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Controversy surrounds the Wispile - GstaadLife print edition

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GSTAADLIFE<br />

No.17 31 Dec 2004<br />

View from above on to <strong>the</strong> disputed <strong>Wispile</strong> area.<br />

<strong>Controversy</strong> <strong>surrounds</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong><br />

Current development plans and zoning on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong> have<br />

caused a dispute between local residents and <strong>the</strong> “Association<br />

for <strong>the</strong> Rescue of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>” that was founded in 2000<br />

and whose president is Hans R. Spillmann. On <strong>the</strong> one hand,<br />

local housing needs demand <strong>the</strong> construction of multiple<br />

family homes. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, chalet owners, often from<br />

out-of-town or abroad, fear development will get out of<br />

hand and devalue <strong>the</strong> quality of life on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>.<br />

Construction yes, but controlled<br />

On 7 December 2004, <strong>the</strong> fears and intentions of <strong>the</strong> “Association<br />

for <strong>the</strong> Rescue of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>” were made public in <strong>the</strong> Anzeiger von<br />

Saanen. Hans R. Spillmann explained that <strong>the</strong> association’s goal is<br />

to prevent projects which would result, in <strong>the</strong>ir eyes, in over-intensive<br />

development. They are not against construction in general, but<br />

wish it to be controlled so as not to cause too much damage and<br />

deterioration in <strong>the</strong> quality of life. According to Mr. Spillmann <strong>the</strong><br />

aim of <strong>the</strong> group is to inform members of building plans and <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

rights, and also to promote contact between <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong> local<br />

people. He deplores <strong>the</strong> fact that up till now relations have been virtually<br />

non-existent and would like that to change. His idea is not to<br />

ban construction but to limit it to single family houses with large<br />

gardens or parks which would keep <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong> green.<br />

The association’s members (see inset) are conscious of <strong>the</strong> fact<br />

that not everyone sees things <strong>the</strong>ir way. Too many conflicting interests<br />

are at stake. There is <strong>the</strong> real estate business which wants to<br />

create and preserve jobs, <strong>the</strong>re are landowners who seek profit,<br />

and chalet owners who fear loss of peace and quiet and <strong>the</strong>ir views.<br />

If necessary <strong>the</strong> latter will attempt to influence zoning and have<br />

enlisted <strong>the</strong> help and expertise of a consultant, Prof. Dr. Enrico Riva.<br />

The access road – a case for <strong>the</strong> federal court<br />

To make matters worse, <strong>the</strong>re is also <strong>the</strong> issue of an access road.<br />

There are still five houses and some agricultural land on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong><br />

that cannot be reached by motor vehicle.<br />

Mr. Spillmann insists that <strong>the</strong>re is a viable<br />

approach way, but in fact it is only a footpath<br />

which in wet conditions becomes unusable. He<br />

fears <strong>the</strong> projected road, 500m long and 2.6m<br />

wide, connecting with <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>strasse and differing<br />

from <strong>the</strong> route of <strong>the</strong> footpath, could in<br />

future become a through road. The decision to<br />

build was disputed by eight chalet owners. The<br />

administrative court decided against <strong>the</strong>m, upon<br />

which <strong>the</strong>y opted to take <strong>the</strong> matter fur<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong><br />

highest tribunal in <strong>the</strong> country, <strong>the</strong> federal court.<br />

The case is waiting to be heard. Independently<br />

<strong>the</strong> federal office for regional development is also<br />

contesting <strong>the</strong> decision of <strong>the</strong> administrative<br />

court.<br />

The point of view of <strong>the</strong> local residents<br />

The local people feel very hard done by. In a<br />

statement signed by 53 <strong>Wispile</strong> inhabitants (see<br />

inset) and published in <strong>the</strong> Anzeiger von Saanen<br />

on 14 December 2004, <strong>the</strong>y deplore <strong>the</strong> scarcity<br />

of contact with Mr. Spillmann’s association, saying<br />

it has been mostly via lawyers or <strong>the</strong> media.<br />

According to <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>y would have very much<br />

appreciated direct relations before <strong>the</strong> founding<br />

of <strong>the</strong> association or reading about <strong>the</strong> group’s<br />

opinion and intention in <strong>the</strong> local newspaper. They<br />

feel <strong>the</strong> association is depriving <strong>the</strong>m of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

rights to build homes and an approach road,<br />

while Mr. Spillmann and his members came,<br />

bought properties and built houses with vehicle<br />

access, and now wish to keep things as <strong>the</strong>y are<br />

with little regard for local needs. Local people<br />

also feel very strongly about <strong>the</strong> fact that some-<br />

one from out-of-town is attempting to, in his<br />

words, “rescue <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>.” They see <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />

