Issuu

OCTOBER 21-28, 2026

VOLUME 33, ISSUE 42

THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994

Economic impact goes beyond the trail Brandon Leuallen

The Business Times

or some visitors, a hunting trip to Mesa County begins with a guide and ends with a stop at a meat processor. For others, a day of fishing on Grand Mesa includes a container of live bait, fuel and a meal on the way home. Those purchases spread the economic effects of hunting and fishing well beyond the businesses that directly serve sportsmen. The Western Slope draws hunters and anglers from across the country, while many Mesa County residents hunt and fish as part of their way of life. Grand Mesa’s lakes offer openwater fishing during warmer months and ice fishing in winter. Elk, mule deer, moose, turkey, mountain lion and bear hunters visit several local gamemanagement units, including Unit 40, a trophy elk and mule deer unit where bull-elk licenses are awarded through a draw. Their spending reaches guides, retailers, lodging properties, restaurants, landowners and small stores along the routes to public lands. See story Page 5

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Something for everyone

Rustic Rose opened downtown, offers affordable items old and new for kids to seniors— See Page 2 Ramani Arnett, left, and her husband, Blake Fransen, sit in chairs near the front of their new store, Rustic Rose, which they opened Oct. 1 at 419 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction. They left Montana, where they resided in Bozeman and Red Lodge, to retire in Grand Junction. They have been collecting antiques and vintage items for years and decided it was time to open a store. They noticed the opening at 419 Main St. while walking around downtown, spoke to their Realtor, submitted a proposal to lease it and got the lease June 15. Photo by Tim Harty.

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The Business Times

OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

Vintage, variety found in Rustic Rose New store touts ‘a little bit of everything,’ affordable prices and a clean setting Tim Harty

The Business Times

s a motorcycle-riding married couple from Montana, Ramani Arnett and Blake Fransen saw the country from coast to coast. And they collected a lot of antiques and vintage items along the way. Realizing they had too much stuff to simply sell items at antique booths, and knowing they wanted to retire to a place with a more temperate climate, they’re now in Grand Junction, where they started their new store: Rustic Rose. The retail shop at 419 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction is, in Arnett’s simplest summarization, a “little-bit-ofeverything store.” Old and new. Items for people of any age. Stuff for men. Stuff for women. “I would say basically we have at least a little something for everyone ... and from every age,” Arnett said. “It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, you’ll find you can find something. Not that you need it, but you can find it.” If you fancy Western vintage and antiques or like unique new works from makers, there’s a lot to peruse. Want a bottle painted by 73-yearold Miss Vicki from Delta? Rustic Rose carries them. Did that patchwork denim jacket, made from many pieces of various old blue jeans by Dee Wang Studios in New York, catch your eye? Perhaps one of the custom-built pieces of rustic, solid-wood furniture from Fernando, who lives in Arizona and sells his works wholesale there, New Mexico and Texas – and now at Rustic Rose in Colorado – would blend perfectly in your dining room. Plus, Fernando does blown glass that is used in lamps and chandeliers. Then, there’s a second Vicky, who does all of the mosaic works in the store. And Rustic Rose carries items from a couple more artistic women, one who makes t-shirts and one who who provides “oddity stuff for the goth kind of kids.” Also in the mix are items from Fransen, a woodworker and furniture maker himself. Many of the lamps in the store are his handiwork, plus some of the wild-game mounts.

So, variety abounds, which Arnett and Fransen highlight as the appeal of Rustic Rose. “People look in the window and see furniture, and they see my mounts, and then they come in here and they all of a sudden see all this kind of other stuff we sell,” Fransen said. That serves as a reminder that there’s more than meets the eye for the person peering through the front window. For the full effect, customers need to step inside and look around. Do that, and Arnett believes most people will find something they like. Maybe it’s the section with clothes and toys dedicated to kids. Maybe it’s the table with woodcarved horses. Maybe it’s the table and nook where goth items are displayed. Maybe it’s the 1935 Streamline Sky King tricycle perched atop a large bookshelf in the center of the store. Or, if you need a bigger bike, there’s a 2007 Harley-Davidson Heritage with Screamin’ Eagle after-market parts near the front of the store. “My biggest focus,” Arnett said, “was I wanted to make sure that we had a little bit of a variety and a little bit of something for everyone. Everybody could buy something.” They try to help the customers as well with practical presentation, which is why the store was necessary instead of booths at shows. “When you go into an antique store,” Arnett said, “what we’ve noticed is it’s a lot harder to say, ‘Oh, what am I going to do with that piece when I get it?’ Or, ‘How would I display that in my house?’ ... One of our main things was to take those items and display it (in the store), so you could see how it could be displayed possibly in your house. “That’s why we have a lot of the things here displayed different ways, so then you can kind of see, ‘Oh yeah, that would be cool on a shelf that I have in my house.’ Or, ‘This would be cool if I put it in my little man cave this way.’ You know, different items like that, so we’ve really focused on putting the pieces in a decor setting.” See RUSTIC ROSE on Page 4

UPPER LEFT — Rustic Rose owners Blake Fransen, left, and Ramani Arnett stand next to a slot machine and under a mounted moose head. They call the moose Bullwinkle and said it’s the 10th largest moose on record in the world and was displayed in the Flagstaff, Ariz., city hall for 20 years. Bullwinkle is not for sale. BOTTOM LEFT — A 1935 Streamline Sky King tricycle sits atop a bookshelf, mostly as a decoration, but Fransen said they’d sell it for about $5,000, and behind it is an old Monopoly sign that once was displayed in a Las Vegas casino. Photos by Tim Harty.

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Page 4

Rustic Rose

Continued from Page 2 They also go to great lengths to make sure everything is in a clean setting. “The other thing that we’re really big on and pride ourselves on is cleanliness,” Arnett said. “We really want to make sure that it’s clean. We went into a lot of stores in the past, thrift stores or antique stores, and it’s hard because the stuff is kind of dirty, you know? “And so it’s real important for us to be clean and make sure that everything is presented well, because I hate that when you walk in and you’re like, ‘Oh man, I don’t want to stay in here.’” It appears they achieved their cleanliness goal, as Arnett added, “We’ve had a lot of good feedback in just the couple days we’ve been open. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s almost like walking into a museum.’ So the nice thing is they stay in here for quite a while walking through.” Arnett and Fransen think customers who stay for a while

The Business Times

OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

More About The Rustic Rose and find something they want will find another thing they’ll like: affordable pricing. “My big thing is that I want to make sure it’s affordable for everybody,” Arnett said. “We had a younger kid come in the other day, and he bought one of the vintage Levi’s jean jackets. It was like 35 bucks, and he’s like, ‘These are usually like 80 bucks. What’s going on?’ And I said, ‘Well, the big thing is if we find it and we can find it at a good deal, we’re only going to put like a 25 percent markup on it and make it so where everybody else can afford it.’” The affordability factor resonates with Arnett, as she said for a long time she was a single mom with three kids. “It’s real important that everybody can afford something,” she said. “I mean, we have high-end stuff and some really expensive stuff, too. But I like the fact that some things, even our vintage things, people could afford and still have really nice things.”

