Pueblo Star Journal - June 2023

Such great heights

Inside Pueblo’s historic Eilers Neighborhood: rooted in Slovenian culture, steel mill ties

By Luke Lyons

In the shadow of the EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel Mill, formerly the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, lies a Spanish colonial church — its steeple piercing high into the sky, casting a shadow onto Mesa Avenue.

Just down the street is Eilers’ Place. First opened in the 1930s, it is one of Pueblo’s oldest establishments and still serves as a popular watering hole.

Midcentury-style homes line the avenues of Mesa, Berwind, Eilers, Taylor and Egan in a section of town known as the Eilers Neighborhood,sometimes referred to as Eiler Heights or Old Bojon Town. It was here that Slovenian (along with Croatian and Serbian) steel workers settled in from the late 1800s through the midcentury.

Though some generations of families have remained in the neighborhood, many have moved to other parts of the Steel City. Still, Eiler Heights remains the center of Pueblo’s Slovenian community and the one of the city’s most historic and iconic neighborhoods.

Eiler Heights geography: Where is the Eilers Neighborhood?

While there are no specific boundaries, many consider the surrounding neighborhoods part of the Eilers Neighborhood. There are several different thoughts on the area’s boundaries. Many experts and ex-residents define the boundaries differently.

Pueblo attorney Anthony Perko, who is of Slovenian decent whose family has attended St. Mary’s Church for four generations, defines the area east of Northern Avenue and the surrounding areas of Santa Fe Hill as the Eilers Neighborhood.

“[The boundaries are] the east end of Northern Avenue and surrounding areas on Santa Fe Hill,” Perko said. . “The area’s boundaries can be considered from the intersection of Northern and Interstate 25, proceeding north to where the area starts to go down the hill, proceeding east along the hill where it curves around towards the southeast at approximately Midwest Steel. Then, it proceeds along Northern and the north end of the EVRAZ plant, back to the southeast corner.”

Roselawn Foundation President Jason Falsetto said the area is certainly the area comprised of midcentury-style homes off of Mesa Avenue, and includes much of the recent Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site. Due to former smelter sites in the area, the EPA recognized the soil as being contaminated after multiple soil samples. The EPA then led a multi-million-dollar effort in treating and decontaminating the soil. The project is expected to be

Eiler Heights is one of Pueblo’s most historic neighborhoods. Photos by Jeffry Moore. EILER HEIGHTS continued on page 6

Photos by Jeffry Moore

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Creating creative community

GUEST COLUMN

From our roots in Emily Gradisar’s now-closed anti-café on Santa Fe Avenue through our yearand-a-half-long remodeling of the old Grand Prix building at 615 East Mesa Avenue, our new venture, The Ethos, has had the same mission: creative community.

We are a space where everyone can show up as their authentic selves, a place where we can build a sense of community, find our creative selves and showcase the spirit of Pueblo’s diverse communities.

The Ethos houses a makerspace, sober bar, classroom, commercial kitchen and meeting space for rent. We offer classes on all types of making. We are a community space full of artists, creatives and makers who come together to collaborate, create and inspire. The sign above our business says “creative community” and we build on the ideas in those two words.

The first idea we build on is “community.”

The building we now call The Ethos was built in 1920 and has housed Anzick’s Steak House, Strilich’s Lounge and the Grand Prix, restaurants that fed generations of steel mill workers and their families as well as many others. The pool hall, now attached to the main building, was a community gathering

Sober bar co-owner on how The

place, where people listened to baseball games on the radio. We’re preserving the graffiti on the walls there. We think that one of the two basements was used to make bootleg wine; the other had a bowling alley. The house on the property was home to members of the Anzick, Strilich and Montoya families.

Those names reflect some of the ethnic roots of Pueblo: the Anzicks from Slovenia, the Strilichs from Croatia and the Montoyas from New Mexico. The names and the history of this place reflect the Pueblo community but also demonstrate that Pueblo is a community of communities. Pueblo people love to know how you fit into the communities of Pueblo. What is the first question two Pueblo people ask each other when they first meet?: “What high school did you go to?”

From the native communities on whose land The Ethos is located, through the five countries whose flags have flown over the area, to BEGIN (The Bessemer, Eiler’s/Bojon Town, and Grove Improvement Network), we see a strong line of community.

Ethos

empowers ‘makers’

We feel a strong connection to the neighborhood and to Pueblo. We belong to Pueblo, but we also belong to the many communities that make up this town. We want to support and build Community and communities.

The second idea we build on is “creativity.”

Pueblo is a maker city.

Pueblo makes steel, but we also roast coffee, we design and make jewelry, we customize hot rods and we paint murals. We have great manufacturing companies that make carbon disk brakes for aircraft, towers for wind turbines, traction chains, rail products, custom kitchen cabinets, fruit-handling equipment, bath and body products, and more.

Pueblo is a city of makers, artists, artisans and creatives. The words “creative community” on the sign above the entrance describe The Ethos, describe our mission and also describe Pueblo. Our makerspace is a place for people to work on their projects, learn new skills and connect with others who share their interests.

We want you to discover what you can make. We believe that creativity and connection can thrive in a sober environment, and we’re excited to offer a new type of gathering space for our community. We want to change the Pueblo question from “What high

THE ETHOS continued on page 4

Board of Directors: Gregory Howell, Kennedy Pugh, Chantal Woodyard, Leslie Nazario

Advisory Board: Nicki Hart, Susan Wolf, Caroline Trani, Jayson Peters

News content, sports & podcast manager: Ben Cason Arts & News editor: Rory Harbert

Contributors: Patsy Kate Booth, Chris Doose, Jane Fraser, Alison Gervais, Vicky Hansen, Rachel Kutskill, Kyle Laws, Luke Lyons, Jocelyn Martinez, Maria Martinez, Karen Wallace.

Special thanks to: Beulah Valley Pottery, Center Toward Self Reliance, Colorado Health Symposium, Creative Consortium of Pueblo, Fuel & Iron, Karmic Konnection, Steve Kelley, Mosh Ramen, Photography by Lyss, Pueblo Brain Injury, Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation, Pueblo Makes, Pueblo Friends of the Arkansas River, Pueblo Transit, Sangre de Criso Arts and Conference Center, Senior Resource Development Agency, Surelock Locksmith and The Ethos,

Rational Media Ltd. dba The Pueblo Star Journal is fiscally sponsored by Positive Content. As a fiscal sponsor, Positive Content acts as an umbrella organization for our missionfocused work, and accepts and administers funds on our behalf. Positive Content is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which makes all donations to us tax deductible.

Send donation checks to:

Positive Content, c/o Pueblo Star Journal Fund

301 N. Main St, Suite 101, Pueblo, CO 81003

or donate online: PuebloStarJournal.org/Donate

Comic by Steve Kelley.

Photo courtesy ofJane Fraser

Jane Fraser

The Ethos co-owner

THE ETHOS

continued from page 3

National Makers Week

PSJ celebrates Pueblo creatives

By Gregory Howell PUEBLO STAR JOURNAL

The National Week of Making is a relatively new event that was first established in the United States in 2014. The event was created by the Obama administration to promote the idea of making and tinkering, and to encourage people of all ages to explore their creativity and inventiveness.

The first National Week of Making was held from June 12 to June 18, 2014, and it was celebrated with various events and activities throughout the country. The event was designed to bring together individuals and organizations from a wide range of fields, including education, industry, and government, to support and celebrate the maker movement.

school did you go to?” to “What do you make?”

We are community-centered, radically-inclusive and locally-invested. Humans crave community with others; we aim to be a place where everyone in Pueblo can feel that they belong. No matter how you choose to identify we welcome all individuals, except radical hate groups. Don’t bring hate to The Ethos. From supply sourcing to the businesses we partner with, we strive to invest back into Pueblo first.

“Ethos” means the spirit of a community or era, and we’ve had just about enough of other people telling us what Pueblo is. The time to let others define us has passed. It’s time to get to work to create the community we want.

We want to make things. We want to make space for other people to make things. We want to build on that strong feeling of community that we foster together.

You can learn more about The Ethos, sign up to teach or attend a class, become a member of the makerspace, suggest an entertainer for the sober bar or request to rent a private space or the commercial kitchen at ethospueblo.com.

Since then, the National Week of Making has been celebrated annually, typically during the second week of June. The event has grown in popularity and scope, with more and more organizations and individuals participating each year. In addition to promoting creativity and innovation, the event is also intended to encourage collaboration and community building, and to foster a sense of entrepreneurship and civic engagement. Overall, the National Week of Making has become an important part of the maker movement, and has helped to inspire countless people to explore their creativity and pursue their passions.

HOW TO FIND PUEBLO MAKERS

Pueblo Makes “supports all makers in Pueblo” by hosting monthly meetings hosted by Makers of every kind sharing their craft and creating networks to support each other.

