JUNE 2019
Charlie Searle COVER PHOTO BY MIKE SEARLE
Motors, Meat, Music and Media
Puzzle Page
Puzzle Page
THE PUZZLE PAGE IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY RAVISSANTE SALON.
puzzles provided by Martha Stallings
Word Search: How Does Your Garden Grow? B X O B U G S K H S I D A R S
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Quote by: Ralph Waldo Emerson Key: F=I, V=D, G=N
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered."
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered."
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ABUNDANCE ARBOR BACKYARD BOUQUET BUTTERFLIES COLORFUL FLORAL GAZEBO GROW LADYBUGS MULCH ORGANIC RAIN SEEDS WATER
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Welcome Dear Friends & Neighbors “Bringing People Together”
We would like to take a moment to thank each of you for welcoming Monument Living into your home.
PUBLICATION TEAM
Monument Living is a magazine that focuses on your neighborhood and all the wonderful things that are happening here. Our goal every month is to bring you something informative and entertaining. Hopefully it is something you look forward to receiving each month. If so, let us know! We love hearing from our friends and neighbors! Also, let our sponsors know how much you enjoy the magazine. Give them a call, send them an email, or drop by in person.
Publisher: Jim Stallings Content Coordinator: Martha A. Stallings Designer: Robert Alexander Contributing Writer: Catherine Stallings Contributing Photographer: Mike Searle Account Executive: Charlie Searle
ADVERTISING Contact: Jim Stallings Email: jstallings@bestversionmedia.com Phone: 719-659-2545 Contact: Charlie Searle Email: csearle@bestversionmedia.com Phone: 719-649-0058
FEEDBACK / IDEAS / SUBMISSIONS: Have feedback, ideas or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 15th of each month two months prior to the edition date. For example, the deadline for February is December 15th. Go to www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to mstallings@ bestversionmedia.com.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES: Content Due:
December 15 January 15 February 15 March 15 April 15 May 15 June 15 July 15 August 15 September 15 October 15 November 15
Edition Date: February March April May June July August September October November December January
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 719-481-3253 Fire Department: 719-484-0911 Public Works: 719-481-2954 Code Enforcement: 719-422-4473 Humane Society: 719-473-1741 Monument Library: 719-488-2370 Poison Control: 1-800-332-3073
Bringing people together. Every month we feature a different family for the neighborhood to focus on, so you may recognize them on the cover from month to month. Would you and your family like to be considered for a feature story? Let us know. We would love to publish your story here. This is your magazine, so if there is something specific you would like to see in the content, send us an email! We are always looking for new ideas and content submissions. Content we are always looking for: • Feature Families / Residents • Feature Pets for Abby’s Corner • Recipes • Neighborhood news • Articles from Residents • Local Photos If you would like to contribute content, please contact Martha A. Stallings at mstallings@bestversionmedia.com. We would like to thank all the sponsors you see in the pages of this month’s magazine. This magazine comes courtesy of the local businesses you see in these pages. Without them, this publication would not be possible. These are the businesses that have made a commitment to our community. Please help support these local businesses as they are vital to our local economy and they are the sole reason this magazine exists and will keep coming to your home every month. Thank you for welcoming Monument Living into your home. We hope to be something you look forward to every month.
Jim Stallings
Publisher jstallings@bestversionmedia.com
Martha A. Stallings
Content Coordinator mstallings@bestversionmedia.com
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2019 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 3
Expert Contributors
To learn more about becoming an expert contributor, contact BVM at jstallings@bestversionmedia.com or 719-659-2545.
RESUME PROFESSIONAL
INSURANCE AGENT
Dodie Thompson - CPRW, CEIP Peak Resumes 719-453-6492 www.peakresumes.com
David Prejean Farmers Insurance 719-434-7031
Dodie Thompson, owner of Peak Résumés, is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Certified Employment Interview Professional. She has written more than 2,000 résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters for clients in a variety of career fields, including human resources, law enforcement, sales, manufacturing, banking, education, hospitality, and the arts. As a former service member in the US Army Reserve and as the spouse of a veteran, Dodie understands the challenges service members face in translating their military experience for civilian audiences.
As your local Farmers® agent located between the Lewis Palmer Middle School and Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colorado, David strives to help customers like you identify the insurance coverage that best fits your lifestyle. His expertise in the military and construction industry makes this process straightforward and personalized so that I help you get smarter about your insurance. His eleven years of experience in the insurance industry, give me the knowledge and experience to help you better understand your coverage options -whether you need auto, home, life, renters, business insurance, or financial services and more.
