Pueblo Star Journal - May 2023

Printing powerhouse

By Ben Cason

In 1868, Michael Beshoar established the Pueblo Chieftain. In the older newspaper shops, they used to do commercial work while also printing Pueblo’s daily newspaper. Over the next century they shifted to focusing more on the Pueblo Chieftain and less on commercial printing. In 1997, publisher Bob Rawlings took a step toward getting the Chieftain back into the commercial printing industry.

The Chieftain purchased a new state-of-the-art printing press and constructed a 12,000-foot building extension to house it in Pueblo. Between the press itself, the building, extra equipment and transportation from Germany, the investment cost $8.5 million. Then the largest single expenditure in the paper’s history. It replaced the older press which had been in use since the early 1900’s.

When the press was installed 26 years ago, then Rawlings said, “We’re planning on going into new ventures, and I’m looking around for all kinds of new ways to utilize this press more effectively. Maybe one day, we’ll have it going 24 hours a day instead of three hours.”

By 2023, his vision continues to be realized. The Chieftain’s commercial press runs 5 daily papers, 46 weekly papers and 10 monthly papers. This includes the Pueblo Star Journal, which is printed in the heart of Pueblo.

“Print-wise, we average 22 publications a day,” prepress and mailroom manager Todd Albo said. “On any given week, we run 76 jobs on the press in basically six days. We run the press almost non-stop, 24 hours a day, to get it done. That’s a change from the past, we used to basically have two jobs a day. Now, if we do two jobs a day that would be a waste of time.”

Pueblo commerical press serves over 80 different media outlets throughout Colorado

The process and people behind the printing press are often overlooked. Coloradoans value the paper in our hands, but are often unaware of how it gets there. The Pueblo Chieftain newspaper and printing press has been a staple in Pueblo, and the work that has been done over the years to print the paper—and many other news outlets— has been colossal.

Todd Albo has been working for the Pueblo Chieftain in some capacity since he was 12 years old. He started as a paper boy, and has been a part of the printing process for 37 years.

“In high school, I took graphic arts and got into the whole printing aspect,” Albo said “From there, I wanted to be a pressman. When I came down for an interview, there weren’t jobs as a pressman available, so I started in composing [the department] and moved up.”

James Deren, who also is on the press

at the Chieftain, said June will mark 40 years with the Chieftain. He started out in the mailroom and moved to the press room after seven years.

“There are only four of us left that know what changes the building has gone through,” Albo said. “The core of the people are newer and used to our current equipment. They didn’t see what we did back then compared to today.”

The journalism industry has seen tremendous change, from newsroom to printing press.

Photo by Ben Cason

PRINTING continued on page 6

The Pueblo Chieftain commericial press can print up to 30,000 papers an hour. Photo by Ben Cason.

team

Mental wellness for all National Alliance on Mental Illness shares insights on wellness in Pueblo

GUEST COLUMN

Around 50 years ago, my family became one of many families whose lives changed course because of mental illness. Information about mental illness and treatment options were limited back then. Although we knew intellectually that we were not alone, it was an isolating experience. No one talked about mental health and definitely not about a mental illness. Today, there are numerous organizations who want to talk about mental health and help each one of us achieve mental wellness.

May is Mental Health Month. The World Health Organization defines it as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.” Mental welness is crucial to our ability as individuals and as a community to make decisions and build relationships. Life throws at each of us unique challenges that we attempt to meet with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and with different social and—for some—clinical outcomes.

Mental illness is what happens when one’s mental health deteriorates and, as a result, one can no lon-

ger function well in life. The good news is that over the past 40 years, there has been a revolution in the medications and therapies for these conditions so that, today, recovery is possible. The bad news is that accessing these treatments remains arduous and stigma remains high. Without treatment the outcomes are too familiar: dropping out of school, unemployment, substance abuse, criminal justice involvement, homelessness, suicide and stigma. With treatment the outcome can be recovery, fulfilling lives, careers and, we hope, a decrease in stigma.

Pueblo is fortunate to have several peer-run organizations where people can find support and practical help at no cost. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a nationwide grassroots nonprofit organization whose membership is primarily people whose lives have been affected by the mental illness of perhaps a dear friend, relative or family member, and by people who live with a mental health condition themselves. The mission is to provide free support, education and advocacy through the voices of lived experiences. Pueblo is served by NAMI Southeast Colorado. Locally, the affiliate provides a peer-led support group for families and sever-

al support groups for people living with a mental health condition. Evidence-based education classes for both groups are offered three or more times per year and a workshop is available for providers. These groups and classes use our shared experiences plus some of the more recent understandings of the brain and mental health conditions to guide each other through the challenges we face. NAMI also has trained presenters who can share information in the community about common mental health conditions and warning signs as well as share their own stories of recovery.

Friendly Harbor is a peer-led organization providing peer support to people experiencing a mental health condition or who need recovery support for substance abuse. Peer support seeks to help navigate systems such as criminal justice and social services. Friendly Harbor also operates a drop-in center Monday through Saturday to provide daytime respite and assistance. There is no charge to those seeking support from Friendly Harbor.

Mentally Ill Kids in Distress, or M.I.K.I.D., is a family-run nonprofit that seeks to improve the behavioral health and wellness of children and youth through a family centered approach. Their Family Support Partners provide navigational support to

COLUMN 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: Bonnie Bowman, Jeremiah Coca, Kristin Skye Hoffmann and performing arts review squad, Rachel Kutskill, Kyle Laws, Jocelyn Martinez, Justin Morenz, Dawn Thompson

Special thanks to: Artisan Textile Company, Beulah Valley Pottery, Central High School, Center Toward Self Reliance, Colorado Health Symposium, Family Practice of Ted Puls, MD & Julianne Maitski, PA-C, NAMI Southeast Colorado, Photography by Lyss, Pueblo Chieftain Printing, Pueblo City-County Library District, Pueblo Economic Development Corp, Pueblo School District 60, Pueblo West Library, Sangre de Criso Arts & Conference Center, Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center, Sure lock Locksmith, SRDA.

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

Illustration by Justin Morenz, Special to The Pueblo Star Journal.

Bonnie Bowman NAMI Southeast Colorado

Mental Health in Colorado

It is more important than ever to build a stronger mental health system that provides the care, support and services needed to help people build better lives.

That’s more than 5x the population of Fort Collins.

More than half of Americans report that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health.

In February 2021, 41.4% of adults in Colorado reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.

20% were unable to get needed counseling or therapy.

1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.

In Colorado, 242,000 adults have a serious mental illness.

1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6–17 experience a mental health disorder each year.

47,000 Coloradans age 12–17 have depression.

families as they grapple with children’s behavioral health systems and other youth-serving systems in addition to providing families with information on community resources. This nonprofit is new to our area and over time will be providing services to the youth to help them develop the life skills they will need to be successful as they move out on their own.

Spark the Change is a statewide nonprofit that operates a mental wellness program in Pueblo. Using volunteer licensed professionals, this program offers grief support groups, individual counseling and more to individuals whose insurance does not cover these services. Spark the Change also offers pro-bono clinical supervision.