as quite capable of looking after <strong>the</strong>ir own countryside,<br />

and say <strong>the</strong>y never asked for his help.<br />

Emotions are running high. In readers’ and open<br />

letters fur<strong>the</strong>r opinions are being voiced. So far<br />

<strong>the</strong>re have been three, all in support of <strong>the</strong> local<br />

people. One was from out-of-town, one from<br />

Gstaad and <strong>the</strong> third was from a former resident.<br />

by Anne Pfeiffer-Brechbühl<br />

The dispute with regard to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong> is being<br />

carried out very openly in <strong>the</strong> Anzeiger von Saanen.<br />

The protagonists are Hans R. Spillmann with<br />

his “Association for <strong>the</strong> Rescue of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wispile</strong>” and<br />

a group of 53 local residents.<br />

Among <strong>the</strong> members of <strong>the</strong> association are <strong>the</strong> following<br />

families: Goulandris, Kashoggi, Landolt, Guerlin,<br />

Piaggio, de la Rozière, de Sadeleer, de Traux, Demole,<br />

Keller, Weiss and Madame Franck.<br />

The 53 <strong>Wispile</strong> residents are: Blum Brigitte, Blum<br />

Göpf, Brand Christine, Brand Erna, Brand Walter, Brand<br />

Willi, Breithaupt Helmuth, Breithaupt Nelly, Burri Hannely,<br />

Burri Peter, Carwen Pascale, Donker-Aellen Brit,<br />

Donker-Aellen Luc, Doppmann Josef, Doppmann Meieli,<br />

Leuenberger Heidi, Leuenberger Ueli, Maag de Moura<br />

Cunha Simone, Matti Andreas, Matti Eric, Matti Hans,<br />

Matti Hansueli, Matti Kathryn, Mösching Albina,<br />

Mösching Bernhard, Oehrli Daniel, Oehrli Gabriela,<br />

Oehrli Hansruedi, Oehrli Rosemarie, Oehrli Ruth, Perreten<br />

Anna, Perreten Neva, Perreten Niklaus, Piller Geri,<br />

Piller Thea, Reichenbach Fritz, Reichenbach Theo,<br />

Reichenbach-Ummel Heidi, Romang Karen, Romang<br />

Niklaus, Ummel-Theiler Ida, Welten Arnold, Welten Christian,<br />

Welten Erika, Welten Marianne, Welten Martha,<br />

Weiten Reinold, Wittwer Edith, Wittwer Ueli, Zahler Ernst,<br />

Zahler Ida, Zahler Roland, Zahler Rosemarie.<br />

1


FYI<br />

Saanenland - What’s new<br />

The Grand Hotel Bellevue had planned<br />

to tear down <strong>the</strong> curling hall this year<br />

to make way for a new conference center.<br />

This did not happen, and we hear<br />

that this big event has been postponed<br />

until next year. In <strong>the</strong> meantime, <strong>the</strong> hall<br />

has been turned into a skater park, and<br />

a beach volleyball court and bar are in<br />

<strong>the</strong> planning, since for financial reasons,<br />

<strong>the</strong> curlers have decided against producing<br />

ice in <strong>the</strong> hall this year. Instead,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y have opted to curl on <strong>the</strong> outdoor<br />

ice skating rink. A future underground<br />

curling hall is to be built as part of a new<br />

and improved sports complex, located<br />

between <strong>the</strong> Hallenbad (public swimming<br />

pool) and <strong>the</strong> tennis courts.<br />

Speaking of Chalet Zentrum, a new real<br />

estate agency / full-service construction<br />

firm called Coventi SA will be officially<br />

opening its doors on January 1, 2005 in<br />

<strong>the</strong> space formerly occupied by shortlived<br />

Webmania. Offering sales, construction,<br />

architectural and engineering<br />

services, Coventi also has offices in<br />

Montreux, Fribourg, and Charmey. For<br />

more information, you can contact<br />

Müller<br />

Mrs. Doris A. Bazis or Mrs. Ulrike Schüpbach<br />

at 033 744 24 44.<br />

Louis Vuitton celebrated its 150th<br />

anniversary in 2004. New products were<br />

launched and <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> celebrations<br />

was marked with <strong>the</strong> opening of<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir own boutique on 17 December in<br />