REALTOR, AUCTIONEER
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Rich Schur, MS Ed, SPHR, CAI, MPPA, BAS, CMEA Shannon Schur, CAI, BAS, GPPA, VCMA Schur Success Group 719-667-1000 www.schursuccessgroup.com
Andrew Schell, CRPC Merrill Lynch 719-630-6039
Founded more than 35 years ago, Schur Success Group is a twogeneration Colorado Auction, Fundraising, Appraisal and Real Estate company with an eye towards the future. We conduct government surplus auctions, estate auctions, real estate auctions, and much more. We have expert personal property appraisers on staff. We also are a full-service real estate company selling lifestyle properties through our sister company, United Country - Schur Success Realty & Auction. Schur Success Group is staffed by trained, licensed, certified, and award-winning auctioneers, appraisers, real estate brokers and support staff members.
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After serving in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer for 24 years, I joined Merrill Lynch in 2015 at the branch in Colorado Springs, CO. My focus is to provide service to my clients, assisting them to reach their goals while minimizing their concerns about their financial future. My team and I specialize in identifying and prioritizing client’s various goals—to include estate planning services, investments, tax minimization strategies, education funding, wealth transfer and retirement income—then developing strategies to suit their own personal circumstances.
Meet Pepper:
Abby's Pet Corner
Article and Photo by Gerald Gibson
I wanted to share a bit about our joyful little girl, Pepper. She is a 5-year-old Brittany Spaniel mix who we rescued when she was 11 weeks old. Pepper is the sweetest and most loving girl. She spends most of her day lounging on her doggy bed keeping watch over the neighborhood through our large front window. She is very quick to announce if a squirrel, rabbit, or deer have entered her outdoor domain. Pepper thinks that anyone, including animals who come to visit, are there to see and play with her. On a number of occasions, my wife and I were surprised to see our Pepper out back playing with a family of deer! Pepper’s best friend is our neighbor’s beagle, Charlie. Pepper loves to visit Charlie for a play date every now and then. Our neighbors tell us that Pepper will show up on their back deck, sitting and waiting politely for them to let Charlie out to play. She is a wonderful dog and such a joy to have in our lives.
Do you have a pet whose story you would like to share? If so, you can contact Martha Stallings at mstallings@bestversionmedia.com
Advance Your Career And Reach Your Peak! More than just a résumé or LinkedIn profile ... custom career documents to highlight your accomplishments and help you reach your peak. • Veteran-owned small business • Certified Professional Résumé Writer • Member of The Professional Association of Résumé Writers and The National Résumé Writers Association
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dodie.thompson@peakresumes.com
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www.peakresumes.com MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 5
Resident Feature
Charlie Searle:
Motors, Meat, Music and Media By Charlie Searle Photography Credit: Mike Searle and Martha Stallings WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK TWIN LEAF KITCHENS AND INTERIORS FOR SPONSORING THIS MONTH'S FEATURE STORY.
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M
onument Living would like to introduce you to your neighbor, Charlie Searle.
“I’m very blessed to live where I live, and to be able to do the things I do around here,” says Searle Ranch, Cherry Springs Ranch and Gwillimville, Colorado resident Charlie Searle (we’ll explain in a moment). “If you’d have told me, any time before about last July, that I’d end up in a 320-square-feet, 150-year-old cabin in the middle of a Longhorn pasture, I would have wondered which of us was crazy.” But so far, so good for the cabin experiment, and Searle’s in no big hurry to get back into a “normal” living situation. “A variety of circumstances in 2018, including selling the house up the road that my kids grew up in, made this little adventure not only possible but an attractive option. The place has got everything a fella needs, if he doesn’t mind traveling kind of light. That and a couple of storage units in town make it a workable situation, and it’s really pretty cool.” Regarding the cabin in question, it’s located on Searle Ranch at Highway 105 and Cherry Springs Ranch Drive east of Monument (the Searles turned 40 acres of the ranch into what is now the Cherry Springs Ranch neighborhood, the last parcel of which was sold in early 2019) and is one of two structures remaining from the town of Gwillimville, Colorado. Founded by the memorably-named Gwillim R. Gwillim in the late 1860’s, the town existed here as a stage-stop stop on the route between Colorado Springs and Denver until around the turn of the 20th century and included a hotel, saloon, church and school. Gwillim and his brother Richard left their native Wales in 1869 and headed straight to Colorado, where they were joined by several other families