News
The ‘perfect angels'
It seems like every time I pick up a copy of the daily there is a letter complaining about snowboarders.
This is my first season in the area, or on any mountain for that matter, and I've in fact seen the opposite.
I get cut off by a skier just about every time I'm out and was run into by one just the other day.
However, all these letters make it sound as if skiers are perfect angels who have never done anything wrong on the mountain.
At the end of the day and after all the finger pointing, we all have to coexist. We should all be riding responsibly and respectfully.
You can't define a whole group because of the actions of a few people.
Matt Sutton
Eagle
A dream come true
As the head of the local chapter and member of the regional board of the international gastronomic organization Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, I have the pleasure of working with culinary professionals across our valley in preparing our fine dining events.
Their passion and love for their craft is inspiring and a delight to witness and enjoy. Being given the opportunity to work alongside these culinary teams in their restaurants and then write about it is a dream come true.
Writing about an experience as varied and intense as the one I had at Splendido in 1,000 words or less was quite a challenge.
There are so many things to write about and so many people to thank, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Splendido kitchen staff for their kindness, patience and hospitality during my 10 hours in their kitchen: Executive Chef and Owner David Walford, Chef de Cuisine Brian Ackerman, Pastry Chef Alex Daley, Sous Chef Quintin Wicks, and Chef de Partie Nick Larson, Expediter/Line Cook Cory Melanson, Restaurant Manager and Sommelier Brian Rhodes, Assistant Dining Room Manager and Sommelier Patrick Mildrum, Cooks Conner Allen (great partner on the canapé assembly line), Juan Centeno (who was my guardian angel when I was deep frying panisse), Ricardo Centeno, Claudio Centeno (who patiently waited when I had a few hiccups plating the beans), Elisa Azura and the dishwashing staff, Jose Dominquez and Jerry Lopez, who always made sure we had an endless supply of sauté and sheet pans and utensils. And thanks to all the service staff and to Kathleen and Dee! Thank you all and thanks to all those in the Vail Valley culinary industry who strive to make our meals out a true dining experience.
Suzanne Hoffman
Tennis, anyone?
As usual, there are only sport reports on skiing (winter) and soccer (summer). Some of us who live it the valley are actually a little more diverse and realize there are other interests too.
Unfortunately your kids must just participate in the above-mentioned activities, hence the pages and pages full of skiing reports.
The Australian Tennis Open happened, and the coverage was very very limited. One of the greatest championship matches in history took place and your article was, well ... missing! Not to mention that your “ladies doubles” score was actually the mixed doubles. But then again, no one of your staff probably knows who Tecau and Paes even are, let alone their gender.
Serve up some multi-dimensional articles, please.
Vicky Leroux
We had a fantastic time
Dear Vail Veterans Program and Vail community: I just wanted you all to know what a great time that my family and I had recently in Vail. It was a really phenomenal experience, and I feel really privileged that we were able to come and participate.
Being able to get out there on the ski slopes is an amazing experience for me and I can't seem to get enough of it. Your programs are what allows me to be able to experience this and not allow my injury to be a hindrance, but rather a benefit.
My wife and kids had an absolute blast! This was the first time that my daughters had even seen snow and they absolutely loved it. Being able to drop the kids off at ski school while Stefanie and I went and played on the slopes all day was terrific.
Thanks so much for all the work and planning that was put into this program. Everything was top notch-5 star, just amazing.
I hope to be able to attend more Vail Veterans programs in the future and will continue to spread the word among my fellow Marines and command. What the Vail Veterans group provides for our military is a tremendous morale and confidence booster, please keep up the wonderful work that you all are doing, it makes a difference. Thank you so much.
Mark Lyons
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Teach the children well
We are all very aware of the recent tragedy that occurred on Vail Mountain when an avalanche took the life of Taft Conlin.
The purpose of this letter is to specifically address the necessity of educating our children, and others who are or will be in the mountains, of the conditions that can lead to an avalanche and other mountain dangers; how to recognize those conditions, and how to avoid placing oneself in harm's way.
I believe it would be in our communities' best interest to teach our children the forces of Mother Nature, especially those they may encounter in the mountains.
