Colorado - Tue. 05/30/23 A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank View Online View in Browser
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WITH BIG SNOW, RECORD SEASON FOR U.S. SKIING

 
 
 
The U.S. Ski Areas Association reported the average snowfall at U.S. ski areas for the 2022-23 season was 224 inches, which is up 30 percent from the 10-year average. The average length of the ski season in the U.S. was 116 days, or six days more than the previous season. Those were factors which helped produce a record 64.7 million skier visits during the 2022-23 season, up from the previous high of 61 million visits in 2021-22. The 93 ski areas in the NSAA’s six-state Rocky Mountain Region reported a high of 27.9 million visits in the association’s preliminary tally of annual visitation for 2022-23, up from the previous record of 25.2 million in 2021-22.
 
- Colorado Sun, 05.29.23
 

DENVER NUGGETS FINALLY HAVE THEIR OPPONENT IN NBA FINALS…THE HEAT

 
 
 
Since the Denver Nuggets closed out the Los Angeles Lakers May 22 in the Western Conference finals, they have been waiting to find out who their opponent would be for the NBA championship. That was decided Monday night, when the underdog Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics in Boston, 103-84. The Heat became just the second No. 8 seeded team to make it to the Finals, after the New York Knicks did it in 1999. The Nuggets will have home court advantage against the Heat, who once again will be the underdog, with the best-of-seven finals to begin in Denver’s Ball Arena on Thursday, June 1.
 
- Wall Street Journal, 05.30.23
 

LIKE MOST EVERYTHING ELSE, TRAVEL WILL COST MORE THIS SUMMER

 
 
 
Inflation continues to boost the prices of virtually everything, but higher prices do not appear to dissuade Americans from traveling. After huge travel numbers over the Memorial Day weekend, the early indications are that summer will be very busy. Looking at 10 indicators of traveler costs that are included in the Consumer Price Index, it will cost more to travel this summer: airfares are up 19 percent this year and are 9 percent higher than 2019; dining out will cost 8 percent more this year and is up 24 percent in the past four years; hotels are 7 percent more expensive this year and up 16 percent from 2019; outdoor supplies are 11 percent costlier this year and up 28 percent since 2019; beer, wine, and liquor are 6 percent more this year, up 16 percent since 2019.
 
- Denver Post, 05.28.23
 

GOING TO VEGAS? IT WILL COST MORE, YOU WILL WIN LESS

 
 
 
Casinos and hotels on the Las Vegas Strip are making changes to boost prices, have reduced payouts, and are seeking to make Las Vegas a more upscale location. Blackjack players on the Strip lost nearly $1 billion to casinos last year, the second-highest loss on record, after 2007, and casinos on the Strip took in nearly $8.3 billion in gambling revenue last year, a record, exceeding prepandemic revenue by more than 25 percent. Nonetheless, casino owners are looking for more. Most blackjack tables on the Strip are now paying out a 6:5 ratio to those who hit 21 at the blackjack tables. Historically, the payout had been 3:2 for hitting 21. That means for a $10 bet, a winner gets $12, instead of the $15, formerly. Many casinos are also changing roulette wheels, by adding more slots, also increasing the house’s advantage. In addition to these changes, prices in Las Vegas for everything from hotel rooms to restaurants and concerts, have surged in recent years.
 
- Wall Street Journal, 05.30.23
 

NEW STUDY: NATIVE AMERICANS HAD HORSES MUCH EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY BELIEVED

 
 
 
A new study published in March in the journal Science from a research team led by William Taylor, curator of archaeology at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History indicates horses were being dispersed among tribes in America in the 16th century, more than 100 years earlier than the commonly accepted theory that horses were dispersed from Pueblo Indians in New Mexico only after the Pueblo Revolt of 1860 when the Spanish colonists were driven out and their horses were dispersed among Native American tribes. The study, with 87 co-authors, is based on the radiocarbon dating and DNA testing of 33 specimens of horses in museums. Taylor indicated the horse culture among Plains Indians and those living in the Rocky Mountains was completely internal to Native groups and not as a result of contact with Europeans and occurred beginning in 1519, with a median date of about 1550.
 
- GJ Daily Sentinel, 05.28.23
 

GJ SUBDIVISION WILL HAVE ALL-ELECTRIC HOMES

 
 
 
Daren Carei founded Senergy Builders in 2011 and began building high efficiency, Energy Star rated homes in Grand Junction. Looking to expand beyond just individual homes, Carei bought a parcel of land in northwest Grand Junction and began the process of gaining approvals for an all-electric new home subdivision. Phase I is now underway on the project, located in the area of 21 ½ Road and H ¾ Road, with infrastructure work started and the first model homes expected to be completed within three to four months. The homes will be totally electric with rooftop solar panels. The cost to build, including high efficiency appliances and solar panels, is about $18,000 more than normal construction. Carei is hoping to sell the homes for around $400,000.
 
