Generosity Abounds!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I'm paraphrasing for Aspen Public Radio's volunteers who are answering phones outside the newsroom, for the station's Summer Pledge Drive. I can hear progress as the station attempts to raise more than $60,000 in one week. The generosity abounds as people call in and match pledges, give compliments and just generally give! The volunteers showed up around 6AM and in two hours time, the giving has been better than good! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Early Morning Company

It's Pledge Week at Aspen Public Radio and that means I'm joined every morning for an entire week, by a gaggle of over-caffeinated coworkers. Please don't misunderstand, I enjoy the company and they usually bring a carafe of high-quality coffee, a great improvement over my weak blend. The company of coworkers take my place at the microphone and ask for donations on-air for a few hours in the morning. More suggestions to donate are given later in the day. This year is particularly important in gathering the donations, due to the economy. I'm impressed with the preparation and thought that has gone into this Summer Pledge Drive. It's as if everyone realizes the critical nature of it and it shows at six in the morning. My coworkers' faces are a little brighter, and perhaps a bit more anxious compared to past pledge drives. The goal is to raise $65,000 and with some on-air energy, consistent flow of caffeine and most of all, the generosity of listeners, I believe we can reach that. (970) 920-9000 is the number to donate...Thank you!

Palin Plans?

Aspen Public Radio News has started its Summer in the Streets series where the news team asks people walking along the streets in cities and towns from Rifle to Aspen about different issues. This week I was tasked with questioning folks about Sarah Palin's latest move in Alaska. She resigned as Governor earlier this month. Two political editors from NPR discussed potential Palin plans at public events in Glenwood and Aspen--I took their comments to the streets. I asked people why they thought she resigned, if it helped or hurt the Republican party and what she might be planning to do next.

The answers were varied but one thing was certain, people remain impassioned about Palin. Some wanted her to run for president in 2012, some said she would go on to make millions in the private sector by writing books and making public appearances, one man even said she would ride off into the sunset...I believe he was speaking figuratively but who wouldn't like to see Palin riding some lone highway on a Harley? Despite her role as a political figure, people seem to be more willing to discuss her role as a private citizen, family drama and all. That is likely the media's fault and another reason, many people mentioned, as to why she resigned--too much limelight. We'll see what happens next and whether she chooses to milk that limelight because, from what I can tell, she's still got the public's attention.

Rockin' Rifle

It's been a while since I've been down to Rifle - with the Ideas Festival, and the summer hustle and bustle, I've had too much to do UP valley. But this week, I got the chance to visit one of my very favorite towns.

I love visiting Rifle because I always try to do a series of interviews and stay all day. The people are friendly, the downtown is clean and inviting, and the views are breathtaking.

This week, I visited the city's Public Works director, Rod Hamilton, who talked to me about the city's new work crew. Rifle is a very organized place, and with mayor Keith Lambert at the helm, surrounded by tons of capable people, infrastructure projects and forward planning are humming along.

Rod and I visited for a while, talking about the work crew. Then we went out to the city's new wastewater treatment plant construction site to visit the workers themselves. What a bunch of hardworking guys! They barely wanted to stop their machines and take a break to chat.

The new wastewater treatment plant is just another example of how Rifle is working ahead. The city has been growing rapidly over the past decade, and they need to rebuild a lot of their current infrastructure to support the population. But the city is also thinking with the environment in mind: the wastewater plant, when it it complete, will become the first in the nation to be powered entirely from solar panels. That's right. The city of Rifle has a solar array that is even larger than the array in Carbondale at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Surprised? Well, I told you Rifle is a pretty organized and thoughtful place.

Speaking of visiting, I also took a little walk around the downtown while I was in between interviews. They've got new businesses opening up and old standbys that are doing just fine despite the economic gloom we keep hearing about in the papers.

This trip, I discovered a month-old bakery that has the most delectable selection of pastries, cookies, and homemade artisan breads. It's called, aptly enough, "The Bakery." It's just off Railroad Avenue, and I recommend you stop in if you've got the time! Perfect for a snack after a hike in Rifle Gap State Park or a walk around town.

In other Rifle-related news, the RE-2 school district is already preparing for the school year to begin. They've hired 40 new teachers for schools from New Castle to Rifle. Stay tuned for a story about one school in particular, next week.

That's the news from Rifle, for now. Keep listening, and keep exploring our beautiful valley!

Some Stories Make Me Smile

I was writing and editing a story about noise yesterday and I laughed out loud several times over in the newsroom. The story focused on the "Noiseguy" who visited the Pitkin County Library last week. He spoke to several children and parents about the power of sound and how it can help kids learn to read. The bit of comic relief was welcome following a mostly serious week at the Ideas Festival where topics such as global warming and healthcare were discussed. The Festival encouraged me to work to conquer the impossible and the Noiseguy reminded me lighten up along the way and not take life too seriously. Two valuable lessons!

The Aspen Institute: My New Home

This week I've traded my bed for a bench in the "Scholar's Lounge" outside Paepcke Auditorium at the Aspen Institute. Despite the hard surface and constant murmurs from people nearby talking about Twitter, Iran and renewable energy, I must say the free food is hard to beat. The hotdogs aren't pathetic pink links wrapped in Wonder Bread, instead the sizeable bratwursts are delicately situated in what looks like foccacia bread. The brownies are rich, the POM drinks are plentiful and the discussion over coffee is almost as good as the fair-trade brew itself.

I've sat in on discussions covering topics such as, why people love music, why water is so scarce in the West, and what can be done about it, one presenter was even working to discover scientific reasons for love and what attracts one person to another. My mind is thoroughly invigorated but my body screams lay down for ONE more nap on the bench...that is, after you snatch one of those rice crispy delicacies.