SandBoxBlogs: KKCO 11 News "Drilling compromise in CO leaves zoning unsettled "

"DENVER (AP) -- A dispute between Colorado communities and the oil and gas industry over who has the ability to zone drilling operations remains unsettled despite a task force convened to settle the matter.

In a letter to state lawmakers Wednesday, the task force said in was "neither realistic nor productive" to settle that question. Instead, the task force recommended that energy regulators do a better job keeping local governments in the loop on drilling decisions...." (Read more?  Watch video?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "West: BLM eyes ecosanctuary plans for wild horses"

(See related story here)

What wonderful news this is.

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — The long-running controversy over the fate of the West’s wild horses may be at least partially resolved in the coming years, as the Bureau of Land Management moves toward partnering with private stakeholders to create a 530,000-acre eco-sanctuary in northeastern Nevada.

The BLM said this week it will start an environmental study of the proposal submitted by the Saving America’s Mustangs Foundation and Madeline Pickens. The study will take about two years. Subsequently, the agency will decide whether to move ahead with the plans....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain " High quality Low Ark produce "

Ryan Severance:
"With growing season just beginning, farmers in the Rocky Ford region are focused on gaining consumer confidence back after a deadly listeria outbreak in cantaloupe last year.

"I think there are people who will still be wary of our product and of the listeria outbreak last year, but we haven't had any problems with food safety in Rocky Ford in 120 years and we are all committed to high quality," Brian Knapp, who runs Knapp Farms in Rocky Ford, said..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
While the contamination occurred many miles away in a packing plant near Granada, farmers in the Lower Arkansas Valley say it's best to be proactive and to assure the public that they are taking all the right steps in food handling safety.

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "And the Stewy goes to…"

More than just a tiny snippet, we'll cut off Stewart Oskenhorn's run in to his 'Stewy's'.  Always a great peek into some of the art and music scene around the Aspen area.  Be sure to click title and read up on who gets the nod this season.

Stewart Oksenhorn:
"At 48 1/2 years old, you come to realize some truths about yourself that can probably be called eternal truths. For me, there's this one: My appetite for music and concert-going isn't fading away. Not even a little. Spending a full day at a festival, running from one stage to the next, camera in tow, is as good as a vacation.

Every night that I get on my bike for the two-minute straight shot to Belly Up Aspen makes me feel like a kid. I'm happy to report that, even as my stash of favorite acts has piled up to the toppling point — there's just not enough time to give proper listening attention to all the CDs in my collection, for which I feel guilty — I haven't lost the thrill of discovering new sounds.

Still, I feel a little weird when people comment that I must be out every night, checking out music. Not even remotely close. Given that I'm a family guy, and that my alarm is going to go off at 6:25 a.m. regardless of how many hours of sleep I got, I have to choose carefully. As it is, I can't even keep up with everything Belly Up throws at me on a near-nightly basis — not to mention there's also the 7908 Aspen Songwriters Festival and other shows at the Wheeler Opera House, Jazz Aspen Snowmass' festivals and series, the Aspen Music Festival, Skico's winter shows, Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, summertime shows on Fanny Hill. On top of all that, my so-called friend Josh Behrman goes and opens PAC3, adding a commute to Carbondale to my logistical hurdles. And have I mentioned that the lure of the occasional road trip tugs at me just as strong as it was back in the days when a day-long drive to the see a Grateful Dead show was my idea of heaven, freedom and adventure?

My musical cup verily runs over, and I wouldn't have it any other way. And someday not too far off, when my services as dad aren't quite so in demand, I'll be able to tell those people who assume I'm out every night that I am at least getting close. When that day comes, I'll still be enthused about crowded clubs, over-amplified guitars, new bands and new forms of music, being jostled by drunks as I try to take photos, long festival days in sun or snow.

This I know about myself.

Here's the best and most notable of what I heard and saw these past few months, in a little exercise I call the Stewys. Long may it run. Happy 4/20 to you and yours...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Earth Day"

Always a pleasure to spend Earth Day's first glance at the news with Bob Berwyn.  Over, up and down on the Summit County Citizens Voice.

(laughs...cues sound background of happy, laughing children, birds chirping and one lone penquin crying out for company...rolls eyes...)

All shameless photo credit goes to Bob Berwyn:

SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Picture of the Day: Democrats (Not) At Work"

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Trooper found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, three other charges"

Do law enforcement officers and agents have any idea what civilians think that mysterious 'blue line' is?  

Probably not.  As that code is something  between officers.

I am not going to give my interpretation of that mysterious and very, very powerful force as it relates to the relationship between Lawyer and Firko other than to say it has been obvious from the beginning of this one that there was more to be told.  I cannot but wonder why, again, prosecutors did not dig deeper before lives were irretrievably shattered. 

What I am going to do in this post is reach out to Trooper Lawyer's wife. 

Who has never once lost the look on her face and in her demeanor of a woman watching a loved one literally fighting for life and death. 

Ivan Lawyer's very photo lets off the instinctual impression that here is a solid officer. 

One that if you drew by the sheer luck of the draw, his first responder presence in life and death for you, you would feel reassured you got the right one.  And yes, I have done some background research on his career to make sure my instinct stayed feeling right. 

Cops do not realize that for civilians, we get the luck of the draw.  It isn't about crime.  It's about the human reactions, the emotional pitch of crisis on all sides that we build our own opinion and experience with. Whatever side, our lives go into an officer's hands the minute he steps up.  A dynamic that 'blue line' might need to be reviewing on a continual basis just so that officer's reality checks for themselves stay intact.

 Trooper Lawyer's wife has spent quite a few years sending him to work every day knowing he might not make it home.  For her obvious devotion during this time of his life, 'SandBox Nanny's' heart  sends out a special congratulations that he's back home now.

For the family of Jason Kemp, there is one more trial.  Let's wait for that one and see what the jury's instincts are regarding Trooper Kirk Firko.   

Comment ability stays blocked on Trooper Lawyer's articles.  We do not do 'lynchin's' on our hub.  We comment spin on the news others make. I have received a few complaints on no access on this one and my response stays the same.  You are certainly free to move over to hubs that allow that kind of trolling.  Thanks for stopping by. 

(See related story here)

Paul Shockley:
"Jurors in the trial of trooper Ivan “Gene” Lawyer have declared him not guilty of four of the charges against him and were unable to come to a clear decision on two others this afternoon. He was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, first degree criminal trespass, prohibited use of a weapon and criminal mischief in the death...."  (Read more?  Click title.  Comment ability is blocked.)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Mayor Ireland to take city-funded trip to Californian bike race"

Curtis Wackerle:
"Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland plans to take a taxpayer-funded trip to California next month to check out that state’s signature professional cycling race.