ABOVE — Rustic Rose co-owner Ramani Arnett, right, rings up a sale at the checkout counter for Breanna Griffith and Justin Griffith. Breanna Griffith said she and Justin are newlyweds, and when she provided her name for this photo it was the first time she got to use her new last name. BOTTOM LEFT — This table contains some of the goth items that are for sale at Rustic Rose. BOTTOM RIGHT — An old gas pump displayed on the Rustic Rose sales floor. Photos by Tim Harty.

The store where they’d want to shop Rustic Rose owners Ramani Arnett and Blake Fransen had a guiding principle in designing the interior of their new store, which they opened Oct. 1 at 419 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction: Would they want to shop there? Their answer: “Yes!” “I think it’s a store that we’ve always kind of wanted to find ourselves and never have, so it’s something that we just kind of created,” Arnett said. Fransen added, “We get a ton of feedback about just how much everybody enjoys coming in and just walking around and getting to see a lot of stuff.” Fransen said that’s what he and Arnett like to do, too. When they were living in Montana or traveling around the United States, they sought out stores that sell vintage, antique and unique items. They found a place in South Carolina, where Fransen said, “You can just spend hours walking around, looking at cool stuff, and that’s the stuff we enjoyed. And we just thought, ‘You know, let’s do a store that we would want, and that’s what we kind of came up with.’” Arnett added, “The only thing I’m really missing is, like, a drinking fountain with a hose as the spigot. You know what I mean? It would be fun.” Quite the helping hand Arnett said she and Fransen leased their store’s space June 15 and got right to work on the renovation to make the space look more rustic, which went smoothly. It helped that Fransen was a general contractor for 35 years. “We’ve done brand new flooring, the walls, exposed ceiling, exposed all the natural brick in here,” Arnett said. They also enlisted some help in the form of a high school kid, Connor Steele, who was looking for some summer work. Steele provided muscle for hauling items in and out of the building and moving things around. “Great kid, best kid ever,” Arnett said. “He’s like 17 with the best work ethic.” Warm welcome to Grand Junction Arnett and Fransen talked about getting a lot of positive feedback since opening the store, which aligns with the reception they’ve gotten in general since moving to Grand Junction. “The people in Grand Junction are so nice,” Arnett said. “The community is so nice. People that come in, they’re polite and they’re nice and they’re inviting. And I would say out of all the places we’ve traveled throughout the entire U.S., Grand Junction has some of the nicest, open people … the most inviting people, I guess you would say.” Fransen added, “This is the nicest place we’ve ever lived, absolutely.”

OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

The Business Times

Western Slope Marine Ball honors tradition, builds community Brandon Leuallen The Business Times

A group of Western Slope Marines has formed a nonprofit organization to bring the area’s Marine community together while preserving traditions that members say cannot be fully incorporated into a broader military celebration. The Western Slope Marine Birthday Ball Association will host its first Marine Corps Birthday Ball on Nov. 14 at Absolute Prestige, 1351 Q Road in Loma. The event will celebrate the Marine Corps’ 251st birthday. Association member Barb Evanson said the idea grew from conversations among about five Marines living in Glade Park. “We didn’t just want to have a cake cutting in the back of some restaurant or something that was very informal,” Evanson said. “We wanted it to be something that was big and something that was much like all the other Marine Corps balls that we’ve all experienced throughout our time in the military.” The Marines began discussing what would be required to establish the event and determined they needed a formal organization to manage it. They formed the Western Slope Marine Birthday Ball Association as a nonprofit and are working toward obtaining federal tax-exempt status. The association’s committee consists of six people, including five voting members and a Marine spouse who serves as treasurer. “We all kind of came together, and we’re like, ‘We’re going to make this happen,’” Evanson said. “We want to do something that honors the Marine Corps, that honors Marines past, present and future, and even Blue Star and Gold Star families.” The organization also includes Fleet Marine Force corpsmen and chaplains in its definition of the local Marine Corps community. Although they serve in the Navy, the corpsmen and chaplains complete specialized training to serve alongside Marines. “They’re part of our Marine Corps family, so we wanted to honor them as well,” Evanson said. Evanson said its immediate purpose is to rebuild the sense of community, which many Marines lose when they leave active service and return to civilian life, that hasn’t been available locally. Evanson served in the Marine Corps from 1997 to 2001. After leaving the military, she continued working on military installations before becoming a lawenforcement officer in Jacksonville, N.C., near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Many of the officers with whom she worked were former Marines, allowing her to retain a connection to the military community. Other veterans experience a much more abrupt separation, she said. “A lot of people, when they get out of the military, they don’t have that community

Colorado Western Slope Marine emblem.

anymore,” Evanson said. “A lot of people go back to their hometowns.” She expects the ball to help Marines from different generations discover how many others live in the region and begin building relationships beyond the event. “There are way more Marines here than I realized there were,” Evanson said. “There’s this guy over here, there’s this young guy, there’s this old guy, and then just building that community.” Evanson said she can see attendees finding ways to support each other after coming together at the ball. “With this being the first year, I think that there will be a significant community built from this event,” she said. “It’s going to give resources to the Marine vets that are in the area, because we’re going to be around to support one another for years to come.” Chief Warrant Officer 2 Curtis E. Fillpot, U.S. Marine Corps retired, will serve as the guest speaker. Fillpot served as a Marine gunner. The program also will include traditional Marine Corps birthday messages and a cake-cutting ceremony involving the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6 p.m. Dinner will follow, and the event is scheduled to end at 10 p.m. The Ribber Catering Service will provide the meal, and Grizz Entertainment will provide music. Tickets cost $45 and must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 1. The deadline was extended by two days to give prospective attendees another payday before sales close. The ball is open to: active-duty, veteran and retired Marines; Fleet Marine Force corpsmen and chaplains; Marine and FMF Gold Star and Blue Star families; and their guests. Military or formal dress is encouraged, although “cowboy cocktail” and Western attire are also welcome. The association is independent and is not sponsored, endorsed or affiliated with the U.S. Marine Corps or another federal agency. Additional information and tickets are available at usmcballorg.com. Registration assistance is available by calling 720-8371331.

