Photo by Don Jones, Studio 9 Photography
One sign of a community on the rise is a flourishing Arts community. This is true for Colorado Springs in many ways.
With our region’s natural assets as a backdrop, it’s little won der so many are attracted to live, work, and play here. Add to that, the talents and gifts so many bring to the table, and com bined we have a perfect mix to develop a deep and rich arts scene. This scene presents in the shape of museums, galleries, performing arts centers, sophisticated training and practice centers, community arts displays, concerts, festivals, and even a richer food scene for starters.
It also means, artists of all ages and disciplines and their circle of friends and col leagues are inspired to remain in the region and engage their passions with access to all the assets they require to create and express their talents and offerings.
In this edition, we’ve presented our audience with a just a slice of the arts scene available to the Pikes Peak Region. We’ve selected individuals who are some of the driving forces in the advancement of the arts who are keen to work with city leaders, businesses, and funders to create spaces and opportunity for our art ists. As such, these individuals and groups continually create conversations that are also meaningful for business and economic development in our community, as those who serve in artistic realms are one key to our success as a community. This highly-trained, creative “talent depth” is very attractive to businesses wanting to locate here and employ our citizens. Think about it: Businesses need writers, digital creatives, graphic artists, video production experts, marketing and commu nications experts. We all have art in our homes and offices that is reflective of the influences of the community and natural surroundings. Television stations needs young, creative talent to cover our community in new and interesting ways. Our restaurants can express new and interesting flavors from other cultures and parts of the world. Our world-class entertainment venues and performing arts centers can showcase exciting new works and attract first-rate talent, festivals, experi ences, and events to the region. Who doesn’t’ love a great concert or performance, right? Our museums large and small, can continue to inspire thought and creativi ty in their traditional, modern, and interactive galleries.
I could go on ad infinitum. You get the point. With this edition of NORTH, we want to encourage you to explore our region’s arts scene and to get involved as partici pating artist, as a patron, as a consumer of the arts in all its forms. I’m very pleased to provide this edition which showcases several (not nearly all) of the people, places, and community initiatives that are passionately committed to building a world-class arts destination and incubator.
Happy Arts Month and thank you for reading NORTH! Got art you want to share? Email me. I’m looking to meet you!
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SENIOR EDITOR LeeAnn Harper
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Don Jones, Studio 9 Photography
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER WRITERS & CONTRIBUTERS Marquesa Hobbs, Amy Newland Ward, Gillian Rossi, Dirk Hobbs, Pam Bales, Susan Edmonson, Andy Vick, Jon Khoury, Linda Weise, Pete Schuermann, Stu Duffy, Tyler Dixon, Sheyenne Livingston, Brian Clifford, AdriAnn Bossi, Joel Rauser, PT, MTC, CFC, Jerry Cross, Osama Kassab, DC, Tom Stewart, Travis Bockenstedt, Brent Thompson, Amy Long, Wayne Pinegar, Greg Balman, Roger Hukle, Carianne Johnson, Charmas Lee and Jason Watson, CPA
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We took a small diversion in the last issue and described how a Roth 401k might be preferred to a traditional 401k, and how paying taxes today might be part of an overall tax-saving strategy across your lifetime. In this issue we are going to discuss another tax reduction strategy that has some built-in pitfalls, but overall can be an extremely handy too.
As mentioned earlier, one of our primary focuses at WCG, a Colorado Springs tax and accounting firm headquartered in Flying Horse, is ensuring you are paying the least amount of taxes allowed by law. Seems simple right? Yeah yeah Jason, you say, let’s get on with it. Got it.
You are purchasing real estate property for business or rental use. Typically, the entire purchase price less the portion attributable to land is depreciated over 27.5 or 39.0 years. This can really drag on forever, and not just forever, but forever and ever. For example, a $400,000 single-family rental property with $100,000 attributed to land will have about $10,909 annually in depreciation which is 3.64% of $300,000.
At a mid-range marginal tax rate of 24%, this puts $2,618 into your pock et. Not shabby. But what if you could depreciate in big chunks? What about $50,000 in one year (which is a good starting point using our example above). Now you get to put $12,000 extra in your pocket during the first year. Accelerated cash flow is always nice. Yay!
How does all this black magic work? With a cost-segregation report, all the bricks are figuratively torn down and put into different piles. Some piles are eligible for instant deprecia tion (unlike the hominy grits in My Cousin Vinny), one pile might be a 5-year pile and the remaining pile might revert to the 27.5- or 39.0-year typical rental or business use depreci ation.
Technically and with full-on geek-speak, cost segregation separates property elements that are “dedicated, decorative or removable” from those that are “necessary and ordinary for operation and maintenance of the building.” These piles are called asset classes and they are maintained separately within your property’s depreciation schedule.
The cost of a cost segregation study varies between $750 to a zillion dollars. There is a depreciable property value of about $500,000 where things change. Below that value, the statistical reliability and therefore predictability is very good, and most cost segregation reports can rely on basic property vitals such as address, age, price, square footage, etc.
Said another way, the cost segregation report is relying on a slew of prior reports to homogenize the data and draw cor relations to the basic property vitals. Plus, this technique has been successfully defended in multiple courts.
Conversely, if your property is above $500,000ish, then a “full” cost segregation report is needed where a specialist with an appraiser’s mind analyzes every component of the property and essentially does the brick and pile thing mentioned above. Appliances, floor coverings, window treatments, among several weird things are considered 5-year property. Decks, driveways and landscaping are considered 15year property.
In other words, you are identifying certain elements of the property that are eligible to be depreciated using a shorter period of time.
Is there more? Yes there is! You can do a cost segregation study in 2022 on a property you purchased in 2020, and deduct the accelerated depreciation on your 2022 tax return. It requires a Form 3115 Change in Accounting Method and a Section 481(a) adjustment, but that is your tax professional’s problem.
There are two big pitfalls and some gotchas.
PITFALL #1. If you are considering a cost segregation study on a rental property, and that activity is considered a passive activity, your tax deduction is limited to $25,000 (passive loss limit). If you earn over $150,000 as a household, your tax deduction might be limited to $0. Yes, you are reading that zero correctly.
There are two ways to get around this. First, if you qualify as a real estate professional then your passive loss limits go away. To be a real estate professional as defined by the IRS and not what you hear at the bar, an individual must spend the major ity of his or her time in real property businesses.
In addition, more than half of the personal services per formed in all businesses and activities during the year must be performed in real estate activities. Read this again! If you have another full-time job in which you work 40 hours a week, you will need to work more than 40 hours per week in your real estate business. Having a W-2 is a red flag, as they say, straight out of the audit techniques guide (ATG) from the IRS.
Finally, your hours worked in real estate activities must be more than 750 hours. Any work performed as an investor cannot be counted. There are a bunch of other devils in the details. Yes, most real estate agents qualify, not because they are real estate agents but rather time spent on real estate.
The other way to get around the passive loss limits is to have the activity not be considered passive. Makes sense right? Let’s just pencil-whip this activity and add the word “non-“ in front of it all. Done!
To be a non-passive activity the average stay in the rental must be 7 days or less. Your typical VRBO AirBNB situation. Alternatively, for average stays of 30 days or less, you provide hotel-like services like changing linens during the stay. These two situations are considered non-passive and losses are not limited. As a sidebar, the first example is reported on Sched ule E and the second is on Schedule C.
PITFALL #2. If you cannot escape the passive loss limit, then you must have net rental income from the property or from other properties to absorb the accelerated depreciation expense and grab that accelerated cash.
GOTCHA #1. Recall that depreciation is a tax deferral. When you sell the property, you have depreciation recapture and you must pay back the deferred taxes. There is some tax arbi trage here however, since recapture is limited to 25% where you might have deducted depreciation at a 37% marginal tax rate. You can also escape this gotcha with a Section 1031 likekind exchange.
GOTCHA #2. The cost of the report must be significantly lower than the improved time-value of the accelerated cash flow. In other words, the juice must be worth the squeeze including the audit risk.
Jason Watson, CPA, is a Senior Partner for WCG, Inc. a progressive boutique tax and accounting firm located in northern Colorado Springs.
You may contact him at 719-428-3261 or jason@wcginc.com.
I’m running out of room here. Cost segregation, or “costseg” as the cool kids say at the party can be extremely beneficial. But there are problems to navigate through and like Robert Plant used to sing, (not) all that glitters is gold and sometimes words have two meanings.
Often when shopping for insurance carriers, clients are most concerned about catastrophic losses and may overlook other coverages that are more common. When reviewing a policy with our clients, we discuss each coverage that is available, so you have a knowledgeable understanding of what your policy offers and if you have accepted the coverage specifically. We talk through examples of each coverage to decide if that is an area of concern for you moving forward.
Here are a few examples of the more commonly used endorsements for home, auto and life products.
A little over a year ago, I met with a family for a review of their policies, coverage, and discounts. During the review we uncovered they did not have back-up of sewer coverage. After discussing the coverage with examples, they made the decision to add the endorsement. A couple of months ago, that endorsement paid out for a claim arising from water damage caused by a back-up in the sewer lines. They called our office, and we navigated them through the claims process. Our annual reviews go over in detail every cov erage included and each endorsement that you may add to your policy. We also discuss the deductible options that are best for your financial situation. American Family homeowner policies offers a $1,000 deductible option for wind/hail. Be sure you are aware of your portion in the event of a covered claim. Our clients leave our office with an understanding of what their poli cy will do for them in the event of loss.
The lease gap coverage for a vehicle purchased with a loan/lease is of ten another overlooked coverage that is available. We had a client that rear-ended another vehicle in her newly purchased SUV. At the time of the accident, she owed more on the loan than the vehicle was valued. With the assistance of the lease gap coverage, we covered the gap, and she was able to get in another vehicle without starting upside down. After the claim, she shared with us she did not know that was something that we could offer her. She was quite thankful for the time we took to review over all coverage options available.
A father, the sole income provider for his family of six, was laid off during COVID. He called me to look at ways to cut expenses until he was able to find another job. He asked to cancel his life insurance policy that he had taken out when their first child was born. We reviewed over his options and instead of canceling the policy that he invested in for so long, we direct de posited cash that built up in his policy to assist with their expenses. He did not have to sacrifice his life insurance policy and instead was able to utilize the living benefit of his policy.
Most policies are customizable to protect your family, and wallet, from some of the more common losses that can all add up quick. Talk to your agent about the endorsements that may be available that could save you several thousand dollars in unexpected expenses. If you find yourself without an agent to speak with, give me a call at 819-686-4216. I’d love the opportunity to meet with you and go over the details of your policies.
GROW YOUR NETWORK and become a vital link to future business relationships with culturally diverse consumer needs and an expanding Hispanic local economy.
Be part of the fastest growing chamber in the Pikes Peak Region!
•88% increase membership over the past 3 years
•95% increase in revenue
• 2022 Small Business Champion of the Year presented by the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center
•2019 Association of Chambers of Commerce Largest Increase in Membership Award
•2019 Association of Chambers of Commerce Best Idea Award
•Hosted the inaugural premier summer soiree, ¡LA VIDA! with over 300 guests
•Premier Sponsor of the Colorado Springs Business Journal Rising Stars Awards Ceremony
•Since 2020, producedeover 100 trainings and special events
• Produced the first ever Hispanic Heritage Month Smooth Jazz Benefit Concert
• Seasoned, influential executive leadership
Working Together, We Can Do More.
Brand differentiation occurs when someone (prospect, customer, vendor, employee, stakeholder) perceives a uniquely memorable experience of your business and becomes known for it. Good, bad, or indifferent.
Keep in mind…brand differentiation is not inherently GOOD. A brand can be singled out as different simply because of its inconsistencies, poor service or product quality, high price points, or chaotic culture.
Your goal is to uncover, acknowledge, and LEVERAGE the good/desired differentiators your brand can consistently deliver every day – and become known for them.
But how is that done? By taking the time to assess your authentic brand value positions from the inside out. These are your unique attractor differentiators. They can appeal to employees, customers, prospects, vendors, activists, communities, etc. There are so many ways to differentiate your brand to so many audiences, it gets ex citing to clarify and unpack them in ways you can power fully use them to your competitive advantage.
Here are just a few categories, of many, from my book, Brand DNA. You can use them to uncover your attractor differentiators:
1. Market Solutions: What is unique about how you solve the customer’s problem? (i.e. Proprietary pro cess? Faster? Less expensive? More efficiently?)
2. Employee Culture: Do you have unique benefits, awards structures, paid skills training, exceptional retention rates?
3. Associative Distinction: Is your brand associated with organizations or movements outside of your industry that create a greater sense of belonging? (i.e. environmental, children’s, or animal causes; heart disease or cancer; athletics; etc.)
When you can uncover your attractor differentiators, try to be as specific as you can to make them even more in teresting (i.e., “we incorporate a 27-point process,” or “we pay up to $5k in skills training,” or “we give $10k a year to Paralympics”).
If you want to learn more about the Brand DNA process its benefits for your business, book a complimentary brand assessment with Suzanne Tulien of BrandAscension.com
Suzanne Tulien, Brand Clarity Expert, is Principal + Founder of Brand Ascension, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO. She is co-pioneer of the Brand DNA methodology and author of three books.
www.BrandAscension.com
719.660.2533 Suzanne@brandascension.com
By Charmas B. Lee, performance coach, author, speaker
WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU DESIRE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR? Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his inaugural address in 1933, shared his thoughts on fear. He said, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He then provides us with an amazing descriptive — “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
There are both healthy and unhealthy fears. A healthy fear is something that should command our attention, place us on high alert and move us in the direction of action, such as encountering a mountain lion while hiking along a trail. An unhealthy fear, borrowing from Mr. Roosevelt’s quote, is something that “paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance,” for example the fear of failure can prohibit us from taking the necessary steps to achieve our goals. One of the paradoxes in life is that the fear of failure actually makes failure more likely. The thought of negative consequences threatens you, inhibits you and leads to contracted muscles and shortened breathing. Taking quick shallow breaths usually signals the brain that a threat exists, which stimulates a stress response and therefore establishes destructive thinking patterns.
I recently watched a documentary called Free Solo which featured Alex Honnold. Without any safety devices, Honnold climbs El Capitan, a magnificent rock located in Yosemite Park that is approximately
3000 feet high. As I watched him ascend to the top with no safety devices, I asked myself some questions, such as: What if everything I desire is on the other side of fear? What is fear paying me to give up on my dreams? What might I accomplish if I learned to remove my unhealthy fears? It was one of the most amazing experiences watching him climb to the top of El Capitan. Honnold says, “You cannot suppress fear.” He goes on to say that suppressing the fear will only escalate the feeling. He feels you must expand your comfort zone over and over until you no longer have that fear.
There are three zones: the comfort zone, the learning zone, and the panic zone. The more time we spend in our learning zone, the bigger our comfort zone will become, which in turn further pushes out our learning and panic zones as well. The key is to take one small incremental step forward and learn and grow as much as we can from each step or experience. We can continue to push our comfort zone and learning zone further and further into the outer limits of our potential. The final tidbit of wisdom Honnold shared was that he taught himself to stand outside of his fear. One of the best ways to teach yourself this concept is to play the “what if” game, focusing on positive outcomes versus negative outcomes. Instead of affirming what you DO NOT want, focus on what you DO desire.
