no. 08/09 - GstaadLife print edition

z
Thursday, April 30 2009
No. 8
gstaadlife.com
GstaadlI fe Is avaIlable
In these fIne hotels
***** Gstaad palace: Le Restaurant, La
Grande Terrasse, Snack & Barbecue, The
Lobby Bar, Le Bar du Grill & GreenGo Nightclub,
Beauty & Spa, Outdoor Pool & Snack, Tennis.
Tel 033 748 50 00, Fax 033 748 50 01,
info@palace.ch, www.palace.ch
***** Grand hotel park, Gstaad: 99 luxurious
rooms, exclusive Guerlain-Spa Chakra,
Restaurants & bars: Marco Polo, Le Grand
Restaurant, Greenhouse, Chalet Waldhuus, Le
Bar and Marco Polo Bar.
Tel 033 748 98 00, www.grandhotelpark.ch
***** Grand hotel bellevue, Gstaad:
114 beds, 2,500 m 2 SPA, Restaurant Prado,
Restaurant Coelho, Brasserie, Bellevue-Bar,
911 Club, Carnotzet.
Tel 033 748 00 00, www.bellevue-gstaad.ch
Important numbers
Ambulance 144, Police 117
Police office 033 356 84 31
Fire-brigade 118
Saanen Hospital 033 748 02 00
Château-d‘Oex Hospital 026 923 43 43
Car accident service 033 744 88 80
Veterinary F. Neff 033 744 35 31
Veterinary S. Frohloff 033 744 06 61
Medical emergency 0900 57 67 47
Dental emergency 033 748 02 00
For additional useful numbers please visit
www.gstaadlife.ch/usefulnumbers
For the latest local weather forecast visit
www.gstaadlife.com/weather
ChurCh servICes
st peter`s english-speaking anglican
Church, Château-d’Œx: Sun May 3 17h30
Mr. John Dickson. Sun May 10 17h30
Reverend Clive Atkinson, Holy communion.
Sun May 17 17h30 Reverend Clive Atkinson.
roman Catholic Church st Josef, Gstaad:
Sun May 3 11h00 eucharistic ceremony,
16h00 Santa Messa (Italian), Wed May 6
16h30 rosary, 17h00 eucharistic ceremony.
Friday, February 27 2009 · No. 6 ·gstaadlife.com
Garden maintenance begins in April (or as soon as the snow has melted) and continues until
the snow returns. Garden of Family Loertscher
Spring is a busy time
for gardeners By Diana Oehrli
Local professional gardeners
talk about the importance of
regular maintenance and give
a few spring gardening tips.
Now that the snow has melted,
gardeners can be seen outdoors,
bent over, toiling in their gardens.
One can recognize those true
“do-it-yourself” types. They are
the ones wearing mud-splashed
galoshes, have soil under their
fingernails and with faces
conveying pure excitement. There
is nothing more thrilling for an
ardent gardener, after a long, hard
winter, than the first sight of
narcissi, daffodils or other bulb
plants poking through the soil.
You don’t have to be one of those
“do-it-yourself” types to enjoy a
garden. Many of our readers fall
into the category of garden
enthusiasts. Either they cannot be
here all year-round, don’t have
the time, and/or the idea of
toiling in dirt is not high on their
list of pleasurable activities. That’s
when hiring a gardener comes in
handy. If you don’t have a gardener
and want to hire one, you might
want to make a checklist of the
services you will need performed.
This depends on how colorful
you want your garden to be. Do
you only need a gardener to mow
the lawn once a week and remove
leaves? Or do you want a gardener
to weed, plant, trim hedges,
prune bushes and trees, compost
and tend to sick and diseased
plants?
“In the last 10 to 15 years, there
has been a development towards
more exclusive and complicated
gardens,” said Andreas Zingre,
owner of Zingreen Gartenbau. It
used to be that most gardens
consisted of a simple lawn and of
a couple of trees. Now, clients
want more trees, hedges, beds and
borders filled with flowering
perennials and annuals. To match
the increasing demand, Zingre
employs between seven and 15
workers, depending on the season.