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OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

Hunters and anglers bring business to Mesa County in many ways beyond the obvious

A young hunter named Ben, 12, of Wisconsin, poses with a black bear during a Grand Mesa hunt with GuideWest Outfitters. GuideWest owner Jason McMillan said the business, which is based in the town of Mesa, works with two to seven guides, depending on bookings, and its hunting parties spend money at nearby restaurants, gas stations and other businesses boosting the local economy. Photo courtesy of GuideWest Outfitters.

Mesa Bloom Market sits along Colorado Highway 65 in the town of Mesa. Co-owner Steve Grisier said the store sells bait, food and supplies to hunters and anglers headed toward Grand Mesa. Photo courtesy of Mesa Bloom Market.

Continued from Page 1 A September Common Sense Institute study estimated that hunting and fishing generate more than $2.4 billion in direct annual business revenue across Colorado. That statewide figure prompted a closer look at where the spending goes in Mesa County, from guided hunts and sporting goods to bait, food and lodging. Statewide impact, local spending The institute also estimated hunting and fishing support 14,766 direct jobs statewide. When it included the broader effects of that activity moving through the economy, its estimate rose to more than $6.1 billion in business revenue and more than 25,000 jobs. Jason McMillan, owner of GuideWest Outfitters in the town of Mesa, sees the visitor side of that activity firsthand. He took over an established outfitting business in 2022 after working there for 17 years as its head guide. Knowing the clientele made the transition relatively straightforward, he said. His hunters come from around Colorado and across the country. Asked to name the places he sees most often, McMillan cited Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, upstate New York and several Southern states. Many travel to western Colorado for elk hunting opportunities they cannot easily find at home, he said. McMillan provides jobs for locals during the season. Depending on the number of clients and the type of hunt, McMillan said he works with two or three guides at a time or as many as seven. His business also leases hunting ground. Visitors spend money in nearby communities, he said, even when the hunt itself takes place away from town. “We’re definitely bringing money in the community between the leases and the local little restaurants and gas stations,” McMillan said. “These people spend a lot of money, you know, to be here.” The purchases can continue after a successful hunt. McMillan said his business uses meat processors in Grand Junction and taxidermists in the region. A guided hunt can generate work for several businesses that a visitor may never have considered when booking the trip. For some clients, the connection to the area lasts longer than the hunt. McMillan said brothers from Pennsylvania who have hunted with him for years have begun buying parcels of land nearby. Other visitors talk about moving to the region, he said. McMillan guides around the town of Mesa, near Powderhorn Mountain Resort and in other parts of the region. He also holds permits in Game Management Unit 40, west of Grand Junction near the Colorado National Monument. McMillan described Unit 40 as a sought-after draw area for elk and mule deer that attracts hunters who have built up preference points. It is a different hunting area from Grand Mesa, giving his business access to clients pursuing different kinds of hunts. Colorado residents are part of his

customer base, too. McMillan said some seek a hunt focused on bringing home meat, while others have waited years for a particular trophy license. His customers include people willing to travel a long distance for a hunt and residents spending money close to home. A stop on the way to Grand Mesa Mesa Bloom Market sees another side of those trips. The store sits along Colorado Highway 65 in the town of Mesa, on the way to Powderhorn Mountain Resort and the Mesa Lakes area. Co-owner Steve Grisier said the market opened in late May 2020. It sells everyday essentials alongside local products, fishing supplies and live bait. During the summer, Grisier sees devoted anglers as well as families heading up for a day outside. Some customers come from the Front Range for a weekend, but many live much closer. “A lot of the ‘tourists’ are really from Junction,” Grisier said. The market sells considerable amounts of live bait during the summer, he said, and customers regularly ask where they should fish. Some are headed toward the lakes on top of the mesa; others fish elsewhere in the area. Grand Mesa offers a substantial range of waters, although the number of lakes does not equal the number of trout fisheries. The U.S. Forest Service counts about 300 lakes and reservoirs on the mesa’s benches and top. Roughly one-third provide habitat capable of sustaining trout, according to an agency fishing brochure. Some fishing sites are close to Highway 65, while other waters require a trip down a smaller road or a hike. In winter, ice fishing brings customers through Mesa Bloom Market, as Grisier said, “There’s quite a few people from Junction and the local area that go ice fishing, too.” Anglers can also make an overnight trip of it: Grand Mesa Lodge rents cabins beside Island Lake, and Mesa Lakes Lodge offers cabins near several lakes. Snowmobiles and cross-country skis provide access to other parts of the mesa when snow limits road travel. For Grisier, fishing is part of a broader pattern that keeps visitors moving through Mesa in different seasons. Summer is especially busy, because customers are headed out to fish and pursue other outdoor activities. Fall colors can produce some of the store’s busiest weekends, with hunting season overlapping that traffic. Business slows during muddy periods when recreation becomes harder and some access gates close, he said, before winter recreation picks up. Hunters make different purchases from most short-trip anglers. Grisier said groups often arrive prepared to spend several days outdoors, but they still stop for snacks, food or steaks for a meal at camp. Successful hunters buy ice to cool their game. Some invite market employees outside to see the animal they brought down from the mountain. See HUNTERS on Page 6

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OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

Honeybee Festival moving to Las Colonias Park in 2027

A display of actual honeybees at a previous Colorado Honeybee Festival. Photo courtesy of Colorado Honeybee Festival.

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The Colorado Honeybee Festival will move to Las Colonias Park in Grand Junction for its free annual celebration of honeybees and pollinators, the Festival Committee announced. The 2027 festival will be held Saturday, April 10, 2027. Colorado Honeybee Festival moved to Cross Orchards Historic Site in 2026, a change that brought record attendance and a natural pairing between the festival’s mission to educate about pollinators and Cross Orchards’ agricultural heritage and educational programming. That growth showed the Committee just how much room the festival needs to keep thriving, and in June 2026 the team committed to Las Colonias Park as its new home for 2027. “Cross Orchards gave us a wonderful year, and we’re grateful for everything the site and its staff did to help the festival succeed,” said Laurie Priddy, Colorado Honeybee Festival president. “The crowds we drew showed just how much this community loves the festival, and Las Colonias Park gives us so much to be excited about as we keep growing.” Las Colonias Park, part of the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation system along the Colorado River, brings a long

list of upgrades for the festival: dedicated food-truck hookups with water and electric service, eliminating the need for generators; expanded parking with easier, safer access for attendees; permanent restroom facilities; and significantly more open space for vendors, activities, and attendees to enjoy. The Committee is grateful to Cross Orchards Historic Site for a wonderful 2026 festival, and has invited Museums of Western Colorado, which oversees the site, to remain involved with the festival at its new home in 2027. Attendees can expect the same live music, food vendors, educational lectures, Bee Costume Contest, Spelling Bee, and wide variety of vendor booths that have made the festival a community tradition. Vendors and volunteers are encouraged to visit coloradohoneybee.org for updates on registration, sponsorship, and festival details as they become available. “Our mission hasn’t changed,” Priddy said. “We’re still committed to a free, family-friendly festival that helps our community understand just how important honeybees and other pollinators are to our agricultural economy, locally and beyond.” F

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Hunters

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John Hall poses with a 5-by-5 mule deer buck after a successful hunt with GuideWest Outfitters. Photo courtesy of GuideWest Outfitters.

