Aspen Public Radio News

One Small Flower, One Big Issue

2011-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

This month I reported a series of stories on new protections for a rare flower that only grows on the Roan Plateau in Northwestern Colorado. The US Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Parachute Penstemon as "threatened" on its Endangered Species List. The flower blooms in areas where oil and gas companies own leases, but so far, no development is happening. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the flower's greatest threat is from potential natural gas drilling. If a company wants to develop there, it may have to re-route pipelines, or move roads.

Well pads where drilling is taking place can be seen from a steep slope where the plant grows. The energy industry fears additional environmental regulations, like those that come with the Fish and Wildlife's designation, could slow job growth. But environmental groups say the flower is important to maintain a healthy natural ecosystem. The flower may be small, but it represents a big age-old debate about how to balance energy development with a healthy environment. (photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain Wild)

Recognizing 9/11 in Aspen

2011-09-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

This morning's 9/11 ceremony in downtown Aspen included words from people who were in New York City at the time of the attacks. Aspen resident Dick Butera described a massive cloud of debris heading toward his hotel near the Twin Towers. He became emotional yesterday when he described calling his children from the hotel to say goodbye. Butera survived and his hotel became the feeding center for thousands of first-responders and others at the site. Another Aspen resident, Andrea Booher, took photos at Ground Zero for FEMA. She thanked first-responders yesterday, for their hard work in NYC and everywhere else. The ceremony focused on work done by police, firefighters and others who were on the scene to help. Audience members were asked to place roses in empty firefighters' boots. The boots signified those lost in the 9/11 attacks. For the full story, log onto www.aspenpublicradio.org.

Cycling culture invades Aspen with delicious meals and unique lingo

2011-08-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cycling chef serves up good eats

The winner of the queen stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge from Gunnison to Aspen says food played a role in his victory. During a post-win press conference in Aspen Wednesday, George Hincapie of the BMC racing team credited good eating:

“I thought I was in pretty good shape coming into this race and yesterday I pretty much fully bonked coming into the finish and didn’t eat enough and so, today, I ate as much as I would do for a world cup and it ended up helping out because I felt a lot better today,” Hincapie said.

Indeed, food does play and integral part of an athlete’s performance. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen visited with the chef for Team Radio Shack as he cooked for the team’s cyclists following yesterday’s stage of the race.

Who or what is a peloton?

A large scale bike race barreling through a town’s main street, like Colorado’s ProCycling Challenge, can be a headache for people who couldn’t care less about cycling. But for diehard bike fans this race is what the Super Bowl is for football fans or the World Series to baseball fans. As with any sport with a large enough following a certain culture forms around it complete with its own clothing, tools and lingo. Aspen Public Radio’s Luke Runyon met up with some of those fans and gives us a peek into the world of pro cycling.

Natural gas drilling expansion sparks debate in Garfield County

2011-08-17T09:58:00.001-07:00

Part One

Drive west on Interstate 70 and a change in the landscape is evident almost as soon as you pull out of Glenwood Springs. Natural gas wells dot the highway. Their prevalence is not new, but the industry is growing and with that growth comes serious public policy debates. Aspen Public Radio's Luke Runyon looked into what’s at stake for the industry and for residents who fear for their health. In part one of his report he has one example of what happens when oil and gas operations attempt to coexist in a densely populated neighborhood.

Part Two

Fracking. The word is powerful enough in Western Colorado to elicit gut reactions. The spreading use of the drilling practice is touted as a way to wean the United States off foreign oil. Critics, who say their air is being polluted with noxious fumes, believe fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a health hazard. There still is no definitive science to back up the claim. One of the only studies to consider the issue was recently halted before completion. Now, residents of the small retirement community of Battlement Mesa in Garfield County have taken matters into their own hands; they are doing their own testing. In the second of our reports on the debate over natural gas drilling in Garfield County, Aspen Public Radio’s Luke Runyon explores whether this citizen sampling is political action or sound science.

Part Three

Colorado’s natural gas industry is growing...fast. Drilling companies are seeking permits to open more wells at a furious pace. And the requests are no longer limited to just the western part of the state, the region generally thought of as Colorado’s natural gas mecca. Now parts of northern and eastern Colorado could be on the brink of a drilling boom as companies are scooping up mineral rights to a massive shale formation. Nationally, demand for gas is growing and that has companies aggressively exploring in the state. In the final part of our report on natural gas drilling in Colorado, Aspen Public Radio’s Luke Runyon explains that changes in drilling technology will likely have the biggest impact on the future of energy development here.

Grilled Cheese, Street Food and Celebrity Chefs: Food and Wine Classic in Aspen 2011

2011-06-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

This year I spent an entire day, from 10am to 10pm, indulging in the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. This is the third year I've covered the event, but I've never participated in an entire day of sessions and tastings.

The day began with Laura Werlin's workshop on pairing grilled cheese sandwiches with wine. According to the official Classic handbook, Werlin is one of the country's foremost authorities on cheese. Her latest book is called, "Grilled Cheese, Please." And, by the way, it's her second book on the subject. I don't claim or aim to be a food critic, but Werlin's grilled cheese sandwiches made me salivate. They were absolutely the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever tasted. The first sandwich (there were four) was my favorite. The melted cheese oozed out between two slices of cinnamon raisin bread and a sort of chili chutney was spread on top of the cheese. Delicious!

After the cheese/wine session, I attended a Street Food from Singapore luncheon. A few of the food selections were Singapore curry, fried rice and an edible cup filled with noodles and topped with shrimp. Celebrity chef Susan Feniger even cut in front of me (after nicely asking) to get to the food first!

Next came a Borolo wine tasting with David Lynch. Some history on Lynch from the ultimate Classic handbook: "David Lynch served as the senior editor at Wine & Spirits. He was also the sommelier at New York's famed Babbo Ristorante." At this tasting, the looseness that develops after several glasses of wine was apparent in many of the participants. At least three times, those sitting in the tent yelled and howled at a nearby tent, where another wine tasting was happening. Those in the other tent proudly howled back.

All in all, my experience at this year's Classic was one to remember and my pallet is now a bit more educated. My Sunday night meal of macaroni and cheese may need to be spiced up a bit...Now, over to the kitchen!

Statements from NPR and Ron Schiller about Project Veritas' Video

2011-03-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

March 8, 2011 Statements from Ron Schiller & Vivian Schiller

"While the meeting I participated in turned out to be a ruse, I made statements during the course of the meeting that are counter to NPR’s values and also not reflective of my own beliefs. I offer my sincere apology to those I offended. I resigned from NPR, previously effective May 6th, to accept another job. In an effort to put this unfortunate matter behind us, NPR and I have agreed that my resignation is effective today." Ron Schiller, Former SVP of Development and Former President of the NPR Foundation – March 8, 2011

“Ron Schiller’s remarks are contrary to what NPR stands for and deeply distressing to reporters, editors and others who bring fairness, civility and respect for a wide variety of viewpoints to their work every day.” Vivian Schiller, President & CEO, NPR – March 8, 2011

NPR Corporate Statement – provided to media March 8th

The comments contained in the video released today are contrary to everything we stand for and we completely disavow the views expressed. NPR is fair and open minded about the people we cover. Our reporting reflects those values every single day -- in the civility of our programming, the range of opinions we reflect and the diversity of stories we tell.