Pueblo Makes meets from 3:30-5pm, every the third Tuesday of each month, typically at Watertower Place, but often at different Maker’s spaces for hands-on learning. Visit the website at pueblomakes.com for more details.

The Ethos is located on 615 E Mesa Ave, in Eiler Heights. (Photo/Google Maps).

(Photo/ Facebook)

Re-Inspired Minds

Center Toward Self-Reliance reflects active community

For over 30 years, the Center Toward Self-Reliance has been serving Pueblo and 16 other counties across southeast Colorado. We provide services to any and all people with disabilities and are proud to do so. What sets CTSR and over 400 other centers for independent living across the nation, apart from other agencies, is that we are consumer driven. We are an organization for the disability community, run by members of the disability community. Over 50% of our staff and Board of Directors are required to have a disability, which further emphasizes the importance of our core service of peer support. Receiving services and support from an individual with similar lived experiences can be invaluable.

With over a dozen specialized programs including low vision and deaf services, housing, nursing home and youth transition, durable medical equipment rentals and more, we strive to meet the needs of our consumers to the best of our ability. CTSR is honored to partner with Re-Inspired Minds to further provide services to brain injury survivors, their family members, and friends.

Pueblo Brain Injury strives for quality of life

In 2019, Pueblo Brain Injury received community grants offered by MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network. PBI requested additional grants for support groups offered by the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado to provide group activities. Pueblo Brain Injury will continue to provide support groups, classes and activities.

In December 2021, Re-Inspired Minds became a nonprofit to assist brain injury survivors. We have strived to build bridges between individuals in our community and local resources. We assisted with access to services and supported quality of life for those in Pueblo and surrounding counties and continue to do so.

Agencies are connected to provide services to the Pueblo brain-injury community. Individuals with a brain injury in Pueblo/surrounding counties are supported in obtaining services and are empowered as self-advocates and contributors to their own needs and the contribution to ongoing needs of our community.

During COVID, our ability to reach our community became challenging as support groups, classes and community activities in Pueblo were shut down. PBI reinvented how to reconnect with our community and went online. It allowed for brain injury survivors throughout Colorado and outside of Colorado to connect and support each other during those isolated times.

We continue to collaborate with community and local resources and are now partnered with the Center Toward Self-Reliance to host the Spring Jubilee June 2 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., located at 901 W. Eighth St. We welcome all disabilities in moving forward to support self-advocacy and their contribution to the community. Stop by and meet local businesses to learn more about their services, enjoy lunch on us and free entertainment.

Today we share Re-Inspired Minds logo created by Doug Niccoli, a father whose son is a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury. Velvet Serna of VS Advance Graphic Design & Printing provided graphics. Thank you.

Maria Martinez

PBI Director

Alison Gervais

I.L. Coordinator

Doug Niccoli, a father whose son is a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury, created the Re-Inspired Minds logo.

complete by 2027, according to the EPA website, and encompasses the original smelter site, located south of the Arkansas River between the Bessemer and Eilers Neighborhoods.

“It really does incorporate all the way to the Santa Fe bluff area all the way to Midwest Steel,” Falsetto said. “In terms of an official site, it’s where the Colorado smelter was originally. That’s where the superfund cleanup was.”

Falsetto explained that the smelter site is where Slovenian and Croatian immigrants settled the area between the 1890 and 1910. The largest influx of immigrants, he said, was between 1905 and 1915.

St. Mary’s church brings people to Eilers Neighborhood

As more Slovenian immigrants ventured to the New World in search of a better life, one man helped establish Pueblo’s growing Slovenian population.

In the late 1800s, the Rev. Cyril Zupan, a Slovenian Catholic, came to Colorado from Slovenia. Zupan was guided to Colorado by the Trunk Index — an index used by the church that tracked where populations of immigrant groups lived in the United States. Zupan recognized a need for his services in Colorado,

EILER HEIGHTS

particularly, in Pueblo.

continued from page 1

He took monthly train-trips up north to what would become Leadville and the Denver-area to hear confessions along the front ranges. After several trips, he realized a church was needed in the southern part of the state.

In 1895, Zupan purchased an area of Clark Street in Pueblo’s Grove neighborhood. There, the first St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church and its Catholic school were built.

Annette Charron, vice president of outreach for Slovenian Union of America Inc., has studied the history of Pueblo Slovenians and the Eilers Neighborhood for much of her adult life. She said that Zupan played an integral part in building the neighborhood.

“He was just very, very dedicated,” she said . “He was instrumental in sort of establishing this neighborhood.”

The church was badly damaged in the flood of 1921. As many workers moved to the modern-day Eilers Neighborhood from the Grove, Zupan decided it would be best to relocate the church.

He bought an 11-acre stretch of land up the hill that cost $25,000 and covered four, full city blocks. This stretch of land extended to South Santa Fe Avenue and included the community baseball field.

The subdivision, named after Zupan, housed the new church and Catholic school, as well as land for homes to be built. The new church opened in the early 1950s, after Zupan’s death.

Today, Zupan’s legacy church, located at 217 E. Mesa Ave., still serves as the center of Pueblo’s Slovenian community.

“[The church] serves a pretty healthy population of Slovenian descendants of the area today,” Falsetto said. “The Catholic Church is declining in population worldwide, I would say [St. Mary’s] is a healthier [population] in Pueblo. There’s also been an influx of Italians into that area as well.”

Eilers’ Place: the social center of the Eilers Neighborhood

While St. Mary’s served as the spiritual center of the Eilers Neighborhood, Eilers’ Place may be considered the social center.

The tavern has long served as a place for families to gather and mingle with others from the neighborhood and surrounding areas. It has remained open for more than 85 years.

Adults would enjoy alcoholic beverages while children would eat candy and drink soda — often bought by generous patrons or bar workers.

“It was really a family place,” Charron said. “If a baby was born, they’d bring them in and take a picture to put on the wall.

“It was never really considered a “bar-bar.”

Eilers’ Place remains open to this day, and has been run by generations of the same family.

Eilers’ is located right across from the church and former school.

“You wouldn’t be able to open a bar there nowadays,” Charron said. “If they sold the bar to someone who wasn’t in the Glavich family, they wouldn’t be able to get a liquor license.”

The family is grandfathered into a preexisting code that allowed an establishment to serve liquor. Though the school is not open today, the code still does not

Eilers’ Place has operated as the social center of Eiler Heights for 85 years. Photo by Jeffry Moore.

“It was really a family place. If a baby was born, they’d bring them in and take a picture to put on the wall.”

– Annette Charon , Vice President of outreach for Slovenian Union of America

Photo by Jeffry Moore

allow for a liquor license.

The bar was originally a grocery store and opened in 1933. Matt and Josephine Glavich opened the grocery store in the front of their corner house. Matt Glavich died two years later and Josephine turned the store into a bar.

It has been Eilers’ Place since, and has been home to events like kielbasa races, the Bojon Triathlon (consisting of bowling, horseshoes and darts), a Christmas party and other festivities.

Memories from the Eilers Neighborhood

While younger generations have moved away from the neighborhood, many still visit the neighborhood whether it is to attend church, visit Eilers’ Place or for festivities held there which celebrate the history and culture of the neighborhood.

Four generations of Perko’s family have attended St. Mary’s. His grandparents attended the parish and school in the ‘30s and ‘40s. His paternal grandparents lived on Bohmen Avenue and his paternal grandmother grew up in the neighborhood during the Great Depression.

He said he has many great memories of spending time in the neighborhood.

“There’s the annual block party called Kres Dan which marks mid-summer,” he said, recalling the bonfire holiday. “[I remember] parish festivals and playing on the slag heap on the side of the hill.”

Falsetto’s grandparents were born next to each other. One stayed on Berwind Avenue while the other moved to Route Avenue. They married as young adults.

“Our family started out there on both sides, right next to the church where it is now,” Falsetto said.

Falsetto himself doesn’t have memories in the neighborhood, other than his family showing him the home.He is not a regular attendee at the church, but said St. Mary’s is a welcoming place for all.

“It was always a welcoming place and has a higher concentration of both Slovenian and Italian descendants in the community,”he said.

The neighborhood today — and its future

Perko said that many were concerned about what would happen to the neighborhood during the EPA’s Superfund clean up and study.

He said it appears that the project is not going to stigmatize or hurt the area.

“To a large extent, [the neighborhood] remains the center of the Slovenian-American community in the city, particularly relating to the church and its festivals,” Perko said. “During the course of the Superfund designation, there was great concern that the area would be stigmatized for decades. Fortunately, the process seems to be nearing completion without that taking place.”

Falsetto said the community there is “stable” and that the Superfund has actually helped improve some of the areas.

He said that it “ has definitely brought more attention to the region” and that he hopes that it will lead to growing and improving the community.

