March 1, 2012

Sopris Sunthe

Carbondale’s weekly, non-profit newspaper Volume 4, Number 3 | March 1, 2012

LOOK INSIDE:

PAGE 3Trustee field

finalized

PAGE 7Hoopsters

advance

PAGE 10Students

design

By Terray SylvesterSpecial to The Sopris Sun

fter members of Colorado’sCongressional delegation inter-vened in a controversial appli-

cation to combine gas leases in the hillswest of Carbondale this fall, members ofthe Thompson Divide Coalition have beenlooking for a way to build off that mo-mentum.

The so-called “unitization” applicationremains on hold, and that’s partly why thecoalition offered a total of $2.5 million to

local oil and gas leaseholders last week aspart of its ongoing effort to prevent drillingin the watersheds west of Carbondale.

“I think the Congressional delegation,including (4th district Rep. Scott Tipton),will say, ‘Well these guys got off the dimeand they actually did something. They putsome money where their mouth is,” saidChuck Ogilby, president of the ThompsonDivide Coalition.

On Feb. 21, the coalition – often called“TDC” – announced it had mailed lettersto six companies that hold undevelopedleases on the White River and Gunnison

national forests between Four Mile and Di-vide creeks in the north and the MuddyCreek drainage near McClure Pass in thesouth.

The group offered the companies sumsranging from about $61,000 to roughly$600,000. In exchange, TDC is asking thefirms to relinquish their leases and supportthe coalition’s effort to withdraw unleasedland in the Thompson Divide area from fu-ture mineral leasing.

The offer comes as the Bureau of LandManagement considers a request from SGInterests, the largest leaseholder in the area,

to administratively combine 18 of its leasesin the Thompson Divide.

TDC has opposed the unitization re-quest, arguing it would make it easier forSG Interests to extend the term of its leases,many of which are set to expire in 2013.

The company contends the unitizationwould allow it to develop its leases as onepiece, and in a more orderly, systematicfashion with fewer overall impacts.

To spread awareness about the unitiza-tion, TDC staged a rally in Carbondale inmid-October.The event attracted some 300

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LOCALVORES RALLY. Proponents of locally grown food rallied at the Garfield County Courthouse on Monday to oppose a zoning request to allow an asphalt batch plantnext to the Eagle Springs Organic farm southeast of Rifle. The Garfield County commissioners denied the proposal 2-1. Shown here are (left to right) Loran Randles, AlyssaReindel (holding the sign), John Hoffmann and Brook and Rose LeVan. Many of the ralliers are members of the Roaring Fork Food Policy Council. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Can healing begin?Dear Editor:

Before healing can begin, there has to bean acknowledgement that hurt has hap-pened. Then the wrong doer can begin toreconcile the actions that led to the hurtand try to make amends.

Carbondale has been hurt.The battle between the proponents and

opponents of the Village at Crystal Riverdevelopment caused a great deal of suffer-ing. Hours were spent trying to convinceour out-of-touch board of trustees to denythe project. Uncountable hours were spenttalking to neighbors, friends and othersabout the project. Thousands of phonecalls, miles of door-to-door walking, lettersto the editor, all to express the views of65.5 percent of the voters in the biggestvoter turnout Carbondale has ever had.

It has now been four weeks since the vote.I commend the spiritual leaders’ attempt tostart the healing process. Yet there has notbeen any acknowledgement by the membersof our board of trustees that advocated forthe VCR that they were not representing us.There have not been any attempts by any ofthe advocates to say that they were wrongand that they want to make amends.

There is now an election that can en-able us to take back control of the boardof trustees. However, there are advocatesof the VCR thinking who still hope to re-tain an imbalance of representation. VCRchampions and large-scale developmentadvocates Bill Lamont, Lorey Esquibeland others are trying to get elected to theBOT. Luckily there are others who arewilling to stand up and represent us – the65.5 percenters.

Two incumbents, Pam Zentmyer andJohn Hoffmann, stood up against theVCR developer. Allyn Harvey and StacyStein worked to defeat the project. All ofthese have shown vision about the futureof our town and are willing to work tokeep us moving forward while keeping thequalities of the town we love.

This is a very important election.Please vote.

Russell CriswellCarbondale

Things are bad in CarbondaleDear Editor:

I am not one to usually write letters tothe editor but feel that things have gottenso bad in Carbondale that I had to.

First let me just say, I did vote yes forthe VCR. I listened to both sides and feltthat it was the best thing for our town. Ap-parently the majority did not feel that wasthe case. OK.

Unfortunately I have noticed since theelection that there is a lack of civility in ourcommunity. I understand that some of the

folks that were outspoken proponents ofthe project have been told by others in ourcommunity that they should leave ourcommunity. Others have seen a decline incustomers in their businesses. Since whendo we have the polarization in our com-munity that plagues our country? This isn’tWashington D.C.; it is Carbondale!

I respect the opinions of the folks thatwere against the project as long as they pre-sented a fact-based truthful case. Isn’t thatwhat we all should do? But to be so hate-ful and divisive to tell someone they shouldleave the community or not patronize thebusinesses because they stood up for theirbeliefs is just wrong. Everyone should havethe right to stand up for his or her beliefsand not feel threatened after doing so.

I hope that we can all stop the hatemongering and divisiveness in our com-munity. Let’s work together and when wedisagree let’s make sure we have the facts,not the just the opinion of some who don’thave the facts or some that“spin” the facts.

I just hope that the election wasn’t adisastrous blow to Carbondale’s futureand the ability to attract new businesses toour community.

Connie OvertonCarbondale

HollybondaleColorado legislators recently passed Resolution 1010, paving the way for House Bill

1286, which would double the incentive rate for filmmakers to use our state when film-ing “on location” as they say in “the business.”

