Archive

  • Locations: News Published

    Meet Pa Fig: Hat-shaper with worldwide clientele

    By WB

    Special to The Sopris Sun

    Pa Fig, hat-shaper, has laid hands on more than 10,000 hats for clients all over the world. Discretion prohibits mention of his more notable customers, but Carbondale’s crowned heads are quietly finding their way to Pa’s stand, which he sets up around… read more →

  • Locations: News Published

    Music festival finding its niche

    By Lynn Burton

    Sopris Sun Staff Writer

    It started with a borrowed Aspen Earthmoving flatbed truck at Fourth and Main, and a handful of local musicians on a summer Saturday in 2001.

    The next year the Mountain Music Fair expanded to two days to accommodate more players… read more →

  • Locations: News Published

    Tourism council promotes C’dale on a shoe-string

    Submitted article

    The town of Carbondale — all its history and diversity, outdoor recreation, arts and culture — is promoted through the Tourism Council, a tentacle under the jellyfish auspices of the Chamber of Commerce.

    The Tourism Council of Carbondale (TCC) recently unveiled its summer marketing campaign to encompass… read more →

  • Locations: News Published

    Is Carbondale shovel-ready?

    How a small town is balancing the need for a boost from ‘The Stim’

    By Trina Ortega

    While many small town mayors are scrambling to get their communities a piece of the stimulus pie, Carbondale Mayor Michael Hassig is not so quick to grab taxpayer money for hastily… read more →

  • Locations: News Published

    New committee to brainstorm ideas for affordable housing

    By Jeremy Heiman

    Looking for a way to spend all that spare time? The Town of Carbondale is calling for residents to volunteer for a housing committee being formed this spring to brainstorm ways to fund and create more affordable housing.

    The Carbondale Board of Trustees will appoint committee… read more →

  • Locations: News Published

    Why is RFSD considering changing course?

    As Chief Academic Officer of the Roaring Fork School District, Dr. Rob Stein has spearheaded the monumental task of bringing our communities together to create an inspiring new vision for our schools. The task that lies ahead — actually bringing that vision to fruition — is even more daunting. Stein, who led an extraordinary transformation of Denver’s Manual High School after it was closed as a low-performing school, has the experience and expertise needed to take on that task. He is not afraid to ask tough questions and to be asked tough questions by others. His responses always cut to the chase. He has an exceptional ability to think outside the box and find innovative solutions. So why has the school board, with two newly appointed (not elected) board members, suddenly decided to change course and consider extending Dr. Diana Sirko’s contract after it expires this spring? The next board meeting is less than three weeks away, including Thanksgiving break during which the school district is closed for an entire week. I urge the school board to give the public more than this short time frame to weigh in on this critical matter. read more →
  • Locations: News Published

    Infill redevelopment project on Sopris riles neighbors

    A proposed new four-plex at the corner of Second Street and Sopris Avenue has churned up considerable resistance among some neighbors of the project, including an accusation by one critic that the owner of the property was engaging in “class warfare” in her remarks at a recent public hearing. The four-plex, if approved, would be built at 191 Sopris, on the site of an existing 2,600-square-foot, one-story, single family home, most recently owned and occupied by long time local resident Harold Leonard but now owned by 13-year local resident Kim Kelley and a development company, Sopris Properties LLC. read more →
  • Locations: News Published

    Long simmering trash talk reaching a boiling point

    The multifaceted questions surrounding the issue of trash pickup in Carbondale, debated for five years now, may finally be headed toward resolution following a decision Tuesday night that it is time for the town’s board of trustees to get to work on an actual ordinance on the topic rather than simply calling for more discussion. The actual work, however, is not likely to start until December at the earliest, and perhaps not until some time after the new year begins. read more →
  • Locations: News Published

    Ridin’ the roundabout: Some ins and outs

    From the outside looking in, the new roundabout can look pretty intimidating — yes, even scary — as a cyclist. But once you know and follow the rules of the road, navigating the roundabout is manageable. Now that the roundabout is open and northbound Highway 133 has through paths and an appropriately sized and marked shoulder, there’s no longer a need to avoid the Highway 133/Main Street intersection or overshoot and double-back on your cycling commute to City Market. That said, I admit I was not excited about cycling into the roundabout the first time. Traffic is constantly moving, and even weeks after it opened, it seemed some drivers were still learning how to get in and out of the roundabout. read more →
  • Locations: News Published

    “Into the Deep” brings rare images to surface

    Local commercial photographer Tyler Stableford has had a dream project in mind for quite awhile. The fine-art project that has teased his imagination and surfaced frequently was really, really LARGE and challenging. Then in late August after mentally testing the waters for a few years, he finally put together his dream team and plunged in. Fortunately for us here in Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley, the public will have the opportunity to check out the images that were created out of his labor of love at a reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Phat Thai in downtown Carbondale. The reception will feature seven large, fine-art prints that Stableford and his Co-Director Kate Rolston photographed during their journey “Into the Deep.” read more →