Wishing you the best of everything!
Sat Oct 1 at Air Force (Exh.) 6 pm
FRI/SAT OCT 7/8 ALASKA ANCHORAGE (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
Fri/Sat Oct 14/15 at St. Lawrence 5/5 pm
Fri/Sat Oct 21/22 at Arizona State 8/8 pm
FRI OCT 28 AIR FORCE (TV-ATTSN) 7:30 PM
Sat Oct 29 at Air Force 7 pm
FRI/SAT NOV 4/5 MINNESOTA DULUTH (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
Fri/Sat Nov 11/12 at Miami 5/3 pm
FRI/SAT NOV 18/19 ST. CLOUD STATE (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
Fri/Sat Dec 2/3 at Minnesota Duluth (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 6/6 pm
FRI/SAT DEC 9/10 NEBRASKA OMAHA (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
SAT: TEDDY BEAR TOSS
FRI/SAT DEC 30/31 PRINCETON (FRI: TV-ATTSN)/(SAT: TV-KRDO ABC) 7/4 PM
Fri/Sat Jan 13/14 at St. Cloud State 6:30/5 pm
FRI/SAT JAN 20/21 WESTERN MICHIGAN (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
Fri Jan 27 at Denver 7 pm
SAT FEB 4 DENVER (TV-ATTSN) 6 PM
Fri/Sat Feb 10/11 at Nebraska Omaha 6/6 pm
Fri/Sat Feb 17/18 at Western Michigan 5/4 pm
FRI/SAT FEB 24/25 NORTH DAKOTA (FRI: TV-ATTSN) 7:30/6 PM
Fri Mar 3 at Denver 7 pm
SAT MAR 4 DENVER (TV-ATTSN) 6 PM
Fri-Sun Mar 10-12 NCHC 1st Round Playoffs TBA
Fri-Sat Mar 17-18 NCHC Frozen Faceoff TBA
Thr-Sun Mar 23-26 NCAA Regionals TBA
Thr-Sat Apr 6-8 NCAA Frozen Four TBA
BOLD CAPS INDICATE HOME GAMES AT ROBSON ARENA. ALL GAMES LISTED ARE MOUNTAIN TIME AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
FOR TICKETS: CCTigers.com/tickets
• Event runs 5-8 PM
• Free event, we encourage you to RSVP.
• RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-friday-at-theaud-tickets-400822138807
Masterclass and jam session led by the best jazz musicians in the Colorado Springs region.
• Doors open at 5 PM
• Event runs 5:30 - 9 PM
• Free event, we encourage you to RSVP.
Solo Show Feat. Visual Artist Neil Fenton
Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts in Manitou Springs and the Community Cultural Collective in Colorado Springs present: First Friday, Illuminate City Aud on October 7. The goal of the Community Cultural Collective is to renovate, restore and revitalize the now 100 year-old City Auditorium in support of a cultural city center affording access to all citizens; that will assure preserving the history and public use of the auditorium for the next 100 years.
• RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-jamtickets-412416628237
Sign-up sheets will be available prior to the event for those interested in participating in the jam session. More information to follow.
Celebrating all things jazz at City Aud! Showcasing local jazz musicians on the City Aud main stage. More information to follow.
• Doors open at 5 PM
24 NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM FIRST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN features new art, live music, and special events on the first Friday of every month, at dozens of galleries, retailers and nonprofits throughout Downtown Colorado Springs. Smokebrush will feature the work of Neil Fenton for a solo show: An October Retrospective, inside the City Auditorium.
• Event runs 5:30 - 9 PM
• Tickets available for a minimum suggested donation of $10 per ticket
• Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-artistshowcase-jazz-at-city-aud-tickets-412421893987
Jazz pianist/Steinway artist Lenore Raphael joins up with three of her favorite musicians, Steve Hobbs, vibes, Wayne Wilkinson, guitar and Hilliard Greene, bass for an evening of jazz that will present tunes from jazz in the 30’s to jazz in the 60’s and beyond, paying tribute to composers like Duke Ellington, Tad Dameron and the bebop masters, and including tunes from The Great American Song Book.
• Wine and dessert provided.
• Tickets are available for a minimum suggested donation of $25 per ticket.
• Doors open at 5:30 PM
• Event starts at 6 PM
• Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-with-lenoreraphael-tickets-412427741477
• If you can’t make it to the show, be sure to join the international Olympic collectors club to engage with other collectors with your passion, across the globe: www. olympinclub.com
The Community Cultural Collective will feature the work of local visual artists, musicians, and artisans inside the City Auditorium, bringing life into the 100-year-old building! Art rotates monthly. Free event, we encourage you to RSVP.
• 5-8 PM
• RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/last-friday-at-theaud-arts-show-tickets-400825579097
A Halloween party like no other, a costumed celebration of the mystical, mysterious, and macabre. Featuring a carnival of curiosities, live entertainment, and a true crime scary story series with our El Paso County Coroner, Leon Kelly. This event is family friendly during the daytime and includes activities and giveaways for kids. BEWARE, the Auditorium will be haunted after sundown, 18+ at 6 PM.
Multiple Ticketing options available. Please visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/the-coroners-Halloween-ball-a-carnival-ofcuriosities-tickets-411641820767 for more details.
Rogues’ Gallery Comedy Night in the Lon Chaney Theater. Feature: Ed Bell (Comedy Works, Comedy Fort, Not Made For TV Sketch Comedy), Co-headliner: ShaNae Ross (Finalist in Comedy Works New Faces Competition, Denver Improv, High Plains Comedy Fest) and Headliner: Hayden Kristal (America’s Got Talent, Adult Swim voice actress, went viral on TikTok). Hosted by comics Tracy Kellett and Mitch Jones.
Ticket availability to follow.
• ASL team present
• 18+
Colorado Springs is excited to host the Olympin Collectors’ Memorabilia Show in the Olympic City! The show will be held at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium located at 221 E. Kiowa Street. Buy, sell and trade memorabilia, assess the value of your collection and learn about all things Olympics. The show is free and open to the public.
• Friday, November 4: 10AM-5PM
• Saturday November 5: 10AM-4:30PM
• Sunday November 6: 10AM-3PM
Peggy Shivers is a well-known music legend and philanthropist in the Colorado Springs Community. She and her husband Clarence created the Shivers Fund at the Pikes Peak Library District; the fund hosts concerts and other events. The Community Cultural Collective is thrilled to welcome her to the stage of the City Auditorium on November 18.
By Tom Stewart, Owner
“WE OPTED TO DO THE REMODEL INSTEAD OF SELLING AND MOVING INTO A NEW HOME”, said clients Scott and Sheryl.” Like many clients, they had to decide whether it made sense to invest in their current home or move. Stewart Remodel Design Build has found that most people remain in their current homes. Good neighbors, good school district, good location, years of memories — those are some of the reasons people may decide to remain in their home and make the investment to upgrade. People don’t often consider that, when moving, even into a new home, you will probably want to make changes to customize it to your liking. Sounds crazy to remodel a new home, but it happens and often times it’s sooner rather than later.
Stewart categorized Scott and Sheryl’s project as a replace ment job, meaning we didn’t make any major changes to the home. In some remodels, walls may be moved, appliances rearranged, floor plans altered, or even space added. A re placement kitchen remodel usually includes the basics: new appliances, flooring work, new cabinetry, granite or quartz countertops, sink, faucet, disposal, electrical, plumbing, me chanical, drywall repairs, painting, tiling, and some carpentry work.
“The goal was to increase storage and seating by incorporat ing unused space; we integrated a large island to seat more family at large gatherings; and make the space more usable,” recalls Stewart interior designer Deanna Bixler.
One of the challenges on this project was the client’s request to install a television in a cabinet above the refrigerator, to hide the TV when not in use. A mounting arm would swing the TV out of the cabinet for viewing. A false back with reinforcement for the TV mounting arm was built into the cabinet, which was modified while maintaining the look of a semi-custom cabinet. One of the appealing aspects of our profession is that so much of what we do is problem solving.
Each client has something that’s important to them. In this case, communication was at the top of the list so we would text the owner daily to provide the most current updates in addition to the project schedule. Schedules are fluid; that’s the nature of this kind of work. “The clients kept me informed and gave me a heads-up when they were on their way to the home,” Bixler says. Each job is unique; Stewart understands the nuances of remodeling and the importance of listening to the client.
NORTH BY COLORADO MEDIA GROUP | COLORADOMEDIAGROUP.COM 27 NORTH REAL ESTATE KITCHEN REMODEL 5 INCREASE STORAGE 5 INCREASE SEATING 5 INTEGRATE LARGE ISLAND 5 MAKE SPACE USABLE REMODEL OR MOVE?
Carriann Johnson, Interior Designer, TV Personality, Spokesperson
Who doesn’t love this time of year? It’s a favorite for many. And it kicks off when retailers stock their shelves with pumpkin spice “everything.” Even restaurants and cafes get in on the act by offering limited-timeonly drinks, sweets, and scents to lure our senses. This week, I saw snow blowers displayed at my local home improvement store! That’s my reminder that summer is officially over and it’s time for me to switch gears. While I just love this time of year, it creates a large “to do” list. If you’re a homeowner like me, both inside and outside need your attention. So to ease frustration, let me provide you with a simple approach to prepare for this awesome new season.
A WELL DESIGNED HOME IS A WELL ORGANIZED HOME. Start packing away warm weather supplies, including: patio items and decor, outdoor umbrellas, clothing, and lighter household linens. Store your yard games, hoses, and toys. Bring out items such as warmer blankets, throws, pillows, heavier durable rugs, humidifiers, jackets, gloves, hats, space heaters, and candles.
DON’T FORGET THE MAINTENANCE ITEMS! Adjust your ther mostat; consider a furnace check-up; clean your fireplace or chimney; make sure gutters are free of debris; add winter fertilizer to your lawn; winterize your air conditioner and consider a cover for it; check for door and window drafts and fix faulty seals with caulk; winterize your sprinkler system; trim any bushes or shrubs; check your smoke detec tors and add fresh batteries.
WHEN IT COMES TO DECORATING FOR THIS AWESOME SEASON, AVOID THE CLUTTER EFFECT.
• For every seasonal item you bring into your space, remove one. Make sure you don’t simply unpack all of those seasonal items and start adding them throughout your home. For example, If you’re going to put new fall decor on your mantel, make sure you take away items already there. This will keep your space true to your existing design without sabotaging it. For every item I add, I remove one and pack it away in the same box as my holiday decor.
• Not everyone wants orange for fall, or red and green for Christmas. If you don’t already have complimentary colors in your space, red and green can serve as distractions or eyesores. Retailers have made this easy! You can find plenty of decor items, fabrics, rugs, and pillows in earth tones or monochromatic styles at just about any home retailer. Great holiday decor should be consistent with the current style of your home. This allows you to appreciate your home’s current style without drawing attention to the traditional colors of the season.
Centennial Radon Solutions provides Radon mitigation, Radon inspections, testing, and removal for all of Colorado Springs. Our company has over 16 years of experience in the radon removal industry. We are fully licensed and certified Radon experts that offer our Radon services to both residential and commercial properties in the area. Centennial Radon Solutions is a member of the NRSB, NEHA, AARST, and Better Business Bureau, and adhere to all EPA guidelines.
One of the biggest topics in current real estate conversations is home prices. By studying the market and expert review, we can better understand what the future for Colorado Springs may look like.
The SP Case-Shiller report as of June - the most recently published year-over-year price appreciation information that is available nationally. This is what the consumer hears.
Two ways that prices are broken down:
1. Year-over-year pricing: Where prices are right nowthis month, as compared to the same month last year. In Colorado, we’re still seeing strong year-over-year double digit appreciation. Normally, that’s how prices, or price appreciation is measured in this country.
2. Month-over-month pricing: Here we see some red show up, but you see the majority of markets still positive. Not as positive as what we saw year-overyear. Some markets can see all down the way of slight month-over-month depreciation.
We yearly prices and month-over-month prices out of the MLS and derive some sense of what’s happening. Typically when we discuss price appreciation, we talk about how much money or how much value (equity) your home gained over the last year. We typically do not focus on month-over-month; but certainly people are studying that right now.
“The root issue of what drives house prices is almost always supply and demand in any market.” Dave Ramsey
Supply and demand have changed quickly. The market of the last few years saw demand skyrocket. Covid, s, livability, lifestyle choices, and historically low interest rates in the 2%s, on a 30-year fixed, drove high demand.
What happened to supply? Then, the number of homes on the market fell to an all-time low due to the buying frenzy. Today, we see lower demand largely due to higher interest rates. There are fewer showings (down 17%) year-over-year, plus active listings are up 27%.
What’s the inflection point in real estate? It’s the shift in de mand and supply. We’re certainly not oversupplied in Colora do; rather we’re still under-supplied in the number of homes on the market. But we have seen a noticeable shift in supply and demand.
The average of forecasters and home price appreciation in 2022 is 11.3% - the majority of which happened the first half of ’22, but still positive. As for home prices, we’ve seen an unsus tainable amount of appreciation from the previous years. We all knew this would slow down, and this is what a decelerating market looks like. Remember, it is not a depreciating market; it’s just decelerating.
Ivy Zelman projects US house prices to fall 4% in 2023 (a de preciation), and another 5% decline in ’24. Whenever some body forecasts like this, this is what gets the attention. But, let’s also compare this to what others are saying: If you look at the average of all six forecasters, including Zelman, we see 2.5% appreciation. This reflects a normalizing of appreciation, resulting in an equity gain for most home owners.
Many people are wondering, “Should I buy a home right now?” Or, “I don’t know if I want to get in, I’m afraid of a crash”. It is a very normal concern. However, I advise clients to look at the change in home appreciation and equity gain over the last 30 years, 10 years, 5 years, and we make the best possible decision for their family. Together, we look at the macro as well as the micro.
Three reasons why prices [probably] won’t crash from Bill McBride:
1. The mortgage credit availability index shows solid un derwriting practices are being practiced.
2. Prices tend to be sticky downwards unless there are forced sales. Stronger borrowers through solid under writing equals fewer forced sales. In 08’ forced sales were prevalent where people literally owed more on their home than what it was worth.
3. Inventory is still historically low. This is true in Colora do relative to the crash question. The lack of inventory and desirability of Colorado should keep upward pres sure on prices as we go through the next couple of years.
• “US households own $41 trillion in owner-occupied real estate, just over $12 trillion in debt - $29 trillion in equity. The national loan to value (how much you owe in your home compared to what it’s worth), in Q2 2022 was 29.5%, the lowest since 1983.”
• Homeowners average $320,000 of inflation-adjusted equity in their homes in Q2 2022, an all-time high.
Does the rapid supply and demand change mean that the government’s interventions to halt inflation are working? Cer tainly, the Fed is working to slow down inflation. Fed Chair man Powell has stated, “The housing market needs a reset.”
Of course, the Fed does not control interest rates, but they do influence them. And certainly through their work, through the quantitative tightening, the lack of quantitative easing, it is having an impact. The rise in interest rates has certainly caused that shift, this inflection point that we’re seeing in real estate. Everyone has different goals and assets,. so it is important to speak with your trusted advisor as you consider buying or selling real estate in these unique times.
