Images Colorado Springs, CO: 2009

2009 | IMAGESCOLORADOSPRINGS.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES TM

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO

SHEPHERD’S PIE AND SPICE CAKE Restaurants offer multitude of dishes

CLEAR SKIES AHEAD Sky Sox baseball enters its 22nd season

Adventures From Mild to Wild SPONSORED BY THE GREATER COLORADO SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2009 EDITION | VOLUME 8 TM

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COLORADO SPRINGS BUSINESS

F E AT U R E S 4 ADVENTURES FROM MILD TO WILD Colorado Springs is the perfect place for outdoor adventure and leisure.

11 Successful Second Acts Retirees here challenge themselves with new careers.

12 Biz Briefs 13 Chamber Report

6 SHEPHERD’S PIE AND SPICE CAKE Dining at these restaurants in Colorado Springs is deliciously fun.

D E PA R TM E NT S 2 Almanac: a colorful sampling

14 TEACHING THE ARTS WITH A TWIST A new center at Colorado College combines disciplines to teach the arts.

of Colorado Springs culture

8 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Colorado Springs

16 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

15 CLEAR SKIES AHEAD Sky Sox baseball enters its 22nd season.

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

ON THE COVER Garden of the Gods Photo by Jeff Adkins

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Almanac

A Spirited Site The name is quite fitting for such a stunning place.

Manitou Springs, nestled between Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, is a premier tourist town. Native Americans considered this area sacred, and so it was dubbed “manitou,” which means “spirit.”

Manitou Springs offers an array of museums, theaters and outdoor attractions. One attraction, the Cliff Dwellings Museum, reveals how Native Americans lived here centuries ago.

You can also spelunk Cave of the Winds or journey to the apex of Pikes Peak by train or by car.

The High Life Take a walk on the wild side at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. With 172 species and almost 800 animals, the zoo rises 6,800 feet on Cheyenne Mountain and spans 146 acres. The Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit that opened in 2008 informs viewers about indigenous wildlife in the Rocky Mountain region.

In addition, get a bird’s eye view of the zoo on the Mountaineer Sky Ride, or scratch an animal’s back at the petting zoo of My Big Backyard.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo plans to open a new exhibit for elephants in early 2012.

Colorado Springs | At A Glance POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Colorado Springs: 411,554 El Paso County: 602,710

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LOCATION Colorado Springs is in central Colorado, 70 miles south of Denver.

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Black Forest

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BEGINNINGS Historians credit Gen. William Jackson Palmer with the founding of Colorado Springs in 1871, when he established the area as a spa and resort town.

FOR MORE INFORMATION The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce 6 South Tejon, Suite 700 Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: (719) 635-1551 Fax: (719) 635-1571 www.coloradospringschamber.org

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Colorado Springs Manitou Springs

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Fort Carson

WATCH MORE ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Colorado Springs at imagescoloradosprings.com, Puebloof our award-winning courtesy photographers.

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Fast Facts

Course of Champions

Q Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station is home to four U.S. military commands, including North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Some may call it a stroke of luck.

But playing well at The Broadmoor East Course requires skill, especially during a tournament like the 2008 U.S. Senior Open. Golfer Eduardo Romero took the trophy home to Argentina after winning the Open by four strokes. With his tournament win, Romero joins an elite fraternity of Broadmoor event champions that includes Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam.

The 2011 U.S. Women’s Open is the next major championship scheduled at The Broadmoor.

Get Fired Up Things really get heated for the annual Colorado Balloon Classic in Colorado Springs.

Started in 1977, this event is the longest continuously running hot-air balloon festival in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. Every Labor Day weekend, more than 100 balloons take flight near the shores of Prospect Lake. Concerts and concessions make this free event even more enjoyable.

The 2009 festival is set for Sept. 5-7.

Q Colorado Springs’ University of the Rockies graduatelevel psychology programs are ranked among the best in the nation.

Q Old Colorado City was founded in 1869 and is the oldest established city in the Pikes Peak Region.

Today, it is home to distinctive hotels, popular cafés and unusual boutiques.

Q The Colorado Springs Conservatory is a renowned preparatory school for young performing artists and offers programs in opera, jazz and theater.