A trained gardener, landscapist
and florist, he started his gardening
business in 2001.
Whatever you decide, simple or
not, it is important that the care
to your garden be regular and
constant. Garden maintenance
begins in April (or as soon as the
snow has melted) and continues
until the snow returns. There are
no quick fixes, as professional
gardener René Schopfer would
know. With a crew of 10 workers
that includes two apprentices,
Schopfer is a licensed and trained
gardener, whose company,
Schopfer Gartenbau, is entering
its 20th year of operation.
Schopfer agrees with Zingre that
the quality of gardens has
continued on page 3
n spring gardening p. 1, 3 n ballonning p. 4, 5 n IsIa World Championships p. 6 n friends of the saanen hospital p. 7 n asylum seekers in the saanenland p. 7
Photo: Nicole Maron

Spring - Time for gardening - Time for planting
Your garden,
your recreation area
3780 Gstaad
033 748 66 33
info@landisaanenland.ch
www.landisaanenland.ch
Design
Planting
Wood for chimney fi re
Maintenance
Tree husbandry
Everything
your garden needs …
… and everything you need
when the work is fi nished:
drinks to satisfy your
thirst, grills, garden
furniture, simply everything
for the perfect
garden party.
schogartenbau@bluewin.ch

Thursday, April 30 2009 · gstaadlife.com
page 3 Local news
continued from page 1
increased. “When chalet owners
come,” Schopfer said, “they want
to be able to enjoy a lush
and cared-for garden.” Problems
arise, however, when chalet
owners don’t understand what
goes into garden care and
maintenance. “Clients can’t just
call me 14 days before they arrive
and expect a quality garden and
lawn,” said Schopfer. “Gardens
need regular care and attention.”
Andreas Zingre agrees. He would
take it further and say that garden
maintenance is a year-round
process. If clients want a quality
garden, they must be willing to
have the garden cared for yearround.
Here are some tips or tasks that
must be accomplished in April or
once the snow has melted:
General
Clean up the garden. Dispose of
any left-over leaves.
Roses, bushes and perennial
beds
Cut back ornamental grasses or
flowering plants that were kept
taller for winter garden, color or
interest. Prune rose bushes and
small shrubs, and any climbing
vines. Loosen up soil around
plant bases. Summer-blooming
perennials should also be planted
now, but only if they are a hardy
size. It is still too early to plant
seedlings outdoors. Get rid of any
visible weeds. Fertilize, fertilize,
fertilize.
Lawns
This is the time to remove moss,
and to ‘scarify’ and ‘aerate’ lawns.
For any sized garden, scarifying is
important and entails the removal
of dead material that gathers
around the base of the grass
shoots. This dead material, called
thatch, is primarily grass cuttings,
dead leaves, etc. Gardeners will
use a scarifier, to scrape out the
thatch. Afterwards, the gardener
will aerate the lawn by using an
Want a parking space
in Gstaad?
The Eisenbahn AG is planning
new parking spaces in Untergstaad
(opposite the Coop). Between 40
and 80 new spaces are planned,
some to be sold, some privately
rented, and others to be kept for
public parking. In order for the
project to go ahead, the responsible
people need to know if there are
people interested in it. So if you
are, please contact Stefan Romang
(079 208 99 39) or Robert Stutz
(079 432 70 75) as soon as possible.
www.gstaadlife.com
Photo: zVg
aerator that makes 150-200 holes
per square meter in the ground.
Then, the gardener fertilizes the
lawn and re-seeds the bare spots.
This is also a good time for weed
control.
Schopfer said that proper lawn
care is a continual process. A
quality lawn should be fertilized
again in summer and in fall. Lawn
samples can be taken that will
indicate disease such as Red
Thread, which causes the grass to
look bleached-out with small red
or pink rigid growths.