Gstaad at <strong>the</strong> Park Hotel. This new store<br />

will carry travel items, <strong>the</strong> lea<strong>the</strong>r-goods<br />

collections, textiles and belts, as well as<br />

<strong>the</strong> Tambour watches.<br />

In Chalet Central, in upper Gstaad, Jean<br />

H. Weber has opened a store in <strong>the</strong> very<br />

same building his grandfa<strong>the</strong>r started<br />

selling jewellery in 1915. On sale are<br />

timepieces from prestigious brands like<br />

Breguet, Graham of London, Parmigiani,<br />

Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constatin and<br />

Omega. There is also a mysterious novelty<br />

by Jordi. According to Mr. Weber,<br />

<strong>the</strong> owner, <strong>the</strong> store will be open on<br />

Sunday afternoons, and he hopes <strong>the</strong><br />

boutique will become a meeting place<br />

for watch connoisseurs.<br />

by Diana Kiker-Oehrli &<br />

Anne Pfeiffer-Brechbühl<br />

E x h i b i t i o n<br />

at <strong>the</strong> PALACE HOTEL GSTAAD<br />

Swiss Romantic Views<br />

Swiss Costumes<br />

Rare Books<br />

Drawings<br />

Old and Modern<br />

Master Prints<br />

Opening<br />

2 January 2005<br />

11.00 a.m. - 02.00 p.m.<br />

Sunday, 2 January 2005<br />

02.00 p.m. - 12.00 p.m.<br />

3 - 9 January 2005<br />

11.00 a.m. - 02.00 p.m.<br />

05.00 p.m. - 12.00 p.m.<br />

The first, <strong>the</strong> original<br />

August Laube<br />

Buch- und Kunstantiquariat<br />

Trittligasse 19 8001 Zürich<br />

Tel. +41 1 256 88 99 Fax. + 41 1 256 88 98<br />

Catalogue on request or www.augustlaube.ch<br />

since 1874


In Gstaad: first standalone boutique for Girard-Perregaux<br />

Girard-Perregaux, <strong>the</strong> highly exclusive<br />

watch manufacturer, has opened <strong>the</strong>ir very<br />

first standalone boutique here in Gstaad. On<br />

<strong>the</strong> first day of opening GSTAADLIFE went<br />

along for a look and met Doris Schoch, <strong>the</strong><br />

manager, and Luigi Macaluso, <strong>the</strong> owner.<br />

Exclusive watches<br />

The opening spectacle itself suggested that <strong>the</strong>se<br />

must be very special watches indeed. Fifteen<br />

men’s wristwatches had been individually frozen<br />

inside clear, man-sized blocks of ice and placed,<br />

each with its own bodyguard, along Gstaad’s<br />

Promenade. It was quite a sight to behold.<br />

Girard-Perregaux’s particular forte is highly technical<br />

men’s watches, all produced since 1791 in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Girard-Perregaux manufactory in La-Chauxde-Fonds.<br />

Prices range from SFr6,000 up to<br />

SFr500,000. What makes <strong>the</strong>se watches special<br />

and expensive is <strong>the</strong> exquisite fine work. All parts<br />

are made by hand, traditional skills and cutting<br />

edge technology combining to produce superb<br />

timepieces. Quality control is <strong>the</strong> strictest possible.<br />

Girard-Perregaux is famous for its tourbillon<br />

watches with three gold bridges. Recently <strong>the</strong>y<br />

have also been noted for <strong>the</strong>ir prize-winning<br />

ladies’ timepieces.<br />

The new boutique<br />

The new shop has been open since mid-December.<br />

The boutique is not large but it is cleverly<br />

designed with an almost square floorplan for <strong>the</strong><br />

actual shop, and an additional room for private<br />

consultations. The walls are covered from floor to<br />

The team of architects (from right to left):<br />

Roberto Baciocchi from Tuscany, his two<br />

assistants Daniele Detti and Paolo Lanzi,<br />

and local site supervisors Stefan Jaggi<br />

and Elisabeth Wampfler.<br />

ceiling with wenge, a special African wood with a<br />

distinctive vein and of a rich brown colour. In <strong>the</strong><br />

shop, instead of pictures, small square boxes<br />

lined with titanium have been set into <strong>the</strong> walls,<br />

giving <strong>the</strong> impression of jewellery boxes and<br />

showing off <strong>the</strong> individual watches to best advantage.<br />

In fact <strong>the</strong> whole shop is designed to create<br />

<strong>the</strong> feeling of walking into and looking around <strong>the</strong><br />

