Indy - May 25, 2023 Vol 31. No. 20

BY PAM ZUBECK

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bryan Grossman

MANAGING EDITOR Helen Lewis

COPY EDITOR Mary Jo Meade

SENIOR REPORTER Pam Zubeck

CULTURE REPORTER Nick Raven

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezny, Jim Hightower, Matthew Schniper, Andrew “Shaggy” Warren

SALES

AD DIRECTOR Teri Homick

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Felicia Anzaldúa, Viktoria Costantino, Monty Hatch

ART AND PRODUCTION

EDITORIAL ART DIRECTOR Dustin Glatz

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Zk Bradley, Rowdy Tompkins

OPERATIONS

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Lanny Adams

DIGITAL/SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Sean Cassady

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Don Bouchard

MARKETING & EVENT DIRECTOR

Tracie Woods

Citizen-Powered Media Board

PRESIDENT Ahriana Platten

VICE PRESIDENT Dave Gardner

SECRETARY Ralph Routon

EX OFFICIO John Weiss

235 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

SLIPPING

Colorado Springs drops from second to ninth place in “Best Cities” index

BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

COLORADO SPRINGS SLIPPED FROM second to ninth place on the U.S. News & World Report “Best Places to Live” list after surveyors expanded the data points they consider “to better encapsulate a place’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Among those factors are “weather temperateness,” days annually when temperatures fall between 33 and 89 degrees; establishment-to-population ratio, an assessment of numbers of restaurants, bars and activities per 1,000 residents; and net migration.

Here are the top 10 rankings for 2023 from among 150 cities:

1. Green Bay, Wisconsin (ranked third last year)

2. Huntsville, Alabama (ranked first last year)

3. Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina (ranked sixth last year)

4. Boulder, Colorado (ranked fourth last year)

5. Sarasota, Florida (ranked ninth last year)

6. Naples, Florida (ranked 12th last year)

7. Portland, Maine (ranked eighth last year)

8. Charlotte, North Carolina (ranked 30th last year)

9. Colorado Springs, Colorado (ranked second last year)

10. Fayetteville, Arkansas (ranked seventh last year)

IT’S WORTH NOTING THAT HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, was chosen as the permanent home of U.S. Space Command in 2021 by then-President Donald Trump, and Springs officials and Colorado’s congressional delegation have been trying to reverse the decision ever since. One factor in that decision pertained to housing availability and affordability.

It’s no secret that Colorado Springs has a severe shortage of housing, which has ramped up home prices, though prices have cooled off since summer 2022 due to rising mortgage interest rates.

Despite Colorado Springs’ downward slide, U.S. News real estate editor Devon Thorsby tells the Indy via email, “Colorado Springs has retained a spot in the top 10 Best Places to Live for years, and while it has fallen slightly in the ranks, the metro area still beats out 141 other places in the U.S. The factors contributing most to Colorado Springs’ drop from No. 2 in 2022 to No. 9 this year is the rising cost of living, and the metro area’s slight drop in desirability. Many Colorado Springs residents are probably familiar with the fact that both housing and typical goods and services

require a bit more than they used to, and our data reflects that.

“Still, Colorado Springs is viewed as a highly desirable place to live,” she adds, “and for years has been at or near the top of our desirability index. In our survey of thousands of U.S. residents asking where they would prefer to live, given the choice, Colorado Springs still comes out on top this year. However, we’ve introduced new factors to our desirability score to accompany the survey results, including weather temperateness, attraction and entertainment establishments relative to the population and population growth due to net migration.”

Asked to comment, the city issued a release that didn’t acknowledge that Colorado Springs lost ground on the list. Rather, it said that the listing this year marks the “sixth consecutive year Colorado Springs ranked inside the top 10 of the U.S. News Best Places to Live listing.”

The release also noted that “Olympic City USA” (the city’s adopted monicker), was one of only two Colorado cities to rank in the top 10, and it ranked second in the category of “Most Desirable.”

“I am proud that once again we are listed as one of the top ten Best Places to Live,” Mayor John Suthers said in the release. “U.S. News and World Report realizes what a treasure the City of Colorado Springs is and all we have to offer our residents, current and future. It is a credit to all those in our community who continue to work to make General Palmer’s vision, set forward more than 150 years ago, a reality.” (Gen. William Jackson Palmer was the city’s founder.)

RESEARCHERS USED A methodology for the rankings based on data from an array of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News ’ own internal resources. This data was categorized into five indexes, as follows, which considered a March 2022 public survey in which people from across the country voted for what they believed was the most important factor to consider when choosing where to live.

