Roger Marolt

4 days ago | aspendailynews.com | Roger Marolt

Not many might recall that I used to write a weekly column for the Snowmass Sun. Scribing for the tiny paper that has mostly resembled an insert for The Aspen Times wasn’t my first assignment as a writer. I had been at the Times for several years before. To the best of my recollection, the editor of the Sun asked me to fill in for a “couple of weeks” while she searched for a new columnist to replace a regular who suddenly quit. Those couple of weeks turned into a 15-year run. It wasn’t bad.

1 week ago | aspendailynews.com | Roger Marolt

A few weeks ago talking about the Quiet Years in Aspen, I shared that one of my great uncles frequently remarked that the reason the Marolts stayed in Aspen was that they “were too poor to leave.” A friend told me he has heard similar remarks from some living in APCHA housing. That possibility has crossed my mind, but having it verbalized by a real voice and not just the little one in my head got me sorting through the cerebral dust bin to gather thoughts I had tossed.

2 weeks ago | aspendailynews.com | Roger Marolt

It’s time to Tye dye the sign ordinances, and a whole lot more!Mark Tye is clearly in violation of the sign ordinance. In fact, he threw the sign rulebook out the window and it’s probably out there in his front yard with the signs he put up that he was supposed to keep down. As law-abiding citizens for bettering the future of this town and to honor common sense as a guiding principle, I believe we, the good people of Aspen, have only one choice in this matter. We can’t make an exception for Tye.

3 weeks ago | aspendailynews.com | Roger Marolt

Why is Aspen Skiing Co. in a tizzy? Suddenly this is the hot topic. Forget quiet rumors you heard about them selling out. Last Tuesday, they hit the panic button and Wednesday morning we heard the alarm, or at least read about it in this paper (“Steve Crown speaks up on ski company’s motives and recent changes,” April 16, Aspen Daily News). What can be made of an interview where the reporter starts off, “You scheduled this meeting with me.

1 month ago | aspendailynews.com | Roger Marolt

Aspen began as a rough-and-tumble mining town. Then it tried to be a ghost town and barely failed in that. Almost without trying, it became a ranching community. Then, of course, came the skiing persona. Now we are adjusting to Aspen’s fifth identity in barely 125 years. She’s a high-end shopping mall with upscale eateries that promise a unique dining experience, just like in all their other prestigious locations around the world.