Plant choice
What plants you choose for your
garden, are important and
gardeners can help you with the
selection of appropriate plants that
are not only suitable to the
climate, soil and specific locations,
but also plants that will not wreak
havoc with local fauna. Gardeners
can advise you to select the
appropriate plants for your garden,
for example Blumen Stricker who
n frIdaY, maY 1 2009
09h00, saanen market, Bahnhofstrasse,
Saanen: One of the larger markets in the
area; local products and handywork. Info:
033 748 92 10
22h00, dJ free G and ninos as, Disco
Grotte, Schönried: with Marc W. Marco
Tono G-Flames.
n saturdaY, maY 2 2009
07h00, bird watching class, Region
Schönried/Hornberg: During a
comfortable walk, we will spot and
identify various birds, their songs, and
their nests. Instructor: Bert Inäbnit,
ornithologist. Meeting point Rellerli base
station. Sign up by April 28 by calling
Volkshochschule Obersimmental-
Saanenland. Info: 033 722 08 909
n saturdaY, maY 9 2009
11h00, demonstration of the super
puma, Zweisimmen Airport: The Super
Puma is a twin engine medium-weight
civil helicopter. Sighseeing flights,
parachute jumps, exhibit of the Porsche
Club Berne. Info: 033 722 44 00
19h00, traditional folk music Gstaad
saanenland Weekend, Restaurant Heiti,
Gsteig: Tällörgeler of Seedorf UR.
Program for May 10 at 10h00: Three
bands including Follchlore, Seedorf BE,
Tällörgeler, Seedorf UR, and Trio Kari
Ulrich, Meikirch BE. Including old timer
meet. Reservations: 033 755 11 97. Info:
033 744 56 39
has a staff of 35 employees. The
company was founded in 1960 by
René Stricker and has been taken
over in 1995 by his son Andi, who
is a qualified horticulturist. The
Swiss Com mission for Wild Plants
Con versation maintains a Black
List of plants that can cause
damage to the areas bio-diversity,
health and /or economy (http://
www.cps-skew.ch/english/black_
list.htm). Forbidden invasive alien
plants include the Common
Ragweed, the Butterfly Bush,
Velvet Sumac and the Canadian
Goldenrod.
And remember, the last frost is
May 15 (after the last of the “Ice
Saints” or “Eisheiligen”)! So, if
you couldn’t wait and you have
planted some flowering annuals
(or put out your geraniums) too
early, you will have to cover them
with plastic and secure with bricks
or buckets of sand.
Blumen Stricker 033 748 62 72
Landi 033 748 66 33
Schopfer Gartenbau 033 744 91 59
Zingreen Gartenbau 033 744 21 11
Event corner Friday May 1 until Thursday May 28
09h30, Course: Introduction to the
steelpan, Ferienhaus Alpenblick, Gstaad:
Also known as the steeldrum, the steelpan
is an instrument of the Carribean. Adults
and children from 12 years. No prior
knowledge required. Sign up by April 30.
Organized by Stellband Saanenland.
Course is free for new band members. For
other interested parties, SFr 70 per
person. Info: 033 744 59 66
n sundaY, maY 10 2009
20h15, mother’s day Concert,
Konzertplatz, Saanen: Brass Band
Harmonie Saanen, Info: 079 669 50 03
n thursdaY, maY 14 2009
14h00, exhibition: antique bells and
cow bells of the 18th and 19th centuries,
Museum der Landschaft, Saanen:
Vernissage on Sat May 16 at 17h00.
Introduction by Denis Buchs, curator,
Greyerzer Museum, Bulle. Closed
Mondays. Runs May 14 to Oct 18; Dec 15
to April 4, 2010. Info: 033 744 79 88
n saturdaY, maY 16 2009
10h00, fit relax day, Sportzentrum
Gstaad: free activities and relax. Spinning,
FILA Kick Power, dietary tips and thermal
bath with Aquafit. Sign up by May 10.
Info: 033 748 80 90
n saturdaY, maY 23 2009
34th national automobile slalom
saanen, Saanen Airport: Organized by
the Swiss Automobile Club, section Bern.
