Pueblo Star Journal - March 2024

Sharing challah

By Ben Cason

CPueblo staple, kosher classic: Seppy’s Challah Breads makes move from digital storefront to brick-and-mortar

hallah (pronounced hall-uh) typically is a braided bread that can be inlaid with many delicious options. The woven bread refers to the loaves of Shabbat, and has been called Challah since 1488.

Baker Elishevah Sepulveda is ready to bring this traditional Kosher bread back to Pueblo, opening her new bakery. Seppy’s new store will be at 131 Broadway Ave. Sepulveda is looking to open the shop by the beginning of April.

Sepulveda has been making Challah bread herself for many years and features five types of Challah bread: deluxe, cinnamon raisin, cinnamon cherry, chocolate-chocolate chip and pueblo green chile.

Sepulveda is a Sephardic Jew, associated with the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. She joined the traditional Orthodox Jewish faith, worshiping the religion’s one God, Hashem.

“If you can do something that makes the world a better place, then you just go do it,” Sepulveda said. “It doesn’t matter how big or small your contribution is, what matters is that you’re taking action and making a positive impact.”

She began creating the bread when her son asked for it for a school project. Sepulveda made two loaves and sent them with her son, they were the talk of the school. Students came to her house asking if she had any more.

She currently sells her breads over Facebook and her website seppyskosher.com.

After some time she was connected with King Soopers, becoming the official provider of Challah bread to their Colorado stores.

It began with bringing her bread to a Regional Office meeting. The bread impressed all who tried it, according to Sepulveda.

Jean Tapia, former Bakery Buyer for Kroger and King Soopers, said, “she had Challah all over the world, big and small bakeries, major producing companies, and homemade even in Israel—and never have I had Challah this good.”

Sepulveda produced for Rocky Mountain King Soopers from 2002 to 2005. In 2005, Sepulveda’s production was caught in a building foreclosure and she had all her stock of bread and equipment seized.

Sepulveda said, “I mean, we had to start all over again from scratch, but sometimes that’s what it takes to build something truly remarkable.”

Sepulveda said that, “we are planning so that I don’t run into that problem again.” She now has the building, along with her equipment and an employee.

She has a few more expenses ahead of her before opening the store, and has reached out to the community to help fund the start of the shop.

“There’s a lot of energy already in the community,” she said. “People are real-

CHALLAH continued on page 8

Seppy’s Challah Breads to open its doors this spring. Photos courtesy of Elisheva Sepulveda.

Photos courtesy of Seppy’s

‘Ben Voyage’ PSJ’s news content, sports & podcast manager pens ‘Thank you’ letter as he steps down for European job opportunity

T

his is a bittersweet edition of the newspaper for me. This is my final edition as the News Content, Sports and Podcast Manager with the Pueblo Star Journal. As I prepare to embark on a move to a new country, I’m filled with gratitude and thankfulness for everything this last year and beyond has brought! Pueblo is such a special place that has brought me so much joy.I graduated from Rye High School in 2017, and all through that time I had a negative perception of Pueblo. It was the big city that we would venture up to get groceries from and leave. My teachers and parents urged me to “think bigger” than Pueblo for college and beyond.

I moved to Colorado from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and as a kid I resented Pueblo for not having the rich sports scene that Dallas had. When I graduated high school I wanted nothing else than to cover sports. I looked at colleges in Arizona, Texas, Mississippi and beyond. Each school had the same track, that I would be put in line with other media students and likely not get to broadcast and cover games until I was a senior in college.

My mom encouraged me to take a tour of CSU Pueblo, saying ‘it couldn’t hurt to look.’ I remember that March day we came up, and I had preconceived notions about the quality of the school and city. We

met Leticia Steffen, the mass communications department chair at the time. She pitched me on the opportunity I had to get meaningful work in quickly.

I was offered the opportunity to get on the radio with the college station Rev89 incredibly quickly, and I saw the newspaper and PBS station as other chances to excel quickly. While still in the decision process, the CSU Pueblo Foundation awarded me

PuebloStarJournal.org | 719-283-3361

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

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

Contributors: John Deering, Rachel Kutskill, Kristen Skye Hoffmann, Jocelyn Martinez, Bree Anne Pappan, Rosina Sontagg, Amy Gillentine Sweet

Special thanks to: Books Again, Creative Consortium of Pueblo, CSU Extension, Spencer Daniels, Katie Farmer, Taylor Filler, Karmic Konnection, Lil’ Crafters Cottage, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, Photography by Lyss, Pueblo City-County Library District, Pueblo County Historical Society, Pueblo Film Fest, Pueblo Nerve Project, Pueblo Puzzleworks, Rain Water Solutions, Rocky Mountain Realty, Small Business Development Center, Elishevah Sepulveda, Southern Colorado Press Club, Tyler Shown, SRDA, Sure-Lock Locksmith

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scholarships that exceeded my expectations and blessed me immensely.

BEN VOYAGE continued on page 4

Illustration by John Deering.

By Ben Cason

Ben Cason has been with the Pueblo Star Journal since 2022. Cason’s specialty is podcasting and sports, but he does it all here! Photo by Tyler Shown.

Photo by Tyler Shown

BEN VOYAGE

continued from page 3

and national sports, later becoming an incredibly well-respected news anchor. He spoke with me one-on-one: giving me advice and encouragement for what felt like half an hour. I left that day sold on CSU Pueblo. He’s been a mentor for me since then.

Thanks to former station manager Jenna Mangino, I found myself broadcasting my first football game on my first Friday as an official freshman. Over the next three years, I broadcasted countless baseball, basketball and football games on campus and in the community of Pueblo. I was shocked by the voracious appetite Puebloans had for high school sports.

My frustration with Pueblo not having a pro sports team as a kid was so wrong. I took so much joy in getting immersed in the unique culture Pueblo has for sport. I still remember just how many fans traveled up to Mile High Stadium in 2017 to watch the South Colts win the national championship—it blew my mind. (The Colts fans were way louder than the Pine Creek fans.)

When I graduated in 2020, I still didn’t understand the full value of the city. I left the university looking to make a jump into full-time sports coverage, but I was thrown a curveball. I graduated in the middle of the Covid pandemic, and the sports world shut down. This was an incredibly anxious and frustrating time for me, not knowing where the path led forward. I thought I needed to leave Pueblo for opportunity to be presented to me.

It was over this jobless gap that I began going down from the hill CSU Pueblo sits on and finding little places in town that bring me joy. The levee, riverwalk, Lake Minnequa, City Park and Mineral Palace Park were just a few of these places, and that’s when I really began to understand why Pueblo was as special as it was.

I leaned into community at this time, something I didn’t do in college. I grew close with my local church and started to get to know more members of this amazing city. The people are what makes Pueblo the gem it is—sometimes we take that for granted.

By the fall of 2020, there was a buzz around the show “Undercover Billionaire” coming, and I got to see what was going on through my friend who I did

college radio with, Mia Gilbertson. Real estate mogul Grant Cardone had come to Pueblo as a part of a Discovery Channel tv show disguised as Louis Curtis. He teamed up with Matt Smith, who owns Snooze Mattress Company and Snap Fitness, to begin a new marketing company called “Wake Up.”

