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In response to Kaye Ferry's column, "Lights, action, success," we agree that the film festival is a great event for Vail and has the potential to become a tremendous success for the town.
As volunteers and attendees at the film festival, we were able to notice first-hand both positive and negative aspects of the event. We were impressed at the caliber of films screened at the festival, not to mention the overall turnout of attendees.
At the same time, the extensive turnout, combined with the amount of available venue space, prevented many locals and pass holders from attending most of the popular films.
As a result, there were numerous frustrated and dissatisfied attendees because the number of passes sold far exceeded the theatre space.
Per Kaye's comment, "This will eventually be the single biggest event in the town of Vail," we would agree the festival has the local and national support to become a large and extremely successful event.
However, it will be impossible to grow the festival with the limitations of our existing theater space. For example, the largest venue chosen to show movies at this year's festival accommodated only 270 people. If we want to keep Vail "on the map," new facilities, such as a conference center, could be valuable to the future success and growth for this and other events in Vail.
Julie Tomlinson
and Lauren Ciarallo
Vail
A great school
Because we had such a strong response to our first meeting, Avon Elementary will be hosting another Kindergarten Informative meeting. Those interested in becoming better informed about Avon Elementary are welcome to attend.
This meeting will be held today from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Avon Elementary Library.
Here are a few things you will find out about the school:
1) Our English-speaking third-graders received 94 percent on the reading CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 79 percent, Colorado 72 percent.
2) Our English-speaking fifth-graders received 71 percent on the math CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 50 percent, Colorado 40 percent.
3) Our Spanish-speaking third-graders received 79 percent on the reading CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 62 percent, Colorado 52 percent.
4) We had 29 percent of our English-speaking fifth-graders reading at advanced levels last year. The average for this in Eagle County was 14 percent, Colorado 12 percent.
Other areas of interest:
1) We have an excellent staff with an enormous amount of experience and education.
2) We value our specials classes (art, music, PE, technology, counseling and library).
3) We have a great PTA that hosted an awesome Wild West Day last fall.
4) Our facility is beautiful! We have a full-size gym, music room, art room, library, technology lab and field.
5) We have wonderful parents who feel strongly about our school.
6) And most importantly, we have some really great children who walk through our doors every day!
You may direct any questions regarding our school to the assistant principal, Gay Cotter at 328-2950.
Kim Kohlhofer
Avon Elementary teacher and parent
Peter C. Kutnicki
In the 33 years I knew Pete he was always giving, never asking for anything in return.
He was a mentor to me. He was my confidant. He was my buddy. He was my pal.
Pete, I will miss you my friend.
Tom "T.S." Simon
In error
If one were to wish to be critical or contentious writing about government bureaucracy at a local, county or state level, one might reinforce their opinions by observing questionable, deceitful and erroneous reporting practices which one has observed and mathematically analyzed, written an objective analysis of another CDOT screw-up.
Excuse me: It would be more politically correct to state a number-challenged or disadvantaged clerk accomplished a numbers error. There now, doesn't that sound more politically correct and less ego damaging?
When developing the analysis of mag chloride data that has double dipped the 60 percent reduction factor for the 10 miles on the west side of Vail Pass of the total 19 to Copper Mountain, the credulity of all CDOT records may be questioned.
July 2, 2004, at the combined Minturn centennial birthday, Mike Gallagher benefit and fireworks display, a friend showed me two CDOT reports dealing with annual mag chloride usage on Vail Pass. The westside usage is 60 percent of the total. When reporting the Black Gore Creek study quantity the 60 percent reduction was inadvertently used once more. The represented mag chloride use was about two-thirds of the actual tonnage,
Inexplicably, when the data was given to a member of both Trout Unlimited and the Black Gore Creek study group, the comment elicited was that no group is accountable for accuracy of reports issued by CDOT.
No correction was issued. He indicated that the clerks adding up the totals were neither caring nor questioned about the significance of the numbers and most did not understand the value or importance of the numbers. This may have resulted from not having explanation or understanding of what the numbers meant. None of the engineers or supervisors understood the graphs.
So a few more millions will be spent for a wildlife overpass to save 87 four-footed roadkill per year, and who cares about the thousands of fish? They can't be counted as easily as the dead critters. We count dead bugs and wonder what kills them and the trout and ducks that depend upon them as a food source. We ignore the toxic heavy metals in mag chloride, which can poison all levels of life from humans down to the lowly grubs.
Magnesium chloride couldn't be responsible for increase biological mortality, because the reported tonnage was about two-thirds the actual of previous years. Maybe this is the new math I've heard about which at 70 years of age I'm not interested in learning. A math analysis with visual graphics displays discrepancies, which are too difficult to detect in tables of numbers. The attached graphs display the magnitude of the errors with the assistance of percentages and ratios.
These errors were made known to the Eagle River Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, Black Gore Creek study group and e-mailed to the Eagle County commissioners last summer and with no response or action or further involvement or interest in identification of the significance of the reversal in reported amounts of mag chloride, and no corrected correlation with the reported biodiversity decline has been issued.
Who is responsible for reacting to these displayed errors in analyzing toxic material added to Gore Creek? Why not spend a few thousand more hours and dollars turning over rocks and shocking fish? More simple questions with no answers from the technically gifted people known as supervisors, engineers and county commissioners.
Once more I ask: Why should I want to attend a CDOT meeting in the county commissioners chambers?
