NORTH || OCT/NOV 2024 || Randy Gradishar

GRADISHAR RANDY

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Photo by Don Jones, Studio 9 Commercial Photography

Greetings and Happy Autumn

This is a very special edition of NORTH, and I want to thank our writing and editing team for their work in compiling a very full folio. I also want to give a shout out to our design team who continually explore ways to create the most engaging piece of visual work with every edition. I’m so proud of these teams for their work and professionalism – thank you!

Thanks also to Gina Sacripanti at Phil Long dealerships for leading the way on our special feature of Randy Gradishar. One of only seven inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this past August, the Orange Crush standout was somewhat “duped” into visiting Denver Bronco leadership under false pretenses, only to find out he was being presented with the Hall’s famous gold jacket.

Gradishar generously sat with our writer Pam Bales to talk about his journey — one that started a mere 53 miles from Canton, where his legacy would ultimately be enshrined. From his tutelage under Woody Hayes at Ohio State University to the Denver

Broncos, his story is bound to inspire.

Arts Month 2024: This is a great time of year for many reasons, including our regional focus on The Arts in El Paso County. We are fortunate to have community leaders at the helm who champion this aspect of our community on monumental levels. As you peruse this year’s presentations, observe how our area’s arts economy has steadily evolved into an organized and highly intentional movement. We are seeing greater emphasis on and appreciation of the arts’ role as an economic development tool –both for the purposes of attraction of employers and talent, and retention of those who choose this region. We encourage you to explore our local arts scene in all its forms. Learn how the many offerings can challenge your mind and refresh the human spirit.

Speaking of the arts, I wanted to share my personal appreciation for the late James Earl Jones. While I had no connection whatsoever with the great actor, the story of his formative years in Mississippi with a speech impediment (stuttering) to becoming an amazing performer of his time has always resonated with

me. Well beyond being “the voice,” Jones’s stage presence and delivery were something I always looked forward to — even if only for a few moments in a broadcast interview. Wouldn’t it be something if even God himself asks James to “do the voice.” But really, who can blame him?

In appreciation of all the artists,

Dirk R. Hobbs Founder, Executive Publisher, Colorado Media Group

NORTH & So. Colorado Business Forum & Digest/ TrueNORTH & Business Digest Weekly Radio

Listen to some of the region’s most interesting people on TrueNORTH.

BTS: Pam Bales meet Randy Gradishar at the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center.

Photo by: Dirk R. Hobbs

Founder & Executive Publisher

Dirk R. Hobbs dhobbs@coloradomediagroup.com

Managing Editor Lee Harper lharper@coloradomediagroup.com

Assistant Editor

Rhonda Van Pelt info@coloradomediagroup.com

Creative Director Christopher Tombaugh ctombaugh@coloradomediagroup.com

Senior Graphic Designer

Geraldine Villanueva gvillanueva@coloradomediagroup.com

Graphic Designer Ashlee Kothenbeutel

Director of Media Sales & Partnerships

Jeff Mohrfeld jmohrfeld@coloradomediagroup.com

Website Managers

Sterling McMannis & Angelina Pecoraro

Director of Photography Don Jones, Studio 9 Commercial Photography

Senior Writers

Pam Bales, Kim Daly, Jeanne Davant, Warren Epstein & Wayne Heilman

Staff Writers & Copy Editors

Olivia Bond, Keri Kahn, Emilie Hagopian, Lucy Richardson, Kay Rowe & Tiffany Underwood

Writers & Contributers

Dylan Craddock, Rachael Degurse, M.D., Meegan Flewelling, Carriann Johnson, Jason Watson, CPA, T.H. Williams, PhD, CFP®

NORTH Partners

KKTV 11 NEWS, Salem Media, Visit COS, United States Air Force Academy Athletics, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Airport & YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region

COLORADO LIFESTYLE & HOME

The Ultimate Mountain High on Pikes Peak

BY KERI KAHN, Staff Writer

Riders look ahead to the peak they’re about to climb.

Colorado is known for attracting adventurers in search of that indescribable Rocky Mountain high. For these folks, the state boasts some legendary cycling events, which entice challenge-seeking riders the world over. But very few of them finish atop a 14er, like the 15th edition of The Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit did in August.

The Colorado Springs Sports Corp signature event took place over 12.5 miles on the Pikes Peak Highway. Cyclists of all skill levels conquered 4,700 feet of climbing before summiting at 14,115 feet.

The weather was perfect, albeit chilly, at the top. The grit was evident on the faces of the 303 participants, and pure joy in the eyes of race staff and officials whose passion makes such events possible.

A Bucket List Race for the Serious Cyclist

“I love cycling in beautiful settings. I love the alpine challenge, just the threshold of pushing yourself to a high intensity cardiovascular realm,” says Brad Taylor who won this year’s Master’s Men 50+ Category 4/5 event with a time of 1:32.24.86.

For Taylor, it’s his favorite event on the cycling calendar. This was the fifth consecutive year he had summited the peak on two wheels. Like others, there’s a reason he comes back each August.

Kevin-Druis Merenda is originally from Switzerland but has lived in Golden for the past eight years. For him, the race is about the high altitude, and the community at the start line. He won this year’s Pro Men’s Field with a time of 1:11:16.09. The eight men in that group separated about 15 minutes into the race, and after a couple of turns, Merenda upped the pace as his nearest competitor, Owen Wright, dropped back. Wright finished second.

“That never means the race is over, because at very high altitude, a lot can happen. But the gap just kept growing, and I got some more time gaps in the last 30 minutes,” says Merenda.

It’s About More than Riding to a Podium Position

There are some competitive categories for sure, but it’s not just about competition. Many participants see the Pikes Peak race as a bucket list item because of how unique it is compared to other races around the country. Some are out to prove their level of fitness to themselves. Others love being a part of the friendly local cycling community.

For Ethan and Nicole Danielson, it’s a way to foster a healthy and active lifestyle with their two-year-old daughter. The couple owns RockE Mountain Bike, the only mobile e-bike rental company in Colorado Springs. There’s even a category for e-bikes in the race up the peak.

Ethan crossed the finish line, achieving third place in the e-bike category of 30 riders. He was ahead of his wife, who traversed the course with their two-yearold daughter strapped into a child carrier.

The little one may be too young to pedal, but when asked why they include her, the answer came quickly.

“To show her she can do it. To get her outside,” says Nicole. “I feel like a lot of people leave their kids behind and are like, ‘look what I’m gonna go do.’ So, we try to take her along with everything we do.”

“The cycling community is a healthy and active community. The more we involve her with it, the more she grows up around it and the more she falls in love with it, just the same as we did,” Ethan adds.

Marcus Robinson celebrates at the summit.

A Race Category for Everyone

Lindsey Lavender returned from Longmont to her hometown for the event this summer. Because she’s primarily an off-road and gravel rider, she entered the Women’s Gran Fondo division which does not award the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) points which many competitive road cyclists are after.

“I like that it finished on top of a mountain. I like summiting at the end of race,” says Lavender. The 25-year-old won her category and cycled back down the mountain, which participants are allowed to do only after a mandatory brake check at the top. For a lot of them, that’s the best part.

With e-bikes, Gran Fondos, and even a tandem field which featured a father-daughter duo this year, there were 23 total categories of cyclists of all ages and skill levels.

Want to become one of those rare cyclists who achieves the ultimate Rocky Mountain high next August? It’s never too early to start training. Lucky for us locals, the Pikes Peak region offers plenty of hills to train on!

Tandem bikes were one of 23 categories in the 15th edition of the race.

The race up Pikes Peak covers 12.5 miles and features 4,700 feet of climbing.

Unbeknownst to many in El Paso County, Colorado, there is an environmentalist among us who bears special mention, along with the Tree Planting project he set into motion. His name is Dan Stuart.

One Tree at a Time

BY KAY ROWE, Staff Writer

Commission, including a term as Chairman. He has also served on numerous non-profit boards.

Over the past few decades, Stuart served the Pikes Peak region and the State of Colorado in many capacities. Among these are eight years on the Manitou Springs City Council, with two terms as Mayor and eight years on the Colorado Transportation

The Tree Planting project commenced in 1983 during the first year Stuart was on the Manitou Springs City Council. While discussing a drainage project on one of the high streets in town, known as “Red Mountain,” he asked, “Why not plant trees on the hillside above to slow the water down?” The other Council members said that they would buy the trees if he would plant them. He responded, “I can do that.” They acquired 200 seedlings from the Colorado State Forest Service, and Stuart called upon friends to help with the planting. This initial project was engaged in for a few years.

Planting locations immediately following that were mostly in the foothills above Manitou Springs. This included the Intemann Trail and the sides of the Manitou incline to hide the scars of the railroad tracks. Concurrently, the incline became very popular.

Planting was done one day each year after Arbor Day in the spring, which was just in time for the spring rains. In recent years, they’ve planted

on the second Saturday of May. Each year of the first three decades, they planted 200 seedlings. Trees were purchased by the city of Manitou Springs during the first 10 years or so. Then, Stuart funded the trees himself for the next 20 years. During this 30-year period, approximately 6,000 trees were planted by 10 to 12 volunteers brought together by Stuart each of those years.

After the Waldo Canyon fire in 2012, when more than 18,000 acres were destroyed, Stuart expanded the project due to several fires in Colorado that year. The Colorado

Dan Stuart.

Bar Association was offering tree planting grants, so he took on the project for El Paso County. Stuart formed a committee of lawyers and judges to help him organize volunteers, many of whom he rounded up with the help of friends, and purchased 1,000 seedlings.

Since 2013, Stuart and his volunteers have planted about 1,000 trees per year in areas affected by the Waldo Canyon fire. The Colorado Bar Association provided grant funds for three years, and for two more years after that, the Colorado Tree Association provided grants. The Justice Center, the nonprofit arm of the El Paso County Bar Association, also got involved as sponsors for the project.

In 2013, concurrently with the Justice Center, the Coalition for Upper South Platte (CUSP), headquartered in Lake George, Colorado, partnered with Stuart. For the record, CUSP was established shortly after the Hayman fire in 2002, the largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning more than 138,000 acres as well as structures across four counties. Their focus was on restoring the watershed. For Stuart’s project, CUSP has supplied their expertise in volunteer projects,

providing tools and hardhats, safety briefings and even porta potties.

According to Stuart, for the past six years or so, CUSP has also provided the seedlings from the Colorado State Forest Service for the work in the Pike National Forest.

It should be noted that when the Waldo Canyon fire happened, they were not permitted to plant in that area. It needed to recover from the fire. So, for three years, they planted on the Cave of the Winds property, and then for another two years at Flying W Ranch, both of which are private property.

To plant on Forest Service land, they needed to coordinate with the Colorado State Forest service and CUSP. Having this relationship has guided them on where to plant and now supplies the seedlings. Meanwhile, Stuart continues to round up the volunteers, and The Justice Center has continued its involvement in handling their registration and signing of waivers. Since 1983, approximately 17,000 trees have been planted. Stuart estimates that one-third of the trees have survived the extreme environment and drought conditions.

Volunteers have ranged in age from eight- to 80-years-old. During the first year, volunteers included Mayor John Graham and his wife, Sue, as well as the prior Mayor Ken Jaray and his wife, Sandy. Paul Intemann, the former City Planner for Manitou, also participated in the early years of the project. Unfortunately, Paul, for whom the Intemann trail was named, was killed in a car crash in 1986.

Beyond lawyers, judges and other members of the legal community, when Stuart’s kids were younger, their friends, friend’s parents and two Scout troops got involved. Other volunteers have included high schoolers looking for service hours, many members of the AdAmAn Club and the Manitou Kiwanis Club. Since 2020, 20 to 30 volunteers have helped to plant about 1,000 trees per year.

Stuart was asked, “What does your passion for this project stem from?”

His response was, ”I’m an optimistic person. It’s been said that planting a tree is a sign of hope for the future. We’re not planting for ourselves. My hope is that my grandchildren can take their grandchildren out to the forest and sit in the shade of these trees. And… I like the outdoors.”

Ski Season Preview

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD, Staff Writer

As winter approaches, Colorado ski resorts are gearing up for another exciting season of snow-covered slopes and alpine adventures. With forecasts predicting favorable conditions, resorts across the state are preparing to welcome skiers and snowboarders from around the world. From the renowned terrain of Aspen and Vail to the charming runs of Breckenridge, Colorado’s ski destinations are set to offer a winter wonderland for enthusiasts of all levels. As the season kicks off, visitors can expect a range of activities, from thrilling downhill runs to cozy après-ski experiences, making Colorado a premier choice for winter sports enthusiasts.

Epic Powder

Some resorts have partnered together to create the Epic Pass, which provides unlimited access to all included resorts. The resorts that participate are Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Telluride, Beaver Creek, Park City and Whistler Blackcomb and dozens of others around the world. Purchasing this pass also unlocks specialty deals such as 20% off lodging, group lessons and rentals. For an adult, the pass costs $1,025; children’s passes cost $523. Each resort offers its own day passes as well as season passes. However, online tickets are dynamically priced based on the day of your visit and will increase as visitation volume rises for that day. Purchasing tickets in advance online can also save money on ticket price compared to purchasing it day of your visit. A few of the most common ski resorts in Colorado include Aspen, Vail, Monarch, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek.

Aspen Snowmass will open for the 2024-2025 season with winter hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The resort features four mountains and, last season, added 153 acres of new terrain with the debut of Hero’s terrain and a high-speed quad lift. This marks the first major expansion since the Silver Queen Gondola’s introduction in 1985. Starting January 2025, all passholders and lift ticket buyers will receive a POW membership, which provides access to advocacy opportunities. Single-day lift tickets are priced at $179 for adults and $129 for children, teens and seniors when purchased at the resort.

Vail is Colorado’s largest ski resort, covering 5,317 acres, and the second-largest in North America. It features 278 trails catering to all skill levels. Lift tickets are available for single-day or up to seven-day use, with prices at the resort set at $295 for adults, $204 for children ages 5-12, and $285 for seniors ages 65 and older.

Monarch Mountain is celebrating its 85th anniversary, offering discounted renewal prices for past season passholders: $589 for adults (18-61), $419 for teens (13-17), $309 for juniors (7-12), and $449 for seniors (62 and up). Day passes are available for single or

Photo source: Epic Pass

up to four days. Online ticket prices fluctuate based on the day and visitation volume, with single-day lift tickets for adults at the resort ranging from approximately $69 to $129.

Breckenridge features five distinct peaks and covers approximately 3,000 acres of terrain. The Imperial SuperChair, one of the highest lifts in North America, reaches 12,840 feet above sea level. Breckenridge offers 187 trails for all skill levels. Single-day lift tickets purchased at the resort are priced at $265 for adults, $172 for children ages 5-12, and $255 for seniors ages 65 and older. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the resort provides other winter activities, including scenic gondola rides, a Gold Runner coaster and a mountaintop children’s museum.