“The biggest thing I would say is the potential for that community to become more than what it is,” he said. “It’s growing, but it can be such a cultural center for Slovenian heritage, not just for Pueblo, but for the region and state.I think there’s a lot of potential to invest into the community and bring it back to really honor the heritage.”

Falsetto also highlighted a need for safety in the community., saying he believes there is a need for mental health resources and drug rehabilitation resources.

In addition, he said he would like to see the former school building utilized to preserve and honor the neighborhood’s past or as a solution to the lack of affordable housing.

“The schools have been defunct for a long time,”Falsetto said. “I don’t think it’ll ever become a school again, but that would be great as a museum or a multi-use space with maybe a restaurant in it as well. Maybe turn it into income or lower income housing that can help bring people back into society.”

Falsetto added, that it will take money to provide such resources.

“It’s gonna take money … the basic answer is we just need millions of dollars,” he said.

Generational debate

Two Slovenian Puebloans weigh-in on modern acceptance of ‘ethnic slur’

By Luke Lyons

In the past 15-20 years, many have called the Eilers Neighborhood “Old Bojon Town” or “Bojon Town.”Though, the term “bojon” has long been considered a derogatory term for those of Slovenian descent.

Pueblo attorney Anthony Perko — whose family has attended St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church in the neighborhood and is of Slovenian descent — said that the acceptance of the word seems generational.

“People appear to find the term more permissible to use now than they once did,” he said.“There are many legends and lore as to how the term came to be, and what it refers to.”

Perko said he believes the term is likely a derivation of some manner of Bohemia, a part of the Czech Republic.

“The older generations, and many Pueblo residents today, did not and do not use the word as a term of kindness or endearment,” Perko said. “My maternal grandfather and paternal great-grandparents, and certain family friends (who were first generation), disliked it immensely.”

Roselawn Foundation President Jason Falsetto echoed that observation.

He said he does not find the term offensive, but older members of his family do.

“For me, it’s not as big of an issue,” Falsetto said. “I grew up knowing, ‘Hey, I’m Slovenian.’ But there are some older members of my family and some other relatives and friends that consider it a derogatory term to them because it was used very negatively.”

Falsetto explained that many older Slovenians who grew up before the breakup of Yugoslavia knew themselves as Yugoslavian — not Slovenian or Croatian. Even older Slovenians considered themselves part of Austria-Hungry if they grew up before World War I. Prior to the war, Serbia was ruled by the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. After, it became part of Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia dissolved in the early 1990s, Slovenian became its own sovereign country.

“But, they hated Austria,” he said. “So they would by Yugoslavian through and until World War II and until [Yugoslavia] disintegrated in the 90s.”

Perko said that the term was often used as an ethnic slur against Slovenian immigrants and their children were often not allowed to use the term.

While the Eilers Neighborhood was not historically referred to as “Bojon Town” until more recently, Perko said it did have another nickname.

“It was occasionally referred to as ‘Kurja Vas’ which translates to ‘chicken village,’” he said. “This was due to a large number of chicken coops being located in residents’ backyards, some of which still remain.”

Perko said he is aware that some use the term differently today, but that it still remains an offensive term to many.

“The word ‘Bojon’ originated as, and remains to many, an offensive, ethnic slur that they do not like seeing used,” he said.

Pics from the past

Eiler Heights history project

The photo on the left depicts the Angelo Llamo’s Grocery Store. The building now houses Eilers’ Place. The photo on the right captures Rev. Cyril Zupan celebrating his Golden Jubilee on October 26, 1936. The last photo shows a group of children from 1958 dressed for All Saints Day.

In 2014, Historitecture, a historical preservation agency, worked with the Eilers community to publish a 60-page document and a 15-minute documentary on the history of the Slovenian neighborhood near the steel mill. The project was grant-funded by the City of Pueblo. The complete project can be found at historitecture.com.

Photos courtesy of Historitecture and the City of Pueblo.

Unseasonably prepped

By Ben Cason

On May 15, members of the public got their first look at the new Pueblo East High School. A week later, another ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to debut the new Pueblo Centennial High School.

Pueblo School District 60 Superintendent Charlotte Macaluso spoke to those assembled in front of the new East High School.

“We could never have arrived at this moment without the collaborative spirit that defines District 60 as well as the Pueblo community,” she said.

In 2019, the Board of Education proposed toPueblo School District 60 voters to approve of the construction of new high schools for East and Centennial, along with significant upgrades to the existing Central and South high schools. Since the bond was first approved, District 60 now plans to create a total of five new schools with the funds.

Macaluso said: “Through a dedicated effort that included stakeholder meetings, planning sessions, town hall forums and hours of discussion, we arrived at a historic $218 million bond package that, gratefully, passed by a strong margin as the community concurred with the district that a new chapter in educational facilities was ready to be written.”

Centennial

Reflecting the community’s investment of $74 million, the new Centennial High School campus sits just north of the current building, which has served Bulldogs since 1973. This is the fourth school building for Centennial, whose history dates back to 1876.

Students and faculty will move into the new school beginning this fall, with classes starting August 15.

Macaluso said the building has an “inviting and welcoming facility that boasts every amenity a scholar and educator could hope for: including state-ofthe-art security features, flexible learning spaces, first-rate athletic and performance arenas, and an HVAC system conducive to comfortable learning.”

The new school features a 1,200-capacity gymnasium, modernized classrooms, outdoor balconies and unique spaces for students to study and socialize.

Macaluso said: “As you will see, this resembles a small college campus as much as a high school: a home fitting for the Bulldog community, long known for its pride, dedication to tradition and strong programs in JROTC, video broadcasting, music and the

Health Academy.”

Both schools have state-of-the-art auditoriums for plays… . Additionally, Centennial’s new building will house a wood shop for its construction technology program. The school features a room specifically to house Centennial’s Health Academy, which includes hospital beds and adult-sized dummies.

The previous building will soon be demolished. In the coming months there will be additional athletic fields near the new school.

Macaluso, Centennial Principal Dave Craddock, members of the District 60 Board of Education, construction/design heads and esteemed alumni cut the ceremonial red ribbon. The ceremony included the presentation of colors by Bulldog JROTC Cadetsand performances by cheer, dance and marching band with the Schola Cantorum singing the national anthem.

East

East High School has been at 9 McNeil Rd since 1959, when East and South were introduced. When the bond to create a new school was introduced, many East alumni, students and teachers gathered in protest of the decision.

With Superintendent Macaluso, East Principal Andy Clementi, members of the D60 Board of Education, and construction/design heads leading the way, the ceremonial gold ribbon was cut. The ceremony also included the presentation of colors by Eagle JROTC Cadets, an inspirational rendition of the National Anthem by Les Jongleurs, and performances by East cheer, dance and instrumental musicians.

The new school for East High School is identical in terms of layout to the new Centennial, but it will

be used differently for some programs. Both projects cost $74 million to demolish the old schools and construct the new ones, along with additional exterior work. This work will be done over the next year, students will begin at the new school this fall.

The new schools have advanced safety and security features, which include secured entry points, security cameras and controlled access at every door as well as ballistic resistant glass.

East will feature a new kitchen to house its large culinary program that Centennial’s building will not have.Instead of the wood shop like Centennial has, East will provide space for their manufacturing and engineering program.

Both schools have auxiliary gymnasiums with weight and training rooms. Additionally, both schools have space to display historical mementos that will be transferred over from the current buildings.

The design and construction process for the new schools were carried out by MOA Architecture, HGF Architects Inc. and HW Houston Construction in a partnership with Pueblo District 60. They will continue to work on the demolition of the old schools and work on exterior site work.

District 60 is scheduled to host ribbon cuttings for the new Sunset Park Elementary School on Aug. 10; Franklin School of Innovation on Aug. 11; and Nettie S. Freed K-8 Expeditionary Academy on Aug. 24. Each of the ribbon cuttings will be held at 3 p.m. These three schools are also being created with the same $218 million bond for Pueblo District 60.

The new Centennial and East will be open for guided tours to be announced by Pueblo District 60. More information and digital tours can be found online at pueblod60.org.

Ready for fall: Centennial, East first to cut ribbon for new District 60 schools

East High School cut their ceremonial gold ribbon on May 22. Photos courtesy of Pueblo School District 60.

the community concurred with the district that a new chapter in educational facilities was ready to be written.”

– Charlotte Macaluso, District 60 superintendent

Photo courtesy of Pueblo District 60

‘til I die’

GUEST COLUMN

Ihave so much to tell you all; My life story, my fifteen years in the food and beverage industry, my battle with end stage renal disease, the loss of my mom, Christine Marie Martinez, and how I had a kidney transplant and opened Mosh Ramen in the Fuel and Iron Food Hall in a chaotic six week stretch. I’d love to talk about my battles with alcoholism, depression and loss. On the flip side, I’d also love to talk about my successes and achievements. In short, though, my story is a classic coming of age story, one of failure and redemption. In time, I’ll tell these stories, either formally or informally. This piece, however, is not about me. It’s about Mosh, a project 36 years in the making.