I predict Colorado’s diverse landscape and proximity to Hollywood will quickly makeus a favored locale. And when my sister and I heard that they’ll be filming “The Lone

Ranger” starring Johnny Depp as Tonto in Colorado thisyear, we immediately started to plan our future careers asmovie extras.

Johnny Depp was in City Market here in Carbondale afew years ago but I didn’t meet him. I did call my sister tocomplain that I was in that store all the time! Sometimestwice a day! According to her it was a good thing I didn’t seeJohnny that day because then everyone would’ve heard“Clean up on aisle Five” when I peed my pants from sheerexcitement.

I think the film industry is something Carbondale can getexcited about; they come in, they spend their money in ourrestaurants and shops and then they leave. It’s like JuliaRoberts in the movie “Pretty Woman”— good times, lots ofmoney, no hard feelings, and then it’s over. Although, in the

end of “Pretty Woman” he offered to put her up in an apartment and then she wanted itall … never mind, scratch that analogy. It’s like a real life hooker when they leave and younever see them again. And they’re as happy to get out of this small-time town as we areto wave goodbye.

•••For the last couple of weeks I’ve been an assistant to the production coordinator for

a movie being filmed here in the Roaring Fork Valley. I compare my power and influenceto that of the character Leo Getz in “Lethal Weapon 2, 3 & 4”— while I felt like I wasmaking an important contribution, most of the action happened while I wasn’t even there.Mostly I chauffeured people around and ran random errands like trying to find a needleand thread in the middle of the woods. You think it’s hard in a haystack, but at leastthere’s a rumor that it is in there.

Watching a movie being made in the back country (Old Snowmass counts) has givenme a sneak preview of what a movie career really entails. I always thought the world offilm was glamorous in a breakfast-in-bed kind of way, but these people WORK for a liv-ing. Twelve hours days, six days a week, rain or snow or that icy nail-gun combinationwe often get in Colorado in the winter.

This crew reminded me of the traveling gypsies that used to come to town every yearfor Potato Day — they would fill Sopris Park with booths and equipment, utter chaos andexcitement, and then they’d leave with no trace they were ever even here.

Everyone was very dedicated to this picture, sacrificing things like sleep and personalspace to ensure the film would be as good as it could possibly be. As I watched the lead-ing actress standing in a foot of snow in the dark, surrounded by snowflakes highlightedby snowmobile headlights, I was in awe of her resolve. It was only Day No. 2 and I wasready to call “Cut!” and head inside for a hot cup of cocoa.

Luckily I was not an integral part of this movie getting made because, as anyone whoknows me can attest to, stick-to-itiveness has never been my strong suit. But I did stickaround till the end, and at 2 a.m. in the Redstone Castle I got a serious case of the heebiejeebies, watching one of the creepier scenes being filmed.

Helping out on this picture has reminded me that it’s always worth it to show up anddo your best. Whether I was making blood or tearing the arms off a doll, I could not haveguessed how I would spend my first time on a bona fide movie set. At least now I won’tbe a pee-in-the-pants novice when Johnny Depp asks me which aisle the eyeliner is in.

Carbondale CommentaryThe views and opinions expressed on the Commentary page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sopris Sun. The Sopris Sun invites all members of the community to submit letters to theeditor or guest columns. For more information, e-mail editor Lynn Burton at [email protected], or call 510-3003.

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 1, 2012

To inform, inspire and build community

Donations accepted online or bymail. For information call 510-3003

Editor:Lynn Burton • [email protected]

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Sopris Sun, LLC • P.O. Box 399520 S. Third Street #35Carbondale, CO 81623

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Ps & QsBy Jeannie Perry

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters, limited to no more than 400 words. Lettersexceeding that length may be edited or returned for revisions. Include your name andresidence (for publication) and a contact email and phone number. Submit letters viaemail to [email protected] or via snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO81623. The deadline to submit letters to the editor is 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

LettersTown Trustee ElectionThe town of Carbondale has an upcoming election for Trustees. Allyn Harvey, a

Sopris Sun Board member since its founding, has announced that he is running forone of the Trustee positions.

It is the policy of the Sopris Sun to be neutral on issues such as this so that the cov-erage which we provide will be unbiased. Consequently, Allyn Harvey has steppeddown as a Board member.The Sopris Sun will be sponsoring a Trustee Candidate Forum on March 12,

2012, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Third Street Center. Please direct any questions youmight have to [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, Allyn asked that you send your donations to The Sopris Sun atP.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623.

– The Sopris Sun Board of Directors

THE SOPRIS SUN • MARCH 1, 2012 • 3

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Calving season is in full swing and this newborn, up at Tony Gross’ ranch onMissouri Heights, is being encouraged by mom to mooove right along. Photo byJane Bachrach

ObituaryKelvin (Kelly) Eric Osborn1963-2012

Kelly Osborn, 48, of Carbondale, passed away on Feb. 24, 2012, at Valley View Hospitalin Glenwood Springs with his brother, son and girlfriend by his side.

Kelly was born on Aug. 4, 1963, in Topeka, Kansas. He is the fourth of six children fromGene Wendel Osborn and Margaret Wirsig Osborn.

Kelly was a vibrant, fun-loving man who was a craftsman among carpenters. He tookpride in his work, with a work ethic surpassed by few. Kelly was most at home when outsideriding his bike, camping, Nordic skiing and snowboarding. Although passing at a relativelyyoung age, his life was lived to the fullest.

Kelly was rarely seen without a smile.Even in the most difficult of times,his sense of humorwould shine. He was not one to sugar coat things; however, his heart possessed intentionsonly of sincerity and integrity. He was a very loving, supportive father, and dedicated com-panion to his longtime girlfriend.Very few can juggle all the things life can throw at them,butKelly seemed to respond to all changes and responsibilities with ease.