Keystone, founded by Max and Edna Dercum in 1970, boasts more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain across three peaks and five bowls. It offers 139 trails catering to all skill levels. Keystone provides a range of winter

activities, including night skiing, snow tubing, the world’s largest mountaintop snow fort, ice skating and sleigh rides. Keystone sells single-day lift tickets at $232 for adults, $151 for children ages 5-12, and $220 for seniors ages 65 and older.

Beaver Creek will open for the season on November 27 and features 167 trails for all skill levels. The resort caters to a variety of winter travelers, offering terrain from family-friendly areas like the new McCoy Park to challenging slopes on the Birds of Prey World Cup racecourse. Single-day lift tickets at the resort cost $295 for adults, $204 for children ages 5-12, and $285 for seniors ages 65 and older. Tickets are available for single days or up to seven days.

With opportunities for early planning and discounted tickets, now is the ideal time to prepare for an exciting season on Colorado’s snowy slopes. Whether seeking adventure or relaxation, visitors will find something to make their winter unforgettable.

More Resort Info p. 18

Images courtesy of the individual resorts.

Additional Resort INFORMATION

WINTER PARK RESORT

Opens October 28, 2024 85 Parsenn Rd., Winter Park, CO 80482 winterparkresort.com (970) 726-5514

ARAPAHOE BASIN

Opens November 2, 2024 28194 Highway 6, Dillon, CO 80435 arapahoebasin.com (888) 272-7246

LOVELAND

Opens November 10, 2024 Exit 216 Interstate 70, Georgetown, CO 80444 skiloveland.com (800) 736-3754

COPPER MOUNTAIN

Opens November 11, 2024 509 Copper Rd., Copper Mountain, CO 80443 coppercolorado.com (866) 656-1546

PURGATORY

Opens November 16, 2024

#1 Skier Place, Durango, CO 81301 purgatory.ski (970) 247-9000

CRESTED BUTTE

Opens November 27, 2024 12 Snowmass Rd., Crested Butte, CO 81225 skicb.com (970) 251-7021

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

Opens November 20, 2024 2305 Mt. Werner Circle, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 steamboat.com (800) 922-2722

Short Cut to Long-Term Energy Savings

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CITY GLASS

Windows are one of the most important parts of your home. Natural light is critical to all of us. It was been well documented that natural light can:

Create a more positive attitude.

Make us more productive.

Improve our health.

Regulate our circadian rhythm, which helps us sleep better.

The performance of glass and window frames has come a long way since the days of steel, wood or aluminum frames and single-pane glass. Since the 1980s, every window sold in Colorado Springs has been double-pane insulated glass units. The double-pane insulated unit creates a dead space between the exterior and interior pieces of glass, so that heat and cold are not easily transferred between the two. This helps with heating in the winter, and cooling in the summer.

The next major improvement in glass performance was low-emissivity glass, or Low-E glass. These are thin, transparent coatings applied to the glass to regulate the temperature inside a building, enhancing the window’s efficiency even more. Low-E coatings can be applied to

different surfaces of the glass to either keep heat in or out, and to reduce ultraviolet rays, which can damage curtains, furniture and carpet.

Many believe you must replace the entire window to take advantage of the latest performance improvements available with glass and Low-E coatings. This can be a very expensive proposition including:

The cost of new windows vs. just replacing the doublepane insulated glass unit.

The cost and potential damage of interior and exterior surfaces when removing the old window frames, and installing the new windows.

The cost and time to move furniture, blinds or curtains, damage to landscaping, etc. that comes from total window replacement.

There are times when new window frames are needed, but the majority of the time it’s only necessary to replace the insulated glass in the current window frames with new technology to significantly enhance the performance of your windows.

While we offer entire window replacements at City Glass, we suggest you consider replacing the insulated glass units to improve the performance of your windows. Please reach out to us to look at your particular situation to determine the best way to improve your home.

City Glass was founded in Colorado Springs in 1950, and is the largest and oldest glass and glazing contractor in Southern Colorado. (719) 634-2891

Photo Courtesy of All About Home Design

Now’s the Time to Get Ready for Winter

BY JEANNE DAVANT, Senior Writer

While you’re enjoying fall, it’s a good idea to think about winterizing your home and property, experts say.

Winterizing can not only keep your home more comfortable and safer, but also save you money on your utility bills, says Doug Bursnall, senior conservation specialist at Colorado Springs Utilities.

Inexpensive measures such as caulking window frames and covering your windows with plastic can be nearly as effective as expensive storm window installations, says Ken Hall, HVAC manager at the Energy Resource Center, a nonprofit that provides energy-efficient upgrades for income-qualified customers.

Complete Checklist

Bursnall recommends that homeowners, especially those with older houses, check the insulation levels in their attics with a ruler. There should be at least 14 inches of insulation. While attic insulation is usually the easiest to do, basement and wall insulation also helps keep your house warm in winter and cool in summer.

“We have rebates that we have recently increased to help with that,” Bursnall says. “You can get $750 for insulating your attic.”

Both Bursnall and Hall recommend an annual furnace cleaning and tune-up by a licensed HVAC technician before cold weather arrives, as well as taking common-sense measures, such as making sure heating vents and air returns aren’t blocked.

Start the season with a new furnace filter, Hall says. He recommends changing air filters every month or two. “There’s no such thing as a sixmonth filter,” he says.

Outdoors, winterizing begins with having your sprinkler system blown out to prevent freezing and costly repairs, says Jeff Young, owner of Conserva Irrigation.

Late fall also is the time to protect your tender perennials, especially newly planted trees and shrubs, says Dan Hopper, owner of Rick’s Garden Center. One thing he does not recommend is fertilizing after mid-August.

Your Home Winterizing Checklist

Check window and door frames, as well as door thresholds on a cool evening when leaks will be apparent. Caulk both inside and outside of frames and replace door gaskets. Hall recommends recaulking at least every five to seven years.

Reverse ceiling fans, if you have them. In winter, you want them to turn clockwise to pull warm air up and push it down the walls.

In older homes or those with crawl spaces, insulating pipes prevents freezing and keeps hot water hot and cold water cold, Bursnall says. He recommends insulating pipes for the first 10 feet from the water heater or up to the first bend.

Check the kitchen, bathroom and dryer vents outside the house to make sure they are clear. Debris stuck in the flap mechanisms can allow cold air to enter or warm air to be pulled out of your home.

Turn off the breaker to your outside air conditioner unit, which can be damaged if it’s accidentally left on.

Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors outside every bedroom, or change batteries in your existing detectors.

Bursnall suggests visiting CSU’s Conservation & Environmental Center for hands-on information about energy efficiency and for a free consultation with experts in the field.

If you’re considering an upgrade to your irrigation system, now is a good time to do it, Young says. Upgrades including smart control panels, heads with check valves that don’t leak and converting to drip irrigation can save money and water. Check with CSU for available rebates.

Young recommends scheduling sprinkler system blowouts as soon as possible if you’re going to use an irrigation company.

“We do lots of repairs every spring because people don’t blow out their systems in time,” Young says. You want to get it done by late October. Young and Hopper also recommend these measures:

Winter watering may be needed if there is no measurable precipitation for three weeks or more, Hopper says, especially for new plantings. But don’t restart your sprinkler system to do it, says Young. Use a hose with a sprinkler attachment.

A fall cleanup of dead branches and leaves around plants prevents the spread of diseases, Hopper says. Leaves and grass clippings can be left on your lawn, however.

Cutting back perennials is a matter of preference, Hopper says. He prefers to leave plants like ornamental grasses, coneflowers and sunflowers in place to supply food for birds and provide winter interest. But cutting back in late fall works as well.

Don’t prune trees until spring, but you can divide plants like day lilies and plant fall bulbs.

Reverse

Turf grass is an exception to the “no fertilizer” rule. Lawns can be aerated and get a dose of high-nitrogen fertilizer in the fall.

Composting and mulch help perennials make it through the winter. Choose a mulch variety appropriate for your soil, such as mushroom compost or cotton burr for heavy clay, and work it into the soil around your plants.

Use fencing or bark guards to protect trees and shrubs from deer, which may come around after new plantings when food gets scarce.

BY CARRIANN JOHNSON, Interior Designer & TV Personality

Tiny House with Big Heart

With inflation and high interest rates, the current economy makes home ownership an option for fewer people. The not-so-big home has increasing appeal for some – not just from a cost perspective, but also for lower maintenance, improved energy efficiency, sustainability and overall lifestyle. I have always been drawn to the tiny house – I appreciate the clever use of a smaller space that’s big on personality.

The ability to physically move the abode is a huge bonus as well! When I return home from a week of camping in my 28-foot camper, I realize that I don’t need as much space or stuff as I think. There’s something to be said for simplicity in a time when life can feel so complex.

For years I’ve had my eye on Tumbleweed Houses in Colorado Springs. The company’s website says, “With attention to detail, you can customize every aspect of

Photo

Source: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

your tiny home, from the layout to the finishes, ensuring it reflects your unique style.” The website has an online tool to select your options and download a quote with a detailed look at initial costs and monthly payments. Tumbleweed also offers discounts to first responders, military (active and retired) and educators.

Recently, I jumped in my truck and headed out east to their facilities. As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw inventory on the property that I could walk through. I was greeted by friendly staff and had the opportunity to speak with CEO Steve Weissmann. He joined the company in 2007 and has the longest tenure of any CEO in the industry.

Weissmann says, “Factory-built homes can be quickly produced year-round, regardless of weather, with very predictable costs to the end buyer. We’ve built over 600 tiny homes.”

Walking through the models, I was even more impressed than I expected. The quality, floorplans, high-quality materials, craftsmanship and architecture all surpassed what I had previously thought about tiny homes.

Before making the leap to such a lifestyle, Weissmann says it’s important to be comfortable with a minimalist mindset. While the movement is not a passing fad, not every person can be happy in limited space with fewer conveniences.

However, the biggest hurdle with owning a tiny home is finding an adequate property that allows this type of home, and has water, sewer and electricity utilities available. It’s important to contact a realtor and/or the local government jurisdiction to learn what building codes and land restrictions exist. Tumbleweed’s website says, “Zoning laws govern the use of property in a particular area, and what can be built on it.”

Here are some interesting facts I learned about these tiny homes:

 People of all ages own tiny homes; Tumbleweed’s typical buyer is between 25 and 35 or 45 and 60 years of age.

 The build process on their tiny homes is around four months.

 Tumbleweed can ship a home anywhere in the continental U.S.

 The largest model they build is 390 square feet, plus a loft.

 Tumbleweed builds their homes on trailers so they cannot exceed 399 square feet.

 The typical Tumbleweed model sells for $125,000, with prices ranging from $96,000 –$225,000.

 There are several mortgage lenders to choose from when financing your tiny house.

In over 25 years as an interior designer, I know the home-build process can be arduous. The concept of tiny living allows you to build a custom home, with far fewer decisions and less stress. And after spending time learning about them, you may find yourself embracing this as a cozy possibility.

To learn more, visit tumbleweedhouses.com 1450 Valley St., Colorado Springs, CO 80915 (877) 331-8469

David A. Joseph Company offers personalized services tailored to the needs of discerning homeowners who need a watchful eye on their investment while they are away.

Whether it is a visual inspection, cleaning, or scheduled maintenance for home systems—to any number of other services—we have you covered.

We’ve been in the Colorado resort home business for over 30 years. Contact us to discuss your individual needs.

Base Package

™ Weekly visits to your home to ensure everything is safe and operating properly

™ Cleaning of your home (hard surfaces and carpet) every six weeks

™ Monthly inspection of all lighting, fireplaces, sinks, toilets, and showers for proper operation

™ Scheduling of maintenance and repairs as needed

Additional Services

™ Additional cleans as requested

™ Linen service and dry cleaning

™ Stocking of groceries, fresh flowers, liquor, etc.

™ Landscaping, pool and spa services

™ Small- and large-scale construction and remodel projects

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

BY PAM BALES, Senior Writer

GRADISHAR CRUSHING IS IT RANDY F

ormer leader of the legendary Denver Broncos’ Orange Crush Defense, Randy Gradishar, has continued crushing it off the field in his adopted home of Colorado for more than 50 years.

After a decade with the Denver Broncos — a franchise record for a middle linebacker — Gradishar co-founded and led the Denver Broncos Youth Foundation in 1984. An Ohio State University education degree made him a natural fit to work with youth. He also collaborated with the governor’s office, the Denver mayor’s office and the University of Colorado former football coach Bill McCartney, the founder of Promise Keepers, in the 1990s. Then, a new opportunity called, shifting his focus in a unique direction.

“Jay Cimino, the president of Phil Long Dealerships, which was founded in Colorado Springs in 1945, was working with the Denver Bronco Charities and Denver Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan to create unique fantasy playgrounds and skate parks across Colorado in partnership with the Phil Long Community Fund,” explains Gradishar. “We met and instantly connected; I’ve been with the Phil Long family for the past 27 years.”

Cimino passed away earlier this year, much to the sadness of communities across Colorado and beyond, where he served in many philanthropic and economic development capacities. Fortunately, he was able to celebrate Gradishar, now 72, on his pending induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cimino’s remarks then: “Randy has always been a champion, on and off the field. His decades of commitment to our community in championing the success of others has made a great impact throughout Colorado, and we are proud to have him as part of the Phil Long Family and to be able to celebrate this longoverdue honor with him.”

Former NFL player Randy Gradishar speaks during his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Canton, Ohio.

AP Photo/David Richardt

Gradishar’s path from small-town boy to professional NFL football player included four years playing under famed Ohio State coach Woody Hayes. Although his first mentors were his parents and his high school coaches, he recalls.

“My mom and dad were Depression-era kids,” explains Gradishar. “The challenges they faced established the core values of determination, perseverance, a strong work ethic and teamwork; that nothing was impossible to overcome. Those values remained with my parents their entire lives.

“Married just two years, my dad enlisted in the Army when the U.S. entered WWII; he fought in the South Pacific. After returning home, Dad started a grocery store in small-town Champion. I started working there part-time after school when I was 11, as did my two brothers. I loved working alongside my dad; he was my hero.”

As a youngster, Gradishar’s mother took him the YMCA, where he competed on the swim team. Admiring the teamwork at the YMCA, he watched older kids play basketball. So, in his freshman year at Champion High, he tried out and was chosen for the basketball team. Then he repeated the strategy for the football team, playing wherever he was needed, offense or defense.

“I liked high school football, but I loved basketball,” Gradishar says. “Outside of school sports, I enjoyed playing golf, baseball,

tennis — whatever sport; learning different skill sets, competition and teamwork was great!”

Gradishar says, “Those were busy years — high school studies, playing sports, working at the family grocery store. My parents made time, though, to take us to the Cleveland Indians baseball games and Browns football games.

As a family, there was no time to watch college sports. After high school, I didn’t plan to attend college. My dream was to work alongside my dad at his store and become a partner.”

learned later that Woody recruited parents, not the players, and it worked! I was headed to Ohio State University on a full scholarship.”

Hayes watched over his players and was genuinely interested in each player’s education, says Gradishar. Each quarter, players’ grades were reviewed, challenging them to improve.

“Coach impressed upon us the importance of getting a solid education,” notes Gradishar. “Equally important to Coach was his pay-it-forward philosophy; he mentored us to serve others. His mentoring is a significant reason I have continued to pay it forward; everyone needs to champion the success of others, whether it be in small or large ways.”

