Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Print Prevails despite Economic Woes

This week I reported on a local newspaper trying to survive as impacts from the recession continue to kick it hard everywhere except its highly-visited website. The Snowmass Sun has fewer advertisements and classified ads mostly because of the slow-down of the local real estate market. The editorial staff has gone from three to one and the paper no longer has an office--the lone reporter works from her home, Snowmass Town Hall and the Sun's sister paper's office in Aspen. The reporter, who is also the editor, is quick to say the Sun will continue to be printed for years to come, but she expects web use to increase too.

A New York Times article posted to the web in April says newspaper print circulation dropped more than 7 percent compared with the previous year, while newspaper Web site audiences had increased 10.5 percent in the first quarter. These figures come from the top newspapers in the country, but local papers are not immune. As papers such as the Aspen Times, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, and Snowmass Sun cut costs this year, attention to the web must be paid because, just as Snowmass Village Mayor Bill Boineau recently pointed out, the news provides checks and balances on government. He said the Sun's role in the community is essential.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Tourist Season starts Swingin'

The traffic is picking up, the restaurants are filling up and my tolerance for crowds is beefing up. I have to prepare myself and do a few mental exercises before the summer tourist season strikes in Aspen. It seems it comes from nowhere. One day you're moving with ease on your bicycle through the cobblestone streets, the next day you nearly crash while trying to avoid hitting a small, rat-like dog dressed in Gucci.

Next week, the Aspen Food and Wine Classic will start and according to my boss, this event marks the official start of the season. But I can already feel it and don't get me wrong, there are elements about the jam-packed season I enjoy. Last night I went to the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival and laughed so hard I cried. So, there is joy and a little bit of pain with the summer season. Give me one more week and I'll be ready.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Utility Companies Catching onto Green Movement

Holy Cross Energy services more than 40,000 customers in the Vail and Roaring Fork Valleys and later this year, the non-profit provider will urge customers to use less electricity. The company will do so by implementing the Inverted Block Rate Structure. It creates blocks of energy use, and if you move up a block, you will be charged more per kilowatt hour.

Holy Cross Board members presented their plan to Pitkin County Commissioners Tuesday and Commissioner Michael Owsley asked why the company was moving toward implementing the plan if it will not be a money-maker for the Holy Cross. Holy Cross responded by saying its a philosophical shift, consistent with environmental issues. The company hopes it prompts people to use more renewable energy sources, like solar panels and wind energy.

Holy Cross also set up a goal to be 20-percent renewable by the year, 2015. I notice these "goals" are becoming more common with companies, and not just utilities. The US Department of Energy's Building America Program wants to create marketable zero-energy homes by 2020 and the City of Aspen's Canary Initiative wants to reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year, 2050.

The goals make since if what the Canary Initiative says is true: that 80% of US emissions of carbon dioxide come from our homes, cars and travel. The goals are a way to quantify progress in making the earth liveable for future generations.

Monday, June 1, 2009

A Vision of Health in Paint

A group of about 40 fifth graders from Aspen Middle School recently hung some of their artwork up at Pitkin County's Health and Human Services building. The art shows the students' visions of how to live a healthy life. There are pictures of family picnics, sporting events and recycling. The students' art teacher hopes the pieces impact people walking through the halls of the building, where services like 12-Step programs are held and a homeless day center is located in the building. Personally, the bright colors are what grabbed my attention. The paintings are modeled after French artist, Henry Matisse's work from the 1920's. The artwork will be on display for years to come and I would suggest a visit to the "gallery" at the Health and Human Services building across from Aspen Valley Hospital, on Castle Creek Road.