Wow...imagine that. With very little money taken off the backs of the folks, no drama, no lawsuits, no petitions, no special elections and no government power abuses; the Town of Basalt leads their folks to a new era in clean energy.
Kudos to the Town of Basalt for leading by example.
Say YES to Glenn Rappaport for Mayor and keep that balance going.
Scott Condon:
"BASALT — As Aspen engages in civil war over a proposed hydroelectric plant that will tap Maroon and Castle Creeks, Basalt has quietly completed a less controversial micro-hydroelectric plant that will generate power for as many as 40 homes in the town.
The town government teamed with Holy Cross Energy to build a facility that takes advantage of water being piped down from Basalt Mountain to the town's treatment plant to produce power.
“All we did was plumb this in line,” said Bentley Henderson, Basalt's public works director, while showing the new turbine and generator used to produce power.
The system will generate roughly 300,000 kilowatt-hours annually, Henderson said. That will power between 30 and 40 houses and reduce greenhouse-gas production by an estimated 500,000 pounds annually, he said...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Town of Basalt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Town of Basalt. Show all posts
March 5, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Negative reporting, negative impacts"
Have you ever assumed anything?
Ever engaged in 'just a little gossip'?
Ever held a position of power in the community? A position of trust? Ever taken a sworn oath to uphold duty?
Have you ever been a writer, an investigative reporter or columnist? Ever had the power of the media at your fingertips, either owned by another or created at your own hand?
Have a Facebook page? How about tweets, do you ever tweet 'just a little something' about what you read or hear 3rd party?
What does 'one more layer' of speculation matter? No harm, 'eventually it will work out'.
Ever had any of those kinds of thoughts?
Sure you have. You're a human being.
It's so noticeable and the topic of most conversations up and down the Roaring Fork Valley and I-70 corridor because we are one of the worst areas in the state for social abuse of others.
Yes, we are. We have an abundance of the kinds of stories like Rappaport and Condon. Don't believe it? Spend a couple months touching every single community in the state and their news sources. Do your own investigating.
Yes, we are.
Is it because we are an 'ugly people' with no conscience? Of course not. Is it because we live in an area of the state that has a higher level of material wealth, entitlement, highly intelligent professionals such as lawyers and politicians who have made their living from shrewdly calculating what others think and say? Is it because we've become so absorbed with ourselves that we don't even see decency any longer? Or is it simply logistics and the problem is a handful or two of powerful people with powerful social tools?
Could be. Maybe in part.
It's always best to take the higher road. Doing so usually gives the other person or issue exactly what they thought they wanted. Usually leads them to believe they've hit the jackpot of their own creation.
There is a world of difference between Scott Condon, who is employed by a powerful newspaper spending years targeting Glenn Rappaport with subtle flamer after subtle flamer (and) Glenn Rappaport finally stepping off to the side of that higher road with the realization that the time had come to speak to Scott Condon in a language Condon might finally hear.
A world of difference. Funny how that works when you give back to someone what that person thinks they wanted. There is no one left looking in the mirror today as Glenn's son writes in, other than Scott Condon. Very well done, Glenn.
A thank you goes out to the Aspen Daily News for being the first stop most locals make when they want their voices heard. That's an earned honor.
A special thank you goes out to Glenn's son, Nelson Harvey. For stepping off to the side of that higher road with his Dad. Well done.
"...but that’s precisely what happened. When Glenn resigned shortly thereafter, Condon’s press coverage played up complaints from some observers who thought he had acted improperly in the Rebekah Lodge case. Glenn was clean, but his name was forever sullied with the “conflict of interest” charge.
Furthermore, Condon published an article featuring concerns about the aesthetics of Glenn’s design for his proposed addition. (The design of the addition was not a part of the application.)
This set off a domino effect: The Rebekah Lodge owner scrapped the addition project, due to the negative press. Glenn lost his contract, and the town lost a pocket park. Most reporters can only dream of having this sort of impact, sinister as its effects may be.
I happen to know that Glenn resigned in 1998 for family reason — I was one of four children and step-children who had entered his life in the previous two years. Freedman’s contention, in her letter, that “ ... there is no indication that his family situation had changed,” is groundless and out of line.
Glenn Rappaport, my step-father, has been a dedicated public servant in the Roaring Fork Valley for 25 years. He has applied his energy to numerous public projects, often without compensation. His love for Basalt is unmatched, and he hopes to further serve the town as mayor. We won’t let erroneous press stand in his way." (Read the rest? Click title)
Nelson Harvey
Carbondale
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Ever engaged in 'just a little gossip'?
Ever held a position of power in the community? A position of trust? Ever taken a sworn oath to uphold duty?
Have you ever been a writer, an investigative reporter or columnist? Ever had the power of the media at your fingertips, either owned by another or created at your own hand?
Have a Facebook page? How about tweets, do you ever tweet 'just a little something' about what you read or hear 3rd party?
What does 'one more layer' of speculation matter? No harm, 'eventually it will work out'.
Ever had any of those kinds of thoughts?