Odeta Kushi - First American, Deputy Chief Economist
NORTH,Inthisspecialfeatureof we’regoingtobe expandingexploringtheregion’ssteadily artscommunityas wellas provideapartiallistingoftheregion’sartsscene.
• Colorado Film Commission (State)
Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective (CSCCC)
• Colorado Springs Conservatory
• Cottonwood Center for the Arts
• Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR)
• Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs (Art Space)
Independent Film Society of Colorado (IFSOC)
• Manitou Springs Creative District
• Pikes Peak Arts Council
• Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs
• Rocky Mountain Women’s Film
• Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts
• All in Good Spirits Art Gallery
• Anita Marie Fine Art
• Art 1eleven
• Art Gallery of the Rockies
• Arati Artists Gallery Bill Stone Studio
• Broadmoor Galleries Commonwheel Artists Co-Op
• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Cottonwood Center for the Arts
• Darpino Studio Gallery Denise V. Duker Fine Art
• Don Jones Studios/Studio 9 Photography Gallery 113
• G44 Galleries Extraordinaire Fine Art & Asian Antiques
• Green Horse Gallery Hunter-Wolff Gallery Ltd.
• Janet Sellers Fine Art Studio-Art Zone Studio
• Kreuser Gallery
• Laura Reilly Fine Art Gallery
• Marsosz Fine Art Nancy Bonig Glass Studio
• Orly’s Gallery of Art Range Gallery
• Secret Window Fine Arts Gallery
• Squash Blossom
• The Bridge Gallery
• The Gallery Below
• Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts
• UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art Valez Galleries
• Vita Brevis Fine Art
• Academy of Children’s Theatre (ACT)
• Colorado Springs Conservatory
• Colorado Springs City Auditorium
• Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center
• ENT Center for the Arts
• Funky Little Theater Company
• Millibo Art Theatre
• Movement Arts Community Studio
• Peak Performing Arts
• Pikes Peak Center for the Per forming Arts
THEATRE d ART
• Theater Works The Movement Gallery
• 22nd Street Clay
• Alvarez Gallery Art School
• A|R Workshop Colorado Springs
• Bemis School of Art
• Brush Strokes
Heller Center for Arts & Humanities
• Manitou Art Center
Paint and Fire Pottery
• Sperry S. & Ella Graber Packard Hall of Music & Art
• Studio Nadeau
4th Infantry Division Museum
• American Numismatic Association
• Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum Garden of the Gods Visitor & Natura Center
• Ghost Town Museum Manitou Cliff Dwellings
• May Natural History Museum Michael Garman Museum & Gallery/Magic Town
• Miramont Castle Museum
• McAllister House Museum
• National Museum of World War II Aviation
• Old Colorado City History Center Museum
Penrose Heritage Museum
• Peterson Air & Space Museum
• Play Street Museum Colorado Springs
• Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & Muse um of the American Cowboy
• Pikes Peak Historical Street Rail way Foundation
• Rock Ledge Ranch Historical Site
• Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum
Space Foundation Headquarters & Discovery Center
• Taylor Museum U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
• Western Museum of Mining & Industry
• World Figure Skating Museum
3D ART LOCATIONS, STUDIOS & GALLERIES
• Black Forest Wood Designs
• Bliss Studio & Gallery
• Bowen Pottery
Carbon Studio LLC
• D Orr Metal Sculpture Don Webster Sculpture Gallery
• Little Colorado & Camino Real Rhonda Lee Pottery
• Starr Kempf’s Kinetic Sculptures Timco Art Pottery
• Tom Phelps
This October, arts and culture take center stage throughout Colorado Springs and across the Pikes Peak region, as our creative community celebrates Arts Month 2022. Orchestrated annually by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, Arts Month elevates the visibility of arts and culture across El Paso and Teller counties by showcasing local talent, providing opportunities for arts advocacy, supporting innovative crosssector community collaborations, and creating new avenues for arts engagement and cultural enrichment.
Our local Arts Month initiative coincides with National Arts & Humanities Month, which was established in 1993 and is observed every October throughout the United States. This program was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of participation. Over the years, it has become the nation’s largest collective annual celebration of the arts.
October 2014 was the first time that Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region joined in this national effort. Under the leadership of the Cultural Office, our local Arts Month initiative takes the form of a coordinated awareness, advocacy, and community engagement campaign. In close collaboration with individual artists, arts organizations, and community partners from across our region, existing cultural offerings are amplified with special Arts Month programming to create an October calendar that’s rich with amazing local art to see, hear, taste, and experience.
Although our local Arts Month celebration is embraced with equal energy and excitement during all 31 days of October, for planning and promotional purposes, the month is divided into four discipline-specific theme weeks:
WEEK 1: Visual & Culinary Arts (October 2-8)
WEEK 2: Theater & Film (October 9-15)
WEEK 3: Poetry, Prose & Comedy (October 16-22)
WEEK 4: Music & Dance (October 23-29)
Targeted marketing, a diverse offering of local events and activities, and special Arts Month programming curated by the Cultural Office and our partners are all aligned around these four theme weeks to help generate and sustain robust community engagement throughout the month.
One of the best things about Arts Month is that everyone is welcome to participate. Visit www. ArtsOctober.com -- home base for our local celebration. Here you’ll learn more about the annual Arts Month campaign, check out over 50 Highlights Partner events, see all of the cultural events and activities happening locally during the month of October, and enter our Arts Month Giveaways for your chance to win a variety of free arts and cultural experiences.
The Ninth annual Arts Month celebration is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best ever. Throughout the month, I invite you to enjoy the amazing talent and diversity of our creative community, and encourage you to have one new cultural experience with family or friends this October.
As a certified creative district of Colorado, it’s vital that Downtown leads the way in providing affordable housing for our artists – be they our musicians, painters, chefs, designers, poets, sculptors, actors or others. Artists enrich the quality of life for all of us in the Pikes Peak region, and we want to ensure they can continue their creative pursuits while living in an environment that fosters togetherness and celebration of their talents.” Susan Edmondson, Executive Director, Downtown Partnership
The Artspace Affordable Artist Housing Project will bring 51 units of affordable live-work housing and 22 artist studios to the Downtown core. Artspace is a Minneap olis-based nonprofit developer of affordable housing for artists. To date, Artspace has completed nearly 60 projects nationwide, including projects in Loveland and Trinidad. These projects provide nearly 2,000 affordable live-work places for creatives as well as over 500 working studios. Artspace’s mission is to create, foster and pre serve affordable and sustainable space for artists and arts organizations.
“We’re facing a housing affordability crisis citywide. Downtown is addressing this issue by adding thousands of new apartment units in the next few years to help ease the shortage that’s contributed to the price surge. And, by working with the nonprofit Artspace, we’re proactively developing a place that will serve those making 60 per cent or lower of the area median income”, says Edmonson.
This $28 million project in Downtown Colorado Springs is funded through a complex mix of local, state and fed eral sources. The philanthropic goal of $1.6 to $2 million represents only 7 percent of the capital stack – an incred ible leverage. It is remarkable that we have the ability to achieve such a significant project in our community with out unduly burdening our philanthropic community.
Furthermore, Edmonson continues, “When a city or neighborhood gets ‘discovered’ it’s often the artists who are the first to get priced out. We can’t let that happen.”
The Artspace project began with a group of commu nity volunteers who, in 2016-17, through the fiscal agency of Downtown Ventures, commissioned a feasibility and arts market study. Feedback was gathered from nearly 1,000 artists and commu nity stakeholders through focus groups, community
meetings, and e-surveys. Survey findings highlighted the strong need of live-work spaces for artists, concern about growing lack of housing affordability in Colorado Springs and Downtown in particular, and a keen concern among younger demographics about being able to afford housing.
Despite high interest and demand, the project stalled until the Downtown Development Authority, an affiliate entity with Downtown Ventures, entered into a predevelopment contract with Artspace and eventually purchased a one-acre site at 315 E. Costilla St., former home of the Tim Gill Center and Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. The eastern portion of the existing building will be demised while the western portion with historic character will be retained. The end product will be a five-story, 48,000-square-foot building with new construction of 40 one-bedroom and 11 two-bed room live-work units, 7,500 square feet of commercial space (approximately 22 working artist studios), a rooftop deck and public art plaza.
The project will serve working artists (fine artists, per forming artists, chefs, designers and other cre atives) with rents at or below 60 percent of area median income (AMI).
Colorado Springs’ Commitment to Arts Community Materializing in the Form of Affordable Housing for Artists
Tenants must qualify through federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit regulations, and thus must demonstrate an income at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Applicants are interviewed by a panel of local artists and arts representatives. Applicants are not judged based upon their artistic product and they need not derive their income from their art. A broad outreach campaign will begin in 2023 to build a tenant wait list.
Upon completion, the Artspace Project will have added 51 live-work units of affordable housing for creatives to the city center, alongside several integrated commercial artist studios. Further, due to Artspace’s unique model, this housing will remain affordable in perpetuity (unlike much affordable housing that converts to market rate after 20 or 30 years). Creatives will be within easy walking, biking, or transit connection to jobs such as designers, chefs, educators, tattoo artists, fine artists, performers, theater techs and more. Further, the synergy and camaraderie that develops when neighbors live, work and create together is immeasurable. Artspace will own and oversee the property, with locally contracted property management.
z Q4 2019: Property purchase (315 E. Costilla).
z 2020-2021: Due diligence, environmental studies, conceptual and schematic designs, etc.
z Q4 2021: $15 million in private activity bonds secured from El Paso County.
z Q1 2022: Development plan approved by City Downtown Review Board (unanimous).
z Q1 2022: Two, $5 million state grants secured.
z Q1 2022: Philanthropic campaign commences.
z Q1 2022: State approval of Enterprise Zone status for project.
z Q2 2022: Completion of construction documents, final permitting and approvals.
z Q3 2022: Application and awarding of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (4 percent, noncompetitive, pre-qualified).
z Q4 2022: Construction groundbreaking.
z Q1-Q3 2023: Advanced outreach to creative community, development of leasing wait list; secure property management firm.
z 2024: Construction completion, certificate of occupancy, first tenants.
“This is one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve been a part of in my career. It’s incredibly challenging, and I’m eager to get a shovel in the ground and see this come to fruition”, Edmondson concludes.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooks Insti tute of Photography, Don worked in the corporate world as a photographer for 11 years before opened his own commercial photography studio in 1995, working directly with clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including agencies large and small, on a regular basis.
Don’s creative approach raises the bar for every project he works on, elevating every agency he works with, and en hances the success of every client. Known particularly for his lighting aesthetic, Don brings his artistic and technical expertise to each set, providing an overarching vision when it comes to artistic direction of a shoot. Don’s work has been widely recognized in the industry and awarded both locally as well as nationally. Always re-inventing himself, Don’s most recent inspiration is the 1850’s style photography known as Wet Plate Collodion, which is extremely labor intensive, yet hugely rewarding for its “Authenticity”, delivering a unique and powerful aesthetic in both the Commercial and Fine Art genre.
Part of Don’s approach revolves around his desire to tell a story with his photography, such as with the recent cov er photo of JW Roth. Don always tries to understand what opportunities exist for telling a story with his photographs. After researching JW Roth, Don found him to be a “visionary”, and so that became Don’s goal, to demonstrate “visionary” in a photograph. After much “creative concepting”, Don landed on the idea of JW holding a large, clear light bulb, with the NOTES logo being in the tungsten filament. The question was who would create this “custom” light bulb? Don set out to hire an LA Prop Studio to custom make the light bulb, however after consulting with 7 different prop houses, Don realized the logo in the filament had to be created in “post”, the prop houses all wanted 10 weeks and $12,000 to com plete the bulb! Not being deterred, Don turned to a very talented associate, who would be capable of pulling off this retouching challenge. Brian Clif ford, of Clifford Creative Group was just what the job called for. Brian assisted Don in both testing various bulbs, plus finally wiring the 1000 watt bulb and running it through an industrial dimmer, which allowed JW to actually hold the bulb while it was lit, long enough for Don to take the initial photo, which was critical because the lighting had to come from the actual bulb. Once the initial photo was made, Don turned the job over to Brian Clifford, who, using his expertise added the “NOTES” logo to the tungsten filament as well as JW’s glasses, then wrapped the ROTH Premium Foods logo onto the bulb. Using Don’s photo of the actual property where the Sunset Amphi theater will reside, Brian put that image behind JW and added some stars to the sky. The result is a awesome cover photo that tells a story about the subject, which is always Don’s goal.
This October, arts & culture takes center stage throughout Colorado Springs and across the Pikes Peak region, as our creative community celebrates Arts Month 2022!
We invite you to have one new cultural experience with family or friends this October!
ArtsOctober.com
LEARN MORE AT
As cliché as it may seem, Sheyenne has been creative as long as she can remember.
The majority of her childhood was spent imagining the impossible and getting lost in her own head. As a child, she filled notebooks with fantastical stories and drawings of superhero families fighting crime faster then you could say the word “CAT” (yes that was an actual line in her original story “The Superhero Family” ©2005).
What makes her a creative is the fact that her childlike fascination and curiosity about the world never stopped, she doesn’t view things as they are, but rather what they could be. She firmly believes that life is only limited by the boundaries you create yourself and she’s determined to push the limits of whatever she can.
“I love the way good design improves people’s lives” she says. Her creativity and drive moves her to design beautiful websites, magazines, and branding for local businesses and non-profits here in Colorado Springs which add a little joy to the world around us.
“Being a designer allows me to utilize my vivid imagination while also creating practical solutions and I love inspiring others to see the vast potential of the world around them.”
When she’s not designing she’s most likely hiking, climbing walls at a local bouldering gym, or spending time with her husband and pug.
View her work online (or in the magazine you’re holding right now!)
The City Auditorium project becomes more robust each week. Progress on both design and programming are moving at quite a pace.
It’s exciting to think that, upon completion in just a few years, our region and state will be home to a cultural hub to match any across the nation in any major metropolitan area. We have completed the design development phase and are looking forward to Spring 2023 to launch construction, once all funding is in place. It is so inspiring to imagine a place where young and old alike, from across the region, will have access to creative workspace and learning. On top of our already unique and incredible arts scene, the City Auditorium project is something we can all get behind and support. Visit coloradosprings.gov/ project/city-auditorium to learn more about the vision for the future of this building and the work we have done!
I encourage you to enjoy Arts Month in October: make this the month to try something new. We would love to see you at the City Auditorium as we are host to several events during October. The highlight will be the Coroner’s Halloween Ball on October 29 with activities for the whole family throughout the day and night.
“I’D LOVE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR MOST ANY PROJECT, AS LONG AS CREATIVITY IS REQUIRED. IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT TELLING A STORY, WHETHER IT IS TO SAVE LIVES OR TO SELL WARES. I TREAT A CLIENT’S NEEDS WITH THE SAME ENTHUSIASM AS I TREAT ONE OF MY OWN DREAM PROJECTS. LET’S MAKE IT SPECIAL, MEMORABLE AND RESULT DRIVEN.”
A conversation with commercial, educational and corporate production filmmaker, Pete Schuermann
Award-winning film writer and producer Pete Schuermann was born on Long Island (NY) and currently resides in Monument, CO. His experience in the visual field includes on-the-job training in almost every aspect of visual production, including but not limited to: photography, lighting, editing, directing, scripting, graphics, and (his favorite) directing.