Continued from Page 6 “That’s pretty fun,” Grisier said. He also enjoys seeing young hunters come in excited about their first successful hunt. o courteAt the end of their trip other hunters purchase jewelry or locally made keepsakes to take home, as Grisier said, “A lot of people come in to buy some gifts as they’re leaving town from hunting.” He recognizes some visitors from previous years and sees guides bring returning clients through the store. Measuring the local economy A hunter’s payment to a guide is only one part of the trip’s economic impact. Lodging, meals, fuel and equipment purchases spread the spending across businesses that may have little to do with hunting at first glance. While there is not a specific study available, calculating the exact economic impact of fishing and hunting in Mesa County, a Colorado Mesa University study, using 2019 data and published in 2022,

estimated outdoor recreation of all kinds contributed $321.6 million directly to Mesa County’s gross domestic product and supported 7,620 direct jobs. The 2026 Western Slope Agriculture Report, produced by the university and the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center, found another connection: Some agricultural producers reported earning income through big-game hunting and outfitting. McMillan’s land leases are an example of how that money reaches landowners. Grand Junction benefits when hunters and anglers buy gear at businesses such as Western Anglers Fly Shop, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Bass Pro Shops. According to the city’s 2026 budget information, 2 percentage points of its 3.39 percent sales tax go to the general fund. Grocery food is exempt, but taxable equipment purchases count, including qualifying online orders delivered within city limits. McMillan and Grisier show how that spending reaches guides, landowners, stores and other businesses along the way.

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OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

More to the Story: The dog who inspired Lil Richard’s

Sometimes, for various reasons, The Business Times isn’t able to print everything it wanted to present in a story. When that happens and we feel the need to provide what the original story was missing, we’ll bring you “More to the Story.” The Oct. 7, 2026, edition included a Page 2 story about Lil Richard’s breakfast-burrito shop, which is named after owners Imad and Anna Burleigh’s dachshund, Richard. And Richard the dog is a story all by himself, and it’s too fun to not share it. So, here we go: Imad and Anna Burleigh’s 9-year-old, 20-pound dachshund, Richard, now has a breakfast-burrito shop named after him. As if he needed that to make a name for himself. Long before Lil Richard’s came along, Richard was kind of big deal, and the Burleighs were all smiles as Imad told the story. Richard was a birthday gift to Imad from his boss while working for a construction company in California. Richard ended up going to work with Imad every day and turned into a social phenomenon. “Once he was big enough to kind of run around on his own, he would jump out of my car, run into our shop with quite a few individuals throughout the shop,” Imad said. “He’d run around to every single person, say hi. “Then he’d leave, ‘cause we had this huge business park that was just a bunch of businesses. He’d leave, he’d go run, hit every business, go say hi to everybody. Some days I wouldn’t see him back until like 5 o’clock at night. I get calls sometimes like, ‘Hey, Richard is here. Do you want me to bring him over.’ And I’m like, ‘Just send him out. He’ll find his way back.’” Imad said the business park was fenced in, and there were other dogs cruising around the park, so he was pretty comfortable with that. “So what happened,” Imad continued, “is this little guy ended up being the most socialized dog I think I’ve ever met.” With Richard being so active throughout that business park, Imad said it led to several occurrences of him walking down the street (in town, not the park) with Richard and encountering people who would run up and say hi to Richard. “Because,” Imad explained, “Richard would go out with our assistants throughout town, go to the post office, grocery stores, go run errands. He ended up being more well known in this town than I was.”

Richard even became a regular at a bar. Detailing that, Imad said he and a couple friends decided to stop at a local bar and have a drink, “and we go in, we ask if it was OK to bring Richard in. She’s like, ‘Oh yeah, Richard’s always welcome in here.’” Imad replicated the puzzled look that he knew was on his face upon hearing that, then said, “Sure enough, that lady was friends with one of our assistants, and she would go in there and visit with her and take Richard in there, and they got to know each other.” Then came the greater reveal. Imad said the woman put Richard on a seat at the bar, “and he jumps up on the counter, and she gives him a little shot glass of beer. I was blown away. I had never been in here, never talked to these people.” So, there Imad was, sitting at a bar with his dog having a beer with him. “It was ridiculous,” he said. Then, about 10, 15 minutes later, somebody else walks into the bar with a dog on a leash, and the same lady who served Richard a beer yelled, “Get that dog out of here!” When the man saw Richard at the bar drinking a beer, he said, “What do you mean? Dogs aren’t allowed in here?” The woman’s immediate response to the stranger, Imad said, was: “‘That’s not a dog! That’s Richard!’ And she’s like, ‘Get out! No dogs allowed!’ “I’m blown away by this, right? So, this is a dog that somehow ended up getting into a bar and being served by the bartender. Like, that’s the personality that this little guy has.” Traveling far and wide for Lil Richard’s In addition to Lil Richard’s drawing customers from around the Grand Valley, the Burleighs have been pleasantly surprised by people who drove a long way just to get a Lil Richard’s breakfast burrito. “We had someone come in the other day that said they came from St. George (Utah) just for Lil Richard’s burritos, which blew me away,” Imad said. “It’s like five hours away, man.” Then, there was this: “We had a guy who told his fiance that he wanted a really good breakfast burrito for his birthday,” Imad said. “So his fiancee – they’re from Fort Collins – she went out and started researching breakfast burritos all over Colorado, found us – it was Lil Richard’s – and this guy’s name just happened to be Richard. So, they brought him all the way over from Fort Collins to Lil Richard’s for a breakfast burrito, which was just really cool and fun. “So, they came in on a Thursday, and he came back every day. They were here for a week.”

