Construction industry energy summit scheduled in Denver

The second annual Energy Star Summit will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, 7800 East Tufts Ave. in Denver. The event brings together home building industry experts to discuss and educate builders, contractors, architects, manufacturers, code officials, remodeling professionals, utilities officials, students and educators about cutting-edge designs and techniques for the construction of high performance, energy efficient homes. In response to homeowners' demand for energy efficiency, homebuilders, remodeling contractors and real estate agents are discovering the need to expand their skills, and the Energy Start Summit provides an opportunity to learn more. This year's event has been expanded to two days, with an optional, pre-conference trip to a "zero energy" house. More information and to register: www.e-star.com/summit.

Bombay, Mikasa closing

Comings and goings at the Promenade Shops at Briargate:

The Gloss Denim Bar, a denim jeans store, opens the day after Thanksgiving, occupying half of the former Camille La Vie space. The Ann Taylor Loft, M&H Galleries and Bath & Body Works are all expected to open in the first quarter of 2008. And Girls of The Golden West, currently a temporary store, has signed a permanent lease.

Two stores, Bombay and Mikasa, will close. Bombay Co., with about 400 stores in the U.S. and Canada, filed for bankruptcy in September and plans to close its U.S. locations after the holiday season. And ARC International, parent company of Mikasa, has announced it will close Mikasa’s 86 retail factory outlets in North America by year’s end.

Humana, Republic Bank debut health care credit card

Humana Inc. will offer a health care credit card issued by Republic Bank to employer groups customers beginning this month.

The HumanaAdvance SM Visa Card can be used only at hospitals, doctor and dentist offices, drug stores and other locations that sell and provide health-releated products and services. The credit card is meant for out-of-pocket health care-related expenses and is particularly beneficial for employees who have Health Savings Accounts, Humana said in a press release.

The card has an annual fee and a fixed zero percent annual percentage rate on all purchases, which can automatically be paid back over six months through an automatic payroll deduction option. It is available to any employee of an employer offering a consumer-directed health plan, whether the employee has a Humana HMO or PPO, or doesn't participate in the employer's benefit program at all.

Times covers Disaboom

The New York Times ran a story Tuesday on Disaboom.com, the new Web site targeting the 50 million Americans with physical or mental disabilities. The story mentioned co-founder Dr. Glen House, though it doesn’t note that he is from Colorado Springs. The Gazette profiled Disaboom earlier this year.

Marketing to people with disabilities may look great on paper, but it’s not easy, the New York Times story said. “We’re just spread out over all kinds of walks of life — from different races to different religions to different income levels and education,” said Eric Lipp, founder of the Open Doors Organization, a nonprofit group that consults with companies about the disability market.

Re/Max founder to speak at chamber's annual dinner

Dave Liniger, founder of Denver-based real estate giant Re/Max, will be the keynote speaker at the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at The Broadmoor hotel's International Center. Liniger is recognized as an expert in time management, sales training, recruiting and motivation and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Success and other leading publications. He's also appeared on television and radio throughout North America. He is a recipient of The Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence from the Global Institute for Leadership Development and has been inducted into the International Franchise Hall of Fame. A commercial pilot, golfer and Arabian horse breeder, Liniger also has been a NASCAR driver and owned Team Re/Max Racing. He's also co-owner of the Sanctuary Golf Course near Sedalia; co-founder of the Wildlife Experience, a Denver-area conservation center; and sponsors Sentinels Of Freedom, a group that provides four-year “life scholarships” to help veterans become self-sufficient. To RSVP for the dinner or for more information, contact the chamber's Jen Furda at 575-4313 or email her at jenifer@cscc.org.

FedEx Kinko center to celebrate grand opening

FedEx Kinko on Thursday will celebrate the grand opening of its new office and print center at 5854 Barnes Road. A ribbon cutting will take place at noon. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Simtek sweeps in new vp

Simtek Corp. has hired away AMI Semiconductor Inc. executive Andrew Broom as vice president of engineering.
Broom had been AMI's vice president of product development and held several other executive posts at the Idaho-based company. He has more than 20 years of experience in design and product engineering at LSI Logic Corp., Crosspoint Solutions Inc . and OM Associates Inc. He holds an electrical engineering degree from Texas A&M University and began his career at VLSI Technology Inc.
"Andy's experience as a leader of complex global engineering teams, coupled with a diverse range of engineering and management experience, will enable him to contribute immediately to Simtek's growth plans," Simtek President Harold Blomquist said. "At his former companies, Andy participated in developing hundreds of different integrated circuits, including digital and complex analog design and test engineering disciplines."
For more information, go to www.simtek.com

Go east, old bank

Pueblo Bank & Trust has moved its downtown Colorado Springs branch to 415 E. Pikes Peak Ave. from 101 N. Cascade Ave.
The independent, locally-owned bank, founded in 1889, operates 11 branches in Boulder, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Denver, Leadville, Pueblo and Salida with assets totaling $360 million.
Robert Kunkleman, a former California real estate developer, partnered with Drew Fletemeyer, a Springs general contractor, and local architect Mark Pelletier, to develop the 42,000-square-foot, four-story office condominium project southeast of Pikes Peak and Wahsatch avenues.
For more information, go to http://www.pbandt.com/

Chamber supports USOC retention

Not surprisingly, one of the Pikes Peak region's principal business groups says it supports retaining the U.S. Olympic Committee headquarters in Colorado Springs -- which is a little like skiers expressing their support for snow. A resolution approved recently by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce board expresses the group's "deep commitment" to the USOC and its presence in the city. The resolution notes the USOC's contribution to local tourism, its estimated $316 million annual economic impact and its enhancement of the state's reputation. The resolution also "encourages the sustained aggressive support of elected officials, community leaders, the media and other Colorado citizens to rally around the effort and solidify the mission to keep the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs." USOC officials have said they're evaluating proposals to move the organization's headquarters elsewhere; the group has been in the Springs since 1978. City officials have said they're working with the USOC to gauge and meets its desire to upgrade its offices, which are part of a 34-acre site near Boulder Street and Union Boulevard that includes an Olympic Training Center.

Rehabilitation center receives Medicare certification

The Center at Centennial, a doctor-owned rehabilitation center that opened in July near the intersection of Fillmore Street and Centennial Boulevard, has received Medicare certification following a state survey that showed zero deficiencies, said Dr. Alexander Senkoff, medical director.

Featuring 80 private patient rooms, the center provides physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy for patients needing more time to recover after leaving the hospital following a heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, joint replacement or other conditions.

In addition to Medicare, the center contracts with Kaiser Permanente and other commercial insurance companies.

