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Letters to the editor

Art Allard

Regarding “Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” by Harry Frampton:I usually begin a letter to the editor by saying: I read with interest, but in this case I must begin by saying: I read with amusement.Mr. Frampton, as chairman of the Vail Valley Foundation Board and as a senior partner of Slifer, Smith and Frampton finds himself in that now all-too-frequent position of simultaneously positing for development of land and for its preservation from development.There are many confused people in modern society, but one of the advantages of living in a relatively intimate setting such as Eagle County is that it affords an observer the opportunity to witness the activities of such people at close hand.Mr. Frampton’s real estate development partner, Rod Slifer, currently serves as Vail’s mayor. The position of mayor is one in which its holder is entrusted with advancing the common good. The common good of Vail has since been reduced in such a way that upwards of 70 percent of its residential property lies in the hands of those who don’t live here.As some of us have come to learn, the locals in Charleston, S.C., refer to their problem children as “drive-by residents.”There are, of course, many examples of this kind of duplicity. Years ago, for instance, a former governor of New Mexico simultaneously sat on the President’s Council for Physical Fitness while occupying a seat on the board of a major tobacco company.What is so disheartening about Mr. Frampton’s letter, however, is his statement that, “this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure a legacy of open space” and “preservation of open space is at the heart of smart growth.”Anyone who has observed the growth in Eagle County over the past 35 years or so must be forced to conclude (if he has any appreciable standard of taste) that the growth in this valley has been considerably less than smart precisely due to unregulated development at the hands of Slifer, Smith and Frampton and their fellow predators.One also notes the recently constructed modest mountain log cabin Mr. Frampton had built for himself on Beaver Dam Road.In view of the “common-good principle” alluded to earlier, one might ask if the subcontractors and laborers on this project could qualify for a mortgage on this property given the wages paid them. If so, the common good has been achieved. If not, then not.It is much too late in the game to be reminding the older, middle class locals of this hypocrisy.However, given the international readership of the Vail Daily, perhaps a valuable lesson may be passed along whereby Eagle County, Colorado, becomes a model for what should not occur elsewhere, particularly as relates to the political/economic coziness which caused this once beautiful county to become so unsightly.Art AllardVailNot enoughNow I realize that the Vail Daily sports writers might live in Vail, and might live closer to Battle Mountain High School. But how come when Eagle Valley wins a basketball or football game, they only get a fraction of an article in the newspaper? On Jan. 8, Eagle Valley boys basketball beat the Huskies at Battle Mountain, but the Eagle girls lost. How come the Battle Mountain girls got a huge article on their big win and the Eagle Valley boys only got a small splurge about their big win? The same thing happened after the big game on Feb. 1. The Battle Mountain boys b-ball beat Eagle Valley, but the Eagle Valley girls beat Battle Mountain, and all the Eagle girls got was a splurge in the sports section. I just think Eagle Valley deserves coverage when they have a big win, just as much as Battle Mountain does.Emily BrudwickEagleSo join the soldiersIn the early 1860s, my great-great-grandfather emigrated here from Germany, settling on the Front Range and helping to found the town of Monument. While our family has been raised in Colorado since, we have grown up with a true Western heritage which includes speaking our minds and standing up for what we believe. Ward Churchill has spoken his mind and has stood behind his words. For this I would applaud him and respect his right to do so. Many think his right to speak has been challenged by the nation’s outrage of his comments. That is not what is at issue here. While our country protects our right to speak our minds, no matter how incendiary they are, we must also be responsible for the consequences of our stance. Should you choose to speak out against fellow Americans and condemn your country in a public forum, beware of the firestorm that will follow.Since the turn of the century, we have supported our state university with tax dollars and countless members of my family’s tuition. I do not want my university to employ anyone as hateful of my country and its citizens as Mr. Churchill’s. Like millions of Americans, I am proud to be an American, proud to be the beacon of liberty and freedom in a world of repressive regimes and murderous dictators. If you truly feel as you say, Mr. Churchill, please do us all a favor and go join the “proud soldiers” of Osama bin Laden. Perhaps you too will find a place in paradise soon.Karl BergerWolcott We can do betterI commend Alan Bryant for his effort to push Eagle County to make its recycling program as inclusive as possible (“Recycling Restraints,” Feb 5). In 2005 our inability to recycle yogurt containers and cereal boxes is disappointing. The fact that Eagle County does no less than other Colorado counties may be true, but it is not a valid excuse for a community that presents itself as an ideal mountain retreat in which to visit and live. If the greater Vail and Beaver Creek communities put as much effort into recycling as they put into advertising and consuming, then Eagle County could transform itself into a leader in Colorado rather than hide behind the low standards of the rest of the state.Articles on population growth and infrastructure development frequently crowd the pages of the Daily. People come here because of the mountains and the natural landscape that continues to inspire and sooth us despite our hectic and overburdened culture. A comprehensive recycling program is crucial to the big picture conservation of places like this. The technology to recycle No. 5 plastics, flat cardboard, and other items exists and is utilized in other parts of the country. Out of all the malignant things happening in the world right now, recycling is something we can actually have agency over on a local level. Why not make a choice to move closer to a sustainable community while we still have one to care for? Matt TurnbullMinturn A good friendWe met Becky Stuart when she contacted us looking for a Labradoodle puppy, and we have a small family business breeding Labradoodles.Becky has become a good friend, and regular contact, who always has a sunny bit of news for me about the community of Vail, her business and of course, her dog, Josh. So of course it was exciting to see her featured in your paper! We wish her the very best in business and thank you for promoting her in the community.Please give my compliments to Melissa Kellogg.Maureen WickerParkerGreat effortWe would like to publicly thank the Avon Arts Council members for their continual and tireless efforts to make the town of Avon a more beautiful place. As you look around Avon, remember that each piece of artwork you see isn’t there by coincidence. It has been thoughtfully considered and placed the Avon Arts Council. The most recent piece, “Sacagawea and Jean Batiste” by Glenna Goodacre, is on loan from Knox Galleries. It was placed on the northeast corner of Benchmark Road, near roundabout 4.The Avon Arts Council, a nonprofit organization, was established in 1988. Its purpose is to receive donations and recommend artwork for Avon. The Arts Council also provides suggestions to developers in Avon who incorporate artwork in their plans. So far, the council has been instrumental in placing 10 pieces of artwork in Avon. The Avon Arts Council created a brochure depicting the location of each piece of artwork throughout town. The brochure was dedicated to the memory of the Art Council’s founding member and former president, Gloria McRory. You can also view Avon’s artwork at the town’s Web site, http://www.avon.org, and click on the “Culture and Recreation” link and then the “Avon Art Gallery” link.So, thank you to the members of the Arts Council for their voluntary efforts. They do it because they love art and want Avon to be a better place. This is a great example of citizens making a difference. Thanks to the Avon Arts Council members: Judy Yoder (she does good work from Florida), Deane Knox, Ron Wolfe, Rob Sperberg, Allan Nottingham, Terry Halverson, and Gary Atkinson.Larry BrooksAvon Town ManagerVail, Colorado


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