Ag loan
The 2Forks Club is accepting new applicants for zero-interest loans designated for community farmers and food entrepreneurs growing capacity, improving infrastructure and advancing regenerative practices. Applications are due Oct. 28 at 5pm. Find details and information on joining the 2Forks Club to help strengthen our local food economy at www.thefarmcollaborative.org/2forks
Free RFTA
During the months of October and November, passengers can ride all Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) routes for free (excluding Maroon Bells shuttle services). This program is intended to make transit more accessible and advance RFTA’s sustainability goals. Learn more at www.rfta.com/zerofare
Election Guide
Aspen Public Radio’s 2025 Election Guide is now live at www.aspenpublicradio.org with details about state and local races as well as ballot issues for Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties. The guide will be updated if new information becomes available until Nov. 4 and also includes information on how to vote.
Bikes fighting malaria
The Carbondale Rotary Club is hosting a family bike-a-thon to fight malaria, Oct. 11 from 10am to 1:30pm, beginning at Hooks Bridge in Basalt and concluding at Ironbridge, east of Glenwood Springs. This 15-mile, downhill bike ride will raise money so frontline health workers in Africa can obtain bicycles to reach remote villages with insecticide-treated netting, vaccines and education. The goal is to raise $5,000! To register, visit go.rallyup.com/bikes-for-bikes or call 970-948-5360.
Wildfire grant
The Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley received a competitive grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program for $865,009 to “support the Glenwood Springs Wildfire Mitigation and Home Resilience Project, aimed at reducing wildfire risk, enhancing community preparedness and protecting critical infrastructure in specific high-risk areas,” including 3 Mile Mobile Home Park, according to a press release. Since its inception, the Wildfire Collaborative has obtained $5.4 million in wildfire resiliency grant funding for the Roaring Fork watershed. This funding is largely used for landscape-scale fuel reduction projects.
Mobile Market
Lift-Up received a $20,000 matching grant from the Western Colorado Community Foundation that’ll go towards the purchase of a truck that can haul the nonprofit’s new Mobile Market, which currently only serves the Silt community, to other areas of need. Lift-Up’s goal is to raise $60,000 for a truck that can expand the service up valley, and is inviting the community to contribute. For more information, email development@liftup.org To donate, visit www.liftup.org/donate
Bipartisan rescue
Both of Colorado’s U.S. senators and all of its representatives in the House sent a letter to President Donald Trump in support of Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Rio Blanco County. The Lee and Elk wildfires and subsequent debris flows and mud slides in the county resulted in the destruction of homes, transportation infrastructure, thousands of acres of rangeland and damage to oil and gas and rural electricity infrastructure. The declaration would open up additional loans, insurance relief and other critical assistance, according to a joint press release.
Wheatley Open Space
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is leasing 19 acres of irrigated agricultural land near the Highway 82 turnoff toward Snowmass at $25 per acre. Proposals are due by 4pm on Oct. 27. There is also a mandatory pre-proposal meeting and site visit on Friday, Oct. 17 at 10am. More information is available at www.bit.ly/WheatleyRFP
Cañon City wild horses
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 40-year-old Cañon City Wild Horse Holding Facility and Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP) are shutting down. The Colorado Department of Corrections announced late last month that WHIP will “tentatively conclude at the end of November.” A BLM spokesman told The Sopris Sun that 2,073 wild horses are in holding at the facility, 100 of which are from Colorado herds. Wild horse support groups such as Grand Junction-based Friends of the Mustangs are stepping up to help train and adopt out the Colorado horses. BLM said the remaining mustangs will be shipped to holding facilities in Wheatland, Wyoming or Axtell, Utah.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Ray Alexander, Josh Behrman, Tracy Kallassy, Bill Rice, Meddi Shaw, Megan Webber and Renee West (Oct. 2); Cole Fenton, Shannon O’Gara, Daniella Stanley Kline, Kate Schwerin and Kevin Steuben (Oct. 3); Matt Koenigsknecht, Jill Rubin and Mac Scott (Oct. 4); Lisa Girardot, Morgan Neely, Jessi Rochel and Tami Stroud (Oct. 5); Bill Anschuetz, Christi Couch and Matthew Roeser (Oct. 6); Bob Burns, Iliana Rentería and Camille Vogt (Oct. 7); Jody Ensign, Lani Kitching and Bo Persiko (Oct. 8).
~ C A L E N D A R ~
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2
AMANITA MUSCARIA
Learn about the mushroom Amanita Muscaria’s cultural and medicinal legacy with Hamilton Pevec of the Western Colorado Mycological Association at Aspen Shakti (535 East Hyman Avenue, Aspen) at 5pm.
