In February, the Sopris Sun will celebrate its fifth birthday. We couldn’t be more excited.  Each year, the paper has gotten better. Our content has continued to improve, our readers have told us how much they like the changes, our new website is state-of-the-art, and our support from our advertisers continues to grow. What we need now is the financial support of the community.

For the first time, The Sopris Sun has received a substantial grant ($5,000) from the Anschutz Family Foundation to help us achieve some of our operating goals. We are very grateful, not just for the grant, but for the show of support from a major Colorado foundation. While not a matching grant, it is a grant that we are asking the community to help us match. The challenge for us is to show that we can raise another $5,000 from the community to be able to satisfy our grant goal.

Next year shapes up to be an exciting year for Carbondale. The Sopris Sun is already planning its coverage. Highway 133 construction has begun and will have a major impact on our town. In the spring, four trustee seats will be open (one of which is term-limited). We will once again be hosting a town trustee candidate forum together with the Chamber of Commerce and KDNK. A major new medical facility will be opening and who knows what is going to happen with any and all other rumored projects in town. With your support, The Sopris Sun will cover all of the important issues for you.

Enclosed in this week’s paper is a donation envelope. Please take the time to show your support. It may be your last opportunity to take advantage of a 501(c)(3) charitable donation for 2013. You can mail your check back to us (remember to put a stamp on the envelope), drop it off at our office in the Third Street Center, or visit our website to make a credit card donation. Whatever you decide to do, and however much you decide to give, we thank you for your support.

P.S.:  Every dollar and every donor count. When the Sopris Sun reaches out for additional grant support, foundations consider not only how much we are able to raise in community donations, but also how widely the community supports us. Please add your name to the list of 2013 supporters.

The Sopris Sun Board of Directors