Commercial vacancies are up, but so are average rents

Colorado Springs commercial vacancy rates climbed during the third quarter of 2007, but rents inched up, too. What gives? Doesn't an increase in supply -- greater amounts of office, industrial and shopping center space available to lease -- and a reduction in demand result in lower prices? Not this time, according to the latest quarterly analysis of the market by Paul Turner of Turner Commercial Research in Colorado Springs. The paradox might be explained by several new projects, which carry higher rents, being added to the larger mix of buildings for lease, Turner said in his report. As a result, average lease rates have increased. According to Turner's latest report, third-quarter office vacancies rose to 8.2 percent from 7.7 percent during the same period last year; industrial vacancies increased to 7.6 percent from 6.6 percent; and shopping center vacancy rates climbed to 7.1 percent from 6.6 percent. Office lease rates averaged $11.39 per square foot in the third quarter of 2007, up from $10.61 per square foot a year ago at the same time; industrial rents averaged $7.18 per square foot, an increase from $6.98 last year; and shopping center rents averaged $13.82 per square foot, up from $13.35.

Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust fundraiser on Thursday

The 11th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust takes place 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Colorado College's Bemis Hall, northwest of Cache La Poudre Street and Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs. Classic Cos.' Jack Howard will give a welcome address and Comcast public relations official Sandra Mann will be mistress of ceremonies. The suggested donation is $25; a buffet and refreshments are provided for attendees. Sponsors include Classic, Comcast and Air Academy Federal Credit Union. More information: 447-9300. The non-profit Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust provides affordable housing opportunities for limited-income families in Colorado Springs and El Paso County through home ownership with families and collaborations with other non-profits.

Local Mercedes-Benz dealer supports women's cancer research

Phil Long Mercedes-Benz pf Colorado Springs is one of many dealerships in the nation participating in the manufacturer's contributions to women's cancer research.

Mercedes-Benz has designed a special edition C350 sedan and after 1,000 are sold will donate $1 million to "Saks 5th Avenue Key to the Cure," which supports The Women's Cancer Research Fund. The fund supports research, education and outreach in early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of women cancers.

The local Mercedes-Benz dealer also will donate, in the name of each buyer, an additional $250 for each special edition C350 it sells.

The new sport sedan features a 268-horsepower V-6 engine with advanced technology, including drive-based navigation, digital surround sound and voice control.

Qwest extends DSL broadband

Qwest Communications International Inc. has extended its DSL broadband service to Calhan and Keenesburg, near Fort Lupton. The Denver-based telecommunications giant said it now offers high-speed Internet access to about 83 percent of the homes in its service area at speeds of up to 7 megabits per second.

UCCS students in investment competition

The stakes are a little higher this year for D.A. Davidson & Co.’s annual Student Investment Program — the competition includes a shot at a paid internship.
Two University of Colorado at Colorado Springs College of Business students already have been nominated and will compete with 40 other nominees from 20 colleges for the internships, said Mark Sikorski, vice president and manager of the local Davidson office.
Rachel Ellis, a senior majoring in finance at UCCS, is hoping the internship could give a kick start to plans for a career in investments or banking. The other nominee declined to be identified.
The pair are among 40 UCCS students who manage a $50,000 portfolio loaned by the company for the competition, won last year by a team from University of Oregon with a 29.4 percent return. The UCCS team finished sixth last year with a 19 percent return on its portfolio.
A panel of Davidson executives will interview three to five finalists for the internship in mid-January, and the two winners will be revealed Feb. 11. The company will pay both interns a $1,290 weekly salary for the 12-week program plus $2,500 in a Davidson investment account.
The Montana-based investment brokerage firm has sponsored the contest for 22 years, and UCCS is participating for the fourth consecutive year. Profits earned on the portfolio in excess of 5 percent are donated to the school, which netted UCCS about $4,000 for student programs.

Twiggy the squirrel

If you missed Twiggy, the water-skiing squirrel, when he last visited Colorado Springs, you will have another chance to see him on Saturday Oct. 20.
Twiggy and the BMX Pro Stunt team, featuring three-time ESPN X-Games gold medal winner Trevor Meyer, will be featured at the grand opening celebration for Integrity Bank’s third branch at 13475 Voyager Parkway, southeast of Voyager Parkway and North Gate Boulevard.
The squirrel, which drew a crowd of more than 1,000 at another Integrity branch opening in 2005, is scheduled to perform at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon, while the BMX team performs at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The branch opened on Monday.

7-Eleven giving away caffeine

Colorado Springs 7-Eleven stores will give away free 12 oz. cups of its new Exclusive Bold coffee on Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to midnight. 7-Eleven call it the strongest coffee ever sold in its stores. The chain has about 50 stores in the Colorado Springs area and says it sells 1 million cups of coffee each day in its North American stores.

Progressive to plant trees at Memorial Park

Progressive call center employees in Colorado Springs will team up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 70 native trees in Memorial Park, 1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave. , on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies is the third largest car insurance group in the country and fifth largest in Colorado.

About 30 Progressive call center employees were selected to help plant the trees as a reward for their work. The Colorado Springs tree planting is part of Progressive’s “70 Years, 70 Trees” events in which the company is celebrating its 70th anniversary in its six call center communities. In the next three months, Progressive volunteers will plant 420 large trees in Cleveland, Tampa, Austin, Colorado Springs, Phoenix and Sacramento.

Springs a hotbed for security-cleared jobs

Colorado Springs ranks as the nation’s 14th best location for those with security clearance to find a job, according to a recent study by ClearanceJobs.com.
The Des Moines, Iowa-based company cited the large collection of military bases as well as defense and aerospace contractors operating in the Springs area and creating a “positive employment picture, particularly for security-cleared personnel.”
Springs-area defense workers regularly report wages well above the national average for security-cleared candidates, the site said. Those salaries averaged $69,834 in the site’s March survey.
McLean-Arlington, Va., captured the top ranking in the site’s study, joining nine other Virginia cities among the top 20 locations. Aurora> was the only other Colorado city listed, ranking 12th.
ClearanceJobs.com is owned by New York-based Dice Holdings Inc., which provides online recruiting, job fairs and career development services to professionals in technology, engineering, investment banking, accounting and finance.
For more information, go to http://www.clearancejobs.com/news.php?articleID=34