RFSD CANDIDATES
Roaring Fork Schools and the Roaring Fork Community Education Association host a forum with RFSD Board of Education candidates Jodi Barr, Tamara Nimmo, Elizabeth Taylor and Kathryn Kuhlenberg at the District Office in Carbondale at 6pm.
MEN’S GROUP
HeadQuarters offers a men’s group exploring “the inner knowing” at 6pm. For details visit www.headq.org
‘THE WAY’
The Aspen Chapel launches its second annual free Sacred Cinema series with “The Way” starring Martin Sheen at 6pm. More info at www.aspenchapel.org
SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB
The Carbondale Library hosts its twice monthly Spanish Conversation Club for beginner and intermediate Spanish learners from 6:30 to 8pm.
‘THE GREAT GATSBY’
In celebration of this year’s Potato Day theme, “The Grate Spudsby,” The Crystal Theatre screens the 2013 version of “The Great Gatsby” at 7pm.
WILD & SCENIC FILM FEST
The Middle Colorado Watershed Council presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue at 7pm with a live auction and door prizes. Tomorrow, the film festival will travel to the Ute Theater in Rifle with complimentary admission for Re-2 and Re-16 students and teachers. Tickets at www.midcowatershed.org/filmfest
STATE OF REAL ESTATE
TACAW hosts a free panel on the demand for commercial real estate with Forum Investment Group, a Denver-based boutique investment management firm, at 7:30pm. RSVP at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
ADDICTION SYMPOSIUM
A Way Out hosts its annual addiction breakfast symposium at TACAW from 8am to 1pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
‘YOUR STORY, YOUR LIFE’
Hone your journaling and writing skills in a welcoming group setting at the Glenwood Springs Library from 10am to noon every first Friday.
GENEALOGY GROUP
The Glenwood Genealogy Group meets at their hometown library from noon to 1:30pm.
‘LARRY DAY, HA HA HA’
The Art Base hosts an opening reception for “Larry Day, Ha Ha Ha” from 5 to 7pm.
FIRST FRIDAY
Carbondale Arts hosts October’s First Friday, 5 to 9pm, which includes three exhibition openings at The Carbondale Arts Gallery, from 5 to 7pm with artist talks at 5:30pm, live music at Chacos Park, featuring Ted Zislis (5-6pm) and Beep Bop Boop (6-8pm) and much more. Main Street between Weant Boulevard and Third Street will be closed to traffic. Carbondale wants to know what you love and might want to improve about First Friday celebrations; find a survey at www.tinyurl.com/CarbondaleFirstFriday
HARVEST CELEBRATION
In light of Potato Day, the Carbondale Historical Society hosts a harvest celebration at True Nature’s Peace Garden with music by Natalie Spears, local beverages and farm-fresh foods from 5 to 9pm. Tickets at www.bit.ly/CHSharvest
‘PLAYFUL POTTERY’
Main Street Gallery & The Framer hosts a reception for ceramicist Shana Salaff’s exhibit, “Playful Pottery,” from 6 to 8pm.
AVIATION GALA
Aspen Flight Academy hosts its Aviation Gala at the Atlantic Aviation hangar at the Aspen Airport at 6pm. All proceeds benefit Aspen Flight Academy’s scholarship programs. RSVP at www.aspenflightacademy.org/gala
GHOST WALK
The Glenwood Springs Historical Society guides a Ghost Walk at the Linwood Cemetery every half hour from 6:30 to 8:30pm Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 18. Register at www.glenwoodhistory.org/ghostwalk
SOUND HEALING
True Nature co-founders Deva and Eaden Shantay present “Connecting Through Sound” from 7 to 8:30pm in the Kiva as a standalone part of the RECONNECT retreat. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
‘RALLY THE VALLEY’
The “Rally the Valley” fundraising event, supporting the Mountain Valley and Aspen-Basalt mobile home park communities in their bid for resident ownership, takes place at the Third Street Center at 6:30pm. RSVP at tinyurl.com/RFVRally
CRYSTAL THEATRE
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” continues today and tomorrow at 7pm with a captioned show Sunday at 5pm. Catch “Army of Darkness,” a 1992 sci-fi, fantasy comedy, on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 7pm.
