Check out Armani the cat!

Popularity: 9% [?]

SAVE THE DATE!

JOIN SANTA CLAUS & HIS ELVES for:

PAWS’ HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS & TOYS FOR TAILS

Teton County’s largest animal adoption event and pet toy drive of the year!

DATE: Saturday, December 12, 2009

TIME: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

PLACE: Albertson’s Parking Lot

PARTICIPATING SHELTERS: Jackson/Teton County Animal Shelter, Animal Humane Association of Star Valley and Targhee Humane Association

Remember there are hundreds of pets waiting for their forever homes in our 3 local shelters. Consider adding a furry friend to your home this holiday season!

If you can’t adopt, PAWS will be accepting NEW dog treats, cat toys and other pet essentials such as bowls, beds and bones during our FIRST EVER toy drive for our local homeless pets!

All goodies donated to Toys for Tails will be distributed to our 3 local shelters.

Live holiday music, free coffee, hot cocoa and holiday treats will be provided by PAWS of Jackson Hole!

For more information on this FREE Community Event,

please call PAWS at 734-2441.

Popularity: 18% [?]

November is National Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Check out Sapphire . . . a beautiful kitty!

Popularity: 6% [?]

In a recent blog I addressed the question “Are we there yet?” in terms of real estate making it to the bottom of its decline. In this entry I would like to discuss where we are now. It is a similar question but the answer comes from a different perspective.

To explore the answer I would first like to present something on greater real estate market trends, cycles and phases.

In phase one we see numbers of sales increasing but prices are basically flat.
This occurred in Jackson Hole from approximately ’95 to ’98 and is typical for a market where growing supply meets growing demand and other factors in purchasing are stable.

In phase two we see numbers of sales increasing, but prices increasing too. This occurred in Jackson from ’99 to ’04 and it is typical when growing demand exceeds supply. There were a few bumps in this time period for the dot com bust and the 9/11 attacks.

In phase three sales decrease but prices still increase! We saw this during ‘05 and ’06 when demand was still strong, there was very little inventory available and there was lots of wealth in the marketplace competing for the limited housing.

In phase four we see numbers of sales decreasing and prices falling. Does this sound recent and familiar? It was late ’07 through mid ’09. In its extreme it can mean market collapse and we have certainly seen large equity losses though not the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

So back to the question we started with “Where are we now?” Since spring we have seen a slow, and I mean painfully slow, increase in the number of real estate transactions but prices were still falling in the early part of the year. That was the tail end of phase four. The return to beginning of the cycle at phase one now appears to have arrived. MLS statistics show greater numbers of sales and the prices of properties seem to be stabilizing. The transactions that are closing seem to have set a market bottom. The stabilizing of prices is very important but for those sellers who have never admitted to themselves that this is now a buyers market, there may be a price decrease necessary for their listing to get it sold. The last ‘phase one’ lasted about 3 years.

To get to phase two where prices begin to rebound is normally a function of supply and demand. We have a large supply in inventory but fewer contractors around building new homes and ever tightening restrictions on development, so the high supply may not last a long time. We have certainly reduced the demand side of the equation, but there is still a growing population that needs shelter. Technology such as on line meetings, email and satellite links are allowing people to live in more remote locations like Jackson and still be productive in more traditional urban jobs. It will take time and only time will tell!

John Hanlon

Popularity: 11% [?]

There are lots of black labs at the shelter –
Come on in & have a look!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Please join PAWS of Jackson Hole for their radio show “PAWS for Pets.” It airs every first Monday of the month at 3:00pm on the community radio station, KHOL (89.1 FM).

On November 2, Amy and Rose will talk about the dangers of holiday decorations, in addition to what foods are poisonous to pets and how to avoid overfeeding them during this cheery time!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Energy Sustainability Summit

On Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, join state, regional and national experts in a statewide dialogue on energy efficiency and money saving energy innovations. Experts and innovators will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to discuss energy efficiency initiatives and how to finance them. The event will take place at Snow King Resort, Friday from 8:15 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 8:15 am to 1:00 pm.

