Topic: Local Life

Robert Guttman, Director of the Center of Politics at Johns Hopkins University, stopped by the MorningNoon&NIght Show to discuss the Democratic National Convention in Denver as well as a host of other campaign issues. Mr. Guttman has been attending conventions since the '68 convention in Chicago and has worked on several campaigns and administrations, and as an analyst for CNN. He offers his unique perspective on the Clintons, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and John McCain.

Karats owner Dan Teleen and featured artist Elizabeth Steiber stop by This Week in the Valley to discuss their ongoing show at Karats. The week long event will feature four artists (including Dan) and will showcase a number of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Elizabeth specializes in what she likes to call "statement pieces," big bold works that have a lot to say. She brings one such work, a necklace made of gold and turquoise, to This Week in the Valley.

Parent volunteer Sherri Wharton stopped by the MorningNoon&Night Show to talk about the Vail Mountain School Home Tour, taking place Sunday, September 21. The tour has taken place annually for 34 years and has grown from a humble kitchen tour into an event with over 400 volunteers. Seven homes in Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch will be featured on this year's tour, including the Beaver Creek home formerly owned by President Gerald Ford. All proceeds of the tour support Vail Mountain School's tuition assistance program.

Susan Rapson, owner of A Secret Garden in Vail Village, demonstrates the essentials for a fall floral arrangement, introduces us to a number of exotic and beautiful flowers including the ring of Fire sunflower, and offers advice for maintaining flowers at altitude. Remember to re-cut your stems and keep your flowers well-hydrated.

Shawn Greenfield of Wildflower Farm describes xeriscaping, a more sustainable form of gardening which uses native plants and flowers that require little water. Shawn takes us through a number of local xeric plants including the Sea Holly, Colorado Mountain Holly, Zauschneria and Common Sage.

The Cordillera Motorcycle Association is more than just motorcycles. George Allen & Laura Foster of C.M.A. describe the association's "Wheels Up" program which provides a full year of school supplies and backpacks to the Valley's disadvantaged first graders. Plum rode along with the benevolent bikers to area schools as they dropped off the supplies to some very excited school children.

The Vail Symposium hosted its annual Mushroom Foray and Feast with Bill Windsor of the Colorado Mycological Society. Bill took a group of curious fungiphiles and newcomers into the woods to search for edible mushrooms and offered tips for discovering and identifying the delicious dirt dwelling treats. The trick seems to be looking for low areas, where water gathers.

Here's the canine you've all been waiting for ... Meet Whiskey, the big winner of Plum's Dog of the Summer Contest. Whether swimming, running or socializing, Whiskey knows what it takes to be a summer dog in Vail.

It's not every day or every week that every democrat in the country rolls in. Plum Vail took a road trip to Denver to catch some footage of the scene at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 25, 2008.