Corrections: Last week’s “Vision from within” article mistakenly reported that the windows of the historic home were original; the printed headline, “Rearranged Castle Creek development sees reapplication,” should have read “Cattle Creek”; the Sol del Valle article, “A story of love, survival and resilience comes to Aspen,” mistakenly stated Theatre Aspen’s Solo Flights Festival runs Sept. 8-11, when it runs Sept. 8-13.
Rancher panel
An important panel discussion will occur on Sept. 16 at the Crystal Theatre, featuring four next-generation land stewards from local ranching families. It will be a unique opportunity to have this conversation in a community setting and bring more awareness to these complex issues: “Our Ranches, Climate & Our Local Food System.”
Kade Gianinetti, Jason Sewell, Jared Kerst and Parker Nieslanik are all part of families who have ranched the land for decades. Each of them have a deep commitment to the land, to our local food system, and have learned and observed much over their lifetimes. They know first-hand the vital role that ranching plays in our culture and ecosystem.
Hear their valuable perspectives and what they are working on for the future, as our ranches face unprecedented climate, social and economic pressures. We must take on these issues in earnest to create a resilient — and even possible — future in this valley.
Our approach to building our local food system and stewarding our ecosystem in these next critical years will take all of us learning and working together. Presented by the Roaring Fork Food Alliance, the panel kicks off Sept. 16 at 7pm. Tickets are available through the Crystal Theatre website.
Gwen Garcelon
Carbondale
Re: Treasure Mountain Ranch
As someone who has spent nearly eight decades in Crystal, I read Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association’s (CVEPA) July 1 editorial with a strong desire to find a path forward. My family has spent every summer in Crystal since 1948. We own three historic cabins here, and I have even written a book on our valley’s history. Like CVEPA, I care deeply about protecting this remarkable place. We all want what is best for Crystal, even if we occasionally differ on the best way to achieve it.
To find the right solutions together, we need to look closely at the real-world pressures facing our area. The editorial suggested that the threat of future development might be exacerbated, but my personal experience tells a different story. For decades, people have knocked on my cabin door asking if I knew of any land for sale. The demand has always been there. The fact that Treasure Mountain Ranch (TMR) has chosen to hold onto its property over the years is a reflection of their stewardship, not a lack of interest from outside buyers.
We also have to look at current market realities to understand the true high-stakes nature of this situation. The CVEPA column questioned an independent appraisal, valuing 30 35-acre parcels at roughly $500,000 each. However, TMR recently sold a single, heavily restricted one-acre parcel for $1 million — voluntarily limiting the future home size to just 1,200 square feet at their own expense. If a restricted single acre commands that level of interest, the development pressure on larger, unrestricted parcels is very real. Ignoring these economic facts won’t make the pressure disappear. Similarly, while natural features like avalanche paths do constrain parts of the property, independent reviews show dozens of viable building sites around the Crystal townsite and the base of Bear Mountain that meet Gunnison County land-use regulations. The core question facing our community is not whether development pressure exists, but how we can collectively manage it.
TMR’s current proposal aims to permanently conserve the overwhelming majority of its land, avoiding the widely scattered development that existing zoning would otherwise allow. The vast majority of Crystal residents support the framework of this plan. While TMR shares CVEPA’s dedication to protecting our valley, the only alternative proposal currently on the table is total inaction. To remain viable and continue protecting this land, TMR must find an active, sustainable path forward. The TMR team is fully committed to exploring solutions that secure the ranch’s financial future, while safeguarding the beautiful environment we all share.
Reasonable people can and should debate the details of this proposal. I encourage CVEPA to sit down with TMR, review the independent studies together and establish a shared understanding of the facts. If TMR and CVEPA approach this issue with open minds and a true willingness to work together, I believe they can find common ground and achieve the best possible outcome for the place we all care about so deeply.
Roger Neal
Crystal
From The Echo, with love
The Crystal Valley Echo would like to extend its warmest and most sincere gratitude to the staff of The Sopris Sun for the camaraderie provided during the annual conference of the Colorado Press Association (CPA) during the last week in August. Specifically, Editors James Steindler and Skyler Stark-Ragsdale, the one-and-only cartoonist Larry Day, Executive Director Todd Chamberlin and Lead Editorial Designer Terri Ritchie. As well as our congratulations for the crop of well-earned awards collected during the final ceremony. If ever there were a crew worthy to succeed the legendary Valley Journal, it is you all.