Ireland said it’s important for him to see the Tour of California in person, to gather ideas that might help Aspen when it hosts a stage finish and start for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in August.

Ireland plans to be in the Bay Area May 13-15, when the Tour of California hits Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Jose. He has yet to book his trip, but in two public meetings has noted his intention to be reimbursed by the city for travel costs. He said he expects his invoice to be limited to airfare and perhaps one night in a hotel, and that he plans to book a ticket out of Aspen, Eagle or Grand Junction for around $400 or $500 round trip. Most accommodations and transportation can be handled by friends in California, he said.

While city officials from the police and special events departments went on a similar fact-finding trip last spring, Ireland noted that he wasn’t there and that “maybe I can learn something” he didn’t know before.

“I’m curious to see how they pay for all of this,” Ireland said, referring to the logistical costs local communities bear to put on the event. He said he wants to see what kind of sponsorship arrangements local towns have....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "The Grand Avenue Bridge: CDOT vs. Glenwood Springs"

It's a shame that Hal Sundin, is once again right on time.

Hal Sundin:
"I came away from the Colorado Department of Transportation's April 4 Grand Avenue Bridge public open house with the distinct impression that CDOT is concerned only with what CDOT wants, and couldn't care less about what happens to Glenwood Springs.

And what is really troubling is that most of our City Council seems to be of pretty much the same mind.

First, a little history: The present bridge was built in 1952-53 with two traffic lanes and sidewalks on both sides. To accommodate increasing traffic, in the late 1960s the sidewalks were removed and it was converted to four lanes....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Couple options of concern to some Glenwood Springs City Council members"

John Stroud:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A range of options for a new Grand Avenue Bridge that would involve two bridges and move some Highway 82 traffic a block either side of Grand through the downtown, are cause for concern to some Glenwood City Council members.

“Speaking for myself, I think it would be a mistake to put state highway traffic on either Cooper or Colorado avenues,” Councilman Ted Edmonds said of the various “couplet” alternatives that would use one or both of those side streets.

Edmonds said it would be premature for the city to take a position opposing any of the options currently under review by state transportation officials.

However, it is time for City Council to at least begin the discussion about the potential impacts of some of those options, he said.

Council is scheduled to have that conversation as part of tonight's regular meeting.

“What I would like to accomplish is to give those members of council who maybe haven't had the opportunity or time to study the alternatives to become familiar with what is being considered,” said Edmonds, who asked that the matter be put on the agenda....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "ACRA board should own U.S. Chamber decision"

(See related stories and comments here and here)


A couple of years ago, 'SandBox Nanny' was quoted a comment that she was told came from an Aspen Daily writer.


Something along the lines of his 'boss would never even think to tell him what to write in his reports'. The impression left was one of high ethics within the publication and its ownership.  Commendable in the environment of 24/7 news.


Aprx. two years ago, a small group of local micro-bloggers said this, as background explanation for their post on their blog, regarding the complete power dominance that our three local newspapers hold in the Valley.  A fact that explains many regional issues and helps one to understand the dynamic of Aspen as the core lifeblood of the Valley:


"Using the influence of long standing power and control, a dying era has resorted once again to manipulation and spin of the internet and media. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a fairly small town. Two grocery stores, one post office and only one parent newspaper that holds a monopoly on local newspapers.  Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Aspen Times, Citizens Telegram, Summit Daily, Vail Daily,  GJ Free Press are all owned by Swift Communications, which serves a number of communities in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Corporate offices located in Carson City, Nevada. We have only one independent and strong local newspaper that has been around for a long, long time that is not held by the monopoly of Swift Communications. The Aspen Daily Newsremains free from "corporate news media" with business offices located in Aspen, Colorado. The differences between the two newspaper companies is easy to see. Logistics level sees the Glenwood Post Independent filled with advertising in it’s print edition and SPAM filled pop ups in it’s online edition.  We also have “up valley” and “down valley” views of our newspapers. Over the years, politics in our corridor  has given strong class distinctions that distinguish between the two.  The Daily is read by “billionaires” and “workers” alike. The “ghetto elite/wannabe elite” surf between the two. A growing number of citizens making a rising and impressive surge into social and political scenes are none of the above and use the Daily as the grounding point and the Post for a quick skim to catch up on buzz.  The Post is the “down valley” for Swift. The Aspen Times is Swift’s “up valley” with both papers rarely in a war with each other over content as their content is the same. The Citizens Telegram, also owned by Swift, is the “real down” valley paper and is located in Rifle. Rebellious when it can to it’s parent and serves the seat of our big oil and gas industry. For those not familiar with the demographics of our town, Glenwood Springs sits in the middle and is considered the gateway to three influential and powerful commodities: big oil and gas to the west, public owned Vail Ski Resort and private held Aspen Ski Company. From the Summit Daily to the Grand Junction Sentinel, our news is followed all over the world.  Politically, the Swift family is mostly blue but does once in awhile pander to the red, depending on which community it’s sitting in.  "With the recession, folks cut back on the Post’s paid subscriptions and deliveries, instead picking it up free at newstands and walking the few blocks to do that. The Post and Times are larger in size and there are more pages. Logistics level with the Aspen Daily, shows less advertising and the folks still pay for subscriptions. It’s also the favorite of the estimated hundreds of blue collar workers who come from “down valley” to “up valley” and most locals throughout. Also holding the earned claim of being the paper absent second and third home owners subscribe to by mail. Politically, it’s hard to tell if the Aspen Daily News is blue or red.  On journalistic levels, locals know if they want to read the full story, they go to the Daily. To get the gossip or juicy spin, they go to the Post or the Times. The Daily is also a free paper as well and can be found not only at news stands but piles delivered to local businesses, such as professional offices where one has to wait to meet an appointment.  A “Good Morning” to another local hitting the newspaper stand at the same time, often holds a little eye contact and partial smile of knowing from each, as they nod politely and then reach for the symbols of what they support and believe in." (smalltown7)


The Aspen Daily News sometimes appears to be this slumbering force.  One that is more than slightly eccentric as the staff and locals use it as a voice box. However, there is a reason the Daily is where locals really do go for the best insight into just the facts.  There is inherent trust that staff and ownership have built up over a long period of time.  Earned trust.


When the Aspen Daily speaks with breaking information or gives the somewhat rare editorial; the folks listen.  Powerful at the right time, the Daily gets the point across.


'SandBox Nanny' agrees that it is inappropriate (at best) for ACRA to close off this meeting next Monday.  


A meeting where we all know perfectly well the 'US Chamber flap' is not the real topic of the day.  Amazing how power abuse can get away with so much more closet activity than everyone else.

Aspen Daily Staff:
"Officially, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s board of directors is not a public body. That may strike transparency advocates as off base, considering that 49 percent of the agency’s budget comes from lodging and sales taxes.

