Sopris Sun party
The Sopris Sun is celebrating its 17th anniversary on Feb. 19 at the Old Thompson Barn in River Valley Ranch and needs your help to pull it off. Just like this newspaper, it takes a community to throw a party. We’re humbly requesting local restaurateurs to contribute bites and drinks, help from volunteer caterers and for donated goods and services to include in the silent auction. Please reach out to board@soprissun.com to offer your support, and pencil in The Sopris Sun’s annual birthday celebration the evening of Feb. 19. Thank you.
Carbondale elections
Nomination petitions are now available from Carbondale Town Clerk Patrick Thibault for citizens interested in running for mayor or one of three board of trustee seats. Candidates must be a qualified elector of the Town, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, and must have resided in the Town of Carbondale for one consecutive year immediately prior to the date of the election, April 7. Petitions must be returned to the Town Clerk no later than 5pm on Monday, Jan. 26. The Town of Carbondale is a non-partisan body of local government, therefore, there is no party affiliation designation.
Rec updates
The Carbondale Aquatic Center is preparing for its grand opening this spring and is now hiring lifeguards, swim instructors and additional staff. Contact Aquatics and Health & Wellness Coordinator Brian Froelich at bfroelich@carbondaleco.net for details. Additionally, submissions are now being accepted for the photo or art to grace a 500-piece puzzle for the Town’s 2026 Puzzle and Pie Night contest. Multiple entries are allowed and the winning submission will receive one free team entry. Images should be an aspect ratio of 4:5 and all artwork must have a ¼-inch bleed and a resolution of 100 to 300 pixels per inch. Email your entry to bfroelich@carbondaleco.net by Jan. 25.
Historic preservation updates
As part of Carbondale’s Historic Preservation Commission’s Structure of Merit Plaque Program, seven more historic signs were posted in 2025. Applications for the 2026 program can be submitted anytime through early August online (www.bit.ly/CdaleHPC). Carbondale’s Historic Preservation Design Guidelines have a proposed update adding a chapter to inform new construction and existing building modifications in the Old Town Residential zone district. This will be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in late February or early March. Find details at www.carbondaleconnect.org
Basalt meet-and-greet
The community is invited to meet Gloria Kaasch-Buerger, the Town of Basalt’s new town manager, at CC’s Cafe (104 Midland Avenue) on Jan. 8 from 10 to 11am and/or at Starbucks in Willits (719 East Valley Road) on Jan. 16 from 9 to 10am. Alternatively, appointments can be made at www.basalt.net
National Radon Action Month
The Pitkin County and the City of Aspen are offering free radon test kits to residents during regular business hours at City Hall and the Pitkin County administrative building. Test kits are also available at CLEER and Garfield County offices. Radon is an invisible, odorless, naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter homes through cracks in floors and foundations. It is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Due to Colorado’s geology, approximately 50% of homes in the state have elevated radon levels, making testing particularly important.
Ski report
While rain came down on the floor of the Roaring Fork Valley, snow accumulated on Aspen Ski Co’s four mountains, including 12 inches at Snowmass, in a 24-hour period as of Tuesday morning. Sunlight Mountain Resort gained 6.5 inches in the same cycle, but only one lift remains open. More snow is in the forecast for Thursday.
Holy Cross Energy
The Holy Cross Energy board of directors has proposed a rate change to take effect April 1 introducing a new $1 per kilowatt demand charge for small residential and small commercial/general services members with a monthly peak demand of less than 50 kilowatts. These charges have long been part of the rate structure for large residential and large commercial/general services. Under the proposal, existing charges will increase slightly. For details, visit www.holycross.com/rates and comment before the final decision on Feb. 18.
Bennet on Venezuela
Regarding the capture of Nicolás Maduro and U.S. control of Venezuela, Senator Michael Bennet stated, “The Trump administration’s Venezuelan misadventure sets a precedent for authoritarian regimes around the world to intervene militarily under the guise of going after leaders accused of criminal conduct or simply to access valuable natural resources or critical technologies under their control.” He added, “President Trump’s continued abandonment of basic principles of international law and order eventually will reverberate against America’s national interests; the only question is when.”
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Stephen Paul (Jan. 8); Anne Hillmuth, Rick Holt, Kay Jacobson and Jim Mitton (Jan. 9); Lorraine Escue, Mary Finley, Ron Razzore, Erica Sparhawk and Jake Strack-Loertscher (Jan. 10); Kim Anne, Emily Goldfield, Crystal Holley and Nick Penzel (Jan. 11); Betsy Bingam-Johns, Michael Perez and Richard Vottero (Jan. 12); Marianne Ackerman, Chuck Bauer, Michael Hassig, Tracie Wright and Annemarie Zanca (Jan. 14).