Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 Let’s get together A new yearthan affords Business Briefs Now more ever, yeah, more like not-so-bold yeah, yeah ...repeats a time new opportunity a for gratitude Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
PPAGE age 26 22
The best part about Thanksgiving and the holiday season — along with all the delicious food, of course — are the remainders this time of year provides about what’s important. That includes family, friends and all the other blessings we enjoy. It’s been a challenging couplefor of ayears pandemic, A new year almost always brings an opportunity freshwith starta and and social unrest and what appears like a growing renewed ambition topolitical do things better. between citizens of a country where better far more should In business, thatgulf usually boilsthe down to providing customers products unite us than divide us. There’s ample justification for the and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must view the world’s going to hellthey and actually we’d be need well-advised include listening to customers to determine what and thento investall, in ithandbaskets. meeting that need. After does little good to offer the latest and greatest if Callyou’re me a Pollyanna, nobody actually wants what selling. but I remain optimistic. More so, I remainthat grateful —toequally cognizant thingsJunction could be much Just like the businesses belong the group, the Grand Area better, but also far worse. Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of Soitinprovides the spiritand of how Thanksgiving thewith upcoming the services and resources well they and match members allow me of thethe opportunity to count blessings. needs. Jeff Franklin,holidays, the new chairman chamber board of some directors, Phil Castle Pleaseinbedescribing patient. There lot to count. personifies this approach whatare he aconsiders his role for the coming First and foremost, thank the readers of theIt’s a year: listen to members, determine their needs and you thentomeet those needs. Business Times. You remain the reason I do what I do. Thanks also to the role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado. businesses and organizations advertise in the BusinessinTimes andchamber provide the The process will take on that a more structured approach what the financial wherewithall meaptly to docalled what Listening I do. Yourtosupport has Under never the plans as the resumptionthat of aenables program Business. been morebusiness important — orparticipate appreciated. program, owners in in-depth interviews to identify barriers to I remain grateful, too, for boss, Craig Hall. He not only makes it possible growth and other problems theymy encounter. for me to do what I do, but also gives mejoin unbridled freedomclub. to do so. While I’m The new year offers a good time to the proverbial at it:As Happy birthday, or Craig. an advertiser reader, what do you need from the Business Times? Thanks to Alowetta and Marc Terrien,gather the indefatigable couple thatnews conjures While business journals traditionally and report the relevant to the Business Times website of Thin Air. Thanks street. to KittyThat’s Nicholason, who readers, communication isn’tout necessarily a one-way especially true as builds many the adsmake that the appear in themore paper.convenient than ever. Web sites andofe-mail dialogue For this newspaper don’t editor,exist blessings most definitely includetothe Good publications in a vacuum. They respond thecolumnists needs of who so generously shareThey their provide time andwhat’s talentsneeded. along with their excellent advice advertisers and readers. for readers. include Janet Arrowood, Dean Harris, Phyllis Hunsinger, Paula So whatThey do you need? Reece, Marcus Straub and Tim Whitney. That’s nothelp to mention theinformed good folks with Is there additional news coverage that would keep you about Bray Real Estate; Dalby, Wendland & Co.; Mesa County Public Health; Monument local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or Health; the Western Colorado Resource useful? and Is there advice that would Human make your jobs aAssociation. little easier? IIt’s also countimportant among mytomany blessings the individuals organizations equally ask what you don’t need. With and limited time to who helpcontent the editor a business report on business, among Robertbe produce andoflimited spacejournal in which to publish it, would timethem and space Bray, Bresnahan, Christopher better Keira devoted to something else? Chavez, Curtis Englehart, Celia Kohn, Karen Martsolf, Mike Moran, Diane Schwenke, What’s good? WhatKelly isn’t?Murphy, What’s needed? What isn’t?Fran Stephens, Annette Young TamaraSend Vliek as the Businessonline Incubator Grand Junction Letand us know. usas anwell e-mail. Comment on theCenter, Business Times Web Economic Partnership and local chambers of commerce. site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to Thanks welllike. to Dan Barton and the team at Colorado Mountain the editor if as you’d Your feedback, both positive and negative, is News valuedMedia and that prints the Business Times twice a month. will be carefully considered. IGood tend publications to count a lotare of the blessings thisnot time ofthe year — especially when but I’m also result of only efforts of their staffs, enjoying whipped cream served with a slice pumpkin pie. But I’m most collaborative efforts involving advertisers andofreaders. thankful most important. Likefor anywhat’s other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs. Phil It’s Castle is editor of the Business a new year. Please help us toTimes. do so. Reach him at 424-5133 or phil@thebusinesstimes.com. ✦ F
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Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall
Editor: Phil Castle
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Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers. Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2021 — All rights reserved.
