THE GEMS CARD – 11 COLORADO SKI AREAS

For those looking for a cheaper discount pass for Colorado skiing, there is the GEMS card. The GEMS card offers discounted lift tickets at 11 Colorado ski areas. The card costs $30, then users get to choose either two BOGO (buy one get one free) lift tickets or two 30 percent discount lift tickets at each of the 11 ski areas or one of each deal. For 2019-2020, the participating ski areas are: Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Monarch, Ski Cooper, Echo Mountain, Hesperus, Kendall Mountain, Powderhorn and Sunlight.

SMOKE FROM WILDFIRE PROMPTS HEALTH WARNING

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division, issued a health warning from Monday afternoon until 9 a.m. this morning (Tuesday) for southeastern Chaffee and northwestern Fremont counties, including Salida and Poncha Springs, because of wind-driven smoke from the Decker Fire. The Decker Fire is a lightning-ignited wildfire burning about 9 miles south of Salida. It has burned more than 1,590 acres since Sept. 8. The fire was just 5 percent contained as of Monday.

CHINA CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF COMMUNIST RULE

Chinese president Xi Jinping presided over a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Communist rule. Speaking to a crowd in Tiananmen Square after the playing of the national anthem and a 70-gun salute, Xi said China is now on the road to a "great rejuvenation." The spectacle in Beijing was televised nationally and there was the release of 70,000 doves and 70,000 colored balloons during the parade. There was a flag-raising ceremony held in Hong Kong, which was moved indoors to prevent disruption from protesters and it went off peacefully.

GLENWOOD COUNCIL SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT ON 5-YEAR PLAN

Over the past several months, the Glenwood Springs City Council held meetings to develop and draft a 2020-2025 Strategic Vision for the City of Glenwood Springs, including taking comments from volunteer boards and commissions. This plan is intended to serve as a guiding document for the next 5 years, and to identify a vision, mission statement and strategic goals for the city's future. The council is seeking public input on the strategic plan until Oct. 7. To review the Strategic Vision Draft, go to: http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/CivicAlerts.aspx. Send comments to City Manager Debra Figueroa at debra.figueroa@cogs.us.

BE A COLORADO CONCIERGE

The Colorado Tourism Office has a new online training program to provide basic information about the state for hospitality workers and others who work with visitors and guests. The program, available at BeAColoradoConcierge.com, has four training modules: General Colorado knowledge; Care for Colorado, which ties into the state Tourism Office’s new sustainability program; Colorado travel regions; and, Colorado-style customer service. It covers basic travel facts about Colorado, popular day trips, scenic byways, state parks, and rules of legal cannabis consumption, among other topics.

WESTERN COLORADO UNDER RED FLAG WARNING

There is dreary, damp and cool weather in Denver, but across the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and most of western Colorado there is a Red Flag Warning in effect today. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction said, "drier air continued to stream into the area over the past 36 hours and when combined with dry fuels and frequent wind gusts to 25 mph will result in critical fire weather conditions for much of eastern Utah and western Colorado." The Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today.

NEW FUNDING MECHANISM FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE

Using the model established by Boulder-based Slow Money Institute, organizers in the Four Corners have launched a new regional nonprofit, Four Corners Slow Money. The nonprofit raises money from members to provide loans for small-scale farmers and food-focused entrepreneurs. People can become members by donating $150 and all donors contributing $250 or more not only become members, but vote on loans. As loans are paid back, the money goes into a revolving loan fund. More information is available at: https://www.fourcornersslowmoney.org/.

MONSOON THIS YEAR DID NOT MATERIALIZE

This year's monsoon season, the summer weather pattern running from mid-June through September that normally produces afternoon thunderstorms across the Southwest, brought virtually no moisture to the region. Some communities in northern Arizona, including Flagstaff and Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, had the driest monsoon seasons on record. No other monsoon season was drier in St. George than 1944, when the city had no rain. After finally becoming drought-free after a snowy winter and long, wet spring, now the Four Corners area is back into drought.

YAMPA VALLEY, CATTLEMEN'S LAND TRUSTS MERGE

It is anticipated that today, Oct. 1, the Steamboat Springs-based Yampa Valley Land Trust and the Colorado Cattlemen's Land Trust will close on the merger of the land conservation organizations. The Yampa Valley Land Trust will continue to operate as the Yampa Valley Conservation Partnership, acting as a subsidiary of the Cattlemen's Land Trust. The Cattlemen's Land Trust actually has more acreage under easements in Routt County than the Yampa Valley Land Trust. The organizations together have a total of 158,697 acres in Routt, Moffat, Jackson and Rio Blanco counties preserved with conservation easements.

