February 24, 2011

Join the education discussionPage 2

KDNK waits on CPB votePage 3

Pics that didn’t fitPage 10

Sopris Sunthe

Carbondale’s weekly, non-profit newspaper Volume 3, Number 2 | February 24, 2011

MEDICAL MARIJUANA page 7

It’s calving season up and down the Crystal and Roaring Fork valleys but this little one is special. He’s a Guernsey dairycow rather than a beef cow. He was born at Sustainable Settings on President’s Day and is named Abe. His barnyardmates include chickens, pigs, horses and more. Photo by Jane Bachrach

By Terray SylvesterSopris Sun Staff Writer

lenwood Springs Police Chief TerryWilson says that lately, local teens havetried to teach his officers a surprising

thing or two about marijuana.For example, they’veargued Colorado laws have made it legal for anyoneto use it.

“We’ve had them stand there in our bookingroom and argue the fact with us,” he said. “We’vecreated a state of confusion.”

Wilson doesn’t blame the kids, he blames thelaws that have paved the way for the state’s medicalmarijuana industry, and he’s not alone.

Some law enforcement officers and counselors inthe Roaring Fork Valley say that when it comes toconvincing local youth to steer clear of pot, their jobhas become harder since Colorado’s medical mari-juana industry exploded in 2008.

Young people appear to be finding the drugmore accessible, and not just because it’s now beingsold and grown legally from homes and shopsthroughout the valley, but also because of contra-dictions and inconsistencies in the marijuana laws,which have allowed adolescents to more easilydownplay the drug.

“I would say that they totally minimize it, ab-solutely,” said Lori Mueller, program director atYouthZone, a non-profit organization that workswith juveniles and their families on problems rang-ing from substance abuse to delinquency.“I wouldsay most of the kids that I’ve heard of understandthat [getting high] is not legal for everybody, but it’sjust not a big deal ... and that’s a change in the lastcouple years.”

If that’s the case, it’s more than just an abstractproblem, since by some indicators young people arefinding it easier and easier to get a hold of pot.

A trickle-down effectOver the last two years, the number of juveniles

referred to YouthZone for marijuana-related of-fenses has doubled.YouthZone has offices through-out the Roaring Fork Valley and its employeesestimate they see about 95 percent of juveniles who

Bud liteNow that it’smedical, teens aremore likely to makelight of marijuana

G

An ‘insane expense’Dear Editor:

I read with interest your article concerningthe Carbondale recreation center’s electricitybill since I work out there almost every day.

Why is it that the swirl of ESPN nothing-ness is broadcast hour after unending hour,on multiple TVs, and at taxpayer expense?Sell the TVs and save the taxpayers electric-ity money. There are a good number of tax-paying businesses that are set up with TVsthat would appreciate some business. Whycompete with them?

CLEER’s energy engineer, Mr. Ogburn,described the results of efforts to improve thebuilding’s efficiency as “insane payback.”ESPN is “insane expense.”

One can’t have a quick after-shower shavein the men’s locker room without the lightturning off, yet every time I see what I thinkis the third or fourth taxpayer-funded bas-ketball court in our small town, I’m remindedof the NorthwestTerritories around the Sum-mer Solstice: vast, brilliantly lit and empty. IsMichael Jordan expected at any moment?

I’m told that there is no money or roomfor a bench to exercise the lower back or anabductor/adductor leg machine but we dohave that glorious basketball court. I’ve readthat many people suffer from lower backproblems and that strengthening their backswith proper equipment would be wise andrequire no electricity. However, I’ve neverread about an insufficient amount of drib-bling on the part of the populace.

William M. PerichCarbondale

Sisu thanksDear Editor:

On Super Bowl Sunday the 19th annualMount Sopris Nordic Council Ski for Sisuskiathon was held. I would like to thankSteve Zeder of Bighorn Motors,Don Gerbazof Berthod Motors and Richard Fuller ofAlpine Bank Carbondale for their generoussponsorships and support of the Ski for Sisutrail grooming fundraiser.

A last minute addition to this year’s eventwas a silent auction sponsored by PennNewhard of Backbone Media. BackboneMedia donated all of the items in the auction.On behalf of the Mount Sopris Nordic Coun-cil I would like to thank Penn and Rob ofBackbone Media for their generous donation.

An event like this is not possible withouta posse of volunteers for which I am mostgrateful. Thanks go out to: Gregor Koplas,George Tempest, Brad Zeigel, Dave Peckler,Bob Lucas, Elliot Norquist, Trip Sutro,Mark Chain, Wick Moses, Gayle Wells,Steve Skinner, Jack and Doris O’Neil, SteveHessel, Pat Bingham and Berit Bjerke-Daniels. Thank you all.

Luke Harris, who graduated from Roaring Fork High School in 2005, is nowworking with Manna Project International to provide food and health care tomothers and children in La Chureca, Nicaragua. He is shown here (at lower left)with his mother, Debbie Quinn, at a health clinic in La Chureca with the familieshe assists. Courtesy photo

The Sopris Sun welcomes your letters,limited to no more than 400 words. Lettersexceeding that length may be edited or re-turned for revisions. Include your nameand residence (for publication) and a con-tact email and phone number. Submit let-ters via email to [email protected] orvia snail mail to P.O. Box 399, Carbon-dale, CO 81623.

Letters

2 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

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Join the education discussionBy Bonnie Cretti

On Thursday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. the Gordon Cooper Branch Library invitesthe community to a discussion of the nationally best-selling book“The Death and Lifeof the Great American School System” by Diane Ravitch. It is a thought-provokingand yet very accessible book about issues that affect us all.

In 1991 Diane Ravitch, already a well-known writer and historian of education,found herself working in Washington, D.C. as an assistant secretary of education inGeorge H.W. Bush’s administration. From this first job in government service, she wenton to become an avid supporter of some new (at least at that time) educational ideas:charter schools, educational choice, standardized testing, merit-based pay and per-formance-based evaluations for teachers, privatization, de-regulation, and a business-based model for school improvement and reform. She worked for three well-knownconservative organizations: the Brookings Institution, the Hoover Institution, and theThomas B. Fordham Foundation. For seven years she was also a member of the boardthat oversees the National Assessment of Education Progress (the NAEP test).

And then she changed her mind.Her newest book,“The Death and Life of the Great American School System”is the

story of this about-face. When questioned about her reversal, she writes: “I have theright to change my mind. … my views changed as I saw how these ideas were work-ing out in reality.” She still firmly believes that “we must preserve American public ed-ucation, because it is so intimately connected to our concepts of citizenship anddemocracy and to the promise of American life.” It’s how we try to improve it that shebelieves should be changed.

For anyone interested in education, children, government, community or the future,this book makes for compelling reading. Most of today’s crucial issues are here: stan-dards, testing, diversity, parent involvement, No Child Left Behind, teacher evaluation,corporate funding, politics, and many more. But Ravitch, with her historian’s eye, helpsus see how we got here and offers solutions, albeit not easy or quick ones, for how tomove on.

From among her plethora of concerns, a few important threads emerge.First, Ravitch believes that nothing, whether education or otherwise, can truly be

solved with a “quick fix.” She says that this “magic bullet” approach that we Ameri-cans often seek has proven many times over to be a short-term fix rather than a sus-tainable solution.

Secondly, Ravitch thinks that before implementing new policies, we must ask,“WhatIS a good education? What are the essentials?” Her answer? A strong, deep, substan-tive, national curriculum, based on the sciences and liberal arts. She recognizes thatthese are very tough questions. She is not opposed to testing, but makes a good argu-ment for testing what you teach, not teaching to a standardized test.

A third thread is that education, and the students and schools within the system, donot lend themselves to a business model of organization or improvement.“Good datacollection” and “the lure of the market” might not be the best motivators for children,learning, and teaching, she suggests.

If you are a teacher, ever had a good teacher, or know one, you will like ChapterNine: What Would Mrs. Ratliff Do?