I was offered the job to start their podcasting wing the day I met Matt, and I was off to the races. Over that year and a half I worked with that team, I was shown the dynamic, incredible, creative community Pueblo possesses. Most of us on that original team were from the Pueblo area, and many of our clients were local businesses.

Despite all of the great work we did, the memories that stand out the most were the team getting together and eating at local restaurants and seeing local music. Tyler Shown, who may be the biggest champion of the Pueblo community I ever met, showed me so many of the places that make Pueblo special.

During that time, I started to co-pastor a church called Cross Pointe with my friend Seth Barber. My faith grew rapidly in that time, and while I connected with the community in my job, I also grew to be close with my church community. When it was time to move on from Wake Up, I was able to meld sports and faith, working with Nick Ohrdorf to produce the “Faith and the Fast Life” Podcast. This was an action sports and Christianity show that made a point to show how to follow God in our busy lives.

For the third time in my life I thought it was time to leave Pueblo, when Gregory Howell, who I met during my time at Wake Up, met me at a coffee shop and presented an opportunity. I had heard of the Pueblo Star Journal and had followed the restart effort in 2022. Gregory—the chairman of the board of directors, and following some shuffling in staff—was looking to take the newspaper in a new direction.

Gregory oozes with passion for the city, and it’s unmistakable when you look at the way the paper is built. I was sold quickly, and we set about keeping the paper going with a digital focus. Soon after that we brought in Rory Harbert as Arts and News Editor, and he added skills to the team that I don’t have. Along with board member Jayson Peters, and so many other contributors, we’ve been able to keep the paper going through the printing press closure and gain traction.

We launched our new podcasts, added so many new columns and even got an office. My journey with the Star Journal has taken me into football fields, rock climbing walls, election coverage, the printing press and even inside the Pueblo Chemical Weapons Depot.

One of my favorite things I get to do is deliver newspapers to all of our pickup locations and talk with the people who read them. I can’t express enough how thankful I am that you read this newspaper and support us. It warms my heart to no end. The Pueblo Star Journal will keep digging deeper and I’m glad I got to be a part of it in this early stage!

I’m headed to Frankfurt Germany to follow God’s call on my life. I have an opportunity to join Bible Mission Global, who are focused on equipping churches in the former Soviet Union to be able to share the gospel. They distribute bibles, focus on disaster relief, support widows and offer children’s camps all over the world.

I will be able to help their English language media team, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this next step. If you’d like to follow me as I move into this new stage of life, you can connect by visiting linktr.ee/beningermany. I may still write some columns from afar for the Pueblo Star Journal during the year I’m away.

Pueblo will always be the place where I had so many firsts and developed into the man I am today. One thing I’ve learned, being a proud resident of this city for seven years, is that opportunity is so abundant in Pueblo. There are so many places and things you can do to make a difference. I’m so thankful for everyone that has poured into me during my time here. You all are what makes this community so special, and why Pueblo will always be my home town. This definitely isn’t a goodbye, it’s a ‘see you later!’ Thank you Pueblo!

Ben Cason worked with Rev89, the radio station at CSU Pueblo during his time as a student. He called many games, including this basketball game held at the State Fair. Photo by Spencer Daniels.

Photo by Spencer Daniels

Chicks are back

By Rory Harbert

The Colorado State University Extension office runs the 4-H program, a youth organization that builds life skills through projects often involving agriculture.

The embryology program, which studies the gestational cycles of livestock, was interrupted in 2023 due to a pandemic affecting poultry involving a disease called Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Domestic poultry, specifically chickens, are highly susceptible to contract HPAI, and it is often fatal to the birds. Because of this high risk, the Colorado Department of Agriculture had to inact a brief suspension on poultry events in 2022.

According to the CDA, since early 2022, “HPAI has been confirmed in 21 domestic poultry flocks in Colorado impacting more than 6.2 million poultry across the state.”

With precautions in place, protocols on how to keep the birds safe and how to report HPAI cases, the CSU Extension office was able to continue with the embryology program again.

Another group of chicks were being incubated in the extension office, just in time for their 2024 AgFest event.

The extension office hosts fifth graders for the day to engage in different activities showcasing a variety of agricultural topics. More than 150 chicks were available for the children to greet as they learned about livestock.

Symptoms within chickens include lack of energy and appetite, a drop in healthy egg production, swelling or purple discoloration in the eye tissue, difficulty breathing, signs of sinus drainage or coughing.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, any sign of bird illness must be reported to local experts such as the extension office or a vet, or the USDA directly.

Resources on how to prevent the spread of HPAI can be found at: aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.

CSU Extension office returns poultry exhibition, invites fifth graders to learn about livestock

The 2024 AFest had nearly 30 students from Pueblo and Fremont County in attendance. Photos courtesy of CSU Extension office.

The pictured group of chicks were hatched in 2022. Photos by Alexandra Deary.

Photos courtesy of CSU Extension

Photos by Alexandra Deary

CHALLAH

continued from COVER

lical-based dietary laws. According to foodsafetynews.com, kosher means to be “pure, proper or suitable for consumption.” The term describes food that complies with traditional Jewish law.

ly passionate about this, and it’s exciting to see so many individuals coming together to work towards a common goal.”

Sepulveda said that “If you work hard and you’re honest with people always and you do the best that you can and you give your best, people will support you.

Sepulveda said, the kosher certification leads to many people, Jewish and non-Jewish, believing the food to be healthier and cleaner. According to the Kosher Network International, the market for kosher foods is worth $24 billion and will grow another 11.5% by 2025.

“It’s not always going to be easy, but if you have that support, you can make a difference in the world,” she said.

A major focus of Seppy’s is to be kosher certified.

“Contrary to popular belief, the rabbis don’t come and bless the food,” Sepulveda said. “Instead, they come down and inspect the facility to see that it’s clean and fit for producing food. It’s all about meeting their high standards for cleanliness and quality.”

Food that is kosher must adhere to specific Bib-

“If you work hard and you’re honest with people always and you do the best that you can and you give your best, people will support you.”

– Elishevah Sepulveda

“Kosher certification is big business because it’s a staple in Jewish homes,” Sepulveda said. “Being able to provide kosher-certified products means tapping into a loyal and discerning market.”

Once Seppy’s is ready, Rabbis scrutinize the product as well as the process the food is made. Rabbis are looking to make sure that: foods do not contain a mixture of meat and dairy products, that they’ve made sure they’ve been treated according to specific laws like killing animals with minimal pain, and that they do not contain ingredients that are considered inherently unfit.

“The cleanliness standards of the Rabbi’s food inspection agencies far exceed those of the FDA and the USDA.,” She said. “This is why we’ve been able to secure placement on 60% of the shelves in national retailers, because they recognize the rigorous standards we adhere to.”

“When the consumer buys food and takes it home to eat, they know they’re not going to get sick or die from eating it because we know these things happen; That’s why we take our responsibility in ensuring food safety very seriously,” Sepulveda said.

Seppy’s had a brick-and-mortar before, but had to close due to a foreclosure of the building. Nearly 20 years later, Sepulveda is ready to make it work again.

Photos courtesy of Elishevah Sepulveda.

For Supulveda it’s not just about baking bread, it’s about tapping to a significant market demand.

