For many, 2025 was a challenging year. Institutions, identities, entire industries were foundationally rocked. Notably, the list of obituaries was exceptionally long and included many community staples. For months, there were protests nearly every week. From outer instability, we were challenged to draw on inner strength and the Roaring Fork Valley rose to the occasion. […]
Larry Day
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: ‘Merry Christmas to the Sheriff’s office’
Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting was the last one of 2025. First up was an anti-climactic presentation on mill levies for the 2026 budget year. Juby Cummings of the county assessor’s office requested certification of mill levies, but did not have the exact numbers. “We are waiting on five certifications of mill levies from […]
Posted inNews
Basalt Police Department deploys AI technology to save time doing reports, paperwork
Christmas came rather early for the Basalt Police Department (BPD) this year. For about the past few weeks, the midvalley law enforcement agency has been using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help its patrol officers knock out otherwise time-consuming paperwork. Called Code Four, an AI assistant launched eight months ago by 19-year-old MIT dropouts George […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Santa says, ‘You gotta be nice’
The first of December brought snow to the Roaring Fork Valley but it did not bring public comments to the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. For the first time in a few weeks, no one had anything to say that wasn’t on the agenda. Not even about the upcoming library board of trustees interviews (which […]
Posted inNews
Sopris Sun brings Thomas Friedman to TACAW
UPDATE: Due to a personal emergency, Thomas Friedman is unable to make his annual holiday trip to the Valley this year. Tickets purchased for the Dec. 23 “Coffee with Tom Friedman” event will be promptly refunded. The Sopris Sun and TACAW look forward to rescheduling a talk with Mr. Friedman later in 2026, as schedules […]
Posted inColumns
Dream Well: Authentically you
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com Dream I had a dream I was on […]
Posted inNonprofits
Staying Sustainable
It’s official! Sustainable Settings is off the market. The 244-acre biodynamic ranch nonprofit was listed back in April of 2022 for over $24 million with the price increasing weekly. It topped out at $33,333,333.33 and is now deemed “priceless.” According to co-founder Brooke LeVan, the sale was always a publicity stunt. When we think of […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Grants galore and more
No public comments at this week’s Garfield County commissioners’ (BOCC) meeting. “It’s a skinny audience,” observed Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky. The meeting itself took up a little over an hour of Jankovsky’s and Commissioner Mike Samson’s time. Commissioner Perry Will was absent. The consent agenda was approved and discussion moved into fourth quarter discretionary grants. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Garco report: Library, SNAP and South Bridge
Garfield County commissioners (BOCC) got an earful of fiery public comments at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. Citizens concerned about the appointment process for county library trustees responded to a call to action on Facebook over the weekend, urging the community to speak at the meeting. Sixteen commenters talked about issues ranging from the current […]
Posted inColumns
Dream Well: The night-mare
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com It’s spooky season! So, for this month’s dream […]