Q Katherine Lee Bates, an English teacher from Massachusetts who spent the summer of 1893 teaching in Colorado Springs, ascended to Pikes Peak and was inspired to write the poem, “America the Beautiful.”

Bravo! Bravo!

What to study? That is the question.

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center offers a wide variety of opportunities for anyone who is feeling creative. Improve your visual art skills in photography, oil painting or sculpture, to name a few, at the center’s Bemis School of Art, or take a class to brush up on your art history. You can also see art exhibitions in the Taylor Museum.

If you fancy performing arts, see popular Broadway shows like Biloxi Blues and The Full Monty at the FAC’s theater, or hone your acting skills in a drama class.

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Q At 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge is the world’s highest suspension bridge over water.

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Adventures From

Mild to

Wild

COLORADO SPRINGS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR OUTDOOR FUN

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STORY BY JESSICA MOZO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

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hen National Geographic Adventure Magazine ranked Colorado Springs among the top 50 places to live and play in September 2008, it came as no surprise to the 411,544 people who already call the city home. Colorado Springs is chock-full of adventure opportunities, and its citizens and visitors routinely take advantage of them.

“We have a huge variety of open spaces, from Pike National Forest to an abundance of parks, and many of those outdoor resources are linked with trails, so you can literally explore one space to the next,” says Christian Lieber, manager of TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) for the city of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. “There are hiking, biking and equestrian opportunities on miles and miles of trails, and there’s also fantastic rock climbing here.

This is a very active community – running is popular, and there’s an active cycling community. We were named the fittest city in the United States by Men’s Fitness magazine in 2008, and a lot of that had to do with all the health and fitness opportunities here.”

Lieber moved to Colorado Springs in 1992 for a job opportunity, but the region’s ample outdoor adventures are partly what’s kept him here.

“My family does a lot of hiking and cycling, both on the road and in the mountains,” he says. “My 9- and 10-year-old kids are pretty experienced cyclists – most weekends you’ll find us out and about in the Colorado Springs area.”

Jeff Haley, a landscape architect for the city of Colorado Springs, was also drawn to the region by his passion for the outdoors.

“I spent many summers and winters working and vacationing in Colorado when I was growing up and always had a goal of living in the mountains,” Haley says. “I’ve been in Colorado Springs for seven years, and I’ve loved every minute of it. My favorite activities are backpacking and rock climbing. One of the nice aspects of Colorado Springs is it sits at the base of the Pike National Forest, which has miles of trails to explore while backpacking. You can easily hike right out your front door and

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be sleeping in the wilderness that evening.”

Pike National Forest is indeed one of the region’s gems, comprised of more than 1 million acres of majestic peaks (including the famous Pikes Peak), fly-fishing waters and forested trails. Other adventure destinations include Garden of the Gods, North Cheyenne Canyon, Bear Creek Park and the city’s newest tract, Red Rock Canyon.

“Red Rock Canyon covers 800 acres and offers hiking, biking, rock climbing and equestrian adventures,” Lieber says. “It has a unique history and geology, and we’re working on interpretive signage to help people learn more about it.”

The city also created a new skateboard park in Memorial Park, which opened in late 2008.

“People are very excited about it – it will be the best in Colorado,” Lieber says.

Colorado Springs’ citizens historically have been very supportive of new parks and open spaces. The nonprofit Trails and Open Space Coalition was formed in 1987 and is made up of citizens who work with local and regional governments and other entities to preserve open space and advocate for the building of trails, greenways and bike infrastructure.

“In 2008, we received a Bicycle Friendly Community award at the silver level from the League of American Bicyclists, and we’re working to make Colorado Springs an even more bicyclefriendly community,” says Dan Cleveland, executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.

A longtime marathon runner, Cleveland says he appreciates Colorado Springs because it has something for every skill level.

“Red Rock Canyon is a wonderful place to walk, run or bike, and Cheyenne Mountain State Park has beautiful trails with spectacular scenery. You can find rugged terrain as well as land that’s reasonably flat with moderate hills,” he says.

