Articles for Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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by
David Frey, Aspen Daily News Correspondent
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor’s note: This is the seventh installment in an ongoing series examining how the nation’s economic troubles are playing out in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Unemployment is rising in the Roaring Fork Valley, but the outlook is far better than most of the state and the country, and it could represent an easing for employers who have been struggling with a lack of labor.
by
Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The CEO of Frontier Airlines said Monday he’s pleased with the level of business the airline is seeing on its new flights to Aspen, but he expects ski business to be down this winter in Colorado.
“I couldn’t be happier with the performance over the summertime,” said Sean Menke, the president and CEO of Denver-based Frontier, about service to Aspen. “It surpassed my expectations.”
by
Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A district court judge yesterday refused to lower Cooper Street Pier manager Sohan Shrestha’s $25,000 bond. Shrestha is accused of attacking one of his employees in the basement of the bar after-hours.
Prosecutor Tony Hershey said he had prepared to argue for increasing Shrestha’s bond, to protect the alleged victim.
by
Catherine Lutz, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
SNOWMASS VILLAGE — About three-quarters of Snowmass Village households probably need some kind of help to be able to afford housing in this increasingly expensive resort town, a recent survey found.
RRC Associates of Boulder, which has done housing studies for Aspen and Pitkin County as well, presented its findings from a recent survey to Snowmass Village Town Council on Monday. The council wants to update its code requirements pertaining to employee housing to reflect current and future realities.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Despite a weakened national economy, city of Aspen retail sales and lodging tax collections saw healthy growth in August compared to the same month in 2007.
Sales tax collections rose 6.2 percent in August over the same month last year. The total retail spending mark for August of $49.5 million was 6.1 percent higher than last year.
by
Andrew Travers, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
An Aspen man who was arrested in May for driving drunk and carrying a jar of cocaine entered a guilty plea yesterday for possession of marijuana, which he was not accused of.
The confusing plea deal left James Lowe, 57, and the audience of the full district courtroom scratching their heads Monday morning.
by
Curtis Wackerle, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The city of Aspen is planning to roll out to the public details surrounding the Burlingame density increase question that will be decided on Nov. 4.
Aspen voters are being asked to weigh in with an advisory vote as to whether the affordable housing project across Highway 82 from the Buttermilk ski area should be enlarged from 236 units to 293 units, as recommended by a group of construction experts advising the city on cost-saving measures.
Business
by
Brent Gardner-Smith, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Anyone running a business in Aspen or Snowmass Village this winter still has plenty to worry about - such as a global economic collapse - but an airline industry conference held this week at the St. Regis hotel provided some relatively good news for the resort on the air service front.
While there has been a recent 10 percent decrease in the number of airline flights in the United States, and significant cuts in some tourism-based markets such as Las Vegas and Orlando, Aspen's air service is likely to be the same or slightly above last winter.
by
Damien Williamson, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Off-season in the Roaring Fork Valley is officially upon us.
With last weekend's ski and snowboard flick festival The Meeting signifying the last major gathering of locals and tourists until the mountains open on Thanksgiving Day, many Aspen shops, restaurants and lodges use October and early-November as a chance to expand, change locations, open for business and, in some cases, shut down for good.
by William Small, Mountain Business Journal Guest Writer
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
They often say "it's darkest before the dawn." However, another saying goes that "it's darkest before its black." One of these two phrases could well describe the current state of the Aspen/Snowmass real estate market.
Despite all the doom and gloom being reported from Wall Street, Washington, D.C., and here in the Roaring Fork Valley about the real estate market, there is growing evidence that the one-year slowdown in the Aspen/Snowmass may be reaching a bottom. One of the glimmers of hope which means that the market could be forming a bottom is the Snowmass single-family-home market.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
VAIL: CUTTING DOWN THE TREES
In the next month, Vail Resorts employees will cut down up to 7,000 lodgepole pines on Vail Mountain as a result of pine-beetle infestation, according to the Rocky Mountain News. The cutting is aimed to reduce the danger of the gondola lines getting hit by a fallen tree or fire, and will take place west of the gondola and above chair 8. Officials are concerned that activity on the mountain could come to a standstill if a dead lodgepole were to fall on the gondola cable because of wind or fire, and they're taking preventative measure to preempt that occurrence.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Brad Wyatt
General Manager, Limelight Lodge
Family: Jean, my wife of 26 years (as of Thursday, Oct. 9), and daughter Sarah residing in Basalt with husband Daniel Popish.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
SKI.COM AND FRONTIER PARTNER UP
Frontier Airlines has partnered with Aspen-based Ski.com to provide a one-stop booking service for travelers planning ski and snowboard vacations. The airline recently announced the partnership, which means that flights, lodging, lift tickets and rentals can all be taken care of on one Web site - frontierairlines.com or frontierskivacations.com. Ski.com is one of the leading agencies for ski vacations in North America, and the partnership marks a streamlining of that process.
