Any Idea Who These People Are?

Halloween is a holiday like no other.   People don’t spend a billion dollars every year on costumes and decorations if their not serious about pretend.

We met at a local pub this past Friday to celebrate “what, I don’t know”.

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Ryan and Katie enjoy a few apps while pretending they are someone else.

This guy even talked funny and told lame jokes..."what is a pirates favorite letter?"

This guy even talked funny and told lame jokes…”what is a pirates favorite letter?”

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Darci cast a spell and Dan struggles with his cocktail

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Katie was never this sweet and Michael put on his boyhood clothes and looked normal to me.

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Some people came as housekeepers.

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Magda came as an Ecuadorian Indian. What an imagination.

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Wilma (Randi) is about to meet Dr Death (Ramon) while sweet Katie enjoys the moment.

Nothing wrong with a few professionals “dressing down” after work.

Happy Halloween!

 

Soon To Be Platinum Rated

Dr. Brooks Newbill, owner of unit 109 at the Antlers, committed to a major renovation this past spring and the results are in….. Stunning!

The 680 square foot condominium was completely “gutted” in order to launch the project.  All existing walls and popcorn ceiling texture were removed.  The original kitchen, bathroom, fireplace and all flooring were taken to a final resting place.  The majority of furniture was donated and all older appliances were properly recycled.

These few photos are only a glimpse of the final result.

With no walls left, new walls needed to be raised.

With no walls left, new walls needed to be raised.

This is eventually the kitchen with a new window.

This is eventually the kitchen with a new window.

After a little more than four months, the condominium is back in the rental pool and ready to be enjoyed.

The sliding glass door from the living/dinning area, overlooks the pool and Gore Creek.

The sliding glass door from the living/dinning area, overlook the pool and Gore Creek.

A new fireplace, entertainment center with additional storage space.

A new fireplace and entertainment center with additional storage space.

The kitchen includes granite counter tops with stainless steel appliance and heated tile floors.

The kitchen includes granite counter tops with stainless steel appliances and heated tile floors.

A king bed in the master.

A king bed in the master

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A wardrobe with plenty of space.

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A double vanity, walk-in shower and heated tile floors complement the master suite.

It also needs to be mentioned that the furniture and all the amenities to complement are of the highest standard.  The electronics and appliances are the most current available and Dr. Newbill elected to install LED lighting throughout the unit.

Congratulations Brooks Newbill, your home away from home is truly outstanding.

As the Antlers Turn….Pictures Tell Stories

It’s fast and furious around here, the remodels are moving ahead as planned, and on schedule.  We have evolved from furniture storage and demolition to welcoming various crews to to get started on abatement, painting, plumbing, electrical, fireplace installation and tile work.  Here are a few picks that show some of the progress.

Unit 502 is "under the tent" for abatement

Unit 502 is “under the tent” for abatement

Three days later, all the "popcorn" is gone

Three days later, all the “popcorn” is gone

After abatement, walls and ceilings are textured before painted.

After abatement, walls and ceilings are textured before being painted in unit 211.

211 bedroom

211 bedroom

The texture guys move to unit 410 next.

Unit 410 abatement is complete and the texture guys move there next.

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Unit 406 had the older style fireplace

Unit 406 new fireplace installed

Unit 406 now has a newer style fireplace installed

Unit 406 old bathroom

Unit 406 had an old bathroom.

The plumbing has begun in Unit 406 new bathroom

Unit 406 will soon have a new bathroom as the plumbers have moved in.

 

The electricians have begun in unit 309

The electricians have begun in unit 309

 

New fans and lights have been installed in 414 bathroom

New fans and lights have been installed in the bathroom of unit 414.

And Bobby "the tile guy" has started on the shower tile.

And Bobby “the tile guy” has started on the shower tile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new fireplace has been installed in 109

The new fireplace has been installed in 109

And the new walls are going up

And the new walls are going up

 

Stand it up and screw it in place

Stand it up and screw it in place

As mentioned, we are right on schedule.  More updates coming.