Carbondale Commentary

LETTERS page 12

EDUCATION page 12

By Terray SylvesterSopris Sun Staff Writer

Local public radio stations are casting awary eye toward Washington, D.C. whereongoing negotiations over the federalbudget threaten to decimate funding forrural broadcasters.

A proposal to eliminate federal funds forthe Corporation for Public Broadcastingcould slash the budget of Carbondale-based KDNK by a little less than 30 per-cent. In Paonia, KVNF could also suffer aroughly 30 percent cut.

“I’m losing sleep,” said KVNF StationManager Sally Kane.

She stated that rural stations will sufferdisproportionately from the cuts since theyrely more heavily on CPB funding thantheir counterparts in urban areas.

Although legislators have proposed cut-ting funding for the CPB in the past, thistime Kane sees a perfect storm brewing,precipitated in part by a backlash over aperceived liberal bias on the part of Na-tional Public Radio, which receives onlyabout 2 percent of its funding from theCPB, according to Politico.com.

“Every year this is part of the [budget]process,” she said. “Citizens have to stand

up for the things they use and value, butthere’s never been such a conjunction ofdeficit-reduction fever and sour economicconditions.”

On Feb. 19, the U.S. House of Repre-sentatives passed a bill that would cut thefederal budget by $60 billion. The bill wasapproved largely on party lines, with thesupport of Colorado’s 3rd District Repre-sentative Scott Tipton and all but threeother Republican representatives.

The measure is expected to face opposi-tion in the Senate, but if it does become lawit would do away with a $340 million an-nual appropriation for the CPB.

A decision on the bill could arrive asearly as March 4, which is when a deadlinefor approving a new federal budget is set toexpire, although lawmakers may extendthat deadline.

KDNK is set to receive about $136,000in CPB funds this year, said Station Man-ager Steve Skinner. KDNK’s total 2011budget is $435,860.

“That would be a big hit,” Skinner said.“We’re certainly dependent on it.”

Most of the CPB funds are unrestrictedand flow into KDNK’s general fund. If they

By Lynn BurtonSopris Sun Staff Writer

What kind of sign does Carbondale needto draw motorists off Highway 82, ontoHighway 133 and then into town?

If you’re thinking “potato,” “gigantictrout,” “cowboy,” “cowgirl,” “cow,” “flam-boyant hippie” or any of a number of otherimages, hold on to that thought. The Car-bondale Chamber of Commerce plans tohold a contest to design a sign for the inter-section of Highway 82/133 and they’d like tohave the sign in place by this spring.

“It (a contest) seemed like a natural fit,”chamber member Jason Segal told the Car-

bondale Board of Trustees at Tuesday night’smeeting.

Placing a sign on Highway 82 is just oneof several projects and campaigns the cham-ber has planned for 2011, as outlined bychamber director Sherri Harrison during herpresentation to the trustees.

The Carbondale Chamber of Commerceadministers a 2 percent lodging tax assessedon motels and bed and breakfasts that is ear-marked for tourism promotion and is ex-pected to raise about $58,000 this year.

Naturally enough, much of the chamber’sattention in 2011 will be focused on tourism,which is guided by the Tourism Council of

Carbondale.“The focus for 2011 is to marketCarbondale as effectively as possible with thelimited marketing dollars utilizing profes-sionals as well as chamber staff,” Harrisonsaid in a memo to the trustees.

To get the word out, the chamber hascontracted with Hyperseed Interactive andM3 Marketing. Armed with a $10,000grant from the town in 2009, the chamberupgraded its Website, which it released inNovember.

“Continued development of the Websiteincludes implementation of social media,blogging and event marketing,” Harrisonsaid.“The site will have a large social media

component incorporating Facebook andTwitter, but the most exciting part is the realtime reports the blogs will contain. We aregoing to develop a group that will report cur-rent trail conditions, fishing conditions etc.This component creates an innovative twistthat really sets the Website apart from othertourist sites.”

Tuesday night, Harrison also presented areport on the chamber’s activities in 2010.They included:

Taste of Spring,which returns this year onMay 7 at the Church at Carbondale with theMilemarkers, wine tasting a silent auctionand more.

Chamber’s 2011 plan calls for a sign on Highway 82

PUBLIC RADIO page 5

Proposed budget cuts couldhamstring local public radio

Chaz Langelier, of Salt Lake City, cruises to victory in last Sunday’s 5K Nordicskate-skiing competition at Redstone’s Winter Fest. Justin Silcox of Louisville,Colo., finished second. Terri Sofarelli, also of Salt Lake City, finished third. Photoby Lynn Burton

THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 3

By Lynn BurtonSopris Sun Staff Writer

Developer Frieda Wallison didn’t exactlysend the historic Thompson House back tosquare one at Tuesday night’s CarbondaleBoard of Trustees meeting.

Call it square two.Wallison isn’t starting from scratch in her

bid to annex her proposed Thompson Parkand preserve the Thompson House, but shedid tell trustees she’ll revert to her originalplan of 30 housing units rather than the 80she proposed in 2010.

The centerpiece in Wallison’s annexation/zoning proposal is her offer to give the 123-year-old Thompson House to either the townor Mt. Sopris Historical Society to operate asa museum. “We’re neutral (on which entityreceives the house),” she told trustees.

Thompson Park is a 10-acre site on thewest side of Highway 133 next to River Val-ley Ranch that was never annexed into thetown limits.

The trustees voted in concept for the an-nexation in December 2009, then spent 2010negotiating with Wallison as her site planchanged and her number of proposed hous-ing units ballooned. In recent months Walli-son asked for an up or down vote on theproject, which many feared could end theirdream of preserving the Thompson Houseand opening it to the public.

“The intent was there (to annex the prop-erty) in 2009,” Mayor Stacey Bernot toldWallison.“We got tripped up on the details.”Those details included road configurationsinside the sub-division, a proposal to reroutean irrigation ditch, water and sewer lineplacement, an easement across private prop-erty, traffic impact fees and more. Wallison’srepresentative, Michael Hassig, told thetrustees he tried to put site plan elements ofprevious plans into the new plan.

“There’s aren’t any major issues here,”Wallison said Tuesday night, then added sheisn’t in a position to pay traffic impact fees

“for (housing) units we haven’t built.”One bone of contention did receive a

pretty good chewing from trustees. It re-volves around Wallison’s original offer to do-nate $75,000 for repairs or maintenance tothe Thompson House. Tuesday night, citingthe subdivision’s density decrease, Wallisonsaid she is dropping the offer to $25,000.

“I see this as a possible deal breaker,”saidtrustee Ed Cortez. “This is a change at theeleventh hour.”

Later in the meeting, trustee John Hoff-mann said, “We’ll have to figure some-thing out.”

Thompson House supporters, manywearing red bandanas around their neck,took most of the available seats at Tuesdaynight’s meeting. Mt. Sopris Historical Soci-ety member Kip Hubbard gave a presenta-tion that centered on cultural heritagetourism, which he said attracts visitors whospend more than regular tourists.

“ … the Thompson House is integral to

our future economic vitality,”Hubbard said.He said cultural heritage tourism is de-

fined as people who travel to places and ac-tivities that “authentically” represent thepeople of the past and present, and includeshistoric, cultural and natural resources.

“Cultural heritage tourism is a benefit toour community because it is sustainabletourism and contributes to the clean econ-omy that Carbondale is known for,”he said.

Wallison has already donated theThompson House contents, some ofwhich date back 100 years and othersfrom the 1920s through 1950s to the his-torical society.

The trustees voted to continue theThompson Park annexation public hearingto April 12.

Other Tuesday night action included theapproval of several liquor licenses. Discus-sion of a Habitat for Humanity proposalfor Lot 9 at Cleveland Place was taken offthe agenda.

Back to square two for historic ompson House

Agencies on the alert for bat diseaseThe Colorado Division of Wildlife is step-

ping up monitoring efforts for white nosesyndrome, a deadly ailment that results froma fungus and causes massive bat die-offs. Atthe same time the U.S. Forest Service hasclosed all caves on its land in Colorado andseveral surrounding states in order to preventthe spread of the fungus. The public is askedto avoid going near bat caves, and to reportany signs of white-nose syndrome.

