September 10, 2003

Dear Friends,

I hope this newsletter will find you happy and healthy, and will reach you safely from all the viruses dashing though all the e-mail junk that we receive. My last newsletter (click here to read ) was received a dozen times by some, while not received by others. Today I reread it and found it enjoyable, but a dozen times in the same day is bit too much. It has been a challenge for me to learn and understand how the internet behaves and I hope I'm making progress.

I really don't have much to report to you on what's going on at the county government; the primary election is behind us, and the SRA still in the process.

On the community side we have lot to talk about: Old Bill's Fun Run for charities, an event that shows what a great community we live in. Some might measure it by the dollars that gets collected; I measure it by the sincerity, the love and the care that each individual of this community shows toward their neighbors. Old Bill -- thank you so much. Thanks to you and all the Old Bill's of this valley, this year has been a great year of gift giving to our community.

Our community has celebrated the dedication of over one hundred affordable homes that were completed this summer by Housing Trust, the Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity. Many of our neighbors and friends have been working in this community for years, and now they have achieved their dream home in Jackson Hole.

The new Center for the Arts had a great and successful fund raising event. If you drive by the building site downtown, you can't help but feel proud that our community art groups at last will have a home where they can work, grow, and flourish.

The Grand Teton Music Festival endowment committee has raised money so that future generations can enjoy beautiful music in our valley. If you're ever in Teton Village, stop by Walk Hall and notice the names engraved in the rocks by the hall so you can say thank you to the donors when you see them.

Yesterday I had the honor to attend the dedication of the Summit School, an alternative public high school program that transforms many young people's lives, thanks to the hard work and devotion of Terry Roice, and to Jim Rooks for carrying the torch.

This Saturday will be the last Farmers Market on the Square. Thanks to all of you who showed up faithfully on Saturday mornings and made this event so successful.

This week is the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce Fall Arts Festival. Quick Draw Auction and Chef's on the Square, Palates and Palettes, Arts for the Parks, home tours and more: a whole week of arts and fun events, matches our mountains and can only happen in Jackson Hole.

Sincerely,

Jim Darwiche