(An aside….It’s not all a construction zone in the Valley.  Spring has sprung and the Sun is shining, while the Aspens are budding, the Evergreens are pollinating, the Flowers popping, Fish are jumping and the Bears are yawning.  All the while the Joggers are jogging, the Bikers are biking and the Golfers are golfing.  This is a glorious time of year.)          Greg

Oh, and the moose are lumbering.  This was taken just outside Darci's front door on Tuesday.  She was late for work.

Oh, and the moose are lumbering. This was taken just outside Darci’s front door on Tuesday. She was late for work.

 

As the Antlers Turn…Not Quite a Remodel…Ulmschneider Blazes LED Trail

Mark Ulmschneider, owner of Unit 517 at the Antlers, must have been reading my mind.

After converting the majority of lighting in the common areas of the Antlers to the newer, more efficient and long lasting LED lighting, it’s now time to consider the same for our individual condominiums.  I thought it best to start replacing the halogen type bulbs first because availability is quickly becoming non-existent.

I did a walk through of all the units and counted only the halogen-par type bulbs in each.  Some of the units have only 3 recessed in the kitchen and others have over 40 throughout the condominium.  Total for all the building is over 950.

That’s a lot of light bulbs and remember, it does not include the standard incandescent bulbs in the lamps and chandeliers (let’s throw another 1,000 in when those are counted).

Having a discussion with Mark this past winter about the replacement and conversion of all lighting over time, he said “Why don’t you just go ahead and do my whole place.  It’s all got to be done eventually anyway, doesn’t it?”

So that I did.  Twenty-six LED’s were swapped out at a cost of $565.

I must say that the quality of the light is nearly identical to the original and one would be hard pressed to notice any difference.

I talked with Mark the other day and explained that although LED lights use less energy, the savings on his monthly utility bill would not be that significant.  But I do have every intention to track his Holy Cross bills in the future and find out just how much he actually does save over time.

Important as any energy savings are, just as important is the impression the Antlers leaves on future guests.  More emphasis is put on green initiatives in our industry these days and staying abreast with these changes is no longer a choice, but a necessity.

Also, this conversion is guaranteed against failure for at least 5 years and replacing burned out light bulbs dozens of times every year is now a task in the past (at least in unit 517).

Cathedral kitchen and bar lights are all on dimmer switches

Cathedral kitchen and bar lights are all on dimmer switches

 

 

 

Seventy-five watt equivalents use only 15 watts after the exchange

Seventy-five watt equivalents use only 15 watts after the exchange

The chandelier lights are flame type and also on a dimmer

The chandelier lights are flame type and also on a dimmer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Mark for moving forward on this.

Now we need to come up with a plan to replace the other 939 lights and a 1,000 more after that.  (Actually, we are putting some thought into this and we’ll be asking for your feed back soon.)

Greg

 

As the Antlers Turn…..and the hammer comes down

As I mentioned just a couple of days ago, Springtime in the Rockies is the start of some new construction projects around the Antlers.

I was sure to take some pictures on Monday of the condominiums in line for improvements.  The idea being we could show a little “before and after” as things progress.  Well, things have started to progress as shown below.  There must be a little destruction before anything can be rebuilt.  Unit 109 has taken on a new, temporary look.

Ready for a Check-in on Monday

Ready for a Check-in on Monday

 

Gone on Wednesday

Gone on Wednesday

Cook dinner on Monday night

Cook dinner on Monday night

Sure hope the dishwasher was emptied by Wednesday

Sure hope the dishwasher was emptied by Wednesday

Lets get cozy by the fireplace on Monday

Lets get cozy by the fireplace on Monday

We're going to need a lawn chair on Wednesday

We’re going to need a lawn chair on Wednesday

We need to blame Pete on this mess

We need to blame this mess on Pete

...and Dave

…and Dave along with his trusty side-kick Roberto

I asked Pete what the next stop was on his “train for demolition”.  He winked and with a wry smile said “I look forward to visiting 309”.

I walked upstairs and low and behold, the housekeepers have made their preparations.

They pack up the linens and dishware before the indoor tornado hits

They pack up the linens and dishware before the indoor tornado hits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More up-dates coming………….