White-nose syndrome,which is caused bya fungus named Geomyces destructans, hasresulted in large-scale bat die-offs in the east-ern U.S. In the four years since it was discov-ered, white-nose syndrome has beenresponsible for the deaths of more than onemillion bats. The syndrome can wipe out 95percent of a bat colony in a couple of years,and it may eliminate little brown bats in thenortheastern U.S. within 16 years.

So far, white nose syndrome has not beenfound in Colorado, but in 2010, a cave innorthwestern Oklahoma less than 200 milesfrom the Colorado border tested positive forthe fungus. Scientists believe that the fungusjumped from the East Coast to Oklahoma onthe clothing or equipment of someone whohad explored an infected cave and then trav-eled west.

Signs of white nose syndrome include: batsmoving to the openings of the hibernation siteduring thewinter; bats leavinghibernation sitesin the winter, especially on cold days; bats withwhite powder-like material on their noses, earsor wings; and dead bats.DOW would also liketo know of any sites, especially in eastern Col-orado, that have hibernating bats so biologistscan include them in the monitoring effort.Members of the public who see any active ordead bats this winter are asked to report thatinformationbycalling (303)291-7771or send-inganemail [email protected] information, visit wildlife.state.co.us/Re-search/WildlifeHealth/WNS.

State water board hosts meetingThe Colorado Water Conservation Board

will host a public meeting on the frameworkfor the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC)

from 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 25, at the GlenwoodSprings Community Center at 100 WolfsohnDrive. The 27-member IBCC works to facili-tate conversations among Colorado’s riverbasins and to address statewide water issues.The committee is intended to encourage dialogon water, broaden the range of stakeholdersactively participating in the state’s water deci-sions and create a locally driven decision-mak-ing process. At the meeting, participants willgo over the IBCC framework, participate in asurvey that will focus the discussion, and thenhave small group discussion on framework el-ements. Written feedback can be directed [email protected], due Feb. 24.

Heads up, desert ratsTo protect ecological and cultural re-

sources in the Grand Canyon watershed, theU.S. Department of the Interior is proposingto withdraw as many as 1 million acres fromhardrock mining and exploration for 20years.The terrain under consideration lies tothe north and south of Grand Canyon Na-tional Park. The department is currently so-liciting public comment on the proposal.Mailcomments to the Bureau of Land Manage-ment, Arizona Strip District, 345 East River-side Drive, St. George, UT 84790, or emailthem to [email protected] more information, visit: blm.gov or call(435) 688-3200.

Website tracks GarCo energy useGovernment partners in the countywide

Garfield Clean Energy program have a newtool to track energy performance in publicbuildings, share progress with the public, andidentify ways to save additional energy andmoney.The Garfield Energy Navigator Web-site (garfieldenergynavigator.org) tracks en-ergy use – in live, 15-minute increments – for57 buildings countywide, including libraries,town halls, recreation centers, and waste-water treatment plants.The site helps facilitymanagers identify if buildings are operatingproperly and make energy-saving adjust-ments if needed. The site also demonstratesthe power of energy management for cuttingenergy costs and reducing emissions.

TheWeekly News Brief The Sopris Sun and the KDNK news departments teamup to discuss recent news from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. Catch the Briefon KDNK between 7:30 and 8 a.m. and between 5:30 and 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

4 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Roaring Fork’s Sam Carpenter takesit to the hoop in a game earlier thismonth. The Rams downed Olathe64-50 on Feb. 22 and take on GrandValley in district tournament action atPalisade High School at 4:45 p.m. onFeb. 25. Photo by Jordan Hirro

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

SUNDAY Feb. 13 At 9:44 p.m. policeissued summons to two juvenile femaleswho allegedly broke into a home onMeadowood Drive while its ownerswere at church.

TUESDAY Feb. 15 At 1:41 a.m. Car-bondale police assisted Garfield CountySheriff’s officers with a warrant arrest atthe Catherine Store park and ride.

TUESDAY Feb. 15 At 1:53 a.m. policeresponded to a drunk man allegedly try-ing to force his way into a woman’sroom on Delores Way. Officers gave theman a ride to his cousin’s house wherehe spent the night.

TUESDAY Feb. 15At 6:50 a.m. a resi-dent of Capitol Avenue reported some-one had siphoned gas out of his car.Thepolice have no leads.

TUESDAY Feb. 15At 7:34 p.m. officersnoticed three kids allegedly wrestling onthe side of the road at the intersectionof Eighth Street and Colorado Avenue.The police gave them warnings forunder-aged consumption of alcohol.

News Briefs

Business BriefsEnviroTextiles hires Pradier

Barbara Filippone,founder and president ofEnviroTextiles in Glen-wood Springs has tappedlocal entrepreneur JerryPradier to be the CEO ofthe growing internationalcompany, states a pressrelease.EnviroTextilesde-velops hemp and hemp-

blend textiles as well as other natural fiberproducts and works to improve corporate re-sponsibility and transparency in manufactur-ingprocesses and labeling.AsCEO,Pradierwillfocus on strategic direction of the company incoordination with Filippone’s vision as well ason marketing and branding efforts and servingthe commercial clients of the company. For

more information: [email protected] [email protected] or 945-5986.

CMC earns recognitionThe marketing and public information de-

partments at Colorado Mountain College re-cently received several awards from theregional chapter of the National Council forMarketing & Public Relations,which honorsoutstanding community college communica-tors from Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico,Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.

CMC’s marketing team earned a goldaward for its online newsletter enews.col-oradomtn.edu, silver for its Website col-oradomtn.edu and bronze for a 30-secondtelevision ad. The public information officetook home silver for feature writing andbronze in the category of media success story.

Jerry Pradier

vanish, the station would suffer a loss equalto about half of its total staffing budget,which is roughly $223,000. Put more vis-cerally, the cut could simply pull the rug outfrom underneath the KDNK news depart-ment, which pays two full-time employeesas well as other contributors.

In addition, some of the CPB funds payfor national programming that airs onKDNK, such as NPR, “Democracy Now!”and WNYC’s “Radiolab.”

Over the pass in Paonia, KVNF is set toreceive about $120,000 in CPB grants thisyear, Kane said. The station’s total 2011budget is roughly $360,000.The loss of theCPB funding could cost the station twofull-time positions, plus require other cuts.

Kane explained that while an urban sta-tion might draw between 7 and 10 percentof its budget from CPB grants, rural sta-tions rely much more heavily on federalfunds.

Rural stations have to foot the bill formuch of the same expensive equipment asurban stations while operating in sparselypopulated areas home to a much smallerpool of potential donors. They also faceadded expenses to maintain their infra-structure, Kane said, mentioning onesnowy expedition this winter when KVNFworkers rounded up snowmobiles (and ateam of sled dogs) to repair a piece of trans-mitting equipment near Montrose.

Native American and minority stations– which may serve a small listenership evenif they’re located in urban areas – would

also be hit particularly hard if the CPB losesits funding.

And by some standards, broadcasters inrural areas are more valuable, since theyoperate in underserved areas, Kane said.

KVNF itself serves an estimated180,000 listeners spread over seven coun-ties, she explained. It is the only broadcastfacility physically located in Delta County,where, according to Kane’s research, about60 percent of residents don’t have Internetaccess in their homes.

“We’re already really having a toughtime sustaining local news as it is,” she said.“All we’ve got is one … weekly paper inthis county.”

Back in Carbondale, Skinner managedto find a silver lining.

“It could be absolutely horrible but itcould force people to pay for their radiostation,” he said, explaining that the loss ofCPB funds could stimulate listeners to iden-tify what they value most in the station –whether it’s the local news from KDNK’sreporters, national programming or musicshows – and then step up and fight for it.

Skinner suggested the best way for peo-ple to get involved – aside from calling law-makers who may or may not pay attention– would be to “pony up,” become a mem-ber if they aren’t already, renew their mem-bership if they need to and generally “getin-fricking-volved and not let the worldpass them by.”

