Archive for June, 2009
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Aspen elected leaders meet tonight at city hall to talk about the largest affordable housing project in the city’s history---Burlingame Ranch---and—how to make it just a little bit bigger.
Voters have given the green light to increase density at one phase of the project from 236 housing units to 300=----but it is essential that current residents say okay or it’s a no –go
Don’t expect any construction at the area by the maroon creek club until next summer at best..
Trucker Mark Chamness described his sheer relief at not being convicted on charges of vehicular homicide---after a jury decided he was innocent of those charges after blocking highway 82 in January of 2008 near Katherine store. Two people in a Kia Sophia sedan hit the rig and were killed in the early morning hours.
What about a mortgage? That’s the cry from many lenders and those who arrange lending for homes in the area.
Marilyn Foss is the president of Mountain Mortgage---in business in aspen for the last 22 years. But business is lagging.
A good borrower today? That means whether buying or refinancing----you need three years of no income drop----at least 20 percent equity in your home and a great credit history-------meet those qualifications and it’s still tougher than ever.
First time home borrowers can still apply at slightly higher raters---but, says Foss, in a buyer’s market like this one----if you’ve thought about getting your home---try and do it now.
It’s also a good time to refinance before the expected hike in interest rates.
June 30th, 2009
Mobile food carts are popping up around Aspen. It's great to see. I know that it is not easy getting approvals through the City of Aspen and established Aspen restaurants in commercial space may not be completely on board with the idea but if we really want to make Aspen more "affordable" as discussed in our marketing efforts by both the Aspen City Council and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, then cheap eats on the street is the way to go. Don't worry Aspen won't turn into Mumbai anytime to soon just because we have some mobile food units. I do remember a few years back when the City put the kabosh on the peddling ice-cream girl. A sad day for the "funky" in Aspen, but now is the chance to turn the corner.
Continue Reading June 29th, 2009
By Frosty Wooldridge
This past week in Denver and cities across America, men and women walked, marched, biked and hiked to cure cancer. Cancer survivors spoke, cheered and prayed. Supporters waved banners and held pink ribbons. Last weekend in Frisco, Colorado, countless women marched 15 miles to Breckenridge, Colorado to raise money to find a cure for cancer. Americans run triathlons to stop cancer. Lance Armstrong rides in the Tour de France next month to bring more attention to the ravages of cancer.
Continue Reading June 29th, 2009
My friend Sophia’s 28 year old son Ben died last week of complications from Oxycontin abuse. The drug had been prescribed to him for pain after a snowboarding accident in which his foot was severely broken. That was in the Spring of this year. Ben had a history of substance abuse and quickly became addicted to Oxycontin. He managed to get four different doctors prescribing the drug as well as several pharmacies dispensing it to him, despite the fact that he had contraindications. His death was a result of the drug combined with his asthma/allergy/sleep apnea which inhibited his body’s ability to clear fluid from his lungs. In essence, he drowned in his sleep. He was found twenty-four hours later by his brother.
Continue Reading June 29th, 2009
Monday June 29, 2009
Business is hoped to spike again this week as the fourth of July weekend approaches----overall lodging reservations for the week are at about 65 percent----late bookings will boost that number. The fourth of july is the biggest draw for summer tourist business----but we will probably end up with fewer visitors than this same time last year. The weak economy however is somewhat unpredictable with regard to how people will spend on their free time----many more than expected could remain closer to home, that is, in Colorado over the fourth----many may head to the Roaring Fork Valley.
Rescued: two people who spent last night on Shadow Mountain. Although the section is very close to downtown---the crags and trails are dangerous after dark---so the pair waited until this morning’s help arrived.
Former editor of Time Magazine---and current CEO and President of the Aspen Institute, Walter Isaacson, says a discussion on the role of news in our lives will be one of the many topics of the Aspen Ideas Festival—which kicks off today and runs through the fourth of July.
You can find out more with Aaron Harber’s interviews on our sisters station tv Aspen this week---as Aspen Ideas Festival is the focus for local news----
TV Aspen ---Comcast cable channel 19----Resort Sports Network.
Bernie Madoff---the famous financier who ripped off thousands of investors of billions, including more than one hundred Aspen investors, will be sentenced today in New York City…..expected to receive multiple life terms for his role in the Ponzi scheme-----but he will have one final privilege.
Madoff is being allowed to wear a suit to his sentencing hearing today-----not the bright orange jail uniform, which will be his attire for some time to come.
June 29th, 2009
In the past few days, two events have influenced my thinking about the Obama Administration. The first was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for President Obama to apologize for meddling in Iran's post-election upheaval. The second was Manuel Zelaya's curiosity about the U.S. role in the Hondoran military coup that left Zelaya in Costa Rica dressed in his pajamas.