“I’m from Syosset, Long Island originally and was still in high school when my parents decided to move to Colorado,” he says. “At the time there was talk of a growing film industry either here or near Canon City but this proved to be a bit exaggerated. Regardless, I stayed intent on working within the production field and ultimately becoming a filmmaker.”
Pete maintains an eye for what he calls “a cinematic style of storytelling,” which he feels adds a special dynamic and compelling content to any visual project. Numerous advertising, production, and corporate entities have tapped him for creative vision on projects with formats both long and short.
“I love living in Colorado Springs working as a creative professional,” Pete says. “The structure of my industry is such that it’s easy to live where you want and engage with a worldly scope of associates, clients, audiences, and opportunities. For now, I’d like to remain independent as a movie maker and I’m not really interested in entering a
system such as Hollywood. The perks of Colorado are far too great and frankly speak for themselves.”
He feels that movies are an artistic gateway for other art venues. The production of the film requires a confluence of different creative skill sets like storyboards, set construction, acting, photography and more. A properly budgeted program allows a filmmaker to hire a wide array of artistic professionals. “It’s always great to see how the different types of skill sets come together to create this form of art,” he says.
He feels all area leaders need to start recognizing the value of creative industries for Colorado Springs to mature culturally and embrace the arts in a more rounded fashion as similarly sized communities across the country have done. “Too often I see a reluctance toward healthy budgets allocated for awareness projects, and in today’s society, video can be seen as a new currency,” Pete says. “Our image and credibility are at stake, and how we portray ourselves directly reflects on how we value our own resources, people and regional attractions.” He feels that quality of craftsmanship in a creative industry like video or architecture is just as important as quality of construction materials for homes or office buildings. “I’d like to see more discussion and education on how embracing the arts can lead to healthy cultural and economic growth in a region.”
He has made it a point to encourage and offer support to younger people entering the field of video production or filmmaking, whether that be speaking at universities or encouraging local showcases for their work. Production Point will have an academy designed for this purpose. He says, “I created a fellowship a few years back (that I would like to revisit) where some of the best young filmmakers in the area could collaborate on a project that serves the region in a promotional manner.”
Theatreworks, our resident professional theater company, presents Lumberjacks in Love through October 9. This family-friendly bluegrass musical is sure to give you all the feels. Lumberjacks living in semi-unwashed bliss find their rustic bachelor lifestyle disrupted by the arrival of a spunky mail-order bride. The ensuing musical madness celebrates the flannels we wear, the families we choose, and the unexpected twists that just might change everything. Featuring actors playing their own musical instruments, it’s the best musical you’ll see about lumberjacks this year, featuring perhaps the only song you’ll ever hear about “a buncha naked lumberjacks chopping down trees.”
Gallery of Contemporary Art (GOCA) Downtown features Dark Archive, a solo exhibition by Californiabased artist elin o’Hara slavick. On view through October 7. The title of the exhibition comes from the title for her forthcoming book about archives, photography, the intersection of technology, destruction and imagemaking, scientific research and discovery as a means of producing extraordinary photographs, and, as the artist states, “how violence and ruin are at the root of everything, even sometimes arresting beauty”.
At the Mary Walsh Sharpe Gallery, located inside the Ent Center, GOCA presents:
Gregg Deal: Esoo Tubewade Nummetu (This Land Is Ours). On view the entire month of October,
this exhibit continues its run through December 11. Meet the artist and listen to the Visiting Artists & Critics Lecture on October 11 at 6:00 p.m. Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) is a multi-disciplinary artist, activist, and selfdescribed “disruptor” who lives and works in southern Colorado. His latest works address Native identity and American society.
October 1, local artist Cymon Padilla will present a pop-up exhibition in GOCA’s Project Space and the community is welcome for an Artist Talk at 3:00 p.m.. This exhibition is on view through October 15. Padilla fuses disparate elements of contemporary visual culture in his paintings and drawings. Using traditional oil painting techniques, Padilla combines, collapses, and remixes “the imitated world” onto the flat surface of the picture plane.
The School of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) at UCCS presents Double-Sided Coin through October 9. This original dance show dives into both the unconditional love and the toxicity in relationships and friendships, showcasing UCCS VAPA students, choreographers and dancers.
The Ent Center for the Arts will also host the Janis Siegel Trio, Petra Kuppers, and SALT Contemporary Dance in October. Visit tickets.encenterforthearts.org for more information about our exciting Arts Month lineup.
This October, The Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS is pleased to bring the community a variety of events we hope will spark conversations at home and, ultimately, take your experience with the arts to new heights.
Tyler Dixon is a local artist with ten years of experience creating custom commercial and residential murals throughout Colorado. Tyler’s goal is to create inspiring art that connects people with the space in a personal way by evoking emotion. His work brings a sense of wonder as he transforms a wall into a scene which pulls you in for a closer look. He works closely with business owners in conformity with their branding to increase visibility and foot traffic.
Recently his work was showcased in the 2021 Parade of Homes Colorado Springs at the $6 million Chateau Rue de Voi which won Best Interior Design and Best Overall Home. Tyler’s murals are also featured in all Sweetwater Flower Market locations in Colorado Springs, which will be the movie set in an upcoming Hallmark Channel movie titled “The Happy Camper”. Along with mural painting, Tyler is affiliated with the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, where he instructs fine art “Plein Air” painting classes. If you have a blank wall, ceiling, garage door, or side of a building that needs to be transformed, Tyler can help bring your vision to life to create a custom timeless piece that is truly unique to your space.
Brian Clifford is an accomplished fine artist who comes from an East coast family of inventors. In 1992, he brought his talents to Colorado Springs — specifically engineering and problem-solving in the context of of creativity. Experience in the printing industry meant he knew how to help his design clients bring their ideas to fruition, from the press to the bindery.
“Ideas abound — great idea — but turning ideas into deliverables is often a challenge that requires a different kind of creativity, a different level of thinking,” Brian says. “My fine art background has given me strong aesthetic sensibilities of nuance, composition, balance and design, which I employ when serving my clients.
Clifford Creative Group is a product imaging studio with the tools and creative space to produce effective imagery for the web and in print. Brian’s out-of-the-box thinking quickly earned him a reputation as the go-to guy for taking ideas over the finish line.
He worked with Don Jones, good friend and associate, on NORTH’s August/September issue which featured J.W. Roth on the cover. The photo is an excellent example of creative collaboration between artists. “Don is not only an amazing photographer,” Brian says, “his concepts can be groundbreaking.”
Don had the idea of the photo’s subject holding a lit light bulb but wanted the light source to actually come from the bulb, rather than a computer effect added later. “We engineered a safe way to energize the filament while being held in the hands of his client,” Brian says. “Putting all the elements together in post-production is where the magic took place.”
Now semi-retired, he spends more of his time on fine art endeavors. However, Brian maintains a handful of regular accounts who require special expertise, continuing to create visual assets for marketers.
www.cliffordcreative.com
www.cliffordfineart.com
Photo by Don Jones | Studio 9 Photography
I came from Ireland in 2018 for an internship at a church. This originated primarily from a spirit-led calling to make the most of what I had been given. Through the church network, I found myself heading over for an internship which then turned into a full-time staff position. After a long visa process, I moved to the States and began my work. In November of 2021, after seeing the impacts of the pandemic, my heart changed toward helping people, through becoming part of their story.
What would it take to ensure you remain in Colorado Springs as an artist?
Outside of the visa, it would take the courage of others to use their story, regardless of how it reads. To grow their business and have me/Roan Media partner with them in the telling. Each of our stories has the ability to be a powerful tool to drive what we love and hold dear. Our stories have led us each to this moment. Why not continue to tell it?
As a photographer, what kinds of other artists and service providers do you rely on to get your work done?
Although photography is part of the skillset, I identify more as a content creator inclusive of both photo and video. Collaboration is key. Every story has characters — heroes, villains, trials, temptations, etc. When it comes to telling that story, a brief overview doesn’t always get to the heart of the story. Collaborating with business owners, industry experts (editors, lighting specialists, writers, creative consultants) and peers, to get the work done. Learn how to ask questions, the right questions to unlock a part of the human psyche that can bring about incredible insight for the audience, the storyteller, and the hero themselves.
What do you see as the need(s) from the community to keep aspiring, and current artists, in the community?
Having come from a nation that is steeped in both art and culture, coming to the Springs was quite the culture shock. You didn’t have people playing music on the streets and bands in every second pub. Artists were either playing in two or three venues around the city, or they were all in Denver. In order to keep both aspiring and current artists in the community, there needs to be a shift in culture. There seems to be little celebration of local artists and local talent. We need to celebrate more! Businesses can open their doors to artists and pay them for their time. Colorado Springs is seeing a huge influx of people, younger families in particular, coming from all over the U.S. Let’s open doors to create an artistic culture, otherwise our city may miss out on this special part of history.
How are you prepared to serve younger, aspiring artists as a professional?
The next generation of artists and storytellers will have their work cut out for them. Removing obstacles for them will be a key component in creating a thriving future. We do this by making ourselves available with our time to empower younger aspiring artists with the opportunity and platform to learn, teach, and grow the current artistic environments will. This will, I believe, have a greater impact than we could ever imagine.
In 1997, Cottonwood Artists’ School was founded as a place for artists to explore and develop their work. Walk in the door at Cottonwood Center for the Arts and the vibe is decidedly warm and welcoming. You’ve entered a space where community, innovation, and excellence are prized.
Cottonwood provides a refuge, and cares for, some of the most important and vital people in the Pikes Peak region — artists and other creatives. At the same time, the nonprofit provides multiple ways for the community to easily get their hands on a little culture, entertainment, and camaraderie during First Friday receptions and other events, and affordable classes taught by some of the best artists in the community.
You can pop in to see monthly exhibits, stroll art-laden hallways, peer through windows into studio artists, and walk away knowing there is a 100 percent commitment to local arts. No one is ever turned away or made to feel unwelcome, no matter their level of art expertise or talent.
It has since moved from its original location, and in 2009, became a destination community arts center at its current location at 427 E. Colorado Avenue. Today, the Center is dedicated to providing entry points into art at any level, beginner to master.
In August 2012, Jon Khoury arrived from New York to lead Cottonwood forward as executive director. Jon had previously represented artists in NYC for nearly 20 years. His sole mission was to help creative and talented people make viable livings as artists and musicians. He has brought that thinking and approach to Colorado with unprecedented success.
Cottonwood has developed its education, events, and curation programs, solidifying the organization as a vital component of the Colorado Springs community. The Center is more than just an arts organization. They promote the exploration of a creative life, whether you are an artist, arts patron, reader, collector, or listener. Cottonwood strives to provide the highest quality arts and cultural experience to our community and its guests.
“There is a huge chasm between Colorado Springs’ suburbs and the city itself. As the growth, variety, and demand for
outstanding arts and culture have improved, it has become apparent that the disconnect between the two is based solely on antiquated ideas,” Khoury observes.
Fast forward to today, Cottonwood now includes a diverse community of 117 artists in residence. At present, there is a waiting list for resident artists exceeding 300 people. The organization strives to be a model that encourages sustainability and authentic diversity. Twelve MFA (Masters in Fine Arts) artists are housed here helping raise the quality of work being produced in the building, elevating the quality of work through formal critiques, and creating an environment where being challenged as an artist has become standard fare.
“There has been a swell of activity as many from the north of the city are venturing into experience the city’s offerings. And those city dwellers, who have made the effort, are understanding the incredible variety of culture just a few short miles north of Colorado Springs and El Paso county. Within a half-hour drive in either direction, art, culture, food, and incredible cultural activities are now offered in both places,” says Khoury.
What’s next for Cottonwood? Lots. They recently developed an outdoor alley area of over 6000 sq. ft., mostly funded with a generous grant from El Pomar Foundation. This new facility has allowed countless activities posed by the challenges of Covid. They hope to soon host an outdoor farmer’s market, and classes for dance, film, music, as well as events. In a city that provides virtually no public funding for arts organizations, Cottonwood has found the formula to sustain itself strictly on its own earned revenue. Because of their business-like approach, funders have flocked to the organization as they have beheld the remarkable success of the Cottonwood model. As a result, funders have made it possible for Cottonwood to expand and refine its services to the community. The future is bright, the table is set, and the patrons have responded. One visit and you’ll be hooked too.
MEET JON KHOURY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COTTONWOOD CENTER FOR THE ARTS Cottonwood Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts complex located in downtown Colorado Springs. Cottonwood offers gallery spaces, a theater and classrooms. Diverse programming includes monthly First Friday events, arts education for youth and adults, tours, educational panel discussions, workshops, live arts demonstrations, open calls for entry and other exhibition opportunities, and more. Learn more about Cottonwood Center for the Arts by visiting in person or online Colorado
The Sunset is a state of the art open-air amphitheater in the entertainment rich Polaris Pointe development in Colorado Springs. Backed with $40 million in financing, The Sunset will host the largest touring acts in the country in style and comfort on the same campus as the company’s current mid-sized music venue Boot Barn Hall. Designed by industry renowned architects, The Sunset will offer an unparalleled view of the sun setting over Pikes Peak, America’s mountain, right behind the stage as each concert begins.
The total capacity for a concert is 8,000, comprised of premium stadium-style seats nearest to the stage, 90 VIP Fire Pit Suites seating eight, and a roughly 3,870-person lawn capacity, sloping up to the top of the property to create a coliseum effect. The premium stadium-style seats will be akin to seats commonly found in the club level of pro sports venues, which are designed for comfort, slightly wider than non-premium seats, and feature a substantial amount of leg room.
The VIP suite seats will be known as the Fire Box Suites. The Fire Box Suites are located on a private concourse above the premium stadium-style seats. Each Fire Box Suite will feature a natural gas-powered fire pit and eight seats with abundant room for food and beverages to make for an exceptional environment to take in a show. The amenity-rich Fire Box Suites offer incredible views of the stage. To elevate the experience even further, they will include waitstaff service for food and beverage before and during the show.
Chris Detone, General Manager and Partner of Phil Long Ford of Chapel Hills and Phil Long Truck World, is passionate about the community, supporting first responders, veterans and local youth. In his role, he and his team have partnered with organizations such as Shield616, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), and COSILoveYou, as well as Pikes Peak United Way, which last year alone, his employees raised over $22,000 to help those in need.
“This is really a team effort,” says Detone. “My whole store believes in getting out there to make a positive impact and help build our community.”
A U.S. Air Force Military Police veteran, Detone recognizes the need to keep first responders safe and properly geared. He has partnered with Shield616 for six years to collect personal protective equipment including bulletproof vests, helmets, masks and sanitation items. These items are then donated to first responders at a storewide ceremony honoring the recipients. His stores avidly contribute to Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center and its mission to assist military veterans transitioning into civilian life through continued donations to help fund their programs and services. He and his stores additionally support CSPD’s Santa on Patrol, a toy drive that serves local underprivileged neighborhoods and gives both Phil Long Ford of Chapel Hills, Phil Long Truck World and CSPD officers an opportunity
to connect with community members in a meaningful and exciting way.
To further support youth academic excellence, Phil Long Ford of Chapel Hills held its second annual Cars Under the Stars free movie night last July, partnering with Shield616 and CSPD to collect essential school supplies and backpacks for COSILoveYou’s Backpack Bash. The first Cars Under the Stars event benefited children within Academy School District 20.