Coincidentally, KDNK’s pledge drivekicked off this week. (See sidebar.)

Public radio continued om page 3

THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 5

Next Steps:For more information on the proposed cuts to the Corporation for Public Broad-casting, visit 170millionamericans.org.KDNK’s Spring Renewal Membership Drive runs through March 9 or until thestation hits its fundraising goal. This year it features a breakfast talk with Amy Goodmanof “Democracy Now!” on March 5 at Carbondale Town Hall. For more information visitKDNK.org or call 963-0139.KVNF will start its spring membership drive in late March; for more informa-tion visit kvnf.org or call (970) 527-4866.

March AT VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL

Blood testingPredraws

for Valley View Hospital’sCommunity Health Fairs

Blood PreDraws only:• March 2, 6:30-10 am

• March 23, 6:30 to 10 amGlenwood Springs Community Center

Blood draw includes cholesterol, cardiacrisk, blood sugar, kidney and liver functionfor $40. Add Prostate Specific Antigen for$30. Blood count $15. Colorectal kit $10.

Requires fasting 12 hours before blood draw. 18 years and older.

For information: 384-6653.

Health Fair dates:Coal Ridge High School (Silt/New Castle)

April 9 – 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.Roaring Fork High School (Carbondale)

April 16 – 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.GMA (Glenwood) April 30

7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Tobacco Cessation

Classes

Create a personalized plan to stop smoking using the Quit Smart Program from

Duke University. Small group classes aretaught by Sandy Hyra, RN. There will be two additional sessions, to be scheduled

by consensus of the participants. All three sessions must be attended.

Individual classes available by request. Fee $35.

March 1, 5:30 pmThird floor conference room at

Valley View Hospital. New class sessions begin on the first

Tuesday of every odd-numbered month.For questions, contact Martin Gaither

at 384-7702 or email: [email protected]

VALLEY VIEW HOSPITAL1906 BLAKE AVENUE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS • WWW.VVH.ORG • 970.945.6535

March 15, 5-7 pmValley View Hospital

Please join us for the opening receptionof this compelling art exhibit. The Lilly

Oncology on Canvas display honors thejourneys people face when confronted

with a cancer diagnosis, providing insight into the wide range of emotionsexperienced. Showing until March 25.

The exhibit is touring communities nationwide, and showcases select

pieces of art from the 2010 OncologyOn Canvas competition.

Additional art pieces from local cancer survivors will also be shown.

Champagne and light refreshmentsComplimentary valet parking

A LOCAL SHOWING OF THE NATIONAL EXHIBIT

VVH Auxiliary offers scholarshipsTeeny Jeung Memorial ScholarshipsValley View Hospital Auxiliary offers fourscholarships in memory of Teeny Jeung, a long time nurse at Valley View Hospital.Any local graduating high school studen

who has been accepted into a Health Sciences program at a college or

university is eligible.

Valley View Hospital Auxiliary Health Sciences Scholarships

The Health Sciences Scholarship is forthose entering or continuing with studies inthe medical field. Two scholarships will beawarded. Any person wishing to study or to continue studies in the medical field is

eligible for this scholarship.

Completed applications are due Friday, April 15, 2011. For further information

and applications for either of these scholarships, please call Becca Schickling,

at 384-6656.

Andy Patterson makes a trip across the newly refurbished Satank bridge earlier thismonth. The bridge (formerly also known as the “Pink Bridge”) was coated with aprotective stain before being installed, and reportedly still smells like a gigantic fur-niture refinishing project. In any case, Garfield County plans a formal bridge open-ing in the spring. Photo by Julie Albrecht

Amy Goodman’s comingAmy Goodman of“Democracy Now!”hits town March

5 for a KDNK fund-raising breakfast at town hall (8 to 10a.m.). Tickets are $50 for KDNK members at 963-0139.Goodman’s Carbondale stop is part of a two-day WesternSlope tour that includes an event in Paonia.

In other KDNK news, it’s spring membership time andladies’ arm wrestling returns. The girls will be going at itFeb. 26 at Phat Thai starting at 10 p.m.

The non-profit station’s membership drive lineup also in-cludes a special Cajun night on March 8. KDNK supporterswill throw parties in the privacy of their own home from 6to 8:30 p.m. while the station plays Mardi Gras music foreveryone to enjoy.At 8:30 p.m., the partiers will converge atthe Pour House for dessert, king cake and Cajun tunes fromDana and Brecca Wilson.

Also on tap during the spring membership drive: the secondannual“CTown”talent show at Steve’s Guitars takes place at7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25; an immigration panel discussion at the

Third Street Center takes place on March 2 at 7 p.m.For more on KDNK and its spring membership drive, go

to kdnk.org.

Dog updateFolks who walk their dogs (or vice versa) at the Carbon-

dale Nature Park take note: cows with their new calves havereturned to the pasture east of the park.The upshot? To makesure your dog doesn’t run off barking and bothering thecows, consider keeping them on a leash when they are overthat way. Or, do an up-and-back on the west side of the park.

Note to Slim-Not-So-ShadyThe Sopris Sun received a letter to the editor from an out-

fit identifying themselves as “Slim-Not-So-Shady & Associ-ates.” The handwritten letter had to do with drug dealing inAspen restaurants.The letter was somewhat humorous andoutlined a plan that would be a boon to the economy, lowerthe jobless rate and increase sale tax revenues. Alas, the Suncouldn’t print the letter because it didn’t include the name ofan actual person, hometown or a telephone number so wecould confirm the letter. The moral here? Letters to the edi-tor must include an actual name, hometown and phonenumber for confirmation.

Teenage jazzers jamThe seventh annual District Eight Honor Jazz Band, spon-

sored by Jazz Aspen Snowmass and hosted at Roaring ForkHigh School, takes place Feb. 25 through 26. More than 50teenage jazz musicians representing 24 middle and highschools from Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs,Eagle, Summit County, Steamboat Springs, Soroco, Granby,Rifle and Leadville will participate in two days of intensive jazztraining, including instructional workshops and rehearsals,with a faculty of professional musicians provided by JAS.

Faculty members include Carbondale trumpet playerTim Fox.

On Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. the public is invited to a free per-formance featuring the students and faculty at RoaringFork High School. For details, visit jazzaspensnowmass.org.

Happy birthdayBirthday greetings go out to: Steve Skinner, Jeff Dickin-

son and Kyle Watts (Feb. 24), Neill Taylor (Feb. 26), TimWhitsitt (Feb. 27), and Kate Feinzig and Dick Hallagan(March 2).

6 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Scuttlebutt Send your scuttlebutt to [email protected].

MMOOMM,, WWHHAATT IISS ‘‘GGOODD??’’DDAADD,, WWHHAATT HHAAPPPPEENNSS WWHHEENN YYOOUU DDIIEE??

Do your children ask you the hard questions? You’re not alone!

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist

Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists invite you toFAMILY, FRIENDS

AND“THE BIG FIVE”

a conversation for kids and adults about how to tacklelife’s big questions with honesty, integrity and love

We'll help you prepare for the conversations.You'll provide your children answers.

Sunday February 27, 11:30-1:00LUNCH PROVIDED

All also are welcome to our regular Sunday gathering at 10 a.m.

Bridges High School - South (back) Entrance

For directions and more Info, visit

www.tworiversuu.org

Be seenin the Sopris Sun

The Sopris Sun works hard to make your ad noticed:• Bright, mando paper instead of newsprint• We don't stack ads like other papers in the valley do• Every page draws readers with great stories and pictures • Our readers live in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale,

El Jebel and Basalt

Shine some light on your business, advertise in the Sun.

To place an ad, contact atd @soprissun.com or 970. .