The assertion that NPR and public radio stations would be better off without federal funding does not reflect reality. The elimination of federal funding would significantly damage public broadcasting as a whole.

Ron Schiller tendered his resignation on January 24, well before the lunch meeting occurred. His resignation was announced last week. He was intending to stay with NPR through May 5. We have mutually agreed that Ron is leaving NPR effective today.

Colorado's resort region continues to get hit hard by foreclosure

2011-02-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

This morning listen for a story on the latest foreclosure numbers in Colorado. The state's foreclosure rate is flattening out. But the numbers are not a pretty picture for the rural resort region. Tune in -- an economist and spokesperson for the Colorado Division of Housing will explain why.

In the meantime, if you want to read the report for yourself, head here.

It's a Bear's Life

2011-02-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

I went on a memorable reporting trip recently to a black bear's den, on the East side of Aspen Mountain. A group of Colorado State University Students, Division of Wildlife officials and a few others used snowshoes and skies to get to the den, 1200 vertical feet up a snowy, steep mountainside.

The students were wrapping up a multi-year study on the movement of black bears, particularly in urban areas. About 50 bears were outfitted with GPS collars and their feeding habits were tracked. The scientists discovered the bears prefer natural foods like service berries and acorns, over peoples' trash. But, the bears did resort to feasting on trash during bad food years. The study was meant to help City of Aspen officials and others make moves to prevent bears from getting into trash and potentially having dangerous run-in's with humans.

The students had been to this bear's den before, but this time they were removing the GPS collar that had been on the female bear for about one year. Once at the den, the group quietly loaded dart guns with tranquilizers. They squeezed into the small den to pull out the momma bear so they could check her health by taking her temperature and blood. A cub was curled up in the den too, and its health was checked.

The report by the CSU students will likely be released in one year. Then local officials can choose whether to use the information in dealing with bears in urban areas.

How Much Water Will Colorado Need?

2011-01-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

This morning, I reported on the Statewide Water Supply Initiative, the latest in a decade-long effort to figure out how much water Colorado will need over the next several decades -- and whether the state's on the right path to supply users with all that water.

Check out the Executive Summary for yourself here.

Here's a shorter summary of the findings for municipal and industrial use -- basically the water we use everyday at home. The need is expected to skyrocket. I bolded a few facts of particular interest to the West Slope.

The following are the major conclusions from
Colorado's 2050 M&I water use projections:

-Colorado's population is expected to nearly
double to between 8.6 and 10 million people
by 2050.

-The Front Range will continue to be the most
populous place in Colorado with over
80 percent of the state's population residing
in the Arkansas, Metro, and South Platte
Basins. The Front Range is expected to grow
by approximately 70 percent.

-The West Slope will grow at the fastest rate
of any area in Colorado between now and
2050. Population on the West Slope is
expected to more than double in the next
40 years with some growth rates as high as
240 percent.

-Statewide M&I water usage rates have
decreased by 18 percent. This decrease is due
to a combination of drought response,
conservation savings, and additional data
collection efforts. Additional data collected
during this effort has improved the original
SWSI water usage information.

-Because population growth is the driving
factor in water use across the state, water use
is also expected to nearly double by 2050.

-Passive conservation will save approximately
150,000 AFY by 2050 or an 8 percent savings
relative to baseline 2050 M&I water demands.

-The basins with the largest SSI water usage in
2050 are projected to be the Yampa‐White,
Arkansas, Metro, and South Platte Basins.

-Colorado will need approximately
600,000 AFY to 1 million AFY of additional
M&I and SSI water by 2050. These estimates
incorporate new water demands from
population growth, energy, and other SSI
needs (including oil shale), and replacement
of nontributary groundwater.

-An oil shale industry producing
1,550,000 barrels of oil/day could use between
0 to 120,000 AFY depending upon what
technologies and other factors are
implemented. Due to ramp up rates, by 2050
projected water use ranges from 0 to
44,000 AFY for an industry providing
550,000 barrels of oil/day p16

Bente Birkeland Interviews Statehouse Leaders

2011-01-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

The new legislative session begins next week.

In anticipation of the new session, Rocky Mountain Community Radio's Bente Birkeland interviewed the House and Senate Minority and Majority Leaders.

You can listen to her interviews here:

Republicans hold the minority in the state senate, but say they’re looking forward to having more leverage now that Republicans control the other chamber. Mike Kopp from Littleton is the Senate Minority Leader.

The state senate remains firmly in Democratic hands. Senate President Brandon Schaefer of Longmont is the only legislative leader who is not new to the position this session. And he has a specific vision for the months ahead.

Control of Colorado’s State House of Representatives, has changed this year, with Republicans now in control. New House minority leader Democratic representative Sal Pace talked about what it means and the role of his caucus.

Colorado has a new Republican Speaker of the State House, Frank McNulty. He talked about his plans for leadership and how he intends to work with the Democratic controlled senate and the Democratic Governor.

More on Secure Communities

2011-01-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Today I reported on Governor Ritter signing onto Secure Communities, a fingerprint check program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Now, anyone booked at their local law enforcement will have their prints and other identification scanned through the immigration database with ICE.

Click here for more details on Secure Communities, from ICE.

Take a look at the state's agreement with the feds:

Secure Communities MOA - Colorado Final-1

Here are some thoughts from immigration rights' activists who oppose Secure Communities, from the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition in a press release yesterday:

ColoradoImmigrantRightsCoalition-SecureCommunities

2011-01-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

Citizens and members of the city of Aspen Historic Preservation and Planning and Zoning Commissions were generally appalled at an anonymous developer's application to redevelop the Given Institute property.

I reported on it on our local news, but there is never enough time to include everything, or even part of everything.

At last night's meeting the general comments were that the proposed development lacked sensitivity because it asked for nearly $2 million in exemptions from the city as well as height, setback and size limit exemptions and would require cutting down many of Aspen's oldest and tallest trees.

Citizens were irked that there was a development being proposed at all and some mentioned trying to create a consortium of people to buy the property. The anonymous buyer (he's buying the 2.25 acre property and buildings from the University of Colorado for $15 million) is proposing to save the Given Institute building on one lot and subdivide the property into three more for private residential development. Representatives of the buyer said this application was rushed and they wanted to get feedback from the commissions, staff and citizens and go back to the drawing board.

