MESSAGE FROM ALPINE BANK: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLOSURE

In order to be ready for Santa and mark the Christmas holidays, Alpine Bank branches will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, and be closed on Friday, Dec. 25 and Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. We invite you to use AlpineOnline or the AlpineMobile app for 24/7 banking access, even when we are closed. Transactions and mobile deposits will be posted the next business day, Monday, Dec. 28. Learn more at the link below.

LOCKHEED MARTIN GETS OK TO BUILD SPACECRAFT TO MAP THE MOON

Lockheed Martin Space received approval from NASA Thursday to begin building its Lunar Trailblazer at the Lockheed facility in Jefferson County. The spacecraft will spend a month mapping the form and location of water on the moon. The scheduled launch is February 2025. The Trailblazer will be equipped with infrared and thermal imaging instruments. The spacecraft will be about the size of a mini refrigerator and about 11 feet across with its solar panels deployed. Before the Trailblazer begins construction, Lockheed will build two other spacecrafts for the Janus mission, scheduled for launch in August 2022.

STATE ADOPTS MESA COUNTY'S 5 STAR SYSTEM

The state of Colorado has adopted Mesa County's 5 Star Certification Program for counties to allow businesses, including restaurants, to be eligible for less restrictive caps on capacity that exist under the county's color level on the COVID-19 restriction dial. The state public health notice indicates the 5 Star program "requires businesses certified through the program to implement safety measures beyond what is already required by public health orders and guidelines." Details about the state's COVID-19 dial and 5 Star Certification program are at covid19.colorado.gov.

HOW ABOUT A $300 MILLION CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO END THE YEAR?

Colorado Lottery presented quite a Christmas package Thursday. "For the first time since May 2019, both MegaMillions and Powerball jackpots have surpassed the $300 million mark," the Colorado Lottery announced. The Friday Mega Millions jackpot will be about $310 million, with a $280 million cash option. The drawing is at 9 p.m. The Saturday Powerball drawing will be about $304 million, with a $236 million cash prize.

MODERNA COVID-19 DRUG GETS ADVISORY PANEL OK

An advisory panel of the Federal Food and Drug Administration Thursday recommended that Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine be approved for broad use. It is believed the FDA could grant emergency-use authorization sometime today. The approval for the Moderna vaccine would come one week after the FDA gave approval for the vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE last week. Federal officials say they expect to distribute nearly six million doses of the Moderna vaccine to more than 3,200 locations around the U.S. in the initial batch, with distribution potentially starting within about 24 hours of FDA action.

SNOWMASS MAKEOVER: WESTIN WILDWOOD, CONFERENCE CENTER SOLD

Snowmass Resort LLC, an affiliate of Atlanta-based High Street Real Estate Partners LLC, have purchased the Westin Snowmass Resort, Wildwood Snowmass lodge and the 18,000-square-foot Snowmass Conference Center for $70 million. High Street will partner with ACRON Group, which is based in Zurich, to redevelop the properties. They plan to invest $40 million to convert the Westin property into a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel. The Autograph Collection hotels are four-star and five-star properties which operate under their own names, not under the Marriott banner. The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver is an Autograph Collection member.

HIGHLANDS, BUTTERMILK OPEN TODAY

With 20 inches of new snow over the past week, Aspen Highlands will open today with remarkably good conditions and the opening day may include terrain in Highland Bowl. According to the Aspen Skiing Co., Highlands will open with five chairlifts, “much” of the front side terrain as well as trails in Temerity and the Olympic side and possibly in the Bowl. Skico had delayed the opening by almost a week due to the lack of snow. The Cloud 9 and Merry-Go-Round restaurants will be open with limited indoor seating. Also opening Friday is Buttermilk, with all four lifts and more than 90 percent of its 470 acres available.

OURAY ICE FESTIVAL DEFINITELY ON NEXT MONTH

The new executive director of the Ouray Ice Festival, Peter O'Neil, said the 26th ice fest will definitely go on Jan. 21-24. O'Neil said, "Our plan has been signed off on by both the Ouray County health department and the state." Instead of having 4,000 people outside to watch the world-class climbers, the Ice Festival will livestream the competition online, using professional filmmakers and drones. Although it is expensive to livestream the event, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade has provided substantial funding to offset the cost. The climbers will also face increased challenges as the ice tower has been made taller.

N.M. REPRESENTATIVE HAALAND NOMINATED FOR INTERIOR SECRETARY

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen New Mexico’s Deb Haaland, a Democratic representative and enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, to lead his administration’s Dept. of the Interior. If confirmed by the Senate, her role will be historic, as she will be the first Native American to serve in the role. As Haaland likes to say, as a member of Laguna Pueblo, she is a 35th generation resident of New Mexico. If confirmed to the role, Haaland would be responsible for overseeing agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, which is currently headquartered in Grand Junction.

SUMMIT COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT 5 STAR PROGRAM FOR RESTAURANTS

Summit County has applied to the state health department for a variance to allow restaurants to apply for the 5 Star Business Certification Program. The county expects the approval from the state will come as early as Dec. 21. Under the 5 Star Program, restaurants in the county could reopen for inside dining at 25 percent capacity, or 50 people, whichever is fewer. To qualify for the 5 Star Certification, restaurants would have to meet a long list of requirements, according to the county's application. Information is available at summitcountyco.gov.

DILLON ICE CASTLES OPEN SATURDAY

The Ice Castles in Dillon announced that they would open to the public on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Ice Castles will be operating at a limited capacity. Masks are required for guests and staff. Six-feet are required between guests. General tickets go on sale Friday morning at icecastles.com/colorado. This is the fourth year the Ice Castles have been in Dillon Town Park. Colorado’s location is one of four across North America and the first to open this year.

WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO AND MOVING FROM IN THE PANDEMIC

Cities with the most inflows and outflows, based on data showing zip code changes on LinkedIn user profiles from April to October:
Top Cities For Inflows

• Austin, Texas
• Phoenix, Ariz.
• Nashville, Tenn.
• Tampa, Fla.
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Charlotte, N.C.
• Dallas, Texas
• Denver
• Charleston, S.C.
• Seattle, Wash.

Top Cities For Outflows

• Hartford, Conn.
• New York, N.Y.
• San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.
• Chicago, Ill.
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Norfolk, Va.
• Boston, Mass.
• Detroit, Mich.
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Pittsburgh, Penn.

HOLIDAY DONATION DRIVE IN DURANGO

There is one more opportunity to donate to Four Corners Broadcasting's Holiday Donation Drive. The drive-through/drop-off event takes place Saturday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the La Plata Electric Association. Proceeds benefit the La Plata Family Center Coalition. For those who are not able to attend, there is a safe and secure online donation portal set up at the link below.

HELP HIGHWATER FARM LAUNCH SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM IN 2021

Highwater Farm is nearing the end of a three-week crowdfunding campaign to raise $30,000 to launch a youth program in Summer 2021. In two weeks, the campaign has raised $25,000 and garnered support from over 70 individual donors and local partners including Alpine Bank. Highwater Farm is a non-profit farm operation located at the Silt River Preserve. In their first year, they produced over 8,000 pounds of vegetables, 4,000 pounds of which were distributed to the community through local hunger relief organizations. With the launch of the youth program in 2021, Highwater Farm hopes to double their production capacity, providing the community with more fresh food while creating valuable job opportunities for teens. With just five days left in the campaign, Highwater needs to raise the remaining $5,000 to bring this program to life. To find out more, visit highwaterfarm.org. To reach the Crowdfunding Platform, visit the link below.