Mere weeks after the shop is scheduled to open, Sepulveda will not be able to sell her bread during passover week. In 2024, the religious celebration spans from April 22 to April 30. Observing Jews are only allowed to make and eat unleavened bread, which means breads that do not rise.

The spiritual aspect of Challah is important to Sepulveda, who’s tagline for the business is: “Marvelously beautiful, tasty Challah Breads...for body and soul!”

Sepulveda said, “I want to be that person who makes a difference in people’s lives, who leaves behind a legacy of positivity and progress. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Sheldon Romer, founder and past owner of Rudi’s Grain Products said: “Seppy’s is at the top of the list. I’ve tasted many Challahs in my life, and Seppy’s is right at the top. It’s as good as it gets.”

Seppy’s is planning to open in early April, if you want to support the new enterprise you can buy bread now at Seppy’s Challah Breads on Facebook.

Pics from the past

Baking in Pueblo

As we look forward to Seppy’s opening in Pueblo we look back at some of Pueblo’s multicultural food history! Pueblo has been a melting pot of different cultures and it led to many different types of restaurants and bakeries.

Photos courtesy of Pueblo County Historical Society and Pueblo City-County Library District.

Seppy’s Challah Bread is available online through the bakery’s Facebook page. It comes in five flavors. Photo courtesy of Elishevah Sepulveda.

Photos courtesy of Seppy’s

Lucky for friends

By Lucky the Horse & Staff Reporters GUEST COLUMN

Aloyal, longtime friend of mine paid me a visit, here at the Pueblo Heritage Museum. I would snort and stomp in excitement at her presence, if I could, but I was satisfied in listening to her speak about her life, saddlery and me.

She asked the museum director and the other staff in charge of me about my care. She noted my beautiful parade saddle, asked how long I was in it (two years of looking spiffy!) and wanted to check in on how I am being cared for.

The director, Emily Wilson, assured her that precautions are taken. To preserve my mouth, I do not have the traditional bit in, but to showcase my modeling skills and the detailed craftsmanship of leatherwork of my time, I wear an ornamental saddle which is a proud specimen of the heart that went into saddlery that is among their collection.

She has many stories to share, crafting a timeline of her life and how it shaped, and is shaped by Pueblo: from her 25 years teaching generations of first grade children to raising her own; from caring for me while I was still modeling saddles to caring for me as I was passed into the hands of the Pueblo Historical Society; from meeting her husband to 47 years of marriage.

“People would bring their friends from out of town in to see him.”

– Berta McConnell

Berta was born on Oct. 18, 1936, in Oklahoma, at a house that her family has called home for generations.

She came to Pueblo with her family, as her parents were hired by the State Hospital, but they moved back after a while. Then, when prospects in Oklahoma were sparse, they returned to the Steel City.

In 1959, she got her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 1956, starting at Pueblo Junior College (Now called Pueblo Community College) and finishing her degree at what is now Colorado State University Pueblo. She later got her

Lucky the Horse reunion: retired teacher, matriach of Mack’s saddlery shares story

Master’s degree at Adams State College. She joked that she “never got out of the first grade,” teaching the same grade at the same school for the span of her career.

She met her future husband at a dance hall called the Columbine Inn.

In 1922, Fred McConnell opened Mack’s Saddlery on South Union Avenue, after learning the trade at the other top saddleries in town. Berta joined the family through her marriage to Frank McConnell, who had taken over the family business. They had three children together.

When Berta and I were reunited, I watched as she walked around the exhibit. I am surrounded by relics exemplifying the robust equine-forward industry, from ranching to simple travel, that made up the Pueblo economy of my time. She would point out the different items on display, explaining how they are used to manage working horses, the methodical nature of hand carving leather or what saddles were used for what occasions—she demonstrated a lifelong knowledge of horses.

Darn right! I am a good model. Berta said, “The kids always wanted to ride on him,” which I would attest to, but I had a job to do, so I wouldn’t— couldn’t—let them.

“People would bring their friends from out of town in to see him,” she said.

Another draw for visitors, according to Berta, was “the smell of the leather.”

“We were the last... But people don’t ride horses anymore, not like they used to.”

– Berta McConnell

Some time after the flood—as you may recall in my earlier reporting in the Pueblo Star Journal’s January issue, I was retired from Frazier’s saddlery shop.

“Mrs. Frazier had him in her garage; She wanted him to be, you know, not stuck in the garage anymore,” Berta said. “So, she called and asked us if we would like to have him. And of course we did. And so, we put him right in the window. And everybody came in and noticed him.”

When I was moved into Mack’s Saddlery, they had me in a blanket and a light saddle.

Berta recalled my time at Mack’s Saddlery: “He never bucked anything off while we had him in the shop!”

“Everybody that came in wanted to touch him,” she said. “It felt like a real horse, I guess.”

In 1989, the fire was devastating for the McCon-

Former Pueblo Heritage Museum director Meral Doe Renée Jones, historical witness Berta McConnell and current director/curator Emily Wilson stand with Lucky the Horse at his exhibit. Photo by Rory Harbert.

Lucky the Horse Eyewitness & special reporter

Photo by Rory Harbert

nells. It started at the neighboring upholstery shop, owned by Billy and Janie Anderson, the children of William H. Anderson, who opened the shop in 1949.

“Next door was Anderson’s Upholstery, and so Billy, one of the folks that owned it, was always up on the roof, fixing the roof,” Berta said. “And, he had a kettle with fire underneath it; It had tar in it. I always thought that that was going to burn the shop down.”

Four buildings, all a part of the shop in one way or another, were damaged by the fire.

She recounted how she had two papier-mache dogs (Like how I am!) on display at the time.

She said, “the firemen poked holes in the ceiling of the shop in the roof and they stuck the hose down through here,” right in line with the poor paper dogs.

“Those little papier-mache dogs were right in the spray of the water and they disintegrated,” Bert said. “So fortunately, they had taken the horse out on the street.”

The four buildings worth of merchandise, with leather works such as hats, boots and briefcases offered in addition to the saddle-making side of the business, were destroyed.

“The only thing that we really got to save was the horse,” she said.

The insurance the McConnells had for the business could not cover all of the damage.

“It was the end of my husband’s career and Mack’s Saddlery in town,” she said. “We were the last; there used to be five saddle-making businesses here in

Pueblo and we were the last one. And now there’s not any. But people don’t ride horses anymore, not like they used to.”

Berta said that people came by to see the fire, as people are compelled to watch. But as my fame was already established, people were quick to make sure I was safely on the sidewalk and out of the fire.

“I really felt sorry for my husband, that was his whole life,” she said.

Her husband died in 2004.

Now she spends her time in a singing group, called the Traveling Troubadours, spreading joy to others in retirement homes and rehab centers.

Watch the full interview with Berta, recorded courtesy of the Pueblo Heritage Museum, on their YouTube Channel.

Berta McConnell and her late husband, Frank McConnell were asked if they wanted to display Lucky the Horse at Mack’s Saddlery, founded by Fred McConnell. The Fraziers were Lucky’s original owner. Photos by Rory Harbert.

Photos by Rory Harbert

THRIVE! with Rachel

By Rachel Kutskill

The stagnation of dark evenings and colder weather is giving way to movement again as we cycle our way towards spring. The dreams of blossoms and green landscapes are closer than before, as we start to see tulips emerge from their hibernation. A few bees can be seen here and there on these warmer days as the sun basks our faces and our bodies soaks up the Vitamin D. We see people out working in their yards, preparing for this next growing season, almost as if we are stepping out from our hibernation as well.