“The Garden of the Gods is great, and you see expert cyclists in Red Rock Canyon. You can go biking at lunch – you don’t have to drive 30 minutes to get somewhere. Any day, any time, you see people walking, running and biking. And you just don’t see that in every community.”

Climbers prepare to descend after climbing to the top at Garden of the Gods Park.

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Great Food,

Great Fun DINING IN COLORADO SPRINGS IS A DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

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reak out your cowboy hat and boots and head for Colorado Springs’ Flying W Ranch, where you’ll think you’ve been transported to the Old West.

“The atmosphere is really unusual – it feels like you’re in an old Western town,” says Jay Chladek, general manager of Flying W Ranch. “We have a Western village with antique buildings, a schoolhouse, an old church and souvenir stores. It’s very family-oriented.”

Flying W Ranch is a working cattle ranch that offers outdoor buffet-style Chuckwagon Suppers from late May through September. The Winter Steakhouse is open October until the third weekend of December and again from early March through May. “Our Chuckwagon Suppers have the best barbecued beef and chicken in town, and we serve it with our famous baked beans, chunky applesauce, a foil-wrapped baked potato, buttermilk biscuits and spice cake,” Chladek says. “Everything is homemade – we’re not putting canned food in a pot and heating it up. Our recipes have been developed by the owners over the last 56 years.”

After dinner, guests are entertained with a stage show by the Flying W Wranglers, who present sidesplitting comedy, old pioneer songs and traditional cowboy music.

“They are a Western group with a touch of country, and the band stays the same for the most part from season to season,” Chladek says. “We had three new guys start three years ago, and the guys they were replacing had been here 25 years.”

During its peak season, Flying W Ranch caters to more than a thousand guests nightly. In October, the Chuckwagon Suppers give way to a more intimate dining and entertainment

experience with the colorful Southwest-style Winter Steakhouse.

“The Winter Steakhouse is an actual sit-down dinner, and the waiters are also the entertainers,” Chladek explains.

“They’ll wait on you, and then get up and sing. They’ll make fun of you sometimes, too.”

A newer Colorado Springs establishment where good food meets good times is McCabe’s Tavern, which was opened by Greg Howard three years ago.

“I named it after my mom, Mary McCabe,” Howard explains.

“I grew up in New York, and since I moved west, I missed those New York taverns that were comfy and friendly and had good food.”

So Howard created a New York- and Irish-themed tavern in Colorado Springs. It was an instant hit.

“We have 12 beers on tap, three of which come from a local brewery, and we have traditional Guinness and other Irish and English beers,” Howard says. “I try to support the local economy as much as possible by buying local beer, buying bread from a local baker and buying produce from local farmers.”

McCabe’s Tavern’s menu features Irish fare such as corned beef and cabbage and shepherd’s pie, as well as sandwiches you would find in a New York deli.

“Our Reuben is the best in the world,” Howard says. “Lots of places make Reubens with bought corned beef. We cook ours for nine hours and chop it instead of slicing it. It’s served on thick-cut marbled rye bread and comes with vegetables, onion rings, fries or mashed potatoes.”

McCabe’s is already a favorite gathering spot for sports fans and musicians. Open mic nights showcase local talent on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Clockwise from bottom left: McCabe’s owner Greg Howard has created a welcoming atmosphere with darts and sports memorabilia. The Flying W Ranch features an outdoor dining area. Traditional Bangers and Mash at McCabe’s.

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Portfolio

It’s Just Heavenly Here AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET CHAPEL DRAWS TOURISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

BRIAN M C CORD

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Soaring 150 feet toward the Colorado sky, the Air Force Academy Chapel is an all-faith house of worship designed to meet the spiritual needs of cadets.

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he stunning U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, located 14 miles north of Colorado Springs, is unlike any chapel you’ve ever seen, guaranteed.

“The Cadet Chapel draws tourists from all over the world,” says Stephen “Pete” Peterson, public relations director for the Cadet Chapel. “It is a one-of-akind structure.”

The chapel’s architecture alone leaves visitors awestruck with its 17 aluminum, glass and steel spires that shoot straight up in the air, piercing 150 feet into the blue Colorado sky.