Info: acs-bern.ch or 031 311 38 13

Reader’s article
I had almost forgotten to expect a
phone call from Adrian Friesi
about being invited onboard one
of his Alpine ballooning flights in
December, when out of the blue
on a sunny March evening, I was
invited to be part of a morning
hot-air balloon flight over the
Saanenland the very next day. I
was instructed to meet all other
passengers and crew at the Saanen
Bahnhof at 08h00 the next
morning. I had been doing some
background research into
ballooning in winter conditions
and to my surprise, found out that
I wouldn’t necessarily need to
dress like I would be January
skiing, to hop on board. The
Alpine Ballooning website states
that ‘the fact that the balloon flies
gstaadlife.com · Thursday, April 30 2009
page 4
Alpine ballooning over Saanenland
with Adrian Kriesi By Subhas Kim Kandasamy
The earth became a myriad of jagged dark peaks, rising and piercing the lustrously prismatic blue sky.
in the air mass, means there is no
air current aboard the basket.
But don’t forget the heat
emanating from the burners. Still
the pessimist, i met everyone
promptly the next day wearing 3
jumpers and a barbour coat, plus
gloves, a wool hat and thermal
underwear. Adrian and his
assistant Vincent Perrier, picked
Martial and Aurore (a young local
Chateau D’Oex couple) and
myself up and started driving
towards the Jaune Pass. In another
car behind us, were five members
of the Delaloye family from
Valais. Only the two most
unsuspecting members of the
family were going up with us;
grandmother Mme Henriette and
her excited grandson Yanick,
whose 7th birthday was just round
the corner.
I had a ton of questions for Adrian
as we raced towards our intended
take-off site to catch the morning
northerly winds, that would fly us
back into the valley. I had a
previous experience of going up
in my first maiden balloon flight
2 years ago in Devon and thus the
actual science of flying the
balloon, didn’t take as much
priority as my questions into his
background as a balloonist. He
started out 15 years ago, assisting
on balloon flights during the
summers in France. This led him
to eventually start piloting flights
over Saanenland during the
winter and summer months for
the last year. Adrian informed us
that because we will be flying
with the wind, we would not be
experiencing any wind chill. I
smiled with disbelief and felt
secure in my 5 layers, which by
now were about to bake me alive
in the backseat of the bouncing
Landrover.
We took about 50 minutes to
unload and unfold the enormous
envelope (that’s what the balloon
is technically termed) and then 50
minutes to inflate what seemed to
be an engulfing marquee. A fan is
first used to blow air into the
envelope and then the burners are
turned on, which then heat the
collected air. You know that the
laws of science are at work, when
Photos: Subhas Kim Kandasamy

Photo: zVg
Thursday, April 30 2009 · gstaadlife.com
page 5 Reader’s article
you see the envelope starts taking
on a life of its own as it stands up
like an awakening giant and pulls
the basket upright. The Delaloye
children were delirious with
excitement by this point and had
their fingers firmly placed in their
ears for fear that the balloon will
pop. All aboard! We climbed into
the 8-seater basket; ironic as
everyone rather stood than sit and
I got a whole compartment area
to myself, quite possibly the
equivalent of getting upgraded to
business class. Adrian explained a
few simple ground rules: lean
against the padding of each
compartment in the event of a
landing, face the direction of the
landing, bend your knees on
landing and stay in the basket
until told to disembark.
We took off effortlessly. Before
we could imagine, we were just
above the tips of the pines, then
the people waving on the ground
diminished into the distance. All
at once we left the hustle of earth
behind us, as we ascended into
the most beautiful silent calm of
the dawn light. I had expected
not to be as awe-struck this time,
as this was my second balloon
flight. How wrong I was. My first
experience enabled me to be
charmed by the rolling Cornish
fields that formed a patchwork of
every conceivable shade of green.
