Municipal elections
Petitions to run for election to the Carbondale Board of Trustees are now available at Town Hall and can be retrieved from Town Clerk Jessica Markham. There will be three seats available. To qualify, petitions must be turned in by Jan. 22 with 25 signatures from Carbondale residents who are registered to vote. In Basalt, three council seats and the mayoral seat are up for grabs. Basalt also requires 25 signatures, and petitions are due by 5pm on Jan. 22.
House fire
On Jan. 7 at approximately 9:12pm, the Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District (CRFPD) was dispatched to a residence on Red Dog Road for a report of a chimney fire. Upon arrival, crews found a single-family home with fire in the chimney chase and the exterior wall, put out the fire and cleared the scene by around 12:38am. CRFPD planned to return early the following morning. Around 6:05am, CRFPD was paged again to the residence. The arriving crew found fire in the chimney, on the exterior wall and in the attic. The fire had been smoldering low in the void of the wall between the insulation and exterior wall and was not visible when crews left the night before, according to a press release. CRFPD extinguished the fire and spent most of the day overhauling the structure. No loss amount has been determined at this time, but there was heavy smoke and water damage to the structure, no injuries were reported.
Resident ownership grant
The Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation (RFCDC) was awarded $280,000 over two years by the Colorado Health Foundation to support its mobile home park bridge-to-ownership pilot project. The RFCDC team will use the funds to collaborate with bilingual experts and experienced resident-owners from across the state to help guide the Three Mile Mobile Home Park project. RFCDC purchased Three Mile Mobile Home Park outside of Glenwood Springs in April 2023 from the previous longtime owners with the goal of assisting residents to purchase the park from RFCDC by 2026. For more background on this story, visit www.bit.ly/SoprisSun3MileMHP
Newcomer meal service
As of Jan. 8, migrant newcomers in Carbondale will be hosted for dinner at Crystal River Elementary School, Monday to Friday from 6 to 7pm through March 22. “We are so grateful to the folks at the Roaring Fork Schools and Crystal River Elementary School for opening their space to support the town’s response to the influx of newcomers,” said Town Manager Lauren Gister. “This is truly a community response.” To learn more about the town’s response or how to support the newcomers, visit www.bit.ly/NewcomerResponse
Snowmass Falls acquisition
On Jan. 10, the Pitkin County Commissioners approved an open space land acquisition to preserve the Snowmass Falls Ranch, 650 acres in the upper Snowmass Creek Valley. The Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (PCOST) board voted unanimously to recommend the $34 million purchase at its Jan. 4 meeting in Redstone. The ranch was purchased by Bob Perry in 1943, and remained in the care of the local ranching family for the past 80 years. The purchase price outweighs any Pitkin County land acquisition to date. PCOST applied for a three-year $10 million loan from GOCO to assist with the purchase, and ultimately hopes to transfer much of the property for inclusion in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, a press release stated.
Trump appeal
On Feb. 8, the U.S. Supreme Court will review Colorado Supreme Court’s decision that Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause. In the interim, the Colorado court stayed its decision until the U.S. Supreme Court makes its final ruling. Therefore, as of now, Donald Trump remains on Colorado’s Republican primary ballot. Colorado’s primary elections are set for Tuesday, March 5.
Re: Mountain lion(s)
Following last week’s article, “Elusive mountain lion(s) is talk of Hendrick Drive,” The Sopris Sun received surveillance footage of a mountain lion outside of a house in River Valley Ranch. The homeowner advised that residents should keep an eye on their pets.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Kim Anne, Emily Goldfield, Crystal Holley and Nick Penzel (Jan. 11); Betsy Bingam-Johns (Jan. 12); Marianne Ackerman, Chuck Bauer, Michael Hassig, Tracie Wright and Annemarie Zanca (Jan. 14); Crista Barlow and Frank Nadell (Jan. 15); Johann Aberger, Kimberlie Chenowith and Drew Walters (Jan. 16); Brenda Buchanan, Katrina Byars, Roy Rickus and Tanner Rollyson (Jan. 17).