These organizations, along with the national crisis line 9-8-8 are good places to start when mental wellness deteriorates. They can direct you or a loved one to one of our many local providers who may be able to help with the situation or just provide a compassionate person to talk through troubles. The best advice is to call early, when it is only a concern. By waiting until a 9-1-1 situation, one is likely to need highly specialized and intensive services which our community cannot adequately provide.

Coloradans struggle to get the help they need.

More than half of people with a mental health condition in the U.S. did not receive any treatment in the last year.

Of the 328,000 adults in Colorado who did not receive needed mental health care, 37.3% did not because of cost.

7.8% of people in the state are uninsured.

Coloradans are over 9x more likely to be forced out-of-network for mental health care than for primary health care — making it more difficult to find care and less affordable due to higher out-of-pocket costs.

2,574,969 people in Colorado live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals.

In Pueblo, many of the local organizations and providers are coming together to make this May the biggest ever for the annual, family friendly, Mental Wellness Block Party. On May 13, these organizations have created a special opportunity to spread awareness and show support for mental wellness for all. There are four ways for everyone to help us celebrate Mental Health Month. One way is to go to NAMIWalks.org/Colorado and donate to one of our local teams: Stigma Busters, Battles United or Spark the Change. Second, show up at Rawlings Library at 9 a.m. May 13, and walk with these teams down to the block party. A third way is to show up at our Mental Wellness Block Party at 10 a.m. and feed your own mental wellness on the activities that will be offered. Finally, do prioritize your mental health. It matters.

Together we can replace stigma with acceptance and understanding. Together we can block off the pathway from mental health condition/ substance use to homelessness or jail.

Together we can all experience mental wellbeing and create a community where everyone can be valued and contribute.

Where to start?

Lifelines (by phone and/or text)

Colorado Crisis Services 844-493-8255

Text “TALK” to 38255

Pueblo Rape Crisis Services

(719) 549-0549

Crisis Text Line

text “HOME” to 741741

Safe2Tell 877-542-7233

Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ) 866-488-7386

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 9-8-8 or Text “TALK” to 8255

Pueblo & Colorado Resources

NAMI Southeast Colorado 719-315-4975 |email: namisoutheastco@gmail.com

Friendly Harbor

719-545-2564

friendlyharborpueblo.org

Crisis Living Room or Mobile Crisis Response: 719-545-2746

Pueblo Rape Crisis Services

(719) 549-0549

Not finding what you need here? visit: crisistextline.org/ resources

Online resources

Colorado Crisis Services coloradocrisisservices.org

Half of Us halfofus.com

Kevin Hines kevinhinesstory.com

Let’s Talk Colorado letstalkco.org

Make It OK makeitok.org

Mental Health First Aid CO mhfaco.org

Need to Text need2text.com

Postvention Alliance postvention.org

M.I.K.I.D.

602-253-1240 | email: pueblo@mikid.org

Spark the Change Colorado 719-821-2982

| sparkthechangecolorado.org

Colorado Crisis Line

844-493-8255 or 9-8-8

Pueblo Peer Support Database county.pueblo.org/public-healthdepartment/peer-supportdatabase

Colorado Crisis Services

844-493-825 |

Text “TALK” to 38255

stampoutstigma.com

Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services Administration samhsa.gov

Suicide Awareness Voice of Ed. save.org

Suicide Prevention Resource Center sprc.org

Suicidology suicidology.org

Sweatpants & Coffee sweatpantsandcoffee.com

Trevor Project (LGBTQ) thetrevorproject.org

To Write Love on Her Arms twloha.com

Safe2Tell Colorado/Cuéntalo Colorado safe2tell.org

Selfcare is for Everyone selfcareisforeveryone.com

Stamp Out Stigma

National Runaway Safeline 1800runaway.org

CyberSmile Foundation (anti-cyberbullying) cybersmile.org

924,000 adults in Colorado have a mental health condition.

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

One step at a time

GUEST COLUMN

Ijust want to offer advice that has helped me during challenging times. Those of you who know me know that I talk about this subject a lot. And sometimes annoyingly so. But I cannot emphasize how much this changed my life.

Like most people on this planet, I’ve had my ups and downs. Sometimes the downs were torturous for me. People would tell me over and over again about this method, but so often, I’d let my problems be in the forefront of my mind and would not take the time to do this. Even though I kept telling myself I’d try it someday. What is this method?

One word: G R A T I T U D E

At first it was difficult for me. But I generally try to do things in a big way. So I would try to be grateful for something that really wasn’t a reality in my life. Just something I wanted to be in my life

Metaphysical shop owner shares how finding

of gratitude improves mental health

thinking I could “manifest” gratitude (Gratitude and manifestation are two different subjects and we will talk manifestation in another post). So below, I’m listing what worked for me. You can do the same thing or experiment with other methods you try. But it changed my life, and when challenges get tough, I go back to the beginning instructions I’m listing below. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Make sure to find something to be grateful for every day. It doesn’t have to be big. Some days it would be a flower that Pouka, my dog, would walk up to on our daily walk to the shop. And in my head or sometimes out loud, I’d say, “Thank you for showing me that beautiful flower.” If you can’t go the flower route, be grateful for your hot cup of coffee or your cold glass of water. It may sound silly to talk to your glass and thank the water, but starting small is a great start to get you in practice for when the bigger

things come. And most importantly, if you struggle with gratitude, treat yourself with patience and love. Many people believe that it’s easy but often when we are struggling, it is not. Please don’t get frustrated with yourself. Love yourself and treat yourself gently. If it doesn’t come today. Stop and try again tomorrow. Remember, start small and work toward the bigger items of gratitude. If you can start big, great! I haven’t talked to many people that can accomplish that. So keep doing what you are doing!

With this, I will end it here and wish you many blessings.

Dawn Thompson and Pouka

Dawn Thompson & Pouka Karmic Konnection

Photo by Dawn Thompson

“Make sure to find something to be grateful for every day. It doesn’t have to be big.”

-Dawn Thompson

“We used to have a building full of people,” Albo said. “We used to cut everything out. We had artwork, pictures and we had to put everything together. Nowadays everything is done through a computer. So that’s another thing we’ve had to adjust to.”

Jane Rawlings, who succeeded her father Bob Rawlings as the Chieftain’s publisher in 2016, said, “At some point in time, I’m not sure when, my father, Bob Rawlings, who at that point was Publisher, started saving for the purchase of a new press which he realized would be necessary. He wanted a top notch, top-ofthe-line offset newspaper press.”

In 1997, the Chieftain put in the MAN Roland Uniset, which replaced the Hoe press.

PRINTING

continued from Page 1

“A new building was built, and the old press was moved out,” Jane Rawlings said. “It was obviously a HUGE project! I do remember the celebration when the press was put into production.”

The press was installed by crane, and while the new press was being installed, the Chieftain published their daily paper.

“It was a long process,” Albo said. “I remember when it was brand new and we were breaking champagne on it.”