Greg

 

As the Antlers Turn: April Showers Bring…

….unit improvement projects to the Antlers.

Tom and Pete in our Engineering Department have quietly been preparing to “bring the hammer down”.  I refer to the upgrades that are scheduled for several units at the Antlers this spring.

Since the Unit Quality Improvement plan was put in place last December (Nothing But Platinum Rated Condo’s” 12/27/13 blog- Rob) many of our owners have participated in some form or another.  Be it a new dinning table, a piece of art or a new king mattress, everyone seems to understand the concept of “keeping up with the neighborhood”.

Several owners have committed to major improvements this spring and that’s why Tom and Pete have been busy all winter putting more than a few ducks in a row.

To be more precise, there are 11 of these major projects beginning in April (the most ever taken on at one time) and the logistics and timing involved in an undertaking like this cannot be taken lightly.  Everything and everybody needs to be where they are suppose to be on any given day.  Demolition, materials, delivery, contractors and all the scheduling must be in place.  There is not much margin for error when the final inspection is on May 25th and a guest is checking in on June 1st.

New by June.

Over $500,000 will be invested into these 11 condominiums in the next few months.  The improvements include everything from new bathrooms and kitchens to carpet and heated ceramic tile floors.  Fireplaces along with windows, sliding glass doors, new interior doors and trim and stainless steel appliance upgrades are just a few things that will be new by June.

Why.

Ask any one of these owners why they are making the changes now and the overwhelming consensus is about unit quality.  Whether it’s done in steps or a complete demolition and remodel, the majority of Antlers owners agree that our guests have expectations that must be met if we are to remain competitive and even a level above the competition.  Again demonstrating the Antlers, its Owners and Staff remain committed to guest satisfaction.

Moving Forward

Our thanks to the owners who have committed to these improvements and I look forward to posting progress and photos of the the following condominiums as April showers begin:  Brooks Newbills 109, Marie Millman & sisters 211, Bob & Susie Abramsom 302, Stephen & Nancy Snyder 309, Frank & Flavia Bencina 403, Scott Brinkman 406, Edwina Daley 410, Steve & Jamie Hersee 411, Joe & Marie Forish 414, John & Nancy Scott 502 and David & Ulrike Martin 504.

Stay tuned.

Greg

 

 

 

Actively Green for 2015

AG_Certified

The Antlers at Vail once again is taking the lead.

The Antlers, along with The Wren (East-West Resorts) and the Sonnenalp, are the first resorts in Eagle County to be certified by the Town of Vail and Sustainable Travel International (STI) as “Actively Green for 2015“.

Actively Green is the brain trust of Kristen Bertuglia, the Sustainable Director for the Town of Vail, and Kim Langmaid who chairs the  Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability.  The goal is to certify 100 businesses in the Valley before the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships which are scheduled to be held in Vail and Beaver Creek. The process is rigorous and the intent is to show the world that our Valley is in harmony, not only with the environment, but with each other with regard to business operations.

The process began back on September 4th when the Antlers hosted the first STI Educational  Seminar with 20 other business’s.  The training for certification is an intense exercise that covers 21 steps that need to be addressed and adopted as policy.

The criteria range from educating employees and guests about green practices, tracking waste, energy and water use, monitoring green house gases, responsible purchasing and simply pledging to be a good neighbor in our community.

The certification is a “living document”.

Data is gathered and documented into categories on a monthly basis.  This information is then used to determine the environmental impact we are having as we operate our business.  Hopefully, we will see savings in water and energy use and demonstrate to employees and clients the importance of our efforts.

We are proud to be on the forefront of this effort and are excited for the all the businesses that will be joining us soon.

2015 and the World Ski Championships just aren’t that far off.

Greg

 

PS – Without our own Sustainability Coordinator (Greg Ziccardi) the Antlers wouldn’t be in the leadership position we are, both in terms of this Actively Green certification, as well as all of our ongoing efforts.  -Rob

 

How Soon we Forget

Maybe it’s 9-11, Katrina or Sandy.  Maybe it’s Columbine or the fires in Colorado in recent years.  Maybe it’s the floods that ravaged Colorado just a few months ago that were called “Biblical in proportion”.  Whatever your memory of a disaster, unless you are completely immersed in the tragedy at hand, we have a tendency to move on and forget there are people who have been maimed, displaced or emotionally altered for life (and in all likelihood, all of the above).