“The inspiration for the spires was pointing to the heavens,” Peterson explains. “The chapel was designed by Walter Netsch, and it was built between 1959 and 1963. We get about 800,000 visitors every year.”

Another unusual aspect of the chapel is its ability to bring together people of all different faiths.

“It was designed as a house of worship for cadets of all faith groups, and the religious diversity is just amazing,” Peterson says.

The chapel contains four separate chapels for the four major religious groups – Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist – as well as an all-faiths room used by Muslims and other faith groups. Services can be held simultaneously without interfering with one another.

“All the worship services are open to the public, and the chapel is open seven days a week,” Peterson says.

“Cadets are here every day for services, Bible studies and choir practices. We also have free concerts throughout the year that are wonderful and would cost $50 to $100 if they were happening downtown.”

The Chapel also hosts about 100 weddings and 40 funerals and memorial services annually. Chapel tours are available to the public by request.

A retired cadet himself, Peterson says he enjoys working at the chapel.

“I’ve also got the best office imaginable,” Peterson says. “I’m surrounded by 24,000 pieces of stained glass every day.”

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very four years, people all over the world are fixated on the ancient tradition we call the Olympic Games. In Colorado Springs, U.S. athletes have their sights set on the international competition 365 days a year.

Colorado Springs has been home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center since 1977, when the U.S. Olympic Committee moved its administrative headquarters here from New York City. In March 2008, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced its commitment to remain in Colorado Springs for another 25 years after extensive review of opportunities and proposals from cities across the country. “There has long been a special relationship between the United States Olympic Committee and Colorado Springs, and we are pleased this relationship will continue,� says Peter Ueberroth, USOC chairman. “The victors of this agreement are America’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as the many athletes from around the world we are pleased to welcome to train at these world-class facilities.�

The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center includes an Aquatics Center and Olympic Sports Centers I and II. The Aquatics Center features a 900,000-gallon swimming pool that is used for training and testing some of the United States’ finest swimmers, pentathletes, triathletes and water polo players. Sports Center I contains six gymnasiums and houses several sports, including gymnastics, boxing, judo, volleyball, basketball, Paralympic sports, badminton, taekwondo and archery.

Sports Center II was added in 1993 and houses wrestling, weightlifting, volleyball and the Strength and Conditioning Room.

The $8 million Olympic Visitor Center gives the public an inside peek at U.S. athletes in training by offering free tours on a daily basis. – Stories by Jessica Mozo The Olympic Training Center has committed to another 25 years in Colorado Springs.

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WATCH MORE ONLINE | See athletes train at the Olympic Training Center in our quick online video at www.coloradosprings.com.

JEFF ADKINS

Go Team U.S.A.!

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Business

Successful SecondActs

RETIREES CHALLENGE THEMSELVES WITH NEW CAREERS STORY BY BETSY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

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t might seem to most folks that a 31-year career in the Air Force should end with a comfy retirement, lots of traveling and time to enjoy the easy life.

Not so with Dave Brackett, who retired and jumped right into the fire – literally – when he opened Pizzeria Rustica, a charming restaurant specializing in wood-fired pizza.

Colorado Springs provided the perfect place for the “retirement” of this Air Force colonel and wife Laura. The couple purchased a house in the community while stationed here. “We had always made our own pizzas at home,” says Brackett. “I was a hobby chef, and she was the baker. We fell in love with wood-fired pizza in Europe, and we thought that Colorado Springs could use a really good pizza place.”

After studying with a Naples, Italy, chef to learn how to make the dough and mozzarella, the couple searched for a place that offered atmosphere. They found it in an 1889 building located on Colorado Springs’ west side, in the area known as Old Colorado City.

“It’s an area that is coming back, and we were yearning for a place with a little more charm, something that felt more like an Italian trattoria,” says Brackett.

The restaurant opened in May 2008 to rave reviews, earning only the second five-star review from the local paper in the last 10 years.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how the restaurant was received,” says Brackett. “I knew we were filling a niche that needed to be filled. And to be beating out chef-run restaurants with 20 years of experience was pretty good.”

