Fire benefit raises $18K
Wednesday’s fundraiser for the Castle Ridge fire victims raised more than $18,000, according to Wheeler Opera House and Aspen Music Festival and School officials.
The event, which was put together in less than a week and featured a number of performers, was called “Back from the Ashes,” and proceeds went to the 17 residents of the 100 building of Castle Ridge Apartments whose homes were destroyed by the late-night fire.
Wheeler Executive Director Gram Slaton said the organizers hadn’t set a monetary goal, but were hoping to raise $10,000. The final tally included $1,089 in bar sales; $10,135 in silent auction item sales; and $6,385 in cash donations, including one individual donation of $500. An additional $465 was raised from contributed tips from Zane’s Tavern.
All proceeds are being turned over to the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department, which is administering a special fund for the fire victims. Additional cash contributions can be made to the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department, or through Alpine Bank’s downtown Aspen branch. The Thrift Shop in Aspen has been collecting donated goods for the victims.
Base Village construction site reopens
Work resumed Friday in Base Village at the Viceroy Snowmass, the site of a crane accident last Tuesday that injured one worker.
Related WestPac officials met with officials from the project’s primary contractor, CFC/PCL, inspectors from OSHA, structural engineers from Monroe & Newell and engineers from Rocky Mountain Prestress before issuing the back-to-work memo Thursday afternoon.
A small portion of the work site will remain closed as the damaged crane is removed, along with any structural elements of the Viceroy frame that have been recommended for removal.
OSHA wrapped up its initial investigation Wednesday afternoon and has up to six months to issue its report on the accident, which appears to have occurred due to a snapped cable.
Basalt wins kilns grant
A volunteer citizens group working with the town of Basalt garnered a $19,348 matching grant from a state fund to study preserving its beehive wood kilns.
Built of brick and stone around 1884, the kilns reduced local trees to charcoal for firing the silver smelters in Leadville and Aspen. The structures were the first permanent markers of European settlement in the midvalley. They preceded the railways and various settlements that eventually became Basalt.
The Historical Fund announced the award as part of its biannual statewide competition for funding. To qualify for the grant, the Basalt Kilns Committee secured pledges of $2,950 from the town, $2,500 from Eagle County and $1,000 from one of its members.
JVA, Inc., of Boulder, will provide the surveys and analysis of the rapidly deteriorating structures, as well as work papers and cost estimates needed to seek bids to complete the preservation work.
The committee anticipates carrying out a major public fundraising effort to gain a matching grant to compete for state funds to preserve the structures, which sit on town land in Arbaney Park.
Eagle/Thomasville Road closed
The Eagle/Thomasville Road is closed until repairs to a sinkhole in Crooked Creek Dam can be completed.
White River National Forest officials announced the emergency closure of the road to motorized traffic approximately one-half mile on either side of the dam on Friday. They anticipate repair work to last approximately one week and be completed by June 27.
Road closure information signs have been placed near both ends of the road to warn traffic from Sylvan Lake or Thomasville that no through traffic is being allowed.
For more information call forest engineer Cary Pence at 970-471-5260.