This was something completely
surreal instead. The earth became
a myriad of jagged dark peaks
rising and piercing the lustrously
prismatic blue sky. Adrian pointed
out the lake of Neuchatel, the
black north-face of the Eiger, the
line of Jura peaks and with bated
breath, I looked south and in the
distance rose Mont Blanc and the
Matterhorn, almost like they were
in brethren conversation. My
mind was emptied of my lists of
things-to-do, deadlines and social
schedules. The rhythm of the
sharp intake of pristine air into
my lungs, were only punctuated
by the noise of the burners hissing
like dragons into the cavernous
kaleidoscope of the inside of the
balloon.
Our hour-long flight was coming
to an end and I tried to hold on to
the sight of the horizon for as long
as I could, before my view was
interrupted by the approaching
trees and farms. We landed almost
perfectly onto farmland between
Saanen and Rougemont and all
300 kilograms of the balloon
started wavering about and slowly
floated down like a Kabuki stage
prop. We all climbed out and
helped squeeze all the air out of
All aboard!
the envelope. The balloon was
folded up into its bag and then
both bag and basket were lifted
back into the truck. We were all
in some way sad that this flight
has come to and end, but were
perked up by Adrian announcing
that it was tradition that every
flight ends with the sharing of a
Obituary: “The Rosey Father” Louis Johannot
After a short illness, the longstanding
director and owner of
the Institut Le Rosey passed away
† Louis Johannot
on March 20 2009, aged 90
years.
Born in an old Geneva family of
Huguenots, who took refuge in
Geneva after the Revocation of
the Edit de Nantes in France, he
studied at the International School
of Geneva, and passed his classic
and scientific Swiss maturity,
followed by a licence in
Mathematics in Geneva and a
PhD in Psychology with Professor
Piaget of whom he was the
assistant.
Louis Johannot had an exemplary
career as an artillery officer
as described by his long-time
friend and corps commandant
Adrien Tschumy, who had much
respect and admiration for
the man. Louis Johannot, patriot
and artillery colonel’s impres-
sive character was used as an
example for young officers. He
fulfilled numerous active days of
duty and was promoted to
commandant of the 10th artillery
regiment.
In his early adult life, he moved to
France with his young wife in
order to run a centre for young
delinquents near Paris. He came
back to Switzerland in 1947 and
took over the Institut Le Rosey
which he brought to be what it is
bottle of wine. Adventurer,
navigator, geographer, pilot and
now, hospitable host. Adrian has
assumed all these roles in just a
couple of hours. Its true that real
men don’t eat quiche, for they are
all too busy captaining balloons.
www.alpineballooning.com
today, in Gstaad and Rolle, as
well as internationally.
The life motto of this unique
mentor is “Ce que nous sommes
est toujours plus important que ce
que nous disons (What we are, is
always more important than what
we say)”. All those who knew
him would acknowledge that he
carried this out all through his life
in all aspects.
Louis Johannot is descended by
four children, ten grand children,
one great grandchild.
Translated and adapted from the
article in AVS, April 07 2009 with
the help of Louis Johannot’s daughter,
Mme Christiane Johannot-Gradis.

Local news
gstaadlife.com · Thursday, April 30 2009
Saanen ski teachers display their world class
at the ISIA World Championship in Maribor
During last year’s Swiss Snow
Happening in Davos, the
Saanenland demo team qualified
for the World Championship of
the International Ski Instructors
Association (ISIA) in Maribor,
Slovenia.
At the beginning of March 2009,
a group of our ambitious ski
instructors traveled to Slovenia in
order to compete with the best ski
instructors in the world. In an
interview with Anja Moosmann
for the Anzeiger von Saanen, Jan
Brand speaks about their
The Demo Team Saanenland
with the Swiss color-bearer :
at the opening event of the
ISIA World Championship in
Maribor.
ambitions: “We did not want to
go to Maribor just to participate,
but rather to give the best of
ourselves. I was expecting a place
among the first ten, but we knew
the competition would be very
tough”. “Next to ours, there were
four other Swiss teams and a Swiss
delegation with two teams: the
Team “White” and the Team
“Red”. “We were aware that if
there were National Teams from
other countries at the
Championship, our chances to get
a medal would be close to zero”,
says Gery Moosmann.