I loved working alongside my dad; he was my hero.

Gradishar and his family were unfamiliar with college coaches, but that was about to change. Without his knowledge, his football coach sent film footage of him to different colleges, including Ohio State.

“I was working at the grocery store during a half-day off school when I got a call from the high school principal. He said Coach Woody Hayes from Ohio State was coming to the store to talk to me. Well, he didn’t talk to me,” laughs Gradishar. “Woody spent an hour talking with my dad about WWII — they were World War II vets. I

In 1974, on the tail end of a stellar career at Ohio State, the Denver Broncos came calling, picking Gradishar as their overall #1 NFL draft pick. “After I was drafted, I discovered that my dad was born in Pueblo, but he and his family moved to Ohio when he was young. I had cousins in Colorado,” explains Gradishar.

After joining the Denver Broncos, Gradishar played his first two years with the number 52, not the 53 he wore in college. “I remember walking up to the equipment manager and asking for number 53. He said it was taken; he gave me #52. In 1976, number 53 became available, and I took it!”

Gradishar quickly became friends with another Ohio Buckeye, Tom Jackson, who’d arrived a year earlier. The two began a lifelong friendship that would become instrumental in building the Broncos’ Orange Crush Defense.

“When the Pro Football Hall of Fame asked who I wanted to give my intro speech at my enshrinement a few months ago, hands down, it would be TJ,” notes Gradishar.

Discussing how pro football salaries compared in the 1970s to today, Gradishar recalls major differences. “Back then, we all needed ‘off-season’ jobs,” he says. “I worked for a home security alarm company and Adolph Coors Brewery.”

The average tenure of a pro football player is four years, but Gradishar played ten, never missing a practice or game, even with broken ribs. He still holds the Broncos record for all-time career tackles with 2,049 during his tenure.

“Setting records, accolades, awards, everything else that comes with notoriety can entice one to

lose sight of healthy values. Knowing that, every Tuesday evening, I attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) bible study with likeminded teammates who wanted to grow in their Christian faith; it kept us grounded in what really matters,” says Gradishar.

After many years with the Broncos organization, Gradishar settled into a new life, embracing his new boss Cimino’s dedication to the military.

“Whatever Jay was doing, I was going to be involved,” emphasizes Gradishar. “He founded Mt. Carmel

Veterans Service Center in 2016, and I was excited to play whatever part I could to help our veterans.”

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, headquartered in Colorado Springs with offices throughout the state, supports active-duty military members, veterans and their families. Gradishar participates in Mt. Carmel fundraisers.

“Our military and veteran communities need assistance on many levels. I encourage everyone to give whatever they can,” Gradishar emphasizes.

Fort Carson's “Welcome Home Troops” ceremonies.

Denver Broncos linebackers Tom Jackson, foreground, and Randy Gradishar, close in on Houston Oilers back Earl Campbell during a 1978 game in Houston. Jackson and Gradishar formed what has been a 50-year friendship during Gradishar’s rookie season in 1974.

Photo source: Mt. Carmel

Service

GRADISHAR’S LIFE PHILOSOPHY

Gradishar’s life philosophy is simple, “Have a plan and stay true to yourself — personally and professionally. Keep that plan before you and assess your progress. If it’s working, great; keep going. If it’s not, look at what needs changing. Work hard at your vocation, enjoy what you do, and most importantly, champion and serve others where you work.”

Gradishar shares his philosophy and champion spirit with all the new Phil Long Dealerships employees across Colorado and New Mexico.

NFL AND POST-NFL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

HAVE A PLAN AND STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. KEEP THAT PLAN BEFORE YOU AND ASSESS YOUR PROGRESS. IF IT’S WORKING, GREAT; KEEP GOING. IF IT’S NOT, LOOK AT WHAT NEEDS CHANGING. WORK HARD AT YOUR VOCATION, ENJOY WHAT YOU DO, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHAMPION AND SERVE OTHERS WHERE YOU WORK. 1974 1977 1987

With his infectious smile, Gradishar says, “I visit our various dealership locations to meet new employees, help with orientation and discuss our winning team spirit at Phil Long. I infuse our dedication to a winning, champion spirit in the team the best I can. When one of us wins, we all win.”

“I’ve been in the public eye my entire adult life,” says Gradishar. “But being an introvert by nature, my ‘battery’ is recharged by spending time with my wife Beth, especially when we go on walks to watch beautiful Rocky Mountain High sunsets and mountain getaways.”

The #1 draft pick for the Denver Broncos

1974 - 1983

Inside Middle Linebacker for the Denver Broncos

Leader of the legendary Denver Broncos “Orange Crush” Defense

NFL Defensive Player of The Year

Seven-time NFL All-Pro

Gradishar still holds the Broncos’ record for all-time career tackles with 2,049 during career

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Corporate Champion Ambassador for:

• Phil Long Dealerships, since 1997

• Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, since 2016

• Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, since 2011

Photo source: Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post Randy Gradishar played with the Denver Broncos from 1974 to 1983.

Dancing Ahead with Grace & Drive NCL Senior Profile

BY MEEGAN FLEWELLING, National Charity League

Elise Valant is so committed to her dreams of dancing professionally that she drives from the Springs to Denver every weekday to train. The Air Academy High School senior declares, “I love the community I have created within the dance world, and I love the feeling I get whenever I dance. Being up on a stage, performing alongside my best friends, is truly the best.” Her team from the Michelle Latimer Dance Academy has won nationals, and she has scored in the top three for her solo at competitions. She has trained at summer intensives with top dance companies in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Canada.

Elise, who started dancing when she was four, is proud of her work, though she admits it isn’t always easy. “I knew that I wanted to become a better dancer and grow my artistry. I made sacrifices in my social life so that I could go to a studio an hour away from where I live and grow into the potential I knew I had.” She would love to be a Rockette one day, be on Broadway or join a renowned dance company, after earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in college, ideally in New York City.

When she’s not dancing, Elise enjoys volunteering with the mother-daughter organization National Charity League. She appreciates ushering at the Fine Arts Center, and helping with the Community Partnership for Child Development’s Adopt-a-Family program. Spending time with her mom is an added bonus. “Her outlook on life and its limitless possibilities is something I truly admire. She is the kindest person you will ever meet who will do anything to help someone she cares about be happy and succeed,” says Elise.

She advises other students, “Take in every moment because you are never going to be experiencing the same thing again. Make sure to surround yourself with people you love and who love you as well.” That support, combined with her fierce commitment to her dreams, will ensure Elise dances into a successful future.

“You’re never behind in your own life, just not where you want to be right now.” — Quote that inspires Elise.

The Colorado Springs Chapter of National Charity League is made up of mothers with daughters in grades 7-12, who are committed to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences. Visit www.nationalcharityleague. org/chapter/coloradosprings for membership information.

Local Initiative Provides Essential Support for Neurodivergent Families

BY LUCY RICHARDSON

he NeuroAlly Family Fund provides financial assistance and support to families with neurodivergent members, bridging gaps left by insurance and fostering comprehensive care and development for “twice exceptional” individuals.

“Twice exceptional” is a colloquialism for neurodivergence, which is an over-arching term for behavioral health conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), depression, Tourette syndrome and ADHD. Neurodivergence is not a defined state of being, but rather a simple means of describing a multitude of possible expressions of behavioral differences; every

neurodivergent individual is unique.

Dawn Lissy, founder and chairman of the Board for NeuroAlly, describes the organization’s mission as providing financial assistance and creative solutions to support neurodivergent individuals and their families. Specifically, she cites a desire to foster awareness, empathy and healthy interactions for these groups.

The genesis of this organization came years after Lissy and her family began navigating the murky paths of diagnosis and accommodations for her then 9-year-old son, Ryan Lissy. His neurodivergence presents itself as ADHD, ASD, and anxiety. He struggled with social integration, boundary setting and excelling in

a typical school environment. Lissy found that the pre-existing school accommodations were staunchly ineffective in helping her son.

The solutions she was initially offered — one-on-one schooling, inpatient treatments — couldn’t promise Ryan long-term success. Social isolation and other unsuitable limitations could have increasingly adverse effects on his ability to operate in a neurotypical world.

After a lengthy search for a realistic and beneficial course of accommodations for Ryan, Lissy finally found Equinox.

Equinox is a Denver-based wellness and counseling center with outpatient treatment

programs designed to give neurodivergent individuals the support they need to operate in the neurotypical world. Their personalized, family-wide programming helped Lissy, Ryan and their entire family unit create sustainable strategies to support her son and his exceptionalities.

“They helped with things like electronics management, hormones, figuring out how to study,” Lissy recalls. “It was life skills.”

We’re here to create awareness, education and access to tools that can make a difference.

— Dawn Lissy

and move away to college. He was even class president in high school.

Ryan’s story, while not yet complete, is trending towards great success. Why, then, does it seem that so many neurodivergent individuals are left behind?

On average, the Lissys spent between $10,000 and $15,000 each month to support Ryan’s journey with Equinox. This covered individual coaching teams, group outings to the climbing gym and parent/family mentors. It also provided a personalized coaching plan for Ryan and his specific needs.

With holistic programming designed to include the entire family, Equinox changed the Lissys’ lives for the better. Ryan Lissy graduated from the program in 2022 and went on to get a driver’s license, keep a job

Among the most simple answers is the cost of programming and accommodations. Insurance coverage of neurodivergent support programs is sparse at best, and typically only covers traditional therapy sessions.

“I recognize that I’m very fortunate in the situation, in the life that I’ve created,” Lissy reflects in an interview with Dirk Hobbs on the TrueNORTH podcast. “The reality is that not all families can, and that’s why we’re here; to create awareness, education and access to tools that can make a difference.”

Photo source: NeuroAlly Family Fund

The NeuroAlly Family Fund was created to extend the financial capacities of families with neurodivergent members, specifically to support three pillars of the accommodation process:

Equinox is the first suitable program found to adapt to individual circumstances — the final pillar of NeuroAlly’s model. If a family from across the country finds a program to help their child but needs financial assistance to enroll, they can apply for NeuroAlly funding. 1. Testing 2. Classroom Coaching 3.

Finding Suitable Programs

Education Awareness Access

In the testing realm, NeuroAlly has partnered with another Colorado Springs organization called Summit PAC. This organization specializes in childhood and adolescent testing with personalized evaluation plans to provide comprehensive diagnostic reports. They offer neuroeducational evaluations, including those for ASD, ADHD, and anxiety. They also offer independent educational evaluations and specific learning disability testing, such as those for dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.

“If someone comes to Summit PAC, finds out that it’s, you know, $4,000 to $5,000 for the testing, they can’t afford it,” explains Lissy. “Summit can say, ‘go see NeuroAlly and fill out an application.’”

The second pillar of NeuroAlly — classroom coaching — is still a work in progress. During Ryan’s time at Equinox, his coaches came to his school and worked with his teachers on providing an education plan to fit his needs. This method is proven to work, but several structures and agreements need to be formalized before NeuroAlly can offer these services.

If someone comes to find out they can’t afford testing, go see NeuroAlly and fill out an application.

— Dawn Lissy

The fledgling organization was founded last year and is currently seeking 501(c)3 nonprofit status. For now, they operate solely from private donor funding. Organizations and individuals can donate through their website, NAFamilyFund.org. On the website, tickets are available for the Gala for Good, Saturday, Oct. 19 at Opus Creative Studios in downtown Colorado Springs. Join them for an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, and fundraising, with live entertainment, a silent auction, and inspiring stories from the families they support. All funds raised will benefit families in need.

“You are not alone on an island,” Lissy says. “We are a village.”

To donate to NeuroAlly or purchase a ticket to their Gala for Good, Saturday, October 19 go to NAFamilyFund.org.

By Helping Others, She Completes the Circle

The Resource Exchange Welcomes Former Client

Emerald Doyle to Board

The Resource Exchange (TRE) recently welcomed a new board member who has been a client at TRE, Emerald Doyle. She will serve on the board as a self-advocate, contributing her unique perspective on the organization from someone who has received services. Additionally, she has a keen interest in the current state of TRE, and what its future holds.

Emerald was adopted from China when she was 11 years old. To her mother, Cass Daley, it was apparent that she had received very little schooling, if any. Besides starting behind, it was discovered that Emerald also had intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, dyslexia and dysgraphia — that’s why her family came to TRE in 2018. Despite her setbacks, Emerald finished in the top third of her high school class and went on to earn a degree from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

“Emerald is a really exceptional young lady, and she has worked so hard,” her mother, Cass, says proudly, tears in her eyes.

She may further her education, as she is especially interested in American Sign Language (ASL). Emerald studied ASL in college, which she took to quickly, presumably due to its similar structure to her first language Mandarin Chinese.

“She is always learning something, and education is the big push to get more independent. She is still behind, but I believe she can do it,” says Cass.

Emerald loves learning and loves helping people. She was the ARC Pikes Peak Region’s Volunteer of the Year in 2020. Emerald was awarded the Girl Scout Ambassador Gold Award in 2020 also, for raising thousands of pounds of food and hygiene products for residents of the impoverished Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

“I really like helping people out — helping them to succeed in what they want to do for their life,” Emerald says.

Photo

Submitted

Emerald Doyle, left, with her mother, Cass Daley.

Café wner Serves Extraordinary Items

While Helping Food Entrepreneurs Realize Their Dreams

BY JEANNE DAVANT

my Kunstle has always dreamed of owning a restaurant, but Pop Kitchen and Events, the business she created in a historic building in Old Colorado City, is much more than that — it’s an enterprise that helps other food entrepreneurs make their dreams come true.

Along with her coffee shop and café, Launch Coffee House, Kunstle hosts food entrepreneurs in three shared kitchens and offers Estrella, a large, serene gathering space on the second floor where dining events, presentations, pitches and parties can take place.

Kunstle, a former speech pathologist and registered dietitian, collaborates with caterers, food truck owners and innovative chefs to develop and test their recipes and

products. She’s helped launch businesses like Baon Supper Club, working with Filipino cuisine personal chef Katie Fisco on a tasting and sold-out dinner for 25 people.

“We’re welcoming new businesses all the time,” she says. She’s especially excited about a chef who is using the shared kitchens to make bespoke sherbet, and another entrepreneur who is creating 37 varieties of holiday cheese balls, including a chicken and waffle flavor.

“Every month, we have a theme that is geared toward helping entrepreneurs be motivated,” she says. In September, the theme was “Ignite,” to launch the new school year. October’s theme is “Enchant,” followed by “Hone” in November and “Sparkle, Shimmer, Shine” in December.

Part of Kunstle’s mission is to support local culinary businesses and to be an active community partner.

Map data ©2024 Google

“We changed our hours [in September] because we have a school in our neighborhood,” she says. “We’ve been focusing on getting an after-school canteen with nutritious snacks off the ground. We have elementary school kids on their way to sports practice or gymnastics, and we want them to have a pre-activity snack … to bridge that gap between 3 and 6 p.m.”