ACRA always seems to walk a fine line, between representing the interests of private businesses, while also maintaining its public role in the marketing and image crafting of Aspen. It’s caught in between these two missions with the question of its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has staked out positions fighting federal climate change regulation.

The Aspen Skiing Co., the area’s largest — and wholly snow-dependent — local business, wants ACRA to cut ties with the U.S. Chamber, as do others in the community. Many ACRA businesses, as well as the chamber’s executive staff, say the $800-per-year membership has benefits, including networking and training opportunities.

After years of debate, the issue will be decided on Monday at the ACRA board’s daylong “retreat” meeting, but the public — including the owners and employees of hundreds of ACRA member businesses — is not invited. The ACRA board has decided to invoke a provision of its bylaws that allows the public to be excluded from its meetings, even though the regular monthly gatherings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

We urge ACRA to change its position and open the retreat to the public, at least for the U.S. Chamber membership discussion. The board needs to hear from its constituents one last time before making this decision. Either way, the decision will make headlines and draw attention from outside the valley, so the deliberations should be done publicly. As a private nonprofit, ACRA might not be breaking any state open meeting laws but we argue that it’s certainly violating the spirit of them by keeping the public out of Monday’s discussion...."
(Read more? Click title)

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Glenwood Chamber hands out business, Top Brass awards"

Every year in Garfield County and Glenwood Springs, there are basically three very different in energy awards ceremonies and celebrations honoring those who give of themselves in humanitarian or community service ways.


Not too long ago, Melanie Sturm, up on the Aspen Times, very artfully put out a column on Rotary International and local Rotary.  Without any collateral damage to these wonderful folks who give of themselves and actually participate in these types of organizations, Sturm jumped into the highly  controversial problem in society today, of transparency and accountability in the  world of non-profits.  


She is to be commended, it was an excellent piece that nailed the point and did so in Sturm's very own version (we love it!) of 'yellow journalism'.  


A respected columnist who refuses to be a wordsmith, instead just speaking in a skilled and forthright manner to her followers.


Here is a link to Garfield County's recent 2012 Humanitarian Awards celebration.  


An annual event that has true common folks pride, every year,  as it is the focus of the 'off the beaten path' lives of the common man, the little guys, the folks. 


Put on by Garfield County officials, there is a feeling of security and trust that is inherent in the celebration. One that stands alone and finds it unnecessary to be gleaned away from the trustworthy and stellar moral character of the recipients themselves. Simplistically stated, the folks who receive the awards and those who attend with their support for the event, are not the ones frequently called upon to lend credibility to  the events of other's organizations.  


The Garfield County Humanitarian award is an honor held  where cronyism, self-aggrandizing and power are simply not present.  


The GarCo ceremony is a place where the folks feel secure, comfortable.  They are there among inherent credibility and also drawn with the desire to sincerely  honor another of worth.  Rather than throw a social soiree.  


With that said, GarCo Humanitarian Award ceremony is also usually buzz titled as  the best party of the year.  Go figure, who knew? 

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120417/VALLEYNEWS/120419911/1083&parentprofile=1074


With all of the above said, congratulations to the recipients of all local and regional service awards.  You are amazing people, trusted and so appreciated by all.

Heather McGregor:
"The Athena award presentation came at the pinnacle of the Premier Awards Gala hosted Tuesday evening at the Aspen Glen Club by the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.

“I love awards. I like to get them, I like to give them, and it makes everybody feel good,” said Marianne Virgili, president and CEO of the chamber.

A new award, the David Delaplane Award for Community Partnership, was given to Stan Jensen, president of Colorado Mountain College. Delaplane, 85, now of Denver, presented the award after being introduced to the audience by Virgili.

“David was a young minister and the chamber director in 1963,” Virgili said. “He was cleaning out his files and found one labeled Education Committee.”

With the thought in mind that “there really ought to be a college here,” he called the committee together. From those meetings at the chamber, plans emerged for Colorado Mountain College.

Nearly 40 years later, CMC is a strong community institution from Glenwood Springs to Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs to Buena Vista. Virgili created the new award to honor Delaplane for his original vision, and to recognize the college's current president for his work in building partnerships all over the college district with businesses, local governments, churches and community organizations.

She cited CMC's partnership in downtown Glenwood Springs with the city government, the Garfield Public Library District and the Downtown Development Authority to build the new library and parking garage at Eighth and Cooper.

“We needed somebody with vision and to have trust in the room. That's what we have with Stan,” Virgili said."..." (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Feed My Sheep gives a hand up, not a handout"

Amy Hadden Marsh:
"The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless reports that more than 3 million people in the U.S. experience homelessness each year. About half are children. The U.S. also has the highest rate of homeless women among industrialized nations, the most on record since the Great Depression. But it's difficult to pin down exact numbers, Peppers said, because some don't want to be in the system, and this population, by nature, is always moving.


“They're traveling across the country looking for work,” she explained. “Families have kicked them out. They've lost their jobs, their cars, their homes, and they're just trying to find something in this country to work at.”


The shelter served more than 800 homeless from 2009 through 2011, and the numbers are rising. Ages range from 18 to 62.


In 2003, an average of 10 or 11 people used the facility during the day. By 2008, that number tripled. Now, the day program attracts up to 42 people every day, and, Peppers added, this is only a fraction of who's out there...."


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Insta-groovy!"

Credit:  Bob Berwyn (Click title)

SandBoxBlogs: Command Posts "Doolittle Raid Reading and Viewing List"

(See related story and comments here)

A must read.  

Peruse official photos in this incredible collection.  Read the stories gathered and link to historical data that you may have never known before.

'Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders', thank you so much for your service.

Photo Credit:   "Lt. Hite, blindfolded by his captors, is led from a Japanese transport plane after he and the other seven flyers were flown from Shanghai to Tokyo. After about 45 days in Japan, all eight were taken back to China by ship and imprisoned in Shanghai. Image and caption credit: Pacific Air Forces."

Photo Credit:  "Brigadier General James H. Doolittle Poses beside an Army Air Forces recruiting poster alluding to his April 1942 bombing raid on Japan. Photograph was taken circa 1943. Image and caption credit: Naval Historical Center."

SandBoxBlogs: Eagle county Times "Diagnosis: Vail Hospital’s – Struggle with Credibility"

Clayton Moore:
"Is there something unhealthy going on at Vail’s Hospital – the Vail Valley Medical Center – VVMC?

You decide.

In a story first brought by Business Briefs – based on BB’s Public Record search – BB posted the 2009 compensation some of the VVMC officers have received.  The information can be verified from a review of that non-profits (public record) 2009 Federal 990 Tax Return.  (Click Here)  ECT readers can “cut to the chase – compensation” with a quick look at Page 47 of that return (Click Here)....."