Here's what some various members said during the meeting:

Neighbor Jonathan Lewis

Former neighbor Al Dietsch

Aspen Deputy Parks Director Stephen Ellsperman

Aspen Community Development Director Chris Bendon

Attorney for the buyer Bart Johnson

Planner for the buyer Mitch Haas

Aspen citizen and ACES board member Michael Fox

Marci's Favorite 2010 Stories

2010-12-29T14:54:00.000-08:00

My reporting assignments in 2010 varied from land use to bear problems to kids playing rock and roll. Four of my favorite stories aired on our local news this morning and they are listed below.

The first is a story on the Pitkin County Commissioners voting in support of the Hidden Gems plan. I liked this story because the Hidden Gems plan was front and center for a lot of people in the Valley this year. There were vocal opponents and proponents. Bumper stickers can still be seen plastered on cars, revealing how the driver feels about this issue. The Hidden Gems plan was divisive but it brought the Valley together in a way, because everyone had an opinion.

Another big news maker was the discovery of mammoths, mastodons and more at a dig site in Snowmass Village. The story I picked out regarding this discovery, focused on Snowmass Village's efforts on marketing the huge find. The discovery and the excavation that followed, received national news attention...The trick now is for Snowmass to hang onto to that public interest.

A heartwarming story I enjoyed reporting on in 2010 focused on a Basalt family's efforts to adopt two young boys from Haiti. The Ketchum family decided to adopt the children after they had been brought to the United States following an earthquake in Haiti in January. When I reported on the family in March, they thought the boys would be living with them by Summer. It turns out, the Ketchums are traveling to retrieve their new children THIS WEEK because of hold-up's between the U.S. and Haitian governments.

My final favorite story from 2010 focused on science and a threat to Aspen's water. In May, officials at Aspen's Water Department were using more chemicals to get dust out of the water supply. The dust, from desert areas in nearby states, also causes snow to melt faster, which water officials feared could lead to a water shortage. I liked this story because it brought out a new threat to water which is often overlooked in the face of other threats like climate change and water distribution.

Hidden Gems story

Mammoth Marketing story

Ketchum Family story

Dust in Water story

Christmas Eve Musings and Sermons

2010-12-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today is Christmas Eve. I suppose after Easter, it's probably the most attended day of worship in churches. But that is NOT a scientific fact, just an assumption or maybe an educated guess.

I'm a Jew so Christmas was never a big deal in my house, but I did go to our neighbor's Christmas Eve party yearly growing up. Aside from my love for mini-hot dogs and Swedish meatballs, which was fervent and only satiated on December 24th, I loved the glow of the tree, the sound of the music and (I can't lie), the present under the tree with MY name on it.

As I got older I even attended several years of midnight Mass at a nearby Catholic church and the service was always beautiful. My favorite part of church is the peace handshake at the end of the service.

Each year I've been at Aspen Public Radio I do a story on Christmas Eve Day about sermons. It's not deep or research intensive, but it's fascinating to me. I ask local pastors what their message will be in their sermon. It's true, it's generally the same. Joy. Peace. Love. The story of Christ. But making it fresh every year, that seems to be the catch. I've heard tales of likening the Christmas story to the movie Avatar, the stars in the sky and the beauty of our modern world. I'm amazed and in awe of those who are committed to their faith and the desire to share it. It can't be easy coming up with a sermon each Christmas Eve, but it's probably not easy coming up with one each Sunday either.

My yarmulke goes off (meaning hats off) to all those who are spreading their message of joy and peace tonight, and hopefully it will stick and 2011 will be a most joyous and peaceful year.

Name some great water songs

2010-12-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Here are a few to wet your whistle.

A Little Water Music Mix

What are some other great water songs?

Water Law in Colorado

2010-12-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

As part of our week-long series about water we have researched more aspects of the topic than we can possibly broadcast on air. One of the most interesting aspects, and most complicated is water law in the state.

Water law in Colorado was at first modelled after California and how that state dealt with water rights during intensive mineral mining, like during the gold rush. The general framework for Colorado water law was built around the first miners who came here and progressed from there.

I got the chance to interview Justice Gregory Hobbs, a state Supreme Court Justice and water expert. Not only is he a passionate water expert, he's also a great poet! He recited poetry to me at the end of our interview. If you want to learn more about this fascinating subject, you can listen to our interview.

Water, Water, Water. Slurp, Slurp, Slurp.

2010-12-13T02:08:00.001-08:00

When I write and research about water sometimes I just get thirsty.

We've been working on this water series for nearly two months and the day has finally arrived. (Literally, it's 3:09 am. In three more hours the first story will play on APR and KDNK).

What has interested me the most in my research on water is how differently people assess Colorado's water situation. Some say we don't have enough, some say we have plenty to move forward into the future.

My general sense from some of the conflicting things I've learned is this: Colorado has enough water for people to drink and bathe. The state does not have enough water for everyone to have huge green lawns into the future. How Colorado residents want their state to look is an integral part of how they manage water. It is up to each individual to do their share if the state as a whole is going to have enough water into the future.

Conservation is key and not just on the Front Range.

Later today I'm going to post sound and put up some of my favorite interviews from my story. I have 20 pages of typed notes just from the five interviews I did on tape. That doesn't count the many more interviews I did for research and background. I think I've become a mini-expert.

And because I feel secure in my water supply (at least for now), I am going to shower when I get up in the morning. I hope you do too!

The Search for George Aldrich

2010-12-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

Local law enforcement is calling on residents today to help them search "targeted areas" in the community for signs of George Aldrich, of Snowmass Village. The 28-year-old went missing November 27th. He was last seen getting off a RFTA bus on the outskirts of Aspen.

The striking part of this search, to me, is the Facebook page that has developed from it. There's a fan page, of which 5,429 people are signed onto (as of Thursday morning), called, "Find George Aldrich." Comments written on the Wall include this one from Elaine: "We are praying so hard that this will be the day they find George and he will be okay!" and this one from Kristen: "The longer he goes missing, the more devastating it becomes. C'mon George... Peace & Love to your family!"

George was last seen exiting bus 555 at the Truscott stop in Aspen. He spoke briefly to a woman who said he realized he was at the wrong stop when the shuttle left. He asked her if she could drive him to the Village Commons where he lived. She told him she did not have a car. She assumed he would wait for the next shuttle bus or attempt to hitch hike home. That was the last time anyone saw Goerge. Anyone with information should call the Aspen police at 970-920-5310.

From Beetle-Kill to Energy

2010-12-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

A group of five local non profits plan to study whether biomass can be used in the Valley to heat and power buildings. The Roaring Fork Biomass Consortium received a grant from the Governor's Energy Office to conduct a feasibility study. Types of biomass are plants, wood, grass, animal waste and landfill waste. It's most commonly burned to create renewable energy. Locally, officials with the Consortium believe wood from trees killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle and wood leftover from construction sites could be used. One non profit in the Consortium, the Flux Farm Foundation, even wants to explore the idea of planting short-rotation woody crops to supply potential biomass plants with wood. Everyone in the group says jobs could be created, and the White River National Forest supports the study. After it's completed, the analysis will be available to local governments, private businesses and other non profits. Those entities can decide whether they want to build biomass plants in the Valley.