Mosh really is an extension of my personality, but since we’ve opened, since we’ve built this amazing team, it has sort of stopped being just a creative outlet for me. In the short time we’ve been open, it has taken on a personality of its own. It’s still very much my brainchild, but I’ve enjoyed seeing how my crew has embraced it in their own way. I’ve loved seeing the public have such a positive reaction to our weird little concept. Like any creation, once you’ve put it into the world, it becomes something entirely new and that’s actually been very exciting for us…seeing the evolution of Mosh in real time and watching this city breathe life into it.

I’ve struggled explaining to people what “Mosh” means. Yes, it does mean

Fuel

“bashing into each other in the pit,” but it has a different meaning to me. Two words that have always resonated with me are Ikijai (Japanese) meaning “a reason for being” and Gemütlichkeit (German) meaning “peace of mind, belonging, social acceptance and unhurry.” Mosh is both things and more.

Mosh is about doing whatever we want to do, how we want to do it, and ignoring the critics and haters, which, like gremlins, you shouldn’t feed after midnight or they leave nasty google reviews. It’s not about making traditional ramen nor will it ever. It’s not about making traditional bulgogi, that just sounds boring. We’re not pretentious. We don’t care what they’re doing with ramen in Portland or Austin. That’s just not us. We don’t make food for the food snobs, snollygosters and yelp goblins. If you’re looking for authentic Asian food, sorry, not going to find it at Mosh.

What you will find, though, is food that you want to eat. Food that you crave at midnight, the morning after a wild night, on cheat day, when you’re feeling down, when you’ve worked a twelve-hour shift and a stupid salad just won’t do it or after you’ve been dumped and all you want to do is eat your feelings…“Comfort Food for the Apocalypse.” When the world feels like it’s ending, a hot bowl of noodles and some dumplings can do more than most therapy sessions. This was, after all, how I settled on ramen.

It was around Christmas time, 2019. I had been on dialysis for three months at this point and depression had a pretty tight hold on me. I had an uncertain future; I was giving up on chasing my dreams, and I had this feeling like the glow was being sucked out of me, daily. It wasn’t a good time in my life. I would occasionally treat myself to dinner and a beer to feel just a little better.

This particular night, I plopped down at the Brues Alehouse bar and ordered the house Trippel. Trippels of all sorts are one of my favorite beers and this one was amazing. At the time they had ramen on the menu. I gave it a go. Now, I still can’t describe this bowl in a way that does it justice, and maybe it was the two Trippels talking, but to this day, that meal is still my favorite. There was something about the scene that night or the mood I was in, but it made me emotional and happy and introspective and hopeful. I didn’t want to leave…I was home…I was wrapped in the warmth of a good beer and a fucking fantastic bowl of noodles.

Since that night, I’ve been obsessed with creating that same feeling. I hope Mosh can create that same feeling, in our own, warped sort of way.

‘Mosh

& Iron Food Hall chef shares how Mosh Ramen is a lifestyle, not just food

Photo courtesy of Chris Doose

Chris Doose

Mosh Ramen Chef

Chris Doose is quick to explain that Mosh Ramen serves much more than noodles. Photo courtesy of Chris Doose.

Photo courtesy of Chris Doose

Pottery in all forms

By Vicky Hansen

Colorado State University Pueblo art professor showcases three sculptors

Three talented young women shared their artwork in the Colorado State University Pueblo’s Senior Exhibition, an opportunity for graduating fine arts students to showcase the projects they had worked on under the Art and Creative Media department. Their ambitions, as Makersare visualized , as they establish and share their artwork in Pueblo.

Designer Maker Cayton Wagner grew up in Elizabeth, Colorado, and came to CSU Pueblo from an excellent high school art program. She started with developed pottery-making technical skills as well as extensive painting and drawing abilities. In ceramics, she worked to refine her throwing techniques to make lively, full-bodied functional vessels with elegant, austere glaze applications. She regularly uses a soft matte-black glaze in contrast to a milky off-white in bands, with a touch of colorful blue at the calculated overlap. Her work is bold and elegant, made with a practiced authority. Wagner plans to continue making clay work at CSU Pueblo as a nontraditional student with other mature potters.

Her engagement in the community expands beyond the university already. In addition to ceramics work, Wagner is a tattoo artist. This summer with her friends, Angelica Ruiz and Ariana Garcia, Wagner is helping to relocate Ruiz’s business, Luxe V Body Sculpting, to First and Main Street ,downtown, Wagner said she is excited to help her friend grow her business as well as establish her own name as a tattoo artist.

Annaleesha Pence, born and raised in Pueblo, is passionate about animation, drawing and telling stories in her artwork. She loves taking everyday objects and adding her unique, impressionistic touch. Her narratives continue in her clay work. Her piece, “Defying Expectations,” explores a metamorphosis in a bowl of cereal. The piece has a ceramic milk carton that attaches to one of the two interchangeable clay lids to show the movement of how the colorful cereal on the milk overflows.

Pence said she loved choosing this simple-yet-complicated subject that shows how everything changes, even your morning breakfast. This piece refined her techniques and involved troubleshooting, when clay

seems to have a mind of its own. The challenge of the project has since inspired more of her delightful and imaginative creations.

She hopes to find her place, in Pueblo and in her work, to express herself creatively and expand her artistic abilities. Pence would like to have her own studio one day to explore the endless possibilities of all types of art from ceramics to animation.

Another artist from Pueblo is Emily Lucero. She began working in clay in college and plans to continue making with clay and other art media after graduating, balancing her family, artwork and sports-coaching passions. Emily is a stealth potter. She came into the studio quietly and determined. Throwing is not easy and she has refined her throwing skills while continuing to develop her hand-building techniques to realize her charming, imaginative and complex—,often in miniature—pieces.

Lucero said she likes to think “outside the box” and her art making is a “journey.” One might say, “an adventure.” Her most recent pieces are a series of s’more figurines. They are “happy little critters” with unique personalities, with some assembled around a tiny, burning campfire (sculpted out of clay too). These charming figures function as “desk buddies,” meant to keep company next to a computer.

The BFA in Creative Media at CSU Pueblo offers a wide range of creative explorations and encourages students to grow, explore, expand and inform their creativity, offering vigorous courses in various media and challenging Art theory and History to prepare artists to work in the arts, go to graduate school and to teach. It has been my honor to work with these young artist makers as their ceramics professor and I look forward to following their evolving careers. I know this Pueblo Star Journal is featuring “makers” and I’m grateful to share the work of Cayton Wagner, Annaleehsa Pence and Emily Lucero.

I look forward to reading the article about our graduates from last year: Sandrah Burrier, Ashley Martin, and Cayla Peaslee who are opening their clay studio (Creepi Space Studios) and teaching classes at The Ethos.

Vicky Hansen is Professor of Art at CSU Pueblo where she teaches Ceramics and Visual Dynamics (art appreciation). She lives and works in her adobe home and studio where she fires her pottery in a wood burning kiln she built during COVID isolation.

(From top to bottom) Cayton Wagner, Annaleesha Pence and Emily Lucero graduated from Colorado State University in May. One of their final projects involved presenting their works in the Senior Exhibition. (Photos by Kevin Malella.)

Exhibit “Defying Expectations” by CSU Pueblo graduate and sculptor Annaleesha Pence. Photo by Keven Malella.

Exhibit of Cayton Wagner’s elegant take on classic pottery. Photo by Keven Mallela.

THRIVE! with Rachel

Star Journal (PSJ) Happiness Index will rate our suggestions in terms of:

Social support- Does this help connect us as a community and is it inclusive?

Healthy life expectancy- Does this potentially prolong life to a high standard of living and without harm or risk?

Freedoms making life choices - Is this free from imposition on others or ourselves?

Generosity - How cost effective is this for others and ourselves?

witnessing the cascades of pink and orange sunrises, or the red, blue and purple sunsets. Between the rising and setting of the sun, our bluebird days provide the perfect, unfiltered backdrop that social media influencers yearn to capture. What an incredible place to be, to live, where one can abolish camera filters and long lines to snap a photo that leaves other’s begging to know where you are adventuring.

By Rachel Kutskill

The warmer days of spring are here and with that comes more daylight, cool breezes, the sounds of birds, crickets, frogs and such singing us their songs, and the vibrant and full blooms of flowering plants.

It’s such an inviting time of the year where everything feels so fresh and renewed. Our energy cycles are winding back up from our “winter hibernation” and we are ready to venture into our backyards, gardens, parks, trails, lakes, rivers and mountains. The world is thriving around us and in us.

