Monday, August 27, 2007

Interstate 70 Now Has a Web Site

A website created by the I-70 Mountain Corridor Coalition will help everyone who wants to stay informed about planned improvements along the state's main east-west highway corridor.

"We're really trying to be friendly to the public and help people understand what's going on and who the players are," said coalition director Flo Raitano.

Along with providing timely I-70 information for travelers, www.i70solutions.org also includes a link to sign up for the coalition's e-newsletter, to be published throughout the year to inform people about coalition activities and transportation issues under discussion at the state level.

Timely notice about any upcoming public involvement opportunities is a key part of the e-newsletter, Raitano said.

The site also includes tips for avoiding highway congestion and links to live highway web cams.

The redesigned website contains information tips for avoiding traffic congestion on I-70, the latest news about the coalition and its history, vision and strategy for the future. The site also includes a link to the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) live Web cams where users can preview traffic along the corridor 24 hours per day.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Stan Miller Property Public Hearing Set

The Breckenridge Town Council recently approved a resolution about the potential annexation of the Stan Miller property located approximately 3 miles north of town.

The petition met the Town's requirements and a public hearing has been set for September 25.

In recent months, the Town has reviewed the proposal for the 40-acre property along Highway 9 near the Town's Block 11/ McCain property.

The design plan includes about 100 affordable housing units, a public trail along the west side of the river, open space and Blue River restoration. The development would be phased in gradually as construction operations that have taken place there for 35 years wind down.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Be Aware of Bears

The Breckenridge Police Department is cracking down on violations of the town's trash ordinance in an effort to keep foraging bears out of garbage cans around town.

The police department has noticed an increase in the past week of bears coming to feed in local garbage cans, according to a press release from Breckenridge Police spokeswoman Crystal Dean.

"This is unhealthy for the bears, problematic for the community and could result in a ticket for the homeowner," Dean wrote.

So far this summer, the police department has issued 200 to 300 warnings to property owners for violating the trash ordinance and will start handing out citations, which require a court appearance. The ordinance, passed in 2001, addresses placement and use of garbage cans and similar receptacles.

All households are required to store garbage cans inside a home, garage, building or shed. Garbage cans may be placed at the curbside on the day of pickup only and must be removed by 10 p.m. that evening. The only exception to this requirement is if the can is equipped with some type of latching mechanism that will hold the lid securely to the can.

Some bears actively feed for 20 hours a day and ingest as much as 20,000 calories to prepare for winter hibernation. If natural foods are not readily available, bears will travel over 60 miles to find other food. Once bears know where to find a non-natural food source they will return again and again.

Some things you can do to help keep the bears in the woods, and trash in the cans:

• Keep your garbage secured inside until morning of trash pickup

• Ensure you have a locking lid on any garbage stored outside - call your carrier on how to obtain a wildlife-proof receptacle

• Ensure bird feeders and other sources of food are not bear-accessible

• Keep your grill clean of any food debris

The Breckenridge Police Department will be working with the local Bear Aware group to identify trash violations in the community and strict enforcement will be taken.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Breckenridge Music Festival Wraps up the Season

The Breckenridge Music Festival’s 27th Season Finale will feature BMF Orchestra members John Macfarlane, violinist, Timothy McFadden, trumpet and Kenneth Krause, clarinet, this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge.

The evening will feature Rossini’s Overture to “Cenerentola,” Hummel’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra, Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra and Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Purcell.

Tickets are $22, $27 and $32 (including a $2 box office service fee).