While his passing came quickly, he will not be forgotten. He is survived by his only son,Colin, and longtime girlfriend and loving companion, Dalene Rankin; brother Mitch Osborn(Kansas City, Kansas); sisters Teri Burwell (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Rebecca Copeland(Topeka), Jodie Osborn (Topeka), and Dixie Daugherty (Topeka).

Funeral services for Kelly will be held at The Orchard at The Church at Carbondale onSunday, March 4.More info can be found at www.carepages.com/carepages/OzmanGetWell.

Sopris Sun Staff Report

Carbondale’s trustee election is April 3,with 10 candidates vying for three seats.

The candidates are: Stacy Stein, John“Doc” Philip, Lorey Esquibel, Bill Lamont,Sean Keery, Allyn Harvey, James (Jim)Breasted, Red Cunningham and incumbentsJohn Hoffmann and Pam Zentmyer.

The election is by mail-in ballot; votes can

also be cast at town hall on Tuesday,April 3,according to town clerk Cathy Derby.

Other important dates and election-related information includes:

• Derby hopes to send out ballots March12 or 13; she doesn’t recommend returningballots through the mail after March 29.

• A ballot box will also be located intown hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays

through Fridays.• Residents must have lived in Carbon-

dale at least 30 days before the election; res-idents must be registered at least 29 daysbefore the election.

• Residents can register at town hall, theGarfield County Courthouse (the clerk andrecorder’s office) or at the Colorado Secretaryof State Web site.

• There are 2,350 active voters and 546inactive failed-to-vote voters; Derby willsend ballots to both groups.

The Sopris Sun and KDNK host a can-didates forum at the Third Street Center at7 p.m. on March 12.

The election in 2010,saw three trustee can-didates – Frosty Merriott, John Foulkrod andElizabeth Murphy – running for three seats.

Trustee race is on: 10 candidates for three seats

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participants, and later that week, SenatorsMark Udall and Michael Bennet weighedin, sending a letter to the Obama adminis-tration questioning whether unitizationwould be in the public interest and askingthe BLM to delay its decision while the ac-tivists, industry and other stakeholders at-tempted to reach a consensus concerningoil and gas development in the region.

Ogilby said that with the unitizationstill on hold, TDC felt it “had to do some-thing” to demonstrate negotiations wereprogressing and the coalition was continu-ing to make a good-faith effort to workwith industry.

TDC had pledged to respect exiting pri-vate property rights since it was formed inlate 2008.

“We’ve always talked the line that weare going to make industry whole,” saidOgilby, who owns Avalanche Ranch onHighway 133 near Redstone. “We’re notgoing to steal this land from them. We’regoing to pay them for it.”

Before mailing the letters last week, thecoalition contacted Senators Udall andBennet and gave their staff a chance to vetthe proposal, Ogilby said.

Lukewarm responseRobbie Guinn, vice president at SG In-

terests, declined to comment on the specificterms of the Thompson Divide Coalition’soffer, but he said he appreciated“the recog-nition that the leases have value.”

“Most other organizations like thiswould not even offer any value for theleases,” Guinn said. “They would justwant the leases to be terminated.”

The six leaseholders contacted by TDCinclude Denver-based Encana Oil andGas, Antero Resources, Gunnison EnergyCorporation and Willsource Enterprises,as well as Falcon Seaboard Oil and Gas,and SG Interests, which are both head-quartered in Houston.

TDC board members spoke withGuinn in person in early November dur-ing a meeting organized by Rep. ScottTipton. Members of the coalition hadspoken with SG Interests and Encana ear-lier in their campaign as well, but theyhave not met with any of the other lease-holders.

Guinn said SG Interests would workwith local stakeholders to limit potentialimpacts from gas development.

“I can’t say you can develop this with-out impacts because that’s not true,”Guinn said. “SG’s intention is to sit downand figure out a way to develop this withthe minimum amount of impacts to thegreatest number of people.”

But Guinn dismissed the coalition’s ef-fort in general, describing it as short-sighted and stating that SG Interests doesnot intend to relinquish its leases anddoes not support limiting future develop-ment in the area.

“I think at the end of the day it’s a lot

of NIMBYism, and they don’t want it intheir backyard,” Guinn said. “We thinkit’s a resource that has significance for thesupply of natural gas in the United Statesand it’s significant enough that it shouldnot be taken off limits.”

TDC has offered only to reimburse theleaseholders for “direct investments ofpublic record to date.” The coalition hasnot attempted to estimate the potentialvalue of the gas deposits accessible fromthe leases. However, members of thecoalition have often speculated that thegas plays in the area are poor. TDC’sfocus area sits on the far southeasternedge of the gas-rich Piceance Basin, whichsupports much of the oil and gas devel-opment in the larger region.

However, Guinn said that since 2003SG Interests has drilled roughly 30 wellsin the area, including near the Muddy andDivide Creek drainages.

No wells have been drilled in TDC’sfocus area itself. The focus area encom-passes roughly 220,000 acres.

The coalition would begin raisingmoney only after it receives positive re-sponses from the leaseholders. The coali-tion intends to solicit donations fromlocal governments, environmental groupsand individuals. So far, TDC has receivedresolutions of support from Pitkin, Gun-nison and Garfield counties, as well as thetowns of Carbondale, Glenwood Springs,Basalt and Aspen.


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Cop ShopThe following events are drawn fromincident reports of the CarbondalePolice Department.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 At 3:26 p.m., policewere dispatched to a fight in the 900block of Garfield Avenue. Police con-tacted an individual who said he wasfighting with a man he didn’t know. Po-lice were unable to locate the man.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 At 7:16 a.m. po-lice received a report of an idling vehi-cle on 8th Street; they were unable tolocate the vehicle. At 7:28 a.m., policereceived a report of another idling ve-hicle on 8th Street.They gave the drivera warning. At 8:46 p.m., police re-ceived a report of an idling loggingtruck at Sopris Shopping Center. Whenpolice contacted the driver he got upsetand drove way.