Sure you have. You're a human being.
It's so noticeable and the topic of most conversations up and down the Roaring Fork Valley and I-70 corridor because we are one of the worst areas in the state for social abuse of others.
Yes, we are. We have an abundance of the kinds of stories like Rappaport and Condon. Don't believe it? Spend a couple months touching every single community in the state and their news sources. Do your own investigating.
Yes, we are.
Is it because we are an 'ugly people' with no conscience? Of course not. Is it because we live in an area of the state that has a higher level of material wealth, entitlement, highly intelligent professionals such as lawyers and politicians who have made their living from shrewdly calculating what others think and say? Is it because we've become so absorbed with ourselves that we don't even see decency any longer? Or is it simply logistics and the problem is a handful or two of powerful people with powerful social tools?
Could be. Maybe in part.
It's always best to take the higher road. Doing so usually gives the other person or issue exactly what they thought they wanted. Usually leads them to believe they've hit the jackpot of their own creation.
There is a world of difference between Scott Condon, who is employed by a powerful newspaper spending years targeting Glenn Rappaport with subtle flamer after subtle flamer (and) Glenn Rappaport finally stepping off to the side of that higher road with the realization that the time had come to speak to Scott Condon in a language Condon might finally hear.
A world of difference. Funny how that works when you give back to someone what that person thinks they wanted. There is no one left looking in the mirror today as Glenn's son writes in, other than Scott Condon. Very well done, Glenn.
A thank you goes out to the Aspen Daily News for being the first stop most locals make when they want their voices heard. That's an earned honor.
A special thank you goes out to Glenn's son, Nelson Harvey. For stepping off to the side of that higher road with his Dad. Well done.
"...but that’s precisely what happened. When Glenn resigned shortly thereafter, Condon’s press coverage played up complaints from some observers who thought he had acted improperly in the Rebekah Lodge case. Glenn was clean, but his name was forever sullied with the “conflict of interest” charge.
Furthermore, Condon published an article featuring concerns about the aesthetics of Glenn’s design for his proposed addition. (The design of the addition was not a part of the application.)
This set off a domino effect: The Rebekah Lodge owner scrapped the addition project, due to the negative press. Glenn lost his contract, and the town lost a pocket park. Most reporters can only dream of having this sort of impact, sinister as its effects may be.
I happen to know that Glenn resigned in 1998 for family reason — I was one of four children and step-children who had entered his life in the previous two years. Freedman’s contention, in her letter, that “ ... there is no indication that his family situation had changed,” is groundless and out of line.
Glenn Rappaport, my step-father, has been a dedicated public servant in the Roaring Fork Valley for 25 years. He has applied his energy to numerous public projects, often without compensation. His love for Basalt is unmatched, and he hopes to further serve the town as mayor. We won’t let erroneous press stand in his way." (Read the rest? Click title)
Nelson Harvey
Carbondale
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 29, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Aspen Times biased against Glenn"
An excellent letter from Glenn Rappaport who is a Basalt Town Councilman and mayoral candidate. Again, up on the Aspen Daily News.
Goodness, local political races are sure heating up early, aren't they?
"There is ample good sense contained in the first rule of public office: “Don’t respond to people who buy ink by the gallon.” And yet Scott Condon, a prominent Aspen Times journalist, has for years deployed his ink to question my integrity and undermine my moral fiber. His latest dispatch, published last Friday, Feb. 24, does the same. I write to set the record straight.
Most of us in and around the Basalt Town Hall are well aware that Mr. Condon, the only valley writer who regularly covers Basalt politics, has had a long and close friendship with Jacque Whitsitt, my opponent in the upcoming Basalt mayoral race.
Over the decades it’s been frustrating — and rather frightening — to watch Mr. Condon cast me as the protagonist in a string of fictional scandals, then resurrect those fake scandals as official history in his ongoing coverage of Basalt politics. His latest version of this trick, published last week, revolves around my work as a consultant for the proposed Pan and Fork redevelopment project, a revitalization effort for downtown Basalt. Because of my involvement, I have recused myself from voting on the project as a member of the Basalt Town Council; this is standard procedure for public servants whose private sector work comes up for review. Yet Condon raises doubts about my potential effectiveness as mayor, and even lightly suggests I could be breaking the law.
Ultimately he comes up short, leaving observers of Basalt politics to wonder at his timing. Even if there were a scandal afoot, why didn’t he write about it four months ago, when Harry Teague and I first signed on to consult on the Pan and Fork project? Did he hold off to give Jacque Whitsitt, his friend and my opponent, a proverbial bump in the mayoral race?..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Goodness, local political races are sure heating up early, aren't they?
"There is ample good sense contained in the first rule of public office: “Don’t respond to people who buy ink by the gallon.” And yet Scott Condon, a prominent Aspen Times journalist, has for years deployed his ink to question my integrity and undermine my moral fiber. His latest dispatch, published last Friday, Feb. 24, does the same. I write to set the record straight.