Dee Hoffmiester of Silt, right, describes the impacts of nat-ural gas drilling upon her life, her family and her propertyat a screening of the documentary “Gasland” presentedas part of the Naturalist Nights speaker series on Feb. 16.She was joined by local gas activist Tara Meixsell (left).Both women appear in the film. Nearly 200 people packedthe Calaway Room in the Third Street Center for theevent. Photo by Terray Sylvester

Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club member DevonCardamone charges down the hill at a recent competitionin Telluride. Photo by Michele Cardamone.

end up in municipal courts from Parachuteto Aspen.

From July 2008 to the end of June 2009,32 kids were referred to YouthZone for pos-session of controlled substances or parapher-nalia, an offense that generally entailsmarijuana, according toYouthZone ProgramDirector Lori Mueller.

From July 2009 to June 2010, that num-ber climbed to 68, and it looks like Youth-Zone will see at least as many referrals formarijuana this year. Between July 1 and Dec.31, 2010 the program saw 30 such referrals.As Mueller put it, that number is“on target”with the previous year.

“I would absolutely think that because themedical marijuana is out there, that’s whywe’ve seen an increase,”Mueller said, thoughshe noted the medical marijuana industry isthe only factor contributing to the increase.

The trend is not as clear-cut in the Re-1school district. Although marijuana-relateddiscipline cases spiked on some campuses inthe 2009/2010 school year, the same hasn’tproven true this year.

Last school year, about 30 marijuana inci-dents occurred at Glenwood Springs HighSchool, up from only about a half dozen inthe previous year, said Judy Haptonstall.Thisyear she said the numbers are back to normalat the school.

Assistant Superintendent Brad Ray said asimilar trend played out district-wide.

“I would say we’re definitely down on ex-pulsions this year based on distribution [ofmarijuana],” he stated. “It’s definitely not

what we saw last year.”Ray explained that students aren’t allowed

to possess or be under the influence of mari-juana while they’re on campus, not even ifthey possess a medical marijuana license.Thedistrict expels students who distribute mari-juana, but suspends kids caught in possessionof the drug.

Roaring Fork High School has not seenany increase in marijuana use, according toschool administrators, but Andrea Caruso, acounselor at the school, said that while shehasn’t seen more teens using pot she hasheard that more of them are getting it fromadults with medical marijuana licenses.

“There’s an increasing amount of timeswhen they’re getting it from their parents”without their parents’ knowledge, she said.

“It’s kind of changed maybe for some kidsfrom being in the class of meth and thosehardcore drugs to being more in the class ofalcohol because it is legal,”Caruso added.“Itjust may be that the fear factor or the deter-rent factor is not so strong anymore.”

Easier to downplay potTed Benge, a junior at Roaring Fork High

School explained that the contradiction be-tween Colorado medical marijuana laws andfederal regulations (under which marijuanais still illegal) is perplexing to students.

“It’s so confusing,”said Benge, who playsa variety of sports and stresses that he him-self steers clear of pot.“I don’t think any peo-ple really know the state of the laws, wherethey are now.”

He said teens have begun to take the legalpenalties and the potential health impacts ofusing marijuana less seriously, particularly incomparison to alcohol, for which the penal-ties are well known.The picture is hazier withmarijuana, in part because the state constitu-tion does allow minors to obtain medicalmarijuana licenses under some circumstances.

“Personally it seems like maybe the con-sequences wouldn’t be so bad now because[pot] is legal,” Benge said. “Certain kids canget their licenses and it’s just like, ‘Oh well,this can’t be bad.’ It seems like it’s not as badas getting caught with alcohol.”

Colorado’s constitution allows peopleunder the age of 18 to get a medical mari-juana license with parental permission andrecommendations from two doctors, amongother requirements.

Other state laws prohibit marijuana busi-nesses from running ads that target minors,and state that no one under the age of 21 canwork in a dispensary or grow marijuanacommercially, but beyond that the rules arelargely silent when it comes to minors.

Benge may be more informed on the topicthan many of his peers since he has delvedinto the state’s medical marijuana rules aspart of one his classes.But Mueller, ofYouth-Zone, says the problem doesn’t just resultfrom adolescents failing to understand the let-ter of the law.

As she describes it, contradictions in themedical marijuana industry have made itmore difficult for YouthZone to convincetheir clients to avoid the drug.She pointed out

that medical marijuana licenses are com-monly thought to be relatively easy to obtain,whether or not an applicant is suffering froma legitimate ailment.

It doesn’t help that the drug isn’t dispensedlike other pharmaceuticals. Mueller said shehas heard of dispensaries handing out freesamples – not a typical maneuver for a phar-macy. When asked about the lack of official-looking pharmaceutical packaging, and theproliferation of advertisements that soundmore like deli specials than doctors’ recom-mendations – for example, the one-day 1-ounce tincture advertised in one localnewspaper on Wednesday – she agreed thosealso undermine the drug’s stature.

“It’s easy for kids to minimize [marijuana]because we don’t know what we’re doing asadults,” Mueller said.“[Adults] are confusedabout it so of course kids are confused aboutit. We’re saying one thing and the reality isvery different.”

From her point of view, the medical mar-ijuana industry has given short shrift toyoung people.

“Right now [medical marijuana] is prettymuch a joke and that’s what everybody prettymuch says,” she stated.“Someone is makinga lot of money on it and our kids are reallythe ones that are suffering from it.”

Not your mommy’s marijuanaMueller understands that teens can get

what they believe are benefits from mari-juana. It can help them relax and deal with

Teens and medical marijuana continued om page 1

THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 7

DDesireesireA Streetcar NamedA Streetcar Named

Directed & Designed by Lon WinstonValerie Haugen • Lee Sullivan • Jennifer Michaud • Tim Rafelson

Tammy Kenning • Mark Gregory • Carlos Herrera

Gerald Delisser • Mayra Ramirez • Tripp Watts

Thunder River Theatre Company“Professional Theatre at its Finest”

Lon Winston, Executive Artistic Director

Thunder River Theatre67 Promenade, on the Red Brick Walkway, Downtown Carbondale

Feb. 24 (Preview), Feb. 25 (Opening), 26, March 4-6, 10-12, 20117:30 p.m. Curtain, except Sunday Matinee, 2 p.m.

Tickets & Information:www.thunderrivertheatre.com or 970-963-8200

Find us on Facebook!Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Inc.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

Tennessee Williams

Non-profit highlight

Carbondale Council on Arts & Humanities520 South Third Street, Carbondale

970.963.1680www.carbondalearts.com

Ad sponsored in memory of Carol Rothrock

CCAH now has online tickets/class workshop registration...go towww.carbondalearts.com and click on the tickets registration tab.

Upcoming EventsFIRST FRIDAY,March 4, 6-8 p.m., “Untamed and Reclaimed”

Artists Wewer Keohane, Gena Hawkins, Susan Obermeyer-Strauss,Terry Muldoon, Janet Nelson, Linda Drake and Kathy Honea

Green is the New Black, Fashion Extravaganza, AWorld of FashionMarch 11-12 at 7 p.m. at the Carbondale Recreation Center

It sold out last year, so we added a night. Go to www.carbondalearts.comfor more information and to purchase your tickets.

March 19, Infamous Stringdustersat the Church at Carbondale

Tickets $18 for CCAH members, $20 non-members or $25 at the door.Buy them online at www.carbondalearts.com

Upcoming Classes/WorkshopsImprovisation with Jack Green, February 23 through March 9

Wednesdays from 7-9 pm at CCAH Center for the Arts. Adults: $100.

Toy Theatre, February 26-27With Soozie Lindbloom, Ages 16 and up, $60 non-members/$50 members,

$10 materials fee, scholarships available.

Drop-In Figure Drawing, Mondays, starting February 28, 7-9 p.m.,CCAH Center for the Arts. Model fee, no instruction.

Email Ro at [email protected].

