Tuesday, November 29, 2005

ASPEN HOTEL OK’D
The Lodge at Aspen Mountain, in its latest version which was reduced by another 9,000 square feet and two feet in height from the October submission, won conceptual approval from the Aspen City Council Monday. The approved version contains about 175,000 square feet of floor area, with 80 hotel rooms and one-bedroom suites, 21 units to be sold as fractional shares, 16 employee units and 4 free-market condos.
-Aspen Times, 11.29.05

ASPEN BUDGET APPROVED
The Aspen City Council gave final approval to a $101.6 million budget for 2006, including about $4 million in new expenditures. The budget allocates $36 million in capital expenditures, mostly for construction of the Burlingame Game employee housing, which is budgeted for about $23.3 million in 2006.
-Aspen Times, 11.29.05

FIRST DATA: BREAK UP COMING?
First Data, the Greenwood Village-based credit card processing and money transfer giant, had its biggest one-day gain, about 5%, as Wall Street reacted to news that its CEO, Charlie Fote, was resigning. The rise in stock was fueled by speculation that the company might boost shareholder value by breaking itself into pieces.
-Rocky Mountain News, 11.29.05

I-70: STILL NO GO
The Colorado Department of Transportation reopened westbound Interstate 70 Monday between Burlington and Denver, but the eastbound lanes remained closed from E-470 to the Kansas state line. In Kansas, I-70 was closed from Hays to the Colorado state line.
-Denver Post, 11.29.05

Colorado Road Conditions

Kansas Road Conditions 

GAS AT $2.15
The average price, nationwide, for a gallon of regular, unleaded gas fell to $2.154, down 4.7 cents from a week earlier.
-USA Today, 11.29.05

GJ INTERIM POLICE CHIEF
Mesa County Undersheriff Bill Gardner was named Grand Junction’s interim police chief Monday, replacing Police Chief Greg Morrison. It is anticipated that Gardner will serve as interim chief for six to eight months until the city hires a permanent chief. Gardner has worked for the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department since 1995 and as undersheriff since 2003.
-GJ Daily Sentinel, 11.29.05

LA PLATA: $70.3 MILLION BUDGET
La Plata County has adopted its 2006 budget of $70.3 million, a 20% increase, or $14.3 million, over this year’s budget. The county has budgeted for nine new employees next year, including: a planner to handle gas permits; two sheriff’s deputies; and others at an average salary of $41,145 a year, including benefits.
-Durango Herald, 11.29.05

GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE
Eagle County is accepting applications for the 2006 Eagle County Human Service Grants, which provide funds for community programs that provide health and human services. County nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply until Jan. 7, 2006. In 2005, seven community organizations received a total of $100,000 from Eagle County.
-Vail Daily, 11.28.05

LIFT-UP FUND-RAISER
LIFT-UP of Routt County has raised more than $1.1 million in its capital campaign, but the nonprofit organization is facing shortfalls in its operating budget. To address the potential shortfall, LIFT-UP is planning the first LIFT-UP Christmas Gala fund-raising dinner. The event will be Dec. 20 at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel.
-Steamboat Pilot, 11.29.05

INTERNET.BIZ
Did you know that due to time zones, Santa has 31 hours to deliver to homes around the world, or about 832 homes a second. Find other holiday trivia at www.twinklebulbs.com/trivia.htm.

MESA MALL TRAFFIC UP
The number of people going through Mesa Mall during the Thanksgiving holiday week was up 9.7% over the corresponding week last year. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, mall traffic was up 8%; Saturday’s traffic was up 6% and Sunday, mall traffic was 15% higher than a year ago.
-GJ Daily Sentinel, 11.29.05

IMPERIAL EXPRESS: DEC. 5
The Breckenridge Ski Resort will open its high-speed Imperial Express SuperChair on Monday, December 5. The lift, which will be the highest lift in North America, reaching 12,840 feet in elevation, is opening five weeks ahead of schedule. The $4 million quad lift will open access to 400 acres of intermediate and advanced terrain.
-Summit Daily, 11.28.05

CHAMPAGNE POWDER
Steamboat Springs Ski Area reported a 41-inch base at mid-mountain and 56 inches at the summit on Monday, the most of any ski area in the state. The mountain received 24 inches of new snow and 3 feet at the summit during the 48 hours preceding 4 p.m. Monday. Today, there will be seven lifts open, including Storm Peak Express.
-Steamboat Pilot, 11.29.05

VAIL BOWLS TO OPEN
Vail Mountain has received 103 inches of snow so far this season, 40 inches above the average snowfall. Vail Mountain will start running Chairs 5 and 17 Wednesday morning, which serve Sun Up and Sun Down bowls. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday night and Wednesday.
-Vail Daily, 11.28.05

TELLURIDE: STRONG NUMBERS
Marketing Telluride Inc., the new marketing organization for Telluride, reported about 30% of hotels rooms were full on Thanksgiving, up from 22% last Thanksgiving. Over the entire holiday week, hotel bookings were up only slightly over last year, with 24% occupancy, compared with 22% in 2004.
-Telluride Daily Planet, 11.29.05

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSES
The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens in Grand Junction will host two nights of free entertainment and holiday spirit for families. Friday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 16 from 5 to 9 p.m., the Gardens and tropical greenhouse will be lit up with festive holiday lights and transformed into a beautiful holiday experience. A special visitor from the North Pole will be visiting children and refreshments will be served. The Botanica Gift Shop will be open and features Gifts Celebrating Nature. Members of the Botanical Gardens will receive a 20% discount in the Gift Shop and non-members and the general public will receive a 10% discount. Musicians will be performing live holiday music in the greenhouse. The public is invited to come and see the great holiday light display and spend an evening at the Botanical Gardens, located at 655 Struthers Ave., "Where South Seventh Street Meets Nature." Admission is free for th e entire family. For more information call 970-245-9030 or visit the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens’ Web site at www.wcbotanic.org.

HOLIDAY CYBER-SHOPPING
2005 online holiday shopping trends:
-80% want free shipping;
-79% of online retailers plan free shipping during the holiday season;
-29% of consumers plan to start their online shopping via stores or catalog;
-63% of online retailers will use catalog mailings this year
-Denver Business Journal, 11.25.05

TOPS IN ONLINE SHOPPING
Cities that top AOL’s 2005 “Online Shopping Cities” survey:
1. Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota, Fla.
2. San Diego
3. Philadelphia
4. Houston
5. Miami/Fort Lauderdale
-Rocky Mountain News, 11.28.05
 
   
 
 

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