in a community that produced potatoes and other crops (the potato blight of 1895 effectively put the town out of business, with most residents ending up in Colorado Springs by the 1920s). The spring-fed stream running south to north through the property is the beginning of West Cherry Creek, which meets East Cherry Creek near Castlewood Canyon Park on its way to Denver and the South Platte (yes, this is the Cherry Creek) with headwaters just across Highway 105 from the Searle property. The springs on the ranch feed a bass-stocked pond while providing water for the ranch’s registered Texas Longhorn herd, which splits time between Monument and winter pasture near Ellicott east of Colorado Springs. An almost-native (the Searles moved from Oklahoma to Colorado in 1969), Charlie settled―”possibly for good, the way things have shaken out”―in the Tri-Lakes area in 1994, having returned from his second stint in Texas with his wife Cheryl and the oldest two of their three kids. “I thought I was just passing through, but I’ve lived here twice as long as anyplace else so I guess it’s home.” Today, son Mike (father of Charlie’s granddaughters, four-year-old Rowan and two-year-old Salem) and daughter Sarah live in Monument, and daughter Caitlin lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver. Charlie’s parents Stan and Lorna Searle came to Monument in the mid‘80s, and consolidated their cable-TV and publishing interests here (their Tri-Lakes Cable Co. was originally officed in what is now Bella Art and Frame at 2nd and Washington in Monument, then moved into the office on 3rd Street just east of Front Street in 1995). “We originally leased the ranch property in the late 1980s, back before many people could envision the area as we see it today. My dad even ran cattle on what is now the King’s Deer golf course for a couple of years before it was developed.” The Searles purchased the 230-acre property in 1996, then watched as the house (building) party began. “Growth is inevitable, especially in a beautiful area such as this, and I hold no grudge against anybody who wants to live here.” (continued on pg. 10)
MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 7
Calendar of Events SAT., JUNE 1 Tri Lakes Kid's Fishing Derby @Palmer Lake, Palmer Lake, CO The fishing tournament is targeted for kids 4 through 14. The event is FREE, although kids are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to Tri-Lakes Cares at registration. Colorado anglers of all ages can fish without a license on 1 June, so parents and other chaperons are encouraged to bring their fishing gear and join in the fun. Participants will need to bring their own fishing equipment and bait. For those who do not have fishing gear, there will be a limited number of rods, reels, and bait, that can be used on a “loaner basis” for kids participating in the Derby. Time: Registration 7:30am, 8-11:30am SAT., JUNE 1 Rockledge Ranch Opening Day and Sheep Shearing @Rockledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road Watch as the sheep are sheared with traditional and modern equipment and see a demonstration of expert the sheep dog handling. There will also be carding, spinning, dying, and weaving demonstration. Time: 10am Admission: Free-$8 SAT., JUNE 1 Cirque Du Monument 2019 @251 Front St., Monument, CO Enjoy this FREE, family-friendly and fun event in downtown Monument. Bigger and better than last year, Cirque is now a fundraiser for our local fire and police departments! Time: 11am-2pm Cost: Free SAT., JUNE 8 Kings Deer Men’s Breakfast @Kings Deer Club, 19255 Royal Troon Dr, Monument, CO Open the Kings Deer residents. For 20 years we have held our Monthly Kings Deer Men’s Breakfast for the men in our
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JUNE - JULY 2019 community. We meet on the second Saturday of the month. It is a great way to find out what is happening in the community and having great fellowship. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please contact Dennis Delhousay at ddelhousay@comcast.net. Time: 8am FRI., JUN 14 - SUN., JUN 16 Pikes Peak Celtic Festival @Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd Colorado Springs only Celtic Festival, complete with kilts, beer, games, dancing and music. Time: Fri., 4-10pm; Sat., 10am10pm; Sun., 10am-4pm Admission: $5 - $25 https://pikespeakcelticfestival. com/ SAT., JUNE 15 Monument’s 140th Birthday Celebration @Limbach Park in Downtown Monument On June 2, 1879 Monument was incorporated as a town, making our community 140 years strong! Join us to celebrate! Live music by Latigo, food and ice cream for sale by Smokey the Pig Wood Pit BBQ, dunk tank, pie eating contest, corn hole, games, and more! Time: 11am-4pm TUES., JUNE 18 Outpouring @Pikes Peak Brewing Company, 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr., Monument, CO Outpouring is designed to improve TLUMC’s outreach and presence in the Tri-Lakes community Outpouring is on the 18th of June. Speaker is Mike Donahue, Executive Director of ValueUp. His topic is "Bridging the generational divide and helping today's young people understand how valuable they are”. Time: 7pm Cost: Free and open to the public. Food and drinks available for purchase.