Columnist
by
Steve Skinner, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Bail, bail, bail! That’s not something you want to hear shouted from the highest commander in the admiralty, especially when all that bailing will only keep the heads of the crew just above water. Two-thirds of our economic engine depends on consumers consuming. The more we consume, the better the picture. So as people tighten their life vests and consume less, the economy turns down even more.
Still, no one is calling for change of lifestyle. But guess what? Economic circumstances are changing lifestyles in a big way. And why shouldn’t they? We’ve all heard how America, with less than 5 percent of the world’s population, produces nearly a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions and consumes nearly a third of the world’s electricity (mostly from coal) and 43 percent of the gas. Sounds like a shift in consumption habits might be in order.
Letter to the Editor
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
I’m writing to express my appreciation to Debbie Buckley running to represent District 2 as Eagle County commissioner for her genuine desire to learn about this side of the mountain and the issues that are so important to those of us who live in the Eagle County portion of the Roaring Fork Valley. Many of you may not know, but District 2 encompasses a portion of the Roaring Fork Valley that is located within Eagle County. Those of us who live in the Eagle County portion of the Roaring Fork Valley need to get to know who Debbie Buckley is and what she stands for. I believe she will be a wonderful friend and steward to those of us who live in this forgotten sliver of Eagle County.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
There has been considerable front-page publicity in the Post Independent recently about the record number of gas drilling permits being issued by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. [The publicity follows] the news published last week by the Post Independent that a recent investigation revealed that, in fact, poor air quality does exist in Garfield County.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
On Sept. 18, Powder To The People held its third annual Pow Party fundraiser and silent auction at the Eagles Club in Aspen. We had an excellent turnout, over 100 strong, and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening which included food provided by Conundrum Catering, beverages, silent auction, live music by the Natives and critical information about backcountry access issues in the Aspen area.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
The current administration is in a rush! A rush to kill! (Iraq!)
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
H.K. “Case” Ronde needs your help more than ever today. As I type this letter on Oct. 2 Ronde is undergoing brain surgery in Santiago, Chile, to remove a large tumor from the top surface of his brain.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
As a responsible biker and hunter, I was appalled when I read the article concerning Bill Keenan’s near-death experience with a booby trap set by hunters, and I was a bit surprised at the cavalier attitude the Division of Wildlife had on the matter. I think it would be prudent to let all hunters know that this type of act would be deemed manslaughter, and I’m disappointed that the DOW didn’t take this opportunity to point out the seriousness of such a crime. By plainly stating that they would never catch the culprit, they are basically giving free rein to any maniac that feels attempted murder is an appropriate response to any “annoying” intruders. And make no mistake, the height of this wire trap makes it very clear what the intended outcome was. This is not a debate about “he said, she said,” this a matter of a gun-toting criminal wreaking havoc on innocent bystanders in our outdoor community. These open spaces are everyone’s to enjoy, and I would encourage all bikers to be respectful, especially this time of year. Your life may depend on it!
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
Regarding the Aspen Daily News article of Oct. 4, “Council search down to five”: What was the purpose of the negativity in banner print “No love for Torre”? There were 13 other people who were eliminated from the position. Why single out Torre? What’s your point?
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
Once again the “curse of Lincoln” (it took Abe nine tries to win an election) has sent me packing. While some of the candidates make sense, a few baffle me. With that said, I want to first focus on the 22.5 questions candidates are being asked to answer. Questions that are supposed to guide our elected officials down the path to a good choice for the next six months. Questions about: affordable housing (we have no money), the Entrance to Aspen (not an issue prior to the May elections), a candidates’ intention to run for office in May (is that a qualification?), condemnation (government at its worst), and lying to council (I am shocked), make up the “sacred 22.”
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
At the ACRA-sponsored county commissioner candidate forum on Grassroots TV on Oct. 6, I suggested that Shellie Roy is a candidate who encourages sprawl. Shellie responded that she supports the urban growth boundary.
Aspen Daily News Staff Report, Aspen Daily News Columnist
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Editor:
Who uses RFTA? 400,000 riders each year are riding the RFTA buses. Some are visitors, most are residents from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to Rifle and beyond.