inside of a jewellery box.<br />

According to Luigi Macaluso, nothing was left to<br />

chance. Every element has been carefully considered<br />

and personalized, just like a Girard-Perregaux<br />

timepiece. At <strong>the</strong> owner’s recommendation,<br />

<strong>the</strong> architect, Roberto Baciocchi from Arezzo in<br />

Tuscany, took his inspiration from a Donald Judd<br />

exhibition and <strong>the</strong> geometric forms of this artist’s<br />

work. The colours are sober and warm; <strong>the</strong> lines<br />

pure and devoid of all excess. The rich brown of<br />

<strong>the</strong> walls sets off <strong>the</strong> green lea<strong>the</strong>r upholstery<br />

beautifully, which itself is inspired by Mies van<br />

der Rohe designs. The titanium table cum counter<br />

appears to float – it is attached by its narrow end<br />

to a wall and has no legs – and demonstrates <strong>the</strong><br />

strength of this highly durable and complex material<br />

that is also used in watch-making.<br />

Who is behind Girard-Perregaux?<br />

It all started in Geneva. Since 1791 J. F. Bautte<br />

has built up a reputation for ultra-thin timepieces.<br />

In what was for his time an extremely innovative<br />

move, he combined all watch-making crafts<br />

under one roof and thus created a manufactory in<br />

Geneva. His successor Constant Girard, a brilliant<br />

watchmaker in his own right who created <strong>the</strong><br />

wristwatch, married Marie Perregaux<br />

in 1856. This union gave<br />

<strong>the</strong> house <strong>the</strong> name it still goes<br />

by today. After several changes of<br />

hands, in 1992 Luigi Macaluso<br />

from Turin took over at <strong>the</strong> helm<br />

of Girard-Perregaux.<br />

Advertisement<br />

For Sale: Estate & Incorporated Company – near Geneva and Lausanne<br />

Two adjacent farm houses (1850 – 1890 C.E.): 1. renovated house, over 30<br />

rooms (5 apartments); 1000 sq. meters of surface. 2. farm to be renovated:<br />

2500 cubic meters.<br />

5000 sq. M. land with access to <strong>the</strong> Jura parkland & forests. Views on Alps &<br />

Jura. Pictures: http://homepage.mac.com/judy.mutziger/Montricher/PhotoAlbum44.html<br />

Owner: Judy@applefields.com. tel: + 41 (0) 21 864 55 25<br />

News<br />

by Anne Pfeiffer-Brechbühl<br />

Opening night: one of <strong>the</strong> fifteen ice blocks with a<br />

watch frozen inside it, outside <strong>the</strong> new boutique.<br />

From right to left: Luigi Macaluso, owner, and<br />

his wife Monica with Doris Schoch, <strong>the</strong> manager<br />

of <strong>the</strong> brand new Girard-Perregaux boutique.<br />

Mas<strong>the</strong>ad<br />

Editorial:<br />

Anne Pfeiffer-Brechbühl anne.pfeiffer©gstaadlife.ch<br />

Antoinette de Scheel antoinette.descheel@gstaadlife.ch<br />

Diana Kiker-Oehrli diana.kiker©gstaadlife.ch<br />

Xavier Ferguson xavier.ferguson@gstaadlife.ch<br />

Frank Müller-Brand frank.mueller@gstaadlife.ch<br />

Marc Rome (Arts column) mr.rome@ukonline.co.uk<br />

Peter Kuntze-Schneider (Advertising)<br />

peter.kuntze@gstaadlife.ch<br />

Publishing, Conception, Printing:<br />

Müller Marketing & Druck AG, Gstaad<br />

Subscriptions: Tel. 033 748 88 74, J. Boschung<br />

3


TORINO - TOKYO<br />

MICHELE SCIRETTI<br />

Autumn – Winter Collection<br />

Have pleasure in inviting you<br />

to <strong>the</strong> presentation of <strong>the</strong> new collection at <strong>the</strong><br />

Palace Hotel Gstaad<br />

6 – 9 January 2005<br />

4.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.<br />

Cocktail: 6 January 2005 at 5.00 p.m.<br />

Michele Sciretti will be again at <strong>the</strong> Palace Hotel Gstaad<br />

from 13 to 15 February 2005<br />

PRAISE FOR THE SERPENT AND THE MOON<br />

“Princess Michael of Kent has written an absorbing account, centered<br />

on <strong>the</strong> glamorous Diane de Poitiers, of a dramatic time in French history.<br />

Vivid evocations of court life under Henri II accompany shrewd<br />

analyses of <strong>the</strong> politics of royalty.” ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER, JR.<br />

