As the town recovers from its annual Mountain Fair with this year’s theme of “Camp Bonedale,” it’s worth noting similarities to another famous gathering in the Rocky Mountains involving vendors, music, dancing, games and merriment. Carbondale’s celebration was not the first mountain fair in Colorado. That distinction goes to a rendezvous that started in 1825, […]
Opinion
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Seeking fire
I remember my father weeping when President Kennedy was shot. For a 12-year-old to see their father weep uncontrollably — a bomber pilot who in 87 missions had seen the world’s pain, a man who in that darkness loved quoting the soaring idealism of Don Quixote — was wrenching and bewildering. He was heartsick. Kennedy […]
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Cosmic Chatter: In the thick of change
We are in the thick of it — worldwide change, political extinction burst, restructuring of communities and ultimately a scarcely-seen rebirth. There is near daily exposure of unbalanced power and egregious abuse as the oligarchs extend themselves, forcing an economic model that is rapidly becoming obsolete. After 250 years of a nation opposed to monarchy […]
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Some thoughts onJames Bogan, Richard Louv and childhood freedom
Pitkin County’s progress in piecing together the Redstone to McClure Pass trail has got me thinking about the fundamental importance of muscle-powered travel options to the human psyche. One-hundred-thirty-six years ago, James Bogan was paid the princely sum of $1,750 to construct a wagonroad from Penny Hot Springs to the Gunnison County line. The surviving […]
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Two flags, one story
Some months simply pass on the calendar, while others stay with us forever. This July entered my life carrying two flags, countless emotions and one profound question: How many stories can fit within a single identity? It arrived filled with pride and nostalgia, celebration and sorrow, memories and new achievements. It became a month when […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – July 30, 2026
Mountain Fair rollin’Thank you, Carbondale, for walking and rolling to Mountain Fair! There was such an incredible sense of community and pride watching the continuous parade of kids and adults on foot, bikes, strollers and wagons. Imagine if every day felt like this! Let’s pledge to walk or bike whenever we travel around town this […]
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Revisiting our past to shape Carbondale’s future
Walking down Carbondale’s Main Street on a warm summer afternoon, I’m struck by the sweet essence of this place. I hear the squeals of delight spilling out from the pool, friends lingering over cool drinks on restaurant patios, the smell of Peppino’s pizza drifting through the air and laughter echoing from Fourth Street. Yes, summer […]
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Letters –July 23, 2026
Dear Community,Thank you all for helping me through my difficult time. The outpouring of love last Sunday was the best thing I can imagine for me, my family and, I think, our community. I know Linda appreciated the gathering as much as I did, and she sends her love to all. Russ CriswellCarbondale Theater review […]
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Dream Well: From inside a shared 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 dreamhealings.com I want to take a slight variation from the […]
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Dig a Little Deeper: Understand the signals
Government is a core pillar of society. When choosing our leaders, there is a lot to unpack, and this column is intended to help readers do just that before Election Day. I once helped a friend sail his 40-foot catamaran through the Caribbean. As we crossed the Gulf Stream at night, a precarious adventure for […]