Pizzeria Rustica offers eight wood-fired pizzas, four salads, three desserts and daily chalkboard specials, “depending on what’s fresh,” says Brackett.

The handmade mozzarella cheese is labor-intensive, but it is one of the features that sets this great pizza house apart. “I take the curd, melt it and hand-stretch it every day. The mozzarella that goes on the pizza is only five or six hours old.

It’s not greasy and it cools and puddles nice. It’s also very good for caprese salad.”

The Bracketts had a great idea with a solid business plan, and they’re two of thousands with military careers who have made COLOR ADO SPRINGS

the decision to retire and call Colorado Springs their home, says Dave Csintyan, president and CEO of The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, also a retired Air Force officer.

“The military retiree population is absolutely integral, with their intellectual capital, to all facets of the workforce,” he says. “You name the industry, they’re present. With 70,000 military retirees in this area, they are a resource of talent, and they are absolutely an essential part of the fabric of this community.”

Brackett, who has an MBA, offers his own advice to would-be retiree business owners: “Do your homework, develop a sound business plan with sound financials, don’t be overly optimistic about income projections and hire good people.”

Retired U.S. Air Force pilot Dave Brackett started a second career as owner of his own pizza restaurant.

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Business | Biz Briefs well as clothing for plus-sized women.

“I’m channeling Ralph Lauren meets Teddy Roosevelt,” Schmidt says. “And that means quality fabric and a good fit.”

JEFF ADKINS

IRISH COMFORT FOOD For over 10 years, loyal patrons have grown to love Jack Quinn’s Irish Ale House and Pub for its great drink and food and its welcoming atmosphere.

“There really is an individual effort to make the customer feel comfortable and at home,” says owner Bill Sasz. “It is a great place to spend a cold day.”

Be sure to stop by on Tuesdays to enjoy a pub tradition – a 5K run/walk/ jog/crawl through downtown that ends up at the bar with discounted beers and free appetizers.

Camp Bow Wow supports Colorado Springs’ reputation as a dog-friendly city.

IT’S A DOG’S LIFE In 2008, Colorado Springs was voted the nation’s most dog-friendly city by Dog Fancy Magazine.

And Camp Bow Wow, a premier doggie day camp and boarding facility with three locations in the city, is a big part of the reason.

“Our focus is the customer, both two-legged and four-legged,” says Laurie Edwards, Camp Bow Wow program director. “We cater to people who think of their dogs as part of the family.”

Camp counselors are experts in dog behavior, safety and health management. “The biggest complaint we get from clients is that their dogs never say 12

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goodbye,” Edwards says. “Instead, they just run straight up to the door to see their buddies.”

WILD WEST FASHION Phoebe A. Schmidt opened Girl of the Golden West in 2007 in hopes of fulfilling a retail niche of high-end western gifts and clothing.

“I really never knew how fabulous the west was until I opened this store,” says Schmidt, a native of Manhattan.

“That’s why we are trying to get beyond rubber tomahawks.”

The retail selection at Girl of the Golden West was recently expanded to include items for men and children, as

GROWTH POTENTIAL Diamond Wire Technology LLC, the world’s largest and oldest manufacturer of Diamond Wire and Diamond Wire Saws, recently moved into a new 112,000-square-foot facility.

“We are starting to reveal ourselves as a major employer in Colorado Springs,” says Jeri Helbing, marketing specialist for Diamond Wire Technology. “2009 will be a big expansion year for us.”

Consistent growth requires a high level of quality control and precision, standards that are met every day thanks to the company’s well-trained staff.

The company’s investment in solar energy technologies, says Helbing, is what has put them ahead of the game.

“The new focus on green energy and solar energy has really allowed us to grow,” Helbing says.

COMPUTER SAVVY Over 800 Apple-related products, including over 40 different Apple computers, are available at Colorado Springs’ Mac Superstore.

“Our mission is to bring Apple to the people of Colorado Springs,” says manager Phil Benton.

The 5,000-square-foot store boasts a large sales area, complete with a myriad of electronic equipment, and a wellequipped service center that has four full-time certified technicians on hand.

The staff at the Mac Superstore has also helped network business institutions in Colorado Springs, including the Chamber of Commerce.