“History as high adventure! A fascinating period of time brought to<br />

life by a scholarly and masterful writer.” DANNY DANZIGER<br />

coauthor of 1215 and The Year 1000<br />

“I always knew that Diane de Poitiers was <strong>the</strong> mistress of a French king,<br />

but I never knew her fascinating, three-in-a-marriage romantic history until<br />

reading The Serpent and <strong>the</strong> Moon by Princess Michael of Kent.<br />

The author, who knows a thing or two about palace intrigue herself, writes<br />

with style and panache and serves up marvelous details of pageantry,<br />

court fashion, furniture, and gossip worthy of <strong>the</strong> master of <strong>the</strong> genre,<br />

<strong>the</strong> duc de Sanit-Simon.” DOMINICK DUNNE<br />

Her Royal Princess Michael of Kent<br />

THE SERPENT AND THE MOON<br />

Intrigue, Love, and Rivalry<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Court of Renaissance France<br />

The true story of an extraordinary love triangle<br />

that endured for 28 years and changed <strong>the</strong> face of<br />

France—<strong>the</strong> three-sided marriage between<br />

Henri II, his wife Ca<strong>the</strong>rine de Medici, and his<br />

mistress Diane de Poitiers who was eighteen<br />

years his senior.<br />

The Serpent and <strong>the</strong> Moon is a saga of love, war,<br />

intrigue, betrayal, and persecution, set during history’s<br />

most important cultural and spiritual revolutions,<br />

<strong>the</strong> Renaissance and <strong>the</strong> Reformation.<br />

Her Royal Highness Princess<br />

Michael of Kent has for <strong>the</strong> past<br />

twelve years pursued a successful<br />

lecture career. She lives with her<br />

husband, Prince Michael of Kent, in<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir apartment in Kensington Palace<br />

and <strong>the</strong>ir house in Gloucestershire,<br />

England.<br />

CHF 48.–, $ 29.95 hardcover,<br />

to buy at Cadonau Shop, Gstaad<br />

352 pages, 16 pages of full-color photographs,<br />

50 black-and-white photographs throughout<br />

EAN: 978074325104452995<br />

0-7432-5104-0<br />

PROMENADE GSTAAD · À CÔTÉ DE L’HÔTEL OLDEN<br />

Tel: 033 744 13 78 · Fax: 033 744 84 78<br />

For Men and Women


Record investments<br />

Have you been wondering<br />

what’s happening in <strong>the</strong> Gemeinde<br />

of Saanen? Here’s a<br />

round-up of <strong>the</strong> main points<br />

of 2004’s last assembly.<br />

165, or just 4% of people with<br />

<strong>the</strong> right to vote, were present<br />

in <strong>the</strong> Hotel Landhaus Saanen<br />

at <strong>the</strong> assembly on Friday<br />

10 December, 2004. They<br />

approved of a SFr3.1 million<br />

credit for <strong>the</strong> renovation of <strong>the</strong><br />

Hotel Landhaus Saanen, ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />

credit of SFr365,000 for <strong>the</strong><br />

purchase of <strong>the</strong> hospital plot,<br />

and <strong>the</strong>y okayed <strong>the</strong> purchase<br />

of 30 underground parking<br />

spaces on <strong>the</strong> Gstaad skating<br />

rink premises for SFr1.4 million.<br />

culture<br />

Grand Hotel<br />

Bellevue<br />

Silvester dinner, with<br />

music from pianist<br />

David Csaba and Ray<br />

Blue & Sharon Harris<br />

033 748 00 00<br />

December 31 - evening<br />

Palace Hotel<br />

August Laube<br />

Exhibition of <strong>print</strong>s &<br />

books 033 748 50 00<br />

January 3 – 9<br />

galerie paltenghi<br />

Erni, Tobiasse, Najean,<br />

Stauffer, Paltenghi<br />

033 744 89 66<br />

December 31– January 22<br />

Galerie Lovers of<br />

Fine Art - Gstaad<br />

Ongoing works for sale<br />

Balthus, Bill, Haring<br />

033 744 00 44<br />

New York Art<br />

P.S.1 MoMA<br />

Hans-Peter Feldmann<br />

‘100 Years’<br />

German Artist<br />

Feldmann’s series of 101<br />

photographic portraits of<br />

people aged 8 months to<br />

100 years old.<br />

They also voted for additional parking lots at <strong>the</strong><br />

Sports Centre/Festival Tent, which will cost<br />

SFr475,000. All <strong>the</strong>se points were undisputed<br />

and gave rise to little discussion.<br />

The Saanen Gemeinde is well off, but in recent<br />

years large investments have been made that will<br />

incur fur<strong>the</strong>r costs in <strong>the</strong> future. In 2005 a record<br />