Kristina gets some training in investigative reporting

2010-12-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

I've been at Northwestern University for the past four days learning about computer-assisted reporting. The fellowship is with the Education Writers Association, and it has been a terrific learning experience. I have new skills with Excel and Access that I can use to crunch numbers and create some compelling original reporting for Aspen Public Radio!

The first evening, George Papajohn spoke to the group of 20 reporters. He's The Chicago Tribune's associate managing editor for investigations and their consumer watchdog group. Papajohn has much experience culling stories from existing and original data. He directed our group to read a series of stories on the effects of the No Child Left Behind legislation, from 2004 and by reporter Stephanie Banchero. It is held up as an example of stellar reporting - and as a story that did not end the way the reporter may have predicted. It's a 3-part series you can check out here.

High Score for the Aspen Skiing Company

2010-12-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

The Aspen Skiing Company did well on the latest environmental report card from the Ski Area Citizens' Coalition. It's no surprise though, to Ski-Co workers like Auden Schendler. He's the Company's VP of Sustainability and he says employees are constantly cranking on various aspects of sustainability. Recently the Ski-Co added two LEED certified buildings and it cut its energy use by using renewable sources. There are plans in the future too to possibly build a small hydro electric project and the Company is looking at using gas from coal mines to generate electricity. Researchers behind the report card say the Aspen Skiing Company is a green leader for the industry but they add, more can be done to keep improving. To hear the entire news story, log onto our website and look under Local News.

Shoppers go forth, to Basalt!

2010-11-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

Retailers in Basalt are hoping shoppers from across the Valley and the Western Slope choose their stores to spend their money in. Some storekeepers say 2010 has been a tough year for business and the holidays could bring a needed boost.

Linda Hacker owns the Kitchenstore of Basalt in downtown. She says people are less inclined to purchase higher ticket items, so she's ordered more smaller ticket items. She increased the space in her store for items under $20. She's not alone. Across the street, at Midland Clothing Company, Manager Sandy Wirkler says the store has ordered new lines of clothing that are less expensive.

The Basalt Chamber of Commerce is holding 3 major events in an effort to bring business to local shops. The first is a tree lighting at Lion's Park in downtown this Saturday. It starts at 3pm. On December 10 and 11, a Holiday Stroll and the Winter Willits Celebration will be held.

Thanksgiving Travel

2010-11-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

I traveled to Montana this Thanksgiving and before I boarded the plane last Tuesday, I was prepared for cancellations, delays and lots of airport food. Much to my surprise and pleasure, none of that happened. It was amazing! I've traveled a lot in the last two years and have learned to expect the worst, and to bring a pillow in case the airport floor becomes a bed. As everyone knows who lives here, flying in and out of the Aspen airport is a gamble. High winds and heavy snow can change plans quickly and lead to rented cars or last-minute bus rides to Denver. On the plane ride into Aspen yesterday, the man sitting next to me looked outside at snow and clouds and said, "Do you think we'll really land?" Fortunately we did and the other flights I was booked on performed at the same, as-scheduled level. I'm unsure whether all travelers had this sort of luck during the busiest fly-time of the year but for me, I'm content and grounded for the time being.

WRNF Travel Management Plan Interview

2010-11-26T13:12:00.001-08:00

The time is almost here after a decade of waiting for the White River National Forest to release its travel management plan. It's the plan that dictates what trails are open or closed and what type of use -- motoroized or non-motorized-- are allowed.

It's been a long time in coming. I talked to Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams about the plan. One of the things I was wondering was since he took over the job just one year ago, if his philosophy was different than his predecessor. He said no. So much for that question.

The entire interview is posted here if you want to hear what he said about the plan (of which he revealed nothing). He talked about the challenges of writing up a plan for 2.3 million acres of land and trying to make everyone happy.

Listen here

Localizer? Who ever heard of that before?

2010-11-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

The fact that the localizer for the Aspen Airport has been down intermittently since October has been in the news quite a bit. But I ask...who ever heard of a localizer before last month? Not me. I fly as much as my vacation allows but never thought about the equipment pilots need, not just to land, but to abort a landing. The broken piece of equipment is actually the piece that would help pilots navigate back into the sky if they have to abort a landing. Federal Aviation Administration rules prohibit pilots from landing without this, even though it seems like an unlikely scenario that they would have to abort the landing. Thank goodness for safety. I've seen a few planes smashed into pieces on the sides of runways in the Himalayas -- not for me!

At a press conference the other day, Bob Kitson with the FAA explained what a localizer is. So now, this information is not going to be kept secret to the select few, but can be understood by all!

Here's his description. (By the way, he told me Aspen was the only airport in the country to have the LDA, which you will hear about in his explanation).

DREAM Act Rally in Glenwood Springs

2010-11-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

Some of the valley’s high school students rallied for the DREAM Act in Glenwood Springs tonight. Members of Congress have suggested they will bring up the legislation during this lame duck session.

A number of the students spent the day at their high schools handing out flyers, holding assemblies and trying to get other students to come show their support. The last rally, which happened in Carbondale about a month ago, had far less turnout. Organizers were pleased with the results today. Alex Alvarado, president of the student body at Roaring Fork High School, shared his story about how he came to Carbondale with his family as a child.

Listen to Alex Alvarado's story in its entirety here.

A Boost for the Hidden Gems

2010-11-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, the Pitkin County Commissioners formally endorsed designating some public lands in Pitkin County as Wilderness. Wilderness Workshop asked the Commissioners to support designating nearly 63,000 acres as Wilderness. It's a Federal designation that keeps uses like snowmobiles and mountain bikes off those lands.

Before the Commissioners made their decision, they listened to about one hour of public comment from more than 20 community members. The Gems plan has been contentious and both sides spoke up. Below is sound from the meeting. It's extended material that didn't make it into my news story. It features some of the comments made by community members.

http://www.aspenpublicradio.org/news/hidden_gems.mp3

Last Day Digging -- Mastodon Tooth on Demand and Gourmet Delight?

2010-11-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

The last day at the dig site in Snowmass Village I was out recording sound for a national story and the three remaining scientists were determined to find something so I could get the sound of their discovery on tape.

They were in a depresseion in the mud about ten feet in diamter and the nigh before the Cheif Curator for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Kirk Johnson had unearthed ten bones while he dug furiously at sunset.

The three men shoveled with vigor and told jokes in between slamming into rocks, 45, 000 year old pieces of wood adn sand. One even broke his shovel. But with five minutes to spare Johnson had to get to the Snowmass Village town council meeting, the crew hit bone, sort of. They uncovered a Mastodon tooth, a molar to be exact. Johnson took it to the Snommass Village town council meeting as a last treasure to behold before the dig site closed for the winter. I call that tooth on demand.