Most of us in and around the Basalt Town Hall are well aware that Mr. Condon, the only valley writer who regularly covers Basalt politics, has had a long and close friendship with Jacque Whitsitt, my opponent in the upcoming Basalt mayoral race.
Over the decades it’s been frustrating — and rather frightening — to watch Mr. Condon cast me as the protagonist in a string of fictional scandals, then resurrect those fake scandals as official history in his ongoing coverage of Basalt politics. His latest version of this trick, published last week, revolves around my work as a consultant for the proposed Pan and Fork redevelopment project, a revitalization effort for downtown Basalt. Because of my involvement, I have recused myself from voting on the project as a member of the Basalt Town Council; this is standard procedure for public servants whose private sector work comes up for review. Yet Condon raises doubts about my potential effectiveness as mayor, and even lightly suggests I could be breaking the law.
Ultimately he comes up short, leaving observers of Basalt politics to wonder at his timing. Even if there were a scandal afoot, why didn’t he write about it four months ago, when Harry Teague and I first signed on to consult on the Pan and Fork project? Did he hold off to give Jacque Whitsitt, his friend and my opponent, a proverbial bump in the mayoral race?..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 20, 2012
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Whole Foods gets permit for $4.74 million project at Willits"
Congratulations, Basalt! So good to hear that things are looking up!
Scott Condon:
"The town's fiscal year started with a bang. Sales tax revenues from December were up 4.5 percent over the same month in 2010. The town collected $385,442 in December compared with $368,582 for the month in 2010.
Restaurants with bars had a particularly strong month, with sales nearly 79 percent over December 2010, the town's sales tax report showed. The general retail category, which includes the mom-and-pop shops, was up 17 percent, the report showed. Sporting retail shops managed to post a 2 percent gain.
The retail food category, which includes the existing two grocery stores in Basalt, saw sales increase by less than 1 percent in December. That category generates the most sales tax for the town...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Scott Condon:
"The town's fiscal year started with a bang. Sales tax revenues from December were up 4.5 percent over the same month in 2010. The town collected $385,442 in December compared with $368,582 for the month in 2010.
Restaurants with bars had a particularly strong month, with sales nearly 79 percent over December 2010, the town's sales tax report showed. The general retail category, which includes the mom-and-pop shops, was up 17 percent, the report showed. Sporting retail shops managed to post a 2 percent gain.
The retail food category, which includes the existing two grocery stores in Basalt, saw sales increase by less than 1 percent in December. That category generates the most sales tax for the town...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 16, 2012
SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Basalt lands big catch in world of fly-fishing"
Scott Condon has great news this morning! Up on the Aspen Times.
If you have ever fished our rivers here in the Roaring Fork Valley, you know he's talking true. This is a huge boon to Basalt's economy. The news that there is a world class level of fly-fishing in Basalt will now go global.
Here's another great piece on local fly fishing today. Brought to us by Collin Szewczyk, down on the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.
Scott Condon:
"The town will host the Rocky Mountain regional qualifier for the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships, according to both Basalt organizers and the U.S. Fly Fishing Team's website. The qualifier will be in Basalt on May 5 and 6. At least 32 top anglers in the Rocky Mountain states will appear and possibly more.
“These are top-flight fishermen,” said Warrick Mobry, owner of Frying Pan Anglers in Basalt.
The anglers will be involved in competition on a Saturday and Sunday, most likely with two sessions of two hours each on Saturday on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers, then another session on the streams and a session on Ruedi Reservoir on Sunday. Details will be arranged by the U.S. Fly Fishing Team after it examines the rivers and gauges conditions as the competition nears, Mobry said.
Mobry worked with contacts on the national fly-fishing team to build interest in Basalt. Once the team indicated that it was interested in holding a qualifier in Basalt, Mobry started working with Bennett Bramson, a past president of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and a driving force on the Basalt Arts and Social Happenings committee...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
If you have ever fished our rivers here in the Roaring Fork Valley, you know he's talking true. This is a huge boon to Basalt's economy. The news that there is a world class level of fly-fishing in Basalt will now go global.
Here's another great piece on local fly fishing today. Brought to us by Collin Szewczyk, down on the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.
Scott Condon:
"The town will host the Rocky Mountain regional qualifier for the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships, according to both Basalt organizers and the U.S. Fly Fishing Team's website. The qualifier will be in Basalt on May 5 and 6. At least 32 top anglers in the Rocky Mountain states will appear and possibly more.
“These are top-flight fishermen,” said Warrick Mobry, owner of Frying Pan Anglers in Basalt.
The anglers will be involved in competition on a Saturday and Sunday, most likely with two sessions of two hours each on Saturday on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers, then another session on the streams and a session on Ruedi Reservoir on Sunday. Details will be arranged by the U.S. Fly Fishing Team after it examines the rivers and gauges conditions as the competition nears, Mobry said.
Mobry worked with contacts on the national fly-fishing team to build interest in Basalt. Once the team indicated that it was interested in holding a qualifier in Basalt, Mobry started working with Bennett Bramson, a past president of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and a driving force on the Basalt Arts and Social Happenings committee...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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