Friday, September 24, 2010

Chamber Chat September 22, 2010

**Disclaimer: The Chamber Chat is a courtesy service. Our goal is to be short and readable with pass-along information and reminders requested from members. This service is being provided in lieu of forwarding e-mails directly to you. Thank you for reading our chat!

Reminder: 2011 Visitors Guide is being produced as we speak. All members wishing to be included in the guide MUST have their renewal completed by Oct. 15, 2010.

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Seasonal Business updates as of 09-20-2010
  • US 550 night closure schedule as of 09-13-2010
  • Skol Gallery completes sculpture garden! Opening reception Fri. Sept. 24!
  • OURAY ELKS CHARITY BALL is this SAT!
  • Chief Ouray Gun Show- OCT 2 &3
  • Oktoberfest Oct 2!
  • Mt. Sneffels Education Foundation is seeking donations for its live and silent auction!
  • Cardboard Recycling For Businesses- info
  • Otto Mears Monument – moved to the Ouray Historical Museum for one year
  • Links to members
  • Updated OCRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS contact list- updated 08/13/2010

Feature: Skol Gallery completes sculpture garden!

Please join us on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 4-8pm to help us celebrate the completion of our sculpture garden! Discounted prices on Jeff Skoloda's work will be available during the event. Beer, wine, and hor d'oeurves will be served. We hope you can come.

Skol Gallery

812 Main Street

Ouray, CO

970-325-7290

2010 Fall Hours:

Activities:

Bachelor- open at the stables until Oct 2, then by appointment 318-0444

Bachelor Mine Tours- CLOSED

The Box Canon Falls Park and Visitor Center will open

September 7 through late October – 8 am to dusk

Divide Ranch- closed Mon. & Tues. Will close for the season- late Oct.

The Ouray County Ranch History Museum will be open from 1-5 pm every Sunday afternoon through Sept. 26, after which it will be closed for the winter.

San Juan Scenic Jeep Tours will operate until Nov. 1.

Campgrounds:

Angel Creek & Thistledown Campgrounds are "off-season" now, which means there is no fee, nor are there any services provided. There are no gates at either of these sites

Amphitheater closes 9/27, and Beaver Lake and Silver Jack close on 9/20. Angel Creek and Thistledown

Lodges:

Box Canyon Lodge- open 365 days per year, Lobby hours 7:30am to 10:00pm

The Hot Springs Inn will close for the season on 10/31/10.

Western Hotel will close for the season Oct. 2

Restaurants:

Backstreet Bagel OPEN 7 days a week

The Bistro at Billy Goats Gruff- last day for the season will be this Sunday, September 12th.

The Biergarten will be open till the first week in October, and will be open Tuesday thru Sunday for lunch and dinner, closed on Mondays.

Buen Tiempo is OPEN 7 days a week

Hot Springs Swim and Snack is OPEN 7 days a week

Ouray Brewery- open Friday-Monday from 11a-9p for both lunch and dinner and

4p-9p Tuesday-Thursday for dinner only.

Bon Ton- open year round

Retail:

Buckskin Booksellers plans to be open every day of the year, as we have

been the last 9 years

Ouray Glass- open all winter, pretty much everyday

            Rigs Fly Shop and Guide Service- Open 8-6pm -Closed on Sundays.

  

For an updated CALENDER OF EVENTS,

please see www.OurayColorado.com

US 550 BEAR CREEK BRIDGE NIGHT WORK CLOSURES EXPECTED

PROJECT ANNOUNCMENT: BEAR CREEK BRIDGE ON US 550

No Night Work Anticipated for the Week.

US 550 will not experience any over night closures the week of September 12, 2010. Day work will limit passage over the bridge to a single lane of traffic which will alternate under the direction of flaggers. Please note the Bear Creek overlook is closed until the end of this construction season in Late October.

The Bear Creek Bridge project, located two miles south of Ouray on US 550, started on July 26, 2010. The project design widens the Bear Creek bridge, provides improved parking to the north and a cantilevered walkway to allow visitors a better view over the canyon edge onto the falls below. Crews will suspend work for a winter shut down in October 2010 and will return in the spring with a final completion in November 2011. This project was made possible through Colorado FASTER – 09-SB-108 funding.