The press in Pueblo was one of the best in the country. Albo recalled other newspapers coming to the building to watch the press run and decide if they wanted one for themselves.

The new press was a letter press, compared to an offset press. The new printing press is three stories tall at points, with many customizable settings to cater to newspapers. Specifically in terms of size of paper and the way it’s folded together.

“I remember there were plenty of long hours,” Deren said of the transition. “there was a big learning curve getting the new press figured out. It’s a very different style of printing. Instead of printing directly from the plate to the paper, we print plate to blanket then to paper. It comes out cleaner and better looking.”

The older press was scrapped after the transition was made, and the room it used to sit in is where the Chieftain team prepares the plates now.

When a paper is received by the Chieftain, they determine the size and layout. Then they print plates of metal with the text on it, in order to make an impression on the paper. The plates and paper rolls are loaded into the press and then it runs through printing copies at a dizzying rate.

According to Albo, they can print up to 30,000 papers per hour.

The press folds the papers automatically and compiles them. Then by track, the newspapers are taken into the mailroom to be sorted and packaged.

The current printing press housed in the Pueblo Chieftain building stands three-stories tall at points. Prepress and mailroom manager Todd Albo has been in the printing industry for 37 years. Photos by Ben Cason.

Photos by Ben Cason

“Obviously, the pressmen were key employees, and their skills are/were incredible,” Jane Rawlings said. “Also, the pre-press area is an art that the quality of the newspaper relied on. It started in the newsroom, with the toning of the photographs taken by our photographers. I am extremely proud of the print quality that we were able to achieve with that new press and the training that was ongoing for all of the artists and skilled operators who were involved!”

In 2018, the Pueblo Chieftain was sold to GateHouse Media by the Rawlings family. The next year GateHouse merged with Gannett, who now owns the oldest running daily newspaper in Colorado.

“We used to have a pre-press department of 13, now there’s only four of us in pre-press,” Albo said. “I rely on my other three people. We only have 11 people on the press and 30 in the mail room. We get it done with those folks, under 60 in total. That would have been unheard of before. We had people everywhere, now you have to know 3,4,5 jobs. Everything you might not know about the newspaper industry you learn quick.”

Press work is a challenge that the employees have embraced.

“I went from mailroom to pressroom,” Deren said. “Then I learned how to run the old press and then how to run this new press. It’s always a challenge; I’m always getting new problems and always learning.”

The business model of the press and distribution networks of the Chieftain have changed over the last decade. Now the resources of the Chieftain are used, not just for their own newspaper, but for other news outlets and publications in southern Colorado.

“Some people out there think we print elsewhere,” Albo said. “it’s good for them to know we do have a printing press and we do more than you would think. If we didn’t have it in Pueblo, you’d be looking at Denver or going out-of-state to get stuff printed.”

“You name it, we print it,” Albo said. “Anywhere from Fort Collins to Trinidad, out east to Eads and Limon, to Salida, we have all of that covered.”

The Chieftain commercial press prints for over 80 different outlets, many of which are local papers in southern Colorado. The Rocky Ford Gazette, Trinidad Chronicle News, Greenhorn Valley View, Fowler Tribune, Huerfano World Journal, La Junta Democrat and Sangre De Cristo Sentinel are just a few examples of the news the Chieftain prints.

The Pueblo Star Journal was relaunched in 2022, and we have used the Chieftain commercial press to print our monthly editions as well. They have played an integral part in us digging deeper on Pueblo stories.

“Despite being corporate owned, it’s good to have the press here to help the smaller towns,” Albo said. “If this press wasn’t running, the smaller town papers

would be out of business. These little towns wouldn’t have a newspaper.”

Martin Santistevan, the Distribution Manager at the Pueblo Chieftain, said, “the average route size for a carrier now has come up from 50 or 60 papers per carrier to now upwards of 300 per carrier.” The Chieftain has more than 40 carriers, who deliver papers within the city and all through the state.

The Chieftain not only prints more than one paper, but they also distribute other publications. They have a major group of partners, including the Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, Colorado Springs Gazette, USA Today, New York Times and more.

“We even print and distribute the Fort Collins newspaper (The Coloradoan),”Santistevan said. “Our carriers bring it all the way up from Pueblo.” Albo enjoys the opportunity to work with other publications.

“It’s good to work with all the papers,” Albo said. “I like to meet the people and get on the same page of what we expect. I have a good working relationship with all of them, we’re on a first name basis.”

Santistevan said it is a positive for all parties involved.

“It’s beneficial for us to partner with sister newspapers because of the size of our labor force and it backwards injects money to us,”Santistevan said.“Not only is it a great mark for Pueblo to have one of the only presses in Colorado taking care of southern Colorado, but it helps the families of the pressmen who work for us. “We have someone here local so you don’t have to go to Denver or Cheyenne for it.”

Despite the challenges the print industry has faced, the Chieftain press has been critical to keeping Coloradans informed on their local communities.

In 1997, when Bob Rawlings bought the new press, he said; “I feel it’s worth the expense and that it will continue to be worth it in the long run.”

In 2023, southern Colorado relies more than ever on the Chieftain commercial press to run its news.

“If this press wasn’t running, the smaller town papers would be out of business. These little towns wouldn’t have a newspaper.”

-Todd Albo

Serving Bessemer Community center still in the works for historic Steel Mill neighborhood

By Rory Harbert

On the corner of Abriendo and Northern, a vacant building stands tall. The historic steel mill, just a bridge away, is within sight. Built in 1899, the 14,000-square-foot, two-story building has lived many lives, from grocery store to a night club, which closed before it opened just a decade ago. Most notably, though, it was the Vic Bain’s department store.

The Bessemer building has not been officially designated as a historic site, by Pueblo or Colorado. Though the Alamosa building has been recog-

nized in the register of historical sites for the state since 1995. The original Bain’s Department Store, according to the History Colorado’s website, is now occupied by the La Puente Housing Authority, “a nonprofit organization that aids the hungry, homeless and disadvantaged of the San Luis Valley by “converting the second-story living quarters into six rental units, and using the street level as a thrift shop.”

It seems fitting that the team behind Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association has set their sights on the promising real estate: to build the Bessemer Community Center. The center is intended to be a lighthouse for the residents of Bessemer, serving the community by providing a welcome center, a grocery store, a computer lab and many other services.

Bessemer’s potential

Jude Solano, the co-founder, president and CEO of SCHRA, is a self-professed proud “steel mill baby” as her father worked for 32 years at the steel mill. At 18 years old, Solano told herself she would never come back to Pueblo, but she felt called to help her hometown. Now, she wants the city to not just survive but thrive.

“This could be the renaissance of Bessemer,” she said. “This community center that serves multi-purposes, not just people struggling. Everybody.”

Solano said that growing up, Bessemer was a beautiful neighborhood. Rich with culture and history, of the likes of Downtown Pueblo with the Hispanic, Slovenian and Italian communities living near the

biggest employer of Southern Colorado, the Steel Mill.