AMERICANS HAVE MORE CREDIT CARDS, MORE DEBT

According to credit monitoring firm TransUnion, the total number of credit cards in circulation in the U.S. has reached 437 million:

• The number of credit cards peaked in 2008 at 496 million
• The Great Recession dropped that number by 24 percent to 379 million in the third quarter of 2010
• Outstanding credit card debt reached a record $795.5 billion as the average debt per borrower grew to $5,645 in the second quarter this year
• That's up 2 percent from last year
• U.S. consumers added $35.6 billion in new credit card debt during the second quarter of 2019

GIVE PLASTIC THE SACK IN STEAMBOAT

Team up with Alpine Bank to "Give Plastic the Sack"! Join us for a Live Broadcast on The Reel Colorado's Classic Rock today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alpine Bank - Steamboat location at 1901 Pine Grove Road, Suite 101. It's your final chance to get a REEL reusable shopping bag if you bring at least three non-perishable food items for LiftUp of Routt County! Plus, anyone who donates food during our live broadcast will get free pizza from Soda Creek Pizza!To learn more, visit the link below.

EXPERIENCE ELECTRIC WORKSHOP ADDED OCT. 2 AT BUTTERMILK

An additional Experience Electric workshop has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2 in Aspen at the Hideout at Buttermilk from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Learn about electrical vehicles on the market, find out about discounts, figure out EV charging and meet other EV owners. To learn more, visit the link below, visit online at aspencore.org or call 970-925-9775x501.

JOURNEY OF HOPE IN DURANGO

The 25th annual Journey of Hope, Southwest Colorado's largest cancer event, is an annual 5K run/walk fundraiser event that raises funds for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Mercy Health Foundation in Durango hosts this event on Saturday, Oct. 5 in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Early registration and packet pick up is on Friday, Oct. 4, noon to 6 p.m. at the Mercy Regional Medical Center Lobby. Proceeds benefit Mercy Health Foundation Journey of Hope Fund providing free mammograms to residents of Southwest Colorado needing assistance. Register at mercydurango.org/foundation. To learn more, call 970-764-2800.

PURSEAPALOOSA SHOPPING EVENT

The Friends of St. Mary’s Hospital will be hosting a Purseapaloosa Shopping Event on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Main Street Room in the Springhill Suites. Donations of new and gently used handbags/purses are being sought for the event. Donations can be dropped off at any Mesa County Alpine Bank until Wednesday, Oct. 23. Please contact Sandra Legg at 970-270-4593 with questions. Proceeds will benefit the St. Mary’s Fund and the Micah Montag Pediatric Campaign.

CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VAIL SKI SWAP WITH GOLDEN TICKET

The Vail Ski Swap will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The Ski Swap returns to the Dobson Ice Arena Oct. 25-27 and to celebrate its 50th year, the organizer of the Ski Swap, the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, in partnership with Alpine Bank, will hold a Golden Ticket giveaway for 50 kids. Through Oct. 21, any school-aged child up through high school can log on to http://www.VailSkiSwap.com and fill out an online form to enter the contest. At random, 50 young people will be selected to receive a $50 Golden Ticket, which can be applied to any purchase of youth ski and snowboard equipment at the swap.

DENIM & DIAMONDS BENEFIT

Denim & Diamonds, a benefit for End of the Trail Horse Rescue and Dream Catcher Therapy Center, takes place Saturday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Montrose Pavillion Events Center and Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a night of great food, live music by the Anders Brothers, auctions and a casino! For more information, call 970-293-7929.

ALPINE BANK REIMBURSES EAGLE & ROUTT COUNTY TEACHERS

Under its Teacher Reimbursement Program, Alpine Bank is reimbursing Eagle and Routt County School District teachers for up to $200 in school supplies purchased before Dec. 1, 2019. This program is open to all educators in the Eagle and Routt County school districts. You must have an existing Alpine Bank Liberty checking account with direct deposit, or open a new one, in order to qualify. Eagle County School District teachers with questions please contact Betsy Wood at betsywood@alpinebank.com or call 970-870-7424. Routt County School District teachers please contact Alice Klauzer at aliceklauzer@alpinebank.com or 970-871-1901. This program is made possible by Alpine Bank customers who use the Education Loyalty Debit Card. Last year alone in Eagle County Education Loyalty Card customers helped generate $25,860 in donations by the bank to support education. Routt County Education card users spurred Alpine to donate $7,700.

OCTOBER FIRST FRIDAY FILM PREMIERE

It's almost ski and ride season in Summit County! Kickoff the start of another amazing winter season with a film premiere of Absinthe Film's Isle of Snow and Bode Merrill's Contrast on Friday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music, beverages and a fun, free night with friends at the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center. For more information, call 970-262-7300.

SOLAR BARN STOMP IN DURANGO

4CORE presents the Solar Barn Stomp FUN-Raiser on Friday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Solar Barn in Durango. The event features music from the Tim Sullivan Band, a live auction with solar packages, an eBike, a Santa Fe Get-away and more. Tickets and details are at fourcore.org, or call 970-259-1916.