Also, listen here for what sort of prehistoric delectable Ian Miller, the museum's paleontologist tasted in the field when I asked him if he tasted any Mastodon meat.

http://www.aspenpublicradio.org/news/mastodon_treat.mp3

Mammoth Discoveries in Snowmass

2010-11-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I visited with some of the scientists working at the dig site in Snowmass Village where fossil bones have been found. The remains of mammoths, mastodons, a giant ground sloth, Ice Age bison and more have been discovered at the Ziegler Reservoir. What I heard over and over again from those who have been at the site is what an amazing discovery it is. They emphasized how quickly the discovery has grown since the first bone was found October 14th. It's also significant that the find is at such a high elevation, above 8000 feet. Here are some photos of the discoveries...

Historic photo of the original Valley View Hospital building

2010-10-15T12:39:00.001-07:00

This week, Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs broke ground on its new cancer center. This is the old building that's coming down -- it is the remaining portion of the original hospital building built in 1954.

The new Calaway & Young Cancer Center is scheduled to open in mid-2012. It'll include nearly 30,000 square feet of dedicated space for cancer treatment.

Valley View Hospital has been treating cancer for years, but this new space will allow patients in the Roaring Fork Valley to receive radiation treatment locally. Before, they had to drive to Grand Junction or Edwards for treatment weekly, even daily at times.

Click here for an Aspen Public Radio story about the groundbreaking.

Aspen Public Radio & KDNK Produce "The Issue" Together

2010-10-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

Aspen Public Radio's Kristina Tabor and KDNK's Mat Katz teamed up for the weekly podcast, "The Issue." Today's topic: Congressman Salazar's recent decision to draft legislation that could protect the land known as Thompson Divide near Carbondale.

Also, check out news director Mitzi Rapkin's report on the plan.

Aspen City Council and Aspen Art Museum

2010-10-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

Last week, Aspen Public Radio reported that some people who are against the new Aspen Art museum were considering filing recall papers against everyone in city council except Steve Skadron (because they say he supports their view). What do you think of this? What are recalls for?

State Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101

2010-09-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Today, Aspen Public Radio reported on these three ballot questions that experts say will cripple government. My story focused on how the measures will impact RFTA. It is hard for the finance staff at RFTA to get a good estimate of how much the measures would cost the transit authority if passed because there is no precedent to use as a comparison when calculating the numbers. Still, financial officers there estimate that RFTA will lose 9.7% of its operating budget in 2011 and will have to cut service by nearly 70 hours a week. That will likely affect workers from around the valley and perhaps their employees too. If there is no bus service to Aspen for workers that have no other way to get up valley, it will be a struggle for some to maintain their jobs.

Certainly, there is also a major mistrust of government. Many people would rather save and spend their money than giving it to the state in the form of taxes and fees. Both political parties are against these measures and the big mystery right now is who put them on the ballot.

It is interesting to see local governments and both political parties in agreement over these issues, it doesn't happen that often.

A Dry Future?

2010-05-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

On Friday I interviewed local author Jonathan Waterman about his new book, "Running Dry." He says it's a public awareness campaign about how the river is being overused and will eventually fail to sustain the 30 million people who rely on it. Waterman ran the river from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park to the Mexican Delta, where he had to walk because the river dried up before it reached the sea. He says if things don't change, there could be a 10% percent reduction in water by 2050. That would likely impact cities like Denver, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

From the beginning of his book, there is adventure. He and a few colleagues start by snowshoeing up to 9000 feet where they use a pack raft to start the journey. He flips his boat a few times along the way and loses a paddle at one point. Throughout his travels, he talks to ranchers, farmers and other water users about what the River means to them.

The Colorado River and its tributaries run through seven states and Mexico. It feeds 3 million acres of farmlands along the way and supports over 100 dams. You can listen to a news story about the book and Waterman at www.aspenpublicradio.org.

This blog has moved

2010-04-05T09:49:00.001-07:00

This blog is now located at http://aspenradionews.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://aspenradionews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Shortsfest Extravaganza

2010-04-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, film lovers in the Roaring Fork Valley will have a chance to watch nearly 100 "shorts" at theaters in Aspen and Carbondale. The films are all under 30 minutes in length and vary from documentaries and short comedies to animations and dramas. This is the 19th year Aspenfilm has put on the festival which is an International Oscar qualifying event.

I watched the trailer for one of the films that's scheduled to screen in Aspen on Saturday night. It's called "Cigarette Candy," and a preview can be seen at www.cigarettecandy.com. It's about a marine returning home and attending a family reunion.

Several of the films are created by young filmmakers who often go on to have big careers in the film business. Aspenfilm Executive Director Laura Thielen says filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney and Francis Ford Coppola started with shorts. Shorts started being produced in the late 19th century because technology didn't allow for feature-length films.

A full schedule of the films is listed at www.aspenfilm.org. Tickets can be purchased at the Wheeler Opera House or at www.aspenshowtickets.com. The films will be screened at the Wheeler and at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale.

Winter Pledge Drive Madness

2010-03-03T06:51:00.001-08:00

It's the fifth day of Aspen Public Radio's Winter Pledge Drive and the station is about halfway to its goal of raising $83,000. I'm using our News Blog today to ask you to pledge if you haven't already done so. From an insider's point of view, the station runs efficiently and the program line-up continues to evolve into an all-around solid product. By supporting Aspen Public Radio financially, that product will continue to improve. The Pledge Drive is hard work but it's also extremely rewarding to hear peoples' comments. This week an Aspen local said the local news has improved significantly over the past few years and to me, that means a great deal! He said he supports the station yearly and counts on it. If you count on Aspen Public Radio to keep you informed, entertained and inspired, please support us! You can call (970) 920-9000 or make a secure online pledge at www.aspenpublicradio.org. THANK YOU!

Hunger in the Valley

2010-02-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

This week I did a series on hunger issues in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond, to the Western Slope. Social Service workers say people in our area have been living on the edge for awhile but the recession pushed some of them over. Numbers at food pantries have shot up to record numbers. Lift Up reports the New Castle food bank served 159 people last month. A total of 76 people were fed in January of 2009.

In Pitkin County, the number of people applying for the Federal Food Assistance Program is rising. The Program, which used to be called Food Stamps, issues a sort-of debit card to people living under the poverty line to use at grocery stores. From 2008 to 2009, Pitkin County saw the largest jump statewide in the amount it issued in Food Assistance. In 2008, the County administered about $8000 and in 2009, that number rose to $20,000.

On the Western Slope overall, more and more people are depending on the Food Bank of the Rockies for their meals. Before the recession about 40,000 people used the Food Bank's services. Now, more than 50,000 people are taking advantage of subsidized food at food banks across 13 counties.

The situation seems dire but Executive Director of Lift Up Mike Powell says residents of the Roaring Fork Valley have shown incredible generousity. Large numbers of people came forward last year to volunteer their time and resources. But, Powell and others believe the problem of people needing food will persist in 2010.