From what I can ascertain it is true President Obama wrote a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader prior to the Iranian presidential election. I do not think President Obama did so in an effort to disrupt. Notwithstanding what happened back in the 50's, to ascribe post-election unrest to U.S. involvement is as effective as inciting "Death to America" chants at Friday prayers. Nevertheless, just days ago Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for President Obama's apology for inciting protests, and today Iran's ambassador to Mexico blamed the death of Neda on the CIA.
Similarly, as news of a military coup in Honduras unfolded this morning, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya quickly questioned the role of the U.S. in the coup, a notion soon supported by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who backed his good friend Zelaya with a threat to destroy any Honduran government that succeeded Zelaya's regime. I find Chavez a political dunce, and worse, an opportunist, so excuse me if I grinned widely when Honduran Congressional Leader Roberto Micheletti was sworn in as President almost to the hour Chavez uttered his threats.
I've already seen Obama shrug off any obligation to apologize to Iran, and Secretary Clinton was quick to deny any involvement in the Honduran military coup. Still, I can't help but entertain the notion that Obama's State Department is either crazy like a fox or wholly uninvolved in any of these matters... In the final analysis, I think it will be shown that if the Iranian people manage to have their voice heard and real change occurs in Iran, Obama's efficacy as U.S. President will be just being there, in a purely Chauncey Gardner kind of way. As for Honduras, anybody's guess is Obama's.
June 28th, 2009
By Frosty Wooldridge
With millions of Americans reading my columns on 50 websites across the country, I receive thousands of letters concerning my stance on overpopulation and immigration. Additionally, I speak to millions on radio shows. My latest book, America on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans, describes our accelerating population predicament. As a civilization, we stand nostril-deep in a world of hurt on a dozen fronts.
Continue Reading June 26th, 2009
Thursday June 25, 2009
Triple A just issued a report that indicates the Rocky Mountain region will be about the only place to show significant tourism numbers this summer----more visitors to Colorado are forecast too-----and in state residents will probably stay on home turf for the upcoming fourth of July weekend----considered the biggest business draw for the summer in Aspen.
Cell phone hell? Are your selling your soul it seems by logging on and registering at various online invitations----to prevent unsolicited texts—usually ads----?
According to Snopes.com---an online rumor resolver---it’s not necessary to register with a do not call directory by a certain deadline----even though that’s what you’re told about this time each year.
Says Snopes: the flurry of e-mails warning to take preventative action against those messages grew out of a misunderstanding about the proposed creation of a wireless directory assistance service. Most people have opted out of land lines---more are going cellular only every day----but the national cell phone directory has not been compiled yet---and if you do nothing as its created----you won’t be placed on a call list for advertisers-----any questions? Check with your service provider.
Local musician Bobby Mason is having a fundraiser this weekend you may want to check out-----Aspenite John Oates of Hall and Oates fame will perform –along with band Slightly White, and even members of Starwood---Mason’s band from many years ago----to raise money for Bobby’s hip replacement and knee replacement---“time for a change” says Mason---who is overwhelmingly the most well know local player in Aspen---and one of its greatest talents. Two p.m. this Sunday June 28th at Bump’s restaurant at Buttermilk---come out –have a great time and help a great friend.
And be sure to listen to KUUR and KSNO local news each weekday morning…with Jim Laurence from the TV Aspen Newscenter.
June 25th, 2009
By Frosty Wooldridge
Have you ever gotten a feeling that you were on a date with the wrong person? Kind of a queasy gut feeling? Have you found yourself traveling down the wrong road and the further you traveled the more uneasy your feelings? Have you lied to yourself or someone only to find out you created a bigger problem?
The late Meredith Burke, a senior fellow at Californians for Population Stabilization, www.capsweb.org, wrote a stupendous column with that queasy feeling wrenching every sentence: “The Population Doom”.
Continue Reading June 24th, 2009
Not much attention was given to World Refugee Day -"Real People Real Needs" on June 20th or our part in keeping two groups refugees. Our invasion of Iraq resulted in approximately 4 million Iraqis becoming refugees with half leaving mostly to take refuge in Jordan and Syria. Many are still afraid to return to Iraq.
According to UN agencies, Palestinian refugees (4.6 million) are the largest and longest existing refugee population. Their dislocation started with 1948 Israeli violence, persecution, land confiscation. etc. to create a Jewish state in Palestine. The violence caused approximately 700,000 Palestinians to flee to neighboring Arab states. Others fled to the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
Continue Reading June 24th, 2009
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