to a bench out front. Then two EMTs showed up. During the next 20-ish minutes, they patiently negotiated with him until an agreement was reached. I was close to tears as I witnessed the caring and compassionate way all of them worked together to help this unfortunate individual. THIS is Carbondale.
I feel so fortunate to live in this amazing community. On a side note, as this was happening, the lyrics to Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” were running through my head.
John Field
Carbondale
Exxon-Mobil knew
Went to Thunder River Theatre’s production of the play “These Shining Lives” Sunday afternoon. It’s the mostly true story of four women in the 1920s and ‘30s who worked for a company that made radium clock dials that glowed in the dark.
The women were sickened by the radium causing extreme health effects and even death. The company knew of the adverse ramifications of radium exposure and didn’t tell the employees.
After the show, I asked actor and known climate activist Sonya Meyer if she saw a correlation between the Radium Dial Company’s actions and Exxon-Mobil’s in regard to the climate.
In 1977, Exxon-Mobil scientists went to the board of directors and informed them of the deleterious consequences of fossil fuel use on the planet. The board decided to keep it a secret. When word got out a decade later, the industry instituted a disinformation campaign to discredit the science.
Meyer agreed the circumstances were comparable and added, “You gotta remember, the events of this play happened a hundred years ago and here we are in 2025 and it’s still going on.”
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
Holy Cross election
My name is Robert H. Gardner. I am running for re-election to the Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors representing the Southern District in the upcoming election. I have been a board member since 2012. I live in Basalt and have been a lifelong resident of this region.
Thanks to the leadership of the Board of Directors and Holy Cross staff, Holy Cross Energy’s residential electric rates are in the lowest third of all Colorado utilities. During 2024, Holy Cross provided 61,500 homes and businesses in our area with 75% of their power supply from clean, renewable resources. During the first quarter of 2025, Holy Cross provided 80% clean power on the way to 100% in 2030.
You might ask how Holy Cross can keep its electric rates so affordable while providing 75% clean, renewable power supply. In large part, it is due to long-term power supply contracts negotiated prior to 2020 that are less expensive than carbon-based power. Those contracts also make carbon-based power and capacity available when needed. An important part of our clean power supply is the nearly 3,000 net metered consumers with roof-top solar.
Holy Cross’s current residential electric rates have increased only 12.5% since 2019 while the Consumer Price Index increased 25% during the same period. Holy Cross is less expensive than the surrounding electric utilities of Glenwood Springs (+5%), Xcel (+22%), and Aspen (+28%).
Ballots for this election were mailed to members on May 7. You may vote by paper ballot or online on or before June 3.
For more information, please see www.holycross.com/elections or www.gardnerbradford.com
Robert H. Gardner
Basalt
First 100 days
A New York Times/Siena College poll from April 21-24 asked people the word they would use to describe Trump’s second presidency so far. The most mentioned term by two-thirds (66%) of voters was “chaotic.” Next most, by 59%, was “scary.” And, corresponding to his approval rating at the time, 42% said “exciting.”
Had I been asked, my word would have been “horrifying.” After waking to the unfathomable reality of Trump’s return on Nov. 6, I still never imagined the damage he would inflict in just 100 days in office. Yet here we are living under unrelenting and ever-expanding tyranny.
I find myself asking, what must I do to combat this undoing of all that’s right and good in our country? Like many millions, I’ve taken to the streets to protest and sent dozens of messages to the cowed Republicans in Congress. But is it enough?
What’s heartening is we’re starting to see courageous acts of push back. We’re witnessing more instances where individuals have decided it’s time to draw the line. For example:
Harvard president Alan Garber rejected the Trump administration’s demands that would have limited the university’s independence — incredible directives about overseeing its hiring, admissions and “viewpoint diversity.” It meant forfeiting $2.3 billion in federal funds. But his courage emboldened more than 150 (to date) college and university presidents to follow his lead and denounce the government’s demands.
Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested for helping a defendant in her courtroom leave through the jury door after learning ICE agents were in the building to arrest him. (The man was caught after a chase outside.) Dugan was incensed that ICE was intent on interrupting court proceedings to roundup the undocumented immigrant. Dugan could serve up to six years in prison for standing up for a fair and rightful judicial process.
And, in March, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was called to testify to a Congressional committee about Denver’s sanctuary city status. Defending how the city humanely handled an influx of 42,000 people, he stated that Congress is the body that can solve the immigrant problem — rightly putting the ball back in their court. Even though the City hasn’t violated any law, some committee members said criminal charges need to be brought against Johnston. The Trump administration has now rescinded $40 million in the City’s federal grants.
It’s worth wondering if we’ll have any rights left if we don’t start to fight for them.
Kiki Sayre
Basalt
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