Springs falls in Best Peforming Cities rank

Colorado Springs fell to the middle of the pack in annual rankings by a California think tank of the ability of cities to create and sustain jobs.
The Springs ranked 96th in the rankings released last month, down from 71st in 2005, the last year the rankings had been produced by the Milken Institute, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based nonprofit economic think tank created by financier Michael Milken.
The city has ranked as high as 10th in 2000, but has declined every year but 2005 in rankings of the nation’s 200 largest metropolitan areas. That’s mostly because city’s weak job growth during the past five years, which included declines in 2002 and 2003. “This is not a surprise as the data looks back from one to six years and includes our recession years where our tech sector was hit hard,” said Mike Kazmierski, president of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp., which helps attract industry to the city. Three Florida cities — Ocala, Orlando and Naples, ranked among the top six in the institute’s latest ranking, which was sponsored by Greenstreet Real Estate Partners. The rankings this year reflect the year the data is released; in past years they reflected the year the data was collected. Among other Colorado cities, Greeley ranked 29th, up from 31st in 2005; Fort Collins ranked 75th, down from 46th; Boulder ranked 93rd, down from 92nd; Denver ranked 106th, down from 105th. Among 179 smaller metro areas, Grand Junction ranked 18th, up from 37th, and Pueblo ranked 130th, unchanged. For more information, go to http://www.milkeninstitute.org/

Tourism conference - Thursday update

Lisa Amend, communications manager for Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, e-mailed this update on developments today at the Governor's 2007 Colorado Tourism Conference in Grand Junction:

"We had a great general session this morning with updates from the CTO (Colorado Tourism Office) and MMG on their plans for leveraging our marketing dollars in 2008. The goals are to increase visitor spending by 9.5%, increase overall visitation by 4%, and attract 30 million visitors by the end of 2008. Strategies to achieve these goals include:

• Evolution of "Let's Talk Colorado" ad campaign
• Addition of all-season messaging
• Progression of segmented approach to focus on retention strategies
• Increased use of emerging technologies (mapping, social media)
• Advancement of partnership outreach
• Continuing to integrate online and offline campaigns with public relations efforts

The T-shirt program implemented by MMG (Colorado.com advertises free T-shirts for those who stop by Colorado Welcome Centers) has done exceptionally well. Over 15,000 people signed up for the T-shirts online and more than 12,500 have actually been picked up. People who visit the Welcome Centers stay in the region longer and they spend more money. A new Welcome Center will open in Alamosa in the summer of 2008.

International marketing efforts continue to focus on UK, Germany, France and Mexico, but the state is now also targeting Japan, Canada and Benelux.

The campaigns this year have performed very well. Colorado.com web sessions are up 148% and State Visitor Guide requests are up 216%.

Winners of the 2007 Governor's Tourism Industry Awards:

• Outstanding Tourism Volunteer Award: Les Turner (posthumous), Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Outstanding Community Initiative Award: City of Manitou Springs Economic Development Council
• Chairman's Award: Senator Jim Isgar
• Outstanding Individual Contribution Award: Jeff Potter, CEO of Exclusive Resorts

Tourism conference - Wednesday update

Lisa Amend, communications manager for Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak Convention and Visitors Bureau, is attending this week's Governor's 2007 Colorado Tourism Conference, which started Wednesday. Here's what she had to say via an e-mail about Day One:

"Here we are at the 2007 Governor's Conference in Grand Junction. The Experience Colorado Springs team rose bright and early at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and were on the road by 5:45. It was a beautiful drive and fall colors are in full splendor out here!

The opening luncheon was well-attended by representatives from all over the state. There is even someone here from the Alligator Farm. He's carrying around a darling little baby tortise who has been a big hit with everyone so far.

Our speaker Wednesday was Dennis Snow, who used to work for the Walt Disney World Co. He was very dynamic and passed on lots of great tips about how to make a customer's experience unforgettable. He had some great methodology, like asking the crowd what they remember about the Disney World theme park. It was interesting to me that nobody who spoke up mentioned any of the rides. Instead, they said things like "The park was so clean!" or "Everyone is so friendly there!" Snow then mentioned that for the Tower of Terror ride alone, Disney spent over $100 million dollars... but it means nothing if the customer does not have a good experience in the park. He advised us all to take the time to experience a visit to our area through the lens of the customer (visitor) and to ensure that we were not doing things for our own convenience, but for theirs. He also condones empowering staff since "The best ideas can come from within. They can cost nothing and change everything!" He was a wonderful speaker.

The ECS team separated for the various breakout sessions Wednesday afternoon. I attended "The Trails of Colorado" since I've been working with Dan Cleveland from the Trails and Open Space Coalition to integrate trail maps into our new website when it launches next year. I'm also part of the Watershed Access Advisory Group (through Springs Utilities) to help drive the public process to form a policy that will accommodate recreational use of trails on the south slope of Pikes Peak while protecting the water supply. So Wednesday's trails session gave me some good background information on what types of visitors other trail systems are attracting and how to incorporate these visitors into our marketing plan."

Lovebyrd flies to Disaboom

Disaboom, the new online community for people with disabilities, announced today it had acquired Lovebyrd.com, an online dating and social networking service for disabled singles. It will rebrand Lovebyrd.com under the Disaboom umbrella and offer it as a free service within Disaboom.com. The deal involved part cash, part stock in Disaboom; the price was not disclosed. Disaboom was founded by two Colorado Springs men, J.W. Roth and Dr. Glen House.

Veteran commercial brokers switch addresses

Michael Palmer and Peter Scoville, two longtime commercial brokers at NAI Highland Commercial Group LLC in Colorado Springs, have jumped to an expanded local office of Cushman & Wakefield of Colorado Inc. Palmer (top right), who had been with NAI Highland since March 1996, has closed more than $1 billion in real estate transactions including leasing assignments, land sales, office and research and development sales, according to a Cushman & Wakefield statement. He's past president of the Colorado chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and is a graduate of the University of Arizona. Scoville (bottom right), who had joined NAI Highland in spring 2000, has represented some of the region’s top landlords and tenants and has advised major corporate clients. Scoville currently serves as president of the Board of Realtors Commercial Industrial Society and is a graduate of The Colorado College. Cushman & Wakefield opened its Colorado Springs office in 1997 and focused primarily on property management. The office began offering brokerage services last year and currently has three senior brokerage professionals and plans to increase that number.

Chuck Asay unplugged at the HBA

Former Gazette political cartoonist Chuck Asay will discuss the building industry and politics during a luncheon to benefit the political action committee of the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs. Asay will speak at noon, Thursday, Nov. 1 at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, on Colorado Springs' southwest side. Attendees should RSVP to 592-1800, ext., 21. The cost is $50 per person. More information: 592-1800 or www.cshba.com.