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OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

The Business Times

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Roman Chiropractic gets StemWave to fight pain

ABOVE — Mia Roman, the technician who administers the StemWave treatments at Roman Family Chiropractic in Grand Junction, stands next to a poster touting the benefits of StemWave. LOWER RIGHT CORNER — The StemWave device being used on a patient’s wrist. Photos courtesy of Roman Family Chiropractic.

Roman Family Chiropractic, 2584 Patterson Road, Suite D, began using a StemWave device this summer to help patients heal and mitigate chronic pain. Mia Roman is the technician at Roman Family Chiropractic who administers the StemWave treatment, an she said the practice is “seeing many patients getting incredible results.” Roman said the practice received the device in January and started introducing it to the public in the last few months. Roman said Roman Family Chiropractic has helped clients dealing with knee pain, shoulder pain, back pain, ankle pain, neuropathy and plantar fasciitis. “We have used the device as a preventive measure to avoid surgery, but also have seen clients who have had surgery, but are still dealing with pain and scar tissue,” she said. “Any client is able to get a session, but our main goal is our patients who are dealing with chronic pain.” StemWave is a great option, she said, “if you are tired of taking medications and do not want surgery.” Roman said StemWave can be incorporated into care for a variety of musculoskeletal concerns, injuries and areas of chronic pain, providing a non-invasive option for patients looking for additional support beyond traditional approaches. Roman wrote in an email that StemWave is an FDA-approved medical device that

“utilizes harmless, yet powerful acoustic sound waves to activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. This non-invasive treatment option was designed to help patients dealing with muscular conditions related to pain and inflammation.” She said the sound waves penetrate damaged/injured tissue, areas of inflammation. The waves activate a natural response within the body, she said, and “this immediately kickstarts the body’s healing process by bringing blood flow to the area and awakens dormant stem cells.” Roman said the goal of each session is to help hasten the body’s healing response and remove pain overall. Roman said StemWave has been available in the United States since 2022, and she believes Roman Family Chiropractic is one of two or three chiropractic practices in Grand Junction offering StemWave.

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80-year-old cyclist raises $14K for youth scholarships

Eighty-year-old Grand Junction cyclist Mike Perry, shown talking with some kids at a local park, raised more than $14,000 for scholarships for kids at the EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum. Photo courtesy of EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum.

On Oct. 8, local resident and veteran cyclist Mike Perry marked his 80th year by taking on a daunting task: riding 80 miles across the Grand Valley in a single day to raise scholarship funds for kids at the EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum. Perry didn’t stop at 80 miles. Instead, he kept on pedaling and logged 100 miles total. Perry’s latest effort raised more than $14,000 and pushed his cumulative fundraising total for EUREKA! youth scholarships to $102,675. “My wife, Sandy, played a critical role in this whole endeavor as a support in driving, encouraging me when I wanted to give up, and being the best companion one could have,” Perry said. “I simply could not have done it without her. Sandy and I are blessed to give back in some way to help these beautiful children.” His cross-country cycling journey began back in the late 1990s while living in The Dalles, Oregon, inspired by an article in The Oregonian about a couple who rode across the United States. Starting on a modified first-generation Trek mountain bike with no shocks, Perry ceremoniously dipped his rear wheel into the Pacific Ocean at Fort Stevens, Oregon, beginning a multi-decade quest to ride across America in piecemeal segments. Despite career demands, including a long tenure as executive director of the Museums of Western Colorado, and life commitments, Perry kept returning to the open road, and he documented it in a daily blog. In 2020, Perry decided to turn his personal cross-country journey into a mission for the community, riding across Nebraska along the historic Lincoln Highway to raise money for the

EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum’s summer camp scholarships. That initial cross-country campaign raised more than $88,000 for local children. Determined to keep the momentum going for his 80th birthday year, Perry set his sights on the Grand Valley for his latest feat. “What this organization is doing to help kids in our area is incredible, and I wanted to do something to add my support,” he said. “Asking supporters for a little or a lot of their pocket change was all about making sure every child has the opportunity to attend one of the many hands-on science camps EUREKA! offers.” The funds raised directly benefit local families by providing needbased scholarships for children to attend EUREKA!’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) camps, programs and field trips. “Mike’s dedication, grit and generosity are nothing short of inspiring,” said Jenn Moore, executive director of EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum. “To ride 100 miles at age 80 is an unbelievable achievement on its own, but to channel that energy into opening doors for local children is extraordinary. Thanks to Mike’s incredible journeys, hundreds of kids in our community will get to experience hands-on science education and discovery that they otherwise might not have been able to afford.” To learn more about EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum or to contribute to the student scholarship fund, visit www.eurekasciencemuseum.org or call 970-254-1626.

OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

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Why Exceptional Service Creates Customers for Life

In today’s crowded marketplace, customer service isn’t just a department, it’s the defining force behind whether a business thrives, stagnates or disappears. Consumers have more choices than ever, and they’re increasingly selective about where they spend their money. When service falls short, customers don’t simply walk away. They take their loyalty, their praise and their purchasing power with them. I was reminded of this truth during a recent 3,300-mile, 28-day road trip my wife and I took across six states. We interacted with dozens of businesses, each offering their own version of customer service. Most experiences were average, a few were disappointing, and a handful were truly exceptional. And here’s what became immediately clear: We know exactly which businesses we’ll never return to, and which ones we’ll go out of our way to support again. Some places fell off our radar entirely. Others earned a permanent Marcus spot on our “must-visit” list. Like all consumers, we vote with our Straub wallets and our words. That’s the reality every business must face. Customers remember how you make them feel, and they reward or reject you accordingly. If you want your business to stand out, start by identifying what you value most as a customer. Then replicate those experiences for your own clientele. When you consistently deliver excellence, you earn referrals, build trust and strengthen your reputation. Consistency isn’t just important, it’s essential. A single poor experience can undo years of goodwill, while a single exceptional moment can create lifelong loyalty. To build a business that leaves a lasting impression, focus on these foundational elements: Exceptional customer service Exceptional service begins with leadership. When business owners lead with integrity and prioritize giving customers more reasons to say “yes,” they create the conditions for extraordinary experiences. Great service isn’t just about solving problems, it’s about anticipating needs, exceeding expectations and creating moments that feel personal and memorable. Customers don’t remember transactions; they remember emotions. They remember whether they felt valued, respected and appreciated. When a company consistently delivers those feelings, it becomes more than a business. It becomes a trusted partner. A caring team Hire people who genuinely care. Caring isn’t a skill; it’s a mindset. It’s the difference between someone who goes through the motions and someone who goes the extra mile. When team members take personal ownership of the customer experience, it shows in their attitudes, behaviors and results. A disengaged team erodes trust and revenue. An invested team creates a culture of excellence that customers can feel the moment they walk through your doors. When team members are emotionally committed to the customer’s experience, they elevate every interaction. Training and development Equip your team with the tools to succeed. Ongoing training in communication, listening, relationship-building, customer service and leadership empowers team members