As parents we all try to educate our children about the dangers present on the mountain during the winter, including the causes of avalanches, frost bite, soft snow in tree wells to mention a few.
It is my understanding last month's unfortunate accident that the kids entered an open gate and hiked up to get a few more freshies, a few more turns. It could have been anybody, adults or children. If we save one future life with education and awareness, to honor Taft, then it would be in everyone's best interest and maybe life-saving.
Colorado schools could include an “Avalanche awareness Day” in their curriculum. It could be incorporated as a “school gathering”, during School Ski Days or into science, geography, the social sciences, physical education, and/or Colorado state history. I believe that there are many speakers educated on the topic that would be willing to volunteer to speak at schools each fall to teach the children about avalanches. My son started skiing with his friends and without his parents around the fifth grade. I am not sure if this is the average age children start skiing without adults but that is a starting point.
Implementing these ideas from the ground up will take some effort. I am willing to volunteer in any way to campaign the initiation of a program such as this!
Janine Glennon
Pot law's a sham
Distract attorney candidate Bruce Brown's dissertation on the current state of medical marijuana in Colorado is a rambling expression of his underlying endorsement of legalizing marijuana use and, if elected to office, his intention to give a low priority to the law's enforcement until such time as it is legalized.
That's an interesting position for a candidate for District Attorney who is expected to enforce all the laws, not just those with which the candidate agrees.
Those with far more medical knowledge and expertise than I possess allege that there is, indeed, some legitimate medical application of marijuana for treatment of the ills of a tiny fraction of the population. If that be true, then why is marijuana not prescribed for distribution through existing licensed pharmacies rather than through hundreds of start-up pot shops with their respective “doc in the box” on-site “physicians”?
Does Mr. Brown really believe that the almost 89,000 marijuana card holders have a legitimate medical need for marijuana? Of course, he chooses to dismiss the report of the state attorney that the number matches the demographic profile of recreational drug users in the state. Just a coincidence?
Colorado's statute is a travesty which has, essentially, legalized marijuana use and licensed its sale and distribution through a network of sham “medicinal” outlets.
Joe McHugh
Vail
It seems like every time I pick up a copy of the daily there is a letter complaining about snowboarders.
This is my first season in the area, or on any mountain for that matter, and I've in fact seen the opposite.
I get cut off by a skier just about every time I'm out and was run into by one just the other day.
However, all these letters make it sound as if skiers are perfect angels who have never done anything wrong on the mountain.
At the end of the day and after all the finger pointing, we all have to coexist. We should all be riding responsibly and respectfully.
You can't define a whole group because of the actions of a few people.
Matt Sutton
Eagle
A dream come true
As the head of the local chapter and member of the regional board of the international gastronomic organization Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, I have the pleasure of working with culinary professionals across our valley in preparing our fine dining events.
Their passion and love for their craft is inspiring and a delight to witness and enjoy. Being given the opportunity to work alongside these culinary teams in their restaurants and then write about it is a dream come true.
Writing about an experience as varied and intense as the one I had at Splendido in 1,000 words or less was quite a challenge.
There are so many things to write about and so many people to thank, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Splendido kitchen staff for their kindness, patience and hospitality during my 10 hours in their kitchen: Executive Chef and Owner David Walford, Chef de Cuisine Brian Ackerman, Pastry Chef Alex Daley, Sous Chef Quintin Wicks, and Chef de Partie Nick Larson, Expediter/Line Cook Cory Melanson, Restaurant Manager and Sommelier Brian Rhodes, Assistant Dining Room Manager and Sommelier Patrick Mildrum, Cooks Conner Allen (great partner on the canapé assembly line), Juan Centeno (who was my guardian angel when I was deep frying panisse), Ricardo Centeno, Claudio Centeno (who patiently waited when I had a few hiccups plating the beans), Elisa Azura and the dishwashing staff, Jose Dominquez and Jerry Lopez, who always made sure we had an endless supply of sauté and sheet pans and utensils. And thanks to all the service staff and to Kathleen and Dee! Thank you all and thanks to all those in the Vail Valley culinary industry who strive to make our meals out a true dining experience.
Suzanne Hoffman
Tennis, anyone?