Job market index — 20 percent. This category looked at factors that indicate how likely residents are to find employment in each metro area and their earning potential in those locales. The unemployment rate comprised 40 percent, and the average salary comprised 60 percent of this portion.

The Job Market Index measures the strength of each metro area’s job market. To do this, surveyors assessed the following two factors to determine how likely residents are to find employment in each metro area and their earning potential there.

Value index — 25 percent. Also called the Housing Affordability Index, this measured how comfortably the average resident in each metro area can afford to live within their means. Researchers compared median annual household income with housing cost.

Quality of life index — 32.5 percent. This measure took into account how people surveyed across the country viewed the importance of certain metrics. Among those were crime rates (25 percent) that considered murder, violent crime and property crime rates; quality and availability of health care (10 percent); quality of education (20 percent), which relied on average college readiness scores of public schools; well-being (20 percent), which measures resident satisfaction with purpose, social, financial, community and physical impacts in their day-to-day lives; and commuter index (17 percent), including average commute time and Air Quality Index.

Desirability index — 17.5 percent. This is a measure based on a survey of where people want to live.

Net migration — 5 percent. Net Migration measures whether people are moving to or away from each metro area.

I am proud that once again we are listed as one of the top ten Best Places to Live.

— Mayor John Suthers

LANDSLIDE

Mobolade claims mayor’s seat in decisive victory over veteran politician, promises to work for everyone

BY PAM ZUBECK | zubeck@csindy.com

YEMI MOBOLADE’S VICTORY IN THE mayor’s race once seemed so unlikely — a West African immigrant and political newcomer defeating a career politician with deep ties to power influencers.

But his stunning win was built on 17 months of determined grassroots campaigning, positive messaging, compelling energy and a firm rejection of partisan labels imposed by his opponent, Wayne Williams.

The result: Voters were inspired to take a chance on his leadership, sweeping him to the mayor’s seat on May 16. Unaffiliated, Mobolade defeated longtime Republican politician Williams by a 57 to 43 margin in a GOP stronghold.

Announcing his bid on April 4, 2022, Mobolade said he realized “how absurd these words can sound.”

“A West African immigrant running for mayor in Colorado Springs — is this really happening?” he said. “It's audacious — perhaps adventurous and even daring. But I saw it's right for our city.”

Out of the gate, Mobolade defined himself as “not the political candidate you envision.”

“I am a political independent,” he said. “I don't have decades of political experience. I’ve never held public office. I’ve never run for public office. I am neither Democrat or Republican. But if you press me for a political party, my affiliation is to this great city. That is my party.”

Now, as he prepares to take office as the city’s 42nd

mayor — and its first elected Black mayor — on June 6, he says he’s most nervous about the chore of shifting the power dynamics of city leadership.

“It will be a more empowered government,” he says, meaning some who had a big say in how things ran in the past might not have as much standing under his administration, while the previously unheard will be given a voice.

On election night, former City Council member and Mayor Mary Lou Makepeace looked on as at least 500 people chanted, “Yemi! Yemi! Yemi!” as Mobolade took the stage.

“People sent a clear message,” she said. “We want a change.”

Mobolade campaigned on that core principle — to upend the former practice of what he calls government for the few, in favor of government for everyone.

A former pastor, city business economic development officer, business owner and Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC official, Mobolade says his victory is largely due to his message resonating with voters.

sister to the airport. “There’s also a hunger for optimism and a new type of leadership.”

Though Williams tried to paint Mobolade as a leftist liberal in the election's final weeks, Mobolade had already laid the groundwork of being nonpartisan, promising to “put quality of life ahead of politics.”

He becomes the city’s third elected strong mayor after voters approved the switch in 2010 from a Council-city manager to Council-strong mayor form of government. Steve Bach served from 2011 to 2015, succeeded by two-termer John Suthers, who endorsed Williams.

MOBOLADE, 44, OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED his campaign in 2022 after resigning his city small business development administrator job.

THERE’S A HUNGER FOR A VISION THAT TRANSCENDS PARTY LINES....

“There’s a hunger for a vision that transcends party lines from Washington, D.C., politics,” he says in an interview from his car the day after the election, as he took his

He came to the United States from West Africa at 17 to attend college and earned two bachelor’s

— Yemi Mobolade

Mobolade addresses supporters on May 16.

Sean Cayton

degrees and two master’s degrees in business administration, management and leadership, and theology. He was drawn to Colorado Springs about a decade ago from California, as a faith leader. Besides working as a pastor at First Presbyterian Church and Discovery Christian Church, he started[co-founded?] Wild Goose Meeting House and Good Neighbors Meeting House. He also served as a vice president of business retention and expansion with the Chamber & EDC. He became a U.S. citizen about five years ago.