Living in Pueblo has so many perks and benefits when it comes to outdoor activities and adventures. We are blessed to have over 250 days of annual sunshine, with mild enough temperatures to enjoy being outside all year round. We are also conveniently located 150 miles or less from some of Mother Nature’s best attractions, costing quite less than any amusement park I’ve been to. With a full tank of gas and a Colorado Parks Pass, you can find yourself in some of the most beautiful landscapes, which provide the most breathtaking arrays of colors. Depending on the time of day, you may even find yourself

In my opinion, some of Pueblo’s allure is due to the Arkansas River. This mighty waterway starts high in the Rocky Mountains near Leadville, and meanders through rocks, mountains and prairies until it reaches the Mississippi and eventually ends up in the Gulf of Mexico. This river runs right through our town, which has created borders and boundaries for several hundreds years, and provided a prosperous way of life for those who have inhabited the lands around her. But there is also a feeling. A feeling of living so close to the water and experiencing an indescribable tingle or awareness that everything is good—everything is okay. Water is life. Water, and her inhabitants, are thriving.

Personally, I have been fortunate to enjoy the splendid beauty and power of the river while guiding on the Arkansas through Bighorn Sheep Canyon and

The Pueblo

how to ‘Go with the flow’ by taking time by the water

SOUTHERN COLORADO SECURE ONE DOOR AT A TIME"

Lake Pueblo State Park has 4,600 surface acres of water with 60 miles of shoreline, lending a perfect spot to spend some time by the water. Photo courtesy of Rachel Kutskill.

Photo by Rachel Kutskill

THRIVE TIP:

Royal Gorge in Fremont County. Water and rivers have this immense force to be reckoned with while also providing an adventure into the belly of Mother Nature’s soul. Water will always find the path of least resistance, and it is in this, we can learn to go with the flow. There is nothing that matches the feeling you get when recreating on, in, or near the water, and we have plenty of options here in Pueblo to suit your level of comfort in the outdoors.

While the lakes offer a very different experience from the river, they still provide an escape from the normal, urban life in what is referred to as “blue space.” Several studies have been conducted through the years showcasing that those who spend time near the water have lower levels of stress and anxiety and an overall elevated feeling of happiness. Spending time at these blue spaces are associated with positive physical and mental well-being as people seek out the water for quiet introspection, to heal, play and relax. Our lakes provide us with the ability to swim, paddle, boat, ski, board, and sail upon her waters, exploring coves and beaches that are home to a variety of flora and fauna, as well as different breeds of animals, fish and birds.

On a much calmer note, many flock to the river and lakes to cast their lines in hopes of nabbing a brown trout or bass on the other end. Pueblo, being a tourism destination for fishing, has hosted large competitions boasting a yearround ability to stand thigh deep in the waters of the river. The feeling one gets while standing in the water as it flows gently by, the smells of that early morning experience, the sound of the line taking flight and the soft landing of the lure into the smooth water, is something you can sense in your whole body.

Water is what makes us thrive. We feel better with it, in it and around it. There is no doubt that something about water enlivens our senses. Our community members know this and some have stayed because of this.

Pueblo native, Bob Walker grew up on Minnequa Lake, spending summers swimming and water skiing from sun up to sun down. His love of being in the water allowed his comfort level to rise and understand the dynamics of the lakes, which later turned into learning about how water flows on rivers. As Bob learned to paddle and float just about anything on any waterway, he also kept up his skill and enthusiasm for frozen water, skiing and snowboarding around the country. His love of all things water allowed him the opportunity to turn a seasonal ski and snowboard shop into an evergreen business, providing our town with the ability to purchase and rent gear suitable for the Arkan sas River and play waves, as well as Minnequa Lake and Pueblo Reservoir.

At The Edge—Ski, Paddle and Pack, Bob is able to share his immense enthusiasm for water sports with our commu-

nity. With a new location at 685 S. Union Ave, Bob’s love of getting us outdoors continues to expand. Coming soon, you will also be able to experience the river and beautiful levee murals, on a rented electric bike from The Edge.

Bob Walker is one of many in our community that values the river and lakes we have the opportunity to explore and take in our recreation. It is my blessing as well, to have ventured here eight years ago on a whim, and to have felt the magic of the water immediately.

THRIVE TIP:

Stand near the river or body of water, and use deep, slow breaths to become attuned to the water source. Watch as the water moves and swirls anticipating where it will end up. Listen and feel as much as you can. Be in the moment.

PSJ Happiness Index: 3.88/4

• Social Support -3.75/4 Some people have a fear of water, and therefore levels of anxiety or stress may actually heighten during this activity. Please be aware of how water affects you.

• Health - 4/4 Being mindful during activities can produce higher levels of happiness.

• Freedom - 4/4 We can practice this anywhere, anytime, however many times we wish to.

• Generosity -3.75/4 Getting to a water source may require funding in regards to gas or a parks pass.

Stand near the river or body of water, and use deep, slow breaths to become attuned to the water source. Watch as the water moves and swirls anticipating where it will end up. Listen and feel as much as you can. Be in the moment.

SUMMER SOLSTICE

FESTIVAL & LANTERN PARADE

SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2023

4 PM TO 10 PM

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

AT RUNYON LAKE

LANTERN PARADE 7:30 TO 9:30 PM

LOCAL ARTISTS • LIVE MUSIC • FOOD TRUCKS

BEER GARDEN • FAMILY ACTIVITIES

SPONSORED BY PUEBLO BANK AND TRUST • PUEBLO CONSERVANCY DISTRICT THE GREATER PUEBLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • THE EDGE PUEBLO STAR JOURNAL • PUEBLO PARKS AND RECREATION STEEL CITY SOLAR.

HOSTED BY THE PUEBLO FRIENDS OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER

First Friday Art Walk GUIDE

Tell me a story

Sangre de Criso Arts and Conference Center

Based on the lifetime of their art collection, collectors Ron and Una Brasch prepare to bring a new exhibit to the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center (SDC).

The exhibit, titled “Tell Me a Story,” contains a wide range of international, pop, Cuban and contemporary art from the Braschs’ collection. While the range of artwork may not sound cohesive for an exhibit, the Braschs’ collection is joined together through the contemporary aesthetics of the pieces and through narrative storytelling.

“My love affair with art started when I was in college and continued fullblown about 35 years ago. What you will see at Sangre de Cristo is a collection that Una and I have been building for quite a while. The dominant theme of the art collection is narrative art, so oftentimes the art has text with it or just tells a story, and as a writer that appeals to me,” Ron Brasch said.

One unique aspect of the exhibit is the juxtaposition of big-name artists, like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, that Cuban artists are being elevated and equated. It not only puts a spotlight on Cuban artists, but it also gives context to the narratives of the pieces. Curatorial Assistant Elise Olson notes that the Braschs’ approach to art collecting is very personal and involved.

“Ron recognizes the influences of international artists in Cuba, and how the politics and environment are influencing these artists as they move into contemporary art. Having these international pieces like Dali and Warhol act as a support system to the timeline in terms of a narrative to what’s happening in Cuba at the time.” Olson said.

The exhibit will kick off SDC’s 51st annual Gala on June 2nd for an exclusive viewing before the exhibit is open to the public. The Gala themed around the Cuban elements Braschs’ exhibit is titled Havana Night. “Tell Me a Story,” will be open to the public from June 3rd, 2023, through January 13th, 2024.

The art collection of Ron and Una Brasch features works from renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali to emerging Cuban artists. The wide variety from new to classic pieces provide a broadstroke of what has captured the collectors’ interests. Graphic provided by Sangre de Criso Arts and Conference Center.

ARTS

INKWELL: Analogue’s Creative Writing Open Mic

7-9 p.m., second Thursdays, Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

Paranormal Cirque

June 2-11, Pueblo Mall parking lot tent, 3429 Dillon Drive

June 2 – Friday: 7:30 p.m.

June 3 – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

June 4 – Sunday: 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

June 8 - Thursday: 7:30 p.m.

June 9 – Friday: 7:30 p.m.

June 10 – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

June 11 – Sunday: 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Box office opens on-site Tuesday, the week of the show. Nonshow days: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. On show days: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

$10

Info: www.paranormalcirque.com

MUSIC

Line Dancing

EZ 4 p.m., Country/Classic 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Eagleridge Event Center, 805 Eagleridge Blvd., Suite 170

Info: facebook.com/PuebloDanceCompany

Cocktail Hour with Live Music

7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St. Info: facebook.com/AnalogueSolar

Open Mic at Blue Cactus

6-9 p.m. Thursdays, El Nopal’s Blue Cactus Room, 1435 E. Evans Ave.

Info: 719-564-9784

Live Music Fridays

7-9 p.m. Fridays, Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St.

Karaoke Night at The Fallout with KJ Mikey D.

9-11:30 p.m. Fridays, 1227 S. Prairie Ave.

Info: facebook.com/PuebloFallout

Alt Night at Analogue

7-9 p.m. last Saturdays at Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

PUEBLOSTARJOURNAL.ORG/EVENTS/SUBMIT

Track stars shine

Colorado State University Pueblo hosts NCAA Division II Men’s, Women’s Track & Field Championship

By Ben Cason

From May 25-27, the 2023 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships were held at the Colorado State University Pueblo Thunderbowl.