If you’re a fanofofyear the movie It’s that time when “The Parent Trap,”and I betprognostications you just sang thatabound. little resolutions ditty. And whether it’sapplied Haley Mills or Lindsey My favorite saying to New Year’s Lohan singing, thesaying image they’re in your basically head was a resolutions is in innocent, and to justbreak darned bunch of happy promises thecute. firstJust week like most of America used to be before of January. And while I won’t predictallathe pandemic the past twoaccurately years. whole lot,panic I canfor pretty much a two nail aAnd fewwhat things that without question years it’s been. Hell, You will see these are will make the news. the tyrants charge pretty, well,inpredictable: even■cancelled theone: Prediction holidays in be 2020. There will some And if you’re sort of weatherlike event, me, you’ve beenor natural disaster waiting them to heinous for occurrence do it again, because where someone will experience backed be interviewed and say by tells“I’ve me thewisdom following: Craig Hall they’re chomping at never seen anything the likebit. thatIt’s in why my they count cases lifetime.” It’sonly, as ifignore this natural immunity, Craig Hall count beds available, run endless personstaffed is a required advertising campaigns attendee at every newsto get the shot and suggest onlyWhile the un-vaxxed are the reporting event. I understand most spreaders, carriers and those catching this people’s perspective can indeed be limited serious version ofwithin, the flu.their own personal by, or contained Sadly, that’s thetoopposite experiences, it is exactly too much ask to of what many other countries are reporting consult some historical perspective before — unless youa thing? count the martial saying such Yes,ones thisunder response can law run evil,events. dictatorial rule. But that’s apply toby some But when it comes what tyrantsand do,natural considering that until to weather disasters, I’m pretty 2020, there’s neverhistory been a study showing sure this is simply repeating itself. lockdowns, masking and social Same as it has for millions and distancing millions of have worked. Yet andmade again,it! years.actually More important, thetime planet areas America going to those wells. What of didn’t werekeep certain species. How’s It’s time these wells run dry. thatpast for perspective? I’ve said this atwo: thousand Treatto a ■ Prediction Whentimes. it comes the sickorwith everything have.between Protect the crime something thatwe occurs vulnerable. on with life. I’ll even add: humans, theGet other required attendee at all Get shot if you’d like. Butperson for the who love of newsthe reporting events is the all that’s canwe’re we just thenicest government says this:holy, “They justgetthe back to the hadsomething on March people, andbusybody in no waystate didwe I see 15, After all,Exactly. Joe Biden like2020? this coming.” Nohad onea plan doesto defeat did he I’mtoguessing most ofCOVID-19, the time when it not? comes Joe’s plansand wereacquaintances. the same ones People that never neighbors should worked, like — I don’tgoes know masking, be surprised at what on—from time to social lockdowns and now, time indistancing, their neighborhoods, towns and “vaccines” lose pretty much all efficacy. with peoplethat they know because people are about timetimes as human beings we good.It’s And for the that they shouldn’t simply say, — “No more. done.”repeat be shocked like withWe’re politicians, I’ve been the— sunwhere’s almost 60 offenders and around terrorists thetimes in this adventure titled“This “Thedoesn’t Life of Craigy.” interview that says, surprise If meI finally in the learned least.” one thing, it’s this: Humans are communal creatures. even ingood the ■ Prediction three:Heck, Something movie “I Robot,” the robots got in will happen economically, andtogether the groups after being decommissioned. Andmost government will take credit for it. The isn’t that what these folks who think recent example is gas prices, wherethey people rule the world doing their for ask me why I have won’tbeen credit the with president collective effortsMy for the past few years — low gas prices. answer is simple: decommissioning Government neverhuman makesinteraction? the price of Pretty go much every mandate something down andCOVID simply takes credit (under thenews. guiseGas of your safety and health) for good pricing is subject to has been about not being many global factors. Nowwith therecertain are humans. Well, unlessto it’saddressing for bread and government answers some of circuses like sporting events, them to keep prices stable forgambling, Americans, select “protests,” liquor stores, but ourconcerts, government has none of them in dispensaries andthings specialit gatherings place. The only has in placedeemed in the
November J25-D ecember 8, 2015 2021 ANUARY 15-28,
