In Brief: Crashes at last year’s pace in Aspen; tower approved for road near Sunlight

Traffic accidents haven’t increased in Aspen

The pace of automobile accidents in Aspen is tracking about even with last year.

“We usually have between one and five crashes a day depending on the season; for instance, we have had 47 crashes for the month of June but only 22 in May,” said Aspen Police Sgt. Mike Tracey.

The difference between months appears linked the number of people in town during a given time and the season’s activities. 

“The city of Aspen’s leading causes for crashes are impaired driving and distracted driving,” he said. “We suggest avoidance of those problem behaviors along with the general practice of defensive driving.  Simply put: Don’t drink and drive — and pay attention.”

He suggested using public transportation system, cycling and to and from town are great options and help ease the number of vehicles on the roadways.  

“As a community, we strive for extremely safe streets and bicycle/pedestrian byways,” he said. “That community goal is strengthened by this department’s active patrolling and education efforts every day.”

— Julie Bielenberg

David Frederick Riley show at Aspen Grove Fine Art

Aspen Grove Fine Art will host one of their most popular and most collected artists, David Frederick Riley — a Western, wildlife and Native American portrait artist — on Thursday and Friday from 4-8 p.m.

His work takes on a modern look, often in very large scale format, creating in a fresh approach to classic and timeless subject matter, according to the gallery. In this show, he adds musical icons such as Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.

Telecommunications tower approved for road near Sunlight

Garfield County has approved a limited impact land use change permit allowing construction of a new telecommunications tower off Forest Service Road 300, roughly 1.5 miles west of Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort.

The proposed 70-foot-tall tower provides expanded cellular service into the Four Mile Park area and complies with all Federal Communications Commission regulations, according to the application filed by Vertical Bridge Development LLC. 

T-Mobile is anticipated to be the primary carrier on the tower, according to Garfield County Community Development Principal Planner Glenn Hartmann. The applicant also noted that the tower will accommodate co-location with other telecommunications carriers. 

Hartmann added that the applicant can help ensure that the tower matches the natural surroundings to alleviate any visual impacts.

“There are some opportunities for them to do some painting or making sure the finish of the tower blends in well with the native vegetation and the surrounding area,” he said. 

A 540-foot driveway, which features a steep 15 percent grade in some spots, is being constructed to access the small facility on the 35-foot by 50-foot leased site on a larger residential property. No lighting is anticipated unless it is required by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Mike Bieniek, zoning director for LCC Telecom Services of Rosemont, Ill., who was speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the Board of County Commissioners that the tower is made from galvanized metal and is nonreflective.

“This should cover the desire to make it blend in. Plus, it’s only 70 feet tall and the surrounding trees are 50 to 70 feet tall,” he said. “It’s not going to be visible.”

Construction is anticipated to begin “as soon as possible,” Bieniek added. The change permit was approved unanimously.

Artists talk about climate change at Anderson Ranch Arts Center

Anderson Ranch Arts Center will present “Critical Dialogue — Art and the Environment: Considering Climate Change” on Monday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Artists Alan Michelson and Mary Mattingly will share their journey of confronting climate change in their art with Climate Museum Director Miranda Massie. The round-table format of this program seeks to engage the community in a dialogue about how artists are addressing current challenges in our culture.

Alan Michelson has been a practitioner of a socially engaged, critically aware, site-specific art grounded in local context and informed by the retrieval of repressed histories. Mary Mattingly combines photography, performance, portable architecture and sculptural ecosystems into poetic visions of adaptation and survival, offering specific solutions and architectural prototypes to build upon in pursuit of a better life. Miranda Massie, founder of the Brooklyn-based Climate Museum, a dedicated home for interdisciplinary arts-based climate programming, leads this discussion.

The Critical Dialogue Program at Anderson Ranch seeks to engage the community in discussion about contemporary art and art making. Critical Dialogue programs are open to the public. The $100 fee includes lunch immediately following the program and scholarships are awarded on a space-available basis. Registration is required.