Achieving an impressive sixth
place, they have proved that they
are world class. Next to that -
Björn Brand from Lauenen,
brought back the World Champion
title to the Saanenland, with the
Swiss Snow Demo team and a
World Championship silver medal
in skicross for the individual
category.
Back in Switzerland, they are not
ready to forget this excellent
experience: “The ambience
among the Swiss delegation was
outstanding. And also the
exchange with skiers from other
countries was enriching”, explains
Gery Moosmann.
Snowsports teachers’ Swiss
championships 2009
From April 16 - 19, the Saanenland
Demo team further took part in
the Snowsports teachers’ Swiss
championship, Swiss snow
happening. Unfortunately one of
page 6
The Saanen ski teachers at their return from Slovenia : Martin
Grundisch (behind), Dominik Matti, Tom Moser, Tom Sumi,
Björn Brand (middle from left), Hanskurt Ummel, Jan Brand
und Gery Moosmann (front from left.)
their competitors got injured
during training and the team had
to find an alternative. The team
reached the finals without
problems and achieved the eighth
position. The competition went
much better for the Saanen
women’s team, as they brought
back the silver medal.
Translated and adapted from the article
by Anja Moosmann, AVS 24.03.09.
Beat von Allmen succeeds Katrin Espiasse
as the new head of the Ski School
From May 01, Beat von Allmen
(from Thun) will take up the
position of head of the ski school
at gstaadsnowsport.ch. The 47
year-old from Thun will replace
Katrin Espiasse, who has played a
significant role in the success of
the local snowsport school for the
past seven years.
Many new projects have been
realized during the time Katrin
Espiasse spent as the head of the
ski school. The former skier has
worked on the development and
optimization of the ski teachers’
instruction and further training.
It was also through her efforts
that the Saanenland demonstration
team has been created. She
further successfully organized the
yearly Snow Nights and jubilee of
the Snowsports School Gstaad.
Her follower, Beat von Allmen, is
strongly linked to the Saanenland
region. His parents owned a chalet
in Schönried where he spent his
weekends and holidays. He learnt
to ski in the Schönried ski school,
became a member of the
Schönried JO and competed in
national ski races. Although he
lived in the “flat country”, he
trained as a patented ski teacher
and gave ski lessons for ten years
at the Schönried ski school during
his holiday and weekends. During
that time, he completed his studies
of sport teaching at the University
of Bern.
In 1992, he moved to America
with his wife to be and completed
an MBA at the university of
Denver. Although far away from
Switzerland, he managed to keep
a strong link with the ski scene.
After Sepember 11 2001, he came
back to Switzerland where he
worked in tourism. The position
as head of the ski school has made
a deep impression on him. “It
closes a circle for me. It has always
been an aim for me to link sports
and tourism in my professional
life,” he told the Anzeiger von
Saanen. Translated and adapted from
the article by Anita Moser AVS,
24.03.2009.
Katrin Espiasse and her
succesor as head of the ski
school, Beat von Allmen
Photos: zVg
Photo: Anja Moosmann

Thursday, April 30 2009 · gstaadlife.com
page 7 Local news
“Friends of the Saanen Hospital”
general assembly
The “Friends of the Saanen
Hospital” consider a termination
of the association, if no definitive
decision regarding a location in
the Saanenland for the hospital, is
presented until the end of 2009.
“The back and forth regarding
the location of the hospital and
the recent decisions, leave us
feeling angry and insecure. The
situation is unsatisfactory”, said
Constantine B. Goulandris at
“Friends of the Saanen Hospital”
general assembly.
Around 20 members present,
agreed on the matter and
supported the ultimatum proposed
by Goulandris, until the end
of 2009. “We would like to
know by the end of 2009, if the
Saanen Hospital remains where it
is and would be modernised
appropriately. Or if a new construction
is realised in Saanenmöser.