The event offered an incredible opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the country competing at a high level, giving the Thunderwolves’ stars a chance to make the podium in their home stadium. The CSU Pueblo men qualified four student-athletes in two different events, while the CSU Pueblo women qualified five student-athletes in five different events.

Twenty-seven new individual national champions were crowned in Pueblo, as well as Pittsburg State University claiming the overall men’s championship for their second consecutive season. Azusa Pacific University secured their second women’s championship in three years.

One of the stars of the weekend was Pittsburg State’s Cordell Tinch. Tinch became the first male athlete in Division 2 history to secure three individual victories in the same championship meet. Tinch opened up his schedule with a meet-record long jump to claim his first title.

With a bit of wind at their backs, the 110 hurdles competition took center stage. In qualifying, Tinch set the meet record. In the final race he ran 12.87

seconds, triumphing over the field finishing well ahead of the second-place time of 13.42 seconds. This was the fastest time ever by any collegiate competitor without wind considered. Tinch was aided by a +6.0 m/s wind.

The high jump competition was being resolved at the same time as the 110 hurdles. Tinch completed his record setting hurdles victory and then cleared the 7-foot-3-inch bar on his second attempt to claim the title over Evans Yamoah of Central Missouri.

The three victories by Tinch netted Pittsburg State 30 points, which would be the difference between their winning 70 points and second place West Texas A&M’s 47 points. The Gorillas completed a sweep of indoor and outdoor team titles, the first men’s program to achieve the feat since Ashland in 2019.

On the women’s side, the overall competition was won by Azusa Pacific. They scored 55 of their 66 total points in the final 13 events. Minnesota State was second with 57 points. West Texas A&M was third with 49 points.

Saginaw Valley State’s Cheyenne Wiliamson increased her career total to nine national titles, including a third heptathlon crown and first high jump victory.

Another one of the stars on the female side of the tournament was Minnesota State’s Denisha Cartwright, who won the 100 hurdles in a wind-aided 12.94 to become the seventh female athlete in division history to run the event in under 13 seconds in all conditions.

Cartwright, representing the Bahamas, also placed second in the 200 hurdles in a wind-aided 23.10, finished fourth in the 100 in a wind-aided 11.13 and contributed to a runner-up performance in the 4x100 relay in 44.21.

CSU Pueblo Men’s Track and Field finished the championships with a total of 24 points and that placed them in a tie for 13th place with Azusa Pacific overall. The tie for 13th place is the highest for CSU Pueblo since placing 10th with 22 points at the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship.

On the women’s side, the Pack finished in 18th place with 17 points. The 18th place finish is the best for the program, since also finishing 15th at the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championships hosted by Grand Valley State University.

The Pack ended up with 4 runner-up performances between all events. The men’s 800-meter run final featured two Thunderwolves. Sophomore Reece Sharman-Newell entered the NCAA Championships as

In the Men’s 800-meter dash, sophomore Reece Charmen-Newell had the lead for the first 650 meters, but Nebraska-Kearney junior Wes Ferguson passed him. Photo by Ben Cason.

Photo by Ben Cason

the No. 1 seed in the event. Junior Kaleb Tipton ran the third-fastest qualifying time.

Sharman-Newell led for the first 650 meters of the 800-meter race, but Nebraska-Kearney junior Wes Ferguson passed him down the final stretch and won the national title with a 1:45.46 time. Sharman-Newell finished second with a season-best 1:47.31. Tipton finished sixth. Ferguson set the Division 2 record, beating out CSU Pueblo’s Thomas Staines then-record in 2019.

CSU Pueblo seniors Nate Miller and Justin Jenks reached the final for men’s shot put. Miller recorded a school record toss of 18.89 meters to post a national runner-up finish. Miller’s school record toss came on his sixth and final throw of the competition. Ralph Chester of West Chester was sitting at sixth place before his final throw. He threw the ball 19.27 meters on the last attempt to snag first place from Miller. Miller finished second and Jenks finished fourth.

The women’s 800-meter run featured Pack sophomore Helen Braybrook. Braybrook ran the top qualifying time in the preliminaries. Braybrook led throughout most of the race, until Embry-Riddle’s Ukeyvia Beckwith overtook Braybrook down the stretch and captured the national title with a time of 2:06.73.

Braybrook finished as the national runner-up in the event with a personal best time of 2:07.72. It was her second national runner-up finish this year as she also finished second in the 800-meter during the indoor season at the NCAA Championships.

The women’s shot-put featured sophomore Katherine Higgins and freshman Febe Wessels in the final. Katherine Higgins ended as the national runner-up after a school record toss of 15.66 meters. Lexi Hurst of Minnesota State won the event with a toss of 16.41 meters. Wessels finished 10th.

The women’s 100-meter sprint was incredibly close, with Divonne Franklin running an 11.09. The second and third place runners finished with an 11.10.

The men’s 100-meter was also very tight. Makanakaisha Charamba of Carson-Newman won with a 10.02 second run. Six runners finished with a better than 10.1 run, creating a true photo finish. No one in the Thunderbowl knew

the winner until camera review.

West Texas A&M set the meet and Division 2 record in the men’s 4-x-100 Relay at 38.70 second. Devoux Deysel of Angelo State set the meet and Division 2 record for the men’s javelin with a 79.14 meter throw.

Auna Childress of Pittsburg State set the record for the women’s triple jump at 13.37 meters.

The 2024 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held in Emporia, Kansas.

The event was filled several close calls, as the competition was stiff. Photo by Ben Cason.

Photo by Ben Cason

Building naturally

By Rory Harbert

Twenty years ago, Colorado State University Pueblo Professor Emeritus Maya Aviña, who had focused on painting throughout her career, stumbled upon an artform combining her passions of sustainability, spirituality, artistry and practicality. At the intersection of these values was natural building.

Natural building is an ancient tradition that has turned into a green movement, focusing on using organic materials with minimal environmental impact to advocate for alternative architecture that is energy efficient and sustainable. Natural builders often use materials like clay or dirt that can be found near the building site. The practice, with its deep roots as a more primitive type of architecture and its easy accessibility with materials, became a form of cultural expression as different peoples crafted their own methods of construction with the basic components of straw, clay, dirt and unmilled timber.

Aviña works specifically with the technique of cob building. Cob is an old English term for “lump” that is often describing a round loaf of bread. In architecture, cob describes the wet lump of straw-clay mixture used in the craft.

According to the “Handsculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage” by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith and Linda Smiley, which is Aviña’s favored source on the subject, the building material has been used on every continent, under different names and slight variations in form. Ultimately, cob describes mud buildings. The authors explain that cob building in England was evident in the 13th century, became the norm in the 15th century and were widely available through the 1800s until conventional bricks became cheaper to produce and transport via industrialization.

Cob, through the work of the Cob Research institute, is an approved construction method for building codes in the U.S. and other countries.

The makeup of cob is similar to the Southwestern adobe architecture often seen in Pueblo and is the most familiar form of natural building to locals. The key difference is that adobe, which translates to “mud brick,” is created by stacking sundried bricks. Cob is sculpted, by blending the still-wet lumps together, to create a monolithic structure. Both techniques use a clay plaster to create a smooth-but-organic finish. Adobe is often styled with Southwestern touches, but cob does not adhere to a specific design theme. With structures from English cottages to modern housing, cob is not defined by a specific architectural expression. explaining how natural building became more than just a practical way of living but a form of expression for Aviña.

Once Aviña started working with natural building, she began researching natural building during her time as a CSU professor. Aviña went on sabbatical to work on through her cob building projects. She worked on a cob bench with her students, which they nearly finished during the semester. She worked with a visiting artist and students to create a mud mural in the courtyard, and traveled to the School of Visual Arts in New York City to do a presentation on the subject.

Aviña’s architectural design follows that of her inspiration, the Mission San Luis Rey, a 1798 California landmark that served as a Spanish Catholic outpost of the West coast, with its crispy white adobe, scalloped into violin-like shapes. Aviña attended the church in her childhood when she lived in Oceanside.

Aviña adheres to the design principle of “form follows function,” which means that as she sculpts cob, she finds ways to incorporate solutions to living in that environment into the design. A keen eye would catch that many of the benches in her solarium can be used to lounge on, prop a coffee mug on, rest an arm, place a planter and many other use cases.

“In the corner here, I wanted a candle holder up high, But the candle holder needed a little bit of support,” she said, gesturing to a nook between two windows of her solarium. “And so I made that kind of a pillar that comes down and

then I realized if somebody wants to sit there and lean on it. It would be nice to have a shape for them to lean against and so that whole sculptural form in the corner is functional. It’s the result of function, but I think it turned out really pretty.”