Most recently, Boulder County was battered with nearly 17 inches of rain in 3 days and thousands of people were effected.  The majority of us moved on with our daily lives while they had to put theirs back together.

We here at the Antlers had the opportunity to help one of these victims.  His name is David and he lost everything. It was his girlfriend Denise (a former school teacher in Eagle) and the United Methodist Church in Boulder that spread the word.   David needed help.  She reached out to her friends and the Antlers donated a place for him to stay for a month (free of charge) until he got back on his feet.

I had the pleasure of getting to know this young man and he shared with me some of what he had been through.  This is a short account of his pain and pleasure:

After a week, he was permitted to inspect the damage the rains had caused.

….”For the next 7 days I watched this waterway flow through my unit.  During those 7 days I thought of why this had happened?  How it could have happened to me?  Who’s fault was it that this building was destroyed?  How would I be compensated?  etc.  I built up anger, dealt with sadness and the realization that while it was just stuff, it was everything….photos and heirlooms…childhood collections….dishes and furniture…everything.”

“Most of my things were buried in 4 feet of mud and raw sewage that had solidified as hard as concrete.  I simply could not dig it out.  Everything else was gone.  It had floated down the St Vrain River with everyone else s stuff.”

“The insurance companies were quick to point out that I had coverage on every imaginable event; but not a flood.  So starting from scratch is where I found myself.  It was lonely and scary.”

… “In the end, more than anything,  it was a lesson in kindness” he told me.  “Folks sweated and worked themselves to exhaustion without regard for why.  They did it out of pure kindness.

“Then I met all the good folks at the Antlers.  From their kindness and that of the owners of the condominiums, I had found a home base from which I could put together a game plan and get back on my feet.”

He continued.  “That time was a turning point for me, a very positive one at that.  From the Antlers I was able to secure a full-time job in the mountains (he had been working as a part time contractor) and locate a fully furnished apartment in Steamboat.”

Maybe a lesson for all of us is what he said as he was packing up his truck to move on and settle in his new place.

“I may never have a nice collection of pots and pans again (or need them), nor will I get to sit back and look at pictures of my grandpa standing by his WW II fighter plane, but I am moving to the mountains to realize a dream.  Best of all, I have a greater appreciation of what can happen to ones mindset or state of being if you lend a hand to a person in time of need.”

“The people in Boulder and the folks at the Antlers helped me see the positive in a rough situation that could have easily brought me to a dark place. ”

“So thank you…thank you to all those that made the effort to lend a hand.  The impact was greater than you’ll ever know.”

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David at “home” in one of his temporary accommodations at the Antlers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Loading up the few items he had and on his way to Steamboat.

Best of luck with everything moving forward David.  Glad we could help.

Greg

 

 

Not Exactly a Bumper Crop

The front page of the Vail Daily headline this morning read “Community gardens reap harvest”.  It went on to recognize the half dozen or so gardens in Avon, Minturn and Edwards.  I read about their successes and  wondered “what did I do wrong?”

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This little girl is showing off some tomatoes from the Avon Community Garden (Vail Daily).

I had high hopes this spring when I transplanted my seedlings to the irrigated confines of our courtyard.  I believed with the right amount of high country Colorado sunshine and a little love, the Antlers Herb and Vegetable Garden would thrive.  I probably spoke too soon when I predicted we all would be helping ourselves to bushels of the fall harvest.  The following photo’s will demonstrate why we probably would have starved if anyone actually depended on it.

On June 11th this past spring, the garden took shape:

A little Fennel

A little Fennel

Some green and red peppers

Some Green and Red Peppers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basil and Tomatoes

Basil and Tomato’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the month (June 30th) there were illusions of success:

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Tomato’s are good

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Basil hasn’t been over-run yet

Peppers seem OK

Peppers seem OK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something happened in July and by August 28th there was reason for concern:

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The Peppers are being eaten and not by humans

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Running out of time and thoughts of green – fried tomato’s is becoming more of a reality.