worthy our know-it-all electedAnother betters. long runbyalways hurt consumers. But services, Thanksgiving, fact church is that unemployment reaches a certain Christmas, and drinksAnd withwhile friends, level baseddinners on the economy. the court appearances where onegovernment mightand bragplaces the number is low, on-one could occur did about it’s morecommunications than likely the government what’s happening our number laws arebeing verboten. something to causetothat low Yes, thenot German is emphasized for a reason. — and in a good way. Conversely, when You picks must ask why. look business up, yourself it’s because theJust people at technology the widgets past several who need to buy whodecades were notand what it’swidgets designed to do. How many folks buying because the economy wasdo you know who their lives inside a less contracting duelive to natural (or unnatural, than 6-inch screen? at what Facebook government caused)Look reasons, decided we is moving with itsThe “Meta” better buy towards some widgets. government technology your life while never had nothing— to living do with this. leaving your homefour: in a virtual world where ■ Prediction In keeping with everything you want, need and desire is things the government does, I predict thejust agovernment click away.will They’ve made movies about to manipulate the numbers this folks, and they legion.isIfgetting you know a make the claim the are economy lick about history, you hard knowitjust how much better because of how is working to of ourallrevolution, endingAmericans.” of slavery and help of us “working Now freedom movements took across you might say, “Craig, youplace always say the this dinner table, at the pub orbecause in church. about President Obama youYou’d don’t understand why aright government lusting to like him.” You’re in a sense. I don’t control hasman, outlawed them. know the but what I know of him and No one plans a revolution drunk his thinking, I don’t like it or him oneatiota. the ballgame screaming idol. Before you gooroff, however,atItheir didn’t like Conversely, everyone at riots President Bush and his“protesting” bailouts, stimulus helped tyrants. These opposing and histhe abandoning the free marketexamples to save are eyes.him the happening free market.right Andbefore I don’tour know There’s adage thatdoes, says and the either. What an theold government something like youisput 1,000 monkeys only thing it canif do, hurt the economy. on 1,000it typewriters foror1,000 years, onein Unless does nothing put criminals of willofwrite Shakespeare. No they jailthem instead partnering with them, nothing wouldn’t. They are monkeys, incapable. the government does will help.and Always look So no chance unless some humansays at itthere’s this way, whatever the government is doing thewhatever monkeys’the work. What’s it is doing, name of thethe law it chance of vaccine manufacturers is passing, or whatever the name working or goal of on MRNA vaccine specifically thean bureaucracy it is presenting to to thefight against spike the protein humantoreceptors people, aexpect polarwith opposite occur. that’sI magically attached to a bat virus? It guess what I’m saying is that wouldn’t happen was perhaps it’s time unless to get some out ofhuman our own doing the work on both. So what we’re perspective. There’s plenty of history living is something that could neverto booksunder and historical research out there occur begin naturally. to understand that all of this has Vaccines thatAnd workit take happened before. will years again,and decades studies to be placed whether of thetesting topic isand people or government. into society. we’ve taken one which The bestYet, recommendation is to find has never worked trials and Google installed it some books or tryinthat whole within a few months all under the thing. There’s a lot of— information onguise the of allowing us to “get Great Depression. Theback truthtoisnormal”. it wasn’t Yet year one in, and arguably worsegot evenone a good untilit’sthe government than ever across arena of You involved. There’severy also plenty oflife. research can certainly takewarm the shot, butwhen I’d suggest on the medieval period the aplanet good was lookmuch beyond the adthan campaigns. warmer today with Just lot think where’d we’d be if we a whole lessofpeople (and warmer well had done mywas suggestion in the beginning before man here at all). And yep, of this column — killing with theother added bonus people have been surprised of uplifting with friends, family and people sincetimes history was first written. freedom the some past two years.will help stop Maybe research thankful, safe we’ll and enjoy all ofBethese trends.vigilant, Otherwise, be fellow this holiday season.like Weit in saying humans we’ve never seen anything might not And get another even this free. our lives. not in aone good way. Craig Craig Hall Hall isis owner ownerand andpublisher publisherofofthe the Business Business Times. Times. Reach Reachhim himatat424-5133 424-5133or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
