Aspen briefs
Earth Day celebration at Cozy Point
Aspen TREE will play host to an Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Cozy Point Ranch, 220 Juniper Hill Road.
The family-friendly event is open to the public and admission is by donation. A kids’ yoga class will kick off the event at 10 a.m. Mack Bailey and Rachel Levy will play music from noon to 1:30 p.m.
All-day activities include a photo booth where children can hold baby goats, bunnies and chicks. Wildwood preschool will be hosting an eco-craft table and an interactive story walk. Healthy snacks will be available for purchase.
For more information, visit http://www.aspen-tree.org or call 970-379-2323.
Author to speak at Wine and Words
Author Rob Spillman will read from the book “All Tomorrow’s Parties: A Memoir” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Explore Booksellers, 221 E. Main St.
Spillman, the editor of Tin House magazine, spent time growing up in Aspen in the 1980s, when his father was director of the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Spillman’s appearance is part of the Wine and Words series at Explore.
City offers discounted garden kits
The city of Aspen is offering two preselected, low-water perennial garden kits in partnership with the Center for ReSource Conservation.
Each Garden in a Box contains 15 to 30 Colorado-grown, pollinator-friendly xeric plants, plant-by-number maps and a plant-care guide.
Garden kits will be available for pick up at Cozy Point Ranch from 9 a.m. to noon June 11.
The garden kits, Rocky Mountain Retreat ($144) and Spring Awakening ($104), are designed to be hardy to 8,000 feet and are offered at $25 off for Aspen residents.
Order garden kits at http://www.conservationcenter.org/ gardens or call 303-999-3820 ext. 222 for more information.
Iceland president to speak at AREDay Summit
Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson is the featured speaker at the upcoming American Renewable Energy Day Summit, set June 19 through 24 in Snowmass Village.
AREDay organizer American Renewable Energy Institute also announced that Huang Ming, chairman of Himin Solar Company Ltd., China’s largest solar thermal product manufacturer, will return as a speaker at the summit, which traditionally had been held in August.
Other highlighted speakers include oceanographer, Mission Blue Founder and National Geographic explorer-in-residence Sylvia Earle, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Louis Psihoyos, United Nations Foundation Vice Chair Timothy E. Wirth, Rocky Mountain Institute Chief Scientist Amory Lovins and Gen. Wesley Clar, among others.
Grimsson is credited for having a major influence on Iceland’s switch to renewable energy. He is an outspoken leader in climate action, encouraging global discussion that positions the economy at the center.
“People come back to AREDay each year because it’s a place for those working for climate change solutions to connect, update one another on new projects, and create alliances,” said AREDay organizer Chip Comins.
The summit will conclude with a return performance of blues icon Taj Mahal on June 23. The concert takes place on Fanny Hill in Snowmass. AREDay is collaborating with the Snowmass Free Music Series to bring Mahal to Snowmass for the free concert.
A limited number of $250 locals’ passes go on sale at the Wheeler Box Office beginning May 21. Early-bird passes cost $795 and must be purchased by June 1. Regularly priced passes are $1,295. For more information, call 970-930-8002 or visit http://www.AREDAY.net.
Move Over Law operations to begin
Since 1999, 213 law enforcement officers have been struck while on routine traffic stops or while conducting investigations on America’s roadways. These deaths have been ruled accidental but could have been easily avoided.
In 2005, the Colorado State Legislature passed a law requiring vehicles to move to the left lane when passing a law enforcement vehicle, fire truck, ambulance, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle when they are parked on the shoulder of a roadway with their flashing lights on. If the left lane is not available due to traffic volume then drivers are required to “reduce and maintain a safe speed and proceed with due care and caution.”
Studies have shown that 71 percent of all drivers did not know that there is a Move Over Law. Forty-nine states now require their drivers to move over for emergency and highway vehicles.
Starting in this month, the Colorado State Patrol will be conducting operations with the focus being strict enforcement of Colorado’s Move Over Law. These operations will be conducted in Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle and Summit counties. The penalty for not moving over is a ticket for $169.50 with the same penalties as careless driving.
The Colorado State Patrol is requesting the public’s help. Move over for stopped fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, tow trucks and maintenance crews when their lights are flashing. By moving over, drivers are giving highway responders the space they need to get their tasks completed, clear the roadways and prevent accidents.
The extra time it takes for a driver to slow down and move over is minimal. Striking a highway responder can have permanent consequences.
Aspen School Board looks to collect additional funds to rebuild budget reserves
The Aspen School District could collect an extra $1.2-1.5 million in tax dollars annually as a result of the district switching to local funding in fiscal year 2023-2024.
