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.

Wachovia poised to compete

Wachovia banks aren't in the Springs, but its recent buyout of A.G. Edwards brokerage could be the starting point for expansion of the bank here and in the state. Wachovia already owns World Savings banks in the Springs. Put them all together and we could see World branches turning into Wachovias to make easier access for customers to visit for banking and brokerage services. A.G. Edwards' offices in the state, 16 in all, combined with Wachovia Securities offices, 10 in all, also could give the Wachovia name more presence and also serve as banking branches in addition to the 32 World Savings locations, including three in the Springs. Wachovia is in a situation to reposition itself as a major competitor with Wells Fargo and Ent in the Pikes Peak region. Stay tuned.
(Posting courtesy of the Biz Blog's sister blog: Dan's Dollars & Sense)

More on Ramtron exec pay

This bit of information got cut from a story in Thursday's Business section because of space. The story explained the perks Colorado Springs-based publicly traded companies offer their execs.

A study of Ramtron’s executive compensation last year by Massachusetts-based DolmatConnell & Partners found the company’s salaries were at market levels, but its stock-based awards were below what competitors were paying their executives, according to its proxy.

Taeus seeks higher profile

Started as a home-based business 15 years ago, Taeus International Inc. showed off its new offices in the Presidio building, 1155 Kelly Johnson Blvd., near Interstate 25 and North Academy Boulevard, during an open house today.
Art and Kathleen Nutter started the company to focus on reverse engineering of semiconductors and electronic systems to provide evidence in patent infringement, litigation and licensing cases. Taeus, which is an acronym for tearing apart everything under the sun, now employs 30 full-time staffers and has contracted with 246 engineering consultants in Colorado and more than 2,000 worldwide in the past 15 years.
"In the last 15 years, Taeus has directly impacted the Colorado Springs community by providing well-paid consulting jobs to almost 250 engineering professionals and technical subject matter experts in the area," said Glenn Wheeler, the company's vice president of engineering.

OSHA releases pandemic flu guidelines for health care workers

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration on May 21 released new safety and health guidelines for healthcare workers and their employers preparing for a possible influenza pandemic.

Technical information on infection control and industrial hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection in healthcare settings, workplace preparations and planning, plus OSHA standards, are outlined in the report. It's called "Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers." It is available at www.osha.gov.

In February, OSHA released general guidance for all types of workplaces, including how the virus is spread and how exposure in the workplace would likely occur. Should a pandemic occur, OSHA will provide up-to-date information and guidance to the public on the www.pandemicflu.gov Web site.

PPAR grant money

The Pikes Peak Association of Realtors has about has $12,600 in grant money for qualified Pikes Peak area nonprofit organizations and public agencies providing affordable housing. Grant applications will be accepted through July 6.

The money comes from the Colorado Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF), a nonprofit foundation that assists housing efforts across the state.

To be eligible for a grant, organizations must be based in the Pikes Peak region, have a housing related mission and be a public agency or nonprofit agency with a 501©3 status.

Applications are available at the association's office, 430 N. Tejon St. Or contact Michele Van Metre at 633-7718 ext 114 or mvanmetre@ppar.org.

The sweet life at Michelle's

Some odd items on the upcoming auction list for Michelle's shop downtown give a glimpse at what life may have been like working downstairs in the candy factory:

• Sleeping bag
• Sony Boom box
• Booo-oploy board game
• Brass cow bells

Draw your own conclusions.

The auction will be June 19-21. A complete list of auction items is expected to be posted at www.irsauctions.gov at the end of this week.

Critics blast Springs liveability

Colorado Springs has been getting a bad rap on Sperling's Best Places Web site message board, despite the city guide ranking the Springs fourth-best metro area in America.

