We're not sure what the New York City equivalent of this would be — flagging taxis for Rupe? — but it is certainly a sign of the times.

Staffers at the Longmont Times-Call recently received an internal e-mail inviting them to work as valets at a private Christmas party for the Lehman family, who own the paper. And at least two employees have already accepted the offer.

The party honors Ed Lehman, who's currently in his 51st year as the Times-Call's publisher, and his wife Connie — and Dean Lehman, the paper's editor and president (and Ed's son), says valets are needed because many of the guests are elderly and may need a little extra help. So, too, do small-market journalists in a struggling economy, so Lehman saw it as natural to give Times-Call workers the chance to earn a little extra cash as Christmas approaches. He says valets will earn the same rate of pay they receive at their day job for the hours they work.