‘THE SECRETARY’
Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of “The Secretary” opens at 7:30pm tonight and continues for three weekends with Thursday through Saturday showings at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets at www.thunderrivertheatre.com
P!NK EXPERIENCE
The Ute Theater in Rifle presents “Glitter in the Air: The Ultimate P!NK Experience” — a Denver-based tribute band accompanied by aerial silk performers — from 8 to 11pm. Tickets at www.utetheater.com
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
PRE-TATO PROMENADE
Ahead of the Potato Day festivities, Aspen Valley Land Trust welcomes all to take a stroll at Coffman Ranch and learn about the land’s history from 8 to 9:30am. Register at www.avlt.org/potato
POTATO DAY
While Potato Days spans the weekend, the main event is always the first Saturday in October. At 8:30am, the Carbondale Rotary Club serves pancakes at Chacos Park, followed by Ross Montessori’s Fun Run there at 9am, the Potato Day parade on Main Street at 10:30am and the Community Harvest Lunch at 11:15am in Sopris Park. Vendors and the famous cowboy coffee will be open at the park starting at 9am, and music starts at 11am, culminating in a Community Contra Dance at 3pm in front of the Gazebo. For a detailed schedule, see page 4 of this week’s paper. Happy Potato Day!
RFOV AT RIFLE FALLS
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers conducts a 30th Anniversary Commemorative Project at Rifle Falls from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Sign up at www.rfov.org
MOSAICS WORKSHOP
Design and craft your own mosaic serving tray at The Art Base from 9am to 12:30pm. Registration at www.theartbase.org
SKI SWAP
Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club’s annual ski swap event takes place at Willits Town Center from 9am to 2pm. Over 30 vendors and individual sellers will offer great deals on sports equipment, soft goods and accessories.
OCTOBERFEST
The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park hosts October festivities this and next Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
ALPENGLOW
Alpenglow, Glenwood Springs’ independent bookstore, celebrates one year in operation with giveaways, snacks and more. Stop by between 11am and 8pm.
HARVEST PARTY
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies’ family-friendly fall fundraiser takes place at Rock Bottom Ranch from 11am to 5pm. Tickets at www.aspennature.org
‘CONNECT TO THIS MOMENT’
Join renowned author Elena Brower for “Quieting Asana and Zen Meditation” at True Nature from 2 to 4pm as a standalone part of the RECONNECT retreat. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
AFRICAN DANCE
Aspen Dance Connection welcomes Maputo Mensah, director of the Logo Ligi dance troupe, for a free drum class (4 to 5:15pm) and dance class (5:30 to 6:45pm) at the Glenwood Springs Library.
NOCHE LATINA
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the City of Glenwood Springs hosts Noche Latina, featuring family activities (4 to 6pm) and live music by Son de la Zona (6 to 9pm), at Bethel Plaza.
LOCALS NIGHT LIVE
Belly Up Aspen welcomes local musicians Tristan Trincado and Grayson Ratliff for a performance beginning at 8:30pm.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
SELF REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP
The Self Realization Fellowship hosts its monthly Sunday meditation circle, based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, at True Nature from 9 to 10:30am. Details at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
‘PADDLE PALOOZA’
HeadQuarters hosts a pickleball tournament benefitting The Mental Health Fund at the courts in Carbondale beginning at 9am. Details at www.headq.org/event/paddle-palooza
INSTANT GRATIFICATION
A Spiritual Center explores “meeting our needs easily while affecting personal growth and relationships” with Katia Fernandinho at the Third Street Center (Room 31) from 10 to 11:30am.
CATRINA WORKSHOP
Livier Cruz Guerrero guides a free skeleton-puppet making workshop from 10am to 3pm ahead of the Día de los Muertos celebration in November. All are welcome.
CELEBRATING SHARILL
The family of Sharill Hawkins welcomes her friends to share memories at Four Mile Creek Bed and Breakfast (6471 County Road 117) beginning at 2pm.
‘CONNECT THROUGH YIN’
Deva Shantay guides a transformational Yin yoga experience at True Nature from 2 to 4pm. Register at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
IMMIGRANT STORIES
Garfield County Libraries presents “Our Stories, Our Strengths: Immigrant Stories” at the Rifle Library from 2 to 7pm. The Logo Ligi and Ngoma dance troupes will perform.
SHORT FILMS
Aspen Film partners with the Basalt Library to screen five short films highlighting “family, love, loss, resilience and magic,” with special guest Eric Mead, a magician and actor, from 3 to 4:30pm. This event is free, family-friendly and open to the public.
‘WIND IN THE WILLOWS’
The Wheeler Opera House invites families to “Wind in the Willows,” a theatrical adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s children’s novel, at 3pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
ART OF CONVERSATION
Pick up a meaningful conversation with a stranger at the Carbondale Library from 6 to 7:30pm.