“This was a historic neighborhood,” Solano said, emphasizing her point by gesturing to the neighborhood. “This was the steel mill. This was kind of the hub of all the communities.”

Now, Bessemer is facing a food desert, with only gas stations and dollar stores for grocery access. Solano, during the interview, gestured to some children playing in the street, noting that there are no parks, no basketball courts, no recreational facilities for Bessemer’s children. Bars are on every window; doors are shut tight. The Jungle, a tent city for the houseless, sits out of sight, but the people affected by the lack of affordable housing walk along the sidewalks avoiding eye contact and apprehensive of even Solano’s greetings, who is known to the area for offering water or soup and other services at the nearby SCHRA facility. Those concerns are only what one can see from a brisk walk from the current establishment to the future community center. SCHRA and its team are the ones who know the real story, besides those living it.

“This neighborhood was beautiful and now it’s been forgotten,” Solano said. “And the more forgotten it gets with the lack of resources, the more dangerous it gets. For everybody, including the homeless folks.”

What the community center can bring to Bessemer

According to Solano, the community center will be state-of-the-art. She is working on getting a mural up on the Abriendo side of the building. In addition, she said she has been working with an “amazing” trauma-informed architect from Denver and a commercial decorator who are cutting their fees in half for the nonprofit. Solano said that she intends to make the center a beautiful place in Bessemer and that “the people here deserve that.” Her focus on bringing beauty to the community comes from the research-backed initiative to decrease crime by cleaning up cities and bringing in art and greenery, and making it a space that is clearly cared for.

The first floor of the community center will feature a grocery store and a welcome center. The grocery store space will include a demonstration kitchen which will provide a “lab” for learning the life skill of cooking. Behind these two main features of the first floor, there will be a space for clients to access necessities. People can gain access to showers and a laundry facility as well as lockers to store personal items in addition to the typical public restroom amenities. There, clients access the clothing bank as well.

Though, SCHRA’s services for addiction and substance use have taken the spotlight, Solano wants to

Located on Northern and Abriendo, this 14,000 square-foot building was built in 1899. Though it has lived many lives, it is best known as the Vic Bain’s department store. Photo courtesy of Pueblo County Historical Society.

make it clear that SCHRA does much more for the community at-large. Income level alone brings clients to SCHRA’s door.

“It’s a bigger burden when you don’t have a car, you’re poor, you have childcare needs,” Solano said. “All of those things, it could cost you money to go to work at a job versus just remaining in your current condition.”

Erica Otero, a peer navigator, said that SCHRA serves clients who come in for a variety of reasons: a local woman who only speaks Korean comes in for assistance with her mail; a man covered in face tattoos came in for diapers and formula; and many come in to help navigate the system for food stamps or affordable housing.

“I pretty much am here just to offer these people a safe, non-judgmental zone,” Otero said. “So, they can come in vent, and I can help them. I just meet them where they’re at.”

“I’ve been just adding more and more programming to address all the things that people are living with and engaging with because their families really don’t have the proper support, not here,” Solano said. “A lot of folks don’t even know how to navigate the system of finding support and help. That’s why a lot of folks are in poverty, that’s how they stay there stuck. Because a lot of these systems aren’t very nice to poor people.”

The welcome center will be a community hub, helping every Bessemer resident. Solano and her team want to focus on wellness and culture as well. The nonprofit intends to host art shows, classes on native traditions taught by tribal members in the area, civics training, provide English as a second language courses and more.

The second floor will feature four major spaces: a healthcare wing, an education wing, an administration area and a rooftop garden.

The healthcare wing will feature a permanent urgent care clinic. Right now, SCHRA offers urgent care services as a pop-up clinic, which is offered only on Mondays and Wednesdays.

According to Solano, the education wing will host a satellite space by the Pueblo City-County Library District which will likely be a computer lab.

Gregory Howell, PSJ cofounder works with the 88 Group, low-profit private developer focusing on Pueblo. THe 88 Group has partnered with SCHRA to help the community center come to fruition. Howell was not involved with the process of this article besides a secondary source for additional information.

The rooftop garden is an exciting addition to the community center, especially for one Bessemer resident.

Deric Stowell, 2022 Neighbor Works’s Ray Aguilera Volunteer of the Year Award and CSU Extension Office Master Gardener, is enthusiastic for the community center.

“I’m totally 100% supportive of anything that would support a community that is absolutely in need,” he said.

Stowell said that on top of providing fresh food for the community, it is a “great idea for people’s wellness and mental health.”

Solano said that with the expansion, SCHRA can start to provide full-time self care and wellness services like yoga classes, meditation and AccuDetox, which is an ear acupuncture method for treating symptoms of substance withdrawal and cravings as well as anxiety and depression.

“We’re already providing case management, peer specialist, food access, to housing… here, we do all that,” she said. “It’s happening, and in this little 2,200-square-foot building.”

Though, most of these services are provided on only specific days due to problems that would be resolved with a bigger space and more grants.

In the meantime, Solano has just been providing what she can at SCHRA to meet people’s needs.

“I’ve been just adding more and more programming to address all the things that people are living with and engaging with because their families really don’t have the proper support, not here,” Solano said. “A lot of folks don’t even know how to navigate the system of finding support and help. That’s why a lot of folks in poverty, that’s how they stay there stuck. Because a lot of these systems aren’t

very nice to poor people.”

Starting SCHRA

In 2021, a person died of an overdose every week, according to the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment’s substance use dashboard. In a bold font, the website states: “These deaths are preventable.”

The dashboard, in another prominent text box, states: “In 2021, the risk of dying from an overdose death was 2.4 times more likely in Pueblo County than from a motor vehicle crash.”

According to the, 68% of overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022 were associated with opioid use, and 42% of those deaths were linked to Fentanyl.

After receiving her master’s degree, Solano moved back to Pueblo with the intention of starting an organization and applying her lived experience working in an emergency room and her research to give back to the community she was raised in. Working with retired ER doctor, Dr. Michael Nerenberg, the two co-founded Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association in 2017.

“When I started SCHRA, I would pass this building every day and see that big, giant for-sale sign and just dream of the possibilities,” Solano said. “I’ve been willing this into existence for six years.”

For Solano, the substance use epidemic has affected her personally and professionally.

“I had a child who was struggling,” she said. “The opioid crisis doesn’t care who you are.”

While interviewing Otero, outside her office, a woman’s voice could be heard, through the closed door, speaking to the other staff members.

“I hope you guys don’t close,” the woman said. “You guys are saving a lot of lives. If it wasn’t for your building, half of these people would be dead.”

These stories are not uncommon to hear for the staff of Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association.

SCHRA faces setbacks

On April 10, Solano and the team got the news that the Pueblo City Council would not approve the $975,000 funding opportunity, which would be provided by a federal COVID-19-related grant. The council had a 3-3 vote, the deciding vote would have gone to councilor Sarah Martinez, but she was marked absent due to illness. Though, city attorney Dan Kogovsek said she could potentially revisit in the future.

“They’re disenfranchised,” Solano said. “I would love to see more people get civically minded because they don’t realize that all this and these decisions, that there are people making decisions for and against them that are going to hurt them.”