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The basil refuses to grow and is being over-run by tomato plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the Community Gardens are showing off the fruits of their labor in today’s newspaper, we in turn, have not been contacted by their office.  I felt it my duty to forward our progress to date.

As of September 9th of 2013…..

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The Fennel is now over one and a half inches tall and two of the plants grew back into the dirt.

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The Peppers are no longer holding on after the nuclear fall-out.

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The aphids eat the basil slowly as if they feast with manners.

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The tomato plants are now big, bushy and green with very little fertilized off-spring.

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This Years Harvest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to say, the guest list for this years Organic Farm BBQ is limited but we look forward to feeding the masses next year.

Greg

Heroes are Hard to Find

There are many of us that do not have the time to volunteer or we just choose not to (and there is nothing wrong with that).  Day to day life can be a grind without having to take on more.  Enough said.

I was talking to a a friend of mine the other day and he is an individual that does give up some of his time.  He volunteers for an organization he believes makes a difference.  Before I let him tell you why he does what he does, let me give you a little background about him.

His name is Garo Chalain and he is an owner of a condominium at the Antlers.  He is from Clinton, Iowa so you know he has that mid-west innocence and country style about him (not really, but I told him that’s what I would say if anyone asked).

He worked hard for the degrees and certifications that follow his name when written professionally.  His success as an oral surgeon was abruptly halted in 2008 after a motor cycle accident while he was doing what he loved, “just messin’ around in the Vail Valley”.

Unable to practice dentistry in the office he established, he went back to school and received his certification to practice law in Colorado.

I asked him after all his hard work, what he does now for entertainment and pleasure.  “Still messin’ around in the Valley but now I have Val to cook for and all the friends that want to join us.”  (Garo has never been married and Val is the bride to be.  They will be tying the knot in September right here at the Antlers.)

The other question I asked was about his work with Wellspring as a volunteer and what satisfaction it brought.  This was his response and I encourage you to watch the video on the web-site.  Garo is the one being interviewed.)

 

Give me some short summary of why you volunteer every week at Wellspring Community (satisfaction).

Approximately a year and half ago the 12 year old son of one of our endodontist partners approached me and said “I’m not making a difference in this world.”  Initially, I took pause, and thought “you know,  I’m  40 years your senior and I’m not making a difference either.”   Young Will Holtzmann and I then actively sought out a way to make a difference. We landed at the doorstep of Wellspring Community. Wellspring is a community of developmentally disabled adults who are empowered to maximize their special skills and personalities as productive members of society.

Wellspring Community offers some very innovative programs to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities – like Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and even folks with traumatic brain injury.  They operate Best Buddies Bakery where they train these adults in every aspect of baking and packaging, selling their products nationally – and they have plans to start other business enterprises to give these individuals the opportunity to enjoy meaningful, productive work.  In addition to this, they offer on-going education in all kind s of life skills and enrichment activities, such as Self-defense, Art, Dance, Sign Language, Science, Culture and much more.  This summer participants are learning to grow all kinds of vegetables and herbs in a community garden.  A professional vocal coach directs the Wellspring Wonders Choir, giving these adults the thrill of enjoying music and performing before audiences.  On weekends, Club 21 gives adults with special needs a place to socialize with friends in a safe, supervised and structured setting; and it gives their parents a time of respite.

We are currently working on a residential program so that our participants will have a place to live when their parents can longer care for them.

Until I got involved, I had no idea how desperately these services were needed.  The state of Colorado ranks among the lowest in the nation (47th – 48th) in funding services for individuals with developmental disabilities and the waiting list for services is thousands of people deep.   Wellspring is giving hope to these folks and their families – and we need more partners to advance our mission………

Please go to the website http://wellspringcommunityonline.org/.

One of the things that makes him a nice guy is the fact that he inspires you and doesn’t even know he’s doing it.  And for all the years I’ve known him, never once have I heard him complain about “the accident”.

Greg