The event will have six panel discussions led by local, regional, and national experts. On Friday panel discussions include energy efficiency, Wyoming’s renewable energy opportunities, system-wide innovations (Smart Grid and other innovative technologies), and financing energy efficiency and the new energy future. On Saturday panel discussions include the economic benefits of carbon offsets and the role of fossil fuels in an energy constrained future: exploring opportunities for cheap, reliable, available energy in a carbon constrained world. The cost to attend both days of the conference is a very reasonable $35.

The objectives of the conference are:

• List of recommendations at the community and state level
• Outline of a community action plan
• Higher levels of commitment to energy conservation and efficiency
• Research projects on energy and financing
• Networking opportunities for state, county and municipal leaders to share resources, highlight service providers, and generate community support for energy sustainability

There are two free events at the Center for the Arts on Saturday evening as part of the conference:

· At 1:30 there will be a public screening of the movie, ‘Crude’ with opening remarks by John R. Tozzi from Cambridge Investments. From acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster), Crude is the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet. The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case, Crude is a real-life high stakes legal drama, set against a backdrop of the environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures.

· At 7 PM R. James Woolsey, Former C.I.A. Director and energy efficiency advocate will deliver the keynote address for the Energy Sustainability Summit

The Energy Sustainability Summit will kickoff on Thursday, Oct. 22^nd with the Action Plan Resolution signing at Snow King Resort. This monumental occasion will feature the signing of the Energy Sustainability Project between the Town of Jackson, Teton County and Lower Valley Energy. This will be followed by a discussion led by Larry Pardee, Director of Public Works Town of Jackson on the baseline data energy research done by the Town of Jackson.

For more information on the Energy Sustainability Summit and the Energy Sustainability Project tune into KHOL 89.1 Tuesday Oct. 20^th at 3PM to listen to Lights Off, community radio’s local sustainability program. This week’s show will feature a discussion about the upcoming conference and the Energy Sustainability Project with Mayor Mark Barron of the Town of Jackson and Larry Pardee, Director of Public Works Town of Jackson.

350.org International Day of Climate Action

Saturday, Oct. 24^th 2009 is also the international day of climate action orchestrated by 350.org. 350.org is an organization whose goal is to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current rate of 387 parts per million to 350 parts per million. 350 parts per million is considered to be the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is safe for humanity. 350.org is calling on people around the world to organize an action on October. 24^th incorporating the number 350 at an iconic place in their community, and then to upload a photo of their event to www.350.org . Over 3,972 actions are being conducted in 164 countries.

In Jackson not only are we having the Energy Sustainability Summit on Saturday October 24^th, we are also having an event at 1:00 PM at the Davey Jackson Elementary School to recognize the International Day of Climate Action. The event is organized by InterConnections 21 and sponsored by 1% for the Tetons. The event will feature a keynote speaker, tree planting & refreshments. As part of 350.org call to action, InterConnections 21 will be planting 350 trees in Teton County over the next year.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Xander is under 2 … and he’s waiting for his forever home.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Buzz is available.

Popularity: 4% [?]

So you think you can’t dance? Dancers’ Workshop is out to prove you wrong.

All adult classes are free during the week of October 19, giving interested potential dancers the opportunity to partake without paying a penny.

Whether you have two left feet or decades of ballet under your belt, Dancers’ Workshop offers classes for all levels of experience. From fitness-based classes, like Pilates, Zumba, and Yoga, to more traditional dance forms like Ballet and Modern, DW meets the needs of a wide variety of dancers. Also offered are Capoeira, Tae Kwon Do, Hip Hop/ Breakdancing, and Dance Fitness.

In addition to ongoing classes, DW offers a variety of limited duration workshops every season. Workshops are often suitable for total beginners, and a great way to gain confidence – and rhythm!

New this year, Dancers’ Workshop will offer “tasters” throughout the week, half-hour classes created to give potential students the opportunity to try a dance form before committing to a workshop.

Tasters include Modern Jive, Flamenco, Contact Improv, Bellydance, Poi, and Salsa.

For every class attended during demo week, each adult will receive one raffle ticket eligible to win one of three 5-class punch cards. Additionally, 10-punch cards will be available for a discounted price of $90.

For more information on any of Dancers’ Workshop’s classes please call 307.733.6398 or visit www.dwjh.org. There is no pre-registration required for demo week, but students are encouraged to come ten minutes early to sign-in.