Some comments from people living here:

• "Only good if you're rich."
• "I've lived in Colorado Springs most of my life. Over the years it has become too expensive to live here. There are no good jobs. If you want a job, you have to work minimum wage."
• "The military doesn't help because the soldiers work, too, so you have to fight them for jobs even though they make decent money from being in the military and they get plenty of discounts in town!"
• "All in all this is only a good place to live if you have the money. Otherwise, go somewhere else!!"
• "The cost of housing is outrageous. The average house is $223k. Houses in good school districts are $350k+. We can afford to buy a house here, but decided not to b/c we hope to leave in 2 yrs or so. That's as long as we can take it."
• "The people here are somewhat nice (but not overly so). If you're expecting smiles and someone making light conversation--don't. No one goes out of their way. Think long and hard about moving here!!!"
• "I do not know any metro area with half a million people that doesnt have a bypass around its city."

Explaining 'fuel surcharge'

Ever wonder why the "fuel surcharge" on Waste Management's bill changes every month? Blame fluctuating fuel prices, says a corporate spokeswoman.

The company, the largest trash and recycling collector in the nation, adjusts it monthly fuel fee for pickup in cities where independent contractors provide collection service. The charge is based on the U.S. Department of Energy's national average for diesel fuel.

"If it goes up the week the billings go out, our fuel surcharge goes up," the spokeswoman says.

Waste Management began adding a fuel surcharge for residential and commercial customers in 2000, using a flat-fee method. Two years ago, the company initiated the current system.

The corporate Web site, www.wastemanagement.com, lists its fuel surcharges.

A proper farewell for Filthy Wilma's

Filthy Wilma’s will be officially laid to rest with a funeral procession June 2. The distinctively named art gallery at 10 Ruxton Ave. in Manitou Springs recently closed, reopening at a new location, 729 Manitou Ave., and with a new name, the Green Horse Gallery.

The gallery was forced to change its name because of its new landlord’s opposition to the name Filthy Wilma’s. In memory of Wilma, local artists and musicians will lead a sidewalk parade from the old location to the new, starting at 2:30 p.m. A grand reopening party will follow from 3 to 7 p.m.

Home buying tips from the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a pair of reports designed to give home buyers and sellers more information about the process. One, about the importance of competition, can be found at ww.ftc.gov/bc/edu/pubs/consumer/general/zgen1.shtm. The other report, on tips to know when buying a home, can be found at ww.ftc.gov/bc/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/zalt001.shtm.

Event planner starts her own company

Denielle Backstrom has opened Backstrom Events, a Colorado Springs company that specializes in organizing and managing corporate conferences, parties, weddings, fundraisers and retreats.

Backstrom said she employs creativity and knows how to work within a budget. She has planned more than 100 events for companies and nonprofit organizations in Colorado Springs. Among her clients are Red Noland Auto Group and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

For more information, call her at 302-2950 or visit www.backstromevents.com.

Diesel car and truck drivers faring better in price spike

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has broken a record each day since May 7, but the price of diesel isn't anywhere near record prices. Why? Industry experts say the supply of diesel is not as short as the supply of gasoline -- and the current price hikes are primarily due to demand outpacing supply.

The average price of diesel per gallon in Colorado Springs was $3.17 last week, 11 cents lower than the record high of $3.28 a gallon, set Oct. 24, 2005.

Regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.22 in Colorado Springs, $3.26 statewide and $3.10 nationwide. All were record high prices.

Diesel-powered cars and trucks also get better mileage than those with gas-powered engines, so money spent on diesel fuel goes even further.

New survey shows stress of Denverites

Quick, what's the top city for stress? New York? Right. What's second? Denver? Right.

At least according to a new national survey released May 21 by health insurance provider CIGNA HealthCare.

Denver was one of eight cities studied in the Health and Well-Being in America Survey of 2,350 people. While the results show Denver residents believe they are in pretty good shape healthwise, they're also totally stressed out -- as much as people living in Washington D.C.

Sixty-one percent of Denver residents polled said they're in excellent or very good health, and 83 percent believe others would say they're in good shape. That's the highest percentage reported, beating the national average of 73 percent.

But 29 percent of Denver residents polled said they become irritable when stressed, surpassing the national average of 25 percent. The only other city that reported the same percentage as Denver was Washington, D.C.