Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Apr. 7, 2021

Putting the brakes on Marble’s ATV frenzy

Alex Menard and his dogs stand by one of the few signs regarding use of the Lead King Loop. Photo by Kathleen Shannon.

Sitting on the porch of a small cottage just beyond Marble town limits, I enjoyed a warm spring day, feeling that I was truly in the wilderness. Local residents are trying to soak up that feeling before the tourist season arrives, and, along with it: ATVs, or all-terrain vehicles, which… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Jun. 10, 2020

Increased power and internet outages disrupt virtual life

“CenturyLink has indicated a possible problem in calling 9-1-1 in the Roaring Fork Valley.”

Look familiar?

Subscribers to Pitkin County emergency alerts may have seen this message via text and email on May 27.

“Any time the internet is out, home phone… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published May. 13, 2020

Planning for wildfire during COVID-19

As the heat of summer and fire season both barrel toward the arid West, COVID-19 adds complications to an already delicate situation. Fire restrictions were placed in 11 National Forests and on BLM-managed spaces in 11 counties across Colorado in early April that are not due… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Apr. 22, 2020

Animal shelters empty while folks at home adopt

My life during the stay-at-home order took a sudden turn when I adopted a 6-month-old puppy last week. What better way to fill unexpected downtime? In fact, I’m writing this article between bursts of puppy energy, lots of pets, and periodic exchanges of things that shouldn’t be chewed… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Apr. 8, 2020

Responsible recreation in the new public health landscape

For so many Carbondalians, Mushroom Rock feels like a backyard. The COVID-19 stay-at-home order, however, is blurring the boundaries of mountain town backyards and home trails. As local recreation areas see increased use amidst warming weather and residents stuck at home, land management agencies are trying to keep… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Apr. 1, 2020

Victory Gardens see revival during stay-at-home order

While emptying shelves in the grocery store seem to be filling shoppers’ supply of anxiety, backyards are starting to look more like opportunities.

Echoes of WWII’s Victory Garden initiatives are ringing through the chambers of social media outlets and garden supply phone lines during COVID-19, nationally… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Mar. 25, 2020

Utility workers and services make life at home possible

Whether you, reader, are consuming this local news via the internet or a hard copy of the paper, I’m willing to wager that you are reading it at home. While the nation scrambles to find normalcy under the utterly abnormal circumstances brought on by COVID-19, communities are learning… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Mar. 11, 2020

Climbing ephemeral ice in Redstone

A half hour into our hike up a dry but snowy creek bed, ducking under fallen trees and scrambling up icy chutes, I begin to doubt whether the forest closing in on us will actually disclose an ice wall worthy of climbing.

Without Mike Schneiter,… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Feb. 19, 2020

Carbon emissions billboard art on display throughout valley

As part of its month-long Imagine Climate initiative, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) will be hosting two Climate Billboard Community Kick-offs, unveiling four new black-and-white bilingual public art pieces in the valley. Though the pieces have been done by different artists and will be displayed in… read more →

Locations: News By Kathleen Shannon Published Feb. 12, 2020

RFV Circle syncs ceremony across borders

In the midst of blizzard conditions Feb. 9, I stood huddled by a warm fire on Ute land next to the remnants of the day’s Lakota ceremony listening to a traditional Aztec song. We were there to honor and celebrate February’s full moon — called the Snow Moon,… read more →