to deliver excellence consistently. Training isn’t a one-time event, it’s a continuous investment that reinforces values, sharpens skills and builds confidence. When team members feel supported and prepared, they take initiative, solve problems creatively and represent your brand with pride. Effective training also builds empathy. When team members understand the emotional journey of a customer, they respond with compassion, patience and professionalism. Making it right Perfection isn’t the goal. Integrity is. Mistakes will happen. When they do, own them. Make it right. Customers remember how you respond far more than the error itself. A sincere apology, a thoughtful resolution and a commitment to improvement can transform a negative experience into a powerful story of redemption. Some of the most loyal customers are those who’ve seen a company rise to the occasion when things went wrong. Making it right isn’t just about fixing the issue. It’s about reaffirming your values. It’s a chance to show that your business stands for people, not just profit. You can deliver outstanding service for years, but one poor experience can undo it all. The cost of a bad reputation is steep, while the cost of earning referrals is almost nothing. Every interaction matters. We live in an emotional economy. Customers don’t just buy products; they buy experiences. They buy trust, connection and confidence. When your business consistently delivers those intangible assets, you create something priceless: loyalty. Loyalty isn’t built through marketing campaigns or flashy promotions. It’s built through everyday moments, genuine greetings, thoughtful gestures and a willingness to listen. It’s built when customers feel seen, heard and valued. And loyalty is contagious. Satisfied customers become advocates. They share their stories, post reviews and bring others into the fold. In a world where word-of-mouth travels faster than ever, every positive experience becomes a ripple that can grow into a wave. Exceptional service isn’t a tactic. It’s a philosophy. It’s a commitment to excellence, empathy, hospitality and consistency. It’s the belief that every customer interaction is an opportunity to make a lasting impression. F Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching. com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.

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Quantum on the Western Slope: The on-ramp someone has to build Every so often a state makes a bet big enough to change what its economy is for. Colorado has made one, and most people on the Western Slope haven’t been asked whether it includes them. The bet is quantum. Colorado now has one of the country’s leading quantumtechnology clusters, with roughly 3,000 workers across more than thirty companies, anchored by a federal Tech Hub designation and a research base at CU Boulder, Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Mines. This past February, the state signed an Dalida Sas- agreement with Taiwan, the center of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing, soon Bollig to deepen work on quantum, photonics, semiconductors and, notably for us, precision agriculture. These decisions matter because investment and talent tend to follow the places that are ready for them. The natural reaction here is that this is a Front Range story. Boulder labs, Denver capital, a world that starts east of the Divide and doesn’t much concern a valley that runs on agriculture, energy and small business. That reaction is understandable. It is also worth questioning, because the people building this industry keep saying the opportunity is broader than that. The pitch attached to Colorado’s quantum push is that it isn’t only a physicist’s game. Elevate Quantum, the consortium leading the effort, reports that the average quantum job pays more than $125,000 a year and projects that close to half of the roles will not require an advanced

A Seat at the Table:

Connecting Businesses and Candidates in Fruita

BY KAYLA HOWELL, PRESIDENT & CEO FRUITA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE For business owners, decisions made in government can have very practical consequences. Workforce development, education, infrastructure and the cost of doing business all influence an employer’s ability to plan, invest and grow. Connecting with the people seeking public office gives business owners an opportunity to ask questions, and share the experiences behind those questions. This month, the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce is creating space for those conversations through our Candidate & Issues Roundtable Forum. The event will take place Thursday, October 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson Street. The evening is designed around small-group discussion. Following brief introductions, attendees will rotate through roundtable conversations with candidates and issue representatives. This format gives participants an opportunity to ask questions directly, hear different perspectives and explore topics that matter to their businesses, families and community. Invited participants include candidates for Colorado House District 54 and Mesa County Treasurer, along with Mesa County Valley School District 51 Superintendent Brian Hill to discuss the district’s Mill Levy Override. Additional candidates and issue representatives may also be included.

degree. Technician positions are expected to double as a share of the workforce over five years. The Colorado School of Mines has now launched the nation’s first bachelor’s degree in quantum-systems engineering, built in part because most quantum training has historically aimed at master’s and doctoral students while the industry increasingly needs people with a broader range of technical skills. The industry’s bottleneck isn’t ideas. It’s people. By Elevate Quantum’s own count, there are roughly three open quantum jobs for every qualified worker. That shortage is either a Front Range problem or a Western Slope opportunity, and physics doesn’t decide which. We do. Precision agriculture sat right there in the Taiwan agreement, next to semiconductors and photonics, which is why we should pay attention. Precision agriculture means sensors in fields, data from center pivots, smarter irrigation, better soil information, and technology that helps producers get more from limited water and inputs. That is where the state’s advanced-technology strategy intersects directly with an industry the Western Slope already understands. If there is a natural on-ramp from this region into the advanced-tech economy, agriculture is one of them. And on that subject, we are not spectators. We have the producers, the land, the water challenges and the practical knowledge that technology companies need if they want their products to work outside a laboratory. The opening may not be in quantum computing itself. It may be in machining, electronics, optics, sensor technology, advanced manufacturing or the agricultural applications built on top of them. Those are capabilities a rural region can actually develop.

But an on-ramp is a thing someone has to build. A federal designation doesn’t train a technician in Delta. An agreement with Taiwan doesn’t connect a Montrose grower to a photonics firm. Those create the possibility of participation. Turning possibility into a paycheck is local work. It looks like a community college standing up the right credential. An employer willing to take a chance on a first cohort. A manufacturer developing the capacity to supply a new industry. An advisor connecting a rural business to a program it didn’t know existed. That work happens here, or it doesn’t get done. And if it doesn’t, no single decision will mark the moment we missed it. Years from now it will simply look like one more opportunity that accumulated where the capacity already existed and passed the rest by. Regions don’t fall behind in a single decision. They fall behind in the accumulated gap between the places that got ready and the places that waited to be asked. None of this means abandoning what already works. Agriculture, energy, outdoor recreation and small business are the backbone here and will stay that way. The point is narrower. When a state makes a generational bet, rural communities still have a choice: Build the workforce, partnerships and infrastructure that connect them to it, or assume the opportunity belongs somewhere else. Colorado is building something real, and the question for the Western Slope is whether we intend to make the connections that give our businesses, workers and communities a place in it. No one else is going to build that on-ramp for us. F Dalida Sassoon Bollig is chief executive officer of the Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction.