In Pueblo, we have a longer growing season than most, yet our semi-arid climate may stereotype the dry dirt as being barren, with only 13 inches of average rainfall annually. It’s easy to take a quick glance and determine that your barely there green thumb may need a support system. Just as with all that we do here in Pueblo, our community comes ready to take action and provide the assistance we need to thrive as a whole.

As with so many things in life, if we are looking to resolve an issue or build a strong foundation, we must look to the root causes, the base elements, and dive into properly establishing the support needed at the very beginning to ensure we can thrive throughout the process. The soil in Pueblo may not have all the properties needed to create a flourishing garden

The Pueblo 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?

and yard at first, but with a few added elements, you can be on your way to creating the type of rich, dark soil revered by those of us who have lived through east coast rainy seasons. It can exist!

The Colorado State University - Pueblo County Extension provides assistance and programs for citizens in five main areas: Agriculture, Horticulture, Family and Consumer Science, Natural Resources and

4-H Youth Programs, according to the website. This is a great resource for learning to farm and garden in Pueblo, with classes open to the public many times throughout the year. Sherie’s Articles are an excellent resource that cover many common topics, and you can always reach out to their office with questions regarding your garden and upcoming events. Here are a few ways to amend Pueblo dirt and turn it into beautiful, dark, nutrient enriched soil, capable of growing the most beautiful and plentiful gardens.

Composting:

Composting food scraps is an easy way to add nutrients to the soil. There are several types of composting bins, buckets and systems you can buy, but the main thing is to make sure your compost contains organic matter—water—air—and bacteria to break down the materials. According to Sherie’s Article, October 2022: Composting, the food matter should be moistened regularly, not wa-

terlogged, and keep in mind to have different sized food chunks to be sure oxygen can aerate throughout the pile. The bacteria needed to break down the organic matter already exists and nothing more needs to be added. It’s a good idea to add dry materials such as leaves or cardboard to your compost and in many cases you may want to keep a lid on it to avoid critters and pets from taste testing your material. You do not have to turn your compost until after the ground starts to thaw. An accurate compost pile will get to 125 degrees Fahrenheit for best results, but can still be used if it doesn’t. You know the compost is ready when you cannot recognize the food particles anymore and it has an earthy smell to it. Spread 1-2 inch layers into your dirt, or we just mix it into our already existing garden soil. It can also be used on top as a mulch.

Passive and Active Rainwater Collection:

By using passive rainwater collection, we slow down the water’s path from sky to storm sewer. This

Sure Lock Locksmith

Native plants, often mistaken for weeks, are important for the health of native pollinators. Photo by Rachel Kutskill.

Photo by Rachel Kutskill

THRIVE TIP:

PLANT NATIVE PLANTS IN YOUR YARD AS A WAY TO REDUCE WATER WASTE, REDUCE COOLING COSTS, AND UPLIFT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY AROUND YOU, INCLUDING THE BIRDS AND THE BEES..

helps to enrich the soil with the moisture needed to sustain healthy plants, especially food gardens. This can be done by creating berms, terraces, or other vegetation that helps to slow down the water’s path through your garden. Oftentimes, native plants can be distributed throughout and act as a natural barrier to retain water and moisture. Keep in mind, grass, unless native, is a poor barrier as it’s root system is very short, and does not provide the deep burrows under the earth for water to get to, as native plants do. Planting grass should be avoided as it impedes the ability to retain the much needed water in your yard. If you love the look of it, be creative and plant decorative patches of grass among other native plants and garden foods to ensure your yard’s sustainability and efficiency. Keep in mind, in Pueblo, our most wasted water usage is from watering non-native, grassy yards.

Active rainwater harvesting is the act of containing water that flows from the sky and into your property. Since the House Bill 16-1005 passed in August 2016, it has been legal in Colorado to collect rainwater for outdoor use. You can find easy to build rainwater storage plans online, or go to a local hardware store to purchase one already built. There are stipulations to the bill, so be sure you are compliant with the rules. Generally speaking, a residence can store two barrels up to 110 gallons of water, without any permits. The water must be harvested directly from your property and the rain barrel must have a sealed lid to decrease evaporation and deter mosquitoes from laying eggs in the still water.

Soil pH:

Even for those who don’t enjoy chemistry, understanding your soil’s pH is relatively easy. You can get a soil testing kit online to see if your soil is too acidic or alkaline, in Pueblo, we tend to have alkaline soil, or higher pH. Most plants grow well in 6.2 - 6.8 pH and you can test your soil in the early spring or late fall to make proper amendments for the upcoming growing season. Sphagnum peat moss is an organic way to help lower pH, adding organic compost helps keep the pH in an ideal state with little to no amending needed after 3-4 years, and certain fertilizers can be recommended from our local garden stores once you know the pH of your soil. Ideally, you only need to test your soil every 3 years to ensure it is on track to provide the best foundation for your thriving garden.

Green thumb or not, it is important to understand how a native, garden yard helps the community thrive. With less rain run off being wasted in the storm drains, we can help retain needed moisture in our yards by keeping even a handful of native plants flourishing. Not only do native, thriving yards help decrease the overall ambient temperature around town, it can significantly reduce cooling costs in the summer months. Many will notice more insects and possibly animals enjoying the natural elements, as well as a satisfaction of helping the environment thrive around us and even because of us. It’s March—get ready to garden, and help Pueblo thrive.

THRIVE TIP:

Plant native plants in your yard as a way to reduce water waste, reduce cooling costs, and uplift your-

self and your community around you, including the birds and the bees.

PSJ Happiness Index: 3.83/4

Social support 4/4 - By focusing our attention on the environment around us, it shows a deep support system and desire for others to thrive along with us. One person can impact an entire neighborhood in a positive way. Neighbors oftentimes engage with garden tips and tricks as a way to connect us as a community.

Healthy life expectancy 4/4 - Gardening and spending time with our hands in the soil, has been shown to increase happiness and therefore, overall life expectancy. Blue zones, areas where people live the longest, tend to have community gardens that the elders work in daily.

Freedom making life choices 3.8/4 - While our choices in our own yards can have an impact on others, it usually doesn’t cause any kind of imposition, unless someone just really doesn’t like plants and nature.

State of Art

First Friday Art Walk GUIDE

Listening to gallery owners, artists, creatives: PSJ contributor announces series digging deeper into local artistic scene

By Bree Anne Pappan

Most would call me a “newbie” to Southern Colorado since I have only been here since 2012. Ro be exact, so I’ve surpassed my 10year anniversary in the Rocky Mountain State. More recently, in 2014, when I was encouraged to became involved in the arts and cultural community in Pueblo as a contributor and exhibitor to art initiatives.

So as an outsider, an observer, a non-Puebloan, I was learning, and for the most part, am still learning, what Pueblo has to offer. But as I watch Pueblo’s arts and cultural community re-invent itself, I feel that Pueblo is on the cusp of such a turning tide, an awakening if you will.

From my observations and as an active participant, Pueblo has adopted a communal approach to celebrating its local artists, whether they are part of the “OG” generation, along with galleries and studios, or artists that have come up within the community and are becoming wise to the need to catapult themselves through self-marketing, social media presence and to create a cult following through all means necessary, including taking their brand outside of the city limits.

