GstaadLife

A new chapter has opened not only with the JFK international school but also with its previous managers - the Lovell's. Well, Bill, Sandy, Bryce and Vicktoria Lovell started their own company - Lovell Camps which offer boys and girls from around the globe both summer and winter holidays. They told us that these camps combine sport, language, and outdoor and cultural excursions. More after the jump.

BEMO (Bewegte Momente) is happening again - Sunday October 23 2011 from 10h00 to 13h00 at the school sports center between Saanen and Gstaad. They bring out every bit of sports equipment you can think of and the children can use everything for free. Parents are responsible for their little ones so you cannot just dump them there - but lots of fun is guaranteed and they will sleep soundly that night.

The construction markers are finally up for the next monster construction project in Saanenland. The development will be built at the east entrance to the village where 6 duplex and one triplex house are planned featuring about 80 apartments and space for offices. For details and pictures go to gstaad-saanen-site.ch. Any objections?

For years we have waited for someone to come up with a plan and the permission to do something with that old, run-down Hotel La Gare in Saanen. Over the past decade, various architects have tried to get construction permission to rebuild the Hotel La Gare but so far no consensus could be reached. Now Fabian Reichenbach of the eponymous architecture firm based in Gstaad believes he has the answer, and is trying again with what is described as a smaller more 'Saanenlike' project. Coming in midst of the Saanen renaissance, this one feels like it has a chance, so let's hope for some sanity on the planning commission because anything is better than the current eyesore. 

 
Don't miss this great market - lots of stands, lots of food and lots of fun. It starts at 9:00 and goes until 17:00. The Lions Club Gstaad Saanenland will also have a stand there where they collect old reading glasses for SightFirst - so don't forget to bring them. 

Is it getting harder and harder to convince your teenagers to come up and slow down in Gstaad? Well now they don't have to slow down, with the July 16 opening of the new skatepark in Oeyetli-Saanen (on the other side of the field beside the river opposite the Eggli-Saanen skilift). The skateboard club of Saanenland is also holding training sessions for all-comers every Thursday from 18h00 to 19h30. 

The Steigenberger Hotel Gstaad-Saanenland celebrated its 30th anniversary last Thursday. If you haven't payed it much attention so far (chain hotel and all that) we can warmly suggest to give it a try - the view from its terrace is simply amazing and GstaadLife recommends as an insider tip for August 1st fireworks. 

 
The Hotel Landhaus Saanen recently unveiled its newly-renovated hotel rooms. Not bad, not bad, we have to say - we like the local 'Scherenschnitt' art and the use of special materials. Interior designer Andreas von Siebenthal is the man behind this simple but effective alpine chic decor.

At a John F Kennedy School informational meeting this past Saturday June 11 2011 at the Hotel Landhaus in Saanen, Peter Livanos, school parent and Greek shipping tycoon, announced that directors Bill and Sandy Lovell are retiring after 40 years of service. Gareth Davies, a highly-experienced international educator and school director, has been appointed the new headmaster starting in August 2011. While rumors have been swirling in the community for some time of Livanos' impending "takeover" of the Saanenland's famous old English-speaking school, Livanos explained that he was acting merely as a facilitator for the school's transition from private to public ownership, convincingly dispelling rumors that he was buying the school. In fact the school is to be entirely owned by the John F Kennedy School Foundation, a partnership between the school and the commune of Saanen.  The foundation is a registered Swiss non-profit and tax-exempt organization (Reg. No. CH-092.7.014.596-3) that has been created to provide funding for building projects, new programs and scholarships. A nine-member board of trustees controls the foundation, and the management of the school has been turned over to a professional team. 

 
The Jaguar Drivers' Club of Switzerland is celebrating in Gstaad-Saanen this year, commemorating two events next weekend June 16 2011. Firstly, the club was founded 35 years ago. Secondly, and far more importantly, 50 years ago on March 15 1961 the Jaguar E-type was presented for the first time at the Geneva Salon International de l'Automobile. The highlight of the weekend is planned for Sunday June 19 2011 from 10h00, when about 120 classic Jags and Daimlers will parade between Gstaad and Saanen. And if you just want to drool, the parking lot of the Steigenberger will be the place to be.