More from Mexico

2010-01-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

by Kristina

Last weekend I traveled to Uxmal, a Mayan ruin about a hour's drive south of Merida. One of the reasons I wanted to study Spanish in the Yucatan was the rich history here. I'm fascinated by the Mayans, and their ruins leave plenty more to pique my curiosity.

I think this cultural history is essential to learning a language; the Mayan and the Yucatan cultures still permeate life in Merida.

This weekend I'm headed to Chichén Itzá, another major ruin. More to come from that spot!

Reporter´s Mexico Diary

2010-01-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

by Kristina Tabor

I´m in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, taking an intensive Spanish course. I´ll be here for four weeks, and during that time, I´m keeping a reporter´s diary on the Aspen Public Radio blog!

Merida is a lovely city about 200 miles west of Cancun. There are a few direct flights here from America. It´s at the heart of the Yucatan and the heart of Mayan culture.

This is the Monumento a la Patria. And it's just a taste of what the architecture is like here in Merida. There´s a mix of Mayan and Mayan-inspired buildings as well as colonial architecture.

The Spanish Institute of Merida's building falls in the latter category. It's on a busy corner of Merida, but within the walls, la escuela is a peaceful space.

About ten of us started school on the first Monday of January. Most are here for the full month, and everyone's taking classes all day, whether individualized or in groups.

Here's my class, where we are all beginners. Edith is our very patient teacher. This week - week one - we learned about sentence structure, how words are gendered, etc. Next week we take on verbs -- and I can't wait because all I can say is, it's very hard to speak in Spanish without verbs!

Afternoons at the school are spent one-on-one with a young Mexican guide. This is probably the most valuable time: practice through conversation. I have an amazingly patient and kind guide, Miguel, and I have learned a lot about Merida from him.

This is the Catedral de San Ildefonso, the oldest in Mexico. It anchors el Centro Historico in Merida.

As you may imagine, there is incredible food here, lovely culture and the people are so friendly. I'll write more about all that later!

A Look Back...

2009-12-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

Last New Year's Eve (2008), former Aspenite Jim Blanning planted four homemade bombs near banks in downtown Aspen. The incident closed down 16 blocks of downtown and several businesses suffered huge losses in revenue. The Aspen Police Department was also challenged to tackle an incident unlike anything they had dealt with before. They called in agencies from as far away as Grand Junction and Vail to help block off the area and dismantle the bombs. The evacuation order was lifted at 5 AM on New Year's Day, leaving businesses like restaurants empty-handed on one of their busiest nights.

Since the bomb scare, some restaurants have recovered, but just barely. Denise Walters with Social and Elevation restaurants says the evacuation kick-started a tough year, combined with the recession. The eateries lost 5% of their total revenue that night and the recession pushed revenues down 20 to 30% compared to the year before. Fortunately, the restaurants are nearly booked for this New Year's Eve and the staff is positive.

For the Aspen Police Department, the biggest success of their response to the incident was that no one was hurt and no major property damage was reported. But, the Department realized they needed more radios, as batteries died during the night. And, phone calls backed up so the Department expanded their phone and computer capacity. Officers also realized they needed to communicate with local media more during significant incidents.

Despite the lessons learned and hardships battled, the incident is now just a "foggy memory," according to Walters. Now, there's nothing more to look toward but the future.

Holiday Struggles

2009-12-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

It seems the Holiday season brings out the best and most difficult circumstances in a community. Today I did a story about how the Toys for Tots charity in Basalt is struggling to raise donations for needy people in the mid-Valley. Organizers believe people are so strapped for cash, they are waiting until they buy their own Christmas gifts before buying some for others. It's hard to hear about the impoverished side of our community--people having difficulty paying rent or putting food on the table. Maggie Cruz of the Roaring Fork Family Resource Center at the Basalt schools says basic needs assistance has gone up. More people are applying for programs like Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus, which is a low-income insurance plan for children. More people are applying for Toys for Tots too--the number of families who asked for gifts this year was more than double what it was in 2007. Cruz says most of the poverty she sees is centralized to the trailer parks in El Jebel and Basalt, where large families often squeeze into small living spaces.

If you would like to donate to Toys for Tots, you can find donation boxes at Alpine Bank, Aspen Valley Hospital, Big "O" Tire, Basalt Community United Methodist Church, Novel-Tea Bookstore, Red Rock Diner, American Furniture Warehouse, Capo Tile, Christopher and Banks, Edward Jones and Moe's Southwest Grill. The boxes will be picked up on Friday.

First Turns

2009-11-30T07:53:00.000-08:00

I made my first turns of the season yesterday, on Aspen Mountain. My legs were reminded of the sport as I led them slowly (at first) down runs like Copper, North American and finally Spar Gulch. I heard the sounds of the World Cup as I finished the day at the bottom. It felt good to ski and there was a surprising amount of people on the mountain, which should make the Aspen Skiing Company feel good too.

The Ski-Co is gearing up for a season that it hopes will match last winter, when it comes to ticket sales and general business. The Company logged 1.36 million skier visits last season, which was down more than 7 % from the 2007/2008 season. The Ski-Co is using more marketing dollars this year and aggressively promoting deals. Ski-Co Senior Vice President David Perry told the Aspen Times recently "We're still battling economic headwinds."

Despite the challenges, everything seemed in its place yesterday with a packed Ajax Tavern and lift lines at the Silver Queen Gondola. Let's hope the early-season visual signs are representative of what's to come throughout the rest of this 2009/2010 ski season.

Veterans Day in Aspen

2009-11-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

U.S. Representative John Salazar spoke at a Veterans Day event in Aspen yesterday. He talked about legislation he's working on to help veterans get medical care when they return from serving overseas. He also mentioned how a new National cemetery in southern Colorado gained approval from the House last week. After discussing "business," Salazar told a story obviously close to his heart, about his father who was a veteran himself. Holding back tears, the congressman told how his father mentioned family and being buried in his uniform right before he died.

The most moving part of the ceremony though, was not Salazar's talk. Instead it was a short comment made by an unidentified soldier who had served in Vietnam. He said he had never felt welcome upon his return home until 37 years later when he came to Aspen. He said the Fourth of July parade where veterans walk through a cheering crowd, was the first time he had felt "welcomed home."

Another veteran I interviewed said nowadays, "greeters" are standing by and called to duty when a veteran returns to the United States. He said no longer do veterans need to feel "unwelcome" when they return home.

Mental Health Behind Bars

2009-11-03T07:16:00.001-08:00

Nationally 16% of inmates in jails suffer from mental illness. At the Pitkin County Jail, Administrator Don Bird estimates that number is even greater. He believes between 20 and 25% of inmates deal with issues such as psychotic episodes that are often the reasons inmates end up in jail.