“We often see people struggling to make ends meet and wanted to provide a safe, fun environment to support children as they got ready for the next school year.”
He hopes to continue their Cars Under the Stars tradition for years. They also sponsor numerous sports and cheer teams at schools throughout the city including Palmer Ridge High School, Pine Creek High School, Sierra High School and Bear Creek Elementary School.
With Detone leading the charge, Phil Long Ford of Chapel Hills and Phil Long Truck World aim to continue their community efforts for years to come.
The people who love you most always see you more clearly than you see yourself. That’s how Venkat Reddy’s mother knew he would follow one of two paths: stay in Hyderabad, India, where he grew up, to become a doctor — or move to the United States to follow a new dream.
Reddy chose to move to the U.S. to earn master’s and doctorate degrees. In the years that followed, he would arrive at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) and swiftly rise through the ranks, becoming an instructor of finance, then professor, then dean of the College of Business, and finally the chancellor of UCCS, a role he has held since 2017. Each promotion, each decision to stay, came from a central philosophy: to grow where you are planted.
But the lesson didn’t come easy.
“My mother, Prameela, was the driving force behind everything I did,” Reddy says. “She told me I was either going to be a doctor or go to the United States.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in India, he sat for the exams to earn a spot in medical school in India — and lost the chance for a seat by two points.
He could have tried again, but instead, he chose to apply for a graduate program in agricultural economics at Pennsylvania State University.
“Deciding was the easy part,” Reddy says. When he read his acceptance letter, he immediately sat down and wrote a three-page reply to Dr. Frank Goode, then the chair of the Ag-Econ department. He told Goode two things: that he was passionate about the program, but even if he sent Penn State his dad’s entire annual paycheck, it wouldn’t cover the tuition for a single semester.
Goode wrote back with a scholarship offer covering two and a half years of tuition and living expenses. Reddy packed his bags and left for the U.S. a few weeks later, landing with $250 in his pocket and a dream of starting a new adventure.
But after a month, he was so homesick that he was desperate to return to India. “I couldn’t take it any longer,” Reddy says. “I missed my mother, my home, and — of course — the spicy Indian food.” So he did what every homesick college student does: he called his mom.
“My mom was a great listener,” Reddy says. “She understood what I was going through and how badly I felt. She told me to book a plane ticket home, and I felt an amazing sense of relief: It could all be solved. I was going home. But then she said, ‘I just want you to think about your family honor before you book that ticket.’ And she hung up.”
“I sat on the sidewalk and cried for hours,” Reddy says. He couldn’t imagine continuing on this path.
But his mother knew that he needed to commit to being where he was, and finish what he’d started. He took the lesson to heart, and never looked back.
Reddy now tells this story each year at Convocation, the UCCS ceremony marking the start of the academic year. “My mom believed in me more than I believed in myself,” he says to each new class of first-year students, “and her belief gave me the strength I needed to continue. Know that I see myself in you. Each of you is gifted to achieve the impossible because someone believes in you.”
More than 30 years after he chose to stay in the U.S., Reddy considers Colorado Springs home for him and his family — wife Lata, daughter Divya, son Karan, and son-in-law, Parth.
Reddy has spent those three decades on a mission: to make a college degree possible for all those who seek one, especially first-generation, minority, lowincome and military-affiliated students — many of whom come from circumstances similar to his. His goal is to prepare students to become good citizens and well-rounded members of the community, and often working towards “building the workforce of the future.”
But just as the decision to leave home wasn’t easy — or the decision to stay in the U.S. — working to make college possible for those students has become more and more difficult over the years. As state support for higher education has fallen, tuition has risen at UCCS. Though the university is a public institution, state funding makes up just 13 percent of the campus budget. A “reasonably funded public university,” Reddy says, “would receive about 40 percent.” Like all universities, UCCS tries to make up the difference for students with financial aid, but Reddy says the gap between what UCCS wants to and can provide is more than $7 million.
“That gap is why many of our students work two jobs. We want to be able to do more for them through fundraising,” Reddy says. “We had one of the best fundraising years in 2021, and we hope to continue doing that so we can support the workforce needs of the community.”
Tight budgets, ballooning costs and the pandemic have all presented major challenges for the university. But that hasn’t stopped Reddy, or UCCS, from launching new programs, building new facilities and striving to become the university of choice in southern Colorado.
Central to Reddy’s work over the years have been two beliefs. One belief is in the power of relationships — and one is in the possibility of transforming lives for the better. Both are rooted in his early experiences, and have shaped Reddy’s work as the leader of a public university.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE HELP OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED, WE HELP OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO SUCCEED AS WELL.”
This philosophy of connectedness, Reddy says, has helped UCCS to grow from a fledgling satellite campus of CU Boulder to a campus that enrolls roughly 12,000 students a year.
“Our amazing faculty and staff have huge hearts for our students, and are committed to transforming their lives for the better. On top of that, we have deep roots in our community, which wants UCCS to succeed,” Reddy says. “I am truly blessed to have the support of alumni, donors and community members who all believe in our mission.”
In 2018, the Ent Center for the Arts became the first project to open with Reddy as chancellor, followed by UCCS Downtown, the university’s downtown presence. The William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center followed in 2020, and the Kevin W. O’Neil Cybersecurity Education and Research Center in May of this year. All four projects were funded with public-private partnerships that included state funding, major donors for whom the buildings are named, and individual gifts.
“We partner with entities all across the community, including Centura, UCHealth, the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Catalyst Campus, defense contractors and many others to make these projects happen,” Reddy says. “Our success is the community’s success, and vice versa.”
Each of the flagship projects has at its heart a mission to not only educate students, but to also serve the community of Colorado Springs and surrounding regions. In this way, Reddy works towards his belief that universities can be a vehicle to transform individual lives and communities for the better.
UCCS’ Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, for instance, was born from a dream of creating a space where students could learn, experts could conduct research, and health professionals could support elite athletes, first responders, and everyday citizens. The 104,000-square foot center was the second of four City for Champions projects funded in Colorado Springs. It’s home to special equipment for training first responders, — like police officers and firefighters — and athletes with physical disabilities. It also serves elite athletes looking to gain an edge in their sport. And for everyday citizens, the Hybl Center provides physical therapy services and year-round programs for running, strength, and physical conditioning — all available to the public.
Just across the street from the Hybl Center is the Ent Center for the Arts, which has a mission of supporting arts, culture and community for UCCS and the entire Pikes Peak region. The Ent Center includes a 774-seat theater and concert hall, a gallery of contemporary art, rehearsal spaces, a sculpture garden and a full calendar of visual and performing arts open to the public. Its plays, musicals, concerts, dance performances, lectures, and art exhibitions are meant to weave the arts into the everyday life those in the Pikes Peak region.
UCCS Downtown, too, serves as a public resource in downtown Colorado Springs. Many of its educational programs are offered for free to the community, bringing opportunities for continued education into the public realm.
Under Reddy’s tenure, UCCS has also focused on preparing students for careers in a critical field: cybersecurity, an industry where more than 500,000 jobs have gone unfilled year after year.
“Colorado Springs is a strong military community, and the O’Neil Center is a way to support our defense-related companies and other businesses in the region,” Reddy says. “Former Governor John Hickenlooper wanted to create a National Cybersecurity Center in Colorado Springs, and we provided the space. We built these facilities and programs for our students to have great opportunities” in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the nation’s economy.
The $7 million Kevin W. O’Neil Cybersecurity Education and Research Center opened in May 2022 in a former satellite manufacturing plant south of the UCCS campus. It houses cyber labs, offices, conference rooms, classrooms, “collaboration spaces” where students can work together on projects and a “cyber range” lab used for cyber-warfare training and software development. The 135,000-square-foot center is now UCCS’ cyber education hub, and also houses a cybersecurity-focused think tank and cyber business incubator.
Under Reddy’s leadership, UCCS also launched the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience. Founded in 2020, just weeks before COVID-19 swept the globe, the Institute embarked on a mission to advance human resilience. Through research, healing therapies, and community training and empowerment programs, the Institute aims to support the mental health of the nation and help individuals and families heal from trauma.
Each project was created with a vision to serve students as well as members of the Colorado Springs community, Reddy said. They were each accomplished thanks to strong partnerships with local organizations to make them a reality. They are a “win-win” for everybody involved, Reddy says.
As a former international student himself, Reddy takes time to speak with new UCCS international students at the start of each semester. He tells them about the difficulty he had adjusting to life in the U.S., and the decision he made to stay.
“I learned that luck is very important, but passion will take you much further,” he told a new group of incoming international students this January. “I was very lucky that Dr. Goode at Penn State took a chance on me. And I was very lucky that the department was able to sponsor my scholarships. But it was my passion for the program that made me stand out. If you are passionate about doing something, you will find a way to make it reality.”
“The message for me has been that you can make it, if you believe in yourself, and with persistence,” Reddy says. “But you are only as strong as the people surrounding you, who make you who you are. I believe the same is true for our students at UCCS. And I believe that when we help our students succeed, we help our entire community to succeed as well.”
Your sister doesn’t repair potholes for a living, but when she crashes at your place for her vacation, she helps keep our roads in good shape.
Colorado Springs has a .57% 2C Road Tax and a 1% Pikes Peak Rural Transit Authority tax. The 2C road tax dollars are dedicated solely to improving roads, sidewalks including pedestrian ramps, curbs and gutters. The PPRTA is a collaboration among Colorado Springs, El Paso County and several nearby towns to improve and maintain roads and support public transit. Thanks, sis!
Your college roommate isn’t a landscaper, but their hotel stay in COS funds parks and trails.
There’s no arguing that Colorado Springs has miles of great trails and acres of beautiful parks. We have your college roommate to thank for these outdoor options. When they settle their hotel bill, they pay a .10% tax that goes to Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS). Did you know that when TOPS purchased Red Rock Canyon Open Space in 2003 it was originally slated to be a resort community? Thank goodness for your roomie!
Your bestie never cooks for you, but when they visit COS, they keep 20,000 locals employed. Did you know tourism is the city’s third largest industry? Attractions hire many teenagers during the summer, helping them develop a strong work ethic and learn the finer points of customer service. There are more than just entry-level jobs in hospitality. Many people earn a great living selling guest rooms and meeting space to event planners or managing a hotel. Others have gone out on their own to start the small (or large) business of their dreams.
We all love to share Colorado Springs – Olympic City USA. After all, someone once shared it with us, and we were hooked for life. Our guests create so much more than memories when they visit. Total spending in the Pikes Peak Region by non-residents was $2.6 billion in 2021 – BILLION. Let’s take a tour and see how out-of-town guests help make Colorado Springs a great place to live, work and play.
Your flatlander friends may need time to adjust to our high elevation, but when they visit COS, they keep the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off soaring.
There’s nothing more fun than going to an amazing local event. Let’s give a cheer for our out-of-town flatlander friends who make it possible. More than 185,000 locals and visitors attend the Lift Off to see colorful balloons ascend into the deep blue sky.
Your dad no longer sends money, but when he’s in COS, he saves a family here $847 in taxes.
Make sure dad knows how much you appreciate his visit as well as how much he spends to take you to the Summit Visitor Center at the top of Pikes Peak for those views and delicious donuts. His generosity contributes to saving each Colorado Springs family of four nearly $850 a year. Thanks, Dad!
Your cousin never pays for dinner, but when they visit you, they keep your favorite restaurants open.
Some friends have a way of slipping away from the table when the check arrives, but they’re still contributing to our vibrant food scene by visiting and asking you to show them your favorite foodie spots. Our restaurants thrive when their local clientele brings in outof-town guests who are eager to share photos of their beautiful drinks and savory dishes on social media. Visitors are the key to keeping your favorite places open!
Scan the 2022 Colorado Springs ballot and you’ll see a list of five names for mayor — some that may be familiar and others. not so much. Even the familiar names may not be so familiar. That’s because stories about the candidates often focus more on the issues than on answers to some key questions, such as: Why do they believe what they believe? How did they develop their leadership skills? What do they love about Colorado Springs? NORTH asked these questions and more in its interviews with all five candidates for mayor of Colorado Springs and learned some surprising things.
Whoever is elected on April 4, 2023 will replace outgoing and term-limited Mayor John Suthers. All five candidates express their admiration for what Suthers has accomplished. All five expect that the city will build on his legacy and reach new heights. Expect to hear from those who don’t win; they’re likely to lead in other ways. This article is not meant to be a voter guide. It’s an introduction to five leaders. The five profiles follow alphabetically by last name.
In campaigning to become the next mayor of Colorado Springs, Darryl Glenn began walking the 186 square miles of Colorado Springs on July 4 this year, talking along the way with business owners and their employees. “If you’re going to be mayor, you have to step up and work for it,” Glenn said. The walk combines his lifelong interest in politics, his extraordinary athleticism, and his love for the people of his hometown.
Glenn grew up in the Village Seven neighborhood, delivering the local paper to homes there. As an eighth grader at Sabin Middle School, he and his classmates would complain about school lunches and school dances. Glenn wanted to do more than complain, so he ran for class president, and won.
Glenn served as class president for two years at Sabin, and two more at Doherty High School. He attended and graduated from the Air Force Academy, and later was stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. He enrolled in law classes at a nearby college at night, completing a fouryear program in less time, getting little sleep but earning his law degree. Oh, and he was a three-time Collegiate National Powerlifting Champion.
He returned to Colorado Springs, ran for city council and won, ran for El Paso County Commissioner and won, and also ran for U.S. Senate. Glenn runs a lot, and not just for public office. He enjoys a daily run of at least seven miles and sometimes 11. “Just being able to look at Pikes Peak, and the natural surroundings in our community, it is absolutely breathtaking to be able to experience that,” Glenn says.
Nothing delights mayoral candidate Longinos Gonzalez more than teaching Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which explains what gives winged aircraft their lift, to middle school students. The students’ imaginations would take flight.
Gonzalez is a substitute teacher for Harrison School District 2, serving whatever class and grade needs him. He used to teach science full time to D2’s Carmel Middle School kids. That was after serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour as an intelligence officer in South America.
Gonzalez’s pursuit of knowledge, and his passion for passing it to others, began in the lemon and orange groves of southern California. His father was a farmhand who instilled in his children the value of hard work and education.
His father’s lessons helped get Gonzalez into the U.S. Air Force Academy. His four years in Colorado Springs, with its mountains, brought him back after retiring from the Air Force. Gonzalez relaxes on walks along Contemplative Trail in Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and on the Columbine Trail in North Canyon Mountain, south of Helen Hunt Falls.
Relaxation is important to someone who’s busy serving as an El Paso County Commissioner since 2016. As a veteran, he’s valued as a board member of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center and Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs.
Watching the Colorado Springs community rally around the families of the fallen sheriff’s deputy and two wounded officers heartens Gonzalez. That’s the kind of community he wants to be a part of, and to lead.
Nigerian immigrant Blessing “Yemi” Mobolade flies the American flag at his home every day of the year, not just holidays. Returning from a recent trip to Mexico reminded him how much he loves this country. “Those of us alive today, we’re the luckiest people who ever lived” in America, Mobolade says.
Growing up in the West African nation of Nigeria, one that is bitterly divided between Christians in the south and Muslims in the north, Mobolade asked a lot of questions. He was musical and artistic. His siblings teased him, calling him “The American One,” because he brought a Western way of thinking into their traditional southern Nigerian family.