Since buying the building, according to Solano, all of the windows have been broken. Before the big purchase, all of the windows, with an exception of a few, were intact. Solano said that is just another way she can tell things are getting worse.

Stowell said he has been keeping tabs on the community center, enough to notice the broken windows and that it’s been hard to watch.

‘I’ve been anxiously awaiting the opening or some kind of something happening,” Stowell said.

Solano is not discouraged, though. “It’s not who people are,” she said.

Solano is quick to remind herself and others that being in constant “flight or fight” can make people lash out. That it is a “consequence of an exacerbated nervous sympathetic nervous system on overdrive.”

This article is a continuation of PSJ’s past coverage of the harm reduction in Pueblo. PSJ invites readers to pueblostarjournal.org to read about one of SCHRA’s peer navigators and her connection to the cause or want more information on how harm reduction has been debated amongst the board commissioners.

Southern Colorado Harm Reduction Association is located at 1249 East Routt Ave. Aside from Thursday, when the association is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the syringe access program, SCHRA is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Connecting the dots

By Rory Harbert

The 55-minute documentary provides footage of several teenagers from all over the world recording their stories, struggles, concerns and triumphs from phones and laptops, giving an intimate understanding of the inner lives of teens and how mental health has affected them. Some are shown to be crying, angry as they demand action or proud to share the challenges they had overcome.

The film centers on Nathan Harmon, who attempted suicide in his teens, said he had put 100,000 miles on his car alone, along with numerous rental cars and flights, as he travels around the world to speak to and with adolescents about mental health.

“I want to get to the root of it,” Harmon said, about why he takes the time to do these talks.

Opening up and building community seems to be the north star of the film. To reach out to others, to speak to peer counselors, to find outlets that channel these emotions into a passion—these are the ways that these teens and young adults share how they got out of their darkest times and manage their emotions now. For some, these outlets manifest in the form of singing, going out in nature, running, writing poetry, dancing, spending time with friends or like minded people.

Finding role models, in friends or adults, was an important part of the healing process for many of the interviewees. Several of the students who were asking for change were wanting teachers, parents or other adults in their lives to normalize these feelings by sharing more of their struggles, how they cope and manage their own mental health.

In his speech, Nathan voices the shared concerns of public perception, the future, decisions and the general lack of control that often lead to feelings of anxiety or depression.

“I can’t control how you treat me; I can’t control what you say to me; I can’t control what you think about me,” Harmon said to the crowd. “But I always can control how I react, how I respond and what I do.”

Harmon acknowledges to the students that this takes strength and vulnerability. But the theme of “breaking the silence” in the film seems to be the key factor in addressing this issue.

Eight minutes in, a student shares that he was told by his dad that “you’re a man; you don’t show emotion.” This is one example of the stigma placed on adolescents.

Harmon tells students that pain will express itself no matter what. He addresses the students that have bullied others: “at the end of the day, you are just trying to prove that you matter.”

Harmon not only speaks for massive groups of teens, but digs deeper with oneon-one or group discussions with teens experiencing these struggles or young adults who have overcome these issues.

In Toronto: A young, black, Muslim woman said that the conversation about mental health has been “whitewashed” and that she never felt that these concerns were never about her or people like her. She lists that microaggressions and outright racism, intergenerational trauma, food poverty, and other factors are often not mentioned in the discussion of mental health. She wants to change this as a peer counselor.

In Massachusetts: the documentary follows a woman who, though she acknowledges that she has privileges as a white, cisgender woman, has panic attacks that leave her ashamed. She shares a video of a panic attack in action where a brutal takeover of her generally bright demeanor leaves her sobbing and hyperventilating. She shared that she had been in five different mental hospitals during her school years, which she described as being in a prison and not a place where she could live. She manages her panic attacks now, though they still come

PREVIEW: Documentary following youth mental health set to show mid-May

as is apparent several times throughout the film.

Several teenagers shared that reaching out for treatment in the healthcare system presents too many obstacles or not enough autonomy to be favorable.

Technology, specifically screen time and social media, was addressed as a factor in teenagers finding more and more reason to become anxious or depressed. Pew Research Center found that 46% of U.S. teenagers, aged 13-17, reported that they use the internet almost constantly in 2022. But 36% of teenagers said that they spend too much time on social media. Cyberbullying was amongst the concerns with the increased exposure to the internet.

The film, to me, took extra care in letting the students, young adults and young adults take the lead in the conversation. I also found it refreshing that topics like poverty, racism, discrimination and other issues that contribute to mental unwellness were not shied away from. I found the story of Harmon returning home—the home in which he was not coping well with his mental health— moving, as it showcased how isolated one can feel when these emotions are not addressed in even a loving family.

The Pueblo City-County Library, partnering with Colorado Arts & Artist Associates and the Colorado Health Foundation, will host a showing of the film at 1 pm. May 12 at the Rawlings Library on the fourth floor, to be held in the Ryals Room.

See page 4 for mental health resources.

THRIVE! with Rachel

By Rachel Kutskill

Gratitude—To give thanks—To be grateful. We hear this throughout our lives and as Americans, we have even set aside a holiday to honor this. Living in one of the most luxurious countries in the world, we have many things to be grateful for. And many of us at one time or another, have even made a list.

Despite that, we all have had those days, weeks or months where we feel like everything that could go wrong, is going wrong. The rain cloud is following

Wellbeing’s connection to gratitude, interview Karmic Konnection owner

us everywhere, like Joe Btfsplk in a Li’l Abner comic strip. Everywhere we go there is gloom and doom. It isn’t that we are necessarily ungrateful or somehow less blessed than we were before—because all of the same opportunities are still present—but human emotion has taken over, and that is perfectly okay. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is the time to bring awareness not only to the fact that mental health is a growing concern in our communities, but also the amazing resources we can all utilize. Knowing that we aren’t the only ones to go through “rain cloud” days can be helpful at times.

When we think about fitness, we forget that it’s definition is to be of sound body and mind. In order to thrive in society and just daily life, we need to have all components of healthcare working with us. As a society, and in our Pueblo community, we are becoming more aware that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health. Fortunately, there are many ways we can provide ourselves with simple selfcare tactics that only require a few quiet moments, as well as seeing a mental healthcare provider.

Going to see a psychotherapist used to be a very private matter which was never discussed between

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?

friends or even family members, for fear of how we might be viewed. If we have gotten one thing positive out of dealing with a worldwide, deadly virus, it’s that talking with a therapist has become more normalized. I personally sought out my therapist for a specific issue I needed help processing and have continued to meet with her regularly. After working with my mental healthcare provider on that specific problem, I realized that running a small business, or just running my life, can be challenging at times. Understanding my core, foundational belief system and how to manage that is an incredible aid in moving forward.

We spoke with Dawn Thompson, owner of Karmic Konnection, about gratitude and how she has incorporated it into her life and business.

PSJ: What does the word gratitude mean to you?