SUN., JUNE 23 Rose Wine Social @Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, 304 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake, CO “Rosé Wine Social” organized by The Wine Seller. This wine tasting, benefiting the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, will feature more than 50 of the latest and greatest rosé wines from around the world. A summer day without rosé is like a night without stars… so join us and savor the rosé! Enjoy live music and fine art while you sip. Time: 2-5pm Tickets: $40 Advance, $45 Door. https://trilakesarts. org/event/rose-winesocial/?srh=Rose+Wine+Social FRI., JUN 28 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Fan Fest @Downtown Colorado Springs A popular street festival action packed with stunts performed by the Red Bull Motorcycle Jumpers Time: 5-10pm Admission: Free SUN., JUN 30 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race to the Clouds @Pikes Peak Highway An invitational automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak Time: 4am Admission: $35 - $75 https://ppihc.org THUR., JUL 4 37th Annual Palmer Lake July 4 Fun Run @Palmer Lake Santa Fe Trailhead The four mile race begins at the Palmer Lake Sante Fe Trailhead and ends in Monument in time for the parade. Time: 7am Admission: Kids Free, Adults $20-$40 https://runsignup.com/ Race/CO/PalmerLake/ PalmerLakeJuly4FunRun
Real Estate ACTIVE LISTINGS OF HOMES SOLD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ADDRESS
PRICE
BR
BA
PRICE
BR
BA
SQ FT
1750 Moorwood PT
$415,000
4
3
3,190
17810 New London RD
$500,000
5
3
3,602
17868 Smelting Rock DR
$436,000
5
3
3,176
17504 Water Flume WY
$510,000
4
4
4,222
768 Tailings DR
$450,000
5
4
3,264
17970 Gypsum Canyon CT
$524,900
5
4
3,845
17902 New London RD
$477,400
5
4
3,624
20431 Hunting Downs WY
$550,000
5
3
4,526
17540 E Caribou DR
$499,900
5
4
3,610
20040 Chisholm TR
$575,000
5
4
4,264
575 Hidden Marsh RD
$499,999
4
4
4,584
445 Harness WY
$600,000
4
4
3,781
SQ FT
ADDRESS
Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the entire real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.
GET YOUR HOME READY FOR SUMMER! Use this checklist to give your home a smooth transition with the change in seasons.
Wash your home’s exterior
Air out your home’s interior
Clean your deck or patio
Swap out wintery decor
Tend the garden
Add a fresh coat of paint
Need a cleaning professional you can trust? Call me for a great referral in my network!
GARY JORDAN - RE/MAX Advantage Your Local Real Estate Expert garyjordan@remax.net
719-548-8600 (Office)
www.SellandBuyColorado.com 719-502-7176 (Mobile/Text) MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 9
(continued from pg. 7) As a base of operations for his various professional and social pursuits, Charlie attests that “downtown Gwillimville” is working out nicely for the moment. “Reclamation of this cabin has been an on-again, off-again project for the last 20 years or so, and getting electricity run to it last spring was one of the last pieces of the puzzle,” Charlie explains. “It’s had running water for a while, and the addition of internet service last fall made it the perfect crib for somebody whose work is largely done via offpremises appointment and laptop.” (Mountain View Electric Association found the 19th-century structure such an intriguing challenge that they devoted a full-page photo feature to the project in their January 2019 magazine, which may be found at ColoradoCountryLife.coop). Regarding the “Motors, Meat, Music, Media” moniker (MOTORS: helping people with the sale and/or purchase of motor vehicles, after 10-plus years with the Phil Long dealership group at Chapel Hills in Colorado Springs; MEAT: assisting with promotion and sales of Searle Ranch grass-fed Texas Longhorn beef and the annual Rocky Mountain Select Texas Longhorn Sale; MUSIC: performing with his band Ashtōnz and serving as unofficial “live music ambassador” for the Tri-Lakes area; MEDIA: official photographer for the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, columnist for the Tri-Lakes Tribune, publisher-in-waiting for Monument Living magazine, social-media gadfly), Charlie insists that the M-theme is strictly coincidental but works as a label for his “miscellaneous monkeyshines” around Monument. “These ‘M-deavors’ wouldn’t appear to have much in common, but they all complement each other in my world and are easy conversationstarters. Everybody needs transportation, most of us around here are carnivores, almost everybody but the truly curmudgeonly enjoy music of some kind, and we’re all mediaconnected to one degree or another. Each of these pursuits keeps me involved in the TriLakes community, which I appreciate more and more as the connection grows and deepens.”
