The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Vario closing after 12 years in town

Vario, an Italian ceramics store, is closing its Steamboat Springs location after 12 years in town. The store’s Vail location will remain open.

West Elevation Architects hires project captain

West Elevation Architects, a Steamboat Springs-based firm specializing in modern architecture, has hired Jeff Bergeron as project captain. Bergeron will be responsible for designing and presenting the firm’s high-end residential projects, the company stated in a news release. Additionally, Bergeron will compose computer designs for the company’s residential and commercial endeavors.

Bergeron brings more than seven years of design experience to West Elevation. Since graduating with a master’s of architecture degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Bergeron has held job captain positions with Kelly & Stone Architects in Steamboat and the Steamboat office of Charles Cunniffe Architects.

West Elevation’s staff has continued to grow this year, according to the release. In January, Carolyn Corrigan joined the firm as senior architect and custom design specialist, specializing in interiors. Beth Banning also came on board in January as the intrinsic art specialist. The firm recently relocated, expanding office space and incorporating a design center. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for early fall.

Consumer prices go up 1.1 percent in June

The price of a quart of milk, a plane ticket and a host of other products increased in June at nearly the fastest pace in a generation, The Associated Press reported last week.

In the latest shock wave to hit the economy, consumer prices increased 1.1 percent in June from the month before, far faster than the expected rate of 0.7 percent and almost double the reading from May, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

The only time in the past quarter-century monthly inflation has been that high was in September 2005, when prices jumped 1.3 percent, mostly because Hurricane Katrina shut down oil refineries and energy prices spiked.