Active in leadership roles in the community, he served on various boards, including the Springs Rescue Mission board and Downtown Partnership board. He co-founded COSILoveYou, a faith-

based service organization.

So he has a long reach through countless avenues of civic life, enabling him to rally supporters. That’s extended by his tireless efforts during the campaign that led him and his supporters to knock on 40,000 doors and hold more than a hundred meet-and-greet neighborhood meetings. He raised $782,522 in campaign money, mostly in smaller donations from more than 1,200 unique donors, to Williams’ $1,066,600 from about 330 donors.

Mobolade’s success at the polls also can be tied to a shifting electorate that has sent more Democrats to state House and Senate seats in recent years, as well as supported statewide Democratic candidates,

political observers noted.

In short, Mobolade’s message was the right one at the right time, says his campaign consultant Anthony Carlson. “I think the story of this election is voters want someone who’s genuine and has a message that makes people proud to live in Colorado Springs,” Carlson says.

Williams had endured a bruising first round of the mayor’s race in which he staved off a challenge from former County Commissioner Sallie Clark — and involved two dark money groups who championed his candidacy and attacked Clark. He ran second to Mobolade in the April 4 election, setting the stage for the runoff. But those dark money committees sat out the second phase of the race.

Williams’ ads labeling Mobolade as a liberal Democrat rang hollow when Mobolade garnered overt support from a parade of respected Republicans, including former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder, Clark, former City Council Presidents Tom Strand and Scott Hente, and former City Councilor Don Knight.

Mobolade even secured support from Sarah Brittain Jack, a long-time Republican operative who’s managed countless GOP campaigns over the years.

Therein lies the secret to Mobolade’s success, says political consultant Daniel Cole, owner of Cole Communications, who oversaw dark money campaigns that favored Williams in the first round of the election.

Mobolade “got all the Democrats, most of the unaffiliateds and a good chunk of Republicans,” Cole says. “He managed to keep the left coalition behind him who thought he was more progressive than Wayne.

continued on p. 6 ➔

Mobolade and a young constituent

Sean Cayton

He was able to build relationships among traditionally conservative constituents and was able to mobilize them too.”

Cole described Mobolade as “an extremely unusual and compelling presence” who not only persuaded people to vote for him, but motivated them to get their friends to vote for him as well.

Had the mayor’s race been partisan, which it is not, Mobolade never would have landed endorsements from staunch Republicans like Elder and Clark, because in partisan politics, “Certain lines can’t be crossed,” Cole says.

“Because he’s unaffiliated and running in a nonpartisan race, Republicans have political permission to support him if they want to,” he adds, “whereas if he’s a Democrat running in a partisan race, it would be seen as an unforgivable betrayal.”

The Gazette, which vigorously endorsed Williams, printed an editorial the day after the election, congratulating the winner and ending with, “It is a safe bet he will quickly make our great city greater.”

Suthers, a Republican, who also backed Williams, was silent until the afternoon after the election when he issued a muted congratulatory statement and added, “It has been an honor to serve as Mayor of my hometown over the last eight years, and I believe we have made incredible progress.” Suthers said he was helping "ensure [Mobolade] has everything he needs to continue the positive trajectory of the city.”

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, though, issued a release on election night, saying he looks forward to working with Mobolade to “move Colorado Springs forward.”

After the runoff, Mobolade continued to steer clear of party politics. “I set out to do the things I said I was going to do, and that will continue — put quality of life ahead of politics and around citizen greatness,” he says. “You can expect a leader who will lead from a place of possibility and inspiration. The biggest message is that our city will be led by a mayor who will bring concerns of neighborhoods and diversity to the mayor’s table, converting from a city for the few to a city for the many.”

THAT APPROACH WON HIM THE MAYOR’S seat, a historic achievement in a city with a population that’s 75 percent white and only 6 percent Black.

And the day after the election, Twitter traffic from across the nation heralded his victory — many tweets from Democrats, Cole notes.

Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post were among those requesting interviews, and The New York Times featured the Colorado Springs mayor's race in a May 17 report. There's been international interest also.

But the rubber hits the road now, as the work of running the 39th largest city in the nation begins.

Mobolade still isn’t talking specifics, but rather outlines his framework, pledging to be “a mayor who is accessible, who shows up, welcomes diversity and input and thinking,” he says.

“Expect to see new voices and new types of leaders at the mayor’s table,” he adds, not so much from a staff perspective — he hasn’t indicated an overhaul of department heads — but from the community.