The snacks are dispensed through one of Pop Kitchen’s most fun features — a Dutch door that opens onto the sidewalk beside the building.

Parents, too, can enjoy a treat at Launch Coffee House, which opens at 8 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday and now serves until 5 p.m. The fare includes housemade hearty sandwiches, burritos, quiche and baked goods, along with custom-crafted coffee, botanical tea and specialty drinks, all made using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Order anything from a drip coffee or affogato, to a Kyoto fog with hojicha powder or simple tea and cookies.

The shared kitchen business and café have generated so much business that Kunstle, for the first time since she opened late last year, has been able to hire a prep cook. She decided to close the café on Mondays and Tuesdays “to keep opportunities open for our shared kitchen customers to come in and do popups when we’re not there,” she says.

Another project has been working with a homeschool network to develop and present language-literacyculinary workshops that integrate culinary subjects with language learning and literacy for children.

“As a speech pathologist I used a lot of culinary work in working on literacy with kids,” Kunstle says. “There’s a lot of language building that’s in cooking, so it’s a perfect fit. You’re sequencing, you’re problem solving, you’re using critical thinking, you’re doing a little bit of elementary math and you’re doing a lot of fine motor work.”

Kunstle left a private practice in Pueblo to pursue her dream of owning a food service business and culinary incubator. She enrolled in the culinary program at Pikes Peak State College in 2019 to learn about food

entrepreneurship and spent two years trying to find a site to establish her enterprise. She was about to give up when her real estate agent told her about the Old Colorado City building, which had just come onto the market.

The 1888 building had many past lives, having been a firehouse, a school, the first town’s City Hall, a bottling plant, an antique store and the site of several food-related enterprises. When Kunstle arrived, she knew it was the place she’d been looking for, though it needed extensive remodeling.

The renovations, funded with an inheritance, included new high-efficiency HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems; an elevator and other ADA-accessible improvements; elegant lighting, soothing paint colors and furnishings; and sustainable upgrades designed to minimize waste. The business opened on Dec. 27, 2023.

Kunstle says the upstairs event space can accommodate 25 to 30 people, and the whole house has a capacity of 45 for holiday dinners and parties. She can help with planning and preparation or work with preferred caterers.

“We’ve done some really fun parties with little stations throughout the house,” she says. “We’re already booking holiday parties, so I would encourage people to think about what they’d like, because we’re starting to fill up.”

2902 W. Colorado Ave.

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Café: 8am - 5pm, Wed. - Sat.

Estrella’s Dining Room

Pop Kitchen and Events

Activities + Events Guide

Your True North activities & events. Let NORTH be your guide.

BY LUCY RICHARDSON, Staff Writer

OCT

Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series

Enjoy three bands at various stages throughout the Gardens: Polka Folka, Brandon Henderson and Taylor Biskup and John Wise and the Tribe.

Wed., Oct. 2, 5-8:30pm. Ages 16+. $18

Hillside Gardens, 1006 S. Institute St., 80903 hillsidecolorado.com/ wednesdayconcerts

Foreigner with Special Guest Loverboy

Witness one of rock and roll’s greatest acts, Foreigner, on the Ford Amphitheater stage. Hear hits like “Jukebox Hero” and “Cold as Ice” from your new neighborhood venue.

Wed., Oct. 2, 6:30pm. Tickets start at $52.

Ford Amphitheater, 95 Spectrum Loop, 80921 fordamphitheater.live

CFAM Downtown Farmers Market

Weekly event bringing local farmers, artisans and community together.

Wed., Oct. 2 & 9, 3-7pm. Free Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., 80903 farmandartmarket.com

Jazz 93.5 Ad-Lib Lab

Join young musicians for a free jam session with a professional host band. Great for practicing, learning or simply enjoying the atmosphere.

Thur., Oct. 3 & Nov. 7, 5:30-8pm. Free. Donations accepted for the host band.

The Carter Payne, 320 S. Weber St., 80903 jazz935.org

Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series

Photo

By: Karsten Staiger for Foreigner

Old Colorado City ArtWalk

Enjoy local art, meet artists and watch live demonstrations during the First Friday Art Walk in Old Colorado City!

Oct. 4 & Nov. 1, 5-8pm. Free Old Colorado City, Colorado Ave. & 25th St., 80904 shopoldcoloradocity.com/firstfriday-occ

Old Colorado City Farmers Market

Experience over 20 years of fresh local produce and goods at the Old Colorado City Farmers Market.

Sat., Oct. 5 & 12, 8am-1pm. Free Bancroft Park, 24th St. between Colorado Ave. & Pikes Peak Ave. pikespeakfarmersmarkets.com

Harvest Festival

Join in wagon rides, live music, pumpkin patch, candy, historic home tours and blacksmith demonstrations.

Sat., Oct. 5, 10am-5pm.

Tickets range from $4-$8. Free for kids 2 & under.

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, 3105 Gateway Rd., 80904 rockledgeranch.com

Oktoberfest Templeton Gap

Enjoy German-style craft beers from 6 local breweries, traditional German food, live Polka music by a 7-piece band, Steinholding contests and face painting.

Sat., Oct. 5, 2-7pm

General admission: $40 with optional upgrades; Designated Driver tickets: $10; Non-Alcoholic tickets: $25. Kids are free.

Whistle Pig Brewing Company, 2117 Templeton Gap Rd., 80907

eventbrite.com/e/ oktoberfest-at-templeton-gaptickets-1002040769917

BOO-ZY Cocktails & Art Chat

Explore dark and delectable paintings by Natalia Hychko while enjoying fall-inspired cider-mosas and spiked coffees.

Sun., Oct. 6, 11:45am-1:45pm. Free CO.A.T.I. Uprise, 514 S. Tejon St., 80903

Search "BOO-ZY Cocktails & Art Chat" on Facebook

Fall Salon Series

Haruki Eda discusses “Collective Memory and Community Solidarity in the Korean Diaspora” at the UCCS Heller Center.

Thu., Oct. 10, 7pm. Free UCCS Heller Center for the Arts & Humanities, 1250 North Campus Heights, 80918 heller.uccs.edu/salons

Vienna Light Orchestra:

“The Greatest Showman”

Experience the powerful music from “The Greatest Showman” performed by world-

class musicians and vocalists from seven different countries.

Sun., Oct. 13, 7pm.

Tickets starting at $61. Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., 80903 viennalightorchestra.com

2024 Heller Center

Fall Fellowship Series

Join Wes Janz at the UCCS Heller Center as he presents “A Murder of Crows: Critical Obituaries for the 13 People Executed in the Last Months of the Trump Administration.”

Thu., Oct. 17, 7pm. Free UCCS Heller Center for the Arts & Humanities, 1250 North Campus Heights, 80918 heller.uccs.edu/fellowships

Colorado Springs

Tattoo Arts Festival

Explore the artistry of tattoos with live tattooing, contests and entertainment.

Fri., Oct. 18, 2-11pm; Sat., Oct. 19, 11am-11pm; Sun., Oct. 20, 11am-8pm.

Harvest Festival

Day Passes: $20; Full Weekend

Passes: $40. Free for kids 12 & under.

Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 worldtattooevents.com/coloradosprings-tattoo-arts-festival

Boo at the Zoo

Enjoy collecting sustainable candy while in costume at this unique, animal-oriented Halloween event.

Oct. 18-20, 25-27 & 31, 4-8:30pm. Advance timed tickets are required, starting at $24.75 for ages 3-64 with discounts available for others.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd., 80906 cmzoo.org/boo

UCCS Distinguished Professor Lecture

Dorothea Olkowski presents “What is Continental Philosophy? A Series of (Un) fortunate Events”

Thu., Oct. 24, 7pm. Free UCCS Heller Center for the Arts & Humanities, 1250 N. Campus Heights, 80918 heller.uccs.edu/events

UCCS Theatre Company Presents: Act a Lady

This fun, gender-bending play showcases a Prohibition-era town and their exploration of community and identity, where “life and art are forever entangled.”

Oct. 25 - Nov. 3.

Tickets start at $12 Showtimes: 4pm & 7:30pm

Osborne Studio Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., 80918 tickets.entcenterforthearts. org/5212/5216

OCT Weekends

Stompin’ Groundz Comedy Show

Comedian and Colorado Springs native, Trenton Cotten, will bring the laughs to Stompin’ Groundz for one night only. Join in for his energetic and smart comedy set, and stay to enjoy food from a featured food truck and specialty drinks from the shop’s menu.

Fri., Oct. 25, 6-9:30pm.

General Admission: $10; VIP: $25 Colorado Springs, 2050 Jet Wing Dr., 80916 stompingroundz719.com/eventdetails/comedy-show

Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Festival

Join in the spooky and festive atmosphere of the Emma Crawford Coffin Races, a beloved Halloween event in Manitou Springs. This event commemorates a local tale and brings the community together with coffin races, costumes and Halloween celebrations.

Sat., Oct. 26, 8am. Free

Along the 900 block of Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, CO manitousprings.org/emmacrawford-coffin-races

Front Range Makers Market

Vendors selling holiday items, pottery, body care, vintage and upscale items, boutique clothing, art, home decor, jewelry and more. Enjoy food trucks and coffee!

Sat., Oct. 26, 9am-4pm Sun., Oct. 27, 10am-3pm.

$5. Free for kids 12 & under. Lewis Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Rd., Monument, CO 80132 frmakersmarket.com

Night at the Museum

Experience an evening of exploration and discovery at the El Paso County Courthouse. Interact with historic figures from Colorado Springs’ past, create unique crafts, play carnival games and enjoy food trucks, performances and fall-themed activities.

Sat., Oct. 26, 4:30-7:30pm Pre-registration is required.

$5. Free for kids 2 & under. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., 80903 cspm.org/events/night-at-themuseum

Boo at the Zoo (Multiple Dates in Oct.)

Photo

Cheyenne Mountain

8th Annual Family Fall Festival

Community event featuring free food, face painting, a bounce house (weather permitting), a floor is lava course and a scavenger hunt!

Thur., Oct. 31, 5-7pm. Free The Anchor Church, 802 Bonfoy Ave., 80909 theanchorchurch.co/events

Dia de los Muertos with the COS Philharmonic

In partnership with the Mexican Cultural Center, the Philharmonic brings to life culture and sound to honor passed loved ones. Performing artists include conductor Michelle Di Russo, Artistico Dance Company and Mariachi Sol De Mi Tierra.

Nov. 1–2, 7:30pm. Tickets start at $41 with military discounts available.

190 S. Cascade Ave., 80903 pikespeakcenter.com/events/ detail/diadelosmuertos

Colorado Springs Record Show

Explore the largest record sale in Southern Colorado, featuring tens of thousands of records, cassettes, t-shirts and more from vendors across the state and region. Prices start at $1.

Sat., Nov. 2, 9am-4pm.

Early Bird Admission, 9-10am: $10, General Admission, 10am-4pm: $3 Antlers Hotel, 4 S. Cascade Ave., 80903

coloradorecordshow.com

Arts Exchange: Color Your

World

Gallery exhibition featuring local artist Jeresneyka Rose and UCCS students’ work.

Thu., Nov. 7, 7pm. Free

UCCS Heller Center for the Arts & Humanities, 1250 N. Campus Heights, 80918 heller.uccs.edu/events

Joe Gatto’s Let’s Get Into It

Best known for his show “Impractical Jokers,” Joe Gatto brings his renowned comedy act to the Pikes Peak Center stage, and fellow comedian Mark Jigarjian joins for this hilarious evening.

Fri., Nov. 8, 7pm.

Tickets start at $39.75 with military discounts available 190 South Cascade Ave., 80903 pikespeakcenter.com/events/ detail/gatto24

Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies

Tyson, an award-winning astrophysicist with many appearances on PBS, National Geographic, Natural History magazine and more, takes his audience on a journey to explore how the cosmos are represented in film and television.

Wed., Nov. 13, 7:30pm. Tickets start at $49.50 190 S. Cascade Ave., 80903 pikespeakcenter.com/events/ detail/neildegrassetyson

Dia de los Muertos with the COS Philharmonic

Joe Gatto’s Let’s Get Into It

Colorado Springs Record Show

Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies

Photo Credit:

© StarTalk / C. Picadas.

Photo

Philharmonic

The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet will be brought to life by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and the University of Oklahoma School of Dance to kick off the holiday season.

Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

Showtimes: 2pm & 7pm.

Tickets starting at $36. 190 S. Cascade Ave., 80903 pikespeakcenter.com/events/ detail/nutcracker24

Sense & Sensibility

Based on the novel by Jane Austen, UCCS welcomes the story of love and heartbreak to the stage with the endearing qualities of this dramatic period piece.

Nov. 29-30, 7:30pm.

Tickets start at $20.75

Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater, 5225 N Nevada Ave., 80918 tickets.entcenterforthearts. org/4757/4854

Old Colorado City Christmas Stroll

Join the festive atmosphere in Old Colorado City with live musical performances, Dickens Carolers, photos with Santa, reindeer meet-and-greet, special offers at shops, giveaways and more!

Sat., Nov. 30, 5-8pm. Free Old Colorado City, Colorado Ave. & 25th St., 80904 shopoldcoloradocity.com/events/ christmas-stroll

Rachael’s Dance: The Nutcracker

Enjoy a community-wide celebration of the classic ballet, The Nutcracker, performed by over 60 Colorado Springs dancers. A Michael Jackson-themed bonus pre-show will kick off the nostalgic holiday performance.

Sat., Nov. 30, 4pm. Tickets start at $15.75. Shockley-Zalabak Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., 80918 tickets.entcenterforthearts. org/5207/5208

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Photo

Parmesan! Pass the

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD, Staff Writer

Tmany local options, serve up a variety of delectable napkin-around-the-neck dishes. Whether you’re in the mood for wood-fired pizzas, fresh handmade pasta or a family-friendly dining experience, there’s something for every Italian food lover.

Paravicini’s Italian Bistro

2802 W. Colorado Ave. 80904

paravicinis.com (719) 471-8200

Paravicini’s Italian Bistro, an award-winning restaurant in Colorado Springs, has been a beloved staple in Old Colorado City since 2003. Known for its authentic Italian cuisine, Paravicini’s serves as a culinary destination for family gatherings, date nights and special occasions, offering a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service.

Founded by Chef Franco Pisani, who was inspired by his Italian heritage and his mother’s

passion for cooking, Paravicini’s brings a taste of family tradition to every meal. Since opening, it has earned numerous accolades for its authentic flavors and innovative dishes, making it a favorite among locals and tourists.

Chef Franco’s commitment to genuine Italian cuisine continues to delight diners and foster connections around the table.

Their menu features appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, classic entrees, seafood and Paravicini originals. They also offer a variety of glutenfree options. A few examples of menu items are Gnocchi Bolognese, Shrimp Scampi Risotto, Veal Tuscano and Chicken Picatta.

Image courtesy of the Paravicini’s Italian Bistro.

Fargo’s Pizza Co.