SFr22.5 million will be invested. Total expenditure<br />

for 2005 is projected at SFr56.7 million, with<br />

revenue running to SFr54.7 million. The loss of<br />

SFr2 million and fur<strong>the</strong>r investments may mean<br />

that a tax increase will be necessary in 2006.<br />

Changes for <strong>the</strong> new legislature period, 2005-<br />

2008, include <strong>the</strong> following: <strong>the</strong> new president of<br />

<strong>the</strong> municipal council is A. Hurni, who is also<br />

taking over as <strong>the</strong> new head of <strong>the</strong> zoning commission<br />

and <strong>the</strong> security commission will be lead<br />

by R. Schwenter. by Anne Pfeiffer-Brechbühl<br />

Herbert Buchs<br />

It has taken some time and considerable<br />

determination over <strong>the</strong> last two years on<br />

<strong>the</strong> part of Buchs, to continue exploring<br />

<strong>the</strong> materials and employed methods that<br />

now make up <strong>the</strong> latest work being<br />

exhibited in <strong>the</strong> ‘Lumina’ series.<br />

Works on show are a mixture of painting<br />

and sculpture, eclectic to <strong>the</strong> eye at first,<br />

but under closer scrutiny <strong>the</strong>re is organisation<br />

apparent in <strong>the</strong> randomness of<br />

selection. All paintings on show are of<br />

mixed media; tempera, oils and pigments<br />

which have been hand-ground to produce<br />

Buchs’ distinctive style. On display to note<br />

are a number of bronze works, of which<br />

one particular set of four, appear to be<br />

ergonomic in design yet require time and<br />

effort to fully appreciate <strong>the</strong> piece. In fact<br />

all of <strong>the</strong> works on display will invite <strong>the</strong><br />

viewer to participate and make <strong>the</strong>ir own<br />

selection.<br />

Galerie Atelier D’Artiste Gstaad<br />

033 744 77 33<br />

contributions please contact: Marc Rome mr.rome@ukonline.co.uk<br />

FYI<br />

Important Numbers<br />

Medical emergency number 033 744 86 86<br />

General Medicine Dr. med. Gerhard Amiet, Saanen, 033 748 66 11<br />

Dr. med Nick Hoyer, Gstaad, 033 744 74 74<br />

Dr. med. Ondrej Müller-Müller, Saanen, 033 744 63 73, 079 415 88 65<br />

Dr. med Niklaus Perreten, Gstaad, 033 744 32 32<br />

Dr. med. Walter Raaflaub, Schönried, 033 744 81 22<br />

Dr. med. Benoît Zurkinden, Chalet Le Pommier, Les Mourets, 026 925 87 00<br />

Surgery Dr. med. Chr. Reuteler, Saanen, 033 744 17 16, 079 218 84 34<br />

Dr. med. Dominique Gyger, Hospital Saanen Sonnenhof AG, 033 748 02 00<br />

Dr. med. Thomas Fellmann, Hospital Saanen Sonnenhof AG, 033 748 02 00<br />

Internal Medicine Dr. med. C. Hauswirth, Saanen 033 748 66 11<br />

Dr. med F. Scorrano, Chefarzt, Spital Saanen, 033 748 02 51<br />

Dr. med. B. Michel-Sollberger, Gstaad, 033 744 15 62<br />

Dr. med. B. Sollberger Michel, Gstaad, 033 744 15 62<br />

Gynecology Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Gigon, 033 748 03 18<br />

Dr. med. Sorin Fleancu, 033 748 03 18<br />

Hospital Sonnenhof AG 033 748 02 00<br />

Ambulance, Saanen 033 744 44 30<br />

Air Glaciers 033 744 55 50<br />

Hospital in Château-d’Œx 026 924 75 93<br />

Chemists Ahmed Ihab el Din, Gstaad, 033 744 53 60<br />

Apo<strong>the</strong>ke u. Laboratorium Gstaad, Dr. A. u. M. Kropf-Schenk, 033 748 86 26<br />

