Mountain Perspectives

For sure, there are pros and cons to term limits. Pro, new blood enters the government run system more frequently; Con, can take a 2-3 yrs to feel knowledgeable and effective in the job. Pro, harder to create unfair personal relationships; Con, harder to create effective personal relationships. What do you think? And if you support, should GarCo have two four year terms for these elected positions, or three? Why?

At VOICES, we believe that everyone in our community has a story to tell--including you! If you had a microphone to address our region, what would you most want your neighbors to hear? Maybe something powerful from your life, a big idea you've got, or feedback on how to make our community stronger? Let's hear it!

How do we eliminate homelessness without becoming a beacon for the homeless? What are ways to take car of those in need without becoming the sole provider of expensive and time consuming needs? Does a small town like Carbondale have the capacity to run a homeless shelter or does that require a regional response?

How do you maintain a relationship or have respectful meaningful conversation with people of opposing political beliefs? What happens when you discover someone you like is on an opposing political side? Do you drop them, avoid them, avoid the topic, engage in trying to understand? Do you have ideas for how to navigate this tricky personal experience?

We know good mental health depends on several factors, one of which is social connectivity. Are you experiencing social isolation? How do you deal with it? Why does it appear to be harder for men and boys to be socially engaged and maintain meaningful relationships? Is there anything the community can do to foster more social connectivity?

We'd love to hear what programs or resources in the Roaring Fork Valley or beyond have you found to support you or your child.

As a reminder, this is anonymous. Your name will not be visible, so please feel free to share openly and without worry of judgement.

We're exploring what makes local events meaningful, from trivia nights to volunteer days, and how shared experiences help build connection in Carbondale.

What makes a local event truly “worth showing up for”? Is it the people you run into, the chance to learn or help out, the atmosphere, or simply doing something together on a winter evening?

As we think about creating more of those always-worth-it moments in Carbondale, we’re looking forward to a few upcoming gatherings: Tool Maintenance Day on Jan 29, Trivia Night on Feb 26 at Carbondale Beer Works, and our Season Kick-Off Party in March.

What keeps you coming back to local events? And what would you love to see more of this year?

Making Space for Every Voice - VOICES is working to address a deep and ongoing problem: too many people move through the world without feeling seen, heard, or valued. Through storytelling, creative expression, and community connection, we create spaces where voices that are often overlooked can be shared, honored, and amplified. We believe that when stories are heard, understanding grows and meaningful connection becomes possible.

Town government made decisions years ago to allow multistory mixed residential business buildout on 133 and Hendrick Dr. How do think it's going? Is it what you expected? The intent was to provide affordable housing units through dense development, but risks turning us into just another bedroom community for up valley work and recreation. Are we killing our small town vibe, or can we somehow maintain it?