Komen announces new approach

Aspen Daily News Staff Report
Just before Aspen’s Race for the Cure on Saturday, the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is announcing a new approach for women to detect breast cancer.

The foundation has traditionally advocated monthly breast exams to find lumps and other abnormalities. But now it is switching to a focus on self-awareness after a study showed that monthly breast exams do not significantly lower breast cancer deaths.

THE SCORE — Neruda, Prokofiev lovers take note

by Asadour Santourian

If you love Pablo Neruda and Sergei Prokofiev, Friday’s chamber symphony program is for you.

Full of poetry that inspired composer Peter Lieberson to write an award-winning song cycle, Kelley O’Connor and David Zinman will bring further inspiration to these songs.

Local roads suffer from CDOT shortfall

by David Frey, Aspen Daily News Correspondent

CARBONDALE — Area road and bridge work is suffering the impacts of what state Transportation Department officials call a “quiet crisis” of dwindling funds, aging highways and growing traffic.

Motorists should not hold their collective breath waiting for fixes to some of the area’s worsening sections of highway — even those rated as “poor” — Michelle Halstead, local government liaison for the Colorado Department of Transportation, told Carbondale trustees this week.

Mountain becoming molehill in Woody Creek

by Anita Thompson
WOODY CREEK — Homeowners in the Woody Creek mobile home park subdivision are expected to pay approximately $30,000 to remove the controversial 3,000-plus-cubic-yard mound of dirt and rock located in central Woody Creek that resulted from excavations to upgrade the subdivision’s infrastructure.

According to Elam Construction’s area manager, Dave Heiberger, an agreement was made with the Woody Creek Park Subdivision Homeowner’s Association to haul the estimated 300 truckloads to the nearby gravel pit, at cost, to its processing area. He said he believes it could be completed by the end of the month.

City of Aspen moving towards geothermal reality

by Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

City of Aspen officials have identified five spots in town where an exploratory geothermal well could be drilled.

The city has also applied for geothermal water rights for underground stores of water that would be used in the system, making Aspen the first municipality to take advantage of a new state law: The Colorado Geothermal Act.

Pitkin County holds off on burn ban

by Elise Foley

But sheriff reminds residents to be careful

Burn bans don’t prevent forest fires; people prevent forest fires.

Outcome unclear in faulty glasses lawsuit

by Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

A man is suing a local optician to recover nearly $900 he dropped on a pair of glasses that he says didn’t help his vision. The glasses were replaced — twice, and at no additional charge — with pairs of glasses that he alleges also did not correct his vision.

“I couldn’t see clearly, I couldn’t read, I couldn’t use a computer,” Gordon Ledingham said in Pitkin County small claims court yesterday, wearing a four-year-old pair of glasses, with the suspect pairs lined up before him.

Memorial for James R. Lutz

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
A mountain memorial for Jim Lutz — beloved husband, father and grandfather — will be held on Sunday, July 20, at 2:30 p.m. at the top of Aspen Mountain on the special events platform (the wedding deck).

Ski pass holders should update their ski passes before loading the gondola, and non-pass holders will be provided a complimentary ticket at the base of the ticket booth. People are asked to load the gondola between 1:45 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. and to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.

In the Spotlight

by Christine Benedetti, Time Out Staff Writer
Celebrating 25 years of anything is something everyone wants to do with a bang. But, it's also a time to reflect on the past, and look toward the future.

Though Theatre Aspen's first 25 years have been nothing short of wonderful, what lies ahead is where the excitement comes lies.

Gonzo, Art and Physics at Explore

by Damien Williamson, Time Out Staff Writer
"Outlaw Journalist" by William Mckeen

When William McKeen attended the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, he recalls covering the event alongside the late Hunter S. Thompson. He remembers a "wonderful, kind, really decent, hardworking guy" that only vaguely resembled the wild, cigar-smoking, aviator-wearing character that had become an indelible part of Thompson's image.

One Person at a Time

by Christine Benedetti, Time Out Staff Writer
When a group of 40 forward-thinking, powerful and influential leaders were invited to a brainstorming session that was aimed at solving the world's problems, they had high hopes. The fact that the Dalai Lama would be part of those discussions didn't hurt either.

Watching the scene unfold, it's easy to be skeptical of a doe-eyed conglomeration of Westerners marching through Tibet trying to develop a plan that would affect the entire world.

I Wanna Bach!

by Jason Hood, Time Out Music Columnist
Before delving too far into the subject of serious musical genius and the potentially hazardous repercussions of comparing a lovely and talented classical pianist to oh, for kicks and giggles let us just say ... Eddie Van Halen, I want to mention a few words about Bach.