Steve Zorichak
Vail
Vail, Colorado
As volunteers and attendees at the film festival, we were able to notice first-hand both positive and negative aspects of the event. We were impressed at the caliber of films screened at the festival, not to mention the overall turnout of attendees.
At the same time, the extensive turnout, combined with the amount of available venue space, prevented many locals and pass holders from attending most of the popular films.
As a result, there were numerous frustrated and dissatisfied attendees because the number of passes sold far exceeded the theatre space.
Per Kaye's comment, "This will eventually be the single biggest event in the town of Vail," we would agree the festival has the local and national support to become a large and extremely successful event.
However, it will be impossible to grow the festival with the limitations of our existing theater space. For example, the largest venue chosen to show movies at this year's festival accommodated only 270 people. If we want to keep Vail "on the map," new facilities, such as a conference center, could be valuable to the future success and growth for this and other events in Vail.
Julie Tomlinson
and Lauren Ciarallo
Vail
A great school
Because we had such a strong response to our first meeting, Avon Elementary will be hosting another Kindergarten Informative meeting. Those interested in becoming better informed about Avon Elementary are welcome to attend.
This meeting will be held today from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Avon Elementary Library.
Here are a few things you will find out about the school:
1) Our English-speaking third-graders received 94 percent on the reading CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 79 percent, Colorado 72 percent.
2) Our English-speaking fifth-graders received 71 percent on the math CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 50 percent, Colorado 40 percent.
3) Our Spanish-speaking third-graders received 79 percent on the reading CSAP last year. The average for Eagle County was 62 percent, Colorado 52 percent.
4) We had 29 percent of our English-speaking fifth-graders reading at advanced levels last year. The average for this in Eagle County was 14 percent, Colorado 12 percent.
Other areas of interest:
1) We have an excellent staff with an enormous amount of experience and education.
2) We value our specials classes (art, music, PE, technology, counseling and library).
3) We have a great PTA that hosted an awesome Wild West Day last fall.
4) Our facility is beautiful! We have a full-size gym, music room, art room, library, technology lab and field.
5) We have wonderful parents who feel strongly about our school.
6) And most importantly, we have some really great children who walk through our doors every day!
You may direct any questions regarding our school to the assistant principal, Gay Cotter at 328-2950.
Kim Kohlhofer
Avon Elementary teacher and parent
Peter C. Kutnicki
In the 33 years I knew Pete he was always giving, never asking for anything in return.
He was a mentor to me. He was my confidant. He was my buddy. He was my pal.
Pete, I will miss you my friend.
Tom "T.S." Simon
In error
If one were to wish to be critical or contentious writing about government bureaucracy at a local, county or state level, one might reinforce their opinions by observing questionable, deceitful and erroneous reporting practices which one has observed and mathematically analyzed, written an objective analysis of another CDOT screw-up.
Excuse me: It would be more politically correct to state a number-challenged or disadvantaged clerk accomplished a numbers error. There now, doesn't that sound more politically correct and less ego damaging?
When developing the analysis of mag chloride data that has double dipped the 60 percent reduction factor for the 10 miles on the west side of Vail Pass of the total 19 to Copper Mountain, the credulity of all CDOT records may be questioned.
July 2, 2004, at the combined Minturn centennial birthday, Mike Gallagher benefit and fireworks display, a friend showed me two CDOT reports dealing with annual mag chloride usage on Vail Pass. The westside usage is 60 percent of the total. When reporting the Black Gore Creek study quantity the 60 percent reduction was inadvertently used once more. The represented mag chloride use was about two-thirds of the actual tonnage,
Inexplicably, when the data was given to a member of both Trout Unlimited and the Black Gore Creek study group, the comment elicited was that no group is accountable for accuracy of reports issued by CDOT.
No correction was issued. He indicated that the clerks adding up the totals were neither caring nor questioned about the significance of the numbers and most did not understand the value or importance of the numbers. This may have resulted from not having explanation or understanding of what the numbers meant. None of the engineers or supervisors understood the graphs.
So a few more millions will be spent for a wildlife overpass to save 87 four-footed roadkill per year, and who cares about the thousands of fish? They can't be counted as easily as the dead critters. We count dead bugs and wonder what kills them and the trout and ducks that depend upon them as a food source. We ignore the toxic heavy metals in mag chloride, which can poison all levels of life from humans down to the lowly grubs.
Magnesium chloride couldn't be responsible for increase biological mortality, because the reported tonnage was about two-thirds the actual of previous years. Maybe this is the new math I've heard about which at 70 years of age I'm not interested in learning. A math analysis with visual graphics displays discrepancies, which are too difficult to detect in tables of numbers. The attached graphs display the magnitude of the errors with the assistance of percentages and ratios.
These errors were made known to the Eagle River Watershed Council, Trout Unlimited, Black Gore Creek study group and e-mailed to the Eagle County commissioners last summer and with no response or action or further involvement or interest in identification of the significance of the reversal in reported amounts of mag chloride, and no corrected correlation with the reported biodiversity decline has been issued.
Who is responsible for reacting to these displayed errors in analyzing toxic material added to Gore Creek? Why not spend a few thousand more hours and dollars turning over rocks and shocking fish? More simple questions with no answers from the technically gifted people known as supervisors, engineers and county commissioners.
Once more I ask: Why should I want to attend a CDOT meeting in the county commissioners chambers?
Steve Zorichak
Vail
Vail, Colorado