2910 E. Platte Ave, 80909 fargospizzacompany.com (719) 631-8662

Fargo’s Pizza Co., located at the foot of Pikes Peak, is a family-friendly restaurant known for its Victorian Old West saloon architecture, complete with a genuine player piano. Founded in December 1973 by Missouri-born brothers Leon and Landon Gardner, Fargo’s has grown into one of the world’s largest family pizza restaurants, seating 500 guests in its 16,000-square-foot space. Fargo’s is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The restaurant’s unique atmosphere features 120 original leaded and stained-glass pieces, Victorian decor and authentic artifacts. A standout feature is the “magic mirrors,” invented by Leon Gardner, which make order numbers visible from any table. Fargo’s emphasizes cleanliness, service and value, carrying on the values instilled by its founders.

The menu offers 25 pizza varieties, special pastas, sandwiches, soups and an award-winning salad bar. Notable items include the Lonesome Stranger Pizza, Big Red Pizza, Spaghetti Sampler, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Sophia’s 14 Karrot Gold Nugget Cake.

Roman Villa Pizza

3005 N. Nevada Ave., 80907 romanvillaonline.weebly.com (719) 635-1806

The Roman Villa Italian restaurant is known for its famous Roman Villa Pizza and handmade pasta with housemade marinara. “Any time is a good time to do Italian,” says the restaurant, echoing Mama Lina’s motto: “If you leave here hungry, it’s your own fault.”

Family-owned and operated since its founding in 1959, Roman Villa continues to serve its cherished family recipes to guests. The menu features pizza pies, pastas, house specialties, salads and garlic bread, all served in an atmosphere reminiscent of a classic Chicago eatery. Menu options include the “Gallina” Pizza, Roman Villa Famous House Made Lasagna, Chicken Caesar Salad and Tortellaci Asiago.

The Roman Villa has temporarily adjusted hours of operation and is now open Tuesday through Saturday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. When they are open, they offer a variety of dining options including curbside, dine-in and take-out.

Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta

1333 Interquest Parkway, 80921 anthonyspizzaandpasta.com (719) 247-8262

Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta serves NYC-style pizza by the slice, made from scratch daily with fresh ingredients, including pizza dough from six simple ingredients and 100% whole milk mozzarella shredded daily. Each slice is baked in stone deck ovens with the goal of ensuring a handcrafted experience for customers. They are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Anthony’s offers authentic Italian cuisine crafted by passionate cooks. The menu features appetizers, large pizzas, made-toorder salads, hot hero sandwiches, classic pasta dishes and premium desserts. Menu options include Neapolitan Pizza, Artisan Cauliflower Pizza, Caesar Salad and Baked Ziti.

Celebrating 40 years of service, Anthony’s is thanking loyal customers with a chance to win one of 19 pairs of custom Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta branded Icelantic skis, designed with a retro pizza vibe on the Icelantic Nomad 105 Ski. See the Anthony’s website for entry details.

Images courtesy of the individual restaurants.

Bambino’s Urban Pizza

36 E. Bijou St. 80903 bambinosurbanpizzeria.com (719) 630-8121

Bambino’s Urban Pizza offers a unique dining experience with a focus on pizza, pasta and fresh greens. Known for its quality and speed, Bambino’s serves fast-fired pizzas in just 10 minutes using artisan ingredients, including hand-stretched Neapolitan dough made from Italian-milled flour, homemade Fior Di Latte mozzarella and locally sourced meats and produce. Bambino’s is open Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Dedicated to sustainability, Bambino’s uses recyclable, compostable and reclaimed packaging materials. The restaurant supports the community by partnering with local farmers to provide the freshest produce. They emphasize homemade sauces, dough and cheese, offering a personal touch in every dish.

The menu features a variety of options including customizable pizzas, pasta bowls, salads and gluten-free choices, all crafted with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Specific menu options include The Hot Chick Pizza, The Green Hippy Pizza, Arkansas Valley Beet Salad and Caramel Apple Pizza.

Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza

5214 N. Nevada Ave. 80918 ilvicino.com (719) 590-8633

Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza, established in 1992 and located in University Village, offers authentic wood-fired pizza with high-quality ingredients in a casually upscale setting. Drawing inspiration from San Francisco and traditional Italian pizzerias, Chef White blends stylish concepts with classic wood-firing methods.

With seven locations across Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico, Il Vicino first opened in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill and quickly gained a loyal following. The menu features a variety of wood-fired pizzas, from traditional margherita to gourmet options like goat cheese, fiery shrimp and roasted chicken. Guests can also enjoy calzones, panini, piadina flatbread sandwiches, baked lasagnas and pastas, fresh salads and a selection of premium wines, award-winning microbrews, homemade root beer and desserts.

Celebrating over 30 years of artisanal wood-fired pizza, Il Vicino continues to serve dishes like Prosciutto e Rucola pizza, Lasagna Bolognese, Caesar salad, cannoli and tiramisu.

La Forchetta

126 S. Union Ave., Pueblo 81003 laforchettadamassi.com (719) 253-0126

La Forchetta da Massi, located in Pueblo, is an Italian restaurant founded in 2016 by a Milanese chef with over 20 years of experience in fine dining. The restaurant prides itself on offering authentic Italian cuisine crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring a seasonal dining experience.

With a commitment to providing exceptional service, La Forchetta requires reservations due to limited seating. Their hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The menu includes a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, specialty dishes, pasta and seafood, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available. Signature dishes include Lasagna Classica, Ravioli Pueblo, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Fettuccine alla Bolognese and Costata di Manzo.

A Treasure Hunt Independent Jewelers Thrive in Colorado Springs

BY PAM BALES, Senior Writer

olorado Springs boasts some of the most interesting independent jewelry stores in the state. Independent jewelers say they have seen several shifts in the market, including an emphasis on individual designs, restoring vintage pieces and moving toward lab-grown diamonds versus mined stones.

McNulty Jewelers

Edward McNulty III Owner, Bench Jeweler & Design Artist

Eddie McNulty, III, has a creative mind and a need to create things with his hands, he says. After apprenticing at his brother-in-law’s jewelry business in Dallas, Eddie was hooked. He realized he could work with his hands, fix broken pieces and create wonderful, wearable works of art.

He later moved to El Paso, where he began his own jewelry business. Realizing there was a need for quality jewelry repairs in Colorado Springs, Eddie and his young family moved to Colorado in 2000. He worked with many jewelry stores in the Front Range area as an independent contractor, completing repair work and custom designs.

In 2009, Eddie opened McNulty Jewelers in the Briargate area. Shortly before celebrating McNulty Jewelers’ tenth anniversary in 2019, he opened a second location in Black Forest. McNulty credits his staff for each bringing a unique set of skills, a common thread of creativity and ethics and uncompromising value for excellent customer service. McNulty Jewelers’ quality of work and commitment to excellence have attracted a large, loyal customer base.

McNulty Jewelers Black Forest Studio

11425 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80908, blackforest@mcnultyjewelers.com (719) 495-8816

Briargate Location: 7603 N. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80920 sales@mcnultyjewelers.com (719) 265-6400

Jack Miller Jewelry Designers

Jack Miller Owner

As one of the oldest independent jewelers in Colorado Springs, Jack Miller Jewelry Designers, has been crafting exquisite custom jewelry in Colorado Springs for more than 45 years.

From his downtown studio, Jack Miller continues to bring passion and artistry to each piece. He specializes in custom diamond engagement rings, wedding bands and vibrant gemstone creations, embracing the belief that jewelry should reflect personal style.

“We believe that jewelry is more than just an accessory; it’s an expression of your individuality and a reflection of your story,” explains Jack Miller.

“That’s why we take the time to understand your vision, desires and emotions, ensuring a personalized masterpiece that resonates with your heart.”

Jack Miller Jewelry Designers 111 North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

jackmillerjewelrydesigners.com (719) 232-8122

Lane Mitchell Jewelers

Lane Mitchell Owner, Designer & Master Goldsmith

Lane Mitchell Jewelers is a locally-owned Diamond Design Studio and full-service jeweler, known for oneof-a-kind jewelry and exceptional customer service. Mitchell started making jewelry when he was just 16 years old. Now, 38 years later, he’s still working at the craft he loves.

Lane Mitchell Jewelers has been a staple in Colorado Springs for more than 25 years and has now combined stores into one store in downtown Manitou Springs, CO. Lane Mitchell’s bench jewelers and designers bring more than 150 years of combined experience to clients.

In addition to new designs, Mitchell’s store offers Native American, vintage and antique jewelry.

If you desire not simply a piece of jewelry, but a piece of history, we have jewelry and diamond engagement rings from 1850s to 1960s, and everything in between.

— Lane Mitchell

Lane Mitchell Jewelers

Manitou Springs Jewelry Showroom

737 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829

lanemitchelljewelers.com (719) 685-2441

Revolution Jewelry Works

Jennifer Farnes Owner, Master Faceter & Graduate Gemologist

Her company specializes in custom designs with state-ofthe-art technology on-site with CAD/CAM software. Custom jewelry design is created in their Colorado Springs studio and can be visualized digitally before it is even cast.

Jennifer Farnes, owner of Revolution, pursued various careers including event management, advertising and media buying, which all helped her build the company she now owns.

“I got into this business by accident,” explains Farnes. “I went to a master stone cutter with crystals I wanted cut as a gift for my husband. The stone cutter said I should learn to cut myself, so I became a journeyman for four months and took to it so naturally that my husband said, you should do this for a career.”

So, as a side gig, Farnes sent out flyers to Colorado Springs jewelers to offer her services to repair jewelry. Her hobby began to dwarf her regular career, and Revolution Jewelry Works was soon born. Now entering its 11th year of operation, Revolution maintains the unique business model of its founding.

“We have no commissions because we pay a real living wage, and we have profit sharing for everyone in the company,” she says. “The more profitable we are, the bigger each person’s bonus check is, plus more bonus vacation days. I want my employees to be happy and thriving so they treat our clients the same way.” Employees also can tap into an education fund.

Revolution Jewelry Works 5928 Stetson Hills Blvd, Suite 110 Colorado Springs, CO 80923

revolutionjewelryworks.com (719) 650-6000

Luisa Graff Jewelers

Luisa Graff Owner & Gemologist

With a showroom of 8000 square feet and 29 employees, Luisa Graff Jewelers may not sound like a small jeweler, but it is one of Colorado Springs locally owned, independent jewelers with an extensive inventory of more than 15,000 items of fine jewelry plus carving, molding and casting on-site to create unique pieces.

Graff opened a small store in Colorado Springs in 1999. Her success over the years provided her the opportunity to develop and build her own destination store in 2010. Andrew Graff joined his mother there in 2014. What many may not know is Graff’s amazing journey into the jewelry industry and the United States. She was born to a wealthy family in Peru while the country was under dictator rule. Her father was taken away, her mother and family were forbidden to leave.

With the assistance of the American Embassy and a

5901 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80918 luisagraffjewelers.com (719) 822-0691

network of family contacts, Luisa escaped Peru at age 12, entered the U.S., and made her way to Colorado where her father’s sister took her in. Later, her whole family reunited in Colorado Springs.

Graff’s mother went to a small Colorado Springs jewelry store and sold some emeralds she owned to care for her family. The owner liked Luisa and hired her to do light maintenance around the store and run errands.

Years later, after studying at Claremont McKenna College in California, Graff returned to Colorado Springs in hopes of doing biological research. But the owner of that same jewelry store persuaded her to join the trade. She would soon become one of the youngest gemologists in the western U.S. and the first female gemologist in Colorado.

These days Andrew and Luisa Graff are a motherand-son dynamic duo. The company is known for supporting more than 50 community nonprofits throughout the year.

Luisa Graff Jewelers

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SCOLIOSIS: A COMMON CAUSE BEHIND ADULT BACK PAIN

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group

Characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, scoliosis is often associated with adolescents. However, adults can also develop the condition, which can significantly impact their quality of life if not properly managed. Come with us as we dig into adult scoliosis, the various types, its causes, treatments and even a few physical therapy exercises you can try at home.

Types & Causes of Adult Scoliosis

Adult scoliosis can be classified into four primary types, each identified by the diagnosed cause:

1. Degenerative scoliosis: This is the most common type in adults and is caused by the degeneration (wear and tear) of the spine’s discs and joints. It typically occurs after the age of 40 and can worsen over time.

2. Idiopathic scoliosis: While this type is more commonly associated with adolescents, it can also persist into adulthood. Idiopathic scoliosis has no known cause.

3. Secondary scoliosis: This type is caused by another condition or factor, such as a spinal injury, muscle weakness or neurological disease.

4. Kyphoscoliosis: This is a combination of scoliosis and kyphosis, where the spine has both a lateral curvature (scoliosis) and an abnormal outward curvature of the upper back (kyphosis).

Adult-onset scoliosis is a more general term for adult scoliosis used to describe any form of scoliosis that develops or is diagnosed in adulthood, encompassing degenerative, idiopathic and secondary types.

Symptoms of Adult Scoliosis

Symptoms of adult scoliosis can vary in severity; however, common signs include:

• Uneven shoulders or waist

• One hip higher than the other

• Back pain or discomfort

• Numbness or weakness in the legs

• Difficulty standing upright or walking for extended periods

Areas where adults may experience back pain relating to scoliosis.

Treatment Options for Adult Scoliosis

The primary goal of treatment for adult scoliosis is to relieve pain, improve function and prevent the progression of the spinal curvature. Options include:

Non-Surgical Treatments

• Physical therapy: Tailored exercises can be used to strengthen the core and improve posture.

• Bracing: In some cases, a brace may be recommended to support the spine.

• Medications: Pain relievers and antiinflammatory drugs can help manage discomfort.

Surgical Treatments

• Spinal fusion: This procedure involves fusing two or more vertebrae to correct the curvature and stabilize the spine.

• Decompression surgery: This surgery relieves pressure on spinal nerves caused by the curvature.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Adult Scoliosis

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in managing adult scoliosis. Below are a few exercises that have proven to be effective for many individuals:

Pelvic Tilts:

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.

• Tighten your abdominal muscles and press your lower back into the floor.

• Hold for a few seconds and then relax. Repeat 10-15 times.

Cat-cow stretch:

• Get on your hands and knees.

• Arch your back towards the ceiling (cat position) and then lower it towards the floor (cow position).

• Perform this stretch slowly and repeat 10 times.

Latissimus dorsi stretch:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.

• Raise your arms above your head and lean to one side, feeling a stretch along the side of your body.

• Hold for 20-30 seconds and switch sides. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.

Plank:

• Lie face down and lift your body onto your forearms and toes.

• Keep your body in a straight line and hold for 2030 seconds, gradually increasing the duration as your strength improves.

Bird-dog exercise:

• Start on your hands and knees.

• Extend one arm forward and the opposite leg backward, keeping your back straight.

• Hold for a few seconds, then switch sides. Repeat 10-15 times on each side.

An example of proper bird-dog exercise form.

If you or a loved one experience symptoms of adult scoliosis, Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group Spine Center is here to help! Our specialists ensure each patient’s treatment plan is personalized to their individual needs, helping them manage their specific condition and improve their quality of life. Our team is dedicated to getting you back to the activities you love, close to or completely pain free.

Photo:

Part 4

DEGURSE, M.D.