Haroun, Grand-Rue, Château-d’Œx, 026 924 64 13<br />

de la Tour, Grand-Rue, Château-d’Œx, 026 924 64 65<br />

Vets Dr. med. vet. Hanskurt Hauswirth, Gstaad, 033 744 31 41<br />

Dr. med. vet Hannes Moor, Gstaad, 033 744 32 31<br />

Dentists Dentists emergency weekend service, 033 748 02 00<br />

Dr. med. dent. Per Arman, Schönried, 033 744 90 61<br />

Dr. med. dent. Laszlo Toth, Gstaad, 033 744 15 45<br />

Dr. med. dent. Ch. B. Tritten, Saanen, 033 748 73 73<br />

Fire-brigade 118 · Police 117<br />

Car accident service<br />

7 days, 24 hours, Tel. 033 744 88 80<br />

Apology<br />

In <strong>the</strong> issue of 24 December 2004 we forgot to<br />

mention <strong>the</strong> Landi Saanenland in our “Last minute<br />

food shopping” table. We apologize sincerely.<br />

The Landi Saanenland is open on 31 December<br />

from 07:30-12H and is closed on 1 and 2 Janu-<br />

Saturday 1 January until<br />

Friday 7 January, 2005<br />

ary. Regular opening hours are<br />

as follows: Monday through Friday<br />

07:30-12H and 13:30-<br />

18H, Saturday 07:30-12H, Sunday<br />

closed.<br />

Saturday, 1 January<br />

20:30H, Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen: INFO: 033 765 30 12<br />

Folklore evening with <strong>the</strong> «Ländlerkapelle Heinz Annen»<br />

Sunday, 2 January<br />

20:30H, Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen: INFO: 033 765 30 12<br />

Traditional 2 January dance with <strong>the</strong><br />

«Ländlerkapelle Hählen-Perreten» and <strong>the</strong> «Wildhornjutzer»<br />

«She & He» raceing competion:<br />

Schönried, Horneggli «Lägerlift», <strong>the</strong> race starts at 13:00H<br />

Thursday, 6 January<br />

16:00H, Saanen: INFO: 033 748 81 60<br />

Village tour with visit to <strong>the</strong> museum of Saanen<br />

Friday, 7 January<br />

20:30H, Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen: INFO: 033 765 30 12<br />

Folklore evening with <strong>the</strong> «Ländlerkapelle Heinz Annen»<br />

10:00H, Kapälliplatz, Gstaad: INFO: 033 744 57 49<br />

«Gstaad-Märete» market events<br />

5


hot food till 2 a.m.<br />

LATE HOURS<br />

DINING<br />

&<br />

PHONE 033 748 49 50<br />

DANCING<br />

GSTAAD – ROUGEMONT<br />

CHÂTEAU-D’OEX – GRUYERE<br />

CHALETS & APARTMENTS<br />

FOR SALE<br />

Compagnie Foncière SA<br />

1659 Rougemont<br />

Tél. +41 (0)26 925 10 00<br />

Fax. +41 (0)26 925 10 05<br />

www.gstaadrealestate.com<br />

orient-antiquariat ag<br />

Rare Books<br />

A choice of fine rare books,<br />

from <strong>the</strong> 17th up to <strong>the</strong> 20th century, often in limited <strong>edition</strong>s.<br />

From CHF 2000.– to 15 000.–<br />

orient-antiquariat ag marc-edouard enay<br />

chalet auerhahn · CH-3778 schönried/gstaad<br />

phone +41 (0)33 744 01 01 · fax +41 (0)33 744 01 02<br />

mail@orient-antiquariat.com · www.orient-antiquariat.com<br />

Müller · Gstaad


A Politically Incorrect View During Country Night<br />

I travelled back to Gstaad this year only for<br />

<strong>the</strong> Country-Western gig. I came for <strong>the</strong> first<br />

time last year. The whole shindig impressed<br />

me enough that I scrounged up a couple of<br />

tickets for this year. That Marcel Bach is<br />

making <strong>the</strong> entertainment better and better<br />

each year. Everybody up <strong>the</strong>re in Saanenland<br />

should tell “Cowboy Bach” that he is doing<br />

himself proud with <strong>the</strong> Country Night in<br />

Gstaad. If only he would buy himself a real<br />

pair of Texas boots!<br />

The only problem with <strong>the</strong> weekend was what I<br />

was hearing. Naw, it wasn’t <strong>the</strong> music. It was<br />

everybody belittling and whining about President<br />

George W. Bush. I know ‘W’ has stubbed his toe a<br />

few times, especially in Iraq. After President<br />

George knocked Saddam out of <strong>the</strong> saddle, ‘W’<br />

seemed to have forgotten about how to round up<br />

<strong>the</strong> people of Iraq into a workable democracy. I<br />

admit ‘W’s’ vision was sorely lacking in comparison<br />

with <strong>the</strong> Marshall Plan.<br />

Like <strong>the</strong> Europeans during <strong>the</strong> liberation after<br />