Mobolade’s questioning and artistic interests alienated him for a season with his numbers-oriented father, Timothy, a church-going Christian but also an accountant with Exxon Mobil. The guitar-playing, worship-leading son and spreadsheet-and-calculator father didn’t exactly see eye to eye.
Mobolade moved permanently to the U.S. and became a citizen. He values democracy over the strife of Nigerian political life.
“Where I come from, tribalism destroys civilization. There is no progress with it. Democracy is a competition of ideas. There’s room to compromise,” Mobolade says.
He and his Indiana wife settled in Colorado Springs in 2011, where they’re raising three children, ages 8, 5 and 3.
“The city chose us. It stole our hearts,” Mobolade says. “I love this city for what it is, and what it could become.”
Mobolade started a Colorado Springs church, which later merged, and several Colorado Springs businesses — Wild Goose Meeting House downtown and Good Neighbors Meeting House in the Patty Jewett neighborhood — where patrons exercise the American freedom Mobolade treasures most: the freedom to speak without fear of government reprisal.
One more thing: Mobolade has reconciled with his father, who’s still in Nigeria and an entrepreneur, at age 76. Father and son are more alike than not.
Tom Strand’s road to Colorado Springs was a long, winding one. The Air Force assigned Strand to what in 1975 was known as Peterson Aerospace Defense Command. After spending 30 years in the service but not making general, Tom entered civilian life. He and his wife, Lynn, decided to make Colorado Springs their home in 2004.
“I thought I could catch trout and work on lowering my golf score,” Strand says.
Instead, Strand began investing in the community. He ran to fill a vacancy on the School District 11 board and won. He later became board president but stepped down when Lynn became ill. He shuttled her to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic for treatment of her glioblastoma — the brain cancer that famously claimed the lives of Sens. John McCain and Ted Kennedy and presidential son Beau Biden.
Lynn died in 2013, after 44 years of marriage. Tom returned to his empty Old Colorado City home and considered what to do next. After a burial and two memorials, Strand weighed offers to live elsewhere and start over, whether near his mother in his home state of Ohio, or his daughter’s hometown in Texas. But Strand couldn’t shake the thought that Colorado Springs is his home. As an Air Force veteran, he appreciated that the city has 150,000 residents with a family connection to the military.
Strand ran for an at-large seat on city council and won. Once in office, he saw that the Mayor and the council were “at war;” Strand is a middle-of-the-road guy who prefers collaboration. Strand wants to see the mayor and council working together to address the challenges of our growing city.
“A lot of my friends who are in their 70s and are Vietnam veterans want to stop the growth,” Strand says, “but I’m a believer that you can’t stop growth, you can’t stop progress.”
TOM STRAND
Wayne Williams liked building things with Lincoln Logs and American Bricks as a kid growing up in Virginia. At age 15, he built something much bigger — a political movement, recruiting 70 teenagers to help overthrow an entrenched county board. As an adult with young children, he arrived in Colorado Springs in 1992 and over the next 30 years helped build the city anew.
Among Williams’ credits: the upgrade of I-25 through Colorado Springs, a project known as COSMIX; the North AcademyWoodmen interchange; the Union-Austin Bluffs interchange near UCCS; and most recently, the Powers-Research diverging diamond interchange.
In his winning campaigns for El Paso County Commissioner (2002), Colorado Secretary of State (2014), and Colorado Springs City Council (2019), Williams knocked on tens of thousands of doors, and what he heard most is that people want their governments — city, county and state — to work together.
What the public most wants government to get right, Williams says, is transportation.
“I knocked on doors and that’s what people wanted to talk about. They’d say, ‘I can’t get to my child’s soccer game because I’m stuck on I-25.’”
Williams will work with anyone and everyone to move forward. He’s not shy about posing for photos with politicians to his left and his right — such as the time he stood next to both U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., who served on President Trump’s impeachment committee, and Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., both of whom sit on the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. The committee’s work directly affects Colorado Springs.
Public-private cooperation is necessary to secure a key natural resource for Colorado Springs: water. Far from a river or lake, the city must draw water from afar. Lately, Williams and others helped negotiate with Arkansas Valley farmers to the south. The city will buy them more efficient irrigation systems, and the farmers will sell the city the water they save.
“You can’t be a lone wolf if you’re going to work to get things done,” Williams says. “I’ve seen people get really bitter. And they have their list of grudges. I don’t want to be like that.”
As one of the most established nonprofits in this community, the YMCA is a place where you not only better yourself and your family but the entire community. When you join the Y, you become part of an organization dedicated to strengthening your community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for all.
Membership means more at the YMCA.
Join today and help move our community forward.
By Pam Bales Photography by Stu Duffy
The Hooton name is connected to the iconic Stargazers Theatre and Event Center. “Yep, those are my parents,” notes Hooton. “They are where I got my love of music, acting, sing ing, you name it.”
But Hooton grew up at the Timber Lodge in Manitou Springs which his parents owned. “I just thought that’s how everyone grew up, we all worked and always had guests and interacted with people,” he says.
“In middle school, I was a dorky choir and theater kid,” Hooton notes. “I started playing guitar around town but I soon realized I had to buy sound equipment. Once I did that, I would get asked to be paid to rent my equipment. I thought how cool I can make money two ways.”
At 13, Hooton told his parents he wanted to start a real com pany renting and setting up sound equipment. “This is really who I’ve always been,” explains Hooton. “I didn’t understand all of it, but I knew I could figure it out and learn how to do it – and I did.”
Hooton started with Manitou’s Coffin Races and then the Manitou Wine Festival at 15. “Yes, people kind of laughed when I first approached them, but the more the word got around, I started getting gigs and the clients realized I knew what I was doing,” he says.
Where did all this business work fit in with school? Accord ing to Hooton, he slipped through middle school easily, but high school was a slap in the face. “My high school counsel or Dale Kemp was my saving grace,” Hooton explains. “He literally said ‘who are you as a high school freshman handing out business cards and flyers for a profitable business.’ He couldn’t protect me from all my teachers (I was out of class a lot working), but he was often able to buy me time,” he says. Hooton took a creative approach to many of his classes and usually had his assignments in just in time.
At 17, Hooton bought a map graphics company, the tourist maps that are popular in this area. He admits he knew noth ing about it but loved the imagery. He found some business people who were willing to help teach him the industry.
Before his teen years were over, he created two more com panies - TitleU, a coaching company to help people figure out what they wanted to do in life and Artist IKON. “IKON basically took baby bands and mentored them on how to interact with audiences and how to think on their feet, as well as develop press kits for marketing,” according to Hooton. Evan’s philosophy from an early age was all about curiosity. “If I wanted to do something, I taught myself or found some one who was willing to teach me. And it was a little shocking at how many people wouldn’t help you if you were so young.”
Hooton discovered his love of the technical side of music through a mentor who was a leading veteran of the Audio Production industry. He was given the opportunity through a
meeting with his mentor to become the media director for a live industry media magazine.
“This was painful, for me,” Hooton reflects. “Pretty soon I was writing product reviews and teaching classes to people twice my age.”
Hooton still authors white papers for the industry, and from the opportunity at the magazine he began an 11-year stint of flying around the world, as a national sales manager, ending as the global market vertical manager for an industry leading manufacturer launching audio products into the production industry. He left in early 2020.
“It was an amazing time in my life, but when I hit 100,000 airline miles that last year, I knew I needed out,” he says. “After I had time to think, Production Point was the vision I saw – I just had to figure out how to get there. A one-stop shop for everything a client needed, a real content creation hub.” Hooton purchased a local Colorado Springs print shop, Colorado Custom Printing at the beginning of 2022 to really round out this vision.
“My vision for Production Point is that everything is here, a stage, podcast studios, film rooms, printing, marketing, public relations, advertising…all of it,” explains a passionate Hooton. “We have 46 full-time people right now and my org chart calls for 92.”
Hooton wraps up his philosophy on life and business this way, “I made what I love to do for a business into a lifestyle. It all dovetails into who I am and what I love to do for others.”
“Frustrating. People can’t pin me down – they don’t know what their getting – ask my mom! I want to put the right people in the right place to create the right result. Building this company is like creating your own little village – and you all eat at the same dinner table.”
“Xray Vision. I can see the vision, and I believe that I can fig ure out how to get there – no matter what.”
“Being overly optimistic. Which can lead to biting off a little more than you can chew.” That’s exactly how Production Point became his next vision. “I was looking to combine warehouses – not really thinking about launching this idea right now. I found this space after eight weeks and just thought wow. I saw my vision.”
As Easter approached and Springs Rescue Mission staff hustled to prepare a meal for hundreds of guests, Luis was fast at work building a full-scale cross to adorn the dining hall.
“I felt like I wanted to do something special,” he said. “I felt the spirit of God. … I felt at peace every time I worked on it.”
The opportunity presented itself to Luis, a lifelong artist and creative, while he worked in the SRM’s workshop as part of the one-year residential addiction-recovery program for men.
Luis, now 58, was born in Cuba and moved with his family to New Jersey at age 6. Growing up in the Catholic culture of a New Jersey neighborhood, he was no stranger to the church. Even in his hardest times, Luis never gave up on his faith.
“When I was first born again in 1995, I had a zeal for God,” he said. “But then life took over, and I lost that fire.”
Luis went to design school, worked as a fashion illustrator and was even a model for a time. After he first visited Colorado in 1999, he fell in love with the mountains and the weather — he vowed to one day return as a resident. Soon after, he landed a job with a local, multimedia company and moved to Colorado Springs.
“I was doing really well but my drinking started getting really bad,” he said. “I felt alone. I felt so stressed out. I was battling some things inside me, but I knew something was stirring.”
Drinking gradually consumed Luis’ life, until one day his friend told him about the New Life Program at Springs Rescue Mission.
“I think God wanted me to do this program,” he said. “That was the beginning of my true transformation.”
Luis accredits his success in the program to his faith and a deep connection with his case manager, who has helped him gain new and important perspectives on life.
“I feel like he’s been a catalyst,” Luis said. “I felt the spirit of God in those meetings, and it’s really helped me have a deeper understanding of my core beliefs.”
Luis now lives in housing for sober men, works for the City of Colorado Springs and continues to create art. The cross he created for Springs Rescue Mission stands as a statement of his faith and a testament to his skill.
“I feel that fire for God again,” he said. “I know He has placed me here.”
By Jerry Cross | Photos Property of Colorado College Athletics
The bench at Ed Robson Arena and the sidelines at Stewart Field at Colorado College have had a different look in the past year with new head coaches for the school’s two Division I sports.
Kris Mayotte enters his second season as head coach of the hockey program, while Keri Sanchez is in the middle of her first year leading the women’s soccer team.
Mayotte put his stamp on the Tiger program his first season with several convincing victories, including a 5-3 road win over 10th-ranked Boston College and CC’s first four-game season sweep of an opponent (Miami) since the 2007-08 campaign.
He also solidified his reputation as a top recruiter with this year’s incoming class, which includes Noah Laba, a fourthround selection of the New York Rangers in the 2022 NHL Draft; Kaidan Mbereko, the starting goaltender for Team USA at the 2022 World Junior Championships; and several topnotch players from the United States Hockey League (USHL). The Tigers open the 2022-23 season with a weekend series against Alaska Anchorage, Oct. 7-8, at Ed Robson Arena.
And Sanchez won four NCAA National Championships as a player at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, with 13 caps on the United States Women’s National Team.
During her standout professional career, Sanchez played at the highest level, in the first-ever World Cup qualifying tournament in 1991. Additionally, she played for the WPSL’s California Storm and Silicon Valley Red Devils, as well as the WUSA’s Boston Breakers and San Jose Cyberrays, before finishing her pro career with the Los Angeles Sol of the WPS in 2009.
As a four-year letterwinner at UNC from 1991-94, Sanchez was part of four straight NCAA Division I National Championships and four Atlantic Coast Conference title teams to compile a 97-1-1 combined record under legendary head coach Anson Dorrance. It can’t hurt that she roomed with soccer legend Mia Hamm for two years at UNC.
Sanchez, the winningest head coach in the history of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s soccer program with 148 career victories (2004-17), spent the 2021 season as the women’s soccer coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, leading the Titans to a 9-8-1 overall record and a tie for first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, with a 7-1 league mark.
The Tigers will battle cross-town and Mountain West rival Air Force in the inaugural City For Champions Cup on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Weidner Field, beginning at 6 pm. For tickets, please visit https://seatgeek.com/city-for-champions-cupcolorado-college-vs-air-force-tickets/sport/2022-10-27-6pm/5718036.
Keri Sanchez
Kris Mayotte
Four-year old Alexandria Ronne is battling a very rare genetic disorder called metachromatic leukodystrophy—a degenerative and life-limiting condition that has stripped away her ability to walk, talk, and eat. Something that still gives her pure joy is horseback riding at the Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center (CSTRC). “We do this for her quality of life. When she’s riding, she’s extremely happy and smiley,” says Alexandria’s mom, Kayla Ronne.
CSTRC offers horseback riding lessons to adults and children with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. Volunteers help by walking alongside the horses, supporting and encouraging clients during lessons, also by grooming and tacking horses, or doing maintenance around the barn. With more than 200 riders in therapeutic training and traditional riding lessons, volunteers are always in demand. Charity Jackson and her daughter Olivia volunteer at the stables through their work with the mother-daughter non-profit National Charity League, Colorado Springs Chapter. Jackson observes, “It is something we look forward to participating in together. Watching the kids interact with the horses, and helping to care for the horses is a unique experience.”
Nancy Harrison started CSTRC in 2008. She and her husband, Bob, owned Mark Reyner Stables at the base of Palmer Park, and shared a passion for horses and a dedication to children. “I knew the difference the horse makes. I wanted to take that to the next level.” Harrison has seen children who were told they would never walk take steps within months of starting therapy. She’s seen kids speak their first word while riding: “go.” Harrison explains, “It doesn’t feel like work when you see little miracles every day.”
During half-hour lessons, clients build muscle strength, balance, and self-confidence. A horse’s natural gait is similar to a person’s, so riding helps clients develop the rhythm and balance they need to move. Instructors and therapists gear the sessions to the rider’s individual challenges, so they can also work on social, language and behavioral skills. Harrison believes the joy of being on a horse, and the connection the rider feels, is a big part of what makes the therapy work. Although Alexandria is getting weaker, Kayla Ronne is grateful for her daughter’s time at CSTRC. “When she gets very excited, she has this whole-body wiggle. That’s what happens when she knows she’s going to ride.”
For more information, go to www.cstrc.org. CSTRC is one of many local philanthropic organizations supported by the non-profit mother-daughter volunteer organization, National Charity League. The 150 members of the Colorado Springs Chapter have donated 6,322 volunteer hours in the past three years. Visit www.nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/colorado-springs for membership informa tion; next membership drive kicks off November 1.
Michelle Bobart strives to shine light in the life of every person she meets, which is part of the reason she is now licensed to do mortgages in all 50 states. In today’s fast-paced real estate market, Bobart’s seasoned guidance serves as a beacon to her referral partners and clients, having allowed her to help 489 families and fund over $194 million in mortgages in 2021 alone.