A truth window, a false window that reveals the interior craftwork in cob buildings, reveals the straw bales used to line one of the cob walls in her solarium. It showcases the organic craftwork that is used to insulate cob building.

Many of these adornments indicate a bigger picture: loving the space you live in.

“There’s a sensibility that has developed where people like the uniform, straight, linear look of industrialized products,” she said. “They would oftentimes prefer those landscaping bricks instead of natural stone… and I think it’s really unfortunate. But I can’t tell you a single person that’s walked in here and didn’t love this space.”

Loving your space and loving your environment seem to go hand-in-hand with the philosophy of natural building.

“Human consciousness in general is in a state of dissonance because we’ve lost our connection to nature,” she said. “And so, for a long time, my art was about that, and it was about ritual and reestablishing that connection. But now it’s just become more about direct action.”

Cob building is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional building methods. It has a low carbon footprint because materials are not shipped. Heating systems, like her rocket mass heater—which is more efficient than a traditional wood-burning stove—can be optimized for the space it is because it can be built with that in specifically in mind. Cob acts as a radiant mass, which can help cool down and heat up the space around it. One day, when it was 91 degrees outside, Aviña checked the temperature of her cob wall bench, also shaded by a Catalpa tree. It was a refreshing 75 degrees.

In 2003, Aviña attended a workshop in Oregon she had heard about in a magazine. There, she worked with other workshop attendees to build a tea house. In

How a retired educator uses a simple, eco-friendly technique to personalize home, connect with earth

Maya Avina uses the patio off of her solarium all year round. Photo by Rory Harbert.

Photos by Rory Harbert

Maya Avina uses natural building not just as an alternative method of building to express her passion for sustainablity, but as a means to express herself. This collection of photos include her handbuilt chicken coop and solarium as well as some vignettes such as the traditional truth window and other alcoves to showcase the possibilities the medium can provide. Photos by Rory Harbert.

2005, she started with a front patio space for her home. She has added several cob structures since then, including a custom mailbox, a chicken coop and an addition to her studio that includes a solarium, a sun porch and outdoor living space with a cob oven. In addition, she has been working on a 199 square foot building on her 30-acre rural property since 2011. It is nearly finished.

The same year she started at a tenure-track position at CSU, she tackled her first project: the cob wall in her front yard.

It is a curving, 20-foot wall that features an arched window with an attached bench. According to Aviña, it is built on an “over-engineered” two-foot-deep foundation. Altogether, the 90-square-foot space weighs 22,000 pounds. She did it all by herself.

Cob building is traditionally made without any heavy machinery. Cob is made by stomping on the mixture until the consistency is fit for sculpting. Oxen were used for the stomping for the early structures in England. Now, people use tarps to stomp on the mixture themselves.

“When I built that Cobb Wall out in front, I was too embarrassed to do that where the whole world could see me,” she said. “And so, I instead stomped from the outside of the tarp… at an angle, and I partially tore my Achilles.”

For her chicken coop, she tried out a cement mixer and found that is expedited the process enough to allow her to complete her projects herself without getting hurt or expending too much labor. Building her chicken coop cost a total of $150. The entire project generated one 5-gallon bucket’s worth of trash, most of which came from the tubes of glue she used to form the curved wood in the roof.

She harvested, scavenged and bided her time to find the materials she needed to follow the core principle of modern cob building: These structures can be done independently with locally harvested or repurposed materials, with minimal impact in a cost-effective manner.

“They say after almost 200 years of the since the Industrial Revolution, if you need something, just wait and it will come to,” Aviña said.

Some of the clay she used for her cob mixture came from a pit she dug in her backyard, which will be turned into a living pool, a pool without chemicals to be kept clean. The unmilled timber used in her projects to give it a rustic feel came from fire mitigation around her property near Beulah. She received clay leftover from pottery classes at the college. The metal roof in her solarium came from a friend’s leftover art project. The flagstone she uses came from Facebook Marketplace, purchased in the off-season at a much cheaper price.

Aviña started working with cob when she was 50 years old. Now, at 70, she is still excited by the possibilities the form can bring to her daily life, as a creative outlet and a way to improve her space. Though, in spring 2022, Aviña said she was cutting a larger opening connecting her solarium and her studio when she felt a tightness in her chest.

“I was cutting through that wall—[the entryway of the studio from the solarium] that’s concrete with chicken wire in it—with a grinder and holding a vacuum,” she said. “And I felt this weird pressure [I was] like, ‘Huh, okay, going to take a break.’ Long story short. It was something called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken-heart syndrome, where your heart balloons out into the shape of a Japanese octopus fishing pot. And I think it was the static electricity because we hadn’t had rain for a long time. And I think it was the grinder which wasn’t grounded. And so now, that I’ve had this hear event, I have to take things much more slowly. “

After retiring in 2020, Aviña wanted to host workshops herself. She started with her cob oven in her backyard, which she and her students built prior to the start of the pandemic. But with her heart condition, she has to be careful about exposure and over-exertion. In the meantime, she has taken up carving wooden spoons, having built her own wood-shaving bench.

Aviña plans to publish a book about her experiences in cob building, to inspire others to start at any age. Her blog can be found at cobbuildingwithmaya.com.

Showcasing Levee muralist

An excerpt from the 45 Degrees podcast episode with artist Aspen Pounds. The episode is out now on your favorite podcast platform, check out the Voices of Pueblo podcast to listen to other 45 Degrees episodes and more!

Rory Harbert: Can you elaborate on your connection to nature?

Aspen Pounds: Sure, well I grew up mostly in Rye, so I’ve lived in the mountains most of my life. It’s a different experience than living in the city. You sort of see the more time that you spend in nature, how interrelated everything is, how connected we all are and how dependent we are on the environment. Even just in our current location in Pueblo we are dependent on the mountains to provide snow every year that feeds the river, then it flows through the city and out into the fields where we get our food. It’s this whole process that we’re really involved in. It’s sometimes easy for us as human beings not to be aware of that or think we’re outside of that somehow we are not part of our environment or the world we live in. We tend to get stuck in our heads a lot as human beings, and that’s a part of what I want my art to address. It’s that art and human connection that we don’t always acknowledge even though it’s always there and we’re always a part of it.

RH: You do a lot of aspen trees, why aspen trees in particular? What draws you to those trees?

Interview with Aspen Pounds, creator of surreal aspen tree mural

AP: I just think they’re pretty cool and awesome. They’re beautiful trees with all the fall colors of the aspens is what we’re known for. The bark is such an interesting color and texture and it sometimes has a powdery film on it and it looks really white, sometimes it looks very green. Tying in to how we’re all connected with nature, aspens are one of the largest living organisms in the planet that they spread through. In Utah they have this giant aspen grove called Pando, which is this huge organism that takes up several miles. That’s really cool. I think that trees and the life they provide are super awesome, but aspens being this mega-organism that’s all interconnected is a really cool concept.

RH: For sure. Like you said before, we’re so heavily dependent on nature. You can think of us as a part of that macro-organism. Even if we’re up here and not in the dirt we’re still connected and reliant on that process.

AP: Absolutely, just like aspens have roots that connect them to each other we have invisible roots connecting us.

This mural of startling aspen trees, with a background inspired by the Ukrainian flag, is Aspen Pounds first mural. He elaborates on how that went for him in episode 10 of the Voices of Pueblo podcast. Photo courtesy of Aspen Pounds.

Photo courtesy of Aspen Pounds

Rawlings’Cafe closure

FROM STAFF REPORTS

PJ’s Coffee, a cafe on the ground floor of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library and the Pueblo library’s main caterer, closed for good on May 31.

The New Orleans-themed coffee shop opened just this spring along with a major renovation of the Rawlings main library branch. The business originally occupied a space in Pueblo West before closing that location to move into the library.

“PCCLD is committed to providing a cafe after PJ’s departure … plans of a new cafe at the Rawlings Library will be released as soon as possible,” the library’s social media manager posted on Facebook on Thursday.

Nick Potter, director of community relations and development for the Pueblo City-County Library District, said he hoped to have a new business to announce for the cafe space soon. “The owners of PJ’s had some medical issues as well as some staffing issues that prevented them from being to operate the business long term,” he told PSJ.

Rory Harbert contributed to this report.

To follow the story with quick updates, go to the PSJ website at pueblostarjournal.org.

permanently

Rawlings library seeks cafe tenant after PJ’s Coffee closes

The Pueblo County Library District made the announcement mid-May on the library’s Facebook page. (Photo/ Facebook).

Photo courtesy of PCCLD

PUBLIC SAFETY

Emergencies: 911

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Non-emergency situations: Contact the department for details about Pueblo’s fire stations, information about education programs, safety tips and how to report home vacancies and squatters.

719-553-2830 | cityfire@pueblo.us

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Non-emergency situations: Contact the department for information about crime prevention, the emergency notification program, department bureaus, Safe Streets Task Force, volunteer opportunities, Pueblo Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and other local safety programs.