For our Chamber, bringing people together is an essential part of advocacy. We want our members to understand the issues shaping their business environment, and we want those seeking office to hear directly from the people who employ our neighbors, provide local services and invest in our community. A small-business owner’s experience can bring valuable context to a policy conversation. A question about workforce development might begin with a position that has been difficult to fill. A discussion about infrastructure might come from an employer whose customers or employees depend on reliable transportation. A conversation about education can connect to the skills and opportunities our next generation needs. Those experiences deserve a place at the table. The roundtable format also encourages listening. Attendees may arrive with different priorities and viewpoints, but a productive conversation allows room for thoughtful questions, clear explanations and respectful disagreement. Our goal is to provide an informative, nonpartisan environment where people can learn more about the candidates and issues before making their own voting decisions. Business owners and employees can prepare by considering a few questions: What challenge is affecting your business most right now? What would help you hire, retain or develop employees? What do you want a candidate to understand about operating a business in the Grand Valley? Community members bring equally valuable perspectives. Strong businesses and strong communities depend on one another, and the decisions ahead affect both. At the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to empower businesses to thrive and grow. That work includes building relationships, encouraging informed participation and helping our members make their voices heard. We invite you to join us October 22. Bring your questions, share your perspective and take a seat at the table. For event updates and additional information, visit fruitachamber.org.

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I don’t know why I’m even writing about the ballot. But I have to. I mean there are folks out there who can’t wait for my take on all things ballot-wise every November. And to be honest, nothing frightens me or depresses me more. Well, some things do, but when it comes to elections, what I think should have little effect on HOW you think. And all the folks on the crazy left (which is basically all folks on the left) say, “A-MEN!” Now don’t you go thinking that all of the sudden I think my way of thinking isn’t thought out. I assure you, in my mind it is. This is more about how nearly 50 different votes required on a ballot in any given year – whether for judges, politicians and ballot measures – is proof there’s little to no thinking going on in government, or conversely, way too much thinking going on. Neither of which is ever good for the people. So, a quick overview of some things I kind of covered in my Craig Hall last column. Candidates: Do any of them excite you? I can say for certain, not over here in CraigyTown. There are more than a few who scare me to death, and they have the label of “Democrat” before their name and oval on the ballot. But as I said last week, I’ll never color inside those lines (OK, ovals) on any ballot. Democrats have always been, are, and always will be the enemy of freedom. It’s a control thing. To paraphrase Andrew Shephard (and turn it around 180) democrats are only interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of republicans and telling you they’re to blame for all of it. That won’t fix anything, but it will get them elected. And before republicans start the wave, you pretty much suck at government as well. That’s certainly why democrats dominate the politics in Colorado. It also explains my lack of excitement to color in any ovals preceded with the word Republican. Other than Bobbie Daniel and Greg Haitz, I literally don’t know any of these folks very well. So, I can at least justify voting for them. Beyond them, you’d be correct in assuming my lack of faith in those on the right to get anything done to benefit me as a citizen. Even when republicans pass some legislation that appears to benefit me, they can’t explain how it works, or the legislation has no authority. So why would I vote for them? It certainly can’t be past performance. Like I said: Nuttin’. How about judges: Who knew we needed so many, let alone why we’d have any clue why we should vote for them or against them. And while my personal experience with judges has never provided good results (some deserved, others biased in the system) I see no reason to retain or dismiss any judge. So, my default is to dismiss. Simply put, we could use less judges in this country, and I have a simple solution to accomplish that. Uphold the rule of law and enforce contracts and protect private property absolutely. And watch the caseloads literally disappear. Speaking of supporting the rule of law, let’s stop writing and creating so many. Most law created now is to fix laws created (or worse, voted in) just a little while ago, which, if one pays attention to history, never fixes anything. But here we are with 16 items on the ballot, because they couldn’t be passed legislatively (not that they would be a good thing done that way) in the thousands or freedom-killing laws passed over just the past few years. YES, I think we have too many laws, and passing more of them is never good. But just for you-know-what and grins, let’s follow the Yellow Brick Road to give more power and money to the men and women behind the curtain. Maybe we should pay them more attention? For what it’s worth, here’s what I’m thinking (aside from we don’t need more laws on top of laws that don’t work): Amendment 81: Law enforcement should enforce the law. So, enforce the law. This is a thing because government selectively enforces law. Amendment 82: We need gas to cook meals and heat our homes. You built the infrastructure to provide it to do these things. This is about control.

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Amendment 83: Is hunting really that big a problem? There will always be some out of line. For those folks, see Amendment 81. Amendment 84: Only citizens should be allowed to vote. And if this is our most sacred right, make it a sacred holiday, and folks should have no problem proving they are who they are – even if they have to every election. This amendment will accomplish none of that. Amendment 85: The last thing anyone writing a ballot measure wants is for voters to understand things in plain English. Where’s the power, money and control in that? This will be the least enforced law ever put into our Constitution. Amendment 86: I take it back, THIS will be the least enforced law ever put into our constitution as they are all power hungry and control freaks. Amendment 87: If you are robbing Peter to pay Paul you can always count on Paul’s vote. This will pass because it is rooted in envy. And no one plays the envy card like government. Plus, it needs the money to waste on things like: Proposition NN: Even if we passed this to bring in double or triple the money, the education lobby will be right back on the next ballot asking for more from the folks who hate children. It will NEVER have enough. If I could pass one law for education, it would be to teach the meaning of the word insanity to every student or they don’t pass to the next grade level. Stop feeding the wildlife via the ballot. Proposition 132: So we’re gonna trust the folks who wrote the current laws to write even more like, better ones? I thought this stuff was already against the law. Enforce the law. Proposition 133: See Proposition 132 Proposition 134: Boys and girls play together ‘til they don’t. It’s human nature. But this law isn’t about that. I just can’t believe we’re fighting over it. Then again, politicians and votes. Think about it. Proposition 135: See Proposition 134 Proposition 136: Like the education system, government itself will never have enough tax money to do all the good it claims it needs to do. Plus, this law will only be in effect until it needs more money or outlives its usefulness for votes. Like TABOR. Proposition 137: “Without raising taxes” is the latest scheme to pass propositions to get the government more of our money by taking from this account here and using there, so we can raise taxes to fund the account we just took the money from to spend over there. It’s a shell game. That is, when it isn’t hiding taxes using the word fees. Who does this hurt the most? Closer to home is Referred Measure 2B: My only thought: How long have we been ignoring this, and how long are we willing to Band-Aid it? This appears to be Grand Junction’s Reflecting Pool. It’s an annual problem in need of repair, which can never be repaired. Maybe it’s time the folks on Orchard Mesa built a new pool? Ballot Issue 4A: Again, quit feeding the wildlife via the ballot box. There’s a reason it’s against the law to bait deer. Or better yet, let’s move their cheese. And if ever a ballot issue needed Amendment 85, it’s this one. In conclusion, there’s just too much damned government. This trifold ballot is proof. No matter for who or what we vote, at some level it’s against our self-interests, for a candidate who does not have our values (not that any candidate ever could), and in the long run reduces our freedoms while taking more and more from our personal property by increasing the size, scope and power of government. Or did you not see the size of this year’s “Blue Book” trying to explain all this insanity? At least “blue book” is worded simple enough to show where all this is coming from. We are literally voting ourselves into tyranny. In Truth and freedom. F Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com