“When we talk about housing and affordable housing solutions, it would be some of the major players, but also expect to see some newer development voices at the table who can push us into innovations,” he says.

Mobolade plans to create “solution teams” for vari-

ous areas of concern, composed of community stakeholders and leaders. He also says he wants to establish a monthly schedule of community meetings, or “listening tours,” as he calls them.

“One idea is to once a month to plant myself at a local business and engage our residents,” he says.

His success in working with City Council, composed largely of conservatives and four newcomers endorsed by Suthers in the April 4 election, will be vested in “relational work of getting to know them and their priorities.”

He will continue the tradition of the mayor meeting with Council for lunch.

But unlike Suthers, who Mobolade says has relied on his Chief of Staff Jeff Greene for developing certain relationships, Mobolade vows to be a hands-on boss. “I want to spend my time administrating, being at the helm of executing decisions and bringing resources to our city,” he says.

Asked what lessons he’s taken from Suthers’ time in office, the mayor-elect says, “One of the things he’s very good at that I will carry on is his understanding of the job he signed up for” — what’s required by the city Charter and what’s expected from the chief executive.

“I want to be an objective leader,” Mobolade says, “and it’s important that I’m doing the job according to our laws and have strict discipline around that.”

In that same spirit, he says he will look at issues objectively. “Then I can say, ‘I have looked at this with fresh eyes, therefore, the decision has changed,’ or ’It’s stayed the same,’ and I’m not beholden to anybody but what’s in the best interest of our citizens.”

He’s met weekly with Suthers since he advanced to the runoff election in early April and plans to spend the first three months in office engaging directly with city staff to get a grasp on the culture, to understand the job from their perspective.

Mobolade won’t say how much turnover he expects to see, or seek, among department heads.

Asked about that, he says after his May 17 session with Suthers, the current mayor headed to a department heads meeting. “These are people I know and worked with,” Mobolade says, noting his office was five doors away from Suthers’ office when he worked for the city. “I walked with him to that room and 90 percent of people in that room I know. I don’t antic-

ipate a lot of staff changes, but as time goes on, I’m open to any changes that need to happen.”

Which brings us to the question circulating about who he’ll choose as chief of staff, a key aide who carries out the mayor’s agenda and usually attends all City Council meetings.

Mobolade demurs, saying he'll announce his choice for the post on his inauguration day and will immediately call a meeting of that person and all directors.

“I’ve been talking and interviewing people over the last two to three months,” he says, “and I’ve narrowed it from seven [candidates] to three. A number of community leaders offered their interest in being chief of staff, which is humbling that so many people would want to work for me.”

REPUBLICANS HAVE POLITICAL PERMISSION TO SUPPORT HIM IF THEY WANT TO....

— Daniel Cole

He does say that neither Elder nor Clark will hold a post in his administration and that he has “zero” obligations toward any specific person as a result of his campaign for the office.

“We owe nobody anything,” he says.

NUTS AND BOLTS ISSUES AWAIT MOBOlade after he takes office, of course.

He’ll have to draft a proposed 2024 budget and decide whether to ask taxpayers’ permission to retain an estimated $5 million in revenue collected in excess of Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights caps — and if so, for what purpose.

After he’s been in office a month or so, he says, he will launch the process of drafting a strategic plan for next year.

As he said on election night, “Friends, it’s been a long, hard journey. There’s a new way politics can be done, and that starts today.”

But as he said during our interview the day after the election, “June 6 is when the real work begins.”

Sean Cayton

Mobolade with his wife, Abbey, and kids

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MATTHEW SCHNIPER

Appetizers

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DINING ON THE RAILS

THE ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD (ROYALGORGEROUTE. com) recently hosted a Cañon City-area business appreciation night. We accepted an invite to ride along and check out features that are new this season, including overhauled food and beverage menus. As the F&B aspect of the train’s concerned, there are breakfast, lunch and dinner menus for à la carte ordering (from which we bought our dinner). And there’s first class lunch and dinner trains that feature three-course experiences with a choice of entrée and dessert following a salad and French roll course that includes a glass of Champagne. Trackside at the train station, the Happy Endings Caboose Cafe offers everything from alcohol beverages and coffee to breakfast and lunch fare plus sweet treats. And nearby, on Saturdays and Sundays at noon, you can have afternoon tea at the Royal Gorge Mansion (royalgorgeroute.com/royal-tea-at-theroyal-gorge-mansion). With all its offerings, the enterprise supports Colorado-grown and -produced items, from wines, beers and spirits to locally ranched meat products.