Thursday, Feb. 23At 10:15 a.m., policeissued a summons to a juvenile for pos-session of drug paraphernalia.

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Mark your calendarAttention Carbondale voters: get involved in your town trustee election.If you have a burning desire to ask Carbondale Board of Trustee candidates a question,

here’s your chance.The Sopris Sun and KDNK host a trustee candidate forum at the ThirdStreet Center Calaway Room from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 12. Eligible Carbondale voterscan submit questions by March 10 to [email protected].

Coming soonIf the theatre near you is the Crystal, check it out.Academy award winner“The Artist”

will be playing there soon. If you’ve never seen a black and white silent film in an actualmovie theatre, here’s your chance.

VVAS winnerChris Hassig won the Valley Visual Art Show People’s Choice award for one of his

pen and ink drawings. Word has it an Aspen art gallery owner came down and boughtboth of the drawings he entered. Approximately 50 artists entered the show.

Just inA parent reports that Crystal River Elementary School and Carbondale Middle School

placed first in the fourth, fifth and seventh/eighth grade categories at the District SpellingBee last week. Way to go Carbondale!

Bring some husky menSolar Energy International reports they have an old desk they’ll give away to the first

person who can actually haul it out of the basement in which it sits. “It’s heavy,” said anSEI spokeswoman. For details, call 963-8855, ext. 111.

They say it’s your birthdayBirthday greetings go out to: Kate Feinzig and Dick Hallagan (March 2), Heather

Smith (March 4), Tim Bauer (March 5) and Gwen Garcelon (March 6).

“Hooked on Growth” shownThe documentary film “Hooked on Growth,” with filmmaker Dave Gardner in atten-

dance, will be shown at the Third Street Center at 7 p.m. on March 6 and the GlenwoodSprings Community Center at 7 p.m. on March 7. Admission is free but donations are wel-come. The film is presented by the Roaring Fork Sierra Club Group. The film takes on WallStreet, the White House and the Pope, and questions society’s most fundamental beliefs aboutprosperity, according to group program chairman Bob Millette. For details, call 947-9613.


Scuttlebutt Send your scuttlebutt to [email protected].

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By Will GrandboisSopris Sun Correspondent

For the first time in years, both Roaring Fork bas-ketball teams will be competing in the regional tourna-ment this weekend, vying with 31 other teams for thestate tournament.

In districts last week, the boys sailed over Hotchkiss69-43, leapfrogged Rifle 47-34,but fell toAspen 47-37,their third loss to the Western Slope’s top seeded team.

If the Rams want a return bout with Aspen, bothteams will have to advance to the championship tour-nament, an unlikely but not impossible scenario. TheSkiers will host a tournament comprised of LakeCounty, Holy Family and Classical Academy onMarch 2-3.

The Rams 15-7 record leaves them seeded 21st in3A and second in a district tourney that fields five ofthe top 32 teams.Roaring Fork will travel to Gilcrest onMarch 2 for a 5 p.m.match up with the La JuntaTigers.If the Rams win, they’ll face either the Valley Vikings orthe Buena Vista Demons at 1 p.m. on March 3. If Val-ley wins the first round, it will take a determined teamto defeat them and move on to the state tournament inFort Collins. The Vikings boast almost 60 points pergame and a 20-2 record for the season, behind only byFaith Christian and Colorado Springs Christian.

The Lady Rams, meanwhile, recovered from a nail-biting 33-31 loss to Gunnison then mopped up againstAspen and Hotchkiss last week, giving them a 14-8record and a place alongside Olathe, Gunnison andRifle in the race to the top.First, they’ll face Denver Sci-ence at Bruce Randolph High School in Denver at 7p.m. on March 2. If they beat the odds against the 21-1 powerhouse, they’ll play either Rifle or Middle Parkat 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Rams girls are led by junior Megan Gianinettiwith 11 points per game, senior Kaleigh Wisroth with7, and junior Hattie Gianinetti with 7. SophomoreMaddie Nieslanik and Shaeley Lough contributed 6and 4 points per game, respectively.

In a brief interview with the Sopris Sun, girls’ coachKirk Cheney sounded elated. When asked about theirupcoming match with Denver Science, he seemed un-daunted. If things go the way he anticipates, RoaringFork will play Rifle on March 3.“Denver Science defi-nitely knows how to score and appears to get the ballup the floor and apply a lot of pressure defensively,”hesaid. “We must control the boards rebounding, slowthem down and keep the pace manageable. If we can dothis I feel pretty confident that we can have success.”

Though he’s willing to give Rifle the win over Mid-dle Park, he doesn’t see them as an insurmountable ob-stacle to the Elite Eight.“Knowing we had a tough winagainst them the last game of regular season shouldgive us some confidence if we face them again … .Thisis an exciting time for these girls and I truly believe theyhave the wherewithal to find within themselves anotherlevel of basketball that they didn’t realize they had. Staytuned as this story ain’t over!”

Valley High School, at 1001 Birch Street in Gilcrest,will host the boys’ games this weekend. To get there,take Highway 85 toward Greeley. Exit on Main Streetin Gilcrest and take Birch Street north a few blocks tothe school.

Bruce Randolph High School, 3955 Steele Street,near the I-70/Colorado Boulevard interchange inDenver, will host the girls. The trip between the twoschools takes about an hour.With the boys playing at5 p.m. and the girls at 7 p.m., a dedicated fan mightbe able to catch some of both games.


“SERVICEABOVE SELF”

Non-profit highlight ROTARY CORNER

ROTARY CLUB OF CARBONDALE

Become a Member

March with Carbondale RotaryMeetings are Wednesdays 7 AM at the Carbondale Firehouse.Visitors are welcome

to come enjoy the programs and see why people actually get up so early to do thewonderful work for the community and around the world that Rotary does.