Wherever the resounding horns of visibility are coming from, shouldn’t we be doing everything we

can to make sure they are heard from the rooftops?

As Yann Martel, the author of “Life of Pi,” said: “If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams.”

As one of the inaugural members of Pueblo Modern, a cultural movement in Pueblo that documented, exhibited, and presented the city in the mid century era, one of which was certainly a booming time frame, I was able to get a truly immersive experience and understanding of how the significance of arts and cultural development came to be in a town that was dominated by the steel industry, mercantilism and trade and was considered to be a major gateway to the Rockies.

As a town that is a named Creative District by Colorado Creative Industries and is front and center along the Colorado Creative Corridor, with its seat at the Pueblo Arts Alliance, the uniqueness of the “art scene” in Pueblo has become varied and diverse and is constantly in flux.

It may be important to recognize, now more than

Murals are a major way the art scene is brought to the forefront of Pueblo.

Photos by Bree Anne Pappan.

Photos by Bree Ann Pappan

Digital edition of the new PSJ issue available on Friday, March 1, 2024

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

Pueblo, Colorado

STATE OF ART

continued from page 17

ever, the platform that was created by artists of the 1970s and ‘80s at Pueblo’s locales of higher education and organizations of cultural significance, that laid the groundwork for and continue to contribute to the defining history of what makes Pueblo a unique monopoly of artists, creatives and cultural contributors.

But what sets Pueblo apart from its neighboring creative districts such as Trinidad and La Veta? What is it about the generations of artists that have made it “uniquely” Pueblo? How does Pueblo stay true to the uniqueness of our art community? Even in the ever evolving times of “artforms” such as AI, how does Pueblo evolve at a respectable pace so that it can remain elevated among its peers?

Pueblo offers something in almost every imaginable art form and medium: visual arts, performing arts, contemporary movements in literary and underground creativity. And let’s not forget our maker community.

Did you know that in 2019, Pueblo was named as an Etsy Maker City? There was certainly an explosive community movement in that arena with some

fantastic long-term effects for the makers of Pueblo that made their voices heard!

In this series, “State of Arts” I hope to answer the question of what IS the state of art in Pueblo and want to pose that to gallery owners, artists and creatives that are part of the community that is helping the arts evolve and prosper in Pueblo.

March arts events

RECURRING ART EVENTS

Indoor Makers Market

Second Thursday of each month through March, 330 Lake Ave. in gymnasium

Info: Text Angel at 719-601-7578

Intermediate Sewing Class

7:30-10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through May 2, Pueblo Community College, 900 W. Orman Ave.

Cost: $1,575 Info: pueblocorporatecollege.com or 719-549-3329

The Pueblo Film Fest April 26-28, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: PuebloFilmFest@gmail.com

The id @ The Ethos

Second Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

School of Dance Spring Performance

7 p.m. March 22 and 2 p.m. March

23, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Steel City Music Showcase

6-11 p.m. April 12-13, downtown Pueblo

Info: steelcitymusicshowcase.com

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

First Thursday Open Mic Night

6:30-9 p.m. first Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

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

Bree Anne Pappan is the former Director of Collections, Archives and Exhibits at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. She has worked as Museum Services Coordinator at the Pueblo City County Library District and has done freelance and collaborative work with artists and galleries in Pueblo. She has been a part of the arts and cultural environment in Pueblo since 2014 and has resided here since 2018.

Alt Night at Analogue

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

Karaoke

Second Saturdays and third Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave. MARCH

Friday - March 1

Where Dreams Begin art show and reception

5-8 p.m., Steel City Art Works, 216 S. Union Ave.

Info: 719-542-6838 or steelcityartworks.org

Friday - March 8

Benise - Fiesta! Spanish guitar entertainment

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Saturday - March 9

‘Killer Queen - A Tribute to Queen’

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Monday - March 11

Women’s History Month Chautauqua: ‘Annie Oakley’

6-7:30 p.m. Ryals Grand Event Space, Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Info: pueblolibrary.org

March 15 (Thursday)

Sunday - March 17

I Receive Your ‘Love’: My Healing Journey chroeo-play by Dr. Margaret B. Wright

2-5 p.m., Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Tuesday - March 19

Broadway Theatre League: ‘Come From Away’

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Sculptures are found throughout the city, lending a new medium for local creatives to connect with residents and visitors. Photos by Bree Anne Pappan.

Photos by Bree Ann Pappan

The value of sisterhood

By Rosina Sontagg

What a pleasure it was to sit in the new comfy seats in the Impossible Players’ theater and enjoy their current production of “The Value of Moscow” by Amy Dellagiarino. The play is a dark comedy that made me both laugh and pause to think about my own family experiences and personal hopes. The play nicely straddles the line between laugh-out-loud humor and deep, thoughtful reflection.

The play begins with three adult sisters at a turning point in all their lives. Due to circumstances beyond their control, they are forced to move in together; tensions are high and madness ensues. The oldest sister, Emily (Jamilee Romero), is in the thick of the difficult process of ending her marriage. Rose (Alexandra Dreary) is a classic middle child, a nervous optimist and perpetual peacemaker. Then there is the youngest, Clara (Miranda Sandoval), who is just out the of the hospital after a recent suicide attempt. The sisters are forced to negotiate everything from the correct way to unpack, to discussing the trauma of their childhoods and even ordering a pizza calls for a discussion. As in any family, sometimes tempers fly. Let’s just say, these women could have benefitted from firearm safety training.

The pace of this production is flawless; it moves quickly and then finds room for wellearned quiet moments. The show is carefully crafted by director Brandie Peterson, assisted by Jamie Swearingen and Junior Director Zach Wiley. The directors have created a production whose simplicity is a thing of beauty. The deeper issues shine through amidst the audience’s laughter.

The acting is stellar by all three lead actresses. Emily is portrayed beautifully by Romero. She found subtlety and nuance in the most surprising of moments and shines spectacularly, especially in the Act Two. Dreary embodies Rose in an incredibly effective way. As a middle child myself, I could really identify with the struggle to keep the peace. Sandoval as Clara is vulnerable, while exhibiting surprising spunk as the confused, youngest sister. The quality of the acting turned in by Clare Anderson and Dan Moylan, in the two cameo roles as unfortunate visitors to the sisters, add unexpected humor and nuance.

The technical aspects of the production are supportive of the author’s intent

and work seamlessly to support the actors. Kudos to the stage manager, Dalton Wooldridge, for executing some very tricky sound cues.

With its many Chekovian references to “The Three Sisters” this dark comedy had me laughing at unexpected moments while also questioning what my own “Moscow” might be. In the end, I hoped along with the 3 sisters, we can find solidarity and support in family relationships.

There are 5 more chances to see this wonderful production, so don’t miss it.

Photo by Taylor Filler.

The production of “The Value of Moscow” surrounds three sisters who are forced to move in together and all of the tumultuous emotions that follow the circumstance. Photo by Taylor Filler.

Photos by Taylor Filler

Grow & Prosper with SBDC

By Catherine O’Grady

SoCo SBDC Education and Specialty Projects Coordinator

How many times have you heard the phrase, “our future depends on our youth?” Or perhaps, “our fate sits in the hands of our children?” Or some such catchphrase which reminds us that our young people are important to our future success as a species?