(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill's E2 Wire "House clears highway bill with pipeline mandate, thwarts Obama"

Thank you, Congress!!  On to Senate.  Then max pressure on the White House by putting it right back on his desk until he signs.

The Keystone Pipeline is a bi-partisan, millions of jobs making project. 

"The House, defying a White House veto threat, passed GOP legislation Wednesday that extends transportation program funding through September and mandates construction of a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries.

All but 14 Republicans, with support from 70 Democrats, voted 293-197 for legislation that falls far short of Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) earlier plan to move a sweeping five-year, $260 billion package..."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: CBS Political Hotsheet "Ralph Nader: "Far too little difference" between Obama, Romney"

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "The Supreme Court will strike down Obamacare"

James Kellogg
"With his signature legislation in jeopardy, President Obama fired a cannon shot across the bow of the Supreme Court in a news conference on April 2. He declared that an “unelected group of people” should not turn to “judicial activism” with the “unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress.”

Who is he trying to kid?

Disregard for a moment, the plethora of unelected “czars” the president has empowered over nearly every facet of our lives. Set aside the fact that striking down unconstitutional legislation is the court's duty and the antipathy of judicial activism. And never mind that the health care legislation squeaked through the House of Representatives by a margin of 219 to 212, despite a huge Democrat majority and a flagrant disregard for Congressional rules.

Let's focus on the one pertinent issue; Obamacare is a repudiation of the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial review of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act centers on the unprecedented use of Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce Clause) of the U.S. Constitution to force Americans and legal residents to purchase health care coverage or pay a tax penalty.

In effect, Obamacare attempts to use the Commerce Clause to grant police power (i.e., the power to compel individuals to take specific action for the “public good”) to the federal government. That's a big problem....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KJCT News 8 "New Business Plan Proposed By USPS"

Janelle Ericsson:
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., -- Saturday delivery is on the proposed chopping block as the U.S. Postal Service looks for other ways to stay on budget. The post master general introduced the new piece of legislation to congress Tuesday in an attempt to avoid a bailout.


The postal service says it does not receive tax dollars for operating expenses. It relies entirely on the sales of postage, and services to fund it's operations. It says as more people turn to electronic payments and internet to keep in touch USPS says it cannot keep operating the same....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "State House, Senate races take shape"

Caddie Nath:
".....Sitting Republican lawmakers Randy Baumgardner and Jean White, both vying for Senate District 8, and House District 61 hopefuls Debra Irvine and David Justice all won enough support from party delegates at Friday's assembly to land spots on the primary ballot.

Constitutionalist and expected underdog Justice made a strong showing against Breckenridge's Irvine for the party nomination for House District 61. The delegates voted 44-43 in favor of Irvine, whose name will appear first on the primary ballot June 26.

But Irvine and her supporters continue to argue she is the only Republican candidate who can beat incumbent Democrat Rep. Millie Hamner in the general elections in November.

“We can only do this if we put conservatives into office and we support candidates who can actually win,” Irvine said in a statement following the assembly.

Justice's agenda — he advocates dissolving the Internal Revenue Service and eliminating all state tourism funding — could make him a harder sell for more moderate voters...." (Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Newsmax "Rubio's Immigration Push a Potential Lift for GOP"

"....The 40-year-old freshman lawmaker is looking at unveiling his bill in the coming weeks. The early outlines have drawn interest and skepticism from pro-immigration groups. Rubio's political motivation also has been questioned, especially since congressional Republicans and Democrats say legislation as ambitious as immigration is unlikely to be done seven months from the election.

"Is this really a legislative initiative or a political ploy?" asked Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice. "If it's about a political ploy, it's about throwing a lifeline to Romney, rather than throwing a lifeline to the dreamers."

Joaquin Castro, a Democratic member of the Texas legislature and a candidate for the U.S. House, said Rubio must be troubled by the GOP talk.

"It must be difficult for a Hispanic Republican to sit there and listen to all of the harsh rhetoric coming from the Republican Party about his community," Castro said in an interview.

Rubio insists that Democrats, who controlled the White House, Senate and House for two years and never completed immigration legislation, are "just panicked about the prospects of losing this issue as a campaign tool."...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Family Security Matters "Immigration Control: Boots on the Ground or Eyes in the Sky?"

For those who are interested, this is a great feed to either alert yourself to or subscribe to.  Gives wide ranges of information keeping you up to date on immigration issues as they relate to public security.

(Read the article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Mesa County Working to Improve Law Enforcement"

A special thank you goes out to the Mesa County Sheriff's Dept., for having the courage to and taking the much needed step to,  bring accountability to prosecutors and agencies.  

Amanda Brandeis:
"MESA COUNTY, Colo.- Mesa County is one of seven counties in the nation involved in a research project that aims to help law enforcement make better decisions on the job.

Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said, "There is now a large body of research out there that is very informative about things. For example, if you do certain things you can increase the chances of an offender not getting back into the system. Or if you do certain things wrong, you can increase the chances of that offender staying in the system."

The project is called the Evidence Based Decision Making Project (EBDM Project). Mesa County applied to be a part of the project and was selected.

Hilkey also said, "The entire goal of this project is to, number one, not cause any more harm, and not keep people in the system who shouldn't be in the system, but also, for those people who need to be in the system, do the right thing with them and make decisions that are informed by research."...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Obama slammed for weak polar bear conservation plan"

First, 'SandBox Nanny' has to make her peace today with the undeniable fact that rabid liberal Andy Stone, up on the Aspen Times, made the SandBox roundup cut for the day.

And now Bob Berwyn, appears to be in one of his 'utterly shameless marketing of global warming information moods' by shamelessly using a 'catchy to conservative Nanny's eye' headline bashing Barack Obama in combination with exploitative posting of cute photos of her beloved polar bears:

"Polar bears won't get much help from a new protection plan proposed by the Obama administration...."
(Photo courtesy  USFWS/Scott Schliebe)

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times/Andy Stone "Is downtown Aspen just a kiddie pool full of plucked chickens?"

(sighs...laughs instead of cry...rolls eyes....sighs again....)

There really is (believe it or not) a bar of standards and a formula she has for picking the stories that are SandBox worthy.

Andy Stone rarely, rarely makes the bar cut.

But today, (Nanny has shoved his link off to the side as long as she can in her posting) and now she has to deal with him....(isn't it just like the aggravating cuss??#^*!@!)... Andy actually has a few things of worth in his column today.

(sighs...rolls eyes...will he ever pull it all together so he can get one fully rational and moderately tolerant column pulled together???!!...sighs...sips from cuppa...rolls eyes...puts on soothing Tranquil Woods cd...)