SPEAKERS:Mar 14 - Garfield Search and RescueMar 21 - Dr Herschel Ross, “Advances in Dentistry that benefit your Health”Mar 28 - Skip Kinsley - “Benefits of Smart Oil and Gas Exploration”

Applications are now available for Carbondale Rotary Scholarships for graduatingseniors to continue their education. Areas of emphasis are financial need, school andcommunity service, and a well rounded approach to life. Applications will require anessay addressing Rotary’s 4-Way Test and its motto “Service Above Self”.

Graduating seniors from Basalt, Roaring Fork, Bridges, and CRMS are eligible andshould visit their school counselor for applications and details. Application are dueby April 7, 2012.

Carbondale Rotary Community Service Grant applications are now available fornon profit groups needing financial help for carrying out their work benefiting thecommunity. Details and application information is available on the Rotary websitewww.rotarycarbondale.org.

There are currently 1,214,714 Rotarians in 34,216 clubs world wide improvingthe quality of life in their communities. For more information about how you couldjoin in their efforts right here in Carbondale, go to www.rotarycarbondale.org or callour Membership Chair Jay Leavitt at 584-3333 or [email protected].

Maddie Nieslanik keeps the ball in play during Roaring Fork’s winover Aspen last weekend. The Lady Rams continue their season inDenver on March 2. Photo by Sue Rollyson.

Jim Breasted�� Town Trustee

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RFHS boys and girls compete for state berths


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MMIISSSSIIOONN::KDNK provides public access radio that connects community members to one another and the world.

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THURSDAYMarch 1ROTARY • Mt.Sopris Rotary meets at noonat Mi Casita, 580 Main Street, Carbondale.

NATURALIST NIGHTS • The Aspen Cen-ter for Environmental Studies in Aspen hosts“Beetles, Dust and Climate: Changing hy-drology in the Colorado headwaters,” a talkby Dr. Jeff Deems at 7:30 p.m. Info: aspen-nature.org.

WRITING WORKSHOP • The Basalt Li-brary hosts a nature writing workshop withPaul Anderson from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.through March 7. Info: 927-4311.

COMMUNITY CONCERT • The Glen-wood Springs Community Concert Associa-tion presents the Rastrelli Cello Quartet atMountain View Church at 7 p.m.Admissionis by membership ticket. Info: 945-5384.

HPC MEETS • The Carbondale HistoricPreservation Commission meets at town hallat 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month.

FRIDAYMarch 2MOVIES • The Crystal Theatre presents“Iron Lady” (PG-13) at 7:30 p.m. Mar. 2-8and “Hugo” (PG) at 4:45 p.m. Mar. 2-6.

FIRST FRIDAY • Another First Friday takesplace all over town.

ARTANDMUSIC • Main Street Gallery, atthe corner of 4th and Main, presents “AnEvening of Art and Music” for First Friday.Info: 963-3775.

C-TOWN •Talent comes crawling out of thewoodwork for KDNK’s annual C-Town tal-

ent show at PAC3. The show starts at 8 p.m.Admission is free for KDNK members.

CLAY CENTER • The Carbondale ClayCenter, at the east end of Main Street, hostsan opening for John Cohorts from 6 to 8 p.m.Cohorts work explores connections with na-ture through mixed media sculptures, usingpatterning and construction techniques tocreate sculptures that intrigue and stimulate.Info: 963-CLAY.

CCAH • The Carbondale Council on Artsand Humanities opens the show“Re-ImagedArt & Fashion for a Sustainable Future”from6 to 8 p.m. at the Third Street Center. Theshow runs through March 23. Gallery hoursare Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Info: 963-1680.

LIVE PAINTING • Marcel (Majid) Kahhakwill paint live in his studio on Main Streetfrom 6 to 8 p.m. His subject will be the lateWhitney Houston. Info: 704-0622.

LIVE MUSIC • Carnahan’s Tavern at 403Main Street presents Trunk at 10 p.m. Info:963-4498.

LIVE MUSIC • Carbondale Beer Workspresents rock ‘n’ roll for First Friday.

LIVE MUSIC • Rivers restaurant in Glen-wood presents Zolopht & the Destroyers(“mountain reggae”) from 9 p.m. to mid-night. There’s no cover.

CHERRY ORCHARD • Thunder RiverTheatre Company presentsAnton Chekhov’s“The Cherry Orchard” March 2-4 and 8-10at 7:30 p.m. at 67 Promenade. Info and tick-ets: thunderrivertheatre.com, 963-8200.

SATURDAYMarch 3LIVE MUSIC • Carbondale Beer Works onMain Street presents The Hoarse Whisperersat 7:30 p.m.There’s no cover. Info: 704-1216.

LIVE MUSIC • Carnahan’s Tavern at in theDinkel Building presents Clark’s Quark at 10p.m. Info: 963-4498.

SCULPTURE CLASS • The CarbondaleCouncil onArts and Humanities offers a nat-ural wood assemblage sculpture class taughtby Susan Olsen March 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. Info: 963-1680.

SUNDAYMarch 4COAL CREEK TALK • The Roaring ForkConservancy (RFC) presents a lecture aboutCoal Creek at the Redstone Inn at 6:30 p.m.The talk includes Mark Lacy of the WhiteRiver National Forest and Sharon Clarke ofthe RFC.

LIVEMUSIC • PAC3 presents the Hot But-tered Rum & Cornmeal Winter Tour at 8p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Info:pac3carabondale.com.

NORDIC RACES • The Snowmass CrossCountry Center hosts the 42nd annual Sil-verboom Nordic races beginning with theKiddieboom race at 11:30 a.m.Distances are5K, 10K, 15K and 20K. Info: 923-5700.

TUESDAYMarch 6FILM • The Roaring Fork Sierra Club pres-ents “Hooked on Growth,” with a presenta-tion by filmmaker Dave Gardner, at 7 p.m. inThe Third Street Center, 520 S. Third Street,Carbondale. Info: growthbusters.org.

DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS • Democraticcaucus at Carbondale Middle School at 7 p.m.

BEEF TALK • Tai Jacober talks about pro-ducing local beef at 7 p.m. at Rock BottomRanch. Jacober is co-owner of Crystal RiverMeats and JBC Agricultural Management.

LIBRARYTALK • The Basalt Library pres-ents the third of four dialogues withWoo Du-An, Rob Woo, at 5:30 p.m. Info: 927-4311.

FILM • Ute Mountaineer hosts the BanffMountain Film Festival World Tour at theWheeler Opera House in Aspen at 7 p.m. onMarch 6-7. Info: 925-2849.

TIME TRAVEL • As part of their TimeTravel series, the Aspen Historical Societypresents “The Soul of Ajax” at the LimelightLodge at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $8. Info:925-3721, ext. 102.

WEDNESDAYMarch 7VALLEY DIVAS • The Valley Divas, awomen’s networking group, meets the firstWednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m.at Konnyaku in Carbondale. The cost is $12and includes appetizers, a house drink andtip. RSVP at 704-1711 or [email protected].

NATURALIST NIGHTS • The WildernessWorkshop and others presents “The ScienceBehind Forecasting Powder and OtherWeather Fun”at 5:30 p.m.at theThird StreetCenter. It’s free. Info: 963-3977.

ROTARY • The Rotary Club of Carbondalemeets at the Carbondale Firehouse on High-way133Wednesdaysat7a.m.Info:927-0641.

Community Calendar To list your event, email information to [email protected]. Deadline is 5 p.m. Saturday. Events takeplace in Carbondale unless noted. For up-to-the-minute valley-wide event listings, check out the CommunityCalendar online at soprissun.com. View and submit events online at soprissun.com/calendar.


N O N - S T O P C H I C A G O D E N V E R L O S A N G E L E S S A N F R A N C I S C O H O U S T O N D A L L A S / F T.W O R T H A S P E N A I R P O R T. C O M

{I f ly ASE}A M Y K I M B E R L YE XECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CARBONDALE COUNCIL ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES

M y Clothe s:

M A D E I N C O L O R A D O

M y Show:

G R E E N I S T H E N E W B L A C K

M y A ir p or t:

A S P E N / P I T K I N C O U N T Y

Further Out

Ongoing

THURSDAYMarch 8LIVE MUSIC • PAC3 presents the KyleHollingsworth Band at 7 p.m. Euforquestra isthe opening act.Tickets are $15 in advance and$18 at the door. Hollingsworth recentlywrapped up a tour with the String Cheese Inci-dent. Info: 925-1663 or pac3carbondale.com.

SATURDAYMarch 17ST. PAT’S DAY • The American Legion’s an-nual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Main Street inCarbondale takes place at 2 p.m. Parade formsare available at: The Pour House, CarbondaleTown Hall and Recreation Center, and Ameri-

can Legion Post 100 at 97 Third St.The Amer-ican LegionAuxiliary will serve corned beef andcabbage from 4 p.m. until it’s gone ($8 per per-son). Betsy Schenck and the Zingers will pro-vide the entertainment. Info: 963-2381.

SATURDAYMarch 24FOOTBALL BENEFIT • PAC3 hosts a benefitconcert for Carbondale youth football programsfrom 6:30 to 11 p.m. The musical lineup in-cludes local bandAll the Pretty Horses,and fromMadison, Wisconsin – Beautiful Buzz andHappyAshtray.Tickets are $10 atWhite Housepizza and Dos Gringos burritos. Info: 945-1206.

ADULT BAND • Tami Suby, director of theGlenwood High School and middle schoolbands has started an adult beginning band thatpractices at Roaring Fork High School onThursdays at 6:30 p.m. Info: 319-8791.

MAYOR’S COFFEEHOUR • Chat with Car-bondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tuesdaysfrom 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy, locatedat 26 S. Third St.

WEEKLY RUN • Independence Run & Hikein La Fontana Plaza stages group runs everySaturday at 8 a.m. All are welcome. Info:704-0909.

SENIOR ZUMBA • Senior Matters brings“Zumba Gold”to Room 33 at the Third StreetCenter Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. ProfessionalLatin dancer Paula Valenti leads her Zumbaclass to the beat of Latin music and a modifiedZumba formula. The class is for the activeolder participants as well as those starting ajourney to a healthy life style. Zumba Gold isalso appropriate for people with disabilitiesand those who are in wheel chairs. “It is for

everyone. It’s upbeat and fun,” said Valenti. Apunch pass is offered for $32, which covers sixclasses (the first one is free). Info: 945-8822.

ZUMBA BLASTS • PAC3 is the location forMonday Zumba Blasts.The action takes placefrom 6 to 7:30 p.m. Info: 818-640-6482.

SENIOR MATTERS • Senior Matters in theThird Street Center offers free computerclasses from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays.Info: 379-6599.

NETWORKING • Linx Networking Groupmeets at the Chaffin Light building in down-town Basalt Tuesdays at 7 a.m. Info: 390-8401.

LIVE MUSIC • Dan Rosenthal hosts openmic nights at Rivers restaurant in GlenwoodSprings every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m.Alltalents are welcome.

BILINGUAL STORY TIME • The GordonCooper Library hosts a bilingual story timeSaturdays at 11 a.m. Info: 963-2889.

Save the dateTHURSDAYMarch 15SNOWSHOE CHILD RANCH • The Roaring Fork Conservancy goes snowshoeing at theCapitol Creek (Child) Ranch on March 15. The route goes past beaver ponds and more. Reg-istration is required at roaringfork.org/events. Info: 927-1290.