Dawn: Gratitude is a way of being thankful and accepting what you have or what comes into your life. It is a way of thinking and releasing fears, by not letting fear take over but by realizing the good that is around you or a part of you.

PSJ: How does being a small business owner change or influence your view of gratitude?

Dawn: I used to be told about needing to have gratitude. But starting a business, you really learn

to put it into action. As a small business owner, there are many stresses. There were days when I first started my business that I was questioning whether I was going to make enough to pay the rent that month. As a retail store, when you only make $10 in a day, the stress can be overwhelming. That is when I started diving into gratitude. Everyone seemed to be talking about it, but I’d focus on being grateful for the large things, not the small, and it wasn’t working. So I shifted that thought

process: that if I had only a $10 day, at the end of the day, I’d say “Thank you for the $10.” The fear of failure was still there, but as I kept making sure I found something each day to be grateful for, that fear lessened.

Then I began seeing things open up. What I mean by that, as the gratitude helped to release the fear, I became more comfortable and was able to start noticing new opportunities which helped build sales and begin building relationships with customers. Now, I’m so grateful for all my customers and our community. Gratitude has become a very important practice in my life and I attribute it to having to get over the hurdles of starting a business. I had to learn to come to it on my own since I’m not very good at being told to just do something.

PSJ: As a small business owner, how do you feel you spread gratitude to others?

Dawn: I share my gratitude story about the shop. I share what it did for me. Sometimes people work better with an example rather than being told “you must be grateful.” Plus, I’m not ashamed of my story. I discovered what it did for me, my business and my mindset, which is the most important. This is why I’m so passionate about gratitude. I even help others start small and let them know it’s okay to start there, since gratitude is not just being thankful about the big stuff in your life. The thing about gratitude is you can find it in the small details of life, the tiniest of things,

even if it’s just successfully getting up and putting on clothes for the day. None of us know what other people are truly going through and sometimes a simple, daily task is a big thing to be grateful for.

Show yourself love and do not be hard on yourself if you are having a bad day. Pause…and find something to be grateful for the next day. Over time, you’ll start to see a change in your mindset. That is the greatest gift to give yourself.

THRIVE TIP:

Take a moment to pause and focus on one thing, big or small, that you can truly be grateful for in that moment. No lists, no one listening, just you and your thoughts.

PSJ Happiness Index: 4/4

Social Support - 4/4 Everyone is able to participate, anywhere in the world.

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

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

Generosity - 4/4 FREE for anyone to try.

Rachel Kutskill finds gratitude in even a Yogi Tea tag, sharing wisdom on the benefits of being grateful.

One act, one day

By Kristin Skye Hoffmann

On April 15, drama students from eight high schools in Southern Colorado spent their Saturday at The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo for the 1st Annual Southern Colorado High School One-Act Festival. Conceived and executed by Rosina Sontag, Kennedy Pugh and Kelly Jo Scantlin-Smith and the team at The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center produced and hosted this invigorating day of theatre. Their goal was to put together an event that was designed to create and inspire theatre. It is safe to say they accomplished their goal.

A typical full-length play is most often structured in three acts. The one-act play tells the whole story in a single act, so the run time of the full play is often much shorter than what an audience member might expect. The festival began at 8 a.m. and ran until 7 p.m. The public was invited to watch the entire festival for $5 admission or pop in and out to see any shows they desired for the same price. Eight schools chose to participate in the competition, each with their own take on what a play in a single act between the required 18-30 minutes could be.

The Arts Academy at County High School started the day by presenting “A Curious Couple” by drama student Elliet Johnson, who also acted in the play, and was student-directed by Isabella Gernazio and Scarlett Liberato. They brought a full crew complete with stage managers and a cast of four. The play depicted what would happen “if The Devil met a Grandmother” and what hijinks would ensue.

Next Centennial High School performed “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” by Bradley Hayward, directed by Centennial student Mark Pacheco. This thoughtful and abstract play showcased a seven-actor ensemble and investigated suicidal ideations in teenagers and the heart-wrenching aftermath.

Central High School was inspired by the classic comic duo with their rendition of two-person play, “Driver’s Test” by Don Zoldis. Directed by Central drama teacher, Kristin Skye Hoffmann (full disclosure: that’s me), student actors Sophia Cisney and Lilith Shook poke hilarious fun at the absurdity of bureaucracy as a nervous student testing to get her driver’s license and her borderline insane test administrator, respectively.

Don Zoldis’ work made another appearance with Walsenburg’s John Mall High School’s performance of his play, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” directed by their drama teacher, Katie Knudson, in which the eight-person ensemble shares the “real” version of the classic fairy tales we all know, only at top speed. A more hilarious and ridiculous retelling would be hard to find.

The 10-person ensemble from Pueblo West High School presented the intense drama, “Lockdown” by Douglas Craven, directed by their teacher Deidre Bjorson in which students sit “in lockdown” at school, not knowing if it is a drill, or if the possible threat is the real thing.

Swink High School shared their performance of “Cheating Death” by Kamron Klitgaard, directed by their teacher Bonnie Grossen. “Cheating Death”

Eight schools participate in competition, inaugural day of theatre

is a six-person dark comedy in which the Angel of Death visits a mental hospital to collect someone on his list, but accidentally reveals himself to the wrong person and must then resort to drastic measures, including group therapy, in order to win this deadly battle of wits.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Best Overall One Act Performance:

• Winner: “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” by Bradley HaywardPueblo Centennial High School

• Runners Up: “Driver’s Test” by Don Zoldis - Pueblo Central High School & “A Curious Couple” by Elliet Johnson - The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School

Best Performance by an Actor:

• Landon Eivens, “Football Romeo” - Canon City High School

• Lilith Shook, “Driver’s Test” - Pueblo Central High School

• Eric Griffins, “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” - Pueblo Centennial High School

• Krystabelle Wallace, “Football Romeo” - Canon City High School

Notable Promising Performance:

• Sunny Wiggins, “A Curious Couple” - The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School

• Lucy Brittain, “A Collection of Short Stories” - Creede High School

Creative Tech Award:

• “Lockdown” - Pueblo West High School

Best Ensemble:

• “Lockdown” - Pueblo West High School

Canon City High School presented “Football Romeo” by Lindsay Price, directed by their teacher, Andrew Fisher. This play is a drama in which a student tries to convince her new drama teacher that her football captain boyfriend would make a better Romeo than the drama student who was cast in the role for their school play.

Finally, Creede High School performed “A Collection of Short Stories” directed by their teacher, Jenni Harbour. Most of the ensemble pulled double duty, acting in multiple roles in the play.

The performances were adjudicated by a panel of distinguished judges including Caitlin Lowens, Artistic Director of Theatreworks in Colorado Springs; Dr. George McConnell, the Head of Creative Collaboration at Adams State College; Dr. Jennifer Bruton, Director of Choral Activities at Colorado State University Pueblo; and Cory Moosman of WYNOT PRODUCTIONS in Pueblo. The adjudicators offered five-minute feedback sessions to each group after they presented the play. Each play was evaluated with a basic rubric that analyzed things like acting technique, engagement with the material, communicating the meaning of the work and overall performance.