In order to better protect the community and serve the Jail's population, a more aggressive approach is being taken at the Jail. Jail officials will work with health providers to identify, diagnose and treat mental illnesses among inmates. The inmates will also be referred to local health providers after they are released from jail.

Bird says the new approach sprung from a greater awareness of mental health issues in the Valley. He says organizations such as Colorado West are bringing mental illness to the spotlight and making it not such a taboo subject.

So far one inmate has successfully gone through Pitkin County's program, from identifying the illness to seeking treatment with a health provider after release. Bird estimates more inmates will go through the program as they fine-tune it. It's currently being funded with County dollars allocated to medical expenses in the Jail's budget.

A Booming Business

2009-10-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

Each day in Colorado, 400 applications from patients wanting to use marijuana as medicine, come to the State Department of Health and Environment. In 2006, just over 1000 people were on the State's patient registry. So far this year, more than 11,000 people are card-carrying medicinal marijuana users. Four dispensaries have opened in Aspen since late summer and several others are serving patients up and down the Roaring Fork Valley.

To treat a knee injury, one patient I talked to uses a concentrated form of the plant that is liquified and edible. Josh Griggs says it makes the constant pain he experiences go away. Griggs is also a dispensary owner and he has created several rules for his patients, or members. They are required to sign a 5-page agreement saying they will not re-sell the marijuana on the street and the patients are outlawed from using the drug in the dispensary.

Local town governments are also creating rules in an effort to regulate parts of the industry. In New Castle, the Town Board is preparing to adopt an ordinance that would require background checks for dispensary owners and the dispensaries themselves would be subject to Conditional Use requirements. So far, no dispensaries have opened in New Castle but in Glenwood Springs there are at least two downtown stores. City elected officials have not set up rules but the mayor believes the State needs to create more regulations.

This booming industry seems to be growing so fast, local governments and even dispensaries are trying to catch up and regulate it where they can. It will be interesting to see where this newly-sprouting industry goes and whether new regulations from the State are developed.

Cool State Website

2009-10-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

There's a new State website that "tracks the dollars" of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and it's interesting to see where those stimulus dollars are going. I talked to the Executive Director of Mountain Family Health Centers, which is receiving about $554,000 in stimulus funds, and he told me he's never seen so much transparency from the government. And this website exemplifies that. The website at www.colorado.gov/recovery leads you to a map of the counties of Colorado. You can click on say, Garfield County and find a list of organizations that are receiving Federal funds. An interesting benefactor in Garfield County is Glenwood Beauty Academy Inc., which is getting a $45,000 chunk of change. I suppose the money will help train people to cut hair, paint nails or other beauty trades. Go ahead and log onto the site and check out where the money is going in your county, you might be surprised!

Mail Ballot Elections Gain Popularity

2009-10-14T07:47:00.001-07:00

Pitkin County's Clerk and Recorder says more than 90% of Colorado's 64 counties will use a mail ballot election this November. That means polling places and early voting will not be part of the election. Voters will get ballots in the mail and must drop them off or mail them to the County by 7PM on November 3rd.

The mail ballot election is becoming more popular because it's more convenient for voters and cheaper. Pitkin County Clerk Janice Vos Caudill says taxpayers will save up to $20,000 dollars by using this method of voting. It also allows busy individuals to find their own time to go over the issues, mark their choices and mail the ballot.

But, the mail ballot elections are causing some concern. Jenny Flanigan of Colorado Common Cause says the ballots may not reach people who move around a lot, like many residents do in Pitkin County. She also say people should have a choice of how they want to vote and narrowing that decision to one method may not suit all voters in Colorado.

Regardless of various feelings concerning the mail ballot election, it will be conducted this Fall in Pitkin, Garfield and Eagle Counties. Vos Caudill says she wants to hear from voters following the election about whether they liked the method and whether it should be used again.

Flu Shots Available Now

2009-10-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

Starting today Pitkin County will begin to administer seasonal flu shots to people willing to get them. On Friday H1N1 or Swine Flu shots will be offered to healthcare workers. Pitkin County has 1000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine and 100 doses of swine flu vaccine. Greater amounts of both vaccines are expected to come to the County later this Fall.

The two flu viruses are similar but there are some differences. Cases of the Swine Flu have developed outside of the traditional flu season and the virus is more often noticed in young people who have not built up strong immunities to illnesses. Liz Stark at Community Health Services says the number of deaths associated with the Swine Flu are similar to those connected to the seasonal flu. Despite similarities, some organizations are being extra vigilant about keeping germs away. The Aspen School District is focusing on cleaning hand railings and other items often touched by students. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority has also stepped up cleaning efforts in its buses. Stark says absenteeism is up at Aspen schools and pediatricians are seeing more patients, due to the flu.

The same rules as always apply: If you're sick stay home and if your symptoms are severe, seek medical assistance. And, health officials are stressing getting a seasonal flu shot early because the shots may run out. The first clinic is today at the Health and Human Services building near Aspen Valley Hospital, from 1 to 6PM.

New Colorado Discoveries

2009-09-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from my first trip to the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado and I am impressed. The natural beauty in this state, to which I am a newcomer, continually amazes me. I grew up in the West, in Montana, and appreciate the wonder there too but in Colorado it seems more accessable and the mountains are just a wee bit taller. We must have passed two or three "14er's" visible from the highway from Poncha Springs to Buena Vista. My friends and I climbed to a high alpine lake outside of Crestone on a well-developed and (unfortunately) well-used trail. Despite the sometimes crowded trails, I am happy someone took the time to build the trail and make these sometimes perspective-changing scenic views available.

Morning Surprise

2009-08-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

Recently I have hesitated to hop on my bicycle to ride to work in the mornings. Here's why: black bears. I ride to work when it's still dark outside, at 5AM. On two different occasions I nearly ran into a bear. One of those near run-in's happened this morning, when a small furry creature crossed Mill Street in front of my cycle, near the Aspen Brewing Company. I yelled, "Hip, hip, move outta the way!" The bear went jogging, afraid of what this human on two wheels might do. I was told recently by a Colorado Division of Wildlife official that we Aspen residents are right in the middle of some of the best berry territory in Colorado. But the bears have gone beyond the berries to forage for leftover dinners and wrappers in unsecured trash cans. Homes have been broken into, messes have been made and one person was injured. The bears are a nuisance but we are in their territory and witnessing a bear running across a two-lane street shouldn't be too big of a surprise.

No Small Feat for Small Businesses

2009-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

The local businesses that operate in the City of Aspen may have greater challenges than stores in other cities. According to officials at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, rents can cost upwards of $30,000/month in the downtown core. High rents combined with worker shortages and high worker wages can make keeping the doors open, a difficult task. I've profiled two businesses that have been operating for more than 3 decades and the message remains the same: high rents equal tough times. Ute Mountaineer owner Bob Wade says "nationals" or commercial companies, tend to drive up the rent because they can afford the initial price landlords offer. Sandy's Office Supply owner Mike Husaluk says his store is on the brink of owning its building, which will take a heavy weight off Husaluk's shoulders. When asked about paying workers, he said he had never offered minimum wage because that's not enough. The high cost of living requires higher hourly wages. The challenges businesses in Aspen face did not start with this latest recession, they are everyday issues that keep business owners on their feet.