Here are the snippets as Andy 'makes the cut':

"So it seems that Aspen is about to be inundated by a wave of uncontrolled development. A tsunami of tsuris..."

"And this time, we are being told, the people to blame are not the developers who seek to create ever-taller buildings in hope of attaining ever-taller stacks of money."

"In case you've been asleep — as certain council members seem to have been — it all began with a bursting pustule of local outrage over a spate of outrageously tall downtown buildings. (No need to wade back into the vile swamps of those events — except perhaps to note that if it took Jesus to chase the moneylenders out of the Temple and Joshua to topple the walls of Jericho, then it is apparently going to take an act of God to do something about that desecration known as the new Aspen Art Museum. So, come on, Jehovah! We're counting on you.)"

"Anyway, realizing there is no limit (height-wise or otherwise) to greed, the City Council began to see that only actual legal limits would stop the development of even more of the damnable buildings that threaten to block out the sun."

And so, Councilman Torre (who eschews a last name but might be trying to qualify for the sobriquet Torre the Fearless or even, egads, Torre the Wise) suggested an ordinance limiting downtown building heights to 28 feet"
"But — and here's the tricky part — Torre the Wise realized what would happen once the prospect of a height limitation was mentioned. The Four Developers of the Apocalypse (OK, there are a lot more than four of them) would rush to pile up applications, $1,000 bills and lawyers to whatever dizzying heights were necessary to beat the deadline before the new law went into effect."

"Sort of like calling in Mario Batali to whip up a delicious dinner with whatever is leftover when the sharks get done with that kiddie pool full of chickens."

"And, just for the record, I don't actually blame the developers.

That's right.

Greed is a natural part of the human condition — just like bubonic plague. You don't “blame” people with the plague. They're just victims. And you do whatever you can, whatever you must, to avoid their deadly contagion.

The greedy are no more to “blame” than those sharks in the kiddie pool.

But the people who refused to stock up on shark repellent. Or refused to call Shark Be-Gone. Well, make no mistake, they deserve our condemnation."

(Dare to read the whole thing??  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Protesters air concerns about Grand Junction credit union"

The lack of non-profit oversight in America is astonishing.  There is nothing that oversees the ethics and financial oversight of IRS classified 501C3 or 501C6 non-profit organizations.

If you were to sit down and so some serious online research into how much crime is charged against non-profits or their employees, boards of directors as individuals and administrators; you would be shocked at the numbers.  These positions of public trust really have no one to answer to except themselves within their own board of directors.

Read up on a troubling trend and consequence of no oversight here.

See related story and public comments here.

See a sister story on current issues in Colorado with non-profit credit union policies here.

Take a look and read up on what protestors in Grand Junction have to say by clicking the title.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Take time to study compressor impacts"

(See related stories and public comments here and here)

If you are not of a certain age and/or never lived rural while growing up, you probably have no idea how a party line telephone system worked.

Or remember Lily Tomlin and her 'one ringie, dingie...two ringie, dingie' schtick.

You may know how to text message however.  May even understand the basis, theory and execution of mass viral marketing.  Or simply know  what you know because you've experienced the fast thumb action of your teens sneaking their phones at the dinner table or been the receiving end of the power of the internet.

The concept of them all is the same.

What happens when you take an aging 'party liner' who literally has an entourage wake tailing her at all times  and put her in the media spotlight?

Why, it's safe to bet that she's going to get on the horn and stay glued to it for as long as anyone can be 'stirred into action'.

The days of party lines and gossip chains of the old school really passed quite some time ago.

Instead, what we have now in this day and age, in a growing portion of the social classes, is something called tolerance and equality.  Good communities just don't suffer covert bullies well anymore.  Not much room at the Inn.

You see, an 'aging party liner' could take a different track and probably find more respect for her position if she did so.  There were so many great suggestions from the general public on the CMC compressor station story when it broke (click links within post) that show the way.

Join our trusted, respected and appreciated CMC Trustees instead of the fauxtrage in the background.  The compressor station must happen.  It is a given and is coming.

Wouldn't it be nice to find a home for it and a way to make it fit in to the Spring Valley community instead of this old, tiresome and blatantly obvious PR push?

just sayin.

David Evans:
"I recently searched Wikipedia for more information about gas compressor stations like the one proposed for the Colorado Mountain College campus. I learned that “Natural gas compressor stations are known to cause many environmental problems, including air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination and noise pollution.” Some sites have emitted extremely high levels of carcinogenic and neurotoxic air pollution.

I watched videos on YouTube that documented extreme noise emissions, explosions and fires at several gas compressor stations. The Hollywood film “Erin Brockovich” documents one community's difficult fight to stop and clean up chromium VI and other toxic chemicals that were released into the soil and aquifer from a gas compressor station.

Any decision to install a gas compressor station on CMC's residential college campus should be made with very careful consideration of the risks involved and the measures the gas company is planning to make sure that the above environmental problems cannot happen in this installation.

The articles in the Post Independent I have read describing this proposed installation have not mentioned any such due diligence on the part of either SourceGas or Colorado Mountain College.

Spring Valley is a very quiet, environmentally clean corner of the Roaring Fork Valley. It's better to take the time and do the work to be sure that this is a good decision."

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "County looks for greater social services influence in housing rules"

Strife and friction equal forward thrust.  Without the friction to move our issues forward; problems and needs would not be met or solved.

Many of our greatest accomplishments have been born out of our frustration as a nation.

What is it, that 'something' that a natural leader has within them that human instinct gravitates toward when in need?  What makes a follower instead of a leader?  Why is it, that one of the most powerful things to watch is a reluctant leader, or leader by default, in a crisis take charge and do what they instinctually know to do.

What would happen, right now, if all these voices, all this public angst and concern running through Valley communities just stopped?  Right now.  Eased back on the friction and let passive, sunny skies 'all the time' energy take back over? 

The leaders among us are not there to pull you through the crisis. 

They are there to pull you to the sunny skies and let as little harm as possible come to you while in crisis.  Even the reluctant leaders instinctually understand the dynamic.

This is an appalling statement  of true crisis causing problems, from APCHA Director Tom McCabe:
"“We as a housing authority don’t even know what most of the programs are that are available in the federal realm,” he told the commissioners."

This is a statement of sunny skies in the future from Nan Sundeen:
"“The community has changed and it’s a great time to look at our paradigm for affordable housing,” she said."

This is a bloviating political statement, that if stroked properly, has great potential to be listening to you when you all cut loose more friction, angst and tension to this particular commissioner.  Just the Facts.  Just politics:  
"“We need to find out how to integrate housing and health and human services in a way that’s meaningful for people before they arrive at a crisis,” said Commission Chair Michael Owsley."

