Election results
A new mayor is in town. Finishing her second term on the Carbondale Board of Trustees, Erica Sparhawk was elected as Carbondale’s next mayor Tuesday evening, winning the election against Patricia Savoy, who was a newcomer to Carbondale politics. Sparhawk is set to take the reins from outgoing mayor Ben Bohmfalk. “The vote of confidence from the community is really, really huge for me,” Sparhawk said at the Carbondale election party Tuesday night. Two incumbents and one newcomer took the three open trustee seats. Incumbents Colin Laird and Chris Hassig were reelected, while Kade Gianinetti will see his first time on the board, taking the place of Sparhawk. In Basalt, incumbent Angela Anderson was reelected to town council. She is joined by Elyse Hottel and Greg Shaffran to fill the three open seats.
Staircase Park
Staircase Park in Carbondale is closed due to the wooden stringers holding the stairs in place having rotted out from underneath, according to Parks & Rec Director Eric Brendlinger. “So, it is unable to be repaired,” he continued. “We are looking at some different solutions and potentially a material change for longevity’s sake.” There is currently no estimated timing for repair or the park’s reopening, as the staircase is the only entry point.
Bonedale spring cleanup
Mark your calendars! The Town of Carbondale will host its annual spring cleanup and recycling event on Saturday, May 2 from 8am to 2pm. General household purgings (think furniture and mattresses), metal, wood and freon refrigerators/freezers are to go to the lot across 4th Street from Town Hall; electronic waste will go to the parking lot behind Town Hall; and tires can be taken to the dirt lot next to Thunder River Theatre. Fees apply for some items, and vary depending on residency. Proof of residency will be required for discounts. For details, visit tinyurl.com/BonedaleCleanup
Open space
Aspen Valley Land Trust announced on Monday, April 26 that Colorado Mountain College conserved the 3.5-acre Smith-Duffy parcel in downtown Glenwood Springs. “Projects like this help ensure that as Glenwood Springs grows and changes, the places that bring people together remain part of daily life,” the land trust wrote in a press release.
Caddie props
Three local high school students, and caddies of the Roaring Fork Club, were awarded full-rides for college tuition and housing through the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship: Roaring Fork Ram Brook Fullerton and Basalt Longhorns Javier Hernandez and Dylan Johnston. Following a day of interviews at the Denver Country Club in January, 15 young caddies from Colorado were selected, including these three bright young men. For details about the Evans Scholarship, founded in 1930, visit wgaesf.org/a-life-changing-opportunity
Community Grants
The Western Colorado Community Foundation will open the application window for 2026 Community Grants on April 13. The funding serves to “stabilize critical programs that deliver food, housing, health and safety services to vulnerable populations,” amid the federal funding shortfall, a press release stated. Those applying for grants must submit a letter of interest on the foundation’s portal by May 15 to meet the initial deadline. For more information, visit wc-cf.org/community-grants/
Oil & gas lease sales
The Bureau of Land Management is gearing up for yet another oil and gas lease sale in Colorado. The agency plans to lease 31 parcels, or more than 17,000 acres, in September across five counties on the West Slope and two on the Front Range, including more than 3,100 acres in Garfield County. In a late-March quarterly lease sale, as reported by the Post Independent, 68 parcels, covering more than 42,500 acres in seven West Slope counties and two on the Front Range, generated close to $8.1 million for the federal government. A substantially larger lease sale is set for June, exposing 174 parcels covering more than 160,000 acres between two Front Range counties and six on the West Slope, including Garfield. To comment on the September lease sale, visit bit.ly/4dzAONm
Fire safety
The Glenwood Springs Fire Department issued a public service announcement on April 1 regarding elevated wildfire risk. All open permits were canceled and won’t be issued again until the winter, the department said. “Pay close attention to red flag days in addition to staged fire restriction measures,” it added. To help prevent fires, ensure trailer chains are not dragging on the road, keep smoking materials inside and do yard work in the morning. “Any activity that produces a spark or flame needs to be closely monitored,” the department said. It advised individuals to have an evacuation plan for family and pets and sign up for emergency alerts at glenwoodfire.com
GarCo Republicans
The Garfield County Republican Central Committee is looking for volunteers as they prepare for the upcoming State Assembly, Garfield County Republicans Chairman Spencer Thomas announced in an email. The assembly will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, in Pueblo. To volunteer, visit bit.ly/3PUY3aO
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Janet Ferrara, Hannah Hunt Wander and Ciara Morrison (April 9); Suzanne Lavin, Herschel Ross and Marty Treadway (April 10); Krys Greenwood and Iris Nott (April 11); Brandon McDuffey and Susan Shirley (April 12); Dan Bullock, Diane Kenney, Nicole Levesque, Brad Moore, Jane Munsell, Vicki Peterson and Bill Shepherd (April 13); James Armstrong, Dino Baldizan, Ed Brown, Mark Giesecke and Roberta McGowan (April 14); Aisha Weinhold, Deloras Pulver and KDNK (April 15).