~ C A L E N D A R ~
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11
STORYTIME
Basalt Library offers bilingual storytime for children up to 6 years old from 10:30 to 11am.
FREE LEGAL CLINIC
Basalt Library hosts volunteer attorneys for free legal advice from 2 to 5pm. To sign up, call 970-927-4311 or email info@basaltlibrary.org
CODING CLUB
Aspen Science Center invites students from 8th to 10th grade to learn Python (a coding language) at the Carbondale Library at 3:45pm.
DANCE-ASPEN
DanceAspen hosts an exclusive preview of “Cloudline” at the Aspen Art Museum’s Rooftop Café at 4pm.
FLAMENCO MUSIC
Basalt Library hosts a free evening of flamenco, jazz and world music with Denver-based ensemble Miguel Espinoza Fusion. A rhythm workshop will be hosted from 4:30 to 5:30pm followed by a concert at 6pm.
BANNED BOOK CLUB
The Banned Book Club discusses George Owell’s novel, “1984,” at the Basalt Library at 5pm.
‘ASPEN HISTORY 101’
The Aspen Historical Society presents “Aspen History 101,” a theatrical “crash course” of Aspen’s history, at 5:30pm at the Wheeler Opera House. Then, the 1993 film “Aspen Extreme,” which tells the story of two ski bums, screens at 7:30pm. This is a first-come-first-serve event.
NATURALIST NIGHTS
Did you miss the opening Naturalist Nights presentation at Roaring Fork High School? The same presentation by Taylor Rabe of the Yellowstone Wolf Project occurs tonight at Hallam Lake in Aspen at 6pm. Register at www.aspennature.org
350 ROARING FORK
350 Roaring Fork screens climate film “Bidder 70″ at the Carbondale Library at 6pm. A discussion will follow.
CRYSTAL THEATRE
The Crystal Theatre shows “The Boys in the Boat” tonight, Jan. 12, 13, 17 and 18 at 7pm. Catch an earlier screening on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 5pm.
CRYSTAL CAUCUS
January’s Crystal River Caucus meeting takes place at the Church at Redstone and over Zoom at 7pm. The Zoom ID is 817 4794 3458 and the passcode is 5GS1bq.
COMEDY
Steve’s Guitars hosts “Patio Night Live” with Beth Brandon and Miller Ford, plus a special guest, at 8pm.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12
WATER CONSORTIUM
The Colorado Produced Water Consortium hosts a state-wide public meeting over Zoom from 9am to noon. Register at www.bit.ly/COProducedWaterConsortium
‘COYOTES’
Getting back to its roots, The Artbase hosts an opening reception for “The Coyotes AKA The Backhoes” at 5pm.
MOVIE POSTER DESIGN
The opening of “Coyotes” coincides with Brian Weller ‘s Movie Poster Design workshop at The Artbase at 5pm. Register at www.theartbase.org
WINTER RETREAT
True Nature hosts its Winter Retreat, weaving together sound, yoga, ceremony, live music, delicious food and more through the weekend. The journey begins tonight at 5pm. Tickets and more info at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
DISCO
Mountain Heart Brewing hosts DJ Pinto for a Friday-night dance party from 7:30pm to “LATE.”
WINTERSKÖL
Aspen Film celebrates Wintersköl with the Aspen Chamber Resort Association by screening “Weak Layers,” a comedy that takes on the male-dominated ski industry, at the Isis Theatre at 7:30pm.