– Brandon Lowe COLOR ADO SPRINGS

Business | Chamber Report

Building Community Partnerships CHAMBER WORKS WITH EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, MILITARY AND SMALL BUSINESSES

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he Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce is reaching new heights in its representation of the area’s business community.

“If you look vertically, our Chamber began 2008 with a new revenue model where we drive to outcomes,” says Dave Csintyan, president and CEO of the Chamber.

One outcome is the attraction of a procurement technical assistance center to help businesses navigate the often murky bureaucratic waters to partner with the military.

More evidence of the Chamber’s leadership and impact on the community is its assistance with securing construction funds for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs expansion project. “We have helped our friends at the university get funding for their campus,” says Csintyan.

The Chamber was a major advocate in getting a new Air Force cyber mission in the community, which will be a boon to the area’s economy by opening avenues for more aerospace and cyberspace defense work.

Bottom-line Chamber programs include a new health insurance plan that involves all the major medical centers in the region and assists employers with one to 99 employees.

Csintyan says one of the Chamber’s key accomplishments

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“We’re enjoying a million dollars in public support from the state of Colorado over the next five years.” is the evolution of the Pikes Peak Business Partnership, a federation of Chambers and the Convention and Visitor bureau in the area.

“We are on the cusp of evolving a very strong model in this town,” he says. “When you have eight or nine Chambers operating in a region, it is wise to play to our synergies. We’re building a model that over time will ease the accessibility of the business community to these organizations. I am impressed with the ability of these business organizations to sit at the table and evolve in this manner.”

– Betsy Williams

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Education

JEFF ADKINS

Leaders at Colorado College think outside of the box with approach to higher education through the college’s new Cornerstone Arts Center.

Teaching the Arts With a Twist CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTER EMBRACES INNOVATION

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dith would be proud.

A $33.4 million Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center opened in October 2008 on the campus of Colorado College. Gaylord was a CC alum and media heiress who died in 2001, and her foundation contributed nearly $16 million toward construction of the four-story, avant-garde building.

“Colorado College has always thought a bit outside of the box, and that is certainly the case with this new Cornerstone Arts Center,” says Tom Lindblade, Colorado College professor and chair of the department of drama and dance.

“The center features very forward-thinking teaching practices that bring together several disciplines. For example, we can

combine drama and dance classes with music and film courses, or creative writing classes with philosophy or art history courses. It is an exciting concept in artistic teaching.”

The original idea for the center dates back to 1996, when several CC students put together a play entitled Unwhite. The production mixed modern dance, mystery and comedic improvisation. None of the creators were drama majors.

Instead, they majored in disciplines such as music, dance, philosophy and creative writing.

“Because of this production, the idea for an interdisciplinary arts building was born,” Lindblade says. “Several faculty members got together to provide input, and the result is an incredible venue for talent and ideas to evolve.”

Lindblade says the faculty maintains the core teaching practices for each individual class, but adds onto the classes by having the different disciplines assist one another.

“For example, one of the classes available at the center is called The Big Game, which deals with gaming technology and incorporates computers, animation, music and even some philosophy,” he says. “We also have a class on acoustics that is taught by both a sound designer and a physicist, and we offer a costuming course that is taught by both a clothes designer and a professional sculptor.”

– Kevin Litwin

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I-25 at Exit 98B West on 1st St. Left on Union Ave. Pueblo, CO (719) 595-0242

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Sports & Recreation

Clear Skies Ahead SKY SOX BASEBALL ENTERS ITS 22ND SEASON

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nusual baseball statistic: Of the 25 Colorado Rockies baseball players who were in the 2007 World Series, 22 of them once played for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. That’s right – current Major League Baseball stars such as Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki have all spent time with the Sky Sox, the Class AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

“The Rockies came to Colorado in 1993 and the Sky Sox have been their AAA affiliate ever since,” says Michael Hobson, assistant general manager and director of public relations. “The Rockies like to develop talent in their farm teams rather than acquire players primarily from free agency, so people in Colorado Springs have excellent opportunities to see future Rockies play here in town.”

