Speak up and show up

Last Saturday’s Hands Off! rally in Glenwood Springs was amazing! The huge turnout and the positive energy were so inspiring. Speaking out against the illegal, unconstitutional and cruel actions of the Trump/Musk regime is critical right now, and it was heartening to see how many folks in our community are willing to do that.

The rally was spearheaded by the local group Mountain Action Indivisible. We invite everyone who is concerned about the harms being caused by Trump and Musk to join us.
We’ll be holding our kick-off meetings on Wednesday, April 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in different locations throughout the region and via Zoom. It’ll be a great opportunity to meet like-minded neighbors, learn more about our organization and strategize for future actions. Register on our website: MountainActionIndivisible.org/events

Let history remind us: Silence and inaction come at a cost. This is our time to connect, focus and fight for what we believe in. Together, we have the power to create change.

Laurie Lawerence, Rifle

RFOV celebrates 30 years of stewardship

As Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) celebrates its 30th season, I want to offer a heartfelt thank-you to the thousands of volunteers who have given their time, support and energy to our mission over the past 30 years. Since 1995, volunteers have been the driving force behind RFOV’s work to care for and restore our beautiful public lands.

Whether you were on our very first project on the Scout Trail in the summer of ’95, helped maintain Hanging Lake Trail, hauled rocks in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness, cleared invasive species or mitigated lands threatened by wildfire, your efforts matter. Every hour, every project and every step has helped ensure our region has a vibrant network of shared outdoor spaces.

In 2024 alone, over 2,000 volunteers contributed more than 8,000 hours to projects across Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle and Gunnison counties. That’s not just a number — it’s a testament to our community’s love for the outdoors and tradition of giving back. This year, RFOV is honoring its successes with a series of commemorative projects at some of our earliest sites, including the Maroon Creek Wetlands and Maroon Bells Scenic Area in Aspen, the Red Hill trail system in Carbondale, and Rifle Falls State Park in Rifle. These places, like our volunteers, represent the lasting impact of community-powered stewardship.

As we reflect on three decades of trail work, habitat restoration, youth programming and fire mitigation, one thing is clear: None of it would be possible without you. We invite everyone to be part of this milestone season. Whether you’re a longtime volunteer or considering your first project, now is the perfect time to get involved. Visit rfov.org/calendar to sign up. To every person who has helped RFOV grow year after year — thank you. This 30-year celebration is because of you.

Sophie Ahava, Carbondale

Five months of silence is too long

On Nov. 2, 2024, an 82-year-old woman in Carbondale was sexually assaulted in her home. A community meeting was held two days later. Police asked for video footage, promised updates, and emphasized their commitment to the investigation. Since then, only one formal update has been issued — a press release dated Nov. 12 and posted on the Carbondale Police Department website.

That release thanked the community for support, acknowledged the trauma of the incident, offered safety tips and emotional health resources, and concluded with: “No additional information will be released at this time.”

That was five months ago.

Since then, the silence has been absolute. No public updates from police. No reporting from local media. No further briefings to reassure the public or answer questions. That’s unacceptable. This is a small town, and people talk. Rumors spread. Trust breaks down.

I respect the importance of due process and understand that information cannot always be made public in an active investigation. But when it comes to a crime this serious — and this terrifying — the Carbondale Police Department owes the public more.

Illène Pevec, Carbondale

A deeper look at immigration reform efforts

Concerning your article “Colorado Democrats seek more protection for immigrants,” I agree with many points made by Robert Tann. As someone who has tried and failed to help many immigrants get visas or citizenship over the last few decades, there is another side to this story that is unfolding very quickly.

I personally have made a few recommendations to our congressmen about the need to protect our workers in our valley and how our economy would suffer if they were all removed suddenly. My recommendation was to get sponsors or employers to give letters of recommendation as to the character and history of these hardworking, good people. I mentioned that we need to set up a system to verify that these are very good people who are contributing to our community and that they are a valuable asset to our country. Apparently, enough of us have made this type of recommendation that they are listening.

Yesterday at the president’s Cabinet meeting, Trump said that he plans to pause illegal immigrant deportations of those employed in agriculture, hospitality, and other industries “where workers are needed.”

Obviously this is just a beginning and no one knows how this will turn out, as these events are happening at a very rapid pace and trying to keep up with the latest news isn’t easy. I talked with a few of my friends from other countries and they didn’t know about the hardened criminals that were released from jails in other countries and the crimes that they had committed here. They all agreed that they should be removed. They also want a safe place to live. This also points to the quality of their character.

Are making laws in this state that purposely go against the federal government’s regulations a good idea? I don’t think so, and in this case it could put many good law officers at risk. We have to think about what’s good for our country, not what is perceived to be good for one party or the other.

John Eaton, Carbondale