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at mstallings@bestversionmedia.com.
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Meanwhile, back at the ranch (site of several “Meat and Moo-sic” events each summer, and host to the Tri-Lakes Chamber’s monthly Business After Hours event on June 18) … “I’ll end up in a conventional house one of these days and we’re looking at the possibility of turning the cabin into a B & B, but I’ve got everything I need here for now―toilet and shower, a bedroom, a little kitchen area with fridge, stove top, microwave and a few cupboards. A true ‘Little House on the Prairie’ just eight minutes from Monument and 20 minutes from the Springs; what more could one ask?”
2019 Tri-Lakes Kids Fishing Derby
Nonprofit Spotlight
By Lions Jim Hazuka & Dave Prejean The El Paso County Tri-Lakes Lions Club is hosting the annual Tri-Lakes Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Palmer Lake. The fishing derby is focused on kids ages 4 through 14. The event is FREE, although kids are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to Tri-Lakes Cares. Colorado anglers of all ages can fish without a license on June 1, 2019, so parents and other chaperons are encouraged to bring their fishing gear and join in the fun. In preparation for the event, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will stock the lake with trout. They will also provide (while supplies last) a limited number of rods & reels plus bait for kids participating in the Derby at no charge. Tournament registration will begin at 7:30 am on the east side of the lake next to the park pavilion. The tournament will begin at 8:00 am and conclude with an awards ceremony shortly after 11:00 am at the east side Pavilion. In 2018, the Derby had about 300 kids registered to compete, and fifteen winners received prizes during the awards ceremony. During the 2019 event, fishing officials will again be stationed around the lake measuring fish, reporting results, and helping the young anglers. Leader boards for each age category will be posted at the park pavilion. Additionally, prizes will be awarded at
Photo Credit: Tri-Lakes Lions Club random to event participants by fishing officials along the lake front during the competition. At the end of the competition major prizes will be awarded for the longest fish in three age categories.
School District, Tri-Lakes Cares, and other merchants in the Tri-Lakes area. We are currently recruiting sponsors for the 2019 event. Potential sponsors and advertising venues should contact Jim Hazuka at 719-351-3959.
To make the Derby a great experience for the kids and their families, many sponsors provide critical support. Sponsors/contributors for 2018 included: Bass Pro Shop, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Farmers Insurance, Safelite Auto, Community Banks of Colorado, Colorado Friends and Family Fishing, Tri-Lakes Printing, Road Runner Bait, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Safeway, and 3G Engagement. Additionally, the following entities provided advertising venues and other support in 2018 to make the event a success: Town of Palmer Lake, Town of Monument, Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Premier Vision, Lewis Palmer
In addition to the Fishing Derby at Palmer Lake, the Tri-Lakes Lions Club will also sponsor or co-sponsor the following community events for the enjoyment of Tri-Lakes area residents and neighbors during the summer of 2019: (1) Pickin’ on the Divide, a Bluegrass/Country Music concert on August 17th in Monument’s Limbach Park, co-sponsored with the Church at Woodmoor; and (2) the TriLakes Lions 6th Annual Golf Outing will occur on September 9th at the U. S. Air Force Academy Golf Course. Please check our website for more information on these events at - https:// trilakeslionsclub.org/about/.
MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 11
INSURANCE YOU CAN DESIGN TO MEET YOUR EVER CHANGING NEEDS ■ Automobile insurance ■ Homeowners insurance ■ Life insurance Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details. Insurance is underwritten companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states. Life Insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Thinking about marriage counseling? Schedule your free inital consultation today. Now offering Saturday appointments.