At the end of the evening the Pueblo Centennial High School with “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” was awarded Best Overall One Act Winner, and they were invited to perform again. Then the rest of the honors for the day were handed out, delineated in the infographic.

It is worth mentioning that the level of comradery between each of the students from all of the schools present was inspiring. So much so, in fact, that awards host and CEO of The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Andy Mendez, made it a point to comment on it during the awards distribution. All the students and advisors were kind, polite and supportive of one another, demonstrating the fact that, very often, “theatre people” truly understand one another.

The competition was a wonderful success thanks to the hard work of the participants and the excellent producing team. What a wonderful way to bring young theatre makers together to share their work with one another and their communities. Be sure to keep an eye out for the 2nd Annual One Act Festival that The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center hosts next year because it promises to be an event not to be missed.

Centennial High School drama students perform “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.” Photo by Kelly Jo Scantlin - Smith.

Rory Harbert: It sounds like you work with a team? What does the process look like?

Celeste Velazquez: The best way to explain it is you feel like Bob Ross! You really just understand the techniques you need to execute in order to get a certain idea out. There are different ways you have to go about it. From holding your brush at a 45 degree angle itself or doing certain hand motions to get a wispy feel. Sometimes it’s simple like watering your paint down just enough so you can get a good wash, it’s not too heavy. It’s mainly just breaking it down for people and guiding them to where they can understand, and they don’t feel so overwhelmed with the process. What I’ve seen with a lot of people, even last night actually because I had a little art night, people get caught up on the fact that they might mess up. ‘Oh, I’m going to mess up this canvas or I’m going to screw this up or I can’t do this.’ They quit before they allow themselves to begin. It’s a job of implementing the fun back into creating. Art is art. We are art. And everything around us is art in some fashion. It’s teaching people to embrace that and express that without judgment or feeling judged. Because there’s really no right or wrong way. There are guidelines if you want to execute something specifically or do something a certain way. There’s rules and there’s things in place to help guide you to that point so you can get the overall outcome you’re looking for. That’s the most fun part of doing a community project, you just get to see people light up, have fun and chill. You get to see people bond over the process itself. More minds put together lead to a better outcome itself because you get feedback from your people. In turn when they get more comfortable you see your people helping your people and eventually you don’t really have to worry about it. You can step back and watch them create.

Harbert: How do you choose your team? Is there a difference between certified artists and people who just want an excuse to get on the levee?

Velazquez: To be honest with you I’m not really into teaching or doing classes like that. I was nervous because I’ve never led or planned something like that before with that many people. That was a thing I dove into and that I really liked. Especially in terms of doing murals because it’s more freeing than being stuck to a canvas. It’s more adrenalizing and exciting. That in itself creates that experience. For most of my time creating I’ve been solo, but I’d be very open to doing community projects again.

The following is an excerpt from 45 Degrees, PSJ’s podcast on the Pueblo Levee mural project, episode 8, featuring artist Celeste Velazquez.

Muralist Celeste Velazquez was commissioned by the Pueblo Downtown Association to depict Union Avenue through her artistic lens. Photo courtesy of Velazquez.

Photo courtesy of Celeste Velazquez

ARTS

INKWELL: Analogue’s Creative Writing Open Mic

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

Kids Story Time

10-11 a.m. Fridays, Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

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.

MAY

May 7 - Sunday

Pueblo Has Talent Semi-Finals

3-6 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

May 12 - Friday

Punk show and fundraiser

7-10:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

May 17 - Wednesday

Metal show with N.I.A.T. and others

7-9:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

May 20 - Saturday

Metal show

7-9:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

PUEBLOSTARJOURNAL.ORG/EVENTS/SUBMIT

It takes a village

By Rory Harbert

“Haying in the Moonlight” by Carol Fortino, a Pueblo County author living in Beulah, focuses on unraveling the thread of suicide tightly woven in the lives of rural Boulder, Montana. The novel won second place in the literary and contemporary fiction category of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association’s 2021 EVVY Awards. “Haying in the Moonlight” was published by PSJ cofounder Gregory Howell’s publishing house, operating since 2012.

The novel starts with the devastating effects of the suicide of a work colleague’s brother, a farmer who took his own life in response to the stress of a career destabilized by unpredictable weather and further by rising tariff costs.

The story follows Louise Hammel, a University of Northern Colorado professor of psychology, who travels to her colleague’s hometown to interview residents affected by different suicides to get to the heart of the cause of this mental distress. Hammel tackles this hard topic, despite having her own personal connections to the public health concern.

The covid pandemic, in this contemporary story, acts as yet another public health concern that surrounds the Boulder Community. I found it interesting that the community members were consistently described as supporting the community by masking up, sanitizing, covering coughs, etc. This contrast is thought-provoking considering how long the community had been dealing with suicide.

“Haying in the Moonlight” grasps at the unattainable. To fully understand sui-

REVIEW: PSJ Editor reviews Beulah author’s novel on mental health in rural communities

cide would be speaking with those who have died by their own cause, which is impossible. Instead, Fortino, via Hammel, looks towards those affected by these outcomes.

Hammel interviews a caretaker of an elderly Japanese woman as well as a doctor with a bittersweet story of his friendship with a reclusive veteran and a humbling story of a nurse with chronic pain. Personally, the most moving story recalled in the novel was that of Hammel’s personal connection following a middle school student, which had stopped me in my tracks.

Fortino creates a parallel between the farmer’s decision and Hammel’s decision to address the stigma created by the conservative outlook of complete independence and a culture of stoicism. Fortino expands on how rural life, despite how quiet its residents can be about the issues of mental health, can still be shattered by neglecting it. Hammel concludes her research with a determination that mental health is a community effort and that, while ultimately no one is responsible for these terrible outcomes, prevention can begin much earlier. Hammel gathers up the different leaders and interviewees in the town, who are inspired by her efforts to exemplify how addressing this public health concern starts with the public. Fortino shows that removing obstacles to access mental healthcare starts with peers.

See page 4 for mental health resources.

Carol Fortino has written four novels and published three poetry books.

Photos Courtesy of Fortino

Celebrate Earth Day with art

By Jeremiah Coca

El Pueblo History Museum hosted the 2023 Earth Day: Indigenous Music & Arts Festival on April 22. Partnering with the Storytellers of the Ancestral Red Road (SOAR), Colorado State University-Pueblo, and the Pueblo Levee Project, this family-friendly festival offered programming centered on indigenous cultures and the communal ties to environmental protection. In addition to an artistan vendor market, the event spotlighted local Indigenous musical and dance groups, including headliner Ed Kabotie and the Yoties from Arizona. Photographer Jeremiah Coca paints a picture of how the festival proceeded.

A big dill in town

Pickleball taking Pueblo by storm, Mineral Palace ready for summer craze

By Ben Cason

America’s fastest growing sport is poised to take Pueblo by storm again this summer. For the last three years Pickleball is the fastest growing sport according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals.

