Colorado Grand in Bonedale
LIFT-UP was selected as the nonprofit in Carbondale to host the 37th annual Colorado Grand vintage sports car rally when it comes through town this Thursday morning, Sept. 17, between 8:30 and 10:30am on 4th Street. The annual event raises over $800,000 each year for nonprofits and scholarships along the 1,000-mile route through the Rockies, according to a press release from LIFT-UP. For details on Colorado Grand, visit co1000.com
Questions for candidates
The Glenwood Springs and Colorado River Valley chambers are hosting a regional candidate forum on Monday, Sept. 28, from 6 to 8:15pm at the Ute Theater in Rifle, and are soliciting questions from constituents ahead of time. Candidates for the Garfield County commissioner, Colorado House District 57 and Senate District 8 seats have been invited to participate. KMTS News Director Ron Milhorn will moderate, and the CoWest Noticias News Collaborative, a cohort of local news outlets providing content for the Spanish-language newspaper Sol del Valle, is sponsoring the forum. Interpretation will be provided, as well as streaming access courtesy of Rifle TV. Community questions must be submitted by Sept. 23 at 5pm. For details or to submit a question for the candidates, visit glenwoodchamber.com/forums
Interstate fatalities
Two teenagers — Kyle McKinney, 17 of Glenwood Springs, and Reese Allen, 18 of Silt — tragically passed away following a head-on collision on Interstate 70 near Rifle during the early hours of Sunday morning, Sept. 13, according to the Garfield County Coroner’s Office. Both young people were the drivers of their respective vehicles. The office made a preliminary determination the manner of death was an accident. “The coroner’s office team extends our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Kyle and Reese,” the office said in a press release.
Humanitarian awards
Garfield County honored community volunteers and human services workers for their “selfless contributions” during the 2026 Humanitarian Awards dinner at the Hotel Colorado on Monday, Sept. 14. Frank McSwain Sr. won the “Knows No Stranger Award,” Michelle McCurdy won the “Art in Service Award” and Jack Oulund won the “Heart of Gold Award.”
RFSD literacy
The Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) invites the public to review and provide feedback on K-8 literacy curriculum options, as it plans to incorporate a fresh approach next school year. The district narrowed down 20 prospective curriculums to a final three: 1) Savvas: myView Literacy/Mi visión and myPerspectives, 2) Amplify: CKLA/Caminos and ELA, and 3) American Reading Company: ARC Core and Fusion. The public can access the materials for each option from 9am to 4pm Mondays through Fridays until Sept. 23 in the Colorado Room of the District Office at 400 Sopris Ave. in Carbondale. The district’s goal is to recommend a curriculum to the Board of Education by Nov. 20.
Valley Health Alliance
After 10 years, the Aspen School District (ASD) recently rejoined the Valley Health Alliance (VHA), an organization building “partnerships that improve care and lower healthcare costs for communities from Aspen to Parachute,” a press release stated. ASD was one of the founding members of the alliance, which was created in 2014. “Having ASD back in the fold means a great deal to us,” said Chris McDowell, executive director of VHA. “They helped shape what this coalition stands for from day one, and their return is a powerful reminder of the lasting value of the work we do together.” Learn more about VHA at ourvha.org
Sustainable solar
Holy Cross Energy (HCE) members who make below 80% of their county’s area median income can apply for the utility’s Sustainable Solar lottery. The lottery will help those chosen save up to 50% of their locally-generated solar electric bills for the next two years. “Sustainable Solar gives members with lower household incomes an opportunity to benefit from local solar bill credits without the expense or trouble of installing panels on their home,” said Jenna Weatherred, HCE vice president of Member and Community Relations. Credits will be rolled out beginning in February 2027. Visit holycross.com/sustainable-solar to learn more and enter the lottery.
They say it’s your birthday!
Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Vanessa Anthes, Smith Blanchard, Eric Gross, Dani Grace Kopf, Lori Meraz, Ken Olson and Bob Stein (Sept. 17); Jackson Burcham, Coral Eva Froning, Frosty Merriott and Nancy Payne (Sept. 18); Kenny Hopper (Sept. 19); Wylie Chenoweth, Maria Judith Alvarez Quiroz, Marty Garfinkel, Josh Smith and Ralph Young (Sept. 20); Frances Castillo, Karen Funk Ireland and Bianca Ortega (Sept. 21); Cheryl Cain, Betsy Browning, Nancy Helser and Dawson Kuhl (Sept. 22); Cathy Derby, Barbara Dills, Oliver Goddard, Kent Jones, Jerome Osentowski, Julia Hortenstine and Luke Wander (Sept. 23).