Demo week culminates in a dance party of thrilling proportions! The second annual Thriller Halloween Party takes place on October 24 from 8-11pm in DW Studio 1. Learn “The Time Warp,” “Thriller,” and other Michael Jackson routines in honor of the King of Pop. Dress your 80-est for the best costume contest, and buy raffle tickets for snazzy prizes! Come in to DW to get your advance tickets for $5, or pay $7 at the door. This is a 21 and over party, with Snake River Brewery beer for sale for $3 and light food available.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Meet Princess — she’s a pug mix looking for a home!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Last winter I went to Teton Mountaineering for a pair of skis and ended up buying a complete new backcountry setup…. whoops.  After I got over the initial shock of having dropped over a grand before 10:00am on a Wednesday, I decided to do some shopping around online.  I learned that I could have bought the same gear for about $250 less online and momentarily doubted my purchase. Then I realized I certainly couldn’t have gone to backcountry.com for help fitting my boots (which, as the guys at TM know, takes a while) or gotten a great deal for getting my skis tuned.  

How about the awesome Christmas present I bought my boyfriend last year?  I got it at Teton Village Sports and it turns out I have no idea what size he wears.  Instead of having to ship it back somewhere or drive to Idaho Falls to return it, he was able to drop by TVS after skiing one day, get a store credit (because what he really wanted was a new pair of skins) and still make it to the Calico for happy hour with, incidentally, some of our friends who work at TVS.

The point I’m making is that it’s important that we spend our money here in Jackson Hole when we can.  I know that’s not always a reality, but as long as people are “thinking Jackson first” our buying habits will fall in line.  It’s in this vein that the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce decided to start a “buy local” campaign.  The Chamber will be running ads in the local media, promoting via The Lowdown (our e-newsletter), providing information on our new “buy local” website (to be announced at the kickoff party on October 14), providing window decals, merchant bag stuffers and posters for our member businesses and bumper stickers for the public.

The campaign aims to:

• Educate consumers on the benefits of buying locally. These benefits include:  more jobs, tax revenue that supports our trails, nonprofits, parks, community events, and an overall strengthening of the Valley’s economy.
• Educate consumers on the wide range of products available here in Jackson Hole and encourage them to “Think Jackson Hole First” before going outside of our local economy to purchase products.
• Encourage local businesses to patronize local vendors and businesses when possible in recognition that by buying locally they are helping to recycle Jackson Hole dollars through our community and economy.

44 local businesses businesses have already pledged money to help sustain this program by becoming founding sponsors and we received over 120 slogan entries for our “buy local” slogan contest.  We chose 5 entries and those finalists are set to find out who won the grand prize (a 3-day Stay & Play in the park, courtesy of Grand Teton Lodging Company) as well as the prizes for the runners up (including a night stat at Hotel Terra, a spa treatment at the Chill Spa, a family membership to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and a Grand Teton Music Festival BRAVO! membership) at the buy local kickoff party, October 14 from 5-7pm upstairs at the Snake River Brew Pub.  The party is open to everyone!

A special congratulations to our finalists (in no particular order):  Christie Reinhardt, Will Ferguson, Nikki Melanson, Steffan Freeman and Kevin Olson.  Interviews with each can be heard on the JH Chamber’s radio show October 13 from 3-3:30pm on 89.1 KHOL.

A special thank you to the founding sponsors of the buy local campaign who have helped make this campaign a reality and I look forward to seeing you at the Snake River Brew Pub October 14 for the kickoff party!  Questions? Contact April Hankey with the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce at 307.733.3316 x18 or april@jacksonholechamber.com.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Snake River Brewing will once again be honoring the annual tradition of Oktoberfest. The festivities start at noon on Wednesday, October 7th, as the Brew Pub turns into an authentic German beer-hall serving traditional Bavarian foods and brews.

Salzberger Echo, the live “Oom-Pah-Pah” band will be on hand in the evening with their Tyrolean music, elk-horns and bells starting around Happy Hour. So bring your leiderhozen and be prepared to bust out the “Chicken Dance.”