RGRR owner Mark Greksa has a post on their website about “why good food is so important” to him and his wife and business partner Dawn. “We simply can’t and won’t serve low-quality, nutritionally vapid food to our guests alongside such exceptional service and scenery,” it says.

That may read like a bunch of smart marketing (which it is), but after spending nearly a half-hour getting to know Greksa, I left the convo feeling like his efforts are sincere. He has a fascinating personal story, which includes a love of aircontinued on p. 8 ➔

TONY’S 326 N. TEJON ST. | 719-228-6566 | TONYSDOWNTOWNBAR.COM

Winners of 70+ Independent “Best of Awards” in 20 yrs. A great Midwestern Tavern with warm beer, lousy food & poor service!!! Pabst, Fried Cheese Curds, Leinenkugle’s, Walleye Fish-fry, cocktails, burgers and more. 11am-2am daily. HH 4-6. GO PACK GO!

THE WAREHOUSE

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Curbside pickup with call ahead ordering. Silver for Best Chef 2016. American Comfort Food with a Twist. Burgers, Salads, Bison, Elk, Quail. Awesome Craft Cocktails. Friendly Service. Just South of Downtown, Convenient Access, Free Parking. Happy Hour From 4 To 6 P.m. Daily. Dinner Tuesday - Saturday, 4 P.m. To 10 P.m.

FUJIYAMA

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Open for Lunch and Dinner Mon-Sat. Welcome to the Saigon Café the award winning Vietnamese restaurant in Colorado Springs. Our cuisine is cooked with fresh vegetables, herbs and meats in authentic Vietnamese style. Try our renowned noodle bowl, a lunchtime favorite. M-Th 11AM–3PM; 4PM–8:30PM F-Sat 11AM–3PM; 4PM-9:30PM

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CATERER

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View of the Royal Gorge Bridge from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad train

Barbecue brisket and kettle chips

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GERMAN

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Royal Gorge Route Railroad owner and chief visionary officer Mark Greksa is the original owner of the enterprise; he ran the first train in 1999 “with five cars and a cooler,” he tells us. Today, there are four kitchens on the line and they anticipate having around 250,000 guests this year.

planes too, not just trains; he’s also a pilot. He was once on ski patrol and is active in an array of winter sports. He also bikes and runs and he and Dawn are avid travelers. Considering he’s the No. 2 employer in Cañon City (with roughly 300 employees) and operating what he believes to be the No. 1 tourist train in the country (by metrics, as I understand him), we find him quite down-to-earth.

That’s confirmed for me by Chef Nathan Dirnberger, who recently became executive chef and food and beverage director for RGRR. Dirnberger was once chef at Nosh, followed by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and many other ventures I’ve loosely tracked over the years — dating back to when he was a then-Pikes Peak Community College student working on creating an urban farm. (On that note, he’s brought along former PPCC instructor/chef/ice carver Mark Painter to RGRR.)

JOSÉ MULDOON’S

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THE FAMOUS

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To operate the many kitchens — the train station, mansion and those located on the train — you’re talking a volume game. High volume. Greksa anticipates having 250,000 riders in 2023. That’s after the pandemic, when, he tells us, “I thought I was going to lose everything.” (The outdoorsman in him said, “I know how to backpack. I’ll be OK.”)

Dirnberger’s experience at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo of course plays nicely into the railroad’s needs for quality eats in large quantities. “Nate’s phenomenal,” says Greksa.

And, from what I know of Dirnberger, he’s always maintained a local-food-whenpossible ethos, similar to Greksa’s with his past railroad offerings (which I wrote about for the Indy in 2013 on a wine train dinner). But he knows how to strike a balance between that and what’s achievable at budget and volume.

So, for example, on the nachos appetizer he suggests we try, he’s using tortilla chips made with Bow & Arrow Brand corn grown on the Ute Mountain Reservation near the Four Corners area. They get a house-made chile con queso with pickled red onions and jalapeños and a choice of barbacoa or grilled chicken. (We go barbacoa and are happy for it.) Our beef brisket barbecue sandwich, also a great bite, gets served with kettle chips and there’s a Denver-made Harvest Moon brioche bun.

We drink a Grand River IPA plus a Royal Gorge Route Rouge (described as “not an IPA, not a red”) brewed exclusively for RGRR. Both hail from San Luis Valley Brewing out of Alamosa.

GREEN LEADERS

THE POOR RICHARD’S COMPLEX on the 300 block of North Tejon Street (poorrichardsdowntown.com) has placed two single-stream recycling bins Going green Downtown

➔ continued from p. 7

on the sidewalk in front of its pizzeria, toy store, book/ gift shop and café/wine bar. The bins are a community service, for public use, “because the City stopped their street-side recycling program,” says a press release. “We would like to invite our downtown neighbors to join the movement to help our planet by offering recycle bins outside of their businesses, too!”

