CLICK ON the photos to enlarge them

Dateline:  Monday, Memorial Day afternoon – Avon, Colorado

Thanks to the quick action and fast response of Eagle River Fire Protection Chief Karl Bauer – Karl’s team of top Fire Fighters limited the Fire Damage to the surrounding property.  Avon’s Chambertin (East) Townhomes were lost in the blaze on Nottingham Road – easily seen from I-70 in Avon.  These exclusive ECT photos taken from I-70 eastbound, Monday afternoon!

Avon’s Chambertin Townhomes – Memorial Day afternoon 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

You are experiencing – Living History.  (left Sandy Treat – right Herb Rubinstien)  both WWII Veterans.  The ECT is proud of both.  For those unfamiliar with Mr. Rubinstein’s service in WWII Gen. George S. Patton’s 3rd Army…the ECT offers this lesson in American Military History WWII…

For more photos of the 2012 Memorial Day Service in Eagle County, Colorado at the Freedom Park in Edwards – click on the photos below!

		Eagle County, Colorado – Memorial Day 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This past week on May 24th 2012 – local Eagle County Commissioner candidates met in Edwards, Colorado to speak about the Campaign issues (including Open Space) and current development.

NOTE:  The local Primary Race election will be held on the last Tuesday in June – June 26th – between Johnie Rosenfeld and Jeff Layman – the winner will move on to the General Election – Tuesday, November 6th 2012.

Here for your Review (in reverse alphabetical order) are Commissioner Candidates – Johnie Rosenfeld, Shayne Mitchel and Jeff Layman.

Johnie Rosenfeld – to contact Johnie via Facebook (Click Here)  Johnie’s pitch starts after a 1 minute intro into this video.

Shayne Mitchell – doesn’t have a Primary Election for Eagle County Commissioner – Shayne’s name will be on your November 6th 2012 Ballot.  To contact Shayne Mitchell via Shayne’s Facebook page (Click Here)

Jeff Layman – Jeff’s wife Barb – introduces Jeff at the start of Jeff’s video.  To contact Jeff via his Facebook page (Click Here)

ECT Note:  Dispite being invited – the folks from our Daily Fishwrap didn’t bother to show up for this Commissioner Candidate forum.  What?  You were expecting something different from the Fishwrap?  The voters in the photo below know what is going on – now you do too!

The ECT chooses to describe it as “government funded daycare” others refer to it as “early childhood development”.

This summer your friends at the Vail Valley Foundation are helping to fund daycare programs sponsored by our Eagle County Public School District.

Everyone the ECT knows is of course familiar with School Scholarships – what the ECT didn’t know was that the Vail Valley Foundation also offers “Kindergarten Scholarships” as well.  They call it “Success at Six”.

Does the Vail Valley Foundation allow/support/condone “Directed Giving” for their Donors?  ECT doesn’t know and the ECT hopes the Foundation gets back to us with specific information on how prospective Donor’s can direct how their money is spent.

Does anyone know how a local non-profit went from promoting Alpine Ski Racing to offering “Kindergarten Scholarships” please contact the ECT via EMail and let us know!

Perhaps a new moniker for our friends at the Vail Valley Foundation could be:  Taking in your Donations and spending it on “whatever we see fit”.  All things to all People in All Seasons.

Let’s go through this together, OK?

If a homeowner wishes to install Solar Panels on their home – terrific!  Write the check.  If you don’t have the money – go see your favorite Private Sector Bank – and apply for your home improvement loan.

What we have instead today in Eagle County – are three County Commissioners happy to increase our Trillion Dollar Federal Deficit – that your children will have to pay back!

Here’s what your financial genius County Commissioners have recently done to your child’s financial future.

ECT Comment:  “$4.9 Million Federal Grant” – read; grows the Federal Deficit by $4.9 Million.  This is completely unnecessary  – see blue paragraph above.

Next we have comments from candidate Adam Palmer – trying to get himself elected (now) to the Holy Cross Board.

ECT Comment:  So Mr. Palmer (ECT didn’t vote for you!) Why do we need to grow our Federal Deficit by $4.9 Million in order for YOU to compete with local Eagle County Private Sector Banks – that create local jobs?  Well, Mr. Palmer, we’re waiting…?

More comments from Joe Rowan (executive director – Energy Smart Partners fund) and Adam Palmer…

ECT Comment:  Mr. Joe Rowan – just exactly when is it ever “smart” to make UNSECURED LOANS?  Oh, that’s right Mr. Rowan, it’s not “your money”!

More from the executive director of the Energy Smart Partners fund…

ECT Comment:  At last the ECT agrees, Mr. Rowan – Private Sector Banks “don’t make unsecured loans”!  Rowan continues:  “We serve a niche that is harder for banks to serve”.   Apparently Mr. Rowan can’t figure out why Banks don’t make unsecured loans.  So if you’re so smart, Mr. Rowan, why are you making unsecured loans with money that is only growing our Federal Deficit?