As usual, there are only sport reports on skiing (winter) and soccer (summer). Some of us who live it the valley are actually a little more diverse and realize there are other interests too.
Unfortunately your kids must just participate in the above-mentioned activities, hence the pages and pages full of skiing reports.
The Australian Tennis Open happened, and the coverage was very very limited. One of the greatest championship matches in history took place and your article was, well ... missing! Not to mention that your “ladies doubles” score was actually the mixed doubles. But then again, no one of your staff probably knows who Tecau and Paes even are, let alone their gender.
Serve up some multi-dimensional articles, please.
Vicky Leroux
We had a fantastic time
Dear Vail Veterans Program and Vail community: I just wanted you all to know what a great time that my family and I had recently in Vail. It was a really phenomenal experience, and I feel really privileged that we were able to come and participate.
Being able to get out there on the ski slopes is an amazing experience for me and I can't seem to get enough of it. Your programs are what allows me to be able to experience this and not allow my injury to be a hindrance, but rather a benefit.
My wife and kids had an absolute blast! This was the first time that my daughters had even seen snow and they absolutely loved it. Being able to drop the kids off at ski school while Stefanie and I went and played on the slopes all day was terrific.
Thanks so much for all the work and planning that was put into this program. Everything was top notch-5 star, just amazing.
I hope to be able to attend more Vail Veterans programs in the future and will continue to spread the word among my fellow Marines and command. What the Vail Veterans group provides for our military is a tremendous morale and confidence booster, please keep up the wonderful work that you all are doing, it makes a difference. Thank you so much.
Mark Lyons
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Teach the children well
We are all very aware of the recent tragedy that occurred on Vail Mountain when an avalanche took the life of Taft Conlin.
The purpose of this letter is to specifically address the necessity of educating our children, and others who are or will be in the mountains, of the conditions that can lead to an avalanche and other mountain dangers; how to recognize those conditions, and how to avoid placing oneself in harm's way.
I believe it would be in our communities' best interest to teach our children the forces of Mother Nature, especially those they may encounter in the mountains.
As parents we all try to educate our children about the dangers present on the mountain during the winter, including the causes of avalanches, frost bite, soft snow in tree wells to mention a few.
It is my understanding last month's unfortunate accident that the kids entered an open gate and hiked up to get a few more freshies, a few more turns. It could have been anybody, adults or children. If we save one future life with education and awareness, to honor Taft, then it would be in everyone's best interest and maybe life-saving.
Colorado schools could include an “Avalanche awareness Day” in their curriculum. It could be incorporated as a “school gathering”, during School Ski Days or into science, geography, the social sciences, physical education, and/or Colorado state history. I believe that there are many speakers educated on the topic that would be willing to volunteer to speak at schools each fall to teach the children about avalanches. My son started skiing with his friends and without his parents around the fifth grade. I am not sure if this is the average age children start skiing without adults but that is a starting point.
Implementing these ideas from the ground up will take some effort. I am willing to volunteer in any way to campaign the initiation of a program such as this!
Janine Glennon
Pot law's a sham
Distract attorney candidate Bruce Brown's dissertation on the current state of medical marijuana in Colorado is a rambling expression of his underlying endorsement of legalizing marijuana use and, if elected to office, his intention to give a low priority to the law's enforcement until such time as it is legalized.
That's an interesting position for a candidate for District Attorney who is expected to enforce all the laws, not just those with which the candidate agrees.
Those with far more medical knowledge and expertise than I possess allege that there is, indeed, some legitimate medical application of marijuana for treatment of the ills of a tiny fraction of the population. If that be true, then why is marijuana not prescribed for distribution through existing licensed pharmacies rather than through hundreds of start-up pot shops with their respective “doc in the box” on-site “physicians”?
Does Mr. Brown really believe that the almost 89,000 marijuana card holders have a legitimate medical need for marijuana? Of course, he chooses to dismiss the report of the state attorney that the number matches the demographic profile of recreational drug users in the state. Just a coincidence?
Colorado's statute is a travesty which has, essentially, legalized marijuana use and licensed its sale and distribution through a network of sham “medicinal” outlets.
Joe McHugh
Vail