On tap you’ll enjoy our Alpine Fest Oktoberfest which will be released on that day, along with our Rolling Thunder Dortmunder and six other incredible brews.

Executive Chef, Ryan Brogan will be serving up a traditional fare of German foods, including Bier-Rocks, brats, sauerkraut, pork-shank, a sausage plate and spetzl. YUMMMM!!!

This is our biggest day of the year and we’ll have additional beer and food stations to satisfy your Oktoberfest needs! And hey…don’t forget that our SRB Beer-Maids will be adorned in their dirndls serving up liters of lagers and our traditional German bill of fare!

Popularity: 14% [?]

September has been glorious. Days have been dominated by sun and warmth with occasional overnight frost. We have received some snow in the high country but it only remained on the north facing slopes and has basically melted. Hiking and climbing options abound with stellar clear skies, few bugs, and great mountain views. It is a great time of the year to be in Jackson with endless recreational choices, beautiful fall colors and great wildlife opportunities. But now the forecast calls for change with a predicted rain/snow mix. The last day of the month proved cool and wet.

I did summit the Grand Teton on September 17. It was AWESOME! I climbed with my husband, Rustin, and senior Exum Guide, Kent McBride. After living in the area for over twenty years it was breathtaking to see the valley from our highest peak, 13,770 feet. We climbed the upper Exum ridge and I truly recommend the experience. Learning to climb is great fun. You can’t beat the views and the excursion is challenging but doable with a great guide.

Kent McBride is a local with years of climbing and skiing experience. He shares his knowledge with grace and confidence. While teaching us the art of climbing with the focus of safety, he shared local history, made us laugh, and pointed out the mountain terrain. You can’t beat the endless places we have to explore whether climbing or skiing and Kent has the expertise to make the trip memorable and fun. If you do want to reach Kent, send him an email l. Mother Nature was kind to us and gave us a stellar day with little wind and clear skies. Fond memories were made and I will always look at the Grand Teton a bit differently after standing on the top.

Nature is definitely on the move. Birds are flocking and migrating to their winter territories. Elk and moose are mating with the evening hours filled with the eerie elk bugle. Pronghorn antelope are in harems with the buck standing majestically over his females.

The Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, is native only to North America. Both males and females have horns and the bucks are fairly easy to pick out of the herd since they have the pronged horn. Females have unbranched horns usually shorter than their ears. The pronghorn mate in the early fall and will soon begin their long migration to southern places in the state. They can migrate over 200 miles to windswept plains and exposed sagebrush.

The sky is filled with a smoky haze since a few different fires burn in the area- some controlled burns, some lightning fires and some due to camper’s neglect. The warmer afternoon temperatures cause them to build and billow and then they dampen at night with the cool evening air. Fire is very important in our dry climate and is Mother Nature’s way of rejuvenating the forest. This is a very important process with many old trees and insect infestations. Important nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous, are byproducts of fire so replenish the soil and spur new growth. Fire burns in a healthy way if it doesn’t get too much fuel becoming uncontrollable and wild. When you see the large dark cloud of smoke, it is important to remember the significant role fire plays to keep the forest healthy. I do know that fire is affecting road closures in Yellowstone so look for the latest update if you will be visiting this fall.

The autumnal equinox was September 22-day and night of equal lengths. The changes in light as days continue to shorten signals the upcoming season of winter. Species prepare. Change is coming.

What’s in the woods-
9/2- Pole Canyon- Stellar jay, Indian paintbrush, larkspur
9/7- Victor, ID- great horned owl calling
9/9- Darby Canyon- mature rose hips
9/11-Paintbrush/Cascade Canyon- grass of Parnassus, monkey flower, larkspur, glacier lily seed pods, clark’s nutcracker
Bald Eagle by String Lake!
9/13- Moose Creek- large Aspen tree with bear scratches covering its’ trunk and beaver browse at the bottom- cool
9/16- Garnet Canyon- picas, shrubby goldenweed, monkeyflower, raspberries
9/17- summitted Grand Teton- spectacular day!
9/20- Teton Pass- two bull moose
9/25- Yellowstone Park- fires burning, bald eagle, pronghorn, bison, elk, mule deer
9/26- Boiling River- American Dipper
9/29- Fox Creek- leafy aster, mature rose hips

