FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Telluride, one of the best-known ski resorts in the Western U.S., plans to close in the coming days due to a labor dispute between its owner and the ski patrol union.

The Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association voted Tuesday to strike Saturday after contract negotiations since June failed to yield an agreement on pay. With no more talks planned before the weekend, Telluride Ski Resort said it will not open that day.

“We are concerned that any organization, particularly one that exists to help people, would do something that will have such a devastating effect on our community,” owner Chuck Horning said Wednesday in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the closure will last longer. Resort officials were working on a plan to reopen even if the strike continues, according to the statement.

The patrollers are seeking to be paid more in line with their counterparts at other resorts in the region.

The union wants starting pay to rise from $21 to $28 per hour, and for wages for patrollers with more than 30 years of experience to increase from $30-$36 per hour to $39-$48.60 per hour.

While resort officials sought to lay blame for the impending closure on the union, Andy Dennis, interim safety director and spokesperson for patrollers’ association, said it lies with Horning.

“He’s being a bully. This is what bullies do, take their toys and run,” Dennis said. “All he has to do is give us a fair contract, and this would all be over.”

Ski patrollers sometimes argue for more pay on the grounds that the cost of living is high in ski towns and they are responsible for people’s safety. Patrollers’ duties include attending to injured skiers and the controlled release of avalanches with explosives when nobody is in range.

Even without a strike, Telluride has yet to get going fully this season, with unusually warm weather meaning just 20 of the resort’s 149 trails have been able to open.

Patrollers around the Rocky Mountain region have been voting on unionizing recently.

Last year an almost two-week strike closed many runs and caused long lift lines at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort. That strike ended when Colorado-based Vail Resorts acceded to demands including a $2-an-hour base pay increase and raises for senior ski patrollers.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – A new coffee shop is planned for a Hudsonville neighborhood this month.

Ziggi’s Coffee is set to open a new location at 3830 32nd St., Suite 100, starting Dec. 30, just before locals pencil in their New Year’s Eve plans.

A Colorado-based chain, local franchisees operate locations across Michigan. There’s one in Zeeland, which opened in 2022, and another near Ann Arbor, which opened in 2024.

Each coffeehouse offers a wide range of coffee and other beverages, from cold brews and lattes to energy infusions and smoothies. Ziggi’s also offers sandwiches, breakfast items and pastries.

For the new Hudsonville location, customers can expect the same offerings, right down to the decor.

The 1,500-square-foot space will mimic the franchise’s other spaces, complete with an urban industrial decor and a cozy rustic atmosphere.

The solid dark wood tables and padded vinyl seats set the tone for an in-house lunch, combined with pops of earthy tones and black-and-white photos for a retro touch.

As for the menu, the top orders across the company’s 100-plus locations are the dirty sodas.

The customizable beverage features a soda base, such as Mountain Dew or Coke, mixed with flavored syrups such as coconut milk, and toppings including gummy candies or cold foam.

The seasonal feature is the “Sleighin’ Dirty” soda. It comes with Dr. Pepper mixed with a splash of eggnog and cinnamon syrup, finished with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Prices start at $4.29 for a 20-ounce drink.

Another favorite is the “kidZone” for children too young for coffee or Ziggi’s Red Bull infusions. This part of the menu offers blenders, which are similar to milkshakes, along with fizzy drinks with customizable flavors.

The store hours for Hudsonville will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Customers can sign up online for rewards to receive a free drink. To learn more, visit the coffeehouse’s Facebook page.