- GJ Daily Sentinel, 05.30.23
 

DOLORES RIVER FEST: JUNE 3

 
 
 
The 18th annual Dolores River Fest will be June 3. The event, sponsored by Greater Dolores Action, offers multiple vendors, food, local beer and a river boat parade. The river fest kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 3 at Joe Rowell Park and continues until dark. Musical acts include Hars in the Dark band, Horizon, Blu Phunk Collective, Birds of Play, Apres Nova, A-Mac and the Height, Little Brother, King Tree and the Earthmothers, and Float Like a Buffalo. You will need to register for the boat parade, which will take place at approximately 3:45 p.m. Registration is inside the gate on the day of the river fest. Tickets, volunteer opportunities, music lineup and complete information are available at doloresriverfest.org.
 
- Durango Herald, 05.30.23
 

SUMMIT COUNTY WILL RESUME SHUTTLE RIDES TO TRAILHEADS THIS SUMMER

 
 
 
Shuttle rides to some of Summit County’s most popular hikes are resuming this June. The shuttles, running from Breckenridge to trails providing access to Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch trails, will have some changes this summer. The shuttles will pick up passengers at Breckenridge’s South Gondola parking lot, and will run each day of the week. Shuttle tickets will be free for residents and $7 for non-residents, down from $15 last year. Riders can also park for free at the South Gondola lot with a one-time code issued after securing their ticket.
Parking at the trailheads will cost $50 on peak days (Friday through Sunday and holidays) and $30 for non-peak days (Monday through Thursday excluding holidays). The non-peak price is up $5 from last year, when it cost $25. Shuttle and parking reservations can be made starting on June 1 for visits beginning June 17. Parking reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance and will be required until Sept. 17 for full-day or short-term use. For more information and reservations, visit hikequandary.com.
 
- Summit Daily, 05.30.23
 

WHERE DOES COLORADO RANK?

 
 
 
It seems there are surveys covering almost any subject, and rankings of “The Best” of this and that. Here are some rankings for Colorado and Coloradans you may not have seen or thought about:
Starting from the more obvious:
  • Colorado ranks 4th best for beer
  • Colorado ranks 3rd for the percentage of couples who say they are happily married
  • Colorado ranks 6th in best states for horse lovers
  • Colorado ranks 3rd best state for mountain biking
Some of the more unknown or obscure:
  • Colorado ranks 45th nationally in percentage of pet ownership, at 47.2 percent
  • However, Colorado ranks 10th in states most likely to adopt a dog
  • Colorado ranked 17th friendliest toward naked gardening
  • Colorado ranks 1st for jokers, whatever that means, maybe because of Nikola
  • Denver ranks 18th for best cities for a hangover cure
 
- Colorado Sun, 05.28.23
 

EXPERIENCE ELECTRIC ROAD SHOW ROLLS INTO GLENWOOD JUNE 4

 
 
 
The Experience Electric Road Show will make its final stop of 2023 when it comes to the Glenwood Springs Community Center on Sunday, June 4. Learn about EVs in a hands-on setting with no sales pressure. The indoor/outdoor event starts at 1 p.m. with a bilingual “EV 101” presentation where attendees will learn about EV features, charging, sales trends, cost of ownership, tax credits, rebates, environmental implications and more. Snacks will be provided. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the action shifts to an informal “ride and drive” in the parking lot, where the EV-curious can test-drive new and used vehicles and e-bikes, chat with current EV owners and dealer reps, and get advice on tax credits and other incentives. Free childcare will be available. For more information, go to garfieldcleanenergy.org/ee23.
 
- CLEER
 
 
 
MARKET UPDATE - 05/26/2023 Close
 
(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
 
 
Close
Change
Dow Jones Industrials
 
33093.34
 
+328.69
 
S&P 500
 
4205.45
 
+54.17
 
NASDAQ
 
12975.69
 
+277.59
 
10-year Treasury yield
 
3.82
 
+0.01
 
Gold (CME)
 
1944.10
 
+1.00
 
Silver (CME)
 
23.24
 
+0.45
 
Oil (NY Merc)
 
72.67
 
+0.84
 
Natural Gas ($/MMBtu)
 
2.18
 
-0.12
 
Cattle (CME)
 
167.35
 
+0.05
 
Prime Rate
 
8.25
 
NC
 
Euro (per U.S. dollar)
 
0.93
 
NC
 
Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
 
1.36
 
NC
 
Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
 
17.63
 
-0.22
 
30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 05/25/2023)
 
6.57
 
+0.18
 
*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
 
 
 
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.

*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.​
 
 
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