BREATHWORK
In partnership with Pathfinders, Allison Alexander facilitates a free breathwork session at True Nature from 6 to 7:30pm. RSVP at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
ECSTATIC DANCE
This month’s ecstatic dance at 13 Moons Ranch (6334 Highway 133) features DJ Alejandra Rico from 6 to 8pm. Questions? Contact alyahowe@me.com
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
7B DISCUSSION
The Basalt Library hosts a presentation covering its proposed 7B ballot measure from noon to 1pm.
TOTE PAINTING
Basalt Library celebrates Banned Books Week with a tote bag painting event from 4 to 6pm.
CENSORSHIP DISCUSSION
Garfield County Public Library District Executive Director Jamie LaRue talks about attempts to restrict or eliminate access to library resources with a community discussion at the New Castle Library from 6 to 7pm.
CONSENSUAL IMPROV
Consensual Improv hosts a five-week improv comedy workshop beginning today and meeting Mondays at 6:30pm. The workshop includes registration for the One-Night Stand jam performance on Nov. 3. Registration at www.tacaw.org
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
LIBRARIES CLOSED
All six branches of the Garfield County Libraries will be closed for staff training. You can still browse and request materials online at www.gcpld.org
‘THE LIBRARIANS’
Garfield County Libraries screens a new documentary, “The Librarians,” for free at the Ute Theater in Rifle at 6pm.
ACTING WORKSHOP
Graham Northrup teaches “Acting for the Camera,” a six-part interactive workshop on Tuesdays at TACAW at 6:30pm beginning today. Register at www.tacaw.org
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club hangs out at The Art Base beginning at 6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
LATINE ART
Anderson Ranch hosts a panel on cultural identity and representation with artists and educators Steven Molina Contreras and Carla Fernández at 3pm.
CHILI COOK-OFF
The Colorado River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 46th annual Chili Cook-Off takes place at 1001 Railroad Avenue in Rifle from 5:30 to 8:30pm.
BANNED BOOK SPEAKEASY
Basalt Library hosts a panel on censorship in public libraries from 6 to 7:30pm.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
NONFICTION BOOK CLUB
Discuss any science-themed nonfiction book you’re reading with other bookworms at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 3:30pm.
BANNED BOOK CLUB
Basalt Library’s Banned Book Club discusses “We Are the Ants” by Shaun David Hutchinson from 4 to 5pm.
WRITING WORKSHOP
Local writers are invited to learn and grow alongside fellow wordsmiths at the Glenwood Springs library from 5 to 7pm.
‘WHAT LIES BENEATH’
Historical fiction author Eilene Lyon discusses local history and her second book, “What Lies Beneath Colorado: Pioneer Graveyards and Cemeteries,” at the Glenwood Springs Library at 6:30pm.
KIRK SIEGLER
Award-winning broadcast journalist Kirk Siegler speaks at the Crystal Theatre at 6:30pm as a benefit for the KDNK news department. Tickets at www.tinyurl.com/SieglerKDNK
‘THE LINDWORM’
The ReMemberers present “The Lindworm,” a musical and mythical performance of a traditional Nordic folk tale, at True Nature at 7pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
THE VIBE SOCIAL
McMission presents a lineup of local beat makers at Bonedale Tattoo (818 Industry Place) from 4:30 to 9pm.
‘26 PEBBLES’
Sopris Theatre Company presents “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa at Colorado Mountain College’s New Space Theatre (3000 Co Rd 114) at 7pm. The show continues with Friday and Saturday showings at 7pm and 2pm Sunday matinees through Oct. 19.
ZIKR
Zikr Dance Ensemble returns to the Ute Theater in Rifle with “Ritual,” a piece from internationally acclaimed choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.utetheater.com
STEVE’S GUITARS
Amy Speace performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
VALHALLA VIKING FEST
The Rifle Library displays a replica Viking longship and teaches all about Viking-era tools, instruments, culture and more with the Shire of Draca Mor from 11am to 4pm.
‘LAUGH YOUR TAIL OFF’
Journey Home Animal Shelter hosts its “Laugh Your Tail Off” fundraiser in Atlantic Aviation’s hangar at the Rifle Airport, featuring comedian Mike Winfield, food and drinks from Miner’s Claim and silent and live auctions, from 6 to 9:30pm. Tickets at https://bit.ly/4ff7OJj
ADDIE TONIC
Addie Tonic, a high-octane, alt-rock band from Denver, performs at Steve’s Guitars at 8pm. Tickets at www.stevesguitars.net
HONKY TONK AT TACAW
The Highway 82 Band performs at TACAW at 8:30pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org