Invented in 1965 by three middle-aged fathers in Washington state, pickleball is a cross of tennis, ping pong and badminton. It’s played with a solid paddle and a wiffle ball. The founders are said to have named the game after a family dog called Pickles.

More than 36.5 million people played pickleball from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a report by the APP.

In September, the City of Pueblo unveiled new pickleball courts at Mineral Palace Park. There are eight new courts at the north end of the park. They are located where the tennis courts used to be set up.

A pickleball court measures 20 feet by 44 feet. In pickleball, the same court is used for both singles and doubles play. This means you can play one-on-one, or the traditional two-on-two game.

The net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. The court is striped like a tennis court, split down the middle with a seven-foot non-volley zone in front of the net. Pickleball players refer to this zone as “The Kitchen.” Courts can be constructed specifically for pickleball, or they can be converted using existing tennis or badminton courts.

There are now hundreds of tournaments annually. And NBA stars LeBron James, Kevin Love and Draymond Green even bought into a team of the sport.

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, Pickleball player growth in 2021 was the fastest among players under 24 years of age, at 21 percent. Growth among players 55 and older was slower, at 10 percent year-overyear.

The city of Pueblo has seen the growth of pickleball, and felt the need to build new courts.

Steven Meier, the director of Parks and Recreation for Pueblo, said, “We looked at City Park and Lake Minnequa before deciding on Mineral Palace. It’s centrally located and easy to get to off of the highway.”

The courts are free to the public and open from 7:30 a.m. to dusk. Courts are “first come, first serve” unless they are being used for a Pueblo Parks and Recreation activity or event.

At the court’s grand opening, Meier and Mayor Nick Gradisar played a game of pickleball against each other with an experienced member of the Pueblo County Pickleball Association on each team.

“It takes a lot more energy than you’d think!” Meier said.

Over the summer, Pickleball lessons will be offered by the city to help beginners and intermediate players learn the rules and basic skills of pickleball.

Puebloans came out for Mineral Palace Park’s grand opening for the pickleball courts last year. Photo courtesy of the City of Pueblo.

Photos Courtesy of City of Pueblo

Instructors will provide guidance with drills, games and the opportunity to try match play.

There are two sessions of lessons: first from June 12 to July 7 and July 17 to August 11. Lessons are from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. on Fridays. Lessons cost $32 per session.

“Pickleball is such a new thing, and it’s really only now getting out there in the public,” Meier said. “The lessons will help you learn the rules and hone in on the little things.”

Monday and Wednesday evenings this summer at Mineral Palace will be when the doubles pickleball league takes the court. Registration is available online to join the league. The first session runs from June 12 to July 7.

Meier said, “One of our goals in creating the complex (at Mineral Palace) is to bring tournaments in and have that energy. We want to see if we can get people to come to Pueblo and spend their money in the city.”

The Matchmakers tournament will take place July 15-16 at Mineral Palace Park. To participate you must register via Universal Tennis.

“It’s our first full summer with the Mineral Palace courts,” Meier said. “We’ll assess this year and see if we need new courts. We will update people on a timeframe to benefit the community. If it continues to become very popular we’ll make more courts. There are plenty of old tennis courts in Pueblo that we can convert.”

In addition to the Mineral Palace courts, pickleball can be set up at the Pueblo Tennis Center, YMCA of Pueblo and the REPS Fitness Club. Additionally, the basketball courts at Minnequa are striped for pickleball but you must bring your own net. Pueblo West Civic Center Park has free courts available. Outdoor courts 8 and 9 at City Park have been converted into pickleball.

The first crossword

By Gregory Howell

The crossword puzzle is a popular word game that involves filling a grid of squares with words that are intersected by other words, based on clues provided for each word. The origins of the crossword puzzle can be traced back to the late 19th century, with the first known puzzle being created by a journalist named Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World newspaper on December 21, 1913.

Wynne’s puzzle was initially called a “Word-Cross” puzzle, and it was a diamond-shaped grid with clues for two sets of words that intersected each other. The puzzle proved to be very popular, and soon other newspapers began publishing their own crossword puzzles.

The crossword puzzle became a sensation in the 1920s, with many newspapers devoting entire sections to puzzles and a number of magazines devoted solely to puzzles. The New York Times began publishing a daily crossword puzzle in 1942, and it quickly became one of the most popular features of the newspaper. Over the years, the crossword puzzle has undergone many changes and variations, with different styles of grids, clues and answers. However, the basic idea of filling a grid with intersecting words based on clues has remained the same, and the crossword puzzle continues to be a popular pastime for millions of people around the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

Although crosswords became popular in the early 1920s, The New York Times (which initially regarded crosswords as frivolous, calling them “a primitive form of mental exercise”) did not begin to run a crossword until 1942, in its Sunday edition. The first puzzle ran on Sunday, February 15, 1942.

PSJ invites readers to test skills on 1913 puzzle

Arthur Wynne (June 22, 1871 – January 14, 1945) was the British-born inventor of the modern crossword puzzle.

HISTORIC ARKANSAS RIVERWALK

ARTS

INKWELL: Analogue’s Creative Writing Open

Mic

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

Kids Story Time

10-11 a.m. Fridays, Analogue Books & Records, 216 N. Main St.

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.

Transformation Oracle Weekend Intensive Workshop with Sonya Shannon

10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 19-20, Karmic Konnection, 125 E. Abriendo Ave.

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.

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.

Photo from PuebloShares.com

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

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

MAY

May 5 - Friday

Books by the Bag Sale

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

Info: booksagain-pueblo.com

May 6 - Saturday

Books by the Bag Sale

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

Info: booksagain-pueblo.com

Sonya Shannon book signing

1-3 p.m., Karmic Konnection, 125 E. Abriendo Ave.

May 7 - Sunday

Pueblo Has Talent Semi-Finals

3-6 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

May 9 - Tuesday

‘The Great Pueblo Flood’ screening

6-9 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

May 12 - Friday

‘Connect the Dots’ film screening

1-4 p.m., Rawlings Library Ryals Room, 100 E. Abriendo Ave.

Punk show and fundraiser

7-10:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

May 13 - Saturday

Mother’s Day market

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

Walk A Mile & (em)POWER 5K

2-4 p.m., Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, 101 N. Union Ave.

Info: WAM2023.eventbrite.com

May 17 - Wednesday

Metal show with N.I.A.T. and others

7-9:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

May 18 - Thursday

18th annual Flavor of Pueblo

5-7:30 p.m., Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. Info: pueblounitedway.org/flavor

May 20 - Saturday

Author event: Charissa Fryberger, ‘A Breath of Fresh God’

1 p.m. author talk, 2 p.m. book signing, Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave. Info: booksagain-pueblo.com

Metal show

7-9:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St.

JUNE

June 10 - Saturday

Pueblo Levee Walk

7-11 a.m., starting from Midtown Shopping Center

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https://www.crosswordtournament.com/more/wynne2.html

Info: pueblodowntown.com/events/pueblo-levee-walk-2/

Farmers market summer kickoff

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

Puzzle Solution