World War II, ‘W’ thought <strong>the</strong> Iraqi folk would be<br />

hollering and cheering <strong>the</strong> troops as heroes<br />

instead of sniping and shooting at American soldiers.<br />

The Iraqi mind is devilishly hard to figure<br />

Letter<br />

out. A fellow might think that after Saddam had been whipping up<br />

on his own people for decades, <strong>the</strong> Iraqis would appreciate a little<br />

relief from oppression, murder, and mayhem. But no. After sending<br />

Saddam to pasture, <strong>the</strong> Iraqis started shooting up <strong>the</strong>mselves and<br />

everybody else <strong>the</strong>re to help <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

There’s <strong>the</strong> quandary. Nei<strong>the</strong>r ‘W’, nor any o<strong>the</strong>r American, Republican<br />

or Democrat, can comprehend just how <strong>the</strong> Iraqis are going to<br />

behave. The same was true for Saddam. No sane Texan would<br />

refuse to cooperate with weapons inspectors, if he saw <strong>the</strong> hell-fire<br />

military power of <strong>the</strong> United States and <strong>the</strong> bull-headedness of<br />

Bush. Surely anyone with a smattering of brain cells could see as<br />

plain as his thumb <strong>the</strong> possibility of being ratted out like a rabbit in<br />

a hole surrounded by bloodhounds, arrested and maybe killed, and<br />

relieved of <strong>the</strong> millions of dollars stolen from oil revenues. That’s<br />

just not right thinking on Saddam’s part.<br />

No one can blame ‘W’ for attacking Iraq with that sort of mentality<br />

commanding <strong>the</strong> Baghdad brigade. Saddam was acting as if he had<br />

really tucked away weapons of mass destruction somewhere in<br />

Iraq. The best thing to do to Saddam was to hog-tie him before he<br />

did something crazy.<br />

Down where I come from, if somebody serious says he’s planning to<br />

shoot me and won’t let me search him for a weapon, he deserves a<br />

kick in <strong>the</strong> seat of his pants, even if I later find out he is unarmed. I<br />

believe in <strong>the</strong> cautious option. If somebody, especially a genocidal<br />

maniac, threatens my family or me, I know who comes first.<br />

DILJI<br />

Gold and Silver Art<br />

Had ‘W’ stalled <strong>the</strong> attack long enough for Saddam<br />

to fire off a couple of those Scud missiles or<br />

powder Iran with a dusting of anthrax, <strong>the</strong> Europeans<br />

and everybody else would have accused<br />

<strong>the</strong> United States of being indecisive, waffling on<br />

<strong>the</strong> issue, or overlooking an obvious catastrophe<br />

soon to happen. You Swiss knock out potential<br />

avalanches before <strong>the</strong>y occur, whenever you can.<br />

You don’t wait for tons of snow to come cascading<br />

down <strong>the</strong> mountain to demolish villages and<br />

smo<strong>the</strong>r to death those caught underneath. ‘W’<br />

was just grooming <strong>the</strong> Middle East as a precaution<br />

against disaster.<br />

In Texas, many of us immigrant families knew of<br />

relatives who fought on both sides of WWII - some<br />

for America; some o<strong>the</strong>rs, who stayed behind, for<br />

Germany. I swear it would have been better for<br />

everyone had <strong>the</strong> United States, Britain, France,<br />

or even Germany worked out a way to avoid <strong>the</strong><br />

consequences all toge<strong>the</strong>r. As we say in Texas,<br />

don’t leave your branding iron in <strong>the</strong> fire too long<br />

- it gets too hot to handle.<br />

Hope to see y’all next year.<br />

Buckin’ Bob Schneider<br />

Old River Ranch, Anhuac, Texas<br />

High-Class<br />

decorative objects<br />

PALACE HOTEL<br />

GSTAAD<br />

th<br />

6 January 2005 to<br />

th<br />

9 January 2005<br />

05.00 p.m. to 12.00 p.m.<br />

Cocktail:<br />

th<br />

6 January 2005 at 05.00 p.m


Swiss luxury is more<br />

than a quality wristwatch.<br />

With Credit Suisse, you have a partner who will take you that decisive step fur<strong>the</strong>r in all matters relating to your<br />

investments, mortages and payment transactions. Visit us on <strong>the</strong> Promenade in Gstaad. Tel. 033 748 97 97 or<br />

www.credit-suisse.com/privatebanking<br />

Credit Suisse Private Banking<br />

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