Conclusion:  For those individuals interested in reading the entire “smart energy” column written by Derek Franz – of the Eagle Valley Enterprise (Click Here)

Election Day, Tuesday, November 6th 2012, can’t arrive too soon for the ECT folks.  It’s time to put our great nation back on firm financial footing – and fire the individuals responsible for this Fiscal Insanity.  Stupid is, as Stupid does….Forest Gump apparently much smarter than any of our current Eagle County Commissioners.

Alabama vs. Alaska?  Well the boys from Kalib’s Katch, LLC may not know one State’s abbreviation from another – however…

…these same boys know a good Fishwrap when they see one!  The ECT couldn’t agree more.  The most appropriate, best and highest use of a formerly alive tree.  Sustainably cut down no doubt so as to provide work for our County Government employees at the landfill.

Of course “Kaleb’s Komments” above were printed verbatim in the Fishwrap this past weekend…where the ECT would like to congratulate the Fishwrap’s Edit team that also confused/missed the State Abbreviation for Alaska vs. Alabama!

One thing the ECT knows for sure – you won’t “Katch” the nice folks in Eagle working at Moe’s Original BBQ making that same mistake – ROLL TIDE!  as they say at Moe’s…

For the record it’s – AK. for Alaska and AL. or Ala. for Alabama, your choice.  Say…didn’t Forest Gump fish for Shrimp out of Alabama?

Organically Approved?  Whole Foods headed into Frisco

Stanley Cup – News!  This is how they Celebrate!

This past Friday the New Jersey Devil’s beat the New York Rangers (3-2 overtime, in Game 6.  The Devil’s now advance to the Stanley Cup Finals!

ECT asks:  Wonder what it’s like to be the guy at the bottom of this ‘Hockey-Heap’ being (Congratulated?) by his teammates?  One wonders what these guys do when they get upset!

Photos of Fraud?  From Eagle County’s Open Space Purchases – Promises NOT KEPT!

Many folks including the ECT believe that the County’s Open Space purchases have been mismanaged from the get go.  Your Commissioners have spent Millions.

Objections to these early multi-million dollar so called Open Space purchases (that continue today) included land that County Tax Payers;

- can’t find

- can’t use (because you can’t find it)

- can’t access  (there is no public parking)

The early “cowboy welfare” purchases of both the Gates and Bair Ranches (anybody been there?) serve as prime examples of rampant Government Waste by our Eagle County Commissioners.

To some extent our Commissioners (including the one that wants to get re-elected this November) have listened – just a bit.  Specifically, they refocused their attention to Open Space purchases that Tax Payers (at least some) can actually find.

Exhibit A:  The Edwards neighborhood of Homestead, specifically off Cameron Place.  A purchase was made over the last year for land bordering this Edwards neighborhood – and year ago promises were made by the incumbent Commissioner to include and provide for Public Parking to allow for general access to this “Open Space”.  (Click Here)

So, how good has the incumbent Commissioner Jon Stavney been at keeping his – almost 1 year old promise of public parking to access this Open Space site?

You decide.  To read the complete email (below) from Commissioner Stavney (Click Here)

Public Parking Cameron Place Edwards – July 27th 2011 vs. May 25th 2012

Cameron Lane Open Space has Barbed Wire – but still no Public Parking!

Open Space–Cameron Place – Edwards VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Exhibit B:  A proposed nearly/just completed purchase known as the “Miller Ranch” purchase.  Yes, it’s near the Edwards neighborhood known as Miller Ranch – hence is name.

Here is a look see – at the “extensive” Trail Head Public Parking that Eagle County Property Tax payer can look forward to using.  The yellow sign post you see has a Speed Limit 20MPH sign on it – and it’s location makes using the (third parking space?) rather difficult to access.

Here are a few more photos of the “extensive paved public parking” available at the Miller Ranch Open Space purchase.  Photos from the Trail Head in Edwards.

		Miller Ranch Open Space Trailhead VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Why doesn’t this photographic information show up in the printed pages of our Daily Fishwrap newspaper?  Many folks believe this hasn’t been disclosed – because the major proponent of these wasteful Open Space Purchases – is the Eagle Valley Land Trust – the Land Trust buys plenty of paid print advertising in the Fishwrap.

FACTOID:  After 3 1/2 years of serving as an Eagle County Commissioner – Jon Stavney – the ECT can find NO EVIDENCE, Commissioner of any of Commissioners having added (just one) new/additional Public Parking space for ANY of the Millions of Taxpayer Dollars spent on so called “Open Space” purchases.  Does Commissioner Stavney represent the interests of the County’s Taxpayer – or that of “special interests” – the Eagle Valley Land Trust?  You decide, County Taxpayer/Voter!

What can you the ECT reader do about this obvious Taxpayer Abuse?  On Tuesday, November 6th 2012 – you’ll be given the opportunity to vote for Commissioner candidates – that have publicly promised to put the question of the REPEAL of the Open Space Tax on your Ballot – after they’re elected!

More information soon!