Aspen’s soul: alive and well

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the board and staff of the Wheeler Opera House, and I’m sure also on behalf of our friends at the Aspen Music Festival and School, we would like to extend a very warm and very appreciative thank-you to everyone who participated in our “Back from the Ashes” benefit for the victims of the Castle Ridge Apartments fire last Wednesday evening.

With over 350 neighbors in attendance, we were able to raise over $12,000 for the victims’ fund. It was a hell of a party and a real celebration of community, and proof positive that Aspen’s soul is alive, well and always ready to set up when called on.

There are so many people to thank, from the performers who volunteered their time and talents to the businesses and individuals that supplied merchandise for the silent auction to the folks who put money or a check into the pot for the fund, that we can’t list them all here. In fact, we know many of them wouldn’t want us to ” they just wanted to help. It is a true honor to live in this special, special town.

Thanks also to The Aspen Times and all our other media friends for such great help in getting our story out on such short notice. In an age where a cynical view is our predominant impression of the media, it’s refreshing to know that in Aspen it’s still the truth of the story and the benefit of the community that come first.

Gram Slaton

executive director, Wheeler Opera House

Heather Larson

programs manager