Heart friendly parking

Take a few extra steps, help your heart. The Outlets of Colorado inaugurated “heart friendly parking” today at its three sites, Outlets at Castle Rock, Outlets at Loveland and Outlets at Silverthorne. Fifty-three parking spots at each outlet have been designated as heart friendly spaces. They encourage customers to park farther away and thus walk farther to the stores. Walking just 30 minutes a day has heart-health benefits, the American Heart Association says.

Tourism conference this week

The Governor’s 2007 Colorado Tourism Conference opens Wednesday in Grand Junction. Among those attending: a group of seven from Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak Convention and Visitors Bureau, headed by president and CEO Terry Sullivan. The annual event will showcase a diverse mix of travel industry experts. The Colorado Tourism Office will also unveil its 2008 marketing and advertising strategy. And at the annual Governor's Awards luncheon, recognition will be given to people and groups throughout the state that help grow and strengthen the Colorado brand. The event will close with a presentation on “Survival - The Personality of Leadership,” featuring Aron Ralston, the climber who spent five days pinned beneath a boulder in a Utah canyon before performing a lifesaving self-amputation. For more details, go to www.colorado.com/govconf.

Rich Hand used to being ignored

Rich Hand is used to being ignored — the Colorado Springs resident ran for Congress last year and finished third — with 41 votes, or 0.04 percent of the vote.
Hand, executive director of membership for HDI, a Springs-based trade group for more than 7,000 information technology support professionals, writes about that experience and others in his autobiography, “My Life: Ignored! Life is Too Short to Ignore Yours.”
An anonymous response to his newsletter prompted Hand to write the 200-page book, published by HDI last month, who asked him why he published the 250-subscriber newsletter, put out three CDs with his band and authors a blog when “everyone ignores you.”
He wrote the book because “we have to do the things that are important to us even if they are ignored. The people important to us are still watching,” Hand said. “All of us are celebrities to our own core group of people. I want to motivate others into action in their own lives.”
Hand said “there was some real major ignoring going on in the Congressional race, but I believe I still made a difference with the people I engaged.” He said he plans to run again next year as an unaffiliated candidate and petition onto the ballot.
For more on Hand and his book, go to http://www.whoisrichhand.com/

EDC celebrates more than technology

If you attend both the Celebrate Technology and the Excellence in Local Industry awards receptions, you will have one fewer event to attend this year.
That’s because both sets of awards will be presented at a single event this year, now set for Nov. 14 at The Broadmoor hotel. Both awards programs were put on by the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp., which revived the technology awards in 2004.
“We saw lots of synergies between the two events, enough to combine the two,” said Kara Roberts, EDC’s vice president of local industry. “Any time you put on a first-class event like these, there is a considerable amount of work involved. This streamlines those efforts.”
The combined awards will be streamlined, eliminating Celebrate Technology awards for venture capital funds and narrowing the criteria to local entrants.
The technology awards will honor innovation and entrepreneurs, while the local industry awards honor companies who have stayed and become good corporate citizens in the Springs and those who have helped to improve the local business climate.
The combined awards ceremony also will allow all funds raised by sponsorships for Celebrate Technology to go for and expand $1,500 scholarships to students attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs College of Engineering and Applied Science, Roberts said.
For more information, go to http://www.celebratetechnology.org/

Group releases nonprofit compensation survey for Colorado

Young Life's president and chief executive is one of the highest paid nonprofit directors in Colorado, according to a new state survey by www.salariesreview.com.

Based on data from 990 tax forms, Young Life's CEO is compensated $258,638.

Other CEOs in the top five: National Endowment for Financial Education, $1.1 million; National Employment Law Institute, $452,114; Allosource, $353,038; and Philanthropy for Active Engagement, $245,975.

Architects to gather for design awards Nov. 30

A design awards gala for the American Institute of Architects' southern Colorado chapter will take place Nov. 30 at Colorado College's Bemis Hall, 920 N. Cascade Ave., in Colorado Springs. The event will include presentation of the AIA Colorado South 2007 design award winners by Patrick Gallagher of Washington D.C.-based Gallagher & Associates. Springs architect Morey Bean, 2007 president of AIA Colorado South, will emcee the evening, which will include dinner and live entertainment. More information: www.aiacolorado.org/events_programs/AIAColoradoSouthGala.cfm or Robin Hickey at 303.446.2266, ext. 21.

PENRAD Imaging gets new high-tech equipment

A faster CT scanner with two X-ray sources and two detectors has arrived at PENRAD Imaging.

It's the first CT 128 in Colorado, according to PENRAD officials, and it can scan patients in a few seconds, accommodat patients up to 485 pounds, delivers 50 percent less radiation and has twice the speed and resolution of a single-source scanner.

The equipment can be used for scanning the heart for cardiac disease and can be used on nearly any patient, including those with shortness of breath and irregular heart beat. It also requires no pre-medication.

It also is useful for neuro studies, pediatric patients, small bowel fluoroscopy and other applications.

American Family offers free safety program for teen drivers

American Family Insurance's Teen Safe Driver Program is now available in eight states, including Colorado.

Produced in conjunction with DriveCam Inc., the year-long program helps young drivers learn the ropes and is free to American Family auto insurance customers who have a teen driver. Register at www.teensafedriver.com.

Results from a pilot program in Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin show the program reduces risky driving behavior by 70 percent or more, said Jack Salzwedel, American Family's president and chief operating officer.

An in-vehicle video and audio camera captures risky driving behavior, such as swerving, hard braking, sudden acceleration and collisions. The unit wirelessly sends the images and sounds to an analysis center, where analysts review the problem, add coaching comments and assign a risk score. Parents and teens receive weekly status reports via e-mail and can view the video clips.

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority offers homebuyer education

Homebuyers, take note. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) now offers the option of receiving education online at http://chfauniversity-homefinance.knowledgefactor.com. The online homebuyer education program is in addition to an online money management program (http://chfauniversity-homefinance.knowledgefactor.com) for existing homeowners. In addition to the online program, the authority will continue to offer face-to-face homebuyer education classes throughout Colorado via its non-profit partners. For more than 30 years, CHFA has provided financing to qualified homebuyers statewide. Most CHFA customers are first-time buyers of low- to moderate incomes, and many are inexperienced in the home-buying process. “We believe that homebuyer education helps people make good decisions about buying a home,” said CHFA’s Home Finance Director Karen Harkin. “A well-informed consumer asks good questions and makes good decisions. Understanding the process empowers people to make smart financial decisions about what kind of loan makes sense for them and helps prevent some of the problems that we believe has exacerbated the current foreclosure situation. Sometimes they even make the decision that they are not ready yet for home ownership." The homebuyer education curriculum includes topics such as finding a real estate agent and reputable lender, how to live on a budget and home maintenance. CHFA offers homebuyer education classes in English and Spanish and will make arrangements for classes in other languages. Homebuyer education and money management classes are free of charge and are available even for buyers who don't obtain a CHFA loan. More information: http://www.colohfa.org/, (303) 297-7376 or (800) 877-CHFA, ext. 376.