Most likely this ideology is not new to you, but when was the last time you actually thought about how this idea applies to the real-life realm of business and the economy?

Economists worldwide agree that young entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of economic development, driving innovation, job creation and economic stability. Young entrepreneurs play a vital role in fostering competition and providing financial stability, bringing new products, services and ideas to the market. They create job opportunities, contribute to GDP growth and promote economic diversification.

In short, young entrepreneurs are the heartbeat which will drive our future economy forward or allow its demise. With this mindset, it is with great pleasure and hope for the future, which we introduce Kenneth Zittel, owner of Kenny’s Flamen’ Steel LLC and Pueblo’s rising, young entrepreneurial star.

Kenneth’s journey to become an entrepreneur started during his junior year at Centennial High School when his engineering teacher, Mrs. Withnell, challenged him to create an invention. Due to his interest in welding, Kenneth invented the “Arc Skate,” a portable and lightweight device used to support a welder’s forearm while cutting and welding. His invention reduces strain, allowing for smoother, more even cuts and basic welding, thus opening doors for individuals with varying levels of physical strength to engage in welding tasks.

As with most entrepreneurial stories, Kenneth’s is one that required hard work and dedication, even more so due to his young age. His journey began with an idea, but it took sweat and support to get to his finished and sellable product. Excited to get his idea into the world, Kenneth participated in an entrepreneurship competition, where he met Kurt Madic, a Consultant for SoCo SBDC, who helped him enroll as a SBDC client. With Kurt’s guidance, Kenneth secured a patent pending for his invention and has worked with him through all of the steps to help form the idea into a company. Kenneth also participated in the SoCo SBDC 2023 Future CEO Summer program to help further his general business knowledge.

“I was fortunate to get to know Kenny and help him on his entrepreneurial journey through the SOCO entrepreneurship competition that I founded ten years ago,” Madic said. “Kenny is a great inventor and creator and I’ve helped him develop a patent, trademark, website and LLC over the last year. During this time, he’s also created two new inventions and has had initial success selling his products. I look forward to him continuing to do great things in business and life in the coming years.”

Currently, Kenneth just turned eighteen and is expanding his business with new inventions—and by creating and selling handmade metal roses. He credits his success to hard work, belief in his dream and the support of others. Ken-

By 18 years old: entrepreneur, inventor, business owner, college student

Kenneth Zittel and Brian Estrada. Photo courtesy of SoCo SBDC.

Photos courtesy of SoCo SBDC

neth is also a concurrent enrollment student at Pueblo Community College, works part-time, practices Karate and manages his business— illustrating the dedication and time management skills required of young entrepreneurs.

When asked about his advice for other young entrepreneurs, Kenneth emphasized the importance of believing in one’s dream, hard work and seeking guidance from others. As a very grateful young man, Kenneth wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank: SoCo SBDC, Kurt Madic, Mrs. Withnell, James Jones, Randall Arellano, his grandmother Linda Rader and his friend Cooper. Kenneth’s story highlights the potential and impact of how young entrepreneurs are beginning to shape our economy and society. His determination, supported by mentors, educators, and his community, exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship that drives innovation and progress. As Kenneth continues to grow his business and pursue his dreams, he serves as an inspiration to other young entrepreneurs, proving that with belief, hard work and support, anything is possible. We are excited for the future thanks to young entrepreneurs like Kenneth!

A LETTER FROM THE SBDC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings,

This month, we are focusing on Youth Entrepreneurship and the programming offered at the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center (SOCO SBDC).

Thanks to a generous grant from the City of Pueblo, utilizing ARPA funds, SOCO SBDC has been able to establish educational initiatives and programs to bolster young entrepreneurs right here in Pueblo.

With this funding, we successfully organized a Future CEO Week in the summer of 2023, and we’re excited to announce its return in June 2024. Additionally, we crafted a comprehensive 10-week Young Entrepreneurship Program, which we taught at East and South High Schools. Currently, we’re in the final stages of developing after-school programming, set to launch in March 2024. Alongside these educational endeavors, two of our consultants have been actively working with young entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Rachel Cesario from South High School and Janae Passalaqua from East High School for their invaluable support in implementing our 10-Week Young Entrepreneurship Program. By graciously opening their classrooms once a week for an hour, they’ve provided a platform for us to engage with interested students.

To educators reading this, if your students fall within the age range of 13 to 21, we warmly invite you to connect with us. We would be delighted to extend our program to other high schools in Pueblo. Reach out to SOCO SBDC via phone at 719-549-3245 or email at southernco@coloradosbdc.org.

In this month’s Grow and Prosper Column penned by Catherine O’Grady, you’ll hear the inspiring story of Kenneth Zittel, the owner/operator of Kenny’s Flamen’ Steel. Kenneth sought our assistance in refining his business plan and patenting the design of his innovative “Arc Skate,” a tool designed to assist welders of all skill levels. Currently, Kenneth is diversifying his product line by incorporating artistic welding.

To learn more about Kenneth’s entrepreneurial journey, I encourage you to read the accompanying story and listen to our companion podcast, available at SoCo SBDC Grow and Prosper on Podbean.

If you haven’t already, I invite you to subscribe to the SOCO SBDC monthly newsletter via our website. Stay updated on our plans for Small Business Week and explore opportunities for your business to be featured as one of our Business Spotlights during Small Business Week.

As spring approaches, I extend my best wishes for a prosperous month ahead and encourage you to SHOP SMALL.

Warm regards,

Brian Estrada

Brian Estrada SBDC Executive Director

Photo courtesy of SBDC

Zittel’s patented a portable, lightweight device to support a welder’s forearm while cutting and welding. Photo courtesy of SBDC.

Pueblo’s Veterans’ Voice

By Amy Gillentine Sweet

Each month, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Pueblo will feature a veteran and their military experience — and how they continue to serve after transitioning from the military.

Michael Sumida has a few words for the people who fought in the Vietnam War on behalf of the United States more than 50 years ago.

“Thank you.”

But Sumida’s words are not just empty platitudes – he believes that generation of military men and women helped shape the United States warfighters for the next two generations – and that includes his own military service.

“I never really thought about it when I was in the Air Force,” he said. “But Vietnam veterans were the ones who were leading the fight during Desert Storm, during Bosnia and Kosovo, and in the earliest days after Sept. 11, 2001.”

And they were successful, he says, in taking the U.S. military from one of the least trusted organizations in America in January 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam War to the most trusted a mere 18 years later after Desert Storm drove the invading Iraqi military out of Kuwait.

Sumida joined the Air Force in 1974, just 18 months after the Paris Peace Accords. It was a time when confidence in the nation’s military was at an all-time low. Vietnam War Poll after poll showed that the public was mistrustful and disrespectful of military service.

“At the time, the military was the least trusted organization in the United States,” Sumida says. “But those leaders did so much more for us than we realize.”

Desert Storm ended in three days, after successfully pushing Iraqi forces back toward Baghdad.

In another day, Sumida believes the military could have taken Baghdad, but orders came to halt forward progress.