Tour Suggestion-
A fall favorite of mine is a visit to the Boiling River in Yellowstone. It is a natural hot springs where the hot boiling river from the Mammoth Terraces mixes with the Gardiner River. You relax and soak where the hot and cold waters meet. It is very refreshing and natural with the feeling of touching the center of the earth. Yellowstone is geologically active with the hot spot beneath it so you are soaking in waters heated deep within the earth. It is wonderful. To reach this special spot, you drive out of Mammoth towards Gardiner, MT. As you leave the town, you wind down near employee housing, as the road turns north look for your next pull out on the right. It is a parking area with an informational sign about the hot water. You walk down the path along the Gardiner River and you can’t miss the hot water seeping out of the earth, the alluring steam, or the happy faces of fellow soakers. All you need are river shoes, bathing suit and towel. It’s a bit slippery when you climb in but there is plenty of space. This is a great fall adventure since the water is too high in the spring to enjoy safely. Have fun and listen for the elk bugle while traveling through the park.

Experience nature! Join us to make the most of your Jackson Hole visit! Our tours are educational, inspirational, and fun for all ages. Visit our web site.

Popularity: 6% [?]

We have all been on one side or the other of that question during long car trips, remember? It seemed like it would never end! That is how this recession feels to me and many others. And this trip is on a very bumpy road with no fuel stops, rest rooms or scenic turnouts.

So, are we there yet? Let’s look at some real estate statistics for clues:
·        In August new listings out-paced sales by nearly 3.5 to 1.
·        At the current rate of selling property it will take over 55 months to sell what is listed today, but that is better than it has been. Last Feb. that number was 177 months! Property is selling over three times faster now.
·        Total inventory of homes is down 6% from the peak just over a year ago but is still large compared with historic levels. (note: those historic levels were so low that demand could not be met and contributed to the steep climb in prices)
·        Total inventory is now at 4815 units (homes, condos, vacant land, commercial) when Star Valley, Teton Valley and Pinedale area listings are included.
·        In Teton County, WY alone there are 650 listed residences.

You may notice that I focus on inventory statistics. It is simply that the supply side of the market now dictates the conditions. Since the inventory is high but nearing stability it is probable that prices are stabilizing now too. So, “Are we there yet?” If not, we are darned close.

Lending rates will likely have an impact on the market at some point. As the Feds spend huge amounts of money and finance debt selling it to investors, both foreign and domestic, inflation will set in and rates will rise. At first this may trigger a land rush to buy before rates rise too high. Then it will slow demand and we will no longer ask if we are there yet, but instead, ask if we can go back.

If you need a map, give me a call.

Popularity: 6% [?]

This week it’s all about the kitties.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Click to download the PDF

Please join PAWS of Jackson Hole for their radio show “PAWS for Pets.” It airs every first Monday of the month at 3:30pm on the community radio station, KHOL (89.1 FM).

October’s show will cover the custom dog home PAWS donated to the Community Safety Network, in addition to the new ad campaign PAWS is doing with Mayor Mark Barron and High Country Linen about the importance of not littering our trails with used poop bags.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Bouldering park in Bozeman that served as inspiration

Organizers of the Teton Boulder Project – a group dedicated to commemorating Jackson’s rich climbing history with a bouldering park – have an impressive lineup of speakers set to kick off a fundraiser on Saturday night at the Center for the Arts.

Following an opening address from local Teton climbing legend Renny Jackson,  crowds will be treated to presentations from Jack Tackle, Conrad Anker and Steve House.

The Teton Boulder Project aims to construct a bouldering park at the base of Snow King to permanently recognize Teton climbing’s significant role in the history of American mountaineering and provide a safe and enjoyable outlet to introduce newcomers to the sport of climbing.

For $20, guests at Saturday’s event will be treated to an evening with the 3 renowned alpinists and have a chance to bid on silent auction items. All proceeds will go towards funding construction of the new park.

Tickets are available at the center for the arts and the event is slated to kick off with cocktails and food, followed by presentations beginning at 7.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Wick and Dash have been at the shelter for more than a year . . .
It’s time to find them a new home!

Check them out on YouTube:

Popularity: 7% [?]