PUBLIC INFORMATION – GET PROJECT UPDATES!

You may receive regular updates by enrolling at BearCreekBridge@accbuilt.com or calling our information Hotline at 970-325-9892.

You may also visit the CDOT website at http://www.Coloradodot.info/projects/550bearcreekbridge

As for the shut down, it is a shutdown for the winter is of the project not the highway.

Commuters and community members are encouraged to sign up for regular electronic updates by enrolling at BearCreekBridge@accbuilt.com or calling the project hotline at 970-325-9892. You may also visit the CDOT website at http://www.Coloradodot.info/projects/550bearcreekbridge.For information on other CDOT projects statewide visit www.cotrip.org or call 511. Thank you for going Slow for the Cone Zone!

Please join us on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 4-8pm to help us celebrate the completion of our sculpture garden! Discounted prices on Jeff Skoloda's work will be available during the event. Beer, wine, and hor d'oeurves will be served. We hope you can come.

Skol Gallery

812 Main Street

Ouray, CO

970-325-7290

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25TH: OURAY ELKS CHARITY BALL FUNDRAISER. Steak and shrimp dinner served 6:30 PM $25 adults, $10 under 12, RSVP required 325-0425; Bingo at 8:00 PM, $10/card, cash prizes; Forgotten Treasures silent auction; Karaoke starts at 8:15 PM. Open to the public - come have a ball with us! This is our main fundraiser for scholarships, medical aid and more. 325-0425 for information.

Chief Ouray Gun Show to be hosted Oct 2 & 3 at the 4 H Center in Ridgway, Colorado.

Admission is $5 or $8 for a two day pass. 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Event is open Sat. Oct. 2 9am- 5pm and Sun. Oct. 3 9am -3pm. Food available during he show. Enjoy the fall Colorado and the gun show in one trip! For more details please contact- 4H Director: Rod Hodge 970.325.9908 hodger@q.com.

___________________________________________________________________

Oktoberfest & 46th Annual Jeep Raffle Drawing

When- Sat, October 2, 5pm – 10pm

Where- Ouray Community Center

Description- Beer, Brats and Music: Return of the popular Bavarian band, The Austrian Connection!!!!!!!! Costume contest with cash prizes! Brats, potato cakes, apple sauce, german chocolate cake, Colorado Boy and Ouray Brewery brews, wine, kids games, door prizes and a lot of fun! A fantastic evening that includes the 46th Annual Jeep Raffle Drawing! Come join the party! For information call Ouray Chamber: 800-228-1876 or 970-325-4746.

BAH

Oct. 13- Painting Marmot will be our host! 5:30-7:30 pm- 612 Main St. 325-7232 for details.

Nov. 10- Ouray Chamber Member- Willow Creek Floral and Home Furnishings and the River Crossing with Colby Corner- Stop in a see their special holiday décor! Meet and great with our neighbors! 5:30-7:30

Dec. 2- Alpine Bank Ouray- Annual Alpine Bank BAH! Always magnificent!

Sign up now to be a host! Jan, Feb, March and April are still available.

The Mt. Sneffels Education Foundation is hosting its annual Live and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 16, at 6:00 p.m., at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center. The event, in its thirteenth year, raises funds to benefit the youth of Ouray County. Last year’s event raised more than $40,000 in ticket sales and proceeds from the auction. Admission to the fundraising event is $30 per person or $350 to sponsor a reserved table for 10, which includes hors d’oeuvres, dessert, wine and entertainment.

Mt. Sneffels Education Foundation is seeking donations large and small for its live and silent auction. If you have items or services to donate for the auction in support of Ouray County youth, please contact Stephanie Wallin at 970-626-4013.

Cardboard Recycling For Businesses- info

Regarding the new cardboard dumpsters for businesses,
it is located on Oak St/ River Road just past the City Shop
going north into the big fenced-in area.
It is open 7am to 3:30 pm Mon- Fri.