Colorado Kite & Ski moves

Colorado Kite & Ski has a new home. It moved recently from 2845 Ore Mill Drive to 2820 W. Colorado Ave. “I had zero walk-by traffic over there,” owner Stan Wolf said of the previous location. Colorado Kite & Ski started downtown; it moved to Ore Mill Drive in 2004.

Scrapbooking inn for sale

The Keepsake Inn, profiled in The Gazette in May, is for sale. But that doesn’t mean the owners have given up on the idea of an inn targeted toward scrapbookers.

“Putting the inn up for sale is a contingency plan for us,” one of the owners, Mary Ruden, said in an e-mail. The house in Manitou Springs was on the market for about a year before they bought it last fall and transformed it into the Keepsake Inn. “And we figure that it would take that long again to sell as a single-family residence and perhaps that long to sell as a business. In the meantime, we hope the things we continue to do to market the inn are hugely successful and that when we get an offer, we are no longer interested.”

Governor's mansion earns kudos for solar power

The Boettcher Mansion, home to Gov. Bill Ritter, in September made the “top 10” list of “most solar power-friendly governor’s mansions in the nation by http://www.chooserenewables.com/.

Built in 1908, the Boettcher Mansion near downtown Denver had two solar panel systems installed this year by Colorado companies.

Colorado ranked No. 6 on the top 10 list. Governor’s mansions in New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Arizona and Florida topped Colorado’s standing. Rounding out the remainder of the list were New Jersey, California, Hawaii and Nevada.

The new Web site, which offers tips for reducing greenhouse emissions, lowering energy costs and adopting clean energy solutions, also named the top 10 most wind-power friendly governor’s mansions.

Overhaul for BBB

The Better Business Bureau is changing the way it approves businesses by moving from a pass/fail system to a letter-grade system from A-F, the agency announced today. This would help consumers make a more educated decision on who to do business with while making businesses shape up more to earn a higher grade. As usual, input from consumers is a part of this grade so if you have a problem with a business be sure to report it to the BBB (bbb.org). Also, BBB members will now be called "accredited" instead of members as part of the BBB's effort to look deeper into the operations, ethics and credibility of businesses. The letter grades are expected by the first of the year.

Today's news comes at the start of BBB Week, a proclamation made by Mayor Lionel Rivera.

SoleMates coming to an end

SoleMates, 125 1/2 N. Tejon St., is closing at the end of October. Frank and Ruby Maestas, who bought the downtown business a year ago, are closing for family reasons.

“My daughter has moved away, and she has my only two grandchildren,” Ruby Maestas said. She wants the freedom to travel and visit her grandchildren when she wants — and owning a business does not allow her that freedom, she said.

“We just decided that family comes first.”

Rocky Mountain Health Plan recognized for business excellence

Rocky Mountain Health Plans was named a winner in the 2007 ColoradoBiz Top Company Awards, a competitive statewide business excellence award now in its 20th year.

Winners in 10 industry categories were announced Sept. 12 at an awards lunch at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. A panel of Colorado business leaders judged entrants based on financial performance, community involvement, marketing and product innovation.

The Western Slope-headquartered Rocky Mountain won in the health care category. The nonprofit health plan was founded in 1974 and has 175,000 enrollees.

Contact information for registering for government contracts

Several readers wanted to know how to contact local representatives who talked discussed doing business with the government, as reported in Wednesday's Business section article.

To register for contracting services and find out about bids:

El Paso County, www.elpasoco.com or call 520-6390
State of Colorado, www.colorado.gov/dap/dfp/spo or call 303-894-2039
Colorado Springs Utilities www.csu.org/business/sourcing/competitive or call 668-3862
School District 11, www.d11.org, see procurement, or call 520-2068
D-11 also participates in group purchasing through contracts awarded by the state, www.gssa.state.co.us
or Western States Contracting Alliance, www.aboutwsca.org
D-11 also is registered on Rocky Mountain e-Purchasing System, www.govgids.com/scripts/co1/public/support/VendorContact.asp

Sanmina-SCI plant in Fountain has checkered past

Sanmina-SCI's announcement Sept. 14 that it's closing its electronics component manufacturing plant in Fountain (right) is a reminder of the facility's unfortunate history. Sanmina-SCI, based in San Jose, Calif., told Fountain city officials it plans to lay off 319 workers and close the plant by Dec. 31. Company officials refused comment on the closure. The plant was once used as a computer repair facility by Data General Corp., which closed the plant in 1989 and laid off 450 people. Then, Apple Computer came to town amid much fanfare in 1991 and used the facility to produce notebook computers. In 1996, Apple sold the plant to what was then SCI Systems. At the time, most of the plant's 1,050 workers were hired by SCI. What will happen to the plant now isn't known because Sanmina officials aren't talking. El Paso County land records say it's about 250,000 square feet or about one-fourth bigger than a Wal-Mart supercenter. It's at 702 Bandley Drive, just east of Fort Carson.

E85 pump locations

Saturday's article on the confusion drivers are having with the introduction of yellow E85 pumps left many readers wondering which fueling stations in Colorado Springs offer E85. Here's the list:

Acorn Food Store, 305 S. 8th St.
Chief Petroleum, 301 S. 10th St.
Farm Crest 1st Stop, 2105 W. Colorado Ave.
Farm Crest 1st Stop, 5050 Boardwalk Drive
Western Convenience, 2507 E. Platte Ave.
Western Convenience, corner of Union and Briargate boulevards

Castle Rock Shopping Extravaganza

The Outlets at Castle Rock will host its second annual Shopping Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. The VIP shopping event offers exclusive discounts, a catered lunch, a goodie bag and other perks. And it’s for a good cause, raising money for 10 charities including Food Bank of the Rockies, the PEAK Parent Center and Castle Rock Senior Center. Tickets are $20; $10 of each ticket is tax-deductible and will be donated to the individual’s designated charity. Tickets can be bought in advance at the Outlets at Castle Rock customer service desk or online at www.outletsatcastlerock.com.

Disaboom's formal launch is soon

The clock is ticking on the Disaboom Web site toward its official Oct. 1 launch. The Web site is intended as a comprehensive online resource for the millions of Americans with disabilities. Many features are already up as part of a Beta launch.

