I hereby announce my candidacy for Mayor of Aspen. I will not run in the upcoming race. Nor will I run in the race after that. I will, however, run for the city’s top post in the great Mayoral race of 2012. That is, if I still live here. I’m not sure if I will be able to afford it much longer.
Though premature, I would like to take this occasion to present my platform to the public.
Continue Reading 1 comment February 24th, 2007
As long as we want to stick with stereotypes in the Aspen Mayor’s race—the election is in May—then the least we can do is go all the way.
The two top candidates for the job threw their toppers in the ring Thursday, and both will have to overcome (or perhaps embrace) the public’s perception of who they are. As a for instance, a cocksure reporter I had never seen before asked a question of the entrepreneur Tim Semrau at Jimmy’s that likened his campaign rhetoric to President George W. Bush.
Continue Reading 5 comments February 23rd, 2007
ASPEN, COLORADO (Post Time News)--By the end of 2006, the Aspen Community Foundation increased its assets by $4 million to a total of $31 million, with $10 million going into the Community Foundation’s endowment. In all, some $8 million was generated in 2006 alone, according to the foundation, with $4.51 million targeted for Donor Advised Funds, $1.95 million for Organization Funds, and some $1.47 million into Aspen Community Foundation Programs.
The Community Foundation was able to grant a total of $4.8 million to over 200 nonprofits last year. Seventy-seven percent of all grants funded nonprofits from Aspen to Parachute. Aspen Community Foundation makes its grants through its 108 Funds and through its own programs, which include an annual application-driven grant cycle, the EBF Fund and the Early Childhood Education Initiative.
Continue Reading Add comment February 23rd, 2007
ASPEN – Auditions for Laugh Your Aspen Off (LYAO) spots will be held Friday, Feb. 23rd, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Crystal Palace Theater on Hyman St. at Monarch St. in Aspen. Applicants, even novices, are asked to prepare 2-5 minutes of original, locally focused material. Use of notes while performing is acceptable.
Walk-ins are welcome. To register a time slot in order to better fit your schedule, e-mail mary@laughyouraspenoff.com. The auditions will be held before a panel of local judges, including LYAO Producers Clifford and Mary Fewel.
Continue Reading Add comment February 21st, 2007
ASPEN, COLORADO (Post Time News)--Former Aspen City Councilor Tim Semrau will announce his candidacy for Mayor of Aspen at 5 PM Thursday at Jimmy's An American Bar and Restaurant on Hopkins Avenue in downtown Aspen.
The announcement of the announcement comes as no surprise to close observers of Aspen politics, who have expected that Semrau, a local entrepreneur, will be tossing his chapeau into the ring toute de suite.
What might come as something of a surprise is the timing. Former Pitkin County Commissioner Mick Ireland will throw his own hat in the ring Thursday afternoon with a 2:30 PM announement, a development that gave Semrau's announcement added urgency.
Continue Reading Add comment February 21st, 2007
Myth-making has in fact been much on my mind after moderating a Great Books session on Dante's "Inferno" at the Aspen Institute, and going to see "Ghost Rider" Saturday night. Both the poem and the movie are all about hell, as in the particular horrors one might expect if a life has not been righteously lived . The movies are about make-believe, of course, and no one would suggest the makers of "Ghost Rider"--or Marvel Comics, for that matter--have any meaningful purchase on the afterlife. Fact is that none of us really knows what happens, and nobody knows if Infernal punishing is part of the bargain.
It may be that nothing happens after death beyond dust, or that reincarnation kicks in faster than a cow can lick a pillar of salt, or that heathens head straight for Limboike lemmings to the Holy See. Who knows?
Continue Reading Add comment February 21st, 2007
ASPEN, COLORADO (February 20, 2007) – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognized the Aspen Chamber Resort Association and Promo Communications with three Silver Awards and three Bronze Awards for public relations and advertising excellence at the 17th annual Adrian Awards. The awards ceremony was held on January 29, 2007 at the New York Marriott Marquis and was attended by more than 800 hospitality, travel and tourism public relations and marketing executives.
Continue Reading Add comment February 20th, 2007
Mr. Conniff,
I have enjoyed listening to your program numerous mornings and have wanted to call in almost every day to let you know how much I like the show. I don’t call in, since I am driving to work and do not have the ability to talk and drive simultaneously.
This morning, I couldn’t help myself from getting a little hot under the collar when you stated that Mormons have a little “splainin’” to do. Especially with our claims to Christianity.
Continue Reading 2 comments February 19th, 2007
An evening of spoken word and acoustic music featuring a trio of diverse, extraordinary poets performing their work by the fireplace at Town Center Booksellers.
Continue Reading Add comment February 19th, 2007
ACRA’s a little bit bigger than most, a hybrid Chamber and Convention Visitors Bureau. We have 800 member businesses, with the majority in Aspen. But we have members in Basalt and all the way to Glenwood Springs. We help them network. I’m always asked: “How can the president of the chamber not afford Aspen? I can’t even afford to live in the community.” Irony is a better word for it.
Continue Reading Add comment February 19th, 2007
