Museums Advocacy Day is Feb. 27-28

Museums Advocacy Day is Feb. 27-28, in Washington, DC
Too bad more local museums don't use this conduit:  http://www.speakupformuseums.org/home.htm

Invasive Species Awareness Week 26 Feb to 3 Mar, 2012

Remember that National Invasive Species Awareness Week is coming and y'all should get outside and do your part.  In the high country of CO it is still winter, but don't let that stop you.  Come spring, I'll be pulling my fare share of False chamomile (Matricaria perforata). 
http://www.nisaw.org/

Blighted Area per Urban Renewal

Most historic resources per Urban Renewal are "blighted".  So, next time y'all hear your city/town/village is considering Urban Renewal, please get involved and become part of the condition survey team that is a requirement of Urban Renewal process. 

According to Colorado State Statute (CRS 31-25-103) (2), a “blighted area” is defined as follows: “Blighted area” means an area that, in its present condition and use and, by reason of the presence of at least four of the following factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the municipality, retards the provision of housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability, and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare; …

(a)	Slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures;
(b)	Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout;
(c)	Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness;
(d)	Unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
(e)	Deterioration of site or other improvements;
(f)	Unusual topography or inadequate public improvements or utilities;
(g)	Defective or unusual conditions of title rendering the title non-marketable;
(h)	The existence of conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes;
(i)	Buildings that are unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work in because of building code violations, dilapidation, deterioration, defective design, physical construction, or faulty or inadequate facilities;
(j)	Environmental contamination of buildings or property;
(k.5)	The existence of health, safety, or welfare factors requiring high levels of municipal services or substantial physical underutilization or vacancy of sites, buildings, or other improvements;
(l)	If there is no objection of such property owner or owners and the tenant or tenants of such owner or owners, if and, to the inclusion of such property in an urban renewal area, “blighted area” also means an area that, in its present condition and use and, by reason of the presence of any one of the factors specified in paragraphs (a) to (k.5) of this subsection (2), substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the municipality, retards the provision of housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability, and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare. For purposes of this paragraph (1), the fact that an owner of an interest in such property does not object to the inclusion of such property in the urban renewal area does not mean that the owner has waived any rights of such owner in connection with laws governing condemnation.

Hoist a Stein - A Big One!

Been in the NW Suburbs for 7 weeks and was happy to hear this story on the local NPR radio station (WBEZ 91.5 FM) ... beer and old buildings.  Two of items in my top 10 list. 
http://www.wbez.org/blog/lee-bey/2011-12-07/then-and-now-lets-hoist-stein-former-brewerys-past-and-present-94381

National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act - HR 1505.

This huge bill (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-1505) empowers the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take many thousands of acres of land across the US northern border.  The bill tosses aside many of the existing laws that protect the environment and many historic resources.  This bill is being submitted for “national security” reasons, of course.  Makes me say hum….

Look Out Below!

A re-roofing project began on the Schoolhouse in Frisco, Summit County, CO last week. For more info on the Historic Park see:  http://www.townoffrisco.com/activities/historic-park-museum/.  I went over there to see how things were coming along and the contractor kindly greeted me with this very scary situation.  Yowza!  No fall protection and/or protection of the public right-of-way from falling objects onto the sidewalk (or people) below.  Shame on the contractor, the Town Administration, the authority having jurisdiction for allowing such lackluster safety to be on public display. 

No fall protection @ Frisco Historic Schoolhouse 7 Oct 2011.  Photos courtesy of David J. Garner. 

Mushrooms and Neglect.

These babies were chain sawed into the stump and give pleasure to those whom take time to gaze into the forest.  They are along US HWY 6 in Keystone, Summit County, CO  near the entrance to the Keystone River Golf Course. And, how cool is this ... about every few years, an unknown person, gives them a new color.  Last year they were pink, just bee-you-tee-full! 

Wood mushrooms @ Keystone, CO 19 Oct 2011.  Photo courtesy of David J. Garner.

Question:  Why does someone care for these objects and so many local historic resources are being neglected?