Call today! 719.434.7031 Get smart about your coverage. David Prejean Your Local Agent 1840 DEER CREEK RD STE 103C MONUMENT, CO 80132 DPREJEAN@FARMERSAGENT.COM https://agents.farmers.com/dprejean
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719-551-7978 gamingtoyou.com Libby Collins, MA, LMFT
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12 | JUNE 2019 | MONUMENT LIVING
755 Hwy 105, Suite 2J Palmer Lake, CO 80133
• Mobile Game Truck • Knockerball Parties • Laser Tag Parties
• Nerf Blaster Warz • Inflatable Movie Screen
Light up Your Life with LED Lighting on Your New Deck By David B. Thompson
Home Improvement
y David B. Thompson
Rocky Mountain summer nights will soon be upon us, calling for long leisurely evenings out on the deck entertaining friends, savoring great meals, and forging new memories. Installing attractive, well-placed lighting makes decks more inviting and will enhance your overall outdoor experience. The variety of new fixtures suited for railings, posts, and stair risers keeps expanding, providing a wide range of options for customizing outdoor spaces for evening and entertainment uses. The truly innovative products are being designed and developed by lighting companies such as Dekor as well as decking and railing manufacturers like Fortress, specifically for professional contractors to provide you with true lighting integration. These amazing low voltage LED systems have taken the market by storm and is a popular way to enhance your overall outdoor living experience.
of integrated post cap lights, is just the start in how these systems can benefit the overall beauty of your new deck. Regardless of your backyard configuration, every deck can be transformed into a magical outdoor living space, using these state-of-the-art LED lighting systems. With the variety of options available using professionally installed LED systems, you can enjoy setting the mood, by using variable intensities or even having different colors and hues installed. In addition, having the confidence of knowing there are over 50,000 hours of lifetime enjoyment, you will certainly get your money’s worth out of every installation. When you build your new deck, be sure to have your contractor design and integrate an entire LED lighting scheme for every area of your outdoor living space to increase the value of your home as well as enhancing your overall outdoor experience.
Highlighting steps and doorways for safety, placing a spotlight near your cooking and conversation areas, or adding the warmth
MONUMENT LIVING | JUNE 2019 | 13
Expert Contributor
Save More for Retirement With These 5 Tips By Andrew D. Schell, Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor
Even if you are juggling other financial goals, here are some steps from Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to help you get back on track. YOU ARE BUSY WITH YOUR CAREER, maybe buying a home, having kids, saving for college—even starting a business. It is the stuff of life—and retirement often takes a backseat to all of those immediate financial priorities. Suddenly, you are hitting your 40s or 50s, and you realize you have fallen behind on planning for your future. So how can you catch up? Debra Greenberg, director, Personal Retirement Strategy and Solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, has the following five suggestions—each of which can help you get closer to your retirement goals. “Do not get discouraged,” Greenberg says. “Even seemingly small amounts can add up over the years, and taking action now increases the likelihood you will be better prepared to meet any unexpected challenges that come your way.” 1. Max out your tax-advantaged accounts. A 401(k): Be sure you are getting your full company match, if one is offered, so that you are not leaving money on the table. Do not forget: An annual “catch-up” contribution of $6,000 is allowed after age 50. Roth IRA or Traditional IRA: No 401(k)? Or want to save more? Consider an IRA. If you are married and not working, you could contribute $5,500 to a spousal IRA. Catch-up contributions of $1,000 are allowed after age 50. Health Savings Account: If you have a high-deductible health plan, an HSA can be used for qualified medical expenses now, and after age 65 you may be able to pay Medicare premiums with tax-free distributions. 2. Pay off costly debt. Paying off high-interest credit card debt should be a priority. Doing so will give you more money to direct toward your retirement. Says Greenberg, “A financial advisor can help you figure out how to manage competing financial needs while still saving for retirement.”
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3. Work longer. If you work past age 65—or consult as you phase into retirement—“that can potentially give your assets more time to grow before you start drawing upon them,” Greenberg notes. Working longer can also help you to defer your Social Security payments. Each year you delay taking Social Security after age 62, your monthly benefits grow by about 8%, until age 70. 4. Downsize. By downsizing or moving somewhere less expensive, you could reap the benefits of: • The equity you might have accumulated in your home • Reduced living costs (like transportation, housing, maintenance bills) • A smaller mortgage—or if you can buy a new place outright, eliminating a mortgage completely • A tax advantage if you relocate to a town with lower property taxes—or to one of the seven states with no personal income tax 5. Invest for growth. Many people tend to shift to more conservative investments as they near retirement; others simply have a conservative investing bias. But today’s longer life expectancies mean that your money has to work harder and last longer. “Talk to an advisor about adjusting your asset allocation to pursue more growth, without losing sight of your risk tolerance,” Greenberg says. For more information, contact Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Andrew D. Schell of the Colorado Springs office at 719-6306039 or Andrew.d.Schell@ml.com. Merrill Lynch makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured. Are Not Bank Guaranteed. May Lose Value. MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. Neither Merrill Lynch nor any of its affiliates or financial advisors provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
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