Register online at www.carbondalearts.com, then tickets/registration.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA page 11

THURSDAY Feb. 24-26THEATRE • The Thunder River TheatreCompany starts its production of TennesseeWilliams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” at7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25-25, with a preview onFeb. 24 (also at 7:30 p.m.). “Williams’searly plays connected with the new Ameri-can taste for realism that emerged follow-ing the Depression and World War II,” saidTRTC Artistic Director Lon Winston.“Thecharacters in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’are trying to rebuild their lives in postwarAmerica.The more powerful the electricity,the more extreme its positive and negativepoles. Williams’s extremities were most fa-mously embodied by Stanley Kowalski andBlanche Dubois, a rampage of masculinitythat will survive and a feminine delicacythat may not. The play continues March 4-6 and March 10-12. All performancesbegin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday mati-nee at 2 p.m. on March 6. For ticket infor-mation, call 963-8200.

THURSDAY Feb. 24LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars, in the oldpart of the Dinkel Building, presentsMichael Rhodes, Laurel Sheehan, DougDavis and guests at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are$10. Rhodes is a musician/singer-song-writer who will be joined by Davis on con-gas and Sheehan on keyboards.“I've heardrumors of Steve Koch and Jimmy Polow-chena joining in on a night of original songsand cool covers,” Steve Standiford said.“From rock ’n’ roll to country and every-thing in between, Sheehan is an amazingand accomplished classical piano player so

I’m looking forward to seeing her playsome other genres. Does she rock? Comeout and see. I bet she does.” Info: 963-3304.

GREEN JOBS • The Wilderness Workshoppresents a slideshow by Piper Foster titled“300,500 Permanent Green Jobs: Why Eu-rope Isn’t Afraid of Climate Policy and WeShouldn’t be Either”at the Aspen Center forEnvironmental Studies at 7:30 p.m.

KINDERGARTEN DISCUSSION • TheGarfield County childcare program holds akindergarten transition seminar for parents ofpre-school children at CarbondaleTown Hallfrom 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Info: 970-309-4393.

FRI.-SAT. Feb. 25-26MOVIES •The CrystalTheatre presents“TheKing’s Speech”(R) at 4:45 and 7:30 p.m.Feb.26 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 - March 3.

THEATRE • Glenwood Springs HighSchool presents a rock musical based ontunes from the 1980s. Curtain time is 7p.m. and tickets are $12/adults and $8/stu-dents. The show continues March 4-5.

FRIDAY Feb. 25LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars andKDNK team up for the second annual “C-Town” talent show at 7:30 p.m. (doorsopen at 7 p.m.). “We are long-standing,big fans of this creative, one-of-a-kind,public radio station,” said Steve Standi-ford. “When we were asked to help host a2011 Spring Membership Drive event, wewere glad to help.” Expect lots of laughsand some lively merriment put on by

KDNK staff and volunteers. Info: 963-3304.

LIVE MUSIC • Rivers restaurant in Glen-wood Springs presents 50/Fifty (classicrock) from 9 p.m. to midnight. No cover.

LIVEMUSIC • Big Daddy Lee plays Jimmy’s,located in Aspen at 205 S. Mill St. Danceableblues and R&B. 10:15 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

LIVE MUSIC • Carnahan’s in the DinkelBuilding presents King Hippo at 10 p.m.

SQUARE DANCE • The Roaring ForkValley Horse Council throws a squaredance at Alpine Animal Hospital (locatedon old Highway 82 between Carbondaleand El Jebel) from 7 to 10 p.m.Tom Paxtonwill be the caller. Tickets are $10 mem-bers/$15 non-members. Dessert will beserved. Info: 925-6118.

SATURDAYFeb. 26-27BALLETFOLKLORICO •The Folkloric Parents’Association presentsits annual AspenSanta Fe Ballet Folk-lorico Mexican din-ner and dance show

fundraiser. More than70 children ages 7-18

from Basalt and Carbon-dale will dance. The shows

take place on Saturday at BasaltMiddle School, with dinner from

5:30-6:30 p.m. and the dance performanceat 6:30 p.m., and on Sunday at CarbondaleMiddle School, with dinner from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the dance performance at5:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 adults/$3 chil-dren, which includes a burrito dinner. Info:963-7467.

SATURDAY Feb. 26LIVE MUSIC • Steve’s Guitars presentsMilemarkers at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.The band is comprised of Nelson Oldham,Vidi, Chris Goplerud and Hap Harriman.Info: 963-3340.

LIVEMUSIC•Carnahan’s in theDinkelBuild-ing presents the Roaring Dub Stars at 10 p.m.

SUNDAY Feb. 27ACT COURSE • Carolyn Williams of Col-

8 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

7am - 4pm • Monday - Saturday • Conveniently located next to City Market

970-963-3663

Expires

Roast Beef

CALENDAR page 11

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.

Income Category 4Maximum Gross Household Income: $108,300*

*May add $7,500 per dependent up to three dependents

611 Bridgewater - $200,411• Single Family Home• 3 bedroom 2 baths• 1,120 SF of living space (per assessor)• 2 Pets OK• HOA - $140 per month• 2010Taxes - $894

Carbondale CommunityHousing Lottery

611 Bridgewater, $200,411

Open House: Saturday, February 26, 2011 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.Saturday,March 5, 2001 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Application Deadline: March 8, 2011 5:00 p.m.

Lottery: March 11, 2011, 12 noonMountain Regional Housing, 520 SouthThird Street, #23

Requirements: Full-time Employee:minimum local employment of at least one household member of 30 hoursper week, 9 months per year. Priority is given to applicants who live and/or work in Carbondale town boundaries.

Not Own Other Property: members of the household may not own other improved real estate in the RFVal-ley, including mobile homes,with the exception of owner-occupied commercial real estate (not less than 50% occu-pied by the owner).

Occupancy: Owner(s) must live in the unit

Applications are available and may be picked up and turned in atMountain Regional Housing 520 SouthThird Street, #23, Carbondale, CO

www.carbondalegov.org or www.colorado.gov/housingcommunity.orgInformation: 970-704-9801 or [email protected]

Saturday, February 26

20%off

almostanything*you canstuffinside!

BAGSALE

THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 9

Further OutMarch 5GALA DANCE • Tickets are on sale forSymphony Swing, the Symphony in theValley’s gala dance and social event to ben-efit the community orchestra. The eventfeatures the Symphony in the Valley JazzOrchestra playing top tunes from the BigBand era, with vocalists Jeannie Walla, Lor-raine Curry, Krista Espelien, Steve Cole andKelly Thompson, and solo instrumentalistsJohn Bokram, Steve Cole, Kelly Thompsonand Ross Kribbs. The Carbondale showtakes place at the Aspen Glen Club at 6p.m. on March. 5, which includes a dinnerdance and live auction. Tickets are avail-able only in advance at symphonyintheval-ley.org. Symphony Swing will also be

presented at the Grand River Hospital ball-room in Rifle at 7 p.m. March 4.

March 10-11GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK • The Car-bondale Council on Arts and Humanitiespresents its annual Green is the New Blackfashion extravaganza at the CarbondaleRecreation Center. Stay tuned for details.

March 10BOOKDISCUSSION • A discussion of thebook “The Death and Life of the GreatAmerican School System”by Diane Ravitchtakes place at the Gordon Cooper Libraryat 6 p.m. Books are available through the li-brary. Info: Bonnie Cretti a [email protected].

OngoingVAUDEVILLE • The Glenwood VaudevilleRevue presents its new winter show at 901Colorado Ave. through April 23. Tickets are$22 for adults and $16 for kids. Info: 945-9699 and gvrshow.com.

WOMEN’S BIKE CLASSES • AlohaMountain Cyclery offers a women’s bikemaintenance clinic from 6 to 7:30 p.m. everyWednesday through March 23. Wine andsnacks are served. Info: Shawna Brown at(970) 319-0538.

CLAY CENTER SHOW CONTINUES •The Carbondale Clay Center presents “Sen-sual Ceramics” featuring seven artists. Info:963-2529.

VALLEY VISUAL CONCLUDES • TheValley Visual Art Show, presented by theCarbondale Council on Arts and Humani-ties, concludes at the Third Street Center onFeb. 28. Info: 963-1680.