The Art of Flexibility in Aesthetic Care

In the world of medical aesthetics, one size never fits all. At Pearl Skin & Body Rejuvenation, every guest brings a unique set of goals, health considerations and lifestyle factors to our office. That’s why I approach each consultation ready to tailor the experience to your specific needs. Whether you’re seeking a subtle enhancement or a more transformative result, our process is rooted in ensuring the safest, most effective care for you.

Why Flexibility Matters in Beauty and Weight Loss

Beauty and weight loss treatments are ongoing processes that evolve with your body over time. Flexibility is critical, as life changes — whether in your health, lifestyle, or personal goals — require you to adapt. I prioritize working closely with you to ensure that when challenges or shifts occur, we seamlessly adjust your treatment plan. This dynamic approach guarantees you’re always on track to meet your milestones, even if the path to achieving them alters course.

Tailoring Treatments to Your Unique Journey

No two bodies are the same, which is why a tailored approach is essential in aesthetic care. As a physician, my role is to carefully assess and adjust. I am here to provide not just a solution, but ongoing, expert support that evolves with you. I’ll ensure that your results align with your vision without compromising on safety or effectiveness.

The Pearl Difference

Flexibility is the cornerstone of the care we provide. From consultation through follow-up, I am committed to maintaining a partnership that adapts to your evolving needs, so you will always receive the best care possible.

Join our community on Instagram and Facebook, or follow Dr. Degurse on LinkedIn. Visit our website to book a free consultation or to learn more about Pearl Skin & Body Rejuvenation.

This series aims to illuminate the critical role of medical expertise, not just achieving beauty, but ensuring lasting wellness and confidence. Join us as we explore the uniqueness of physician-led medical aesthetics, a cornerstone of excellence in care!

When you’re on cloud 9 before you even take off...

You may ask yourself, “is it weird to be in love with an airport?” But with all of the amenities and conveniences at Colorado’s small airport, we completely understand the feeling. So lean into your affections when you Fly COS, and fall in love with Colorado’s small airport.

Aspen Aesthetics + Wellness Spa Takes a Different Approach Spa Opens in University Village

BROUGHT TO YOU BY ASPEN AESTHETICS

Aspen Aesthetics + Wellness is a boutiquestyle, comprehensive, full-service medical and wellness spa. September marked the grand opening of this 3,000-square-foot facility in University Village — locally, women- and veteran-owned (no franchise) and operated.

“My clientele is really me,” says owner Kelly McKay, CRNA (a nurse anesthetist). “In my late 30s I started noticing changes in my body, inside and out. I didn’t know where to start to help me feel better, look better and stay healthy. I couldn’t get anyone to talk to me about results, evidence-based treatments and the ‘why.’ I started taking courses while working full-time to decipher the world of aesthetics. What I ended up with was my own business that can answer questions, provide safe and effective results and treats clients with the same care I gave my patients in the healthcare industry.”

McKay’s approach starts with her background of 16 years as a CRNA alongside Wellness Director Katie Mills, who has a decade in healthcare as an RN, BSN. They are joined by two MBAs (one is her chief financial officer and husband, Scott McKay, and the other is General Manager Emily Talbot).

McKay is certified in CMAC (Complications in Medical Aesthetic Collaborative) which is part of a worldwide joint effort with prescription authority and access to a shared database to help treat complicated clients.

“I’m dedicated to this rapidly growing industry, but I’m also committed to making sure best practices are followed with patient care first and foremost,” explains McKay. “States don’t do a lot of monitoring within the industry and it really can be a little like the Wild West. Our goal, through our medical background is to ensure that excellent standard of care for all our clients.”

The spa offers a range of medical aesthetics and wellness services including Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, hydra-facial, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, IV wellness therapy, intramuscular injections, biomarker assessments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, whole body cryotherapy, far infrared sauna and more.

“Our mission is to provide unparalleled aesthetic and wellness experiences that empower individuals to look and feel their best, from the inside out,” ends McKay.

5278 North Nevada Avenue, Suite 190 Colorado Springs, 80918 aspen-aesthetics.com | (719) 256-0272

The Arts Will Unite Us,

BY DYLAN CRADDOCK, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region

Not Divide Us

he current joke on TikTok is that we are all living through the hardest part of 2053’s AP U.S. History exam. During an election season, it’s easy to fall into partisan politics, so it’s no surprise that people across the country feel more divided, pessimistic and untrusting than ever.

Per a recent study done by the Pew Research Center: “…nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics, while 55% feel angry. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics, and even fewer (4%) are excited.” Moreover, the divide between political parties is worsening, including feelings about people in other political parties: “Perhaps the most striking change is the extent to which partisans view those in the opposing party as immoral.”

Anger, morality, and uncertainty are deep feelings that require new, innovative approaches that are not as simple as hearing one another

“

…nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%)say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics, while 55% feel angry. By contrast, just 10% say they always or often feel hopeful about politics, and even fewer (4%) are excited.

— Pew Research Center

Residents living on a block where community-based art projects took place were 1.6 times more likely to report they felt more connected to their neighbors. “ “

out. Perhaps one of our most powerful tools to combat division and mistrust is participation in the arts. While not the only solution, the arts are a powerful unifier, one that has the potential to shift our local communities back to a place of civic health, rather than anger and division. Arts and culture experiences are naturally connective. When you are at a concert, visiting a new art gallery or making something with your hands, you are engaging with strangers in a way that is rare and valuable to the arts scene. According to Americans for the Arts, over the last decade art-engaged communities saw an 86% increase in civic engagement and interest in local issues. In our region, arts organizations and businesses of all kinds bring people together in powerful ways. Consider Concrete Coyote, a local park for all rooted in the belief that arts and culture can not only transform space, but people too. Or Ent Center for the Arts: between their in-house productions, TheatreWorks and Gallery of Contemporary Arts, the venue transcends genres and connects our community to new ideas every day. Spend a day visiting the Creative Circuit (Downtown COS, OCC, and Manitou) and chat with local gallery owners and shop owners — see what you can buy locally and relish

In divisive times, the intangibles of social cohesion, togetherness and community development are created through arts programs. Over 87% of local Arts and Economic Prosperity survey respondents say that the arts inspire pride in their neighborhood or community.

Nationally, the statistics sing the same song: “Residents living on a block where community-based art projects took place were 1.6 times more likely to report they felt more connected to their neighbors.” This is the healing power of the arts.

The arts are certainly not free from controversy. I am not asking anyone to abandon their personal beliefs, but instead to ask themselves: what can I learn from a new culture, a new experience I haven’t had before? In considering the possibilities of the arts, you will find a new, welcoming community, ready to teach you something new. Let art unite us, not divide us.

Your guide to

october's Arts Month festivities

BY LUCY RICHARDSON,

ctober is Arts Month in Southern Colorado! Join the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region in celebrating the creative community with various events throughout the month, all centered on the excellence of our local arts and culture. Embarking on the festival’s 11th year, the organizers have reimagined the festival campaign, inviting community members to

Visual & Culinary Arts

Arts Month Community Social El Paso County

Join COPPR to “Unite Your World with the Arts” at these free Arts Month Community Socials, kicking off Arts Month 2024 in the Pikes Peak Region.

Tues., Oct. 1, 5-6:30 p.m. Free, RSVP on the event website.

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., 80903

artsoctober.com/arts-monthcommunity-socials

40th Annual Woodcarving & Woodcraft Show

The Pikes Peak Whittlers Annual Woodcarving & Woodcraft Show, Competition and Sale offers a delightful chance to admire the creations of talented carvers.

Sat., Oct 12 & Sun., Oct. 13, 10am-4pm. Adults: $5. Seniors/Military: $4. Kids under 12 years of age & Scouts in

“Open Your World with the Arts.” Read on to learn about specific events and activities you can enjoy this month, organized within the four highlighted art forms this festival will celebrate: visual and culinary arts; theater and film; poetry, prose and comedy; and music and dance. For a complete list of the many activities during October, please visit: artsoctober.com/events

uniform are welcome for free. Shrine Club, 6 South 33rd St., 80904 pikespeakwhittlers.com

Hunter-Wolff Gallery’s 19th Anniversary

Join in celebrating 19 years of the Hunter-Wolff Gallery. Stop by on your First Friday Art Walk to experience paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, furniture, blown glass and more by some of Colorado’s finest creatives.

Fri., Oct. 4, 5-8 p.m. Free Hunter-Wolff Gallery, 2510 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904 hunterwolffgallery.com/events.cfm

Old Colorado City ArtWalk

Enjoy local art, meet artists and watch live demonstrations. Receive special offers and complimentary refreshments.

Fri., Oct. 4, 5-8 p.m. Free Old Colorado City, Colorado Ave. & 25th St, 80904 shopoldcoloradocity.com/ first-friday-occ

Portraits presented by Parish House Baroque

Delight in the captivating fusion of art and music through live performances featuring composers depicted by Thomas Gainsborough, presented on authentic period instruments.

Sat., Oct. 5, 7pm & Sun., Oct. 6, 3pm. $20 for general admission, $15 for Society members.

First Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Cascade Ave., 80915 parishhousebaroque.org/20242025season

Neighborhood Arts & Crafts Crawl

Various locations throughout Divine Redeemer and Middle Shooks Run neighborhood, Colorado Springs. Explore studios and spaces of neighborhood creatives with 18 artists at 15 stops within an easy 2.5-mile route.

Sat., Oct. 5, 10am-4pm. Free sites.google.com/view/ neighborhoodartscraftscrawl/home

Free, RSVP required.

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S. Tejon St., 80903 cspm.org/events/50-program-seriescspm-archives

Tri Lakes Center for the Arts presents “Different Strokes”

A spectacular fine art exhibition featuring Ray Shaw, acclaimed wildlife painter, and Joe Beavers, multimedia artist extraordinaire. Ray Shaw’s dynamite images can be purchased on wood blocks for just $55. Joe Beavers has small gorgeous canvas paintings for only $45. Both will have fabulous art bags, coffee mugs and colorful tee shirts.

Sat., Oct. 26, 10am – 2pm trilakesarts.org/event/different-strokes

Theater

& Film

The Play Crawl

Ten mini-plays staged in ten locations around Old Colorado City. Presented by Funky Little Theater Company.

Sat., Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City, 2408 W. Colorado Ave., 80904 onthestage.tickets/show/funky-littletheater-company/66c1a430965ac70e3 a10b312

Pikes Peak docuFEST

Attend the second annual film festival to witness the showcase of storytelling through documentary films.

Fri., Oct. 18, 6-11:55pm & Sat., Oct. 19, 10am-11pm.

Day One passes start at $30, Day Two Passes start at $40

COS City Hub, 4304 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., 80918 pikespeakdocufest.com

Chicago Tap Theatre in Performance

The Dance Alliance of the Pikes Peak Region welcomes the award-winning Chicago Tap Theatre for a one-night storytelling experience through the art of tap dance.

Fri., Oct. 18, 7:30pm.

General Admission: $35, Students: $12 Louisa Performing Arts Center, 21 Broadmoor Ave., 80906 dappr.org/events/presenting-chicagotap-theatre-in-performance/

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival

The 37th annual Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival captures stories of drive, spirit and diversity through the female lens.

In-person screenings Oct. 18-20 at Colorado College and a virtual encore Oct. 24-27.

Various ticketing options available starting at $45 with free passes available to active duty & retired military personnel.

Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., 80903 rmwfilm.org/festival

Urban Cirque’s Carnival of Shadows

Embrace this spooky season with unforgettably eerie entertainment. The big top will be filled with trick-or-treat opportunities, carnival games, acrobats and other performances.

Sat., Oct. 26, Noon-11pm.

Adults (ages 13 & up): $46.90. Kids (12 & under): $31.60

COS City Hub, 4304 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., 80918

urbancirque.com/carnival-of-shadows

Playing for Ukraine

“Playing for Ukraine” promises an evening filled with song, music, magic, circus acts and comedy. This event aims to showcase the crucial efforts of Ukraine Power in providing ongoing support to the Ukrainian people.

Sat., Oct. 12, 7:30pm.

Tickets: $80, includes food & drink. Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., 80905 themat.org/playing-for-ukraine-2024fundraiser

Poetry, Prose & Comedy

2024 All Pikes Peak Reads

Presents: Shelley Read

Join Pikes Peak Library District as we welcome Shelley Read to discuss her book “Go as a River,” the 2024 All Pikes Peak Reads selection. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the main event.

Sat., Oct. 5, 10:30am & 3pm. Free PPLD: Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, 80920

ppld.librarymarket.com/event/2024all-pikes-peak-reads-keynoteaddress-399275

Comedy Night with Jeff Dye

Join comedian Jeff Dye — known for his appearances on many shows, including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon — for a night of laughter, love and positivity at the Boot Barn Hall.

Thu., Oct. 10, 7 p.m.

Ages 14 and up. Tickets start at $20. Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers, 13071 Bass Pro Drive, 80921 visitcos.com/events/ comedy-night-with-jeff-dye

More Art Events

Comedy Matinee: Sam Selby & Suz Ballout

Sam Selby takes the stage at Lulu’s Downtown with her East Coast, brutal honesty and cleverly crafted jokes. Join in for a night of laughter to celebrate the comedic arts.

Sat., Oct. 19, 7pm. All ages show. $15.

Lulu’s Downtown, 32 S. Tejon St., 80903 lulusmusic.co/shows/comedy-matineesam-selby-w-suz-ballout

Music & Dance

Boundaries: Songs From Outside the Box

Immerse yourself in an enchanting evening of unconventional musical blends and distinct sounds at “Boundaries: Songs from Outside the Box,” showcasing innovative compositions performed by an a cappella choir, showcasing works by Christian Foreshaw.

Fri., Oct. 11, 7:30pm. Adults: $30, Students & Youth: $10

St. Mary’s Cathedral, 22 W. Kiowa St., 80904

ticketstripe.comevents/5274105876165748

Spinphony

Spinphony, an instrumental crossover string quartet, blends classical, rock and pop music genres with unique arrangements like “Bach in Black” and “Don’t Stop Beethoven.”

Fri., Oct. 11, 7pm. $20

Stargazers Theatre & Event Center, 10 S. Parkside Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910

stargazerstheatre.com/product/ spinphony-oct-11/

Boogie Nights Dance Party

Dance the night away at Lulu’s Downtown with your favorite boogie-filled music.

Fri., Oct. 18, 8pm. $20

Lulu’s Downtown, 32 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 lulusmusic.co/shows/boogie-nights5b449

Colorado Springs Philharmonic presents: Mozart & Beethoven Experience the timeless brilliance of Mozart and Beethoven as their masterpieces unite in a captivating concert, showcasing Mozart’s serene elegance and Beethoven’s fiery brilliance in harmonious interplay.

Sat., Oct. 19, 7:30pm & Sun., Oct. 20, 2:30pm. Tickets start at $37.75. Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., 80918 csphilharmonic.org/event/mozartbeethoven

Tri Lakes Center for the Arts presents “Different Strokes”

A spectacular fine art exhibition featuring Ray Shaw, acclaimed wildlife painter, and Joe Beavers, multimedia artist extraordinaire. Ray Shaw’s dynamite images can be purchased on wood blocks for just $55. Joe Beavers has small gorgeous canvas paintings for only $45. Both will have fabulous art bags, coffee mugs and colorful tee shirts.

