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Aspen Times staff reportAspen, CO, Colorado

DENVER – Organizers of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge announced Tuesday that the race will return to Colorado next Aug. 20-26.The race will invite Colorado towns and cities at the end of September to apply to be a 2012 host city. Aspen was one of the hosts for the inaugural race last month, and city officials have said they will apply again. Race organizers consider issues such as commitments for lodging, volunteers, marketing and crowds when choosing host sites. Aspen generally drew high marks when Stage 2 of the race ended in town Aug. 24, although the crowd was thinner than anticipated.The applications for host cities are due Oct. 31. The race will name hosts in November.

ASPEN – The city of Aspen is inviting community input on the future look of Galena Plaza. Leaks in the parking garage below the plaza require repair, which necessitates tearing down and rebuilding Galena Plaza.The city began taking public input in May 2010; a variety of ideas surfaced, including turning the plaza into a performance arts space or an area for special events, creating a greenhouse, community bread oven, planetarium or children’s park, among other possibilities.Open houses for further citizen input will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday in the Rio Grande meeting room, located off the plaza.

PITKIN COUNTY – Individuals who’d like to comment, pro or con, regarding financial issues on the November ballot, must do so by Friday, Sept. 16. The comments will be published in a TABOR notice to voters in advance of the Nov. 1. election.Colorado election law allows any voter to submit written comments about the financial ballot issues; they may be either for or against a proposed issue. A summary of the comments will be mailed to all registered voters.Comments must be sent to the specifically designated election official for each district at the district’s address. A sample ballot is posted at http://www.pitkinvotes.org. The deadline for submitting comments is the end of the business day Friday. Comments must be received, not postmarked, by the close of business Friday.Only registered voters eligible to vote on the question may submit comments on the question, and comments must include a signature and the address where the signee is registered to vote. Those commenting must indicate which ballot question they are commenting on and whether their comments are in favor of or against the question.There are six financial questions on the county ballot: 1A is the county’s Healthy Community Fund tax question; 3A proposes a Roaring Fork School District tax increase; 4A proposes a Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District tax increase; and 5A, 5B and 5C are tax questions related to the Redstone Water & Sanitation District.The designated election official for the county’s ballot question 1A is Dwight Shellman III (DwightShellman@co.pitkin.co.us), 530 E. Main St., Aspen, CO 81611. The official for the 3E school district issue is Cyndy Hallford (challford@rfsd.k12.co.us), 1405 Grand Ave., Gelnwood Springs, CO 81601. The official for the 4A fire district question is Jenny Cutright (cutright@carbondalefire.org), 300 Meadowood Drive, Carbondale, CO 81623. And, the official for the Redstone questions is Brian E. Olesen (brian@plumdaisy.com), 3573 G Road, Palisade, CO 81526.



EL JEBEL – Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel will be the setting for the inaugural midvalley community barbecue from 4-7 p.m. Saturday. Midvalley residents may bring their bikes, tricycles, blankets and lawnchairs, and join the fun in the park.The gathering will include old-fashioned games for kids and adults, including a family treasure hunt, adults and kids tug of war, horseshoes, three-legged races, sack races, volleyball, kickball and a tots tricycle race. Those who attend may bring tricycles for their youngsters so they can participate.The Basalt High School pep band will kick off the event with a few numbers, followed by live country rock and roots music with musicians Ellen Stapenhorst, David Starr and Roy Martin. Neighbors will serve a barbecue with burgers, hot dogs, sides and drinks for $5. Pizza will also be served.For more information, go to http://www.crownmtn.org or call 970-963-6030.