New kiosks at Promenade Shops at Briargate

The Promenade Shops at Briargate has gained new kiosk tenants for the summer. Comcast is supplying cable information to customers as well as conducting a survey to determine interest in bringing cable to the Briargate Business Campus area. Maureen Chistopher, vice president of Tayco Screen Printing & Embroidery, a downtown sport and T-shirt shop, is introducing her Colorado memorabilia clothing line, called ColoRox. And the Glass Hatter has returned with its line of sunglasses and accessories. The kiosks are in the southwest corner of the shopping center, between Ted’s Montana Grill and Cordera Experience.

Cake shop opens downtown

Krumbz, a cake and pastry shop, opened this week at 321 N. Tejon St.

Robert "Chef Rob" Lemoine and girlfriend Pamela Raver are co-owners of Krumbz. They’re renting the space, which occupies part of the former Tejon Street Grocery and Deli. The building is owned by Scott Long, who owns the neighboring Tejon Street Wine Shoppe.

Jewelry maker returns to Colorado Springs

Laurie Long, a Colorado Springs native who for the last 10 years has been living in Bali, Indonesia, honing her trade of jewelry design and creation, is back in town.

Her handmade jewelry will be available June 14 to June 30 at the Squash Blossom at 2531 W. Colorado Ave., and at the Cogswell Gallery in Vail. A grand opening will be 2 to 6 p.m. June 14 at the Squash Blossom.

This is the first time the jewelry maker has had a display in Colorado Springs, and she said she's happy to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones.

For a preview of her work, see www.from-paradise.com.

Disaboom shares available

Shares in Disaboom Inc. began trading last week on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol DSBO.

Disaboom, which is developing a comprehensive online community for Americans with disabilities, was started by Dr. Glen House, a quadriplegic who is medical director of the Center for Neuro and Trauma Rehabilitation at Penrose Hospital, and J.W. Roth, a local investor known for developing and financing startup companies. Though the company’s Web site, www.disaboom.com, isn’t scheduled to launch until September, company information already is available there.

BBB offers tips for auto body repair

The National Council of Better Business Bureaus and the National Auto Body Council have compiled advice for consumers about collision repair shops. Many of the 6 million car crashes that happen each year result in business for the nation's 35,000 collision centers. The average repair bill is $2,200 to $2,300, and 80 to 92 percent of the work involves auto insurance claims, according to the BBB.

"Wiser Drivers Wise Up" is a tip sheet available on www.wiserdrivers.com. Included is information on how to choose a trustworthy repair shop, arrange a replacement rental car and protect yourself, such as getting everything in writing up front.

Update from Thriving Child Corp.

For anyone wondering what's happening with Thriving Child Corp., a startup business focusing on helping children lose weight through a swimming, nutrition education and family counseling approach, here's the response from the company's president:

"Unfortunately we have had to cancel the four-week program at Manitou Springs. We had some unexpected turnover and simply didn't have enough time to find a qualified replacement. We have offered the parents 6-weeks for free when we start back up in the fall. We are looking forward to a fall program."

Shawn McCance, president, Thriving Child Corp., 322-3048 (cell)

New insurance plan rewards wellness

Health insurers have figured out if people stay healthy and avoid getting a chronic disease, health care costs less.

Insurance company Destiny Health on June 7 will launch in Colorado a new Empowerment Plan that teaches wellness strategies and motivates members on how to stay healthy.

Priced similar to traditional plans, Destiny's new plan rewards members for participating in activities that support good health through prevention, fitness, lifestyle and education. Members earn "Vitality Bucks," good for buying online merchanidse, movie tickets, gym membership and vacation packages.

The plan currently covers 60,000 members nationally, in Illinois, Texas and Maryland. It also will launch in Michigan this month. A 2004 plan survey found that members have a 15 percent reduction in health care costs over a three-year period, compared with non-members. That saves employers money, Destiny Health claims -- $2.5 million annually for companies with 5,000 employees or more.

For more information, call Destiny Health at (312) 224-7100.