We would also like to extend our special gratitude to Sopris Stars correspondent Arthur Cherith for representing the next generation of journalists on the conference floor.
And the warmest of all thanks to Miriam Busch, artist, author and her own person.
It is rare in today’s media landscape to find rural places like the Roaring Fork and Crystal Valleys with so many outlets for local news. Rather than other places across the state that are classified as ‘news deserts,’ we are lucky to live in a place that can only be described as a ‘news forest’ with two daily papers, the ever-venerable weekly Sopris Sun and our own monthly contributions to the conversation.
That community followed the valley contingent to Denver and throughout the entire CPA conference. We were immensely glad to be included in the coalition of local journalists making strides to cultivate community through the news. Very few groups of working professionals can form such strong collaborative bonds, and we are infinitely thankful for the unique reality of where we live and our shared history that allows us to experience it.
The Echo is very appreciative of the fledgling working relationship with The Sun and we are looking forward to how this recent experience can help us to continue to work together to provide the best local community journalism we can for our readers up and down the Crystal, and we await next year’s conference with renewed anticipation for the work we can do together in print.
Tucker D. Farris, PhD
The Crystal Valley Echo
In Godes We Trust
It wasn’t the ideal day to be warning of the dangers of global warming. It was a bitter cold day in the winter of 2022 (remember when winters were cold?) and the hawk was cutting us in two.
Showing up in support of the 350 Roaring Fork-supported protest of the Uinta Basin Railway, the proposed stretch of tracks in northeast Utah that would quadruple production of climate-warming waxy crude oil in the region, was then-Glenwood Springs mayor and current candidate for Garfield County commissioner Jonathan Godes.
Godes led Glenwood Springs to 100% renewable electricity in 2019. He’s been endorsed by Conservation Colorado and the Grand Valley Citizen’s Alliance.
How Garfield County will continue to provide services with diminishing oil and gas revenues is the commissioners’ biggest challenge, Godes said. The county needs to “diversify the economy, aggressively pursue state and federal grants, make smart long-term economic investments and scrutinize county spending so we’re getting value for every tax dollar.”
“The worst approach,” Godes said, “would be to pretend the energy economy isn’t changing until we’re forced into a fiscal crisis. We have the opportunity to plan for the transition instead of having the transition happen to us.”
Queried on the same subject at 350 Roaring Fork’s booth at the Carbondale Farmers’ Market, Godes’ opponent, Eric Rudd, said that natural gas is going to come from somewhere, and asked in return whether we’d like to see that supply come from Garfield County or somewhere else.
He’s right. As long as there’s a demand for methane gas, there’ll be a supply. What we need to do is eliminate the demand by driving electric vehicles, electrifying homes and switching to renewable power so we can leave the oil and gas in the ground where it belongs. Garfield County is making no moves in that direction and continues to promote fossil fuels.
When the commissioners were dismantling the Garfield County Public Library District Board of Trustees, Commissioner Tom Jankovsky said they were looking for more “diversity” on the board. He actually used the word diversity, anathema in the MAGA world. It read like he wanted board members who thought more like him.
Diversity is what I’d like to see on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). When I was a reporter for the Glenwood Post in the 1990s, Commissioner Marion Smith was the lone Democrat on the board with two Republicans, Bucky Arbaney and Arnold Mackley. She had plenty of influence. Frankly, it’s my recollection she led the other two around by the nose.
That’s how I see Godes’ role on the future BOCC.
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
Giving up?
Recently, while doing our Thursday Bridge Brigade messaging at the Wingo Junction Bridge, I learned of very active people protesting the corrupt administration who are considering checking out, giving up. Something in my opinion they might/will regret, looking ahead. What do you say? Get in the fetus position, mommy will take care of you? Not happening. Fight the fight. Move on.
R .J. Mineo
Carbondale
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, no smearing, 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.