Back in 2015, I spoke to Rebecca Taraborelli at Rasta Pasta about how much money the restaurant was saving by composting and recycling, which offset their trash costs. “I can’t believe all restaurants aren’t doing it,” she told me at the time.

I thought of their effort when I read the Poor Richard’s release, as they too say they’ve cut their trash down significantly, from five pickups weekly to only two because of its composting and recycling efforts. “Almost all of our take-out containers are compostable or recyclable. Even our straws are made out of sugar cane,” they say, noting they’ve also upgraded all fixtures and equipment for efficiency, utilizing 117 solar panels on their rooftop as well.

NEW MEXICAN FLAIR

MY FULL REVIEW OF PARADOX BEER Company (10 Buffalo Court, Divide, paradoxbeercompany.com) is now available to read free at sidedishschnip.substack.com. It highlights the recently launched (and kick-ass-legit) New Mexican food menu created by owners/brewers/ chefs Brian Horton and Jeff Aragon. Here’s an excerpt about a sweet ending to our meal:

“... Longtime employee Carol White makes the fabulous desserts. She’s a lovely Manitoid who once owned the Manitou Bakery, and she once helped stock Adam’s

Mountain Café’s kitchen with fine sweets. Adam’s owner Farley McDonough tells me she’s ‘a baking legend in Manitou with the old guard.’

“For Paradox, White has made a beyond-damnimpressive coconut-lime cheesecake with a walnutgraham cracker crust and coconut cream garnish that gets plated over a bed of shredded, toasted coconut. The brewers tell me the whole place smells like a slice of heaven each time she bakes off the coconut in the oven.

(I’d drive for that, and a beer.) I eat past a sense of fullness just because I have no restraint to not do so. The coconut commands it.

“Then comes her bread pudding with chocolate, Mexican cinnamon and New Mexican red chile plus a caramel sauce and whipped cream dusted with more cinnamon, cocoa and red chile powder. With the spice element, tasteful in its moderation, plus the cinnamon infusion, it totally evokes eating a churro, but with a brownie undertone from the chocolate. It’s lavish, and leagues above typical bread pudding that I usually eschew because paying for reconstituted and overly sweetened stale bread makes me feel like ChumpSauce McGhee. But not here... .”

Matthew Schniper is the former Food & Drink editor and critic at the Indy. You can find expanded food and drink news and reviews at sidedishschnip.substack.com.

Brewers/owners/chefs Horton (left) and Aragon

Coconut-lime cheesecake by a “baking legend”

PLAYING AROUND

Eric Golden, honky-tonk country ; 6 p.m., Whiskey Baron Dance Hall, tinyurl.com/whisk-dh.

The Martini Shot, originals/covers; 7 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhall. com.

MeadowGrass Music Festival, “upand-coming talent from the region and all over the world”; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., La Foret Conference Center; see rockymountainhighway.org for schedule.

Tim Meegan Jr., singer-songwriter; 6 p.m., Palmer Lake Pub, palmerlakepub.net.

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, outlaw country, Wheelwright; 9 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

ShrapKnel, hip-hop, with HIATUS/Che Bong & Ibe Hustles, Elimence; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

WEDNESDAY, 5/24

Rachel Baiman, singer-songwriter; 6:30 p.m., Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, bruesalehouse.com.

Tim Bergsten & Lindsay Cavner, acoustic; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com.

Al Chesis, blues; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/Quinnspub/events.

The Jorgensens, rock/ blues/Americana/soul; 6:30 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com/events.

Ill Niño, metal, with Through Fire, Dropout Kings, TULIP, Sinshrift; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios Live, sunshinestudioslive.com.

Kepi Ghoulie, punk rock, with Total Cult, Goodmorningaccordiannemesis ; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Playing with Smoke, rock; John Wise & Tribe, New Orleans R&B/blues/jazz/ island; Shadow River Band, ’60s-’90s rock/folk/country; 6 p.m., Hillside Gardens, hillsidecolorado.com/upcomingevents.

South for Winter, “dreamy acoustic duets, foot-stomping folk and bluesy murder ballads”; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Sunset Patio Session: Jacob Christopher, country; 6 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhall.com.

THURSDAY, 5/25

Blue Frog with Eli Blackshear, Americana/jam; 6 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com/events.

Mitch Carter, country ; 7 p.m., Notes, notesbar.com/events.

