Mountain Family Center’s Services Continue to Expand
In the summer of 2018, the Grand County Council on Aging merged under Mountain Family Center (MFC) and officially changed its name to “Grand Seniors”. This collaboration has already made it easier for Grand County seniors to receive the assistance they need, all in one place.

As MFC grows, we need your support more than ever to continue efficiently and effectively helping the community build strength and develop self-reliance. Thank you to everyone that gave Tuesday for Colorado Gives Day.  Everything we do makes a difference in someone’s life.

CMH brings Virtual Reality tour to Winter Park

Alterra’s Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) is hitting the road in 2019, installing heli-inspired VR lounges at the base of Winter Park Resort from January 11-13, 2019. This is your opportunity to try Heli-Skiing in virtual reality, and ask questions about sampling the real deal. Filmed entirely at CMH Cariboos over the course of one incredible winter, this cinematic piece is the first of its kind in both the tech and the ski industries. Plan to step into the heli, soar above glaciers, and drop into the best runs of your life in this beautifully immersive experience. To learn more, visit: cmhheli.com/vr/

LodgingRevs & Short-Term Rentals
The Town of Winter Park is currently utilizing a new vendor, LodgingRevs, in an effort to identify short-term rental (STR) businesses that are operating within the Town. LodgingRevs replaces the Town’s previous vendor which no longer provides the identification service. STR’s who are identified as operating in the Town that do not have a current business license will be contacted, to get them into compliance with the town’s existing business license code. Town staff then work with the STR to ensure they are complying with the Town’s lodging and transit tax codes when they rent their properties on a short-term basis.

Now Hiring: Police Officers
The Fraser Winter Park Police Department is currently hiring for new police officers. This job includes general law enforcement, protecting life and property, and enforcing laws and ordinances. Work involves routine patrol work, and responding to emergency calls, citizen complaints, and alarms. The department is a progressive, community-minded police agency and is looking forward to finding officers that bring great energy and professionalism to the growing organization. For more information, visit wpcov.com.

2019 Health Insurance Open Enrollment

November 1, 2018 – January 15, 2019 is the open enrollment period for Colorado’s Health Care Exchange: Connect for Health Colorado. In order for coverage to take effect or renew on January 1, 2019, the deadline for enrollment is December 15, 2018.

Even if you have NO changes, you still need to renew your plan for 2019. Here are a few things you can do right now to make open enrollment easier:

  1. Create or update your Connect for Health Colorado account: Online, at www.healthcare.gov or www.connectforhealthco.com, or, by phone, at: (855) 752-6749.
  2. If prompted, update your password.
  3. Make sure your current contact information and mailing address is up-to-date.

For in-person assistance, call Kim Long, Certified Health Coverage Guide and schedule an appointment: (970) 531-4769

2019 Master Gardener & Certified Gardener Program registration ends December 15th

The weekly five hour classes held on Thursdays will cover topics on plant diagnostics, soils, fertilizers, how plants grow, vegetables and small fruits, planting trees, lawn care, entomology, mountain gardening, herbaceous plants, landscape design, plant pathology and weed management. CSU Extension is holding the classes at a location to be determined, based upon registration. The 11 week training classes will begin on January 31 and go through April 11, 2019. For more information, call (970) 724-3436.

Grand Lake Plumbing Fills the Tub with Love

Grand Lake Plumbing’s annual toy, coat and food drive, benefitting Mountain Family Center, is accepting donations through December 14th. Donations can be dropped off at Country Ace Hardware, Granby Town Hall, Granby and Grand Lake Chambers of Commerce, Grand Mountain Bank and Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating. For more information, visit grandlakeplumbing.com.

Park Service lists open summer seasonal positions

‘Tis the season for seasonal job postings on USAJobs. Interested candidates should get their application in for positions such as River Patrol at Dinosaur National Monument, as soon as possible. If you are new to applying to federal jobs, you’ll need to create an online profile and resume before applying to individual jobs. Job Announcements are only open for a short time and may close early if the target number of applicants is reached. The River Patrol position closes 12/14/2018. Visit: usajobs.gov to find out more.

Grand County Water & Sanitation District #1 announces increase in Tap Fees

The Grand County Water & Sanitation District #1 Board of Directors approved an increase in water and sewer tap fees to be effective February 1, 2019. The base water tap fee for a 1.0 single family equivalent (SFE) will be $9,500 and the base sewer tap fee for a 1.0 SFE will also be $9,500. This is an increase of $500 to each water and sewer tap fee. For more information, call (970) 726-5583.

Gondola replacement at Steamboat slated for 2019-2020 season

Alterra Mountain Company has announced a $15 million replacement project of Steamboat Ski Resort’s existing gondola with a new eight-person gondola for the 2019-2020 winter season.

Alterra Mountain Company, created in 2017, is comprised of 14 North American mountain destinations throughout six states and three Canadian provinces, including Steamboat and Winter Park Resort in Colorado. “From day one, Alterra Mountain Company has emphasized our commitment to enhancing the guest experience across our family of 14 North American destinations. We are focused on improving every aspect of a guest’s visit, while preserving each destination’s unique character and traditions,” said David Perry, president and chief operating officer of Alterra Mountain Company. “We have designated $555 million in capital investment over five years company-wide, and Steamboat’s new gondola fits seamlessly within our plans. We are excited to invest in infrastructure, and proud of the positive impact it will make on the community, our guests, and the future of Steamboat.”

The Doppelmayr-designed gondola will feature new level-walk-in cabins, plus an additional 12 cabins added to the line, increasing from 125 to 137 total cabins. The current ride time will go from 12 minutes to less than 10 with increased speeds from five meters per second to six meters per second, increasing uphill capacity nearly 38 percent from 2,600 people per hour to 3,600. The new gondola cabin design will allow the resort to streamline freight hauling, eliminating guest impact while hauling more than 10,000 pounds of food up per day to support on-mountain dining. The new gondola will feature all new drives, brakes, line equipment and top-station bull wheel, along with all new towers to support the new machine. Work on the new gondola will begin immediately after the resort closes for the 2018-2019 winter season and the new gondola is expected to open in November 2019.

“The new gondola demonstrates Alterra Mountain Company’s continued commitment to Steamboat Ski Resort, coming on the heels of nearly $12 million invested in Timber & Torch, the Taco Beast, and other resort improvements for winter 2018/19,” said Rob Perlman, president and chief operating officer for Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “Everyone knows the gondola is the main lift out of the base area, and having a new, high speed, state of the art transportation system will be a noticeable improvement not only in the winter on Champagne Powder snow mornings, but also during the summer with our popular sunset happy hours.”

Alterra Mountain Company will announce company-wide capital investments for the 2019-2020 winter season in the spring of 2019.