Free hospital art show

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services received more than 1,200 entries in its call for artwork for its new hospital under construction, St. Francis Medical Center.

A committee narrowed the entries to 150 pieces that will be displayed in the 350,000-square-foot hospital, at the corner of Woodmen Road and Powers Boulevard. It will open in the summer of 2008.

A free art show featuring the pieces will be 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 21) at the Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave.

Regional Retail Rumblings

The Promenade Shops at Briargate is leasing space on the east side of the complex to four stores under the Calendar Club LLC banner for the holiday season. Apart from the flagship Calendar Club store, the Austin, Texas-based retail company will have Puzzled? (a puzzle store), Go! The Toy Store and Go! The Game Store opening up no later than Nov. 1 and operating probably until mid-Feb., according to Promenade Shops general manager Jennifer Halloway.

Geoff Hebert's Mountain Man Nut & Fruit Co., one of the stores that lost its prime location at Chapel Hills mall when Dick's Sporting Goods signed a lease there this summer, has reopened at 4707 N. Academy Blvd. (266-4673)

Visitor's Bureau is doing its homework

Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, the local convention and visitor's bureau, is sending out a survey to those who requested a Colorado Springs Official Visitor Guide.

The bureau is looking for visitors' thoughts and opinions on the guide and the area to learn what best represents the Colorado experience for future publications and communications.

Survey participants will be entered into the $500 cash drawing, if they include their e-mail address at the end of the survey for automatic entry.

For more information, visit www.experiencecoloradosprings.com or call 635-7506, or 1-800-888-4748.

New owners of Big City Burgers make small changes

Elliot and Renee Sousa, the new owners of Burger City restaurant in the First & Main Town Center, have made small decor changes and have tinkered with the menu a bit -- adding salads and some new burger offerings -- but have otherwise left things alone.

"One of the reasons we purchased Burger City is that we were drawn to the reputation it had for serving great food," Renee Sousa said. "It also has a fantastic location, close to the IMAX-Cinemark 16 theater and in the rapidly growing Powers area."

Elliot Sousa has an extensive background in restaurant management. He managed Bob’s Big Boy restaurant’s in Southern California for 25 years, becoming an Executive General Manager. Burger City is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday. Its hours on Friday and Saturday are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A grand opening party is planned for early in 2007.

Jabs revives idea of "Super Center" in Springs

Even as he prepares for the opening of his 530,000-square-foot American Furniture Warehouse "Super Center" near Longmont Nov. 6, owner Jake Jabs is talking expansion in Colorado Springs. Jabs' plan for a similar "Super Center" at the intersection of Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road, put on hold earlier this year, is "kicking back into gear," Jabs told Furniture Today reporter Clint Engel. Jabs is again evaluating sites and expects to bring another store here in about a year. American Furniture Warehouse is projecting sales of about $368 million this year, an increase of 8 percent over 2005.

Eve of Destruction?

The Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs is one of those organizations that seeks to -- what else? -- hammer home its message on political issues. Through its political action committee, the HBA recently sent out its recommendations on candidates and ballot issues for the Nov. 7 election. When it comes to Issues 200 and 201, the latest tax-and-spending limitation proposals authored by El Paso County Commissioner Douglas Bruce and which take aim at city government finances, the HBA said the following: "We are again at war and the stakes are high. Issue 200 and Issue 201 will bring our community to its knees. Issue 200 and Issue 201 will destroy Colorado Springs as we know it." Whew. That cataclysmic prediction was signed by Ralph Braden, a vice president with Nor'wood Development Group; Scott Smith, chief operating officer of La Plata Investments; and Doug Stimple, chief executive officer of Classic Cos. All three real estate companies are based in the Springs. www.cshba.com

Famous Dave's franchisee moving fast

Billl Ferguson is the Colorado franchise holder for Famous Dave's barbecue restaurants and is a true believer. The Colorado Springs restaurant he is launching Monday (Oct. 23) at 8330 Razorback Drive, near Chapel Hills Mall, is the second Ferguson has opened in the state this year, to be followed shortly by another in Thornton and two more in 2007. Next? Ferguson is talking with Famous Dave's about acquiring the New Mexico franchise rights.

Simtek adds a LeftHand man

John Hillyard, chief financial officer of Boulder-based software developer LeftHandNetworks Inc., has been named a director of Colorado Springs-based semiconductor developer Simtek Corp.

Hillyard replaced Tom Surrette, who became a board observer. Hillyard has spent more than 25 years as a senior finance and operations executive in the technology industry. Before joining LeftHand, Hillyard was executive vice president and chief financial officer for FrontRange Solutions.

Hillyard also was vice president and chief financial officer for daly.commerce Inc.; vice president and chief financial officer for InteliData Technologies Corp.; and senior vice president and chief financial officer for eFunds Corp.
"Having been an executive with other high-growth, successful entrepreneurial companies in the Colorado Front Range, it has been exciting to see Simtek begin to flourish like it has. I'm excited to be part of the team and look forward to the bright future at Simtek."

Tourism awards given at Governor's conference

Five awards recognizing contributions to the state's tourism efforts were presented at the Governor's 2006 Colorado Tourism Conference at the Keystone Resort and Conference Center last week.

The Colorado Tourism Office Board Chairman's Award was presented to Colorado Gov. Bill Owens for supporting several funding packages, including the recent $19 million funding given to the Colorado Tourism Office in 2006.

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Colorado Tourism was givent to Tim Edgar, executive director of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce.

Outstanding Community Tourism Initiative was presented to the 2006 Mesa Verde Centennial Celebration, recognized for collaboration among southwest Colorado organizations, governments, schools, businesses and hundreds of volunteers to produce a three-day, 100th-year national park anniversary celebration that brought thousands of people to Mesa Verde National Park.

Outstanding Tourism Volunteer was awarded to Irene Kohler and Irene McLain of the Fruita Welcome Center.
Advancing Colorado Award, new this year, was presented to the Delta County Tourism Cabinet for its program promoting the area's agricultural, historical and artisan-related industries driving tourism in the area.