Jamie LaRue is the executive director of the Garfield County Public Library District. When my grandfather died, I inherited his collection of “The Story of Civilization” by Will and Ariel Durant. This 11-volume series, 50 years in the making, stretches from “Our Oriental Heritage” (volume 1) to “The Age of Napoleon.” The prose is magisterial. […]
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Mature Content: Joseph and Gerard
George Santayana was right when he wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” In 1960, my friend John and I drove to Miami for spring break and came home with a tiny alligator we named Gerard Swope. We wanted to be cool. We thought having a pet alligator would make […]
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Local journalism gave me the opportunity to pursue my dreams
Let’s rewind the clocks 21 months. I was in the Roaring Fork Valley between the third and fourth semesters of my graduate studies, which I was pursuing via a small international university in southwestern Germany. In my free time, I was writing — not a new habit — but I was wondering if it was […]
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Looking back and looking forward
By Jennifer Austin HughesVOICES Radio Hour Three years ago, as we embarked on the journey of VOICES Radio Hour, I would have been hesitant to predict the longevity and success we’ve achieved. It may sound dramatic, but the initial commitment felt monumental. MinTze Wu, Cassidy Wiley and I were united by a shared passion — […]
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When Santa went south
In Latin America, we believe in Baby Jesus as the gift-giver. But one day, someone suggested to Santa that he should cover the Southern Hemisphere. “Hey, Saint Nick, wanna work with us? Come on down. Down here we work on commission. For every gift you drop off, we’ll give you 20 bucks. And for every […]
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The dark feathers of intelligence
Guest Column by Wendy Videlock I woke this morning to a snow-dusted mesa, a couple of finches at the feeder and a raven rising up like a vision from the ravine. I was reminded of a recent trip to Yellowstone. Yes, there were waterfalls, breathtaking views, antelope, elk and hundreds of bison but it was […]
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Money Juice: Your ultimate holiday money play
Check this out: According to Nerdwallet, three-quarters of American shoppers plan to use credit for holiday shopping this year. Meanwhile, 31% of 2024 shoppers who used credit cards still haven’t paid off the balance. Did you read that? Almost a third of American shoppers still have holiday debt from last year. Buuuhhh! Let’s look at […]
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How The Sopris Sun changed my life
I am originally from the German countryside and grew up in Hamburg, a bustling city. In 2012, when I was 15, I first experienced the slow pace of mountain life as a youth exchange student living in Glenwood Springs. From a concrete jungle to camping in the woods and outdoor activities like skiing, I quickly […]
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Ps & Qs: Pro-life for the planet
This column is dedicated to Paul Weyrich and the nuns. One of my biggest fears is instant reincarnation. When people have a near-death experience, they often report seeing a light at the end of a tunnel. But what if that light is the fluorescent bulb in the delivery room, and boom! — you’re on to […]
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For What It’s Worth: The Sopris Sun continues to be community journalism at its finest
Community journalism has been the very definition of my more than three decades in the trade. And I couldn’t love it more than in my current role as one of the many freelance correspondents for The Sopris Sun. My very first byline, aside from student publications, came as a young journalism major in college, when […]