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Colorado - Tue. 02/04/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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KING SOOPERS WORKERS IN METRO DENVER TO LAUNCH 2-WEEK STRIKE THURSDAY
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Union employees at King Soopers grocery stores in metro Denver and parts of Boulder County will go on strike for two weeks starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract with the supermarket chain. The strike includes all unionized stores in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties, as well as in Boulder and Louisville, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 announced Monday morning. The action will affect 77 stores and involve about 10,000 employees.
King Soopers workers in the Denver area voted late last week to authorize a strike. Employees in Colorado Springs and Pueblo voted Friday and Saturday to authorize a strike. The union didn’t announce when employees there might walk off the job. The union said it is working on scheduling strike-authorization votes at City Market stores in western Colorado. Cincinnati-based Kroger owns King Soopers and City Market. The last strike against Denver-area King Soopers stores was in January 2022. That walkout lasted 10 days. The union also is in contract talks with Albertsons, which owns Safeway.
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COLORADO TO BEGIN USING PHOTO RADAR CAMERAS ON HIGHWAYS
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Colorado transportation officials plan to deploy photo radar cameras on highways this spring to automatically enforce speed limits as part of a stepped-up campaign to drive crash numbers lower and reduce roadway deaths. The Colorado Dept. of Transportation will install speed cams in several construction zones starting in April. CDOT hasn’t disclosed the specific locations. Eventually, CDOT will expand automated enforcement to other areas where drivers exceeding limits cause crashes.
The cameras come even as vehicle crashes are decreasing. Statewide, crashes dropped 22 percent from 122,356 in 2018 to 95,657 in 2024. A decade ago, annual crashes consistently exceeded 115,000. Traffic fatalities statewide also have decreased — to 684 in 2024, down by 10 percent from a record 764 in 2022. Drivers caught on camera speeding in construction zones first will receive warning letters. Those caught breaking speed limits again will receive civil offense tickets, similar to express lane violations, with fines starting at $45.
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DEVIL'S THUMB RANCH DOUBLES CAT SKIING TERRAIN
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Devil’s Thumb Ranch’s snowcat has more room to roam. In its second season running cat skiing tours, the resort near Winter Park now has 400 acres of available terrain for the guided, backcountry skiing experience, according to Zach Fanch, VP of business development. That area boasts 12 trails and a 1,300-foot vertical drop, up from seven trails and a 600 foot drop last year. Powderhounds can enjoy the gladed, powdered slopes for $600 per person. The five-hour trip includes lunch, drinks and rentals, and is available only to lodge guests. Devil’s Thumb also offers Nordic skiing, fat tire biking and a spa, among many services, to its overnight guests. Last year, Devil’s Thumb outsourced the entire operation to Mountain States Snowcats, but adapting the two snowcats it already had helped streamline the process. The ranch previously used them to give Nordic tours, which still run every day.
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COLORADO BAKERY RANKS AMONG BEST IN COUNTRY
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The New York Times recently published a round-up of the 22 best bakeries in America. Although you might not think a strip mall in Colorado would have world-class French pastries, Poulette Bakeshop in Parker was featured on the list. The bakery offers a variety of French-inspired treats, including macarons, croissants, and cakes. Customers can also get éclairs, brioche, crème brûlée, and even a biscuit sandwich. Alen Ramos and Carolyn Nugent opened the bakery in 2021 after spending nearly two decades honing their baking skills, including in restaurants in France, Switzerland, and Spain.
Ramos and Nugent were recognized as Semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Awards in the category of Best Pastry Chef and Baker. With an impressive 4.7 stars on Yelp, reviewers rave about the bakery's variety of baked goods, saying that it does "sweet and savory perfectly." One reviewer even writes that "after visiting Paris, NYC, and so many other places, I honestly think the best croissants are here in Parker, Colorado."
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YAMPA MOUNTAIN H.S. STUDENTS HELP BRING RELIABLE ELECTRICITY TO RURAL TANZANIA
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Yampah Mountain High School partnered with We Share Solar last week to help rural Tanzanian schools gain access to reliable electricity. YMHS students helped construct five ‘Solar Suitcases’ to send to five different rural Maasai schools. Equipped with solar panels, the suitcases will be shipped along with booklets to help schools maintain and repair them as needed. The project simultaneously introduces parts of the world to reliable electricity and gives the Maasai what they need to become self-reliant. We Share Solar donated a large portion of the equipment to YMHS, while the Aspen Thrift Store provided additional funding.
This is Yampah High’s second collaboration with We Share Solar to help rural Africa gain solar power. Currently, YMHS staff is working on writing grants, hoping to hand-deliver the suitcases to the Maasai people. Their goal is to be able to hand the suitcases over personally and be able to give workshops to students and teachers alike.
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CMC ASPEN OPEN HOUSE: BE A STUDENT FOR A NIGHT
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Be a Student for a Night at the Colorado Mountain College Aspen Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Explore the Aspen Campus and prepare a new recipe, create a masterpiece, sew up a ski jacket, and learn about world history all in one night. CMC Aspen offers a robust program of studio art courses including ceramics, jewelry-making, painting, printmaking, and more! Come explore our studio art facilities, see classes in action, and participate in studio activities like screen printing and see the laser engraver in action. In the Art Gallery, an exhibition reception for Intimate Immensity: Work by Laura Dortmans will be held at 5:30 p.m. Learn more about enrolling and course offerings. Includes complimentary appetizers and beverages. Call 970-925-7740 for more information and to learn more about CMC Aspen.
