More Help Needed for Armenian Sargysans

Editor:

The release of the four Sargysan family members from the Aurora Detention Center last week was a blessing. For that we are all grateful. But the battle is not won yet.

For those who see this last unexpected move as a miracle, thank God, and please keep up the prayers! And for all of us, please realize that the long, tedious and very complex legal process is ongoing. The fact that all of them are innocent victims of another person's wrongdoings does not seem to influence the immigration judges. So far, over $63,000 has been spent in legal fees. Monthly bills are running over $15,000. The family has put in all that they have (over $30,000). The rest is up to us.

For all those who have contributed, thank you. It is because of your help that the Joseph Law Firm (the family's immigration lawyers from Denver), has achieved so much. But we cannot afford to lose the momentum. We have to find ways of continuing the process until victory is achieved, and part of this means being able to keep up with these bills.

All who have got to know this family over the past five years agree that they are exceptional people who have given to our communities without ever asking for a handout. One son is a 4.0 average high school senior and the other is on the Dean's List as an engineering student at CU. These are the sort of people that this country needs as immigrants. All of us (our families) are or have been immigrants at one time. Let's give this deserving family the same opportunity.

Please consider helping by sending a contribution, however small, to The Sargysan Legal Aid Fund, P.O. Box 774, Ridgway, CO 81432. Each donor will receive a tax-deductible receipt and not one penny is being used for administrative costs. And yes, we need some big checks, too!

On behalf of everyone helping,

– Kelvin B. Kent, Ouray

Peaks Bestows Light

Editor:

The Jewish holiday of Chanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a story of religious oppression, religous freedom, and tolerance amongst neighbors. The Telluride Jewish Community owes a sincere thank you to the management of the Peaks Hotel, in particular Mark Ziomek and Matt Haus, for allowing us to light the candle lights each evening during this holiday, and celebrate in a public way this most important message, one just as worthy of remembering this year as it was thousands of years ago.