Hispanic real estate association to meet

The first general meeting of the Colorado Springs chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, at the East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Lunch will be served and a complete description of the organization's purpose and goals will be presented. Participation is not limited to professionals of Hispanic descent or Spanish-speaking individuals.

The local chapter of the national trade association seeks to increase Hispanic homeownership rates by empowering those in the real estate industry to better serve Hispanics through education, advocacy and networking opportunities.

RSVP for the luncheon by Sept. 6 to Gloria at 494-2707 or gloria.mendoza@wesellmore.net.

Spicky Pickle opening in Springs

The Spicy Pickle is opening Tuesday at 1466 W. Garden of the Gods Road, the first of three locations planned in Colorado Springs. The Denver-based franchise has about two-dozen restaurants in Colorado and elsewhere.

What’s on the menu? From the Spicy Pickle Web site: “Spicy Pickle restaurants serve high quality meats and fine Italian artisan breads, along with a wide choice of ten different cheeses, twenty-one different toppings, and fifteen proprietary spreads to create healthy and delicious panini and sub sandwiches with flavors from around the world.”

Dare to be sexy

A Colorado Springs woman has launched an online lingerie store, www.daretobeinc.com. Dare To Be, Inc. is founded on the premise that all women should be proud of, and appreciate, their bodies, Christine Ferguson said.

“Our selection includes sizes and styles to fit and flatter every body type,” the Web site promises. Those selections include designer names such as Elle Macpherson and Shirley of Hollywood.

Biodiesel plant chokes before opening

Bad news -- Pikes Peak Biodiesel has sputtered and died.

The effort to build a biodiesel manufacturing plant in Colorado Springs made inroads last year, then was dropped by initiator Franz Hankins, then picked up by a few other partners, who now report the intended new business was too difficult to get off the ground.

Maybe a future development for the Springs' green front?

Groundbreaking planned for Powers Office Park

A grand groundbreaking ceremony -- not just any old groundbreaking, but a grand groundbreaking -- for the Powers Office Park at Briargate Crossing will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the site of the project, southeast of Powers Boulevard and Briargate Parkway on Colorado Springs' far northeast side. The Powers Office Park is planned as an office condominium project for medical and business professionals; users can purchase their office space instead of leasing, much like homeowners buy instead of renting. The 24-acre project will include 11 buildings and about 332,000 square feet of space, and the first buildings are expected to ready for occupancy in spring 2008. The project is being developed by Powers Group LLC, headed by Scottsdale, Ariz., developer Harvey Salkow. Bennett Shellenberger Realty Inc. of Colorado Springs is marketing the project; more information, http://www.powersofficepark.com/ or 471-1703.

U.S. Bank donates to TESSA

U.S. Bank in southern Colorado on Aug. 14 donated 300 gift bags containing toiletries for children who have been in homes with domestic violence to domestic violence prevention agencies in four cities, including TESSA in Colorado Springs.

Other agencies receiving donations were the YMCA Domestic Violence Shelter in Pueblo, the Family Crisis Center in Canon City and the Arkansas Valley Resource Center in La Junta.

Donations from U.S. Bank's 150 southern Colorado employees included toothbrushes, shampoo, soaps, combs and other everyday items.

The volunteer effort is part of U.S. Bank's national sponsorship of the sixth annual Community Build Day, which calls for financial services companies to help build their communities through activities such as food drives and fundraising walks. This year, U.S. Bank employees are participating in more than 170 projects in 119 cities.

Cinemark in Woodland Park?

Could movie theater chain Cinemark be coming to Woodland Park? Tom Owens, a senior vice president of real estate for Texas-based Cinemark, said Thursday, Aug. 23, the chain might have an announcement in 30 days about a fourth movie theater complex for the Colorado Springs area. Asked where, Owens would only say the company has a particular site in mind, but he wouldn't disclose if it's north, south, east or west. However, Owens added that he and his wife are building a house in Woodland Park, and that the fourth complex would be smaller than Cinemark's two other existing theater complexes and a third that's soon to start construction. Joe Demello, who's managed the Gold Hill Theatres in Woodland Park for 17 years, said he doesn't think the area is big enough for two theaters. Cinemark operates the 20-screen Tinseltown complex on the Springs' south side and a 17-screen complex on the city's east side. A third, 14-screen complex is expected to open in January 2009 as part of the 153-acre Colorado Crossing commercial, retail and entertainment development on the Springs' far north side.