Disaboom Inc. was founded by two Colorado Springs men: Dr. Glen House, medical director of the Center for Neuro and Trauma Rehabilitation at Penrose Hospital, and investor J.W. Roth. So far, so good, says Roth, chairman of Disaboom Inc. “We have had over 25,000 people visit the site and the page views have been better than expected,” he said in an e-mail.

No matter who's counting, foreclosures up in El Paso County

Foreclosure statistics assembled by California-based RealtyTrac Inc., an on-line service, have been criticized by Colorado Division of Housing officials. They say RealtyTrac counts foreclosures multiple times and therefore inflates state and local numbers; that's one reason Colorado has shown up in the past as the worst foreclosure state in RealtyTrac's research, Housing Division officials have said. The latest RealtyTrac numbers for Colorado Springs seem to bear out the concern of state officials. On Sept. 18, RealtyTrac reported a total of 617 foreclosures in August for Colorado Springs and El Paso County, a 46.6 percent increase over the 421 foreclosures in the same month last year. RealtyTrac has said its figures include homes in various stages of foreclosure. By comparison, the El Paso County Public Trustee's office reported 307 newly filed foreclosure notices in August in the county, up 20.4 percent from 255 during the same month last year. No matter who compiles the numbers, however, there's no doubt foreclosures are on the rise.

Maryland real estate company bullish on Springs

Predictions of a recession aren't getting in the way of Corporate Office Properties Trust and its development plans in Colorado Springs. On Sept. 13, Springs officials chose Maryland-based COPT as the master developer of the Colorado Springs Airport's 270-acre business park; after it negotiates an agreement to lease the land from the city, COPT will develop the property with office, industrial and retail uses, streets, utilities, traffic signals and the like. But is it the right time to undertake such a project? Days before COPT was selected for the airport project, U.S. Bank economist and Springs resident Tucker Hart Adams reiterated her prediction that the nation is headed into a recession. Even so, COPT Vice President George Swintz, based in the Springs, said the company is confident in the airport project. "We are very pro-active about helping businesses grow in Colorado Springs," Swintz said. "We see that there is an appetite for the buildings we're constructing and designing. And there have been enough consolidations of companies operating in multiple locations that want to be under one roof and they're large enough to brand them in this community and they want to do that in a signature building. We think the depth of the market is significant enough to compel us to build. There haven't been very many buildings built in this decade (in the Springs) and it's already 2008. The buildings built in the 1980s are 20- and 25-years-old. Who doesn't want to be in a new building that has efficient mechanical systems, that doesn't have a roof that leaks, that's built green so it's a healthy building and has amenities like fitness centers and locker rooms and showers and a well conceived design? It's a better product."

Watch out for deceptive mortgage ads, FTC warns

The Federal Trade Commission is warning mortgage brokers and lenders -- as well as media outlets carrying their ads -- that some advertising claims appearing on Web sites and in newspapers, magazines, direct mail, e-mails and faxes might violate federal law. “Many mortgage advertisers are making potentially deceptive claims about incredibly low rates and payments, without telling consumers the whole story -- for example, that these low rates and payments apply for a short period only and can go up substantially after the loan’s introductory period,” said Lydia Parnes, the FTC’s Consumer Protection Bureau director. Advertisers are being advised to review their ads and to read business and consumer education materials on the FTC’s Web site to learn about relevant laws and requirements, while media outlets are being alerted to potentially deceptive advertising. During the past decade, the FTC has brought 21 actions against companies in the mortgage lending industry, focusing in particular on the sub-prime market. Consumers can learn more by going to “Deceptive Mortgage Ads: What They Say; What They Leave Out,” available at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt023.shtm. The information also is available by writing the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for consumers to prevent and avoid deceptive and unfair practices in the marketplace; to file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call (877) FTC-HELP or (877) 382-4357 or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov/bcp.

Colorado Springs HVAC company expanding

A Colorado Springs heating and plumbing company is on the grow. Heating & Plumbing Engineers Inc. recently paid $1.36 million to purchase buildings at 4229 and 4235 N. Nevada Ave. The 2.2-acre property consists of a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a 3,000-square-foot industrial building. HPE, which has its main office at 407 Fillmore Place, plans to use the facilities to expand its Colorado Springs operations involved in commercial heating and ventilation products and services; the new site will serve as a manufacturing facility for custom sheet metal ducting.
Charley F. Conrad of the Olive Real Estate Group Inc. in the Springs represented the property's seller, Rando Enterprises LLP, in the transaction; Steve Bach of Bach Commercial represented HPE.

U.S. expands check-cashing program

U.S. Bank is expanding to Denver a service it tested in Colorado Springs that allows noncustomers to cash some types of payroll and government checks.
The service, which uses special software from Texas-based Valid Systems Inc. to verify the recipients identity by checking multiple databases, is now available at the bank’s 62 Denver area branches. The system had been tested in Colorado Springs since January.
The bank reported a 50 percent increase in transaction during the the second month and nearly half of all users becoming repeat customers by the third month. The bank also said branches increased new account openings by the second month of the program.
U.S. Bank charges a 1 percent fee ($1 for every $100 paid through the check) to cash preprinted payroll, government or tax refund checks up to $2,500. More than half of the participants in the program in mid-April were between 18 and 29 years old, the bank said.

Gold mine gets voluntary industry certification

AngloGold Ashanti Limited's Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Co. has been certified as compliant with the International Cyanide Management Code.

An audit of the operation near Victor was conducted by an independent third party and found full compliance with the code's principles and standards of practice. The code is a voluntary industry program for companies that produce gold using cyanide . The International Cyanide Management Institute administers the code.

Banning Lewis Ranch open house on Sept. 29

Banning Lewis Ranch developers will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, to showcase their inaugural neighborhood -- or village, as they're called -- at the ranch. Northtree, southeast of Woodmen and Marksheffel roads, covers 338 acres and will have about 1,000 homes when it's completed over the next few years. The open house will give area residents and prospective home buyers a chance to tour 20 model homes, visit the Northtree recreation center and get a feel for the initial development. Entertainment, treats and giveaways are planned, as well. More information: www.banninglewisranch.com. The Banning Lewis Ranch, annexed in 1988, makes up most of Colorado Springs' east side; about 21,400 acres of the ranch were purchased in 2001 by a California real estate company. Over the next half century, the property will become home to about 75,000 residences and 180,000 people. For now, developer Banning Lewis Ranch Management Co. will concentrate on six villages on the property's far north side.

Denver Mr. Biggs still in the works

Establishing a Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center in Denver is taking longer than originally thought.

“Denver is going slowly, but still happening,” said Matt Van Auken, chief operating officer for Bigg City/Mr. Biggs.

Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center opened in Colorado Springs in 2005. This year co-owner Steve Bigari announced plans to expand the home-grown brand to Denver, with a Mr. Biggs opening there by the end of September.

“Not everything goes according to Bigari Standard Time,” Van Auken said in an e-mail. An opening in summer 2008 is now envisioned.

Check out HMO, PPO satisfaction rates

A Consumer Reports National Research Center study rates experiences with HMOs and PPOs. Results are published in the September issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Overall, 67 percent of 37,000 survey respondents said they were completely or very satisfied with their health insurance plan, up from 64 percent in a 2004 survey.
The reasons? Problems getting a doctor’s appointment: 10 percent.
Problems with billing errors: 21 percent.
Problems with primary care provider: 25 percent.
Problems with getting help from insurance company: 36 percent.
Of Colorado’s HMO plans, Kaiser Permanent Colorado ranked highest, with an overall satisfaction score of 81 percent, out of 100 percent. Pacificare of Colorado ranked next, with 75 percent satisfaction.
On the PPO list are UnitedHealthcare with 74 percent satisfaction, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado with 73 percent satisfaction, CIGNA HealthCare, 72 percent, Humana, 71 percent and GreatWest Healthcare, 69 percent.

Auto advice on repairs, hybrids and other earth-friendly vehicles

Who doesn't need a little automotive advice? Here's how to get it.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair ($19.95) was just released, offering everything from the tires up, for teens to seasoned drivers. "Ideal resource for making basic repairs" the publicity material says. Routine maintenance, troubleshooting and system overviews are included in the 50-page self-diagnosis guide, penned by a knowledgeable female mechanic, Vyvyan Lynn.

Also released in August, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles ($14.95). Besides being chic and hip, the author says there are many incentives to switching to hybrid and outlines the growing lineup of green vehicles. It's written by Kelley Blue Book Executive Editor Jack Nerad in what he calls "clear, jargon-free and nonpolitical language."

If you prefer online resources, check out http://www.earthcars.com/. The new Web site launched by http://www.dealer.com/, a Burlington, Vt.-based company that helps auto dealers with online marketing, gives all kinds of info about envrionmentally friendly vehicles. You can also search inventories of dealerships around the nation to find the car you're looking for.

Honing that mind-body connection

A few notes from the fitness front:

Rock Your Yoga recently opened downtown at 127 1/2 E. Bijou St., across from Acacia Park. The studio offers a variety of yoga styles; for information on classes and schedules, go to www.rockyouryoga.com or call 227-1452.

Pilates Essence is holding an open house from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 25 at its new location inside Dance Colorado, 612 S. Tejon St. The open house will include free lessons and refreshments. Call 575-0585 to RSVP. For more information, visit www.pilatesessence.net.

Spectranetics to appeal verdict

Spectranetics Corp. said last week it will appeal a $500,000 federal-court jury verdict in a patent dispute with a New York surgeon.
Dr. Peter Rentrop won the verdict in January that a catheter made by the Colorado Springs-based company infringed on his patent. The verdict, along with $690,000 in legal fees and royalties, triggered the company’s first annual loss in four years.
A judge denied an $150,000 jury award for Rentrop’s legal fees, but hasn’t ruled on Rentrop’s motions that the case be declared “exceptional” and he be awarded legal fees and interest both before and after the verdict.
Spectranetics told stockholders in November that it provided Rentrop with confidential and proprietary information about its laser catheter technology and he used the information to later file patent applications on that technology.

City officials agree: Lowe's needs its space(s)

A Colorado Springs City Council decision to snip 13 parking spaces out of a 500-space Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse parking lot was nearly bad luck for developers of the University Village shopping center on North Nevada Avenue. When council members approved the University Village plans in July, they deleted the 13 spaces because of safety concerns; city staffers feared cars would back out of the spaces into oncoming traffic or endanger shoppers heading into and out of the store's garden center. Thirteen spaces might not seek like a big deal, but they were to Lowe's. The company was unhappy and argued its business plan requires a certain number of spaces. Also, the store already had given up parking areas to accommodate shopping center setbacks, traffic circulation and other users. On Tuesday, Sept. 11, the council reversed itself and approved a revised plan hammered out by city staffers, the developer and Lowe's; the new plan altered landscaping and traffic patterns to create more room for cars backing out of the 13 spaces. "This is a good example of the public and private sectors getting together for mutual benefits and for a good decision and a good resolution," said Kevin Kratt, University Village's developer. The shopping center, where Costco Wholesale Club also will build a store, is a cornerstone of a North Nevada redevelopment project, from Garden of the Gods Road to Interstate 25. Costco and Lowe's likely will start construction in early 2008, with completion in 2009.

Chefs warehouse sale Saturday

What’s cooking at chefs (formerly Chef’s Catalog) besides a new name without a capital C?

For one thing, there’s a warehouse sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at chefs, 5070 Centennial Blvd. Great deals are promised on Apilco dinnerware, Culinary Institute of America pots and pans, and scratch and dent items.

Chefs, meanwhile, has engaged ForeSee Results to gauge customer satisfaction with its Web site, http://www.chefscatalog.com/. ForeSee Results, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., touts itself as the market leader in online customer satisfaction management.

“We have a robust and successful catalog channel, but this is the first time we’ve been able to get a handle on how well our Web site is handling customers,” said Tim Littleton, senior vice president of marketing for chefs.

Chefs recently established an office in San Francisco for its design and production departments, but the company says the main operation will remain in Colorado Springs.

New daylighting showroom opens Sept. 15

Solar Design of Colorado, a Solatube dealer for El Paso, Pueblo and Teller counties, will open a daylighting showroom at 4655 Town Center Drive, unit #20, on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Customers can enter a drawing to win a free do-it-yourself kit.

The company sells various interior lighting systems that bring natural light inside a home.

Mistrust factor restricts telecommuting

A new telecommuting survey by intranet software developer Intranet Dashboard, shows that 70 percent of 390 respondents were restricted from teleworking, with the main reason cited as lack of trust in employees by upper management.

But management did acknowledge significant savings in infrastructure costs and absenteeism and gains in productivity when telecommuting was available to employees. Eighty-three percent of companies listed telecommuting as a company incentive or perk. And 95 percent of telecommuters have access to the company's intranet.

Telecommuting is expected to reach 100 million corporate employees working from home at least one day a month by 2008, according to Gartner and Deloitte.