Rehearsalscontinuefor theGreen is theNew Blackfashionshow, slatedfor March9-10 at theCarbondaleCommunityCenter.For ticketinforma-tion, go tocarbondale-arts.com.Photo byJaneBachrach

Community Briefs


Comp plan group discusses Highway 133Carbondale’s comprehensive plan working group dis-

cusses the Highway 133 corridor at town hall from 6 to8 p.m. on March 5. The group plans to present its finalrecommendations on the planning and zoning commis-sion in a few weeks.

Jonathan Waterman speaksAuthor Jonathan Waterman presents a slideshow titled

“The Evolution of an Adventurer” at the home of Barbaraand Aaron Fleck (near Aspen Glen) at 6 p.m. on March 7.The presentation is organized by the Aspen Group of theColorado Mountain Club as a fund-raiser for the Wilder-ness Workshop’s Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign.Thesuggested donation is $75. For details, call Carol Kurt at948-6412.

CCAH seeks entriesThe Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities is ac-

cepting entries to its upcoming show that embodies the5Point Film Festival: respect, commitment, humility, pur-pose and balance. The submittal deadline is March 15. Fordetails, e-mail to [email protected].

CCI seeks photosColorado Creative Industries, in partnership with the

Colorado Photographic Arts Center, is accepting photo-graphs for its show “Our Town, Colorado.” The entrydeadline is March 8. All applications must be sent toCaFÉ™ at http://www.callforentry.org.

GarCo library board meetsThe Garfield County library board meets at the Glen-

wood Springs Library at 4 p.m. on March 1.

Geek out at the CooperBring your computer questions to Gordon Cooper Li-

brary at 6 p.m. on March 7 as part of Teen Tech Week. Ac-cording to a press release, “Local high school computergeeks will be available to answer your computer ques-

tions.” Registration is recommended. For details, call 963-2889. On a related note, the Gordon Cooper Library cel-ebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday at 3:30 p.m. on March 2. Theparty includes cake and Steve (of Steve’s Guitar fame) read-ing a Dr. Seuss story.

ELECTLorey

ESQUIBELCarbondale Trustee

Paid for by the committee to elect Lorey Esquibel Trustee

Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities P resents The 4th Annual

Gala Extravaganza�Id� Mar� 9� · 8 PMReception, Fashion Show & Dance Party

Bonedale Bashs�urday March 10� · 8 PMAdult Fashion Show · Designer Challenge Awards

at Carb�da� Rec �n�rTickets online at: www.carbondalearts.comand in person at: CCAH or Carbondale Rec Center

Trunk ShowS�day Mar� 11� · 11 Collage Creative Collections

online at: www.carbondalearts.com

The YouthEntity design team recently presented an architectural model and development recommendations for the BasaltCommunity Campus project to the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation and DHM Design. From leftto right: YouthEntity volunteer/coach Gino Rossetti, Elizabeth Ritchie (Roaring Fork High School), Kevin Kiyoshi Nak-agawa (Basalt High School), Stephanie Weinreis (Basalt High School) and Lindsay Hoffman (Glenwood Springs HighSchool). Rossetti’s firm, Rossetti Architects, is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, where it is involved in the designof professional sports stadiums, institutions and commercial buildings. YouthEntity provides real-world experiences toyouth that cultivate business experience, develop financial knowledge and build technological skills. Courtesy photo

Steve Harding Ace Hardware of CarbondaleSince 1998


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Community members on at least two orthree fronts are working to put organizedeconomic development on the front burnerthese days.

Back in 1987, the town was abuzz aboutan economic development effort called the Pi-oneer Project.

The following article about the PioneerProject appeared in the Feb. 23, 1987 FreeWeekly newspaper and it focused on the finalorganizational meeting.

Back in 1987...Carbondale’s final Pioneer Project meet-

ing was Feb.23,but its success probably can’tbe gauged for at least two years.

“We knew the first time out it would beexperimental,”said Michael Kinsley after themeeting.Kinsley is with the Rocky MountainInstitute (RMI), the project’s organizer.

For RMI, a Snowmass-based non-profitenergy/economic development educationalorganization, it’s hoped that within two yearsthe Pioneer Project will be adopted as part ofAmerica’s national economic policy.

It’s already been mentioned in Gov. RoyRomer’s Colorado Initiatives Program andseveral state communities are targeted to un-dertake Pioneer Projects of their own.

For Carbondale, it’s finally time to applywhat over 100 volunteers have worked onsince last March.

Carbondale was chosen from over 100 in-terested towns, because of its healthy volun-teer attitude and its dependence on one majorindustry (coal).

One of the goals was to help Carbondalebecome more self-reliant and less dependenton national and international economic forces.

The main difference be-tween the Pioneer Projectand conventional economicdevelopment projects wasits focus on keeping dollarsin the community, ratherthan relying heavily on re-cruiting outside industry to town.

It targeted six essential areas where eco-nomic leakage occurs: energy, health care,housing, waste water management, food andagriculture, money/capital and finance.

The project was divided into four phaseswith “doors” created for volunteers to comeand go as they wished.The four phases were:

Start up. This researched what Carbon-dale residents liked about their town, whatthey wanted to preserve and what were theireconomic concerns.

Door number two examined how the sixleakage areas affected the town. Volunteerssigned up for one area.

Door three was business opportunities.This one designed economic programs forpeople already in Carbondale.

Door four had participants determinewhat, if any, permanent organization wasneeded to continue Pioneer Project ideas.

When the project kicked off in March,RMI organizers encouraged everyone fromthe mildly interested to the fervently involvedto attend meetings.The first sessions attractedbig crowds and were held at Colorado Rocky

Mountain School and the Roaring Fork HighSchool auditorium.

The final meeting was held at the half-filledcommunity room at the fire-house.Approximately 40 peo-ple attended, eight of whomgave brief presentations.

Forty-three projects wereoutlined as potential projects.They covered each of the six

targeted leakage areas: business opportuni-ties, energy, food and agriculture, health,housing, money/capital and water and wastemanagement.