Sat., Oct. 26, 10am – 2pm trilakesarts.org/event/different-strokes

Experience the Unexpected in Green Mountain Falls

BY WARREN EPSTEIN, Senior Writer

he Green Box Arts Festival started as something of an experiment:

How to revive a small town that was a slice of mountain paradise but had become something else?

Christian Kirkpatrick Keesee’s family had been escaping the heat of Oklahoma City to their summer “cabin” (read: elegant Victorian home) in Green Mountain Falls since the late 1800s. If the name Kirkpatrick sounds familiar, maybe you’ve heard of Kirkpatrick Bank, Kirkpatrick Oil & Gas, the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Kirkpatrick Family Fund.

Photo courtesy of greenboxarts.org

Arc ZERO: Nimbus by James Tapscott Gazebo Bridge (through September 2024)

Serious money and serious philanthropic outreach

Keesee is also founder and president of Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center and his partner (now husband), Larry Keigwin, is the founder and artistic director of Keigwin + Company dance troupe in New York City.

Keesee’s summer visits to his old stomping grounds of Green Mountain Falls in the late ’90s and early 2000s didn’t live up to his childhood memories.

“It had begun a downward spiral,” he says. “The two horse stables had shuttered, the convenience store had closed, the Western feel of the town had become replaced with a new breed of generic, suburban housing.”

In 2007 and 2008, Keesee and Keigwin started experimenting with how they might bring some fresh excitement to the town with art performances. They produced what Keesee calls “a family talent show”

It Looks Like there Is A Party Up There, Thu Kim Vu

Green Box Executive Director, Scott RC Levy in conversation with legendary DJ Vicky Gregor at the 2021 Green Box Arts Festival.

The sky’s not the limit

Since its founding, the festival has continued to grow in scope and stature. Each year brings more events and art installations. Some of the art installations have been temporary, others permanent.

In 2020, Keesee started working on the most ambitious permanent art installation the town had experienced. He enlisted world-renowned artist James Turrell to build a highly zen marriage of art and nature called Green Mountain Falls Skyspace.

“

“ kinetic light and color encounter — a sensory and contemplative experience.

— Christian Kirkpatrick Keesee

In the summer of 2022, they unveiled this elegant boxy structure of stone, steel and beetle-kill pine hugging the side of Red Butte Mountain. They call it a “kinetic light and color encounter — a sensory and contemplative experience.”

The Skyspace is open year-round, though the ceiling is closed during inclement weather. More than any other aspect of Green Box, Skyspace stretched the duration far beyond the festival and prompted

the need for an executive director.

“We realized this was not sustainable and that, for Green Box to succeed, we needed a full-time arts professional who was based in the area,” Keesee says.

They hired Scott RC Levy, former Broadway producer and recent artistic director of the theater at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College.

“We had some very nice resumes,” Keesee says. “But none had Scott’s broad base of arts management history – and he was well known, and liked, in the community.”

In the past four years, Levy has kicked that yearround expansion into high gear.

“I can imagine something happening at Green Box every day of the year, and so many more doors of entry,” Levy says.

This summer’s festival, which ran the first two weeks of July, attracted more than 7,000 people, a 15% increase over 2023. It featured 140 events: concerts, dance, yoga, outdoor films, art installations, parties, artist talks and a lantern launch on the lake to celebrate July 4th.

Beyond the two weeks of the festival, the calendar of activities now include a summer camp, a farm and art market, audio tours of the 13 public pieces of art on display, a Yule Day holiday craft fair, artists in residence and a Broadway behind-the-scenes tour led by Levy.

Green Mountain Falls Skyspace, 2022 © James Turrell

Photo by Jeff Kearney/TDC Photography

Red Butte Recreational Area

Does Green Box wake the sleepy town?

Built around the Gazebo Lake, Green Mountain Falls boasts 646 residents. The summer festival has been bringing visitors from throughout the country. Its art-in-residence programs have been getting hundreds of applications from around the world.

Like it or not, Green Box is putting Green Mountain Falls on the map as a not-so-modest center of arts and culture in Colorado. One resident said you can tell the festival is going on when rich folks from New York City get out of their SUVs wearing elephant-skin boots. Levy sees that as an interesting cultural mesh.

“Green Mountain Falls doesn’t want to be the center of anything. It wants to be Grover’s Corners,” he says, referring to the bucolic hamlet of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”

Jesse Stroope resides at the center of the relationship between the town and Green Box, wearing multiple hats. A longtime resident, he serves as Green Box director of production and operations, he’s on the town’s parks and rec commission, and he and his wife own the new Cantina Verde in the middle of town. He’s been with Green Box from the beginning.

“When we started Green Box 16 years ago, we wanted to make sure we were doing it for the residents of the town,” he says. “This festival was for them, inclusive of them, so I’ve been working closely with the town of Green Mountain Falls the whole time.

“If the festival wasn’t welcomed, it would be a huge

“

“ When we started Green Box 16 years ago, we wanted to make sure we were doing it for the residents of the town.

— Jesse Stroope

It might be a sleepy town, but it seems to wake for the festival. Zip codes on receipts reveal that almost all residents attend some part of the festivities. They have good reason to support Green Box beyond the entertainment value. The Green Box, and its association of Kirkpatrick foundations, has been pouring money into the renovation of several community assets.

“It’s a great amenity, and we have a great partnership,” says Mayor Tom Dixon. “My wife and I caught as many events as we could. The professional dancers we saw! Good grief! And we’re paying like $10 or $15 a ticket.”

For more information, visit: greenboxarts.org

Photo courtesy of greenboxarts.org

the art Of CUstom Framing

A Journey with Ross Sandoval

BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROSS STUDIOS

In the world of art, the frame is often the unsung hero. It’s the silent partner that elevates a piece, offering it a stage to shine and ensuring its longevity.

Custom art framing by nature is an intricate craft that marries design, engineering and artistic flair, transforming any piece — be it a priceless painting, a beloved jersey or a cherished photograph — into a personalized masterpiece.

At the helm of this transformative process at Ross Studios is Ross Sandoval, a passionate craftsman with nearly three decades of experience in the industry, and his colleague, Mark Lee, a master art framer. With ten years as the studio owner and a lifetime immersed in the world of art, Sandoval has become a beacon for those seeking bespoke framing solutions. His journey began in the vibrant landscapes of New Mexico, where his fascination with color and handcrafted creativity took root. Today, he channels this lifelong passion into every project that comes through his studio doors.

“Custom framing is not just about selecting a frame,” Sandoval explains. “It’s an art form in itself that involves choosing the right matting, colors and frame style to

Ross Sandoval

enhance both the artwork and the space it will inhabit.”

At Ross Studios, clients embark on a collaborative journey, where their personal tastes meet Ross’s expert guidance. Whether clients dive deeply into the creative process or prefer to lean on the studio’s expertise, the result is always a unique expression. Ross Studios stands out for its meticulous craftsmanship and its artistic vision. Recently named Best Custom Art Framing by readers of The Gazette, the studio’s acclaim is a testament to Ross’s dedication and the studio’s unwavering commitment to quality.

But for Sandoval and Lee, it’s

“ “ Custom framing is not just about selecting a frame. It’s an art form in itself.

— Ross Sandoval

about more than accolades. “The reward,” Sandoval says, “is in seeing a client’s face light up when they see their art turned into something even more remarkable.”

The creative process at Ross Studios is much like the philosophy of the great Pablo Picasso, who famously said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Ross Studios embodies this mantra, understanding the precision and engineering that framing requires while also knowing when to innovate and create something truly unexpected.

“Art is all around us,” Sandoval reflects, “and we have the unique privilege of experiencing and appreciating it in all forms, every day.”

Every project at Ross Studios is a testament to the studio’s ethos: no two pieces are framed the same way. Each frame is a new challenge, a new canvas for Ross and Mark to apply their extensive knowledge and artistic intuition. Through their vision and dedicated work, Ross Studios continues to redefine what it means to frame art, one masterpiece at a time.

the Colorado Springs Classical Music Scene Flying Under the Radar of

BY JEANNE DAVANT, Senior Writer

unique performance ensemble, Parish House Baroque, has enjoyed steady patronage for a decade.

Serge Vassiliev, founder and artistic director of EPIC Concerts, also has had great success presenting chamber music concerts in a way that draws listeners into the performances and attracts worldclass artists.

These two organizations are part of a repertoire of choices the Pikes Peak region’s classical music scene offers to concert goers.

“

“ I just fell in love with this very beautiful and unique and historic way of approaching music.

— Elisa Wicks

Elisa Wicks Violinist, Parish House Baroque

“It’s a little bit of a homage to many composers from the 17th and 18th centuries who lived in homes that were owned by the church that they worked for,” Elisa says. The Wickses first became interested in historic performance and the music of the Baroque, Renaissance and early Classical periods when they were in college at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Elisa needed an ensemble credit and signed up for the Baroque Orchestra at Case Western Reserve University.

“I just fell in love with this very beautiful and unique and historic way of approaching music,” she says. Married for 23 years, the two have delved deeply into the instruments that were used and how the works of composers like Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi were interpreted back in

After moving here to be close to aging parents, they founded Parish House Baroque with a mission to expose audiences to a historically authentic experience. They play period instruments — in Elisa’s case, a Baroque violin — that duplicate the original sound of the music. Other ensemble members include recorder player Jennifer Carpenter and Baroque cellist Pam Chaddon. The Parish House Baroque Society supports the concerts and enables them to bring in guest artists from across the country.

Eric Wicks also serves as minister of music at First Lutheran Church, organist at Colorado College’s Shove Chapel and instructor in the CC music department. Elisa directs the Collegium Musicum, CC’s early music ensemble, is principal second violinist for the Chamber Orchestra of Colorado Springs and frequently plays with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, as well as appearing as a guest artist with ensembles and at music festivals

For information on the 2024-25 Parish House Baroque concert season, visit parishhousebaroque.org.

Sergei Vassiliev, who joined the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in 2009 as principal clarinetist, has always loved chamber music and envisioned concerts presented in a way that directly involved audiences. He founded EPIC (Educational Partnerships Immersive Concerts) in 2019 to present immersive, “nonstuffy” chamber music concerts featuring world-class artists.

“What’s very important to me is that the people I play with are not only great musicians, but also great people,” he says. “Out of that grows the kind of chamber music series that’s very welcoming and warm, and where we break down the wall between the audience and the musicians.”

At EPIC concerts, “we explain the music, maybe play a few little themes to help people understand what’s going on, and do a Q&A at the end of the concert,” he says. “We

have a presentation like a PowerPoint during the concert where we will show photos of the musicians and their pets. We allow people to clap or cheer wherever they want. It’s just like I was playing for you in my living room.”

The first concert, held after the pandemic lockdown ended, featured Vassiliev and several members of the Philharmonic in a socially distanced setting at the Almagre Venue.

“It was, like, 30 people with chairs six feet apart, and it was a cathartic experience,” he says. “People cried; I think I cried.”

“

Although operating on a shoestring, Vassiliev and his partners managed to pay the musicians. Within a year, the series outgrew the venue. Concerts now are presented in the Chapman Recital Hall at the Ent Center for the Performing Arts.

Vassiliev hand-picks the musicians who play during EPIC’s six-concert season.

“ What’s very important to me is that the people I play with are not only great musicians, but also great people. Out of that grows the kind of chamber music series that’s very welcoming and warm, and where we break down the wall between the audience and the musicians.

— Sergei Vassiliev

Sergei Vassiliev Founder and artistic director of EPIC Concerts

“The first person I asked to do it was my friend Petteri Iivonen, who is the first violin of the Paris National Opera Orchestra, who I went to school with,” he says. “He actually ended up coming two years later.”

Since then, Vassiliev has invited performers like Gabby Diaz, recently named violinist with the Kronos Quartet; Joshua Elmore, principal bassoonist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and oboist Noah Kay, who recently joined the popular Houston, Texas-based wind quintet WindSync.

“We’ve got an amazing roster of established older stars, but young and up and coming as well,” he says.

For concert and ticket information, visit epicmustsee.org

Canvassing Colorado Springs

Arts Assets in the Area

nlike most cities of its size, Colorado Springs enjoys more than its fair share of art installations, public displays, museums, galleries and collaborative centers. A short stroll through downtown is a bona fide scavenger hunt of sculptures and murals. Also, our educational entities and creative collaboratives afford us numerous opportunities to engage with the arts. NORTH has compiled an abbreviated list of some of the offerings within an easy drive of anywhere in the city. For a more complete list, visit: visitcos.com/things-to-do/arts-culture

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College exists to celebrate and challenge the understanding of place, uplift artists from the past, present and future, and amplify art’s capacity to inspire new possibilities.

The 132,286-square-foot facility hosts numerous exhibitions each year, many featuring works from the FAC’s significant collection, bringing a wide variety of art experiences to Colorado Springs.

The award-winning and critically acclaimed Fine Arts Center Theatre Company produces an annual season of musicals, comedies and dramas and has gained a reputation for high-quality productions and Colorado premieres of new American work.

Bemis School of Art offers art classes for all ages, artistic interests and skill levels. Experienced artists and art instructors, large studios and limited class sizes create a motivational and supportive environment to explore and develop creative talents.

30 West Dale St. (719) 634-5581 • fac.coloradocollege.edu

OPUS Creative Industries

Under the umbrella of the Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective (CSCCC), Opus Creative Industries connects the creative community and workforce programs for individuals in culinary arts, theatre tech, media arts, and early childhood education to create a nonprofit unlike any other. Opus Creative Industries, the workforce programs for the Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective, is where potential meets opportunity.

Diverse programs cater to various creative industries, including culinary arts, media, theater technical design, and early childhood education enriched with music and dance. From the budding chefs and restaurant owners in our culinary and hospitality program to the exploration of art and music in our Simple Gift Schoolhouse playgroups, Opus nurtures the seeds of creativity across Colorado Springs. Opus hosts numerous social events that can be found on their website calendar.

1 S. Nevada Ave. Suite 11 • (719) 424-1000 communityculturalcollective.org/events

Manitou Springs Art Center

The Manitou Art Center (MAC) in Manitou Springs, Colorado hosts a variety of events, including festivals, readings, seminars, music and theatre. For 35 years, MAC has offered music, theatre, pottery, printmaking, and other “loud, slightly dangerous, and intensely messy events.” Locals and tourists alike flock to their galleries, studios, exhibition space and classrooms, with enough square footage to accommodate events, conferences and offices.

The MAC also provides a bar with beer, wine and a themed cocktail and hosts seminars, workshops, open studios, classes, exhibits and more. Their hours are Tuesday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. They are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts

This nonprofit arts complex located in downtown Colorado Springs holds over 120 studio artists, gallery spaces, a theater and classrooms. Diverse programming includes monthly First Friday events, arts education for youth and adults, open calls for entry and other exhibition opportunities, tours, educational panel discussions, workshops, live art demonstrations and more.