Not as shame-soaked as most people would like me to be, I have to admit when I hear the name Bach I think Catherine. Jessica Simpson may have usurped her role as Daisy Duke in the movie version of "The Dukes of Hazzard," but to anyone who watched the television show from '79 to '86, Catherine is the real Daisy Duke.

Ledger Elevates 'Dark Knight' to Next Level

by Michael Phillips, AP Movie Critic
Sensational, grandly sinister and not for the kids, "The Dark Knight" elevates pulp to a very high level. Heath Ledger's Joker takes it higher still, and the 28-year-old actor's death earlier this year of an accidental overdose lends the film an air of a funeral and a rollicking, out-of-control wake mixed together. In "The Dark Knight," Ledger makes all other comic book screen villains look like Baby Huey. Like Shakespeare's Iago or Richard III, like Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter or Javier Bardem's implacable murderer in "No Country For Old Men," this is no Method maniac, asking or telling anyone about his character's motivation. At one point Ledger throws up his hands and says, agitatedly, that it's a waste of time looking for a rationale behind the Joker's smeary psycho-harlequin makeup.

"I'm a dog chasing cars," he says. "I wouldn't know what to do with one of them if I caught it."

New Faces at AHS

by Linda Gerdenich, Time Out Guest Writer
Just walking into the Aspen Historical Society, you might think the Crystal Palace has moved. With Nina Gabianelli's coordinating tours and sites, I expected her to break into song at any moment. Then there's the famous Michael Monroney who's Mr. Theatre in Aspen having performed, directed, written, staged and anything else involving theater. Monroney is leading a new tour called "The History Coach." Of course Georgia Hanson, AHS director, should be congratulated for plucking these two thespians.

"Our vision for the society is to engage the community in new and memorable ways," says Hanson. "Having talented and enthusiastic staff who can bring our audience into our story is a dream come true."

Dante's Return to Paradise, His Bello Ovile

by Drew Stofflet, Time Out Wine Critic
The summer heat has me thinking of Dante's "Divina Commedia," the Divine Comedy. In the first part, the Inferno, the journey begins in Hell, where Dante and the poet Virgil encounter the damned and witness the punishments to the unrepentant. In Purgatorio, Dante emerges from the frozen floor of hell and begins his ascent toward heaven where, in Paradiso, Dante is reunited with Beatrice, the love of his life, described as "l'amore che move il sole e l'altra stelle," or the love that moves the sun and other stars.

The "Divina Commedia" was Dante Alighieri's autobiographical dream journey after the events leading to his exile from Tuscany in 1301. Beatrice, whose "love at first sight" so inspired him, died in 1290. For the next 10 years Dante fought in the Guelph-Ghibelline conflict, striving to keep Florentines free from the strict papal rule. When the Guelphs split into opposing papal sides, Dante supported the lessening of papal rule. He was asked to be a delegate to Rome, where he was tricked into staying while the pro-papal Guelphs ransacked Florence. The new rulers committed Dante to exile, from which he would never return.

Editor's Pick: Bring on the Art

Aspen Daily News Staff Report

American lives are not worth less

by Jeremy Madden, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Whether it’s gas, bread or milk, everything just keeps getting more and more expensive.

Banks are beginning to fail and the country has been reduced to one giant yard sale. Even Anheuser-Busch, the King of Beers — an American icon with its cans of red, white and blue — has been sold to some bargain hunters from Belgium. With things being so bad, you might think the news couldn’t get any worse for the average American.

Nothing honorable about the Vietnam War

by Ted Rall, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Every presidential candidacy relies on a myth. Reagan was a great communicator; Clinton felt your pain. Both storylines were ridiculous. But rarely are the constructs used to market a party nominee as transparent or as fictional as those we’re being asked to swallow in 2008.

On the left — OK, not — we have Barack Obama. “The best orator of his generation!” says Ed Rendell, the Democratic power broker who has a day job as governor of Pennsylvania.

Burlingame math

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

“Good math skills” was Andrew Kole’s campaign platform claim during his 2005 City Council bid. Back then, who knew how badly the city needed math (actually arithmetic) skills?

Fantasy Ball thanks

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

Monday night there was magic at the St. Regis due to the Fantasy Ball benefit for the Aspen Music Festival and School. It was a very special event, thanks to the amazing support and work of the myriad of sponsors, staff, performers, donors to the silent auction, attendees and, most importantly, the volunteers who helped out that night.

Running down the presidents

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

For four or eight years, he’ll be president — great diversity. He is my kind of “Kennedy.” He does not need on-the-job training. His instincts and intelligence carry the day.

Burlingame is Bush-league

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

Is it just me, or are our City Council and city manager sounding like the Bush administration?

More on fluoride

Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Editor:

The proper response to this raging debate over fluoridation of Aspen’s water has a simple solution. We all know that governments study things to death.