“And the military in 1991, in 2000, they became the most trusted organization, the most respected,” he said. “And who did that? Vietnam veterans, that’s who

Air Force veteran grateful to Vietnam vets: for leading generations, ‘got things done’

did that. Think about it. They were the lieutenant colonels, the colonels, the generals who mentored and led during the 18 years from the Paris Peace Accords to Desert Storm. They lead a military who got things done.”

By his calculations – and the military’s set promotion schedule – almost all the lieutenant colonels who fought in Desert Storm were veterans from the Vietnam era. And he says, every colonel, brigadier general and higher almost definitely came of age during Vietnam.

Sumida says their leadership came in the form of action, not mere words.

“It’s not the words they used, it was the example they showed,” he said. “If there was an objective to meet, you met the objective.”

Throughout his long career, Sumida says he was personally mentored by veterans from the Vietnam War. First as a freshly minted lieutenant, and later as a C-130 pilot and navigator.

“I remember when we were going into Iraq during Desert Storm, we were rendezvousing with A-10s at a specific time. I was the navigator on a C-130,” he said. “And we were getting close to where we were meeting and didn’t see them. I thought, ‘It’s not going to be a good time if they don’t show up.’ But then, 30 seconds out from the Iraqi border, there they were, joining the formation, right on time. And that’s the military I know – we are disciplined; we are hyper. We get things done when they are supposed to be done.”

Sumida, who retired after 30 years in the Air Force, says that level of leadership and discipline meant success. But it was success that came with a cost.

“I lost 19 air combat commandos over my career,” he said. “I lost five of my fellow aviators in the Iranian hostage mission. Those were people who had my six, who had my back.”

March 29 marks Vietnam Veterans Day – and Sumida wants people to realize that those veterans have led the way for our nation’s military. They deserve our thanks and our appreciation.

“Think about going to a reunion or an event, and you say about someone, ‘they’ll give you the shirt off their back, what a great guy,’” he said. “And then remember, that veterans – Vietnam veterans – are willing to do more than that. They’re willing to die for you.”

For Vietnam veterans – and veterans of any era – Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center can provide wraparound services that range from employment and transition assistance to behavioral health and basic needs aid. To support Mt. Carmel’s Pueblo efforts, go to veteranservicecenter.org. Their mission can’t be successful without the help and support of the community.

Remembering Mt. Carmel’s founding member: Jay Cimino

April 20, 1936 - February 20, 2024 Military branch: Marines Rank: Private First Class

Cimino joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1954. When his father became ill while he was in boot camp. With the support of a private organization on his base, he was able to return to his home in Trinidad. After his father’s death, Cimino was given an honorable discharge to take care of his family.

In 1960, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Denver. He went into automative sales and management. In 1975, friend and fellow veteran Phil Long got Cimino to manage one of his dealerships. Fast-forward to 2001: Cimino became the president and CEO of the dealership group.

Cimino had a strong impact on the Phil Long Operation Home Support program, which helps support deployed soldiers and their spouses with transportation. He also supported the Returning Heroes program, which sends returning soldiers and their spouses on reconnection retreats.

He founded the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in 2016. The Pueblo Star Journal is proud to uplift the voices of veteran. Cimino’s mission and Mt. Carmel’s work aligns with the PSJ’s values of supporting community and connection.

Michael Sumida. Photo courtesy of Mt. Carmel.

Photo Courtesy of Phil Long Dealerships.

Photos courtesy of Mt. Carmel

Media/Tech

By Jayson Peters

Media/ tech

Pueblo bookstore’s magic carpet ride and whole new World Wide Web home

Pueblo’s used bookstore run by volunteers with the Friends of the Library organization, aptly named Books Again, is starting a new chapter. And it might just floor you.

The store, which helps fund improvements and projects for Pueblo City-County Library District programs and facilities, is celebrating its grand re-opening with a Friends Appreciation Day sale, after closing for several weeks last month to install new carpet and make other improvements.

On a used bookstore’s magic carpet ride through a whole new world wide web hompage, other local media moves

The half-off sale is for Friends of the Library members only, but you can join the day of March 15, during the sale, while the store is open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and to take advantage of the deal.

Who are the Friends of the Library? Eric Segall, president of the Friends of the Library board, said the bookstore has been managed by the organization for over 20 years.

“The Friends has donated over $1.5 million since 2003, supporting educational endeavors such as All Pueblo Reads, the Summer Reading Program & Reading Pays, Outstanding Women Awards, library staff development, and writing awards like the Dr. Seuss Character Contest,” he said.

A couple years ago, after leading digital at the Chieftain, I led my Pueblo Community College web design students in a mobile-friendly refresh of the Books Again website. Now, to mark the re-opening, it also has a new, more user-friendly website address: booksagainbookstore.com.

I hope you’ll visit Books Again in person and at its new online home. Donate your old books and replace them with new ones! Memberships and volunteer opportunities are available as well.

Other local media moves:

• Nerdvana: Books Again isn’t the only website I manage that’s got a new digital domain. My own website Nerdvana, formerly at NerdvanaMedia. com, now resides at Nerdvana.co ... Follow it for pop culture and fandom fun!

• Jason Cipriani: Prolific tech reviewer and journalist Jason Cipriani of Pueblo has hung up his freelancer hat, for now, after many years and taken a position as lead editor for devices coverage at Pocket-Lint.com. Congrats, Jason! We worked together when I was at the Chieftain on many technology columns and videos. Cipriani will continue to work from Pueblo. Follow his updates at jasoncipriani.com and on social media at “@mrcippy” ...

Sheepdip time is near!

The Southern Colorado Press Club will celebrate the best in local media April 4 at the Olde Towne Carriage House, 102 S. Victoria Ave. The 44th annual Sheepdip dinner is a fundraiser for scholarship dollars that benefit Colorado

State University Pueblo and Pueblo Community College communication students.

“We also take the night to recognize and celebrate our premier honorees for the evening and Media Excellence in the field with the Mel Harmon Community Service Award and the Damon Runyon Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism/Communications,” the club stated.

The Media Excellence award winners will be announced at Sheepdip. The Mel Harmon Award for community service will be presented there to Bill and Barb Vidmar, while the Damon Runyon lifetime achievement award for media professionals goes to retired CSUP educator Sam Ebersole.

Sheepdip tickets are $65, and sponsorships are available. Media Excellence voting opens March 12. See socopressclub.org for memberships and more information. PSJ’s own Ben Cason, Rory Harbert, Jenn de Groot and Gregory Howell are nominated for Media Excellence awards.

The storefront renovation was not the only fresh change at Books Again. The bookstore launched a new website address Photos courtesy of Books Again.

Photo courtesy of Sourthern Colorado Press Club.

Jayson Peters is former president of the Southern Colorado Press Club and a member of the Pueblo Star Journal Advisory Board.

Photos courtesy of Books Again

Photo courtesy of SoCo Press Club

Soaring to final 3

Pueblo has made the short list of cities in contention to host the National Championship Air Races and Air Show, standing to inherit the event from Reno, Nevada, starting in 2025.

“The City of Pueblo has been identified as one of three finalists for the new home of the National Championship Air Races,” Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham said in a statement. “We’re proud of what our community has to offer with Pueblo Memorial Airport and all of our incredible amenities in the city. We’re honored to be considered for large scale events like this and know we have many other community events to be proud of like the Colorado State Fair, the Chile and Frijoles Festival and the National Street Rod Association which call Pueblo home and have done so for decades.”

