Casino smoking snuffed on Jan. 1

Law is one of more than 20 that go into effect Tuesday

By Yu Miao, Camera Staff Writer
Monday, December 31, 2007

Colorado gamblers and casino workers will get a breath of fresh air starting New Year's Day.

A new law going into effect Tuesday removes a casino exemption from the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act.

It requires casinos to offer a smoke-free environment, adding them to the same July law that bans smoking in restaurants and bars across the state.

State Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, sponsor of the bill, said her main consideration was the health of casino workers.

"There are 8,000 casino employees in Colorado," McGihon said. "They are entitled to the same protections that are granted to other business employees."

She said casino workers came to her and asked for "no exemptions."

Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, another supporter of the bill, said the law will also benefit non-smoking patrons at casinos by preventing their exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Under the new law signed by Gov. Bill Ritter in June, Colorado will join 17 other states banning smoking incasinos.

Diane Rierden, assistant controller at Eureka Casino in Black Hawk, isn't a smoker, but she's worried about the financial effects of the new ban.

"We feel a lot of our patrons here associate smoking with gambling," Rierden said. "A lot of people feel that's the draw of casinos. They are free to do whatever they want to do without other people telling them what to do."

In 1991, Colorado legalized gambling casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. There are also two American Indian casinos -- at Ignacio and Towaoc -- which are not subject to the new law.

More than 20 other laws will also go into effect Tuesday, including:

Gambling The "Gambling Payment Intercept Act" ensures the gambling winnings of parents who owe child support be put toward their outstanding child-support obligations.

Health care HB 1355 prevents insurance companies from charging more for health care if employees have a pre-existing condition.

Foreclosures HB 1157 increases the time homeowners facing foreclosure can "cure" an assessment delinquency from 45

Loan sharks SB 57 creates the “Uniform Debt-Management Services Act” requiring that debt-management services, including loan companies, have fair debt-repayment plans.

Home › Movies

Moondance film festival returning to Boulder in '08

By Yu Miao, Camera Staff Writer
Saturday, December 29, 2007

The Moondance International Film Festival was started by longtime resident Elizabeth English in 2000 in Boulder. After six events at Chautauqua Park, English decided the festival needed a bigger venue, so she moved it to Hollywood.

Now the festival has come back to its hometown.

English said she had successful events in Hollywood the past two years with a lot of media coverage and celebrity attendance, but it was hard for her to connect with the audiences, filmmakers and screenwriters. Boulder, instead, has the right ambiance and feeling of intimacy for Moondance, she said.

"There is the magnetism of Boulder," English said. "Once you come here, you just have to come back. It's a curse of sorts. Chief Niwot's curse."

English has been living in Boulder for 28 years. Even when she movedthe festival to Hollywood, she maintained her residence here. Coming back from L.A. after the festival, English immediately drove to Chautauqua.

"I felt I was home. And I said, 'You know what, that's it for Hollywood. I'm coming back.'"

The Moondance festival, English said, promotes and celebrates nonviolence, environmental preservation and women. She said she wants to present films and scripts that have the power to raise awareness about vital social issues and to inspire people to take positive action.

The festival organizer said she's frustrated by the "old boys' club" character of the film industry. Of the popular Sundance Film Festival, she said, "In the past 22 years, it never had a woman win."

Claudine Jordan, a documentary producer and film professor from Chicago, has submitted three films to the Moondance festival. She said the event provides a unique personal connection, which she couldn't find in other film festivals.

"I had a wonderful time at the festival and have met so many people," Jordan said.

The Moondance International Film Festival will take place at Chautauqua's Community House and various venues around Boulder on Aug. 29, 30 and 31. Entries for the festival can be submitted starting Tuesday.

Kathy Beeck, director of the Boulder International Film Festival and co-founder of the Colorado Film Society, said she welcomes the return of Moondance. Beeck and co-workers are setting up programs for the fourth Boulder International Film Festival, which will take place in February.

She sees the two festivals as having different focuses and believes people will benefit from watching the films on diverse themes.

"It's our mission to bring excellent films and filmmakers to Boulder," Beeck said. "It's a great thing to see film society growing in Boulder."