Community Comments
The leaves have dropped, but the snow is yet to fly. I am enjoying one of the nicest autumn seasons that I recall. My garden clean up has suffered this year as my re-election campaign and the silly season has taken up much of my weekends. I will be happy when November 5th arrives. I hope that the lawn signs quickly give way to snow banks and the Cheeto munching Kool-aid drinkers’ retreat to their basements for a while.
We have less than six weeks to prepare for the winter ski season and we are holding our collective breath that the snow will fly hard. There is a countywide plan that has been adopted to ease the pain of the Vail Pass closures that we know are coming. It is always refreshing to see countywide planning efforts. I hope that this year the pass closures are less painful for all of our communities. Pass closures are a double edged sword, when they happen it is generally a sign that we are having a good snow season, but they sure can be frustrating, creating traffic snarls from East Vail to Eagle. CDOT has installed additional signs on the interstate that will provide directional information during these trying events. The complete “Transit Incident Management” plan will be posted on the Town of Vail website (www.vailgov.com) when it is complete.
The fall fundraisers are in full swing and I can only hope that the local non-profit community survives this economic turmoil. The recent combining of SOS and Meet the Wilderness may be the first of a trend of compatible entities joining forces to maintain their programming, while streamlining the cost of infrastructure and administration. I was speaking to Jackie Allen Benson last week regarding the negative effects that a poor economy have on non-profits and it could be a rough year or two for many of them. I will be updating this blog with information on upcoming events and I hope you check back often and support the ones that you are able to.
Last week I attended the “Valley Tastings: Food for Youth” a fundraiser benefiting The Eagle River Youth Coalition. This was their 2nd year and they were at The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa. The event featured food from 13 different restaurants. I must say everything was very good including the venue. I was torn between the Short Rib and Twice Baked Potato Skin from Avondale and the Frois Gras on a peanut butter cookie from Juniper for best in show. Other contributing restaurants were Dish, Tocino, French Press, and Mathews
I recently attended the Humane Society fundraiser “Harvest Party” that was at the Lionsquare Lodge in Lionshead. This was the 9th year of the event, and the 5th time I recall attending. I understand that the move from the Eagle-Vail pavilion was successful from a fundraising perspective, thanks to Lionsquare Lodge and Mezzaluna for hosting the event. The addition of live entertainment was nice, but somehow I missed the raffle. There were great food and wine samples and my favorite, the “Blind” tasting table. I was pleased to get all of the wine samples correct with varietals, country & region of origin; though as usual I missed the age of several of the samples. This is great event for one of my favorite local charities and I wish them continued success caring for Eagle County’s animals.
Looking forward there are several events I am aware of that support local causes. They include; “Black and White Ball” on Saturday, November 1, “Drink Red! Wear Red!” on Friday, November 21 and the Vail Mountain School “Holiday Gala and Auction” on Saturday, November 22 and the venerable “Black Diamond Ball” on Friday, December 5.
The “Black and White Ball” is a fundraiser for the “Friends of the Dance” with proceeds going to the Vail Youth Ballet Company. It is on Saturday, November 1 at Timberhearth Grille in Edwards. Tickets are $ 100.00 per person if purchased before October 26 by calling Joanne (970-926-2177) or Kelley (970-926-6087). The event includes performances by the “Dads of Dance” and the “World Famous Frog Dance” in addition to a fundraising auction including a 2008/2009 restricted VRI season Pass.
“Drink Red! Wear Red!” is a really fun event and a great excuse for purple teeth. I am thrilled that it will be at Avondale at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon as it is walking distance home for me. There will be live music from “Flux” in addition to great food and drink. In consideration of the environment the invitations will be going out via e-mail later this week, tickets will be $95.00 each and it should sell out. I will update the ticket sales procedures here when they are finalized.
Drink Red! Wear Red!
Plain and simple…
The hottest event
of the year is at
Avondale
Westin Riverfront Resort
November 21st
7pm
Benefiting Eagle River Youth Coalition and Rotary Club
You can check out the details for the Black Diamond Ball at www.vvf.org. The event is at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, with a lodging package & transportation at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon. This event is in its 10th year, having evolved from Sheika Grammshammers Crystal Ball. I remember working with Joanne Levi and Sheika in the mid 1990’s on that event at the old Westin in Vail, and the crew at the VVF has enhanced this event to lay claim to the Grand Dame of the Vail social scene.
The Vail Mountain School Gala is another event I worked on at the Old Westin Resort in Vail through most of the 90’s. Proceeds from this event help the operating fund including the scholarship program, several recipients have been children that I know, and the leg up this program gives to local kids is wonderful. The Gala is in its 30th year and will be held at Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa in Lionshead.on Friday, November 22 tickets. There is also an online auction that starts on November 7. For more details about the event check out the website at www.vms.edu.
Well that’s it for my first blog. I plan to update this weekly and I welcome your community comments and event information. Submissions via e-mail are preferred. I can be contacted at 970-476-6600 or acp@vail.net.
Amy Phillips is a 22 year resident of the Happy Valley, an Avon Town Councilor and active in many organizations that make our community the unique place it is including The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Public Access 5 Community TV, Vail Valley Partnership and the Vail Valley Business Women.
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