GUDA SHOW CONTINUES • Roadlessarea photos by Nelson Guda are beingshown in the Calaway Room at the ThirdStreet Center. Info: 963-3977.

NOONE SHOWCONTINUES • The Col-orado Mountain College Gallery in down-town Glenwood Springs presents a show bypainter Mary Noone through March 23.

FOOD EDUCATION • Eco-Goddess hostsa food education series at the restaurantevery Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. It’s free.Info: 963-7316.

MAYOR’S COFFEE HOUR • Chat withCarbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot on Tues-days from 7 to 8 a.m. at the Village Smithy,located at 26 S. Third St.

BRIDGE • Senior Matters in the ThirdStreet Center offers bridge every Wednesday.Info: 945-7094.

ZINGERS SING • The Zingers singinggroup gets together at the Third Street Cen-ter every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. Info:945-7094.

ACOUSTIC CARNAHANS • Singer/song-writer T Ray Becker hosts an acoustic musicnight with new musicians every week from 7to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Carnahan’s Tavern.Info: 963-4498.

OPEN MIC • Dan Sadowsky hosts openmic sessions at the Limelight Lodge in Aspenfrom 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Sunday. Info:925-3025.

OPEN MIC • Jammin’ Jim hosts open micnights at Rivers restaurant in GlenwoodSprings from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.Tacos are a buck.

PLAY TIME • The Carbondale RecreationCenter presents “Run, Jump & Play” forkids 0-4 years old Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m.to noon. The cost is $10 per family.

RAILROAD MUSEUM • The GlenwoodSprings Railroad Museum, located at 4137th St., is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. Exhibits include historic photos, arti-facts and toy trains. Admission is $1adults/free for kids. Info: 928-8721.

HISTORICTOURS • The Aspen HistoricalSociety offers free historic ski tours of AspenMountain Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (alift ticket and intermediate skiing ability is re-quired). Meet at the information kiosk ontop of the mountain. Info: 925-3721.

Community Calendar

For Information & Reservations call 970-945-0667

970.963.4DVT(4388) ~ 68 El Jebel Rd. (next to Napa Auto Parts) ~ downvalleytavern.com

A neighborhood Italian Restaurant ~ Lunch 11-3 (M-F) Brunch 10-3 (Sa-Su) Dinner 5-closeHAPPY HOUR 5-6 p.m. everyday & 9-close (Sat Night)

MEATBALL Mondays $13(spaghetti & meatballs with house salad)

Tue – PRIX FIXE for $15(choice of appetizer or salad plus pasta dish)

Wed – ½price WINES (by the glass)

Sat - APRÉS SKI 35 (Choice of two domestic beer and/or

house wine plus appetizer - $10)

Sun – FAMILY Night (one complimentary kids menu item with purchase of one adult entree)

orado Educational Consulting offers sixmore sessions of an ACT prep course fromFeb. 27 through April 7. The cost is $250.Info: 274-6298.

POETRY NIGHT • The Hotel Lenado inAspen presents a live poetry night from 6:30to 9 p.m. Dave Taylor hosts; Australian poetRon“Pikey”Pike will also appear.The stageis open to all poets. Info: 970-379-2136.

MONDAY Feb. 28JAM SESSION • The Carbondale BeerWorks in front of the post office hosts an

old-time jam session every other Monday.

WEDNESDAYMarch 2NATURALIST NIGHTS • The WildernessWorkshop’s Naturalist Nights series con-tinues at 5:30 p.m. at the Third Street Cen-ter with Dr. Dan Tinker discussing beetles,fire and climate change. Dr. Tinker willmake the same presentation at the AspenCenter for Environmental Studies March 3at 7:30 p.m. Info: 963-3977.

LIVEMUSIC • White House Pizza on Car-bondale’s Main Street presents Lisa, Gene& Rob (Sheryl Crow meets Jewel) from 7to 10 p.m.

continued from page 10

10 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Every month, The Sopris Sun ends up with photos that didn’tfit into the paper due to space limitations. Here are a few of

the photos that didn’t fit in February.

Photos thatdidn’t fit

Mark Fischer (shown here) and Lari Goode recently opened the Pullman restaurant to great reviewsin Glenwood Springs. They also own Six89 and Phat Thai in Carbondale. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Little dancers at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School (left and above) are livening things up at the ThirdStreet Center these days. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Bryan Bowers is probably the world’s best-known au-toharp player. He also plays other stringed instruments,sings and tells funny stories. He brought his whole gameto the Third Street Center for an intimate concert in theRound Room earlier in the month. Lynn Burton photo

Beware of snow sharks. This one was found lurking in an irrigation ditch. Photo by Julie Albrecht

When I was kid, 8 or9 years old, we lived fortwo years in a smallhouse with a huge yard.The front was long andwide with a shaggy un-kempt lawn and four orfive gigantic trees. Manyof these we could climb,including the catalpa treewith its long weird pods,and the old maple tree.Abroken chair wedged atthe base of her trunk letlittle peeps like us reachthat first branch. Onceup on it, we had a stair-way of thick limbs all theway to the top, where another old chair wastied and lodged in the leaders. From that sky-high aerie we could survey our kingdom. Itwas one of my favorite places on the planet.

My other favorite place was in the back-yard, where we had a real live apple tree withreal live apples we could eat. And we had avegetable garden where my dad taught us togrow cucumbers in a bottle next to Brusselssprouts we hated and sweet corn that weloved. Along the side of the house werebushes, Great Big Tall Ones that were myste-rious. Within this bushiness (through which Iwould crawl) was another world where thelight was soft green, sound was muffled andit was deliciously cool. Back then, in thatplace, in those moments, a praying mantiseating its prey was pretty cool too! Collected

catalpa leaves were Barbieclothes. A hole in the groundbecame a Smurf swimmingpool, and empty jars made per-fect homes for fireflies andcaterpillars.

I think of all this having re-cently read a call to action,“Re-connecting theWorld’s ChildrenTo Nature” (worldforumfoun-dation.org/wf/nacc/call_to_action.pdf). It calls on our teach-ers, leaders and parents to make“developmentally appropriatenature education a sustainingand enriching, fully integratedpart of the daily lives and edu-cation of the world’s children.”

Back then, it seemed the outdoors was howwe played. Seeing children nowadays I won-der. And worry for them and our planet.

The charter goes on to propose how keythese relationships to nature are in a child’srealization of their own humanity. It stressesthe importance of contemplative play in na-ture (as opposed to solely organized sports),which helps to develop within kids a sympa-thetic understanding of their environmentand their place in it. It also influences theadults they’ll become, as well as the decisionsthey’ll make as consumers and contributors.

Despite how far anyone may live from atrailhead or park, despite whatever the localschool programs may or may not have, wecan cultivate these opportunities in our ownyards, balconies or even kitchen windowsills,

starting at any age.For Juniper, our new little one, we’ll en-

courage many parts of our property to natu-ralize around the native trees and shrubs wehave so far. Through the years, family proj-ects may include cultivating her little plots ofnature by adding colonies of wildflowers wesee on outings, or perhaps planting a speciesof plant that she has provides habitat to a res-

ident creature. Whether we are able to “takeher to the woods” or not, outside playtimewill include spontaneous,natural experiencesto spark her curiosity and wonder.

In the arc of Juniper’s youth, as she dis-covers her connection to this living, physicalworld, I hope she also encounters the magicand mystery my sisters and I found in ourown yard.

THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 11

Welcoming by design...What’s your plan?

Geneviève Joëlle Villamizarwww.evolvinglandscape.com

963.7055

Ackerman Log & Timber

Carefully Crafted for the Highest Quality Construction and Design

SAWMILL • HOMES • ACCENTS

Conveniently located in Carbondale970-963-0119

Land Officerfor Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST) program.

Full-time salaried position will administer post-acquisition assetsincluding conservation easements (CE) in

compliance with State and Land Trust Alliancestandards. Duties include conservation ease-

ment monitoring and reporting, property file management and GIS mapping.