Cottonwood is more than just an arts organization – promoting the exploration of a creative life, whether you

are an artist or an arts patron, a reader, collector or a listener. Cottonwood Center for the Arts strives to provide the highest quality arts and culture experience to the community.

427 E. Colorado Ave. • (719) 520-1899 • cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com

Ent Center for the Arts

This first-class arts facility, located on the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs campus serves the community as a hub for the arts and an inspiration in academics. The vision for the facility is to foster a creative environment to house arts that will serve the Pikes Peak region, allowing artists to inspire and amplify one another. Art brings together diverse people and ideas in ways no other discipline can, and the Ent Center is a pillar of the arts community within Colorado Springs.

UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art (GOCA) is a regional hub of contemporary art, culture and conversation that independently produces exhibitions and programs through a collaboration with artists of national, international and regional significance, GOCA is a contemporary arts organization with two galleries located at the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS — the flagship Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery and the GOCA

Project Space gallery – along with the Art Without Limits Public Sculpture Program on the grounds of the Ent Center. gocadigital.org

UCCS Theatreworks is a professional regional theatre company dedicated to connecting, empowering and delighting communities through diverse performances and educational experiences. Their website says, “We believe the alchemy of theatre comes from combining across differences: mixing local folks and guest creators from all over the world, and pairing students learning with experienced artists perfecting their craft – all exploring compelling stories for the audiences of the Pikes Peak region.”

5225 N. Nevada Ave. • (719) 255-3232 • entcenterforthearts.org

Unique Museums in the Area

Money Museum

719/632-2646

818 N. Cascade Ave. money.org/money-museum

National Museum of WWII Aviation (719) 637-7559

775 Aviation Way worldwariiaviation.org

Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum (719) 487-8005

19 N. Tejon St. themotorcyclemuseum.com

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum (719) 497-1234

200 S. Sierra Madre St. usopm.org

Ute Pass Historical Society & Pikes Peak Museum (719) 686-7512

231 E. Henrietta Ave. utepasshistoricalsociety.org

Pikes Peak Trolley Museum (719) 475-9508

2333 Steel Dr. coloradospringstrolleys.com

More on P.97

UPCOMING EVENTS 2024

Simple Gift Playgroups

Free biweekly playgroups for children birth — 5 & their caregivers. In partnership with Joint Initiatives. 9:30 - 11 AM | Oct 2, Oct 16, Oct 30, Nov 13, Dec 4 & Dec 18

Opus Happy Hour

Visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter for more event information!

Join us for Happy Hour every Thursday! $2 off alcoholic beverages and limited happy hour menu available.

3 - 6 PM | Oct 3, Oct 17, Oct 24 & Oct 31

Opus Cabaret: Feat. Christina Wells & Friends

10 AM - 1 PM 4

Join our very own teammate as she takes to the stage to perform her original music alongside special guests of the artistic community in Colorado Springs.

5:30 - 9 PM | www.CCCabaret.eventbrite.com

Brunch at Opus with Chamber Music & Graduation for our Culinary Cohort 12

Join us for a special brunch featuring performances by talented members of the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs. Delicious drinks and food prepared by Opus Creative Industries Culinary Workforce Program.

Brunch at Opus

Join us for Saturday Brunch! Delicious drinks and food prepared by Opus Creative Industries Culinary Workforce Program. Brunch Buffet available, bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and cash bar.

3 - 6 PM | Oct 12, Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 23, Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 21 & Dec 28

Gala for Good

Join us for an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, and fundraising. Enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, and inspiring stories from the families we support. Your presence will make a lasting impact!

6 - 10 PM | www.nafamilyfund.org/events

Opus Supper Club

Join us for this special fundraising event for Opus Programs! 4 course meal with wine pairings, prepared by Opus Creative Kitchen culinary mentors and students.

6 - 8 PM | Oct 23 & Nov 20

Soup & Scrabble at Opus

Join us for an electronics-free afternoon bowl of soup & a game of scrabble for $5.

3:30 - 5:30 PM | Oct 29, Nov 26 & Dec 17

Bella Vista Concert Series: Feat. The Debashish Bhattacharya Trio

Join us for dinner and an evening of music with internationally acclaimed musicians! 5 - 9 PM | www.OpusSupperClubDebashish.eventbrite.com

Tell The Winning Story with Jesse Wilson

Jesse Wilson of Tell the Winning Story presents a groundbreaking communications workshop. Discover transformative techniques to enhance your storytelling and communication skills. 9:30 AM - 4 PM | Nov 15-16

Brunch at Opus & Graduation for Culinary Cohort 13

Join us for Saturday Brunch! Delicious drinks and food prepared by Opus Creative Industries Culinary Workforce Program.

10 AM - 1 PM

Brunch at Opus & Graduation for Culinary Cohort 14

Join us for Saturday Brunch! Delicious drinks and food prepared by Opus Creative Industries Culinary Workforce Program.

10 AM - 1 PM

Notable Art Galleries

Auric Gallery

125 E. Boulder St. (720) 951-0573 auricgallery.com

Broadmoor Galleries

1 Lake Ave. (719) 577-5744 broadmoorgalleries.com

Gallery 113

125 1/2 N. Tejon St. (719) 634-5299 gallery113cos.com

Hunter-Wolff Gallery Ltd.

2510 W. Colorado Ave. (719) 520-9494 hunterwolffgallery.com

Michael Garman Museum & Gallery 2418 W. Colorado Ave. (719) 471-9391

michaelgarman.com

Velez Galleries

2506 W. Colorado Ave. (719) 630-3710 velezgalleries.com

Under the Radar Events & Attractions

Annual Hummingbird Experience (719) 385-6086 cheyennecanon.org

Cripple Creek Ice Festival visitcripplecreek.com

Ghost Town Museum

400 S. 21st St. (719) 634-0696 ghosttownmuseum.com

Miramont Castle Museum

9 Capitol Hill Ave. (719) 685-1011 miramontcastle.org

Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd. (719) 578-5367

elpomar.org/About-Us/ museum-and-legacyproperties/will-rogersshrine-of-the-sun

Be a Real Estate Professional Part 2

BY JASON WATSON, CPA

REAL ESTATE, WEALTH & FINANCE

In the last issue, I provided reasons to designate yourself to the IRS as a real estate professional. Why? Aside from being something cool to tell the grandkids, let’s presume that you have a rental loss. It is common to have a tax loss on your rental although it cash flows, and the primary reason is depreciation.

Let’s recap the bookends from Part 1 (see Aug/ Sep NORTH). On one side, you have rental losses which cannot be deducted in full since you either a) make too much money (over $150,000 adjusted gross income) or b) the losses exceed $25,000. On the other side, you have net rental income, and you are in an income range where the net investment income tax is being applied. These two bookends are where the real estate professional election comes in handy.

Quick Review of Qualifying as Real Estate Professional

Here are the simplified basics of real estate professional status, per the IRS —

You materially participate and provide personal service hours of 750 or more in real property trades or businesses, and

Over half of your time spent on all activities where you perform a personal service must be spent on real property trades or businesses (this includes W-2 jobs and small businesses). If you work 2,080 hours as a nine-to-five, W-2 suit, you will need to work 2,081 hours in real estate.

If you meet these two, you are what the Internal Revenue Code refers to as a “qualifying taxpayer,” or what the industry calls a real estate professional. When this happens, your rental property losses are not capped at $25,000 even for high-income earners.

Neat. So, what time counts towards these silly rules? Since painting a wall seems straightforward, let’s focus on what time does not count.

Research Time Does Not Count

A lot of investors claiming real estate professional status attempt to fill in the holes of their hourly requirements and day-to-day involvement by suggesting research into other investment properties. While this sounds legitimate, the IRS and Tax Court have denied this position, referring to that time as investor activities and not real estate activities. Find something else to put on your time sheet — cut some grass or hunt and peck your ledger entries, but don’t log Zillow hours.

Travel Time is Hit or Miss (mostly miss)

In the Trzeciak v. Commissioner court case, the IRS asserted allowing time spent traveling if you are also regularly and exclusively using a home office for your real estate activities.

There is also some case law saying No. In Truskowsky v. Commissioner: unless a taxpayer

can prove day-to-day managerial involvement, then travel time is considered commuting, which is personal in nature, and therefore does not qualify. To be certain, Truskowsky’s travel was a bit self-serving since it was not solely for business but had some pleasure mixed in by visiting family.

Sweat Equity Time Doesn't Count

IRS Publication 925 Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules talks about work that is not normally done by owners and investors (versus managerial activities). Here is a blurb from the lovely publication —

Work not usually performed by owners. You don’t treat the work you do in connection with an activity as participation in the activity if both of the following are true.

• The work isn’t work that’s customarily done by the owner of that type of activity, and

• One of your main reasons for doing the work is to avoid the disallowance of any loss or credit from the activity under the passive activity rules.

You would never intentionally do something to reduce taxes, would you?!

On Call Hours

In Moss v. Commissioner, the rental property owner argued that he should be permitted to include hours spent “on call,” when a tenant could contact him as necessary. The court denied the tax position because the taxpayer was not actually performing services during those hours, and therefore the time could not be counted toward the 750-hour requirement.

There are several little devils in the nauseating details, but you get the general idea of what time doesn’t count.

Jason Watson, CPA, is a Partner for WCG CPAs & Advisors, a progressive boutique tax and accounting firm with seven partners and 68 people located in northern Colorado Springs. You may contact him at 719-428-3261 or jason@wcginc.com, unless the Packers are playing.

BY JEANNE DAVANT, Senior Writer

verall, property crime rates in Colorado have been decreasing over the past year, according to the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. But Colorado Springs residents are concerned about a perceived increase in property crimes, such as porch piracy, and are looking for ways to protect themselves. A good home security system is the first step, says Caty Anderson, owner of Colorado

Complete Security.

Another worry is the security of communications on the internet. Massive data breaches, like the National Public Data breach in December 2023 that potentially affected more than 270 million Americans, are just one way in which personal information can be compromised. Rodney Gullatte Jr., owner of cybersecurity company FirmaIT Solutions, recommends taking precautions that can keep your data — and your kids — safer.

HOME SECURITY

Porch piracy, where thieves steal packages that are delivered to your home, is likely to increase as the holidays draw near, Anderson says.

“We recommend getting a video doorbell — one that alerts you not only that a person is there but also that you received a delivery,” Anderson says.

A video doorbell is one component of a basic home security system that also includes door sensors, which let you know if a door has been pushed or opened; window sensors, which activate when a window is opened or broken; and a control panel. Anderson recommends window shock protection, a more sensitive system that picks up vibrations if someone is pounding on a window to try to break it.

For higher levels of security, she offers surveillance cameras that are attached to security systems. They can be placed both outdoors and inside, and enable viewing 24 hours a day on a smartphone. They are useful in monitoring sensitive areas of your home, such as “a wet bar that you don’t want your teenagers going into,” Anderson says.

Wireless door locks operate using access codes, smartphone apps or biometric authentication and are much more difficult to break into than conventional deadbolts, she says. You can permit access for housekeepers or dog walkers at certain times and days or grant temporary PIN codes to visitors.

“You can put these on multiple doors,” Anderson says. For example, “if you have a special-needs child and you don’t want the kid getting into the laundry room or garage, you can put on a door lock like that.”

Automated lighting is another safety precaution. State-of-the-art switches can be programmed to come on and turn off at certain times, motionactivated or controlled via a smartphone app. Individual lamp modules also are available to control them.

“We recommend getting a video doorbell — one that alerts you not only that a person is there but also that you received a delivery.”

— Caty Anderson Owner of Colorado Complete Security

DATA SECURITY

If your information has been compromised during a data breach, the first thing you should do is call each of the three credit bureaus and freeze your credit, Gullatte says. To keep your accounts even safer, he recommends setting up a safe word.

“In the age of AI, I can call Equifax and say that I am you,” he says. “A safe word is something only you will have.”

That’s similar to two-step authentication, a recommended step for sensitive accounts that you pay online.

Gullatte cautions against giving out card numbers on the phone, in writing, via email or to a browser. Saving credit card information to online sites, unless you absolutely must, is not a good idea.

“Putting credit card information anywhere other than your wallet is a risk,” he says.

Home networks and smart devices are vulnerable to hacker penetration, Gullatte says.

Credit card numbers frequently are stolen at self-checkouts, and Gullatte urges people to use the tap option if it’s available. An even safer route would be to get a gift card online or at your bank and use it at places like gas stations and grocery stores.

One precaution is to set up a guest network, separate from your main network, for use by visitors because, he says, “You don’t know everyone that comes into your house.”

Smart appliances can be susceptible if their firmware isn’t regularly updated to plug security holes, Gullatte

“Tell your kids not to post videos where they’re walking around your house.”

— Rodney Gullatte Jr. Owner of FirmaIT Solutions, cybersecurity company

says. Some devices, such as Ring cameras, update automatically, but many smart TVs and appliances do not. Google your smart devices to find out how to update firmware. If you have installed a booster device for your wireless network, check once a month for firmware updates.

It’s vitally important to talk to your kids about internet security, Gullatte says.

“Your kids are on their computers, and they’re downloading all kinds of crazy stuff,” he says. “It’s on the same network that you have everything else on — your cameras, TV, printers or even the computer you use to do work from home.”

You can set up a separate network for your children that will allow you to control when they can get online, and some routers have parental controls. But you also want to have a conversation with your kids about safety, such as not engaging with strangers.

“Sit down and watch ‘The Social Dilemma’ with your kids, or ‘The Most Hated Man on the Internet’ with your preteens and teenagers,” he recommends.

“Tell your kids not to post videos where they’re walking around your house,” he says. Also warn them that it’s dangerous to give out personal information such as their age or where they go to school to people they don’t know.

“It’s really hard for us to tell kids these things, because they know everything,” Gullatte says. “But just have these conversations with them about safety and the risks of using this technology.”

Advertiser Index

October/November 2024 | In alphabetical order

APG: Advanced Printing & Graphics

Air Force Athletics

Altitude Hospitality Group

Amy Newland - American Family Insurance

Arts Month

Aspen Aesthetics + Wellness

Beth Walker

Classic Homes

Colorado Drives Phil Long

Colorado Springs Airport

Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group

Colorado Springs Philharmonic

Colorado Springs Utilities

Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region

Club at Flying Horse

Dad's Donuts

David A. Joseph Company

Ent Center for the Arts

Flying Horse Realty

Flying Horse Resort & Club

FO4R NORTH

Garden of the Gods Resort/Strata

Gold Hill Mesa

Hotel Polaris

J.P.Morgan Private Bank

KKTV

Lightfiniti

Luisa Graff Jewelers

Marquesa Hobbs/Platinum Group

Mortgage Solutions Financial

New Altitude Coworking & Office Space

Notes Live

Opus Creative Industries

Peak Vista - Breakfast of Champions 2024

Pearl Skin

Pikes Peak Center/Broadmoor World Arena

Q-102.7/Salem Media

Ross Studios

Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce

The Resource Exchange

TING Internet

VENU (formerly Notes Live)

Virtuent Wealth Management

WCG CPAs & Advisors

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