Good Earth, a Carbondale-based landscape and maintenance company, is hosting a holiday food drive in partnership with Lift-Up. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 23 and during Good Earth’s holiday market and open house on Dec. 6 from 1 to 6pm at 12744 Highway 82 (formerly the location of Planted Earth). People who donate to the food drive will receive 20% off holiday market items. Pictured: Jonathan Aigner, Good Earth’s seasonal maintenance and snow removal manager, and Ben Blake have been hard at work wrapping Christmas trees for local delivery. Courtesy photo

Spruce up The Sun
It’s that time of year! Youth, preschool through high school, are invited to submit artwork relating to this year’s theme — “Holiday Harmony” — for the exquisite chance of gracing our Dec. 18 cover. Entries can be emailed to news@soprissun.com or dropped off at the submissions box outside of The Launchpad (76 South 4th Street, Carbondale). Submissions should be on 8.5” by 11” paper and not include glitter. Please include the artist’s name, age, grade and school on the back. Artwork is due by Dec. 12. Happy holidays! 

Free meal
Nobody gets left out in the cold this Thanksgiving. Stop by the Faith Lutheran Church in Carbondale (1340 Highway 133) between 11am and 1pm for a free Thanksgiving Day meal sponsored by Carbondale Homeless Assistance.

RFOV update
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) concluded its 30th season with record-high community impact. This year, 1,996 unique volunteers helped RFOV staff and partners contribute 14,768 hours of stewardship on local public lands. This involved over 230 days of work at 80 project sites in four counties; 675 trees planted; over a mile of fencing removed; and 15 acres of invasive species cleared. The Young Stewards Program reached 1,499 students, resulting in 3,286 hours across 26 projects.

RFTA Zero-Fare
The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority’s pilot Zero-Fare October-November program concludes this Sunday, Nov. 30. Regular fare will resume Dec. 1 and data from the experiment will be reported at the RFTA Board of Directors meeting in January. 

GarCo airport
Garfield County is seeking community input on its plan in development for the future of the Rifle Garfield County Airport with an open house on Dec. 4 from 4:30 to 6pm. Learn more at www.rifleairport.com

Congrats, Kara!
The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners has selected Kara Silbernagel to serve as interim county manager following the departure of longtime county manager Jon Peacock. Silbernagel joined the county in 2014 and recently served as deputy county manager. This appointment supports a smooth transition as county commissioners determine next steps for filling the permanent role. 

Christmas trees
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the White River National Forest Service are issuing permits for folks who want the full experience of harvesting a Christmas tree. BLM permits cost between $8-10 and can be purchased online at www.tinyurl.com/BLMtrees or at a local field office. Forest Service permits can also be purchased at a Ranger’s station or online at www.tinyurl.com/FSxmastrees 

Motororized closures
The Bureau of Land Management will close access for motorized and mechanized (mountain biking) use from Dec. 1 to April 15 at various recreational areas across the Colorado River Valley Field Office region, including: the southside of Basalt Mountain, Fisher Creek-Cattle Creek, The Crown, the northside of Red Hill, Thompson Creek and more. The intent is to reduce disturbances to wildlife, protect natural resources and reduce damage to roads. For a full list of closures, visit www.tinyurl.com/CRFOclosures 

Shoshone
The Colorado Water Conservation Board voted last week to approve the Shoshone water rights acquisition, securing two water rights associated with the Shoshone Power Plant, including one of the state’s most significant on the Colorado River. This vote launches the next stage of the process, including water court. 

Marijuana revenue
The Colorado Department of Revenue recently released figures on marijuana sales and tax revenue. In September 2025 tax and fee revenue topped $20 million. The industry has raised over $3 billion in cumulative tax revenue collected since January 2014.

They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Alice Steindler (Nov. 27); Richard Fuller and Paul Hassel (Nov. 28); Naomi Pulver and Kat Rich (Nov. 29); Chuck Dorn, Stephen Horn and Kat Lieblick (Nov. 30); Sadie Dickinson, Jim Harris and Marcel Kahhak (Dec. 1); Ted Brochet, Sierra Palmer, Elizabeth Robinson, Deva Shantay and Paul Stover (Dec. 2); Skip Doty, Hannah Feder, Rebecca Murphy and Rochelle Norwood (Dec. 3).