As a guiding force in the home-financing industry since 1997, Bobart’s more than 3,500 agents and clients appreciate the wisdom and discernment she brings to her consultations. Whether working with a first-time homebuyer or an accomplished property investor, she focuses her expertise on carving out a customized financing path to fit her clients’ wealth strategy. This results in a clean, efficient mortgage process with no surprises.
Bobart has been consistently named among the top 1% of mortgage originators in America by Mortgage Executive Magazine, a top originator by the Scotsman Guide and one of the Top Women Originators by the Scotsman Guide. These accolades serve to reinforce Bobart’s belief that people who rise to the top in this industry have a true heart for service and look out for others’ best interests.
To create opportunities for her co-workers, Bobart serves as a founding member of the Guaranteed Rate Organization of Women, which helps ignite change in the company and the industry by engaging in mentorship opportunities and giving women additional tools to flourish personally and professionally.
Outside of work, Bobart invests her personal time raising awareness around the needs of abused women and supporting charity efforts including the Stepping Stones Network, an organization that advocates against and educates people on human trafficking.
Guaranteed Rate, Inc. is a private corporation organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any other government agency.
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Michelle
Clarence and Brenda are parents to three adult daughters (he’s the minority in their sorority), author, marriage counselor, speaker, life & relationship coach and volunteer Sheriff’s Chaplain.
He’s the founder and President/CEO of BLR: Building Lasting Relationships. For over 37 years, Clarence and Brenda have conducted marriage, discipleship, men’s, women’s, and single seminars internationally, (Ukraine, 2019). He helps NBA and NFL players with their relationships. Dr. Chapman and Clarence speak together at The Five Love Languages, Date Night, and Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships events. Clarence speaks to youth, college students and singles about friendships, dating, biblical sex, pornography and sexting. In January 2020, Brenda and he were presented FamilyLife’s Speakers of the Year Award for the Weekend to Remember Marriage conferences. Clarence helps couples overcome affairs. Clarence assisted the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (Administration for Children & Families) with its National African American Healthy Marriage Initiative.
Clarence’s Life & Relationship Coaching, helps executives effectively manage their personal and professional lives, finding fulfillment in both. Clarence speaks for Iron Sharpens Iron and in National Football League chapels.
He’s been featured in Essence Magazine, Discipleship Journal, Black Enterprise and other magazines as well as radio, including Dr. Gary Chapman’s Building Relationships.
He is on the boards of the Fatherhood CoMission and One Challenge International. He was formerly President of Moody Bible Institute’s Alumni Board. As a Diversity Consultant, he has assisted numerous clients through his diversity seminars and/or hiring people of color and women in decision-making positions including the War College of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army’s European-based Equal Opportunity Advisors, Evangelical Free Church of America, Moody Bible Institute, Navigators, Association of Christian Schools International, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Crowell & Orchard Foundations, Mississippi Valley State University (Historically Black College) and Open Door Rescue Mission. These are just a few of BLR’s diversity clients.
He’s authored ten books, including Winning the Race to Unity (Moody Publishing) used by colleges and graduate schools as a textbook, inspired Wheaton College’s first ever Civil Rights Movement Conference! Keeping Your Wife Your Best Friend is a husband favorite. His newest book is Life-Changing CrossCultural Friendships: How You Can Help Heal Racial Divides, One Relationship at a Time, co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, the New York Times Best Selling Author. It’s the second book they have co-authored.
He and Brenda are veterans of the pastorate, a variety of non-profits and corporate consultings and reside in Colorado Springs, CO.
As many are aware, individuals cannot go onto Medicare until they are age 65 (unless they are younger with a disability and have been getting Social Security disability for 24+ months). Still, people often start thinking about Medicare and upcom ing retirement at about 62, which is good because it allows you to better understand what to expect from Medicare, and what your plan options are. It also helps to paint a more clear picture of the financial commitment as you budget for your retirement years.
Also, as we age, our insurance needs can change from year to year. Subsequently, we may need to consider what plans and supplements we are to enroll in a given time. The amount of information available can be overwhelming and confusing.
To get started, here are some common questions individuals start to ask as they near their Medicare years. This is not an exhaustive list of common questions, but is a good place to start:
1. How do I sign up for Medicare?
2. When do I sign up for Medicare?
3. Is Medicare the same as Social Security?
4. How much will it cost?
5. What does Medicare cover?
6. Can I choose my own doctors and hospital?
7. Can I be on Medicare and continue working?
8. Is drug coverage included?
9. Does Medicare cover dental?
10. Are there penalties if I don’t enroll when I turn 65?
AdriAnn Bossie has been my healthcare agent for the last 3 years and simply does an outstanding job. She goes above and beyond my expectations, is always available to answer questions and looks out for my concerns. She even answered my call on a Friday night & saved me a significant amount on a prescription that was being coded incorrectly by the pharmacist. I highly recom mend her to anyone looking for a healthcare professional.”
Tom L.
“ 719-440-4242 | adribossie@gmail.com
When I became eligible for Medicare, I was for tunate to meet AdriAnn Bossie. She came to our house, sat with us on our front porch and made the enrollment a breeze. Both myself and Stewart Green, my partner, feel comfortable calling her at any time with questions. With all the Medicare choices out there, we feel lucky to have found such an informed and approachable agent. In addition, I am impressed that she is also a model of fitness. When selling healthcare, that makes a difference to us both.”
Martha M.
Beginning your search for the perfect senior living community can often be a fun and exciting experience, however, with this type of change there can also be a bit of confusion and anxiety. Questions like, when is the right time to make a move to a senior living community, can I afford it and how will my privacy be intruded on? Are questions I most often encounter as the director of sales and marketing. When first meeting with perspective residents, I seek to understand why they are looking to make a move and understand their current needs. Along the way I will encounter a number of myths and misconceptions about senior living and help these potential residents uncover the truths about these myths. Here at Liberty Heights, we offer a variety of living options under our unique full continuum of care structure that provides residents with any level of care they may ever need, from independent living to 24-hour nursing care and a 5-star Medicare rated rehab center. For those of you who are considering making a move to independent living I have provided my top five most encountered myths and the truths about senior living.
Perspective residents that I tour within our community often have the idea that a senior living community, like Liberty Heights, is only for individuals who need assistance in caring for themselves. While this is true in assisted living, it is certainly not the case in independent living. Moving to a community that offers a care-free lifestyle while you are still healthy enough to enjoy the amenities allows you to have control over your life. Often, when I work with individuals who do not want to move to a community until they need assistance, the move is rushed and immediate, and based on availability leaving them feeling powerless over their decisions. Additionally, this decision to delay a move until they need care robs the resident years of community connections and carefree resort style living.
I WILL LOSE MY INDEPENDENCE BY MOVING TO A SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITYAnother common misconception about living in independent living is you will lose your independence. The beautiful thing about living in independent living is you have the ability to come and go as you please, cook in your own fully equipped kitchen, when the desire arises, while also having the peace of mind of knowing that 24-hour security is always nearby. While you may no longer live in a home that you own, living in independent living, residents are not limited to where they can go or what they can do. Many residents come to me personally, expressing how they wish they had made this move sooner. Coming to Liberty Heights Independent Living, freed them from the responsibilities of home ownership and gave them the ability to do things that they always wanted to do. Within Liberty Heights Independent Living, I have a variety of residents from ages 62 to 102. From highly active snowbirds who only come to Liberty Heights a few times a year, to full-time residents who call Liberty Heights home, year-round and everything in between. I am always happy to see my residents smiling faces daily, but I get even more excited to sit down with residents who just returned from a trip abroad to hear how their trip went. The peace of mind these residents have knowing their home is protected while away is priceless.
Another area of concern in regard to independent living is that it is expensive and will cost more than living in your private home. In reality, it is often comparable and, in some cases, more cost effective than receiving the same types of services within your own home. Home ownership is expensive when you consider taxes, insurance, upkeep, unexpected repairs,
and utilities. Then if you add on someone to cook your meals, provide transportation services and 24-hour security that price continues to grow. At Liberty Heights, everything is conveniently included in one monthly rate. Residents also have access to meals, entertainment, social gatherings, life-enrichment activities, security, housekeeping, transportation services and so much more. Plus, always keep in mind social engagement is something that cannot be bought and you can never put a price on the stimulating connections that you have within a community of your peers.
IF I MOVE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
Oftentimes, when completing a tour with a family in our community, a question I am asked is, how long can I stay in independent living? The answer is really up to you. I have residents that have lived within my independent living community for more than 20 years. What is truly remarkable, is I have seen resident’s health improve by moving into my community. Engagement with peers, balanced meals, and daily exercise classes can all be cited as reasons for their physical and mental improvement. Residents don’t often realize how little they walk in their own home. They may go to the mailbox, the living room, or putter around in the garage, but the areas within their home are small and close together, such as their living room, bedroom, and kitchen. I have moved in residents who struggled with their mobility and after only a few weeks within our community participating in our daily exercise classes, water aerobics, and walking to our restaurant, their mobility began to improve. When I tell potential residents this, they are shocked because in their mind, moving into a community, even if it is independent living, means their health will deteriorate.
One of the biggest benefits to living in an independent living community setting is the opportunity to have well balanced meals. When residents live in their own homes outside of a community, they will gravitate towards easy prep meals such as canned soup or sandwiches. Although good occasionally, these meals are filled with sodium and are heavily unbalanced. Liberty Heights offers a variety of choices that allows you as a resident to order from a carefully curated menu that is both balanced and delicious. From our signature daily specials and fresh salads to grilled salmon and chicken there is always something on the menu to fit your nourishment needs.
While every community offers similar amenities and services, nothing beats living in a full continuum of care like that offered at Liberty Heights. This model offers you the opportunity to stay within a community no matter how much assistance you may need, today or in the future. As the only true continuum of care in northern Colorado Springs, Liberty Heights gated community offers a truly unique style of living keeping you healthy, safe and socially engaged. Feel free to contact me directly at 719-481-5009 to schedule your own personalized tour of our beautiful community.
At Liberty Heights, our innovative programs, fine dining and beautiful decor provide an ideal setting to thrive in senior living.
We offer a continuum of care, so whether you’re an independent senior looking for connection and engagement or you or your loved one needs a helping hand with tasks of daily living or compassionate memory care, we’re here to support you.
With a long history of hospitality, tenured staff and a commitment to resident safety, it’s senior living that’s a step above.
Come meet the team! Call 719-354-2597 to schedule a personalized tour.
Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation | #230558 12105 Ambassador Drive | Colorado Springs, CO 80921
I can tell you honestly that having been a teenager did not help me understand the challenges my kids went through in their teenage years. Their problems were not the same ones I dealt with growing up. I had my share of bruises and scars — that’s life, isn’t it? But my past was not enough to help me understand my teenagers’ journey.
Add the confusion that has intensified with the pandemic. Do you know how your teenager is doing — what issues they face? We need to recognize that our kids struggle with worry and anxiety. This can manifest in several ways, including slipping grades, a tendency to isolate, and higher levels of irritability. They are trying to live up to your expectations. Yet they don’t feel “solid.”
They may not share their feelings due to shame or not wanting to be a burden.
What is the one thing you can do? Remember, your kids want you. They want you to ask to spend time with them. As parents, we have a unique role on this earth to be a mom or dad to our kids.
I have made it a point as a parent to watch the movies my kids watch, listen to their music, and read their books. Many times I have had to ask the meaning of a specific song, or why a movie was meaningful to them. I just didn’t get it. It can feel like we are speaking a different language.
Sit down with your teen and engage them. Ask questions and listen. Be honest with them that you don’t fully understand what they are going through. Sharing time and listening shows how much you love them. This can be challenging when they are pushing your buttons. When that happens, take a few moments for some slow, deep breaths.
Pause. As your teenager is sharing their thoughts, it is very important to remain present and non-judgmental. Pausing helps us do this. Listen. Spend time. Hear them out.
As a dad my heart goes out to our youth when I think of the struggles they face today, and it is for this reason I want to help. Check out the QR code link for more resources to help in your journey.
Last night I had a wonderful dream where my 17-year-old son Xavier (X) was asking me if he could wear a superhero cape to school. I was joking around with him, his sister Madison shaking her head and laughing at us. Then I woke up in my nightmare of the 18 months since X passed away from Fentanyl poisoning. The words matter, when someone is given something under false pretenses that looks like a completely different pill, in this case a fake Percocet, it is poisoning. The word overdose is used way too much and feeds into the stigma that these victims deserve it, they are “druggies.” How can it be an overdose when they had no idea what they were taking? My son’s death certificate says “poisoning.”
I might have been one of those people who did not understand the difference, or even what Fentanyl was, before March 12, 2021 — the day our Xavier took his last breath and our lives changed forever. I don’t have many regrets in life, we had what seemed to be the perfect family life here in Colorado. But now, I am full of regrets. “I should have known what Fentanyl was; I should have told my son to NEVER accept any kind of pill from anyone under any circumstances.”
Today Fentanyl is the number one killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. Families are being destroyed daily even though the information is out there. Please talk to your family about the dangers of Fentanyl — awareness is the first step. We never want to see another family go through the same pain we are.
For more information, visit our website: https:// www.xfoundationx.org
The latest fentanyl pills are rainbow colored aimed to look attractive to kids:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/ health/rainbow-fentanyl-that-looks-like-candyis-seized-on-west-coast/
BY OSAMA KASSAB, DC“The best part about providing hormone replacement therapy for me is hearing the improvements in patients’ lives at follow up appointments. It is incredibly satisfying to offer a service that I have complete faith in.” – Williams
A male in his 40s was so pleased with his improvements he wrote a review. “I never knew how important Testosterone was until I received my Evexipel pellets and it was life-changing for me. My libido was incredibly low, I felt sluggish, and my mental clarity was less than optimal. I feel like a new man thanks to Nurse Practitioner Williams and Evexipel.”
A female patient in her early 60s came in desperate and willing to try almost anything to get her life back. For the past ten years, she reported muscle and joint pain, no interest in intimacy, fatigue, irritability, lack of lubrication, and poor sleep. She received low doses of testosterone and estrogen pellets. At her six-week follow-up, she reported most of her symptoms had resolved and she was so grateful for having her old self back again. Weeks later, I received the best compliment and testament of how optimized hormones improve lives when I was able to treat her spouse as well.
In so many subtle ways, our eyes and ears work in tandem as a team.
For example, when you close your eyes, what do you see? What passes before your shut eyes likely depends on the sounds you hear. Research from the Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Glasgow has measured how your brain’s visual cortex uses information gleaned from your ears, as well as your eyes, in order to see the world.
Located in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain, your visual cortex is part of the cerebral cortex, which is the outermost layer of your brain. To study the ears/eyes relationship, researchers blindfolded volunteers and then observed/measured activity in the visual cortex as they were given various stimuli.
Sounds help create visual imagery, mental images, and automatic projections. For example, if you are in a street and you hear the sound of an approaching motorbike, you expect
to see a motorbike coming around the corner. The visual cortex uses information gleaned from the ears to better predict what might be seen. In turn, the visual cortex can better see and focus on surprising events, which may be a survival mechanism.
Just as your ears and eyes work together to help you create a complete view of your world, they also work hand-in-hand to keep you balanced.
Balance and equilibrium help us stay upright when standing and know where we are in relation to gravity. Our balance system, also known as the vestibular system, helps us walk, run, and move without falling. Balance is controlled through signals to the brain from your eyes, the inner ear, and the sensory systems of the body (such as the skin, muscles, and joints).