The Elders, Celtic rock; 7 p.m., Stargazers Theatre, stargazers-theatre.com/ upcoming-events.

Frady Catz, multigenre; 7 p.m., Notes, notesbar.com/events.

Grapefruit Moon, acoustic duo; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

HRZN, alt-punk , with Between The Heart, Interrobang, Keep Me Speechless; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Hot Boots Duo, rock/country/pop/Latin; 5 p.m., The Well, wellinthesprings. com/happenings.

Kung Fu Vampire, rap, with Wil E Haze, Conman Kitty, Affliction Music; 7 p.m., Oskar Blues, coloradosprings.oskarbluesfooderies.com.

Lookee’ Here, ragtime/blues/ jazz; 7:30, Summa, dizzycharlies.com/events-1. The McDeviants, Irish rock; 7 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/Quinnspub/ events.

Meet Me @ the Altar, pop punk, with Chloe Lilac, Kid Sistr; 6:30 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Worldwide Panic, heavy metal, with So Gone, Thrash Hard City, Any State, Honey and The Hive Mind; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios Live, sunshinestudioslive.com.

FRIDAY, 5/26

Barely Garcia, Garcia/Dead covers; 9 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Big Bubble Rave, underwater theme; 8 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks. com.

Dueling Pianos: Born to Rock, piano; 7 p.m., Boot Barn, bootbarnhall.com. Glitter Porn, alt-rock; 8 p.m., Dog House, doghousecos.com.

In the Teeth, alt-rock, with Nautiloid, amouthfulofthunder, Broth; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Jazz in the Garden: Tony Exum, Jr., jazz; 7 p.m., Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, gssepiscopal.org/jazz-inthe-garden.

MeadowGrass Music Festival, “upand-coming talent from the region and all over the world”; starts today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., La Foret Conference Center; see rockymountainhighway. org for schedule.

Tejon Street Corner Thieves, trashgrass/blues; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Tribe, zydeco/jazz/Cajun; 8 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/Quinnspub/ events.

Sandy Wells, country ; 5 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com.

Westrock, country/bluegrass/originals; 5 p.m., The Well, wellinthesprings.com/ happenings.

SATURDAY, 5/27

Chauncy Crandall, singer-songwriter; 12 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq. com/events.

Eternal Temples, reggae/rock/spacefunk/jam; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Gimme Gimme Disco, disco; 8 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Stereo Ontario, psychedelic rock, with Graveyard People, Noise Report; 8 p.m., Dog House, doghousecos.com.

Territory Days, multiple bands, starts today; see tinyurl.com/2023TerritoryDays for schedule.

Tim & Friends, Americana; 8 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/Quinnspub/ events.

Wirewood Station, acoustic ; 6 p.m., Buffalo Lodge, bicycleresort.com.

SUNDAY, 5/28

David Berkeley, singer-songwriter ; 1 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Dalonious Funk, instrumental jazz, funk and fusion; 12 p.m., The Well, wellinthesprings.com/happenings.

Dig Deep, bluegrass/country ; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

The Lethal Lisa McCall Band, blues; 1 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

MeadowGrass Music Festival, “up-andcoming talent from the region and all over the world”; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., La Foret Conference Center; see rockymountainhighway.org for schedule.

NB Ridaz, hip-hop, with Big Gemini, Amanda Perez; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios Live, sunshinestudioslive.com.

Ob Nixilis, death metal, with Beneath the Floor Boards; 8 p.m., Dog House, doghousecos.com.

Scary Kids Scaring Kids, post-hardcore, with Ovira, Lungburn; 7 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Territory Days, multiple bands , see tinyurl.com/2023Territory-Days for schedule.

MONDAY, 5/29

Gemm, melodic hardcore, with Runoff, Relate; 8 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

Territory Days, multiple bands , see tinyurl.com/2023Territory-Days for schedule.

Tidal Breeze Cool Energy Jazz Quartet, jazz; 5:30 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

TUESDAY, 5/30

Joshua Ray Walker, country, with Jade jackson; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs. com.

WEDNESDAY, 5/31

A Carpenter’s Daughter, mountain

The Commonheart play MeadowGrass on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Courtesy The Commonheart

folk/Americana ; 6:30 p.m., Front Range Barbeque, frbbq.com/events.

Ingrown, metal, with 10 to the Chest, Victim of Fire, Skull; 7 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

The Sleeping Giants, traditional Irish; 6 p.m., Jack Quinn’s, facebook.com/ Quinnspub/events.