In 2009, the Sky Sox will enter their 22nd season of operation. The team

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played in Honolulu and was known as the Hawaii Islanders until 1987 when current owner Elmore Sports Group purchased the franchise and moved them here.

And to be perfectly accurate, the Sky Sox history actually goes back much further. The team originally played in the Class A Western League from 1950-58 and was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, which is where the Sky Sox nickname originated. But the Western League folded in 1958 and Colorado Springs was without professional baseball until 1988, when the Sky Sox were resurrected.

Today, the team competes in the Pacific Coast League, and won PCL championships in 1992 and 1995.

“In 2008, for the second consecutive season, the Sky Sox set their all-time season attendance record by surpassing the 300,000 mark,” Hobson says. “In a

city like Colorado Springs with a population of 411,000, that attendance figure is pretty impressive.”

The team plays home games at Security Service Field. The ballpark has a capacity of 8,300 seats, and Elmore Sports Group has spent more than $8.5 million since 2004 to renovate the stadium.

“The ballpark was originally constructed for $3.7 million with private funds, and not a dime of city or county money goes into running the stadium,” Hobson says. “Recent improvements include putting in a new grass playing surface, installing a new scoreboard and new box seats, renovating our luxury suite level, constructing a new players’ clubhouse, and sprucing up the entire exterior of the stadium. We even have an on-site banquet hall to rent.”

Hobson adds that a primary goal of the Sky Sox is to provide good entertainment for families.

“Over the years, we’ve become more than simply a baseball team,” he says.

“We are a destination where families and friends can go to enjoy a great night out.”

– Kevin Litwin

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Community Profile

COLORADO SPRINGS SNAPSHOT The natural beauty of its snow-capped peaks, bike trails and open spaces, access to arts and cultural venues, family attractions, proximity to world-class ski resorts, and over 300 days of sunshine each year enhances the magic that is Colorado Springs.

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW The Pikes Peak region is home to several public, private and charter schools, with many private and public universities and trade schools available.

REAL ESTATE

$214,181 Average Home Price

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services 2215 N. Cascade Ave P.O. Box 7021 Colorado Springs, CO 80907 (719) 776-5250 www.penrosestfrancis.org

Semper Care Hospital of Colorado Springs 2215 N. Cascade Ave. Colorado, CO 80903 (719) 667-0898 www.sempercare.com

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Colorado Springs 325 Parkside Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80910 (719) 630-2308 www.healthsouthcolorado springs.com

CLIMATE

Cedar Springs Hospital 2135 Southgate Road Colorado Springs, CO 80906 (719) 633-4114 www.psysolutions.com/facilities /cedarsprings

17.4 in.

Avg Annual Precipitation

14 F January Low Temperature

42 F January High Temperature

22.15% Home Turnover Percentage

MEDICAL FACILITIES Memorial Health System 1400 E. Boulder Street Colorado Springs, CO 80909 (719) 444-CARE www.memorialhealth system.com

MORE EO ONLINE imagescoloradosprings.com m More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

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I M AG E S C O L O R A D O S P R I N G S . C O M

COLOR ADO SPRINGS

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COLOR ADO SPRINGS MANAGING EDITOR KIM MADLOM COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BRANDON LOWE, JESSICA MOZO, BETSY WILLIAMS DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER RAY WALSH SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN M CCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN LEAD FRANCO SCARAMUZZO WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC JESSICA CHILDS, MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITORS/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS, BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

(719) 633-6223 www.bluesprucerealestate.com

Personable Professional Preferred 3 S. Tejon #240 • Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

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Ad Index 16 CLASSIC HOMES

17 J U DY TROUT – B LU E SPRUCE R E A L E S TAT E

1 0 CO LO R A D O S P R I N G S A I R P O RT

13 CO LO R A D O S P R I N G S U TI LITI E S

1 5 GA R D E N O F T H E G O DS

1 4 H A R P AU T H O R IT Y/ P U E B LO R I V E RWA L K

17 M E M O R I A L H E A LT H SYS T E M

C 2 N E W H O M E CO N N EC TI O N

9 O L D TOW N G U E S T H O U S E

C 4 P E N ROS E-S T. FR A N C I S H E A LT H S E RV I C E S