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n Nonprofits encouraged to apply for GJ Lions grants n U.S. Navy’s premier jazz ensemble to perform in GJ The Grand Junction Lions’ Community Betterment Committee is taking applications from local nonprofit organizations for its next round of grants.Applications can be found and downloaded at www.gj-lions.org/grants. Applications may also be picked up at Brown’s Shoe Fit, 425 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction. All completed applications must be turned in at Brown’s Shoe Fit. The deadline for applications is Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m., but applicants should start the process immediately. The Grand Junction Lions Club has given money to the majority of Grand Valley nonprofits over the almost 100 years it has been fundraising. The total funds given to local nonprofits from its carnival and raffle is nearly $9 million. “Our motto is ‘Doing the most good for the most people, while having the most fun,’ and we are looking forward to continuing that effort for years to come,” Grand Junction Lions President Nick Beightel said. For more information, contact GJ Lions PR & Marketing Chair Angela Wetzel at 970-216-0351.

n Palisade Veterans Fair takes place on Veterans Day American Legion Lincoln Post 50 is hosting for the first time a Palisade Community Veterans’ Fair, which will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Palisade Veteran’s Memorial Park. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it is intended to honor veterans and inform attendees about the future of Palisade Veterans’ Memorial Community Center. This year’s event will begin with an 8 a.m. bugle call and raising morning colors. Retreat and call to evening colors will take place at 4:59 p.m. Vendors, food trucks and a petting zoo will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the Palisade Lions Club is providing free hot dogs and chili dogs. An information booth from the Save Palisade Veterans’ Memorial Center Committee will be open all day. Event organizers plan for this to be an annual event. For more information contact: Greg Schleck by calling 757-298-8307 or emailing giovane52732@gmail.com; or call Rick Fox at 970-314-5340 or email him at afoxlocks@gmail.com.

n WCP donates $4,765 to Kids Aid Backpack Program Western Colorado Pediatrics, a division of Primary Care Partners, celebrated the success of its annual fundraiser benefiting the Kids Aid Backpack Program by presenting a check for $4,765 on Oct. 2. The fundraiser helps ensure local children have access to nutritious food beyond the school week. The Kids Aid Backpack Program, a local nonprofit, provides weekend food support to children in School District 51 who may otherwise experience food insecurity. From July 1 through Aug. 1, Western Colorado Pediatrics pledged to donate $5 for every well-child check completed at the practice, and 953 well-child visits were completed.

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The United States Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble will perform a series of free concerts November 9-17 across Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, and it includes a performance in Grand Junction. The jazz ensemble performances are free and open to the public, though some require ticket reservations. The performance in Grand Junction will take place Nov. 15, 6 p.m., at the Avalon Theater, 645 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction. To reserve tickets, visit the band’s event calendar at www.navyband.navy.mil/events. The 19-member U.S. Navy Band Commodores perform the best of big band jazz, from WWII-era swing classics and beloved standards by legends like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Thad Jones, to timeless vocal features honoring Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

n Federal grant helps fund new GVT paratransit buses The Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office received a federal grant worth more than $600,000 to help purchase three new paratransit buses for Grand Valley Transit. The Mesa County Commission approved the $758,691 purchase order for the buses during its Oct. 6 meeting. The match ratio for bus expenses is 85 percent federal to 15 percent local, meaning the Federal Transit Administration grant covered $644,877 and the Grand Valley Regional Transportation Committee was responsible for $113,804. These buses, which run on compressed natural gas, will have the ability to carry up to 12 passengers and have five wheelchair positions, an increase from the normal twowheelchair positions. Paratransit buses that run on CNG cost approximately $30,000 to $50,000 more than a diesel bus, depending on vendor and bus type, but the higher price tag is offset by the lower cost of fueling the buses with CNG.

n Temporary changes aim to keep GVT buses on time Grand Valley Transit made several route changes aimed at improving on-time performance, which has struggled because of ongoing roadway construction. The changes went into effect Oct. 12 and continue until further notice. Route 1 will detour from Main and Seventh streets to the Downtown Transfer Facility via Seventh Street. As a result, all stops on Main Street west of Seventh Street will not be served, nor will stops on Ute and Pitkin avenues (these stops will continue to be served by Route 5 and Route 11). Inbound and outbound courtesy stops will be provided at Seventh Street south of Colorado Avenue near Enstrom Candies. Route 3, which is already under a significant detour because of construction on Orchard Ave, will convert its courtesy stop on Warrior Way south of E 1/2 Road to a by-request-only stop. To request a pick-up, passengers must call 970-256-7433 before 30 minutes past the hour. To request a drop-off, passengers simply need to inform the bus driver immediately upon boarding the bus. Route 10 is currently in a long-term detour due to the start of construction of 32 1/2 Road in Clifton. “We wouldn’t be making this change unless we saw a prolonged and consistent pattern that needs to be addressed” said Andrew Gingerich, transit planner for the Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office. Route 4 is also in a long-term detour because of construction activity on F Road. However, these detours are not due to on-time performance issues. “It’s been a difficult year for us on this issue,” Gingerich said. “At various points 10 of our 12 routes were going through major construction zones, and some of them hitting multiple projects at the same time. With fixed-route transit, you can’t easily just change course, you have a line that you are running, and you have to stay on that line. If you get off that line you have to communicate that with your riders, and we are a publictransportation agency, so our rider base includes the entire public.” For more information, visit www.mesacounty.us/gvt. F

OctOber 21 - 28, 2026

The Business Times

Page 23

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