December 19, 2011

SandBox Comments: Africa Water Wells Org "Sandy and Bud Mulcahy"

Meet Lee's family, Sandy and Bud Mulcahy.

The mission?

To build a water well for Yegon Richard's village near Sotik in western Kenya.

Click the title to read all the details and be sure to watch the video of their trip to Africa.  Amazing scenes.

One of Lee's contributions to the family venture?

Purchase artist Lee Mulcahy's 'Big $$' pictured below. 

A tax deductible purchase for $10,000 benefitting the Baptist Church of Kenya. 

For more information, contact Lee E. Mulcahy, PhD  53 Forge Road, Aspen, CO  81611.  (817) 371-0529   skiaspen50@hotmail.com

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "There was just one Hitch"

"...Among the many things that made Hitchens unique was his precision of thought and expression. What made him rare were his courage and tenacity. He was fearless in the field and relentless in his defense of the defenseless with that mightiest of swords — his pen. Judging from his final essays, he was also fearless in the face of death. Terrified that he might lose his ability to write and therefore his being? Well, that was something else.

In his last article for Vanity Fair, Hitchens said he wanted to be fully present at death so that he might experience it actively rather than passively. How perfect that a man who was never passive about living would go un-gentle (but surely gentlemanly) into that dark night, and dare death to have the last word."
(Kathleen Parker)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Theatre Aspen plan faces scrutiny from City Council"

This news is a bit tough for SandBox to hear.  It's highly likely commentators who follow us are going to agree.

When the subject of leaving the tent frame up year-round came up and the extremely high dollar money that was going out of city coffers every year simply for tent maintenance, storage and removal; a pretty lively discussion took place.  Director Paige Price joined in, gave a lot of good information with the end result being no further response when commentators pinned down the unanswered questions.

Why is the city funding such a high dollar maintenance?  Why isn't Theatre Aspen self-sustaining? Are there going to be any more unseen by taxpayers expenditures and how can there be a more transparent process?

Well, looks like we just might have the reason Ms. Price went silent.

Plans like these do not just spring up overnight.  The City of Aspen, even if they were flush with cash, shouldn't be the bailout for these types of programs.

If as popular as everyone says, why isn't this organization able to fully sustain themselves?

As for the public lands use for permanent structures, some of which to be used for storage; the city should say absolutely not.

If a structure is needed for ticket venues, etc. then come up with one that can be used by a number of park events and not held just for Theatre Aspen.

As for storage, the thought is ludicrous.  Become self-sustaining and fund the rental of storage facilities.

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SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Travel: UN looks at growing mountain tourism sector"

"SUMMIT COUNTY — Mountain tourism has a long and storied tradition in places like the Alps of Europe and Colorado, but countries with emerging econonmies are also trying to get into the game.

The UN’s World Tourism Organization will hold a two-day conference (April 11-12) in Andorra to spotlight mountain and snow tourism, with presentations on emerging resorts in Bulgaria and Serbia, as well as a case study involving Pyeongchang, the South Korean city hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The full agenda is online at the conference website.

The 7th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism will also focus on providing a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the snow and mountain destinations and to acquire an overview of successful business models, innovation, the impact of climate change and tourism marketing during.

“The Snow and Mountain Tourism World Congress is a great opportunity for tourist experts and professionals, and especially those related to this important market, to meet, to analyse the evolution and to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the future,” said Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation...."
(Bob Berwyn)

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