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Vail newspaper that competed with Swift chain folds
Posted on June 8, 2011 by jeffpelline
“Accused by a former business partner of being a ‘news wuss’ and by one of his former editors of lacking ‘journalistic standards, ethics and principles,’ Denver Daily News and Vail Mountaineer owner Jim Pavelich took the high road today in announcing he was shutting down both newspapers,” according to the Colorado Independent.
(The Vail Mountaineer competed with the Swift-owned Vail Daily, one of the flagships in the chain. It is a sister paper of The Union, belonging to the closely held Nevada-based newspaper chain.)
“’I’d like to thank all the advertisers who supported us,” Pavelich told the Vail Daily, a paper Pavelich founded in 1981 and sold for millions 12 years later. ‘The staff worked unbelievably hard for three years.’
“After his non-compete expired with the Vail Daily, he launched the rival Vail Mountaineer in 2008. Pavelich launched the Denver Daily News in 2001 and crowed about outlasting the more than 150-year-old Rocky Mountain News.
“Pavelich pioneered the free daily paper in Colorado, focusing on lightly written business profiles and in later years espousing more conservative, pro-business principles. His former business partner, Aspen Daily News owner Dave Danfort, once unsuccessfully sued Pavelich in the 1990s for spiking news stories at their paper in Palo Alto, Calif.”
The rest of the article is here.
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We need an economic development summit for our county
Posted on June 8, 2011 by jeffpelline
Googling “Nevada County” nowadays requires some bravery. You get:
•’Hard money’ lending has sordid past in Nevada County.
•”Real estate scam of the day: Nevada County DA tangled up in hard money fraud” begins: “Investors who lost their life savings to a hard money lender in Nevada County, California, are blaming the DA for not following up on fraud allegations.”
•”Auctioneer doubts Nevada County gold nugget authenticity.”
•”Record Calif. snowpack raises summer flood fear.”
It’s not a bad place to live. Honest. But we need better leadership — from civic, business and “electeds” — to identify ourselves to outsiders (and each other), rather than let entropy take its course.
Our county has always prided itself on a “wild west” spirit, but you have to draw a line somewhere. We need a cohesive economic development strategy.
Right now we are all over the map, catering to retirees, 30-somethings and “old line” businesses — all at the same time. Some examples:
•”Ron Moser, president of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council, said Rincon del Rio (a senior retirement complex) would provide significant benefits in terms of jobs,” according to the Auburn Journal.
•”Okay all those 30-40 somethings like me: The City of Grass Valley is looking for volunteer models for publicity this weekend,” reads the Downtown Association’s Facebook page. “This is your time to shine and be known (if you are not already)! We have big plans for GV.”
•”Emgold is in the advanced stage of permitting the re-opening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine and is completing an EIR for the project through its 100 percent owned subsidiary, Idaho Maryland Mining Corporation,” writes the mine’s president in the local newspaper.
Coming up with a cohesive strategy is like herding cats, thanks to our fiercely independent mindset. We also tend to lean too heavily on local government to help steer us along — a crutch.
But we have unique assets to promote: the outdoors, a history of innovation in tech, lots of successful entrepreneurs and good schools.
I happen to think we can be an incubator for entrepreneurs of all sorts, whether the market is here or “there.” We offer a desirable lifestyle, and the internet has untethered us from the urban “rat race.” It’s a good home base.
Our success will probably depend on a series of “small wins,” not just or two big ones. It’s going to be hard work.
I would propose a county economic summit, led by a broad base of leaders, where we can meet regularly and hash out our future.
It would require collaboration from all sectors of the community, not just a few. It will require leaders with credibility. And it will require open minds, not negativity and self interest. It needs a mediator too: probably from outside the area.
Who’s going to get the ball rolling?
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Nevada City manager’s retirement party on June 28
Posted on June 8, 2011 by jeffpelline
(credit: Nevada City)
You’re invited to attend Gene Albaugh’s Retirement Party.
•Host: City Staff & Friends (530-265-2496)
•When: Tuesday, June 28 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM.
•Where: Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street Nevada City, CA 95959
He’s finally taking his tie off for the last time — but probably not! Come join us to congratulate Gene Albaugh.
Gene has requested no gifts – your presence is your gift.
RSVP by Monday, June 20.”
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