Some ideas on how to propel said commissioner to greater heights, could be found in the sister story in today's Aspen Daily. 

Help PitCo spend that $10 million just sitting around burning a hole in their pocket. 

Like say....with an incredible multi-functional facility that houses emergency human services, homeless shelter, food and meals in addition to a county liaison that holds the sole purpose to connect the dots between human beings and aid for whatever ails them?  Spend it on something we need and of worth?  Or spend it on another deed restricted housing boondoggle or rental investments all the way down valley?  Hmmmmm.......
"PitCo needs help spending $10 million on......"

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Business Journal "Little Nell to host Colorado's first ever Master Sommelier exam"

"ASPEN, Colo—The Court of Master Sommeliers is holding its Master Sommelier Exam at The Little Nell in Aspen this May. The exam, dubbed “the hardest test in the world,” has a pass rate of approximately 10 percent and is being held for the first time in Colorado.

“There are only 118 master sommeliers in North America, and eight of them have worked or do work at The Little Nell,” said Jay Fletcher, chairman emeritus of the Court of Master Sommeliers. “The Little Nell has had more masters come through its wine program than any other establishment in the country. It’s the perfect place to hold this exam and see who the next masters will be.”  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Summit view"

All photo credit:  Ed Carley

"I’ve been taking photos of mountains since 2002 when I moved to Boone, North Carolina to attend Appalachian State University, and where I began carrying a camera with me on my hiking and rock climbing adventures. My first taste of the Colorado Rockies came in 2003 when I spent the summer living in Crested Butte and mountain biking in every spare moment. I moved to Summit County in 2007 and have been a full time resident since then. In that time I’ve carried my camera with me on many hiking, biking and snowboarding excursions in to these amazing mountains. I’m happy to share my photos with Summit County Citizens Voice readers....." (follow @ed_carley or click credit link)

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "The Texas Budget Compact "

Erick Erickson:
"If Texas Democrats, or even Republicans for that matter, thought they’d have a quieter, gentler Rick Perry on their hands in the wake of his . . . um . . . temporary diversion into Presidential politics, they know better today.

In a speech Monday in Houston, Perry laid out five fundamental conservative principles for the Texas Legislature to follow, essentially throwing down the gauntlet to any legislator — or wanna-be legislator — who thinks they’ll be able to bring a tax and spend mindset to the Texas Capitol building.

Perry’s “Texas Budget Compact” is pretty much bedrock conservative fare: no higher taxes, stricter limits on spending, truth-in-budgeting, cutting of wasteful programs, and maintaining a healthy “Rainy Day” reserve fund. They’re basic enough that it’s hard to imagine any candidate running for office in the reddest state in the union can ignore them without having some serious explaining to do.

Bear in mind, the Texas Legislature, which only meets every other year, doesn’t even convene until January, and primary voters don’t even go to the polls until late May. By seizing control of the narrative this early in the process, Perry has served notice that he continues to be the lead conservative voice in Texas and plans to govern that way.

Democrats, and centrist-thinking Republicans, should bear that in mind....." (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Reuters "UPDATE 1-Obama cites potential of billion consumers in the Americas"

Laura MacInnis:
"(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama stressed on Saturday the "great promise" for business growth in the Americas, seeking to play up the economic heft of the region he has paid little attention to in his first three years in office.

In remarks prepared for a meeting of corporate chief executives in Cartagena, Colombia, where he is attending the 33-nation Summit of the Americas, Obama described U.S.-Latin American ties as "one of the world's most dynamic trade relationships."

"With nearly a billion citizens - nearly a billion consumers - among us, there's so much more we can do together," according to excerpts of his speech released by the White House....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill "Mitt Romney's fixer"

Kevin Bogardus:
"Drew Maloney has been the man behind the curtain for some of the biggest names in the Republican Party.

Maloney, CEO of Ogilvy Government Relations, has been heavily involved in both of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R) presidential campaigns. Maloney has helped organize the candidate’s trips to Washington to meet with lawmakers and set up fundraising events. He has even done some volunteer phone-banking and door-knocking in Iowa and New Hampshire.

A close colleague at the firm said Maloney is “the head of the ‘congressional complaints department’” for Romney’s campaign.

“That is a very important role because campaigns are very fast-moving and sometimes the invitations and notifications aren’t what members and senators were expecting. Drew manages all that,” said Wayne Berman, chairman of Ogilvy’s lobby shop and a Romney fundraiser, adding that demand for those services will increase now that “Gov. Romney is the presumptive nominee.”

Maloney’s quiet, steady approach to politics and policy has led the former administrative assistant and legislative director for then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to the top of the lobbying food chain..." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "State high court to review Aspen ballot-images case"

Aspen Times:
"DENVER — The Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to hear the city of Aspen's motion to appeal September's state Court of Appeals ruling that favored political activist Marilyn Marks' lawsuit challenging the city's denial of her request to view ballot images from the 2009 mayoral race..."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "Katie Pavlich's 'Fast and Furious' "

David Limbaugh:
"Pavlich exposes how extreme gun control measures have been a top political goal for President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and other important leaders within the administration -- and she draws the lines that link this goal directly to the implementation of Fast and Furious. Just as importantly, she shows how the administration has shamelessly tried to obscure those links.

The operation resulted in the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and the murder or wounding of some 200 Mexican citizens.

In the operation, there was no attempt to track the weapons sold, and some agents who tried to follow the purchasers were told to stand down. Not only that, but our government kept Mexican authorities wholly in the dark about the operation. Allowing these guns to "walk" into Mexico without surveillance and behind the backs of Mexican authorities guaranteed they would end up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels and only be recovered after crimes had been committed, which is exactly what occurred.

As one ATF agent testified to Congress, "you can't allow thousands of guns to go south of the border without an expectation that they are going to be recovered eventually in crimes and people are going to die."...." Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Officer sees struggle as partner confronted suspect, trooper on trial testifies"

(Update:  Due to the negative trolls lurking on this one, comments are now blocked)

Paul Shockley:
"“Mr. Lawyer wanted to answer the questions of the prosecution or the jury,” Fenster said, turning over his client for cross examination after only five questions.

Hautzinger’s cross examination is expected to continue this morning. The jury is expected to get the case today.

Lawyer testified Monday he and Firko, “didn’t hit it off real well.” Lawyer said he was taken aback by his superior’s “aggressive” approach to the job.

“I guess they do things differently in the metro area than we do here ... I guess that’s the best way to put it,” Lawyer told the jury.

Lawyer testified that Firko had been recently promoted and was transferred by the State Patrol from Denver and assigned to work with Lawyer, a probationary employee, before the shooting on July 20, 2010.

Firko had been assigned as Lawyer’s field training officer at the time of the incident, according to testimony.

