On the first Monday of November – Election Day eve – my father would have turned 100. Election Day frequently fell on his birthday over his almost 87 years. He took voting very seriously, as did my mother (who would have been 99 in August), and they instilled in my sister and me a deep […]
politics
Posted inNews
RFV rises on No Kings Day
Upwards of 4,000 protestors gathered beneath the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs on Saturday, Oct. 18. As part of a national No Kings day of action, many wore yellow and others donned playful Halloween costumes. More than 2,500 No Kings events took place throughout the United States and it’s estimated that at least 5 […]
Posted inOpinion
Ps&Qs: Jeanie Bueller rides again
“Oh, fine. What’s this? What’s his problem?” (Jeanie Bueller) “He doesn’t feel well.” (Joyce Bueller) “Yeah, right. Dry that one out and you can fertilize the lawn.” “Jeanie? Is that you? Jeanie? I can’t see that far …” (Ferris Bueller) “Bite the big one, Junior.” “Thank you, Jeanie. You get to school.” (Joyce) “Wait, you’re […]
Posted inColumns
Ps&Qs: Coincidence and doll parts on Twining Flats Road
This life is crazy: full of beauty and wonder, but with a dark and dirty underside. The enactment of Project 2025 has us sliding down a hill as steep as any slope on Aspen Mountain, right toward fascism. Before the Heritage Foundation took hold of our government by the short hairs, the old rats-in-a-cage analogy […]
Posted inColumns
Seeking Haystacks: Collective innocence
In third grade, Ms. Ames kept us spellbound for weeks, months even, in a state of wonder, reading us versions of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” We discussed who was heroic, and what it looked like to have virtue, to be brave, to be kind. It was my first exposure to what it meant to look […]
Posted inLetters
Letters – Aug. 7, 2025
Correction: The article “Chacos Park design proceeds with best intentions” referred to Dan Bullock as the chair of Carbondale’s Tree Board. Lisa Paige is now chair of that advisory body. Thank you, firefightersI would like to publicly thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of the heroic fire folk who fought the Coulter Creek […]
Posted inBusiness
Spreading light: Sunsense Solar celebrates 35 years
Last month, Carbondale-based energy company Sunsense Solar marked its 35th anniversary. The milestone is an impressive one amid a new era of changes for the organization. Founder Scott Ely shared reflections on the company and its evolution with The Sopris Sun. This interview was edited for length and clarity. What appealed to you about solar […]
Posted inEnvironment
Threat to public lands surfaced bipartisan resistance
Last month, Coloradans rose in solidarity against a proposed section of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While the bulk of the controversial legislation ultimately passed with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance on July 1, the final draft of the bill removed text regarding public lands sales. Senator Mike Lee of Utah […]
Posted inOpinion
Mature Content: My billionaire chatbot
Cynics say that Donald Trump gets financial support from billionaires because they think a Trump presidency will make them even richer. But I’m pretty sure that Republican billionaires, like most of us, believe their actions help society. I’d love to interview some of them but what are my chances? So, I had ChatGPT create John […]
Posted inEducation
Senate page experience made politics more tangible for Mali Sparhawk
An up-close and personal peek at the inner workings of the U.S. Senate during the spring semester was an eye-opener for Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) soon-to-be senior Mali Sparhawk. After nearly five months working as a page for the Senate Democrats, Sparhawk said she came away with a better understanding of the political process […]