COMEDY NIGHT
Comedians Ben Roy and Christie Buchele perform stand-up at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13
PARENTING CLASS
Dr. Lisa Marr leads “Parenting the Love and Logic Way,” a two-part parenting course, at the Glenwood Church of Christ from 9am to 3pm today and again on Jan. 27. Registration and more info is at www.trailheadchristian.com/events
CONSCIOUS LOVING
Join Rita Marsh and the Center for Human Flourishing for the beginning of a six-part series exploring “The Conscious Loving Universe” at the Third Street Center from 9 to 10:30am. For details email info@tcfhf.org
VISUAL JOURNALING
Sheri Gaynor, a registered expressive arts therapist, leads a visual journaling class intended to alleviate stress at The Art Base. The first session is from 9:30 to 11:30am, and a second session is from 1 to 3pm. Register at www.theartbase.org
SPRING GULCH RAT RACE
The Mount Sopris Nordic Council revives the Spring Gulch Rat Race, which will feature 5 and 10-kilometer course options, a 3.5k for kids (10-14) and 1k for its youngest racers (10 and under). Courses will be groomed for skating, but classic skiers are still welcome to participate. Register at www.bit.ly/SpringGulchRatRace
CARING CONNECTIONS
Dede Osborn welcomes the community to a conversation for families supporting a loved one with early cognitive challenges. The group will explore resources and creative problem-solving from 10 to 11:30am at the Third Street Center.
YOUTH ART SHOW
The Aspen Chapel Gallery hosts an opening reception for its “5 X 17, Art from Five Roaring Fork Valley High Schools” exhibit at 3pm. More info at www.aspenchapelgallery.org/about
‘TOM OF FINLAND’
Ahead of Gay Ski Week, AspenOUT and Aspen Film present a special screening of “Tom of Finland” at the Isis Theatre at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenfilm.org
CONTRA DANCE
The contra dancing season is back in swing! Join this dance community with live music by the Wooden Nickel String Band at the Carbondale Community School from 7:30 to 10pm. All ages and experience levels are welcome.
THE MOTET
TACAW presents The Motet, a six-piece funk favorite, at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
BROADWAY AT THE JEROME
To kick off its first winter season, Theatre Aspen presents Sirius-XM radio host Seth Rudetsky for two nights of his “Broadway Concert Series” at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen. Tonight, Rudetsky speaks with Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller and on Jan. 15, he hosts Ana Gasteyer. Both events start at 8:30pm. Tickets at www.theatreaspen.org
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
JUST US
The Two River Unitarian Universalist congregation presents a sermon on social justice with Aaron Brown at the Third Street Center at 10am.
FAMILY SHOWING
As part of its Wintersköl series, Aspen Film screens “Abominable” at the Isis Theatre for free at 4pm. Reserve a seat at www.aspenfilm.org
SONG CIRCLE
Join Sweet Root, a local folk band, for “lullabies of the land” sung in community at the Third Street Center at 6pm.
MONDAY, JANUARY 15
MLK DAY
Various local government offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
IN STITCHES
The In Stitches Knitting Club meets at the Carbondale Library on Mondays at 1:30pm.
MINDFUL WRITING
Basalt Library hosts a workshop for aspiring writers which incorporates meditation from 5 to 6:30pm.
DAPHNE GALE
Artist Daphne Gale serenades Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Find tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16
RESHAPING ROOTS
Joanne Seongweon Lee’s solo exhibition, “Volume 1: Reshaping Roots,” is on display today through Feb. 23 at the Carbondale Clay Center. A reception will take place on First Friday, Feb. 2 at 6pm.
ARCHIVES TOUR
The Aspen Historical Society hosts a “backstage” tour of its archives and research facility, 620 West Bleeker Street, at 3pm. Register at www.aspenhistory.org
PAWS TO READ
The Carbondale Library hosts adorable therapy dogs to assist kids with reading confidence on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 3:30pm.
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club convenes at Studio10 at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17
STEM
The Aspen Science Center offers hand-on activities for kids ages 5-11 at the Basalt Library on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30pm.
‘FISH, FLOWS & FLEXIBILITY’
David Graf, the in stream flow coordinator for the Upper Colorado River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ruedi Water and Power Authority Executive Director April Long present “ Fish, Flows and Flexibility: How Ruedi Reservoir Helps Multiple Species Survive and Thrive,” at the Basalt Library at 5pm. Register at www.roaringfork.org/events
PARADISE PARADOX
The Carbondale Library shows a documentary highlighting mental health challenges in mountain resort towns at 6pm.