In the inner ear, the balance system consists of three semicircular canals that contain fluid and sensory hair
cells that detect rotational movement of the head. As the head moves, hair cells send nerve impulses to the brain by way of the acoustic nerve. The nerve impulses are processed in the brain to help us know where we are in space or if we are moving.
If the vestibular system is not functioning properly, your eye muscles cannot adjust as they should because the feedback indicators from the ear are damaged, resulting in blurred vision, nausea, or dizziness. This means that you cannot accurately determine where the floor is in relation to where you are, and the risk of tripping increases vastly.
Human intuition tells us that our senses are all separate streams of information, but we now know that isn’t the case. Ensure you are hearing your best and helping the rest of your senses with a regular hearing screening.
Source: MedicalDaily.com, Current Biology, ASHA.org, GeneralHearing.com.
Have you ever walked into a liquor store and become immediately overwhelmed by the vast selection of wines? You wouldn’t be alone — with so many options, it can be tricky to discern what to purchase.
Among the numerous choices and market competition, I am out to locate unique wines that stand out from the crowd. What, then, makes a wine unique? To me, it could include a few different elements: the story the wine tells, the country or area in which it was produced, the grape variety, the climatic conditions the winemakers faced in that vintage, and the winemaking techniques used. Wines that showcase these elements in a distinctive way separate themselves from the rest — they’re something special.
A recently popular winemaking practice is leaving wines unfined and unfiltered. This technique utilizes less intervention and takes a more natural approach. Unfined wines forgo modern chemistry and the use of additional products that are widely used by modern winemakers. These products reduce astringency and bitterness while improving wine clarity and texture, but they can strip the wine of beneficial flavor and aroma. Unfiltered simply refers to not filtering out small particles, including yeast cells, from a wine. Filtering prevents potential issues from developing, but it also strips the wine of beneficial traits, similar to fining. The “side effects” of these processes are the reason unfined and unfiltered wines are increasingly popular.
A controversial characteristic I like to consider is smoke taint, which is traditionally viewed as a wine fault. While winemaking in Australia’s Hunter Valley in 2020, I saw a huge incidence of smoke from nearby wildfires. The smoke influenced the grapes on the vine and the resulting wines by imparting varying amounts of burnt, ashy, and bacon-like sensory qualities. Instead of writing 2020 off as a “bad year,” we embraced the smoke and made wines that were unique to that vintage. One winery from the area even named their wine “Burnt Shiraz.” From this experience, I realized that I enjoy drinking wines with “smoke taint,” making the most of unforgiving natural conditions, and keeping an open mind about characteristics typically labeled as “faults.”
These are just some examples of how I use elements of wine to help me choose which varieties to showcase at Vine & Wheel. Every month, in addition to our regular wine list, I select ten unique wines that highlight interesting stories, diverse winemaking techniques, and thought-provoking styles. I carefully select these wines so that guests have a chance to step outside their comfort zone and, hopefully, find some new favorites. I encourage everyone to stop by, take some time to chat, and try something different. Cheers!
Thursday- Sunday 7:30pm Saturday Matinee 2:00pm, Sunday Matinee 4:00pm, Thursday matinee 10:00am
DIRECTED
KATHRYN WALSH
Revisit Alcott’s timeless tale of family, growth, and sisterhood through Kate Hamill’s fresh stage adaptation. Follow the March siblings’ coming of age and reflect on the joys and trials of finding
Thursday & Friday 7:30 pm Saturday 2:00 & 7:30 pm | Sunday 4:00pm
Reserve
seats for the return of Theatreworks’ winter puppet show, running weekend mornings alongside our production of Little Women. Explore the marvels of wintertime through the magic of puppetry.
TAKE
CONCERT Friday, September 23, 2022 5:30 - 8:00 pm Corner of Pikes Peak Ave and Tejon Street
VISITING
LECTURE
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 6:00 - 7:00 pm Chapman Recital Hall, Ent Center for the
Opening, Nov 4, 5:00 -8:00
Talk @ 6:00 p.m.
It’s fall, and everyone knows it is pumpkin season, but there is so much more to love with the wide variety of fresh autumn squashes, gourds, and chilis available in southern Colorado. At the Picnic Basket Catering Collective, we wanted to share some of our favorite ways to celebrate the bounty of the season with a hearty recipe, some notable local resources for food and drink, as well as some fun ways to enjoy Colorado’s most colorful season!
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup has quickly become a popular fall favorite. Delicious as a meal with cheeses, apples and Rocky Ford cantaloupe, or as a soup shooter during a Broncos game. This simple soup is high in potassium and vitamin A to help keep your immune system in great shape going into cold and flu season. Roasting harvest squashes enhances the flavor and elevates this simple dish to become a family favorite requested year after year. The Picnic Basket holiday menus include festive trays, dips, and hors d’oeuvres that are delicious and presented beautifully. Complete holiday meals, soups, salads, meats and side dishes for your table are ready to order now. Reserve your date as early as possible.
Chili peppers are southern Colorado’s claim to fame and there is nothing that says fall like the smell of chilis roasting. Spen cer’s Produce has a wide variety of peppers and roasts about 1,000 bushels every year. From Pueblo chiles (mild and hot) to Sonoras; Big Jim’s to Western Colorado varieties; the folks at Spencer’s roast the chilis that are the feature ingredient in our pork green chili recipe.
Looking for a great beer to have handy for football season and the holidays? Bristol Brewing is our go-to for fall and winter brews. Every year, Buffalo Gals roast the pumpkins for Venetucci Pumpkin Ale. This is always a big release for Bristol and we love to join the party. Their Give Back Pack includes
Pumpkin Ale, Smokebrush Porter, and Cheyenne Canyon Pi non Nut Brown Ale, with all sales supporting community pro grams and non-profit organizations. Try their Winter Warlock with your friends during the holidays. You can’t beat it!
Take your cue from the vibrant seasonal colors and bring the outdoors in — decorate your table with the season’s color palate. Venetucci Flower Farm, located in Fountain, is a great place to gather beautiful blooms. They supply the cutting tools and, if you bring your own Mason jar, you’ll receive a discount. They have a wide variety of blooms to choose from: marigolds, strawflowers, statice, amaranth, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, sweet peas, yarrow, sunflowers, basil, and more.
You don’t have to bake treats or burn candles for your home to smell incredible and cozy. A slow-simmering pot of gin ger-apple cider can fill your home with anticipation of family get-togethers. Just combine unfiltered apple juice, ginger beer, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and a squirt of lime for a deli cious hot toddy; or a cold cocktail with your favorite bourbon or vodka. Garnish with an orange twist.
Picnic Basket Catering Collective is ready to help with your special celebrations. Let us take care of the food, service, and décor so you can enjoy more moments with your friends and family this season.
; 2.5 Lbs. Butternut Squash
; 1.5 Qts. Heavy Cream
; 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
; ½ teaspoon Lemon Juice
; 1.5 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
; 2 cups Raw Pepitas
Rub Mix together-
; ½ Cup maple syrup
; 1/3 Cup Cinnamon
; 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
; 1/3 Cup Butter
Toss 2 cups of pepitas in:
; 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
; 2 tablespoons of olive oil
; 1 teaspoon black pepper
; 1 teaspoon salt
1. Cut Squash in half lengthwise and spread rub over entire inside surface.
2. Place face up on sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees until tender.
3. Heat heavy cream until hot.
4. Separate squash pulp from skin and spoon into a blender or large food processor.
5. Add vanilla, lemon juice and salt to blender.
6. Add cream at slow speed at first, then increase speed until the mixture is smooth. Add salt and white pepper to taste.
7. Roast Pepitas in the oven on a single sheet pan for approx. 45 minutes at 300 degrees.
8. Portion soup in 6 oz cups and garnish with roasted pepitas and browned butter drizzle.
Greetings from your local Leave No Trace state advocate! I started biking to work a couple times each week over the summer and it hit me (almost literally) one morning what the focus of this edition’s column should be, trail etiquette! Specifically, trail etiquette and safety on the amazing urban trail system we get to enjoy in Colorado Springs.
Principle 7, Be Considerate of Other Visitors, is an important element of Leave No Trace that deals more with the impact we have on other trail users rather than the trail itself. There are several user groups who utilize the urban trail sys tem; from dog walkers to children learning how to roller-skate to commuters, like me, who use the trails to cycle to and from work. To co-exist peacefully and safely, there are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind:
• Share the trail – stay to the right of the trail when walking or riding to allow faster trail users to pass. If you are in a larger group, travel in a single file line or 2x2 to prevent blocking the entire trail.
• Say hello – When passing others on the trail, make yourself known! Use a bell to indicate you are about to pass someone, or simply shout, “Hello!” or “On your left!” This small gesture is considerate and prevents startling, or running into, your fellow trail users.
• Be visible – Early mornings and late evenings call for extra visibility. Cyclists, use headlights and taillights on your bike. Walkers and runners, wear reflective clothing and/or carry a light source. Dog walkers, make sure both you and your pet(s) are visible!
• Be present – Whether listening to music, an eBook, or your favorite pod cast, make sure that you can hear approaching trail users. Turn the volume down or leave an ear open to stay aware when on the trail.
And that’s it! Whether you are strolling along the Cottonwood Creek Trail, cruising along the Santa Fe Trail, or walking your dog around neighborhood connector trails, you can practice Principle 7 (and avoid collisions!) by following these simple guidelines. Remember, it takes all of us. Until next time, enjoy your world and Leave No Trace.
Leave No Trace
https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/beconsiderate-of-other-visitors/ Biking Safety Tips from SafeWise! https://www.safewise.com/blog/biking-safetytips-31-ideas-for-staying-safe-while-biking/ COAdvocate@lnt.org
The 22nd Annual Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be formally honored and inducted on Tuesday, October 25, at The Broadmoor World Arena. The banquet and induction ceremony is sponsored by The Gazette and ANB Bank and will begin with a reception at 5:00 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 p.m. Also on the menu is the popular sports silent auction, a feature of the event since its inaugural year in 2000.
The 2022 induction class includes the talented Widefield, UNC & Professional Football player, Vincent Jackson; trailblazing Golf Hall of Fame Inductee Ann Finke; standout CU cross-country athlete & Colorado College coach, Ted Castaneda; remarkable Air Academy High School & CU Football Coach, Gary Barnett; exceptional & impactful Manitou High School Volleyball Coach, Judy Barnett; the mighty 1991-1992 Doherty High School Girls’ Basketball Team and the magnificent 2003-2004 Air Force Men’s Basketball Team.
Also, among the Class of 2022 will be the winners of the prestigious Col. F. Don Miller Sports Service Award, Lee Hall and the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award, Mayor John Suthers. Making its first appearance into the 2022 Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame is the Pikes Peak Community Legacy Award awarded to the infamous and world-renowned The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Inductees: Vincent Jackson, Ann Finke, Ted Castaneda, Gary Barnett, Judy Barnett, 1991-1992 Doherty High School Girls’ Basketball Team, and the 2003-2004 Air Force Men’s Basketball Team.
Award Winners: Col. F. Don Miller Sports Service Award: Lee Hall Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award: Mayor John Suthers
Pikes Peak Community Legacy Award: The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
OCT/NOV 2022
Air Force Athletics
Amy Ward Agency
Better Hearing Center
Boot Barn Hall/Notes/NOTES Live!
Brand Ascension
Centura Health
Centennial Radon City Auditorium
Colorado Springs Airport
Colorado College Athletics
COS Sports Corporation
ENT Center for the Arts
Force Broadband
Flying Horse Realty
Guaranteed Rate
COS Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
KKTV 11 NEWS
Liberty Heights
Marquesa Hobbs, Realtor/ERA Shields
National Charity League
Perkins Motors
Phil Long Ford
Picnic Basket Catering Collective
Pine C Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System: www. nmlsconsumeraccess.org reek Dental
Shops at Briargate/Container Store
Senior Insurance Solutions
Springs Rescue Mission
Strata at Garden of the Gods
Stewart Remodeling Trainwreck
Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Vine & Wheel
WCG Accounting
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region
By Travis BockenstedtImagine a healthcare experience where price transparency is the norm, you spend more time with your doctor than in the waiting room, and you never have to worry about a copay or deductible again.
This is the experience that Dr. April Lynch and Dr. John Dygert created when they launched Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care last summer. “When patients choose a clinic like ours, they rarely return to traditional primary care,” says Dr. Dygert. “We truly remove all the stress and hassle of going to the doctor.”
Their innovative healthcare model has become so popular in Colorado Springs that they partner with over 70 large and small business owners to offer their employees affordable primary care. They did all this in one year! Now they’re setting their eyes on northern Colorado Springs and Denver.
Don Niemier, the owner of Story Coffee Company, was one of the first small businesses to join Pinnacle. As his company grew, he knew healthcare benefits would be key to employee recruitment and retention. The problem was traditional healthcare benefits were simply out of reach, and if he did offer them, his employees could never afford the premiums.
“I encourage any business to look into Pinnacle because it is a path to wellness for your employees, keeping them on the job and productive,” notes Niemier. “All my employees are twenty-somethings, and if we can teach this generation what healthcare can be and should be and reject the established status quo, they will literally grow into a new way of thinking that will change the world.”
“I would consider ourselves healthcare disruptors,” emphasizes Dr. April Lynch, Pinnacle’s co-founder. “We believe insurance is best used outside of primary care and family medicine. It’s designed for major medical events such as heart attacks or surgery.”
Pinnacle does not accept insurance. Its services are entirely cash-pay, and its business model operates much like media streaming platforms, food boxes, and gyms – entirely subscriptionbased. Memberships include unlimited access to primary care and other benefits such as discounts on procedures, affordable lab work and wholesale prices on medications shipped directly to patients’ homes. Membership is open to business owners, individuals, families and seniors.
“We partner with many small business owners who have never offered health benefits,” explains Dr. Dygert. “Pinnacle guarantees their employees have access to the most essential part of our healthcare system, and that’s primary care.”
Thank you to each and every advertiser listed herein. You are greatly appreciated and are why Colorado Springs is an amazing Community. Thank you!
At Centura Sports Medicine, our award-winning physicians, therapists, and athletic trainers are changing the way people heal, move and get back to doing what they love. Our breakthroughs are leading the way with treatment of sports-related injuries like concussion and innovative therapy programs that optimize sports performance.
We understand the challenges of athletes at all levels, dedicating ourselves to total patient wellness every step of the way. Our collaborative team of subspecialists brings years of training, experience and research to each individual served.
Centura Sports Medicine offers quick access and comprehensive care that can return people to doing what they love, safely and quickly.
Kevin Lesh, MD Sports Medicine Lindsey Szymaszek, DO Sports Medicine
Ankle fractures
Ankle tendon injuries
Biceps tendon injuries
Chondromalacia (runner’s knee)
Concussion
Foot fracture
Hand and finger tendon injuries
Hand fractures
Hip impingement
Hip labral tear
David Walden, MD Orthopedic Surgery John Pak, MD Orthopedic Surgery
Ruptured Achilles tendon
Shoulder dislocation
Shoulder labral tear
Knee ligament injuries
Meniscus tear
Patellar tendonitis
Rotator cuff tear
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tennis elbow/tendinitis
Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright
Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN:
habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY:
1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).