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PALISADE GETS $3M GRANT FOR SEWER LAGOON RECLAMATION PROJECT
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The town of Palisade has received a new $3 million grant that will pay for the full reclamation of its sewer lagoons along the Colorado River east of Riverbend Park. The town has received a $24 million grant and loan package that will allow it to construct a sewer line from the town to the Clifton Sanitation District’s wastewater treatment plant. That includes money to remediate the lagoons, but not for full regrading and reclamation of the nine-acre area. The $3 million is through the Bureau of Reclamation and its Upper Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program. The program funds projects that improve environmental and habitat improvements to areas impacted by drought. The Board of Trustees also authorized staff to pursue a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wetlands for Wildlife Grant for planning, public engagement and professional expertise for the sewer lagoon project. The grant would provide $120,000 in funding to the town with a $20,000 match.
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MANCOS CREATIVE DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD WITH PLANS TO ACQUIRE OPERA HOUSE
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In the next year or so, the Mancos Creative District plans to raise enough money to purchase the historic opera house in downtown Mancos. The district has long been interested in the space, and in using it in “creative ways, as a community asset,” said Chelsea Lunders, the executive director of the Mancos Creative District. Plus, it aligns with its goals. The whole purpose of the creative district, which is in its 10th year, is to promote creative industries in the Mancos Valley and the vibrancy of its economy, Lunders said.
At the end of 2024, the creative district’s board of directors voted in favor of the long-term stewardship of the opera house and plans to continue to rehabilitate it. The transaction is still in its infancy. No numbers are public yet, and the couple that owns it now “has been really supportive” and worked with the district, sans deadlines, to make this happen, Lunders said. As it stands, the Creative District doesn’t have the means, financially, to make the purchase, but it’s launching a capital campaign soon to change that.
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VAIL VALLEY NONPROFITS COLLABORATE TO CREATE NEW GREENHOUSE IN EDWARDS
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In September 2024, the Vail Valley Salvation Army chapter was told it needed to vacate the space it had been in for 13 years. The Traer Creek location in Avon housed the Vail Valley Salvation Army office, food pantry, greenhouses and gardens. A temporary solution was found, and the Vail Valley Salvation Army was able to move into the Vail Daily building in EagleVail for one year. The temporary location in EagleVail didn’t leave room for a greenhouse, which has become a big part of the Vail Valley Salvation Army’s offerings. Luckily a new, permanent home for a greenhouse is going to be made possible due to the generosity of donors and a collaboration with the Eagle County Land Trust.
The Eagle Valley Land Trust has been around since 1981 and since then it has conserved over 14,000 acres across 40 separate properties. The Eagle Valley Land Trust now calls the former Wildflower Farm in Edwards home. In addition to housing the newly donated greenhouse for the Salvation Army, it is also collaborating with other nonprofits. The newly donated greenhouse for the Vail Valley Salvation Army will occupy space 17 on the Eagle Valley Land Trust’s Conservation Center’s map.
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DILLON & KEYSTONE TO FORM JOINT POLICE DEPARTMENT
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The towns of Dillon and Keystone have agreed to form a joint police department. The Dillon and Keystone town councils both voted unanimously at their meetings Jan. 28, to approve an intergovernmental agreement outlining the new joint Dillon Keystone Police Department. The intergovernmental agreement spells out plans for the existing police force in Dillon to expand to provide coverage in the town of Keystone, with the costs of operating the department split between the two towns. The initial agreement is for three years and will automatically renew for another three years unless either town moves to end it. The police department will provide law enforcement services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dillon will serve as the managing agency for the joint police department, according to the agreement.
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10 MOST POPULAR U.S. ZIP CODES FOR HOMEBUYERS
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In January, Opendoor, a digital platform for residential real estate, released a new report ranking the most popular ZIP codes in America. To identify the top ZIP codes, the company analyzed data from the local Multiple Listing Services where Opendoor Brokerage operates. They then ranked them all based on the total number of homes that went into contract within 90 days of being listed for sale in 2024. The 10 most popular U.S ZIP codes for homebuyers:
- Katy, Texas
- Cypress, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- New Braunfels, Texas
- Summerville, South Carolina
- Forney, Texas
- Yukon, Oklahoma
- Clarksville, Tenn.
- Parrish, Fla.
- Kyle, Texas
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2025 GOPRO MOUNTAIN GAMES REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY
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Registration opens Wednesday for the 2025 GoPro Mountain Games in Vail. The 2024 GoPro Mountain Games saw record attendance, and the same is expected this year in Vail, June 5-8. This Games will feature an expanded lineup of competitions, updated courses and the debut of the inaugural Mountain Games Athlete Team. The Mountain Games Athlete Team includes accomplished competitors from across the mountain sports spectrum, from freestyle kayaking to climbing, mountain biking to slacklining. These ambassadors will represent the Mountain Games throughout the year, leading up to and during their competitions in June.
What's New for 2025:
- A dedicated YETI Speed Climbing competition, in partnership with USA Climbing, adding to the robust climbing offerings. Speed climbing is one of the fastest-growing Olympic sports.
- The inaugural Vail Ultra, benefiting 50 for the Fallen: a challenging 50-mile mixed-surface course from Vail Mountain to the top of Vail Pass and back. Net proceeds benefit the nonprofit organization that offers mental health services to Veterans and their families. This event will mark the kick-off to the 2025 GoPro Mountain Games, with runners starting at 5 a.m. on Thursday, June 5.
- Redesigned running and mountain biking courses offering fresh challenges for athletes.
- The debut of the Mountain Games Athlete Team, featuring nine exceptional athletes across multiple disciplines.
- The launch of the official Mountain Games mobile app, allowing spectators to build personalized event schedules, explore maps, and discover opportunities to engage with sports, music, and brand activations.
The full schedule, including all event details and updates, will be available at mountaingames.com/schedule once registration goes live on Wednesday. Register beginning Wednesday at mountaingames.com/register to secure early bird pricing.
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MARKET UPDATE - 02/03/2025 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 01/30/2025)
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*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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