A project getting a lot of support wascalled “Marketing the Arts.” The project isheaded by Carbondale Chamber of Com-merce Director John McCormick. The proj-ect hopes to aid professional artists throughmarketing, examining an incubator businessand checking out a wholesale art business.

Jim Littrell (sic), with the housing group,said the“overwhelmingly”most feasible proj-ect was getting a golf course in Carbondale.

After the individual presentations, Kinsleytold theaudience“therewere some tough timesand things got a little tougher than we hoped.”

He also said the town showed what he ex-pected, “Carbondale has more cohesivenessand oomph than most towns. We learned alot and next time it will be a lot better.”

Elaborating after the meeting, he said theprocess will be more streamlined and shouldonly take 10 to 15 weeks.

Now it’s up to Carbondale to apply whatit has proposed.As for a permanent structure

to keep the Pioneer Project spirit going, it’s upto the town.”

EpilogueThe Snowmass-based Rocky Mountain

Institute proposed and organized the PioneerProject as a new approach to economic de-velopment. RMI’s Web site doesn’t mentionthe Pioneer Project and a brief Google searchdoesn’t turn up anything other than a ge-nealogy related item. Whatever happened tothe Pioneer Project?

Reading between the lines of the above ar-ticle doesn’t require a microscope. Lots offolks turned out early in the process but overthe course of a year participation dwindledto about two or three dozen.

Theprojectdidgivebirth toat leastone tan-gible enterprise. An artists coop called “Arti-tracts”opened inwhat isnowCarbondaleBeerWorksand it lastedayearor twobeforeclosing.

The above article also mentions one Pio-neer Project group“overwhelmingly”thoughta golf course was feasible in Carbondale. Aprivate developer in the 1990s ended upbuilding a golf course as part of his RiverVal-ley Ranch sub-division. If the Pioneer Projectwas ever mentioned during RVR’s approvalprocess, it was probably in the context of“The Pioneer Project showed that the peopleof Carbondale want a golf course.”In that re-gard, the town got what it wanted.

If you have any ideas for history stories, orhistoric anecdotes, please send them [email protected].

Lookingback

By Lynn Burton

Pioneer Project brought C’dale together, for a while

By Trina OrtegaSopris Sun Correspondent

What defines you? Is it your past or whereyou grew up? Is it your status in society oryour job? Do you know your place based onlyon those you serve or whom serve you?

Even if it’s not an outright question inAnton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard,”that dilemma is at the heart of the play cur-rently on stage at the Thunder River TheatreCompany.

“The Cherry Orchard”was first performedin 1902 and reflects the class warfare strugglesin Russia at the time,but this“drama-comedy”(as TRTC Artistic Director Lon Winston de-

scribes it), presents conflicts of human naturethat easily cross into modern time.

Winston directs the production, and —with artistic skill and thoughtfulness — suc-cessfully conveys those undercurrents on thestage. The audience is immediately drawninto the story and characters thanks to the dy-namism of the actors (13 cast members in thisproduction!), the cadence of the dialogue, theset and direction coming together in a pro-duction that is downright enjoyable to watch.

The story centers on the aristocratic own-ers of a nationally famous cherry orchard.Li-ubóv (Valerie Haugen), her brother Leonid(Richard Lyon), their family members, neigh-

bors, and business acquaintances reunite onthe estate before it is to be auctioned off topay the mortgage. Haugen is reliably strongas the commanding Liubóv, and Lyon is con-vincing as a spoiled adult child who, despitehis efforts, does not have the wherewithal totake care of business.

In the first act, the old butler, Firs (playedconvincingly by Bob Willey) sets the tone forthese characters,who are each trying to figureout their new place in society. He says uponLiubóv’s arrival back to the cherry orchard,“She is home. I can die.” At first, you don’tknow if he’s being sarcastic, but as the storycontinues, we learn that serving others is hislife.He often reminisces about the“old days,”when the role between master and servantwas respected.Now“the masters and servantsare all mixed up,” he laments. Because of theloss of the family estate, Firs will no longerneed to be a servant, but he does not want adifferent life, even if it means a higher status.

Liubóv and Leonid dote over the nurseryand the exquisite bookcase filled with vol-umes — symbols for the only life the two richkids have ever known. As their statuschanges, they will no longer have such objectsto define them.

We also immediately see how all of thecharacters are incredibly self-absorbed. Theyoung maid Dunyásha (played comfortablyby Courtney Thompson) primps constantly,and the bumbling clerk Semyón (GeraldDelisser stands out in this comical role) in-cessantly talks back and forth about his illfate and clumsiness. The beautiful Anya

(Alta Millard) enters fretting about her losthairpins, and Liubóv about needing coffee… but no mention of the impending loss ofher family’s estate.

The characters talk over each other, oftenstarting new conversations and never re-sponding to others.They talk a lot but no oneever listens. This failure in communicationleads to tragedy for so many. It is easy for Li-ubóv and her brother to talk about theweather but when the peasant-turned-businessman Yermolái (played by a very en-gaging Jeff Carlson) repeatedly suggests thatthe family subdivide and sell their land, theydo not listen. Well-timed and artful deliverymake these“overlapping”conversations frus-trating at times; you want to shake these peo-ple and tell them to shut up and listen.

The trick in producing a Chekhov piece isto create the emotion in the jumble of thecharacters, who like to talk about themselvesor nothing instead of addressing what is rightin front of them.Chekhov purposefully wrotesubtexts,with intended pauses, about what isnot said.

The play is tragic but not depressing, withmany absurd and funny moments. And inthose scenes,within those self-absorbed char-acters searching for their place in a newworld, you might remember a time when afriend, spouse or sibling complained to you:“Are you even listening to me?”

“The Cherry Orchard” continuesMarch 2-4 and March 8-10, 7:30 p.m.Tickets and info: www.thunderriverthe-atre.com; 963-8200.


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March 1, 2012