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Show Is the Bubble Bursting? : All over town, we hear the lament that double zero describes more than the Millennial year. Businesses all over town claim to be suffering. Well, it has always been a boom ‘n bust economy here, but by now you'd think some of our Chamber of Commerce types would have learned. The one rule of economics that still seems to hold is the fundamental tenant of supply & demand. The supply of natural wonders we are blessed with is rare and dwindling. It is our golden egg. The supply of motel chains, C-stores, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants is oversaturated to the point where every new establishment is likely to cause the demise of at least one competitor. Where supply and demand intersects with survival of the fittest capitalism, the result is a train wreck. Moab is small and relatively isolated. The best long-term plan for a tourist economy in that type of setting is to develop a unique, indigenous flavor. National chain vanilla simply won't bring people back. Our civic leaders could, with foresight and planning, exercise some sensible economic controls. How about aiming for a unique and native economy? How about local business owners looking after each other as a means of protecting themselves? Perpetual growth is impossible. _WE’RE OPEN! DOG & CAT CLINIC Jim Gostlin, DVM Low Gostlin, RVT 125 EAST 300 SOVTH The only thing that comes close is metastasizing cancer, and even that stops only when its host community is nuked to oblivion or dead. The Good News: Little Town--Big Talent: Terry acclaimed new book on the shelves. Tempest Williams, lately of Castle Valley has an Cosy has a wonderful new CD on the racks. T.R. Ritchie won top prize in a northwestern contest for songwritwers. HOURS: 8 AM to 5:30 PM Monday-Thursday bea UE Jim Nyland and Mike Navarre (yes, you read that right) have exhibited talent for entertaining 2™ careers as public radio DJ's. Serena Supplee has, as they say in sport, “stepped up to the next level.” Tom Till's got a new coffee table cover out. And those are only the well known guns. 8 AM to Noon Friday The talent in Moab is exceptional, widespread & deep. The Moab Film Society is screening great flicks every Thursday night to stay primed for its improving film festival. They generally pack the house down at the Slickrock Cinemas, so why not give ‘em a break on the theatre rent? These screenings are intended to be fundraisers. If the film fest ever goes big time, the investment of our local movie house in a worthwhile community project will do likewise. oy a The 1* annual Moab Drum and Dance Festival was also a huge success. Congratulations to its founders and participants: The bikers have had a nice fall as well with the 24 Hours of Moab and Fat Tire Festival. 24 Hours seems well on the way to taking on a life of its own, and hopefully will avoid the Frankenshtonian tendencies of its four-wheeled Spring counterpart. \ \ (ARFF) Can there be any doubt that a well-conceived and constructed bike and walking path system throughout the Valley would pay long-term dividends? Hello... The February/March Issue of The Zephyr... "The 2nd Annual RETRO ISSUE" will be on newsstands in Jate January SUBSCRIBE TO THE ZEPHYR Details on page 3 In the back of your mind, do you cherish a dream of the perfect desert hideaway, a small inn on a little-traveled highway, with miles and miles of beautiful, lonesome country between it and anywhere else. Around it are high red mesas and sensuous slickrock canyons, undiscovered by the crowds, retaining their mystery and timeless meaning. In the calm of mid-day, there’s not a sound except the occasional flitter of a hummingbird and the quiet buzzing of the old ice machine on the front porch. When the breeze blows, you hear it in 100,000 juniper trees that dot the broad, sweeping benches all around. At evening, the sunset lingers over distant buttes. Though it’s wonderfully comfortable, the place hasn’t changed much in spirit since the 1950’s. and again and feel it’s like a second home. Guests return again Staying here, you could pretend that TV’s, phones, and drive- up windows were never invented. (L) Mail plane at Fry Canyon. 1960 (R) Vi Bowen & Earl Bishop in the Fry Canyon Store. 1957 Photos courtesy of Bobbi Adams who lived at Fry as a child and was the daughter of Kenneth and Maybelle Adams. Your dream is a reality at Fry Canyon Lodge, The Inn at Utah’s Wild Heart. Majestically isolated on State Highway 95 between Natural Bridges and Glen Canyon. (435) 259-5334 |