To view a full job description and to applyvisit www.aspenpitkin.com/countyjobs

GettingGroundedby Geneviève Joëlle

Villamizar

the stress of school, it’s part of what theydo when they hang out.

“In a lot of respects unfortunatelythey’re really getting benefits from it,” shesaid. Kids self-medicate because “it’s easyand it works … definitely there’s some gainfor them.”

But nonetheless, Mueller said it is “ab-solutely” a problem when teens use mari-juana. It can mellow them out too much,leading to bad grades; it can cause conflictswith parents who may not want themusing the drug; it can cause them to runafoul of the law; but most importantly,Mueller said the strength of the drug thesedays can impact the way a teenage braindevelops, changing the way someone be-haves in the long term.

“It has lifelong impacts,” she said.Carbondale Police Chief Gene Schilling

says that like Mueller, he is concernedyoung people are being given the oppor-tunity to try the drug while they are still

developing, and before they are oldenough to make informed decisions aboutits effects.

“My feeling is that we should educateand restrict as much as possible the influ-ence of marijuana on our youth,”Schillingsaid. “I think it makes the marijuana ap-pear to be a more acceptable item to ouryouth when you have storefronts that aredown on the first floor of town and facingMain Street and kids are walking by andsaying ‘Hey, I can go in there and buy it soit must be OK.”

Terry Wilson, the Glenwood policechief, shares his concerns.

“I haven’t heard anyone that’s pro-marijuana present an argument in favor ofit enhancing the ability to learn in the ju-venile stages of youth development,” hesaid. “I’m not seeing a big benefit for 15-year-old kids to have easy access to a sub-stance that does not help them develop asyoung adults.”

Medical marijuana continued om page 7

Giving the children a backyard – and beyond

12 • THE SOPRIS SUN • FEBRUARY 24, 2011

J.FROST

MERRIOTTCertified Public Accountant

Office 970-704-1101

Fax 970-704-9101

Email [email protected]

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UnclassifiedsSubmit Unclassifieds to [email protected] by12 p.m. on Monday. $15 for up to 30 words, $20 for31-50 words.

HELP WANTED: The Sopris Sun seeks volunteer colum-nists and a volunteer copy editor. Support your communitynewspaper and make your voice heard! Call (970) 510-3003 or email [email protected].

GET THE WORD OUT IN UNCLASSIFIEDS! Ratesstart at $15. Email [email protected].

*Credit card payment information should be emailed to [email protected] or call 948-6563. Checks may bedropped off at our office at the Third Street Center or mailedto P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO 81623. Call 618-9112for more info.

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Service Directory

Community BriefsResponse offers financial seminars

Response offers a series of weekly financial seminars forwomen at the El Jebel Community Center on Tuesdaysthroughout March at 6 p.m. Seminar topics include organiz-ing, budgeting, banking and credit, taxes, mortgages and in-surance. “Financial freedom and independence are key,” saidLauren Mbereko, executive director of Response. “It is ex-tremely important for all women to understand their financesand how to control their money no matter their circumstancesin life.”The cost is $50 and limited scholarships are available.To enroll or for more information, call Response at 920-5357or visit the Website responsehelp.org.

Go plan a playgroundCrystal River Elementary School (CRES) in Carbondale

will hold an all-school meeting, open to the public, to provideinformation about the upcoming volunteer project to build anew playground on the campus. The meeting will be at 2:30p.m. on Feb. 25, in the CRES gym at 160 Snowmass Drive.The Parent Teacher Organization is recruiting volunteers forthe construction of the playground from April 27 to 30, aswell as organizational duties leading up to and during the proj-ect workdays. In addition to volunteers, the school is seekingfood donations/support from local restaurants and assistancewith organizing tools and food for the project workdays.

For more information or to get involved, contact PTOPresident Mandy Brennan at 379-4987.

If you are amazed at all the moneysome of our country’s very wealthiestare contributing to education, waituntil you read Chapter 10: The Bil-lionaire Boys’ Club. But I don’t wantto give away all the good stuff.

I hope these words entice you tofind a copy of this important book,read it, and join the discussion onThursday, March 10.The library has

several copies available and so domany people in the community.

If you have any questions orcomments, please contact the Gor-don Cooper Branch Library at 963-2889 or myself.

_______________________________

Bonnie Cretti is a retired RoaringFork RE-1 schoolteacher.

The Sopris Sun encourages com-mentaries on local issues from thosewho live and care about them –that’s you, our readers.

Remember: Keep your commentarylocal and keep it to 700 words, thendispatch it to [email protected] P.O. Box 399, Carbondale, CO81623. Don’t forget to tell us yourname, phone number, where youlive and any other pertinent infor-mation about yourself.

Letters continued om page 2

Education continued om page 2

Congratulations to all the participantsas the preliminary amounts raised appearto be on track to our goal of $5,000.

Thank you to all of those who pled-ged, participated and to our sponsors.

Greg FitzpatrickSki for Sisu CoordinatorCarbondale

Let’s be more civilDear Editor:

Recently, my husband and 8-year-old daughter attended a CarbondaleBoard of Trustees meeting.Upon her re-turn from the meeting, she told me sheneeded to tell me something. “Mom,”she said,“a man told daddy he was nota part of the community because hedidn’t know what ‘CC-something’meant.” Apparently, early in the meet-ing, my husband had asked for clarifi-cation regarding the reference toCCAH, the Carbondale Council onArtsand Humanities. To say that my hus-band is not of an artistic leaning wouldbe an understatement, and so I think itis forgivable that he did not know whatorganization was being referred to.

His lack of knowledge of CCAHstruck a cord with another attendee atthis particularly contentious meeting.Atthe end of the meeting, a man ap-proached my husband abruptly andtold him that because he did not recog-nize what CCAH stood for, he was not

a part of the Carbondale community(expletives withheld). Sadly, my daugh-ter witnessed this exchange. In an at-tempt to end their heated discussion,mydaughter thrust her stuffed frog betweentheir faces.

It is unfortunate that my daughterhad to witness this. We work hard toteach our children to respect others andto realize that it is OK to disagree. Thisbasic lesson needs to be shared withthose who seem unable to avoid per-sonalizing issues when they are facedwith conflicting opinions. I commend allof the members of the community whotake the time to serve on the board oftrustees and those who take the time toattend these meetings and share theiropinions in this public debate.

I make up for my husband’s lack ofartistic passion with my own. Ironically,my business donated $1,000 in supportof CCAH in 2009-2010. I suppose, byassociation, that might give him a freepass to consider himself a member ofthe Carbondale community.

Julie WarrenCarbondale

Way to goDear Editor:

You go, Sister Perry! I too have hadenough corned beef hash and the abor-tion issue for a lifetime. Although I feelwe have not had enough abortions. In

the United States since Roe v Wade, the50 million babies aborted since 1973 issimply not enough.

But your column got me thinking.Somehow your artful reference tocorned beef hash reminded me of all thetotal nut cases in history who have dis-agreed with you. How about those stu-pid suffragettes we learned about inhistory that ushered in women's votingand legal rights?Those historic first fem-inists – Susan B.Anthony and ElizabethCady Statton – were actually dumb anddumber! They were publicly and pas-sionately feminist but publicly and pas-sionately anti-abortion.

Surely you know of Dr. AlvedaKing, the niece of Martin Luther King?Dr. King has devoted her public civilrights life to trying to stave off what shecalls "black genocide." There is anoverwhelming disproportionate num-ber of black babies aborted: 41 percentof all abortions in New York are in theblack community.

What a joke, right dear Sister Perry?Your morals rise above these women,these feminists, these lovers of life.Thankgoodness you are speaking out withyour reasoned, well documented, "sci-entific" opinions. And I love your senseof humor. Moral equivalency – cornedbeef hash – abortion; so darned cute.

Mona KlingerCarbondale

Green is the New Black fashion show queens, from left toright: Amy Kimberly, Katrina Byars and Ellie Davis workwith volunteers during their first rehearsal last weekend.The show is March 11-12 at the Carbondale RecreationCenter. Photo by Jane Bachrach