Translation by Bianca Godina This story was originally printed in Spanish in Sol del Valle. It’s been translated for our English readers. “Viva la Vida, Watermelons 1954” was Frida Kahlo’s last oil painting. At the end of her life, Frida moved away from her usual themes and painted more still lifes because her health no […]
Columns
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Looking ahead to Thanksgiving
Over a third of Americans, myself included, plan to travel during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, and small wonder. It’s difficult to find any civilization without a ritual gratitude gathering when the harvest is in. They called it “Thesmophoria” in ancient Greece and “Cerealia” in Rome. Assyrians, Persians and pre-Columbian Americans all had their versions. “Thank […]
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Philanthropy — where to begin?
Giving season is just around the corner. At this time of year, many of us are considering how we might want to give back to organizations that help improve our community. Some already have a list that they give to year after year. For others, whether they have just relocated or are just beginning to […]
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Ps&Qs: Letter to my future self
I’ve been listening to a lot of John Cougar Mellencamp lately. In junior high school, he was one of my all-time favorites, and so the memories are flooding back… Seems like just yesterday, but it was over four decades ago when I was sitting on a school bus listening to Jack and Diane on my […]
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VOICES Radio Hour: What’s the name?
Is it Columbus Day? Is it Indigenous Day? What IS an Indigenous? Is it a creature? These are questions not easily answered. As a person born and raised with Native culture and ancestry of this land, I often am asked what we would like to be called. My own perspective, thoughts and answers might not […]
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Seeking Haystacks: Innocence
“Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence and an appeal to the essence of being.” -Albert Camus Trung Lee, a student from Vietnam, wrote in my class, “A civilization that is spineless and twists its principles at any moment’s notice will not survive, for someone who stands for nothing will die for nothing.” […]
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United against book bans
As of late, there has been a steady increase in the banning and censorship of books all across America. Over the course of the 2023-2024 school year alone, 10,000 titles were challenged within U.S. schools, according to a PEN America survey. Not only has the amount of censorship increased, but as has the pressure on […]
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Philanthropy is for everyone
Philanthropy is a powerful word that can connote foundations making grants or wealthy individuals giving money to the “less fortunate,” leaving some members of our community feeling as though being philanthropic is for “other people.” In reality, philanthropy is for everyone. Grantmaking and being a “philanthropist” are just aspects of a much larger concept.The word […]
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Extra, EXTRA: An exciting step forward for our community and local journalism
As executive director of The Sopris Sun, I am thrilled to share exceptional news. We have been selected as a Press Forward grant recipient from a highly competitive national pool of more than 950 for-profit and nonprofit news media organizations, recognizing our commitment to quality journalism and community service. In a time when local news […]
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Dream Well: A haunting dream
Natalia Snider is a certified dream practitioner living in Carbondale. She works with people’s dreams and imaginations to facilitate self-healing. Every month, she will analyze someone’s dream in The Sopris Sun. Anyone can submit a dream for personal analysis or inclusion in this column by visiting: www.dreamhealings.com Claire’s dreamIn my real (waking) life, I lived […]