Lawyer had been recently re-hired by the State Patrol following three years of self-employment, preceded by nine years with State Patrol in Grand Junction, and before that, three years with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department.

While subordinate to Firko, Lawyer had more law enforcement experience than the man responsible for his re-training, Hautzinger noted.

Lawyer testified he and Firko were “working together to break down the door,” after Kemp had briefly struggled with Firko. Kemp slammed the door in their faces, telling them to get a warrant....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Billy Tomb, longtime Aspenite and jail supervisor, dies at 64"

Our hearts and thoughts go out to all who cared for and loved Billy.

William Tomb, a longtime Aspenite and supervisor at the Pitkin County Jail, was found dead in his home in the Twin Ridge subdivision on Monday shortly after noon.

Tomb, who was 64, was remembered by colleagues as a friendly and dedicated worker who encountered tragedy in the past decade.

Tomb was preceded in death by his second wife, Sherry, who succumbed to a rare form of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2005. In December 2004, a fire badly damaged the couple’s home near Aspen Valley Hospital, forcing them to live elsewhere.

Billy Tomb sued the owner of his temporary home after the person allegedly withheld his security deposit. Aspen attorney Jeff Wertz, who represented Tomb in the suit, said Monday that his former client “was a great friend from the day I met him.

“He really inspired me by how he stood by his wife through that ordeal and never lost his sense of humor,” Wertz said. “He was far too good of a person to have all of that on his shoulders.”...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "Two accused of drug distribution"

Vail Daily News:
"VAIL, Colorado — The Eagle County Sheriff's Office said Monday it arrested two people last week on drug charges.

Tyler James Stripp, 22, of Vail, was arrested April 10 after he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover sheriff's detective in West Vail.

During a search of Stripp after his arrest, five illegal Oxycodone pills were recovered from his wallet, police said.

Information obtained during Stipp's arrest led detectives to Katherine Elizabeth Fontanese, 21, of Lakewood. Fontanese sold a bottle of illegal Oxycodone pills to an undercover sheriff's detective at a residence in Edwards, police said....." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: 9 News "Cartels in Colorado: Kingpins sentenced to prison "

Will Ripley:
"GOLDEN - Two high level drug cartel kingpins in Colorado have been sentenced to prison, the First Judicial District Attorney's office announced Monday.

They were among 19 people arrested last year by the West Metro Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Jose Jimenez-Chacon and Conrado Arellano-Casas were each sentenced to 20 years in prison.

An investigation spanning nearly one year discovered their drug trafficking ring was using tour buses from Mexico to smuggle 45,000 pounds of marijuana into the Denver area each year.

The value of the drugs was estimated at $36 million....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Councilman wants more sponsor money for pro cycling race"

Curtis Wackerle:
"Budgeted sponsorship revenue of $60,000 for this summer’s professional cycling race “seems light,” Aspen City Councilman Derek Johnson said, and organizers should “reach for the stars” in an attempt to offset the public’s cost to hold the two-day event in Aspen.

Johnson’s comments came at a work session Monday when the city’s contract with the USA Pro Cycling Challenge for staging and logistics was discussed.

Aspen will host both a finish and a start on Aug. 22 and 23 for the second annual seven-day stage race that takes some of the world’s best cyclists on a challenging tour of Colorado. Cyclists will come from Gunnison, over Independence Pass and leave via the pass the next morning on their way to Beaver Creek....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily "Vail Chamber works to rebuild membership"

Scott N. Miller:
"VAIL, Colorado — The group aimed at businesses in Vail is a different-looking organization than it was a few years ago. But supporters say the Vail Chamber & Business Association still has important work to do.

The chamber held its annual meeting Friday in Vail, and amid presentations by town and Vail Resorts officials, association director Rick tenBraak spent some time talking about the group and its goals....."
(Read more?  Click title)

Vail is one of those world destination resorts that took the tourism/public dollars/non-profit status problem co-mingling with Chamber of Commerce business conflicts problem; down the road of severing the two from each other a long time ago.

A few years back, they had their own run of scandals in the chamber end and severed off again from the Tourism Bureau aspects.

Now there are multiple factions promoting Vail and multiple factions supporting the business community.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

Maybe it's also the reason Vail Resorts turns $35 million dollar profits and has sales that do not go 'flat'. 

From the Vail Valley Partnership website:  
"The Vail Valley Partnership, a 501c(6) non-profit organization, has been engaged in the community from the early days of Vail, starting in 1964 as the Vail Resort Association. We've grown over the years to represent the entire Vail Valley and to fit the needs of the business community through our Chamber programs including cost-savings programs, educational events, networking opportunities, advertising programs and cost-savings programs.

The Vail Valley Partnership serves as the regional destination marketing organization for Eagle County, Colorado. Through our Marketing and Sales departments, we work to promote the destination's brand awareness and equity through media relations, group sales, regional advocacy and other communication strategies. We are proud to have been named Colorado's best Destination Marketing Organization by the readers of Colorado Meetings & Events Magazine in early 2011.

Because business and tourism go hand-in-hand, the Vail Valley Partnership also brings to the community a variety of signature programs that elevate the destination's attention to both guests and businesses. Signature Vail Valley Partnership programs include the Platinum Service Program (PSP), Lodging Quality Assurance (LQA), Destination Preservation and the Non-Profit Network. These signature programs are examples of how the Vail Valley Partnership reinforces commitment and dedication to improving the guest experience and adding value to the local business community."

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Mesa County blasts BLM oil shale plan"

Looks like all that heat that GarCo commissioners are taking from their detractors doesn't carry a lot of persuasion with neighboring counties.

They agree with our BOCC when it comes to the issue of oil shale leasing controls.

Mike Wiggins:
"Mesa County commissioners on Monday blistered the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to slash the amount of land potentially available for oil shale and tar sands development in the Rocky Mountain West, alleging the federal agency is irrationally capitulating to environmental groups and ignoring the input of local governments and other stakeholders....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Compressor would disrupt serenity of Spring Valley"

So it begins.  With another avatar in commentary prediction looking as though it is coming to pass.

(See related story and public commentary here)

With Doug Evans.  Now living in...Elizabeth, Colorado.

"I am writing to express my great displeasure at discovering that Colorado Mountain College has entered into a lease agreement with SourceGas to build a natural gas compressor plant on Spring Valley Campus in Glenwood Springs. This agreement violates many of the principles that drew me to CMC Spring Valley in 1982....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "County renews business center support"

This is very good news.  Randi Lowenthal and her organization are one of those off-shoot 'save the folks' groups that came into being as it became more and more apparent that there are gaping holes in balanced small business representation and services in the Glenwood Springs area.

GarCo commissioners should continue to fund Randi's organization.  After all, at least part of the time isn't it good PR to give some love to those outside of the crony club?

