Controversy surrounds the Wispile - GstaadLife print edition
Controversy surrounds the Wispile - GstaadLife print edition
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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