The months since I announced my departure from the paper remind me of graduating high school, with everyone asking what’s next. It’s gratifying that so many people assumed that only something bigger and better could drag me away from The Sun. But it’s really more like a gap year. I understand now why so many […]
December 2020
The Year 2020
Chinese Year Rattus-Metallum A poem by the people of Carbondale We started the year In our own dear town Between rivers that flow Mountains all around Not expecting the tumult, Frustration and tension That would bruise our community And sprain our connection. Travel plans left pending Without leaving our rooms We learned to call on […]
The show must go on
Social distancing hit just in time to postpone (and ultimately cancel) the Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza. At the time, it seemed safe to schedule events for autumn, and 5Point opted to change the date as well. But as it became clear that restrictions would be with us for a while, many event […]
Business as unusual
Ever-changing regulations have left shops, restaurants and other services scrambling. Some, like Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, just pulled up stakes, while the Pour House has opted to just close for the duration. Among the rest, here are a few that stood out in their attempts to keep the door’s open, if only figuratively.
SCUTTLEBUTT
What’s your superpower? Local nonprofit VOICES aims to amplify community voices, empowering participants through a variety of art forms. The organization’s latest achievement features 10 seniors from Bridges High School that produced a short film in collaboration with 5Point Adventure Film Festival. The video is hosted on YouTube with the title “5Point Film VOICES Youth […]
Year in review 2020 — a year apart
Although it started before and will continue after, COVID-19 has defined 2020. The relative normalcy of January and February feels distant and alien now, and events that would once have defined the year — such as the Grizzly Creek Fire — seem almost like footnotes. The virus was in the news heading into the new […]
Aspen airport exempt from reducing its capacity
Traveling can be stressful in and of itself. Some folks cannot stand the thought of flying while others struggle to leave the house without worrying they’ve forgotten something — like Kevin. Throw COVID-19 in the mix and many will decide to nix the prospect of traveling altogether. To a casual observer, on the evening of […]
More older adults seeking meal delivery
As 2020 have dragged on, many people are feeling the strain of prolonged isolation to protect family and community from COVID-19. One group particularly affected is older adults, who are at higher risk for bad outcomes from a coronavirus infection, and may already face factors that restrict their community engagement, like physical limitations or driving […]
High Risk at High Altitude sheds light on mental wellness
In a valley prone to mental health crisis and high suicide rates, newly appointed Aspen Public Radio (APR) news director Ariel Van Cleave has arrived with a fresh take on mental health support. Growing up in rural Illinois, Van Cleave was aware of the increased risks for mental health crises rural communities often experience. However, […]
Local schools struggle with tough pandemic-era semester
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a level of disruption, uncertainty and hardship unprecedented in our country and the world. This has been especially true for our education system at all levels, which has faced enormous challenges in how to conduct cohesive, sustained and effective instruction at a time when the pandemic has wreaked havoc […]