Congratulations to Randi's success! 

John Stroud:   
"RFBRC Executive Director Randi Lowenthal said the original support from local governments served as matching support for a three-year state grant.

“We are looking at ongoing support from Garfield County, and hope to convince you that what we do is worth your support,” Lowenthal said.

The county has been working with a marketing consultant to help define a role for county government in economic development efforts....." (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: SandBox Astrology "Rhythm and Flow Part One: "The conduit of Mars" "

Part One:
"Have you ever looked at the end of a piece of electrical wire after it has been sliced?  See all those multi-colored wires inside that sheath of rubber or plastic?

One of the theories in the study of Astrology, is that Mars is a conduit that holds the energy of the (4) personal planets.  Which are the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus.  Acting as the energy force that you use to propel yourself out into the world in all you do (and) representative of how others perceive the energy you release. 

It is the completed soul, or simply the wizened individual who has learned through the school of their own hard knocks that lives in complete balance at all times within the polarity of how we view ourselves and how others view us.

"What we each personally believe, comes forward from our perceptions throughout our lifetime. What we think we see, becomes what we believe. What we actually see, comes from what we perceive."

For the purposes of this brief post we'll summarize as we go.  Astrological theory considers the Sun in a natal chart as being representative of  the physical self and primarily our male energy.  The Moon is considered to be the feeling nature of the individual (not the emotional nature, that is the turf of Venus) and one's feminine and subconscious tendencies.  Mercury represents our ability to communicate with others and how others perceive what we are communicating.  Venus is representative of our emotional and desire natures.  Our inner child that longs and cravings that are instinctual.

When one analyzes their birth chart, simply working through the fascinating similarities to orthodox and more socially acceptable forms of personality and psychological evaluation, you can obtain great insight into what makes you tick in your world and your relationships by melding both worlds.

Those personal energies (Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus) all manifest themselves outwardly within the energy of your Mars.  Have you ever seen, for example, some big and burly guy who comes across sort of scary?  Yet  was a gentle giant when you interacted with him?  It's all in perception.

Let's do somewhat of a hack job on defining the theory of retrograde motion in Astrology.

Those planets in our universe are not perfectly round spheres.  They have canyons, mountains, land mass that is unexplained.  As does Earth, the Luminaries (Sun and Moon). 

They also each have a gravitational pull around our Sun.  Each has its own unique timing, rhythm and flow. 

Remember now, we're doing a quick hack job on the theory of retrogrades.  Basically, the theory comes down to the study of the timing of each planets own individual orbit.  That when the largest land mass meets the closest gravitational pull it can get in its cycle, its orbit slows down.  Once that passage is completed within orbit, the orbit 'speeds up' again.

In Astrological theory, retrograde motion reinforces characteristic of that planet energy that we 'relive' again.  Ever have the feeling like you keep going back over certain things in your life and certain experiences in your relationships?  Well, retrograde motion theory in Astrology has an uncanny tendency to coincide with more orthodox and socially acceptable forms of psych theories.  Such as puberty, mid-life crisis and such.

It takes the Earth just at a year (in human terms) to orbit the Sun.  Takes Mercury a little over a year.  Takes Venus aprx. 1.5 years. Mars aprx. 2 years.

From there, we have  Jupiter at roughly 13 to 14 years to complete orbit around the Sun and Saturn on an aprx. 29 yr. cycle.  Uranus runs roughly 83 to 84 years. Neptune around 171 years or so.  With Pluto at roughly 274 years to fully make one orbit around our Sun.  Of course, the Luminaries stay 'stationary'.

Mercury retrogrades around 3 times per year.  Venus every 1.5 years. Mars every 2 years.  The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) bounce back and forth in retro rhythms that can sometimes travel over the same points 3 to 5 times in various retro cycles because they move much slower than the inner planets.

Mars just went through retrograde transit in Virgo.  Next time I post, we'll talk in depth on this energy and what Mars retrograde cycles  have accomplished in world history.  Just as law enforcement, first responders and military pay attention to the rhythm of the Full Moon cycle each month; Mars retrograde has seen some of the biggest blood baths in war time and also harvested some of the most lasting peace.  There's that polarity thing again.

Until next time, stop and think about the choices you made for your life in 1998 and up to around 2001.  Then again in 2004, 2005.  Then more recently, from  Spring 2011 through early holidays 2011.  Recognize any patterns and/or choices that you have revisited from end of 2011 through April 14th when Mars was retrograde in Virgo?

Mars retro is an implosion of energy rather than an outward thrust as it normally is when in direct motion.

Whatever you saw in yourself, in the exercise above, likely either went stagnant in a spinning of wheels type of feeling over the past 4 months as Mars prepped and then moved retro into Virgo (or) whatever repressed you and held you down in that pattern you are mulling over, saw the implosion of 'not having to take it anymore' or the courage to move forward without constraints and fear give you the energy to finally break free.

It will take a few weeks to get fully up to speed again in normal ebb and flow for Mars. One will deal with the effects of this last Mars retro cycle until the next retro of Mars. 

"Success is simple. Do what is right, in the right way, at the right time." 

Here's the kicker:

Venus hits her retrograde motion on aprx. May 5th.  Not uncommon but definitely is not a regular occurence for these two energies to co-mingle.

More on the cravings and desires of our emotions in backward motion in my next post." 

A.B.

SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Jimmy Westlake: Saturn and a shower of meteors"

One of our most favorite guys.  Professor Jimmy Westlake.  Down and over on Steamboat Today.

Jimmy Westlake:
"April not only brings snow and rain showers to the mountains of Northwest Colorado, it also brings the annual Lyrid meteor shower. A shower of meteors, or shooting stars, happens whenever the Earth crosses the trail of an old comet that has filled with tiny dust particles. These dust grains hit the Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 30 miles per second, causing them to get so hot they burn up in a streak of light about 60 miles over our heads.

On any given night of the year, a single observer can expect to see five or six meteors per hour of sky watching, but on the night of a meteor shower, that number can rise considerably. This month, on the night of April 21, the Earth will pass through the dusty river left by Comet Thatcher, creating as many as 20 beautiful shooting stars per hour. You can see them in any part of the sky, but you’ll have your best view facing the northeastern sky at about midnight. The meteors will seem to fan out from a point near the bright star Vega in the constellation of Lyra, so they are called Lyrid meteors.

Remember, more meteors are seen after midnight than before midnight, so roll out that warm sleeping bag, kick back in a lounge chair or in the back of a truck, and watch the celestial fireworks April 21....."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Finally …"

Yes, Ullr the Snow God, recently visited Colorado.  Bob Berwyn (gets all photo credit) is thrilled.

Up, down and over on the Summit County Citizens Voice.