719-553-2420 | policedept@pueblo.us

CITY GOVERNMENT

Pueblo city government website: www.pueblo.us

MAYOR’S OFFICE

719-553-2655 | cityadmin@pueblo.us

Civil Service

Want to get a job with the city? This is where you start.

719-553-2635 | civilservice@pueblo.us

CITY CLERK

The city clerk is the office to contact if you are applying for or renewing a liquor, tobacco or marijuana license; want to register to vote or run for elected office; are making a Colorado OpenRecords Act (CORA) request; or need information about a city ordinance.

719-553-2669 | clerk@pueblo.us

FINANCE

Contact the finance department if you have questions about matters such as sales taxes, mobile food vendor applications, garage sale applications, city financial records and economic development reports.

719-553-2625 | financedept@pueblo.us

HOUSING AND CITIZEN SERVICES

Housing and citizen services oversees city housing, homeowner assistance programs, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Community Development Block Grants and other housing-related programs.

719-553-2850 | housing@pueblo.us

HUMAN RESOURCES

Get information about applying for city jobs, exam preparation, pay scales, employee benefits and more.

719-553-2633 | hr@pueblo.us

MUNICIPAL COURT

Municipal court handles cases related to traffic/parking tickets and animal control, among other issues. Contact the department for questions related to those topics as well as sealing arrest/criminal records, court calendar, graffiti removal, etc.

719-562-3810 | municipalcourt@pueblo.us

PARKS & RECREATION

Get information about Pueblo’s parks, trails, open spaces, youth and adult sports, the summer musical and Sun City Band.

719-553-2790 | parks@pueblo.us

PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The zoning department provides information related to all of Pueblo’s commercial and residential development, historic preservation, building permits and more.

The department webpage has links to different types of neighborhood maps, planning FAQs, zoning documents and other useful information.

719-553-2259 | planninglanduse@pueblo.us

PUBLIC WORKS

Need to know about city permits, building and street maintenance, transportation, municipal recycling and street sweeping schedules? This is the place.

719-553-2295 | pubworks@pueblo.us

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Contact public transit to get information about bus schedules, rates, the Citi-Lift program, bus routes and purchasing bus passes.

719-553-2727 | transit@pueblo.us

STORMWATER UTILITY

The stormwater utility department provides information about erosion and sediment control plans, stormwater code enforcement and FEMA flood maps.

You can also find resources about stormwater education.

719-553-2899 | stormwater@pueblo.us

WASTEWATER

Have questions about sewer line emergencies, sewer line maintenance, grease and oil disposal or wastewater rates? Here’s where to get answers.

719-553-2898 | wastewater@pueblo.us

PUEBLO CITY COUNCIL

District 1

Regina Maestri maestrir@pueblo.us | 719-504-8888

District 2

Larry Atencio latencio@pueblo.us | 719-248-9141

District 3

Sarah Martinez smartinez@pueblo.us | 719-568-8033

District 4

Vicente Martinez Ortega vmartinezortega@pueblo.us | 719-568-8038

Representatives at large Dennis Flores dflores@pueblo.us | 719-248-9812

Heather Graham, council president hgraham@pueblo.us | 719-568-8066

Lori Winner lwinner@pueblo.us | 719-252-7306

PUEBLO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Daneya Esgar

https://county.pueblo.org/board-county-commissioners-office/ daneya-esgar

Epimenio “Eppie” Griego county.pueblo.org/contact-epimenio-eppie-m-griego 719-583-6549

Zach Swearingen https://county.pueblo.org/zach-swearingen

ARTS

INKWELL: Analogue’s Creative Writing

Open Mic

7-9 p.m., second Thursdays, Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

Paranormal Cirque

June 2-11, Pueblo Mall parking lot tent, 3429

Dillon Drive

June 2 – Friday: 7:30 p.m.

June 3 – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

June 4 – Sunday: 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

June 8 - Thursday: 7:30 p.m.

June 9 – Friday: 7:30 p.m.

June 10 – Saturday: 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

June 11 – Sunday: 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Box office opens on-site Tuesday, the week of the show. Non-show days: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. On show days: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

$10 Info: www.paranormalcirque.com

HISTORY

“You Should Have Seen It: Pueblo’s Mineral Palace”

10 a.m.-4 p.m daily through April 1, 2024, El Pueblo History Museum, 301 N. Union Ave. Info: historycolorado.org

War Memorial Ghost Tours

7-9 p.m. first Saturday of each month, Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, 31001 Magnuson Ave.

Info: pwam.org

Celebrating All Things Slovene

Through July 31, Pueblo Heritage Museum, 201 W. B St.

FAITH

Interfaith meditation and service

10-11:30 a.m. Sundays, Center for Inner Peace, 740 W. 15th St.

Info: 719-543-2274

FAMILY EVENTS

Pueblo Rocks in the Park

Noon-2 p.m. Fridays, Ray Aguilera Park, 840 W. Northern Ave.

GAMES

Chaos Games & More 4065 Club Manor Drive

Info: chaosgamesandmore.com

Pokemon, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K, board game nights and more.

Weekly game schedule available on website.

EL PUEBLO HISTORY MUSEUM

Photo by Rory Harbert

Photo courtesy of Pueblo Shares

Game Knight Games

1839 S. Pueblo Blvd.

Info: gameknightgamesllc.com

Pokemon, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Keyforge, My Hero Academia, board game league and more. Weekly game schedule available on website.

MUSIC

Line Dancing

EZ 4 p.m., Country/Classic 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Eagleridge Event Center, 805 Eagleridge Blvd., Suite 170 Info: facebook.com/PuebloDanceCompany

Cocktail Hour with Live Music

7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St. Info: facebook.com/AnalogueSolar

Open Mic at Blue Cactus

6-9 p.m. Thursdays, El Nopal’s Blue Cactus Room, 1435 E. Evans Ave. Info: 719-564-9784

Live Music Fridays

7-9 p.m. Fridays, Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St.

Karaoke Night at The Fallout with KJ Mikey D.

9-11:30 p.m. Fridays, 1227 S. Prairie Ave. Info: facebook.com/PuebloFallout

Alt Night at Analogue

7-9 p.m. last Saturdays at Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

WELLNESS

Seniors: Riverwalk Walking Group

Meets 10 a.m. Mondays in front of Senior Resource Development Agency (SRDA), 230 N. Union Ave. Info: 719-553-3446 or richmond@srda.org

Yoga and Cocktail Night

5:30 p.m. second Tuesdays

Ren Yoga Flow, 110 W. Fifth St. Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St. Info: renyogaflow.com

Wellbriety Support Meeting

9-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Center for Inner Peace, 740 W. 15th St. Info: 719-543-2274

Prenatal Workshop and Support Group

6-7 p.m. last Wednesday of each month, Phoenix Massage, 105 W. Fifth St. Info: socodoulaco@gmail.com

SUMMER READING KICKOFF WITH BLUEY AT THE RAWLINGS LIBRARY.

Yoga: Hun Yuan Qi Gong

10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Anahata Healing Yoga Studio, 3942 Ivywood Lane

$5/class; Wednesdays and Thursdays on Zoom

(no charge); Sundays at City Park Ballroom, George L. Williams Pavilion, 801 Goodnight Ave.

Ladies Night Out Self-Defense Training

6-8 p.m. first Friday of the month, Rocky Mountain Empowerment Center, 330 Lake Ave. Info: $39. 800-748-2074

JUNE

June 2 - Friday

Pueblo City-County Library District Summer Reading Kickoff

4-7 p.m., Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Info: pueblolibrary.org

June 3 - Saturday

AMR Safety Jam

8:30 a.m. registration; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake Minnequa Veterans Memorial Park, 3005 Lakeshore Drive

Info: facebook.com/safetyjampueblo

Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

CROSSWORD ANSWER KEY

June 5 - 19 - Mondays and Wednesdays

Essentrics Fitness Class at City Park

10-11 a.m. at the George L. Williams Pavillion in City Park.

Essentrics is a low impact, full body, stretching and strengthening fitness class suitable for a wide variety of ages and fitness levels. Bring a yoga mat, Theraband, small pillow and water bottle. info: essentricswithkatiefarmer.com or call Katie

719-470-3017

JULY

Pueblo Mall Farmers Market

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays July-September, Pueblo Mall, 3429 Dillon Drive

July 13 - Thursday

Business During Lunch

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. Info: puebochamber.org

July 19 - Wednesday

Sareth-Fest Music & Comedy Festival Pueblo 10

4-10 p.m., CR23 Bombshelter, 2271 Daniel Road Info: www.aqdpi.com/2023-pueblo-lineup

July 28 - Friday

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament

8 a.m.-3 p.m., Elmwood Golf Course, 3900 Thatcher Ave.

Info: terrik@pueblochamber.org or 719-542-1704

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS ONLINE - FREE

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