If neither of these solutions
are chosen, the association that
has invested about SFr 4m in
technical and medical upgrades of
the hospital in the ten years since
its foundation, should be
terminated”.
“I understand that you are
frustrated and disappointed because
it is still not clear how
matters will continue. Therefore
the ultimatum is understandable”,
says Dr Christian Reuteler. In his
report, he presents the current
costs verifications and information
about the cantonal health politic
and the consequences for the
region. “In 2005, the Berner
electorate accepted the new law
about hospital care and we are
now in the phase of implementation
of this referendum,” says Reuteler.
He says, he is himself determined
in favour for a Saanenmöser
location. That would be the best
solution, both for the hospital and
the rescue service. “ From my
point of view, the opinion of the
medical staff is favourable and the
doctors of the area are all pulling
in the same direction” answers
Reuteler to a question asked in
the middle of the assembly. “This
is unique: in all these years I have
never before experienced the fact
that 29 doctors are all of the same
opinion” Reuteler adds as a
conclusion.
Support for the planned
Centre for the Senior
citizens
According to the General
Assembly’s decision, in case the
association is terminated, its funds
of SFr 1.4m will go to the Centre
for the Senior Citizens Saanen AG
and the equipment that has been
donated so far, to the Saanen
Gemeinde. A corresponding
amendment of the association’s
status has been unanimously
approved.
More dissatisfaction
announced
A cause of additional trouble
and disappointment for the
committee and the members are
the photographs of the ambulance
that has been sponsored seven
years ago and now is no longer
in use. The rescue service of the
STS AG accepted the vehicle
from the Ryter couple in March
2007 says Silvio Streiff in the
course of a phone inquiry with
“The Anzeiger von Saanen”.
“The vehicle was handed over in
a poor condition,” says the chief
of the rescue service of the
STS AG. The defects were
photographically recorded and
documented by a technical service
during which the vehicle was
checked.
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The ambulance, sponsored by the “Friends of the Hospital”,
will be used as a spare vehicle until its withdrawal from
service.
Asylum seekers come to the Saanenland
By August 01 2009, 25 asylum
seekers are assigned to the
Saanen Gemeinde. The Gemeinde
council has appointed a temporary
commission for the creation of the
necessary living space and for the
organization of a support structure.
At the end of January, the Gemeinde
in the Canton Bern were informed
that, due to a recent evolution, a
total of about 1’500 asylum seekers
would be allocated to them by
August 01 2009. According to the
percentage breakdown by number
of inhabitant, 25 people have been
distributed to the Saanen Gemeinde.
It is essential to prepare
suitable accommodation and to
ensure local support for this
number. Preliminary investigations
were immediately made in the
internal admini stration, on which
the Gemeinde council took note
of the starting point and need
for action and assigned the duty
to the new project department. At
the request of the department’s
chief, Heinz Brand, the project
organization as well as a planning
credit of SFr 22,000 was approved.
The ambulance would be used as
a spare vehicle until its withdrawal
from service, tells Streiff. In the
end, the vehicle would be replaced
by a new one. “A reparation for
our needs would have been too
expensive,” says Streiff. At
present, the vehicle is at the STS
rescue office headquarters in
Gesigen. The committee of the
association will decide what
should be done with the
ambulance that is after all the
property of the “Friends of the
Hospital”. Out of the meeting the
proposal to repair the vehicle and
to make it available to the Centre
for the Senior Citizens, as a means
of transport, was supported.
Adjusted from the original article by
Anita Moser AVS, 24.03.2009
A new commission is formed who
will now study the relevant framework,
examine the possible options,
and present concrete propositions
of solutions to the Gemeinde
Council. The public will be
informed regularly in the course of
the process.
Translated and adapted from the article
by Markus Iseli, AVS, 27.03.2009
Photos: zVg/Archiv/Rettungsdienst STS AG

FRAMING GALLERY
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