High Profile in the High Country

2009-08-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest athletes in the world right now, lives in the same neighborhood where I work. Cyclist and 7-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong moved to Aspen last year and since then, has created quite a stir locally. Mayor Mick Ireland suggested creating a "Lance Armstrong Livestrong Day," and Armstrong has participated in some local bike races including last weekend's Blast the Mass in Snowmass Village. I find myself looking for Armstrong on the streets of Aspen and reading articles about upcoming races he plans on participating in. I know I'm not alone. The extremely accomplished athlete has seemed to spark an energy in town, unlike most other celebrities who move here. It's likely due to the high concentration of local bicyclists and their love of the sport. I know when I hop on my mountain bike and speed down the single track, I'm practically mimicking Lance...okay, not even close but I will cheer him on at the Leadville 100 this weekend as a hometown guy.

Swine Flu Back on the Scene

2009-08-05T08:14:00.001-07:00

As if there isn't enough to worry about for folks living in the United States right now, another issue is re-emerging after what seems like, a multiple-month hiatus. The Swine Flu, or H1N1 flu virus, is back in the headlines as counties, like Pitkin, prepare to get and give vaccinations. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are concerned the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. The CDC is working on and testing an H1N1 vaccine now, and the Center hopes to distribute doses of it nationwide later this Fall. In Pitkin County, health officials believe the vaccine will be available to citizens by mid-October but they don't know how much.

Generosity Abounds!

2009-07-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-07-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

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.

Print Prevails despite Economic Woes

2009-06-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Tourist Season starts Swingin'

2009-06-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Utility Companies Catching onto Green Movement

2009-06-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

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.

A Vision of Health in Paint

2009-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Federal Stimulus Flowing

2009-05-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

The $787 billion dollars President Obama signed into law in February, as a Federal stimulus package, are working their way into the Roaring Fork Valley. I've done a handful of stories on where the dollars are going. It seems though, the money must move over a few hurdles before it can be put to use.

The stimulus money going to the Aspen School District must be spent in two specific Federal programs, that were already set up. So, the money will flow through the Title One and IDEA program, for special education. The Roaring Fork School District fears the money may not be able to fund new positions, because of limitations. The money needs to be spent over two years, so the concern is that no one will want to come on board and work for such a short period of time.

Health and Human Services Departments in the Valley will get a stimulus chunk. They want to expand programs they've already started locally, that help prepare people to seek out jobs or change careers. Garfield County's Human Services Director is unsure though, the money will help lift the County out of the place its reached due to the recession. The amount of Food Stamps given out in April is 40% more than the amount given during the same month last year.

So while the Stimulus is flowing into programs and services in schools and County governments, it will not completely quell the recession, but keep it at bay and support some people who may need a lift.

Dust on Snow

2009-05-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to notice the dust accumulating on the peaks surrounding Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley. On this beautiful Spring day, I drove from Aspen to Basalt and noticed what looked like dirty chalk on the mountain peaks. It's one thing to look at the dust on snow, it's quite another if it begins to negatively impact people living in the Valley.

Chris Landry from the Silverton-based Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, says the dust makes the snow melt faster because it absorbs solar radiation. He said the snowpack on McClure Pass is already gone and snow on the peaks around Marble are melting quickly. He and his team recently visited these areas and took core samples of snow, which had reddish rings where the dust had settled.

With the quick snowmelt, comes a rapid spring runoff, which could limit the amount of time reservoir managers have to gather water and irrigators may get their biggest dose of water at the wrong time. Landry said it's all about timing and if the water flows sooner than is typical, there could be some issues. A prediction from the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center says the Colorado River in Grand Junction will peak Thursday. That's about three weeks ahead of what is typical.

So, unfortunately, the visual of dust on snow is just the small part. The eye-catching reddish-brown act of nature has far-reaching impacts.

Happy Cinco De Mayo and Aspenites: go and vote!

2009-05-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today marks two significant events in our Valley: Cinco De Mayo and the Spring election in Aspen.

Cinco De Mayo in the Valley likely means celebrations at homes and in restaurants--That's possibly more than what Mexicans in their home country might experience. The Washington Post reports, due to the Swine Flu, the Mexican Embassy canceled the mariachis that were booked for its Cinco de Mayo celebration and no margaritas will be served, just wine. So to those living in the Roaring Fork Valley, enjoy your freedom and exercise it too. Go and vote if you live in Aspen. The polls are open from 7AM to 7PM and three issues are on the line: a new mayor, two new Council members, and a question on whether or not to sell City land to the Aspen Art Museum. If you're unsure where to vote, contact the City Clerk's office. Now, I'm going to go vote!

Instant Runoff Voting: Anyone Can Do It

2009-05-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the City of Aspen will use the Instant Runoff Voting method. It's an innovative step considering the method is not widely used, and the system has never been used in Aspen. The idea is hard to explain. A visual aid is the best tool to understand it. There is a pamphlet online, and anyone with PDF capabilities can get to it. Log onto aspenpitkin.com, then click on "Instant Runoff Voting," finally click on "Instant Runoff Voting Brochure."

The brochure lists "fake" candidates such as, Colonel Mustard and Greta Greenwood. You can fill out the ovals on the brochure for a practice run before you go to the polls. City Clerk, Kathryn Koch told me, the most important thing for voters to remember is to rank as many candidates as possible, and fill in as many ovals as is comfortable: the more the better. And everyone's vote counts! Now, get out and vote!

The Easter Bunny's In Rifle!

2009-04-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day in Rifle, New Castle, and Silt, doing interviews for a variety of stories you'll hear soon on your local news.

When I left from Carbondale in the morning, the weather was grey, chilly, and the sky was spitting snow. By the time I arrived in Rifle, however, it was a warm blue sky day!

While strolling down 3rd Street, I dropped in to the Creek Bend Bistro and Coffee, and there were lots of people out enjoying lunch. If you're down in Rifle, be sure to stop by for a latte -- they're fantastic!

As I walked in, I noticed a construction paper bunny shape with a number on it, posted on the door. Outside, I found that many of the other businesses on 3rd Street ALSO had bunnies on their windows. Turns out, it's all part of the city's annual Easter Egg Hunt.

In Rifle, the local Lion's Club takes charge of the festivities, hiding more than 4 thousand pieces of candy around town. Some of the candy is numbered, and if kids find a numbered piece, they can go to the local business with the same number, to get an extra treat. This year is the 75th anniversary of the hunt. In fact, one community member has been helping for almost 50 years.

Just a little morsel from my latest down valley adventures. Happy spring!

~ Tory