Fee arrangements have yet to be determined.

This is a CDC project .

The Otto Mears Monument, a familiar landmark near Bear Creek Falls on Highway 550, has found a temporary home at the Ouray County Museum. The monument stood continuously at the former site for the past 40 years, as well as another 35 years from 1926 to 1961. As of last Tuesday, September 7, the large stone marker is available for public viewing in front of the museum on Ouray’s Sixth Avenue. It will reside there for approximately one year while the Bear Creek Falls Bridge undergoes widening construction.

_______________________________________________________________________

Requested links for the chamber chat:

· City of Ouray: (view City Council Agendas prior to the meetings)

www.cityofouray.com

· Jeep road condition updates: http://soajeep.com/custom1.shtml

· Newspapers: Ouray Plaindealer and Ridgway Sun - www.ouraynews.com;

· The Watch- www.watchnewspapers.com

· Ouray Chamber Resort Association (OCRA) – www.ouraycolorado.com

· Ouray County Performing Arts Guild (OCPAG) – www.ocpag.org

· Ouray County Arts Association (OOAA) – www.ourayarts.org

· Ouray County Historical Society: www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org

· Ouray Ice Park: http://www.ourayicepark.com

· Ouray Trail Group - www.ouraytrails.org

·                    Ouray Travel: www.bookouray.com  allows visitors to book into Ouray  
                     lodging, find airfare and car rentals 24 hours per day, just like major travel
                     sites such as Travelocity and Expedia. http://www.ouraytravel.com

· Painting Marmot Art Supply and Art School www.paintingmarmotart.com

· Rays Good Stuff, jerky, jellies and more http://raysgoodstuff.com

· San Juan Mountain Guides: New Classes www.ourayclimbing.com/

· Weehawken Creative Arts (WCA) – www.weehawkenarts.org

· Yankee Boy Conservation Association: http://www.yankeeboy.org

· Ouray Beautification Committee: Committee meetings - monthly, the second Wednesday, beginning at 3:30 PM in the Community Center’s San Juan Room.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Volun

It's time again for one of the most popular gathering in Ouray! OKTOBERFEST!
This event depends on volunteers like you! The event will be held Oct. 2, 2010 from 5-10pm at the Ouray Community Center. (Costumes encouraged!)

Please see the list below and contact the chamber to sign up!

325-4746 or ouray@ouraycolroado.com

You will have a lot of fun! It's a guarantee!
Thank you!
Jennifer Loshaw and Barbra Uhles


Door

Count guests

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Id & Wrist Band

Born Before 10/2/1989

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Collect Door Fees

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Food $$ Collection

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Jeep Ticket Sales

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Beer Servers

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Trash Duty

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

Photography

1.

2.

Set up:

Fri. Oct 1

BIG decorations

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Sat. Oct 2

Table decorations

1.

2.

3.

4.

Clean Up:

Sat. night

10pm-11:30

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Clean Up:

Sunday 10 am until it's done.

Monday DAY to take down the ceiling tents.

Fall Color Report from USFS

Week of September 20- approaching peak colors for aspens; Oakbrush and other shrubs at lower elevations are peak now.

COLLBRAN AREA: Aspens 40% changed and changing fast. The oak brush and service berries, etc. are yellow and orange. The narrow-leaf cottonwoods are bright yellow around Hightower Mountain. .

CRESTED BUTTE: Aspens 40 % changed. Peak will be September 22-29.

GRAND MESA: Apens 30-40% changed. Week of September 20 will be almost prime for aspen, and peak for the red vaccinium (small ground shrub on top of mesa) and very good for lower elevation serviceberry.

KEBLER PASS: Aspens 30- 40% changed.

LAKE CITY: Peak right now

MCCLURE PASS : Aspens 40-50 % changed and changing fast.

OWL CREEK PASS: Aspens 30% changed. Oakbrush at lower elevations are peak.

NORWOOD: Aspens 30-40 % changed. Oakbrush at lower elevations are peak.

RED MOUNTAIN PASS: Aspens 30- 40% changed. Oakbrush at lower elevations are peak.