We’re honored to be considered for large scale events like this and know we have many other community events to be proud .”

– Heather Graham, Pueblo Mayor

The Reno Air Racing Association is also looking at Casper, Wyoming, and Roswell, New Mexico. Buckey, Arizona, Thermal, California, and Wendover, Utah, were also among the cities who submitted proposals out of 11 who expressed early interest.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amazing, positive feedback we’ve received from the six bidding communities as a whole, as we search for the future home for the National Championship Air Races,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the Reno Air Racing Asso-

Pueblo in final bid to inherit the National Championship Air Races for 2025, beyond

ciation, in a news release. “There were many, many elements to consider, and we’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all the entrants who put in the time and effort to submit their carefully thought-out proposals. Through a rigorous vetting process, we feel confident that one of these three locations will provide the right mix of elements our event needs to continue to race well into the future.”

A final decision on the races’ new home starting in 2025 is expected in April of this year. Reno will host the 60th anniversary celebration in October 2024.

“Reno Air Races 2011” by tataquax is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Photos courtesy of Tataquax

UsedPuzzle Exchange

SpeedPuzzle Contests

GiantPuzzles inStock

MARCH 14 - MEET THE MADAMS OF CENTRAL COLORADO AT THE RAWLINGS LIBRARY’S RYALS GRAND EVENT SPACE. MORE INFO ON PAGE 30.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Indoor Makers Market

Second Thursday of each month through March, 330 Lake Ave. in gymnasium

Info: Text Angel at 719-601-7578

Intermediate Sewing Class

7:30-10:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through May 2, Pueblo Community College, 900 W. Orman Ave.

Cost: $1,575 Info: pueblocorporatecollege.com or 719-549-3329

HISTORY & CULTURE

‘You Should Have Seen It: Pueblo’s Mineral Palace’

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

Info: historycolorado.org

The Pueblo Film Fest

April 26-28, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: PuebloFilmFest@gmail.com

The id @ The Ethos

Second Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

War Memorial Ghost Tours

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

Info: pwam.org

FAMILY EVENTS

Pueblo Rocks in the Park

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

64th annual Pueblo Summer Musical: ‘Seussical The Musical’

6-9 p.m. May 20-24, Colorado State University Pueblo

FUN & 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.

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 & DANCE

Rodeo | Rhapsody in Blue | Glass House

7 p.m. March 22 and 2 p.m. March 23, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

School of Dance Spring Performance

7 p.m. March 22 and 2 p.m. March 23, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Steel City Music Showcase

6-11 p.m. April 12-13, downtown Pueblo

Info: steelcitymusicshowcase.com

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.

Photos courtesy of Madams of Central Colorado

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

First Thursday Open Mic Night

6:30-9 p.m. first Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

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.

Karaoke

Second Saturdays and third Thursdays, The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

WELLNESS

Essentrics fitness classes

9-10 a.m. Thursdays at Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: Katie at 719-470-3017, essentricswithkatiefarmer@gmail.com, essentricswithkatiefarmer. com

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: 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.

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

Vibration meditation

6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Ren Yoga Flow, 110 W. Fifth 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

Inner Alchemy

6-7 p.m. Thursdays, Ren Yoga Flow, 110 W. Fifth St.

Info: renyogaflow.com

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

Mom Group hosted by SoCo Doula Collective

9:30-11:15 a.m. last Fridays at Sweet Ella’s Bakery, 110 S. Union Ave.

SPIRITUALITY

Interfaith meditation and service

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

Info: 719-543-2274

MARCH

Friday - March 1

Fuel Kitchens grand opening and ribbon cutting

1-3 p.m., 1745 N. Erie Ave.

Gay-Rage Sale

4:30-8:30 p.m., The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

Where Dreams Begin art show and reception

5-8 p.m., Steel City Art Works, 216 S. Union Ave.

Info: 719-542-6838 or steelcityartworks.org

Saturday - March 2

Getting to know your bones and pendulum

2-3:30 p.m., Karmic Konnection, 125 E. Abriendo Ave.

Cost: $33 Info: karmickonnection.com

Friday - March 8

Benise - Fiesta! Spanish guitar entertainment

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Saturday - March 9

History Buff Day

El Pueblo History Museum, 301 N. Union Ave.

Info: h-co.org/join

Photos courtesy of Derek Webb & Flamy Grant

Manifesting Miracles class

2-4 p.m., Karmic Konnection, 125 E. Abriendo Ave.

Cost: $38 Info: karmickonnection.com

‘Killer Queen - A Tribute to Queen’

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Monday - March 11

Women’s History Month Chautauqua: ‘Annie Oakley’

6-7:30 p.m. Ryals Grand Event Space, Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Info: pueblolibrary.org March 15 (Thursday)

Thursday - March 14

Meet the Madams of Central Colorado

6- 7:30 p.m., Ryals Grand Event Space, Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Info: pueblolibrary.org

Friday - March 15

Friends of the Library Appreciation Day halfoff sale for members

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave.

Info: booksgainbookstore.com

Family dance party

5-9 p.m., The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

Saturday - March 16

‘Sisters of Courage: The Story of Kittie and Annie Harbison’

1-3 p.m., Pueblo West Library, 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd.

Info: pueblolibrary.org

Pueblo Chile Jam: Jazz Edition

6-9:30 p.m., The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: ethospueblo.com

Sunday - March 17

I Receive Your ‘Love’: My Healing Journey chroeo-play by Dr. Margaret B. Wright

2-5 p.m., Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Tuesday - March 19

Broadway Theatre League: ‘Come From Away’

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Friday - March 22

Women’s Mini Conference Kick-Off: Existence as Resistance

5-6:30 p.m., Ryals Grand Event Space, Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Info: pueblolibrary.org

Saturday - March 23

Women’s Mini Conference: Women’s Empowerment Mini Conference

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ryals Grand Event Space, Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Info: pueblolibrary.org

Sunday - March 24

Flamy Grant and Derek Webb - End of Days Tour

6:30-8:30 p.m., The Ethos, 615 E. Mesa Ave.

Info: Info: derekwebb.com, flamygrant.com or ethospueblo.com

APRIL

Thursday - April 4

‘Giselle’ - Grand Kyiv Ballet

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

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

‘Combating Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism’

7-8:30 p.m. Sundays, Center for Inner Peace, 740

W. 15th St.

Info: 719-543-2274

Friday - April 5

Steve Treviño

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

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Thursday - April 4

Southern Colorado One-Act Play Competition

April 13, Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

Info: sdc-arts.org

Saturday - April 14

‘World Ballet Stars - Golden Dancers’

2:30 p.m. April 14, Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Friday - April 19

‘Blippi, The Musical’ world tour

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

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Broadway Theatre League: ‘Little Women’

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

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Friday - April 26

‘Stayin’ Alive - One Night of the Bee Gees’

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

MAY

Friday - May 3

World Ballet Series: ‘Swan Lake’

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

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

Saturday - May 4

Free Comic Book Day

All day, various comic book stores nationwide

Info: freecomicbookday.com

Friday - May 17

The 719 Playlist

7:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

JUNE

Friday - June 28

Sesame Street Live

6 p.m. June 28, Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: pueblomemorialhall.com

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