South Academy not yet a candidate for urban renewal

South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs has caught the attention of city officials, who say it's one of five older areas in need of redevelopment. But the stretch of Academy -- roughly between Drennan Road on the south and Constitution Avenue on the north -- isn't close to becoming an urban renewal area, despite rumblings within the real estate industry. Hendricks & Partners, a national real estate company that specializes in apartments, recently issued a second quarter report for the Rocky Mountain region. In giving an overview of the Springs' economy and real estate landscape, Hendricks declared city officials were planning to designate South Academy as an urban renewal site. Not true, says Chuck Miller, a retired city planning official and now a consultant to the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority. Yes, Mayor Lionel Rivera and City Council members identified South Academy as a problem area. But the Urban Renewal Authority isn't considering a South Academy redevelopment project, Miller said. "Is it a possibility that it could be an urban renewal area?" Miller said. "I suppose it could, but we haven't been approached by the city and we're not working on it."

USA.Net merges with Connecticut firm

USA.Net Inc., founded 16 years ago as an early computer bulletin board, has merged with a Connecticut-based security software firm.
Colorado Springs-based USA.Net merged Aug. 10 with Perimeter eSecurity Inc. two weeks after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. invested $50 million in Perimeter. Stripes Group LLC and Bessemer Venture Partners, both of New York, joined Goldman Sachs in financing the merger.
USA.Net directors began studying alternatives to finance the company’s growth about a year ago and hired Denver-based St. Charles Capital LLC in January to “explore strategic alternatives,” said David Ramon, USA.Net’s president and chief executive.
USA.Net employs 30 in the Springs and 45 in Denver to provide hosted e-mail and related services to about 2,000 businesses, including United Airlines, Farmers Insurance and Adecco Group. JPMorgan Partners owned two-thirds of the company, while Ramon and chairman Ken Pigott owned 20 percent.
USA.Net will operate as a Perimeter subsidary and will remain in its current locations with its staff and management intact, Ramon said.
The company was founded in 1991 as Community News Service, an early computer bulletin board, became an Internet access provider called Internet Express and later changed its name to USA.Net and moved 11 years ago into hosting e-mail and other services for businesses.
Perimeter, which employs about 200 and has nearly 4,000 customers, is looking to acquire other companies that provide complimentary hosted software services, Ramon said.

Fountain Creek watershed an inspiration

A recent Gazette story about a new Army Corps of Engineers report that recommends safeguards for Fountain Creek (right) and how those controls might affect residential and commercial development served as a reminder to Colorado Springs resident Bob Wearden about the significance of the Fountain Creek watershed. Wearden, a retiree who has self-published two books of poetry, took note of the Fountain Creek watershed in a poem he wrote in 2001. He recently sent a copy to The Gazette, and gave his permission for its publication. He calls it "Watershed Event," and it goes like this:

We know about the jumping frog

of Calaveras County,

But something's even more agog

Here in the Rocky Mountains.

Many things in the region...

Pikes Peak and Seven Falls,

Bring tourists by the legion,

But far above them all...

The celebrated watershed

Of mighty Fountain Creek,

Of which we locals bow our heads

And reverently speak.

You know it by the signage

You see all over town.

Provides us with the drainage,

Without which we would drown.

When rain clouds gather overhead,

Or snowfall comes our way,

We know our trusty watershed

Will send it all away.

We need another festival

To help us pay the rent.

Let's start another festival --

A Watershed Event!

We'll start a watershed website

We'll put it on the net.

So Londoners and Denverites

Can visit without getting wet!

Forget about the culture

NORAD, the rocks of red.

Forget the Starr Kempf sculpture

Celebrate the watershed!

Smoothie King opens in Springs

Three Colorado Springs residents have opened a Smoothie King at 9275 N. Union Blvd., in the King Soopers shopping center at the Marketplace at Briargate. The store offers more than 50 made-to-order smoothies plus healthy living products such as energy bars and vitamin supplements. Smoothie King is a New Orleans-based franchise company with roughly 450 stores in 34 states.

Former Vegas chef departs local hospital for his own gig

Chester Wright, head chef at the new Memorial Hospital North, has moved on.

The former executive chef at the Mirage in Las Vegas started working at the hospital when it opened in April and recently received funding to open his own restaurant in northern Colorado, said Joy Powell, Memorial Hospital North's vice president and administrator.

The hospital's Garden Terrace Cafe, which is building a reputation on serving gourmet-inspired healthy cuisine, is run by independent contractor Sodexho, which is narrowing the list of chef candidates, Powell said.

Four finalists are competing in a cooking contest with five-course meals administrators taste as part of the selection process for the job.

"We have people from the community coming daily to eat lunch and dinner here because of the good food and great prices," Powell said.

Test your knowledge of Colorado

Gov. Bill Ritter has proclaimed Sept. 10-14 as Let’s talk Colorado Week as part of a joint effort by the Colorado Tourism Office and AAA Colorado to increase awareness of what the state has to offer its residents. During the week, residents are invited to visit one of AAA Colorado’s 14 statewide offices to get instate travel ideas. The first 3,000 visitors will receive an informational gift bag. Coloradans also can register to win a weekend trip for two on AAA Colorado’s Spring Wine Train; for details, go to www.aaa.com/colorado.

In addition, AAA Colorado has released a 10-question Colorado trivia quiz. Answers will be available at the AAA Colorado Web site after Gov. Ritter releases them at a Friday press conference. Here are the questions:

1. Where is the annual scuba diving event that takes place at 10,000 feet?

2. What is zipping and where can you zip in Colorado?

3. Where is Penny Hot Springs?

4. Where can you find a bridge named Bob?

5. Where can you see a genuine Star Wars X-wing fighter?

6. Where is America's first "weather trail?"

7. Where can you see the only remaining steam shovel that helped build the Panama Canal?

8. Where is the USA’s highest yacht club?

9. Who was Lou Bunch and where is there a brass bed race in her honor?

10. Where are the only boat locks in Colorado?

We're No. 4 -- as a place to relocate

Colorado Springs has made another list -- this time as one of the better small-market cities to which a family can relocate, according to a 2007 ranking by Primacy, a worldwide relocation service. Colorado Springs was No. 4 on Primacy's list of 50 metropolitan areas with populations of 350,000 to 575,000. The top three areas were Provo-Orem, Utah; Ogden-Clearfield, Utah; and Durham, NC. Primacy used nearly 50 factors important to relocating families. Real estate was one of the top factors, including home prices and affordability, property taxes, appreciation rates, and rent costs. Other factors included the health of the local economy, quality of life, education, climate, recreation and arts and culture. Of metro areas with a population of more than 1.25 million, Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Kansas City, MO-Kansas City, Kan., ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively Of cities with populations between 575,000 and 1.25 million, the top three were Knoxville, Tenn., Wichita, Kan., and Raleigh-Cary, NC. More information: http://www.primacy.com/resources/PRIM-5472.pdf

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.