Sofakillers, cover band; John Wise & Tribe, New Orleans R&B/blues/jazz/ island; Roma Ransom, “eclectic bohemian world folk”; 6 p.m., Hillside Gardens, hillsidecolorado.com/upcoming-events.

Sunset Patio Session: Dave Mensch, singer-songwriter; 6 p.m., Boot Barn Hall, bootbarnhall.com.

THURSDAY, 6/1

The Emo Night Tour, emo; 8 p.m., Black Sheep, blacksheeprocks.com.

PLAYING AROUND BIG GIGS

Brandon Henderson, singer-songwriter; 5 p.m., The Well, wellinthesprings. com/happenings.

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, bluegrass, with Jade jackson; 8 p.m., Lulu’s, lulusdownstairs.com.

Steve Langemo Trio, jazz/guitar; 7:30 p.m., Summa, dizzycharlies.com/ events-1.

Meet Me @ the Altar, pop punk, with Chloe Lilac, Kid Sistr; 6:30 p.m., Vultures, vulturesrocks.com.

Roma Ransom, “eclectic bohemian world folk”; 8 p.m., Armadillo Ranch, manitouarmadilloranch.com/events.

Since Masada, metalcore, with Ovira, Violence in Violet, Last Chance for First Place; 6 p.m., Sunshine Studios Live, sunshinestudioslive.com.

WireWood Station, Americana; 6 p.m., Notes, notesbar.com/events.

Upcoming music events

Ondara, Bluebird Theater, Denver, May 30

Joshua Ray Walker, Lulu’s, May 30

Lord Huron, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 31

Katchafire, Black Sheep, June 2

Michael Franti & Spearhead, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 2

Wood Belly, Fox Theatre, Boulder, June 3

Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Perfume Genius, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 5

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, feat. Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, and others, Pikes Peak Center, June 7

Rapper Lil Durk brings his “Sorry for the Drought” tour to Denver’s Ball Arena Aug. 26.

Nate Bargatze, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 24

Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade with Fishbone, Mission Ballroom, Denver, May 24

Overtime, Legends Rock Bar, May 24

South for Winter, Lulu’s, May 24

Chromeo with Hot Chip, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 26

Tejon Street Corner Thieves, Lulu’s, May 26

Gasoline Lollipops, Bluebird Theater, Denver, May 26

MeadowGrass Music Festival, La Foret Conference & Retreat Center, Black Forest, May 26-28

Old Dominion, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, May 27-28

Sarah Shook and The Disarmers, Lulu’s, May 27

Helloween, Ogden Theatre, Denver, May 30

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 7-8

Deadphish Orchestra, Lulu’s, June 9

Nekrogoblikon, Black Sheep, June 9

The Sisters of Mercy, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, June 9

Rodrigo y Gabriela, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 11

Mike Love, reggae, Black Sheep, June 14

Robyn Hitchcock, Lulu’s, June 15

Koe Wetzel, World Arena, June 15

Umphrey’s McGee, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 16-17

Giovannie & The Hired Guns, Black Sheep, June 17

Oliver Tree, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, June 20

Cody Johnson, Weidner Field, June 22

AJR and Jeremy Zucker, Weidner Field, June 24

George Strait with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, June 24

Continued at csindy.com

Courtesy

Lil Durk

Songs to save

the

Fundraising concert to Keep Local News Local

Expo of the AUTHORS

City Aud’s new author con was more rough draft than published work

BY NICK RAVEN | nick@csindy.com

STEPPING INTO THE Colorado Springs City Auditorium on a dreary Friday morning was a bit like stepping into an in-progress dinner party in an old mansion. The Civility of the Book, Community Cultural Collective’s inaugural three-day author festival, featured high-profile speakers and was designed to connect authors with readers, promoters and each other.

But it was a convention that was anything but conventional. It was a celebration that was more Pop Rocks than fireworks. The large venue was filled with unused breakout spaces featuring couches and coffee tables. It was a public literary festival whose attendees were almost all the authors and organizers themselves, roughly 25 people. The cerebral name of the event required explanation.

So what exactly was this thing?

Saturday, June 3, 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Tickets $19.93 - the year the Indy was founded!

Joe Uveges, Jeremy & Lindsay Facknitz, Mike Hogan, and Mary Sprunger-Froese present an evening of comedic folk music from the songbook of Lou & Peter Berryman, whose work is described as “bitingly funny, endearing, wildly absurdist & vividly human.”

Don’t miss this special fundraiser - get your toes tapping in time with big laughs...

It’s all for a good cause as we raise money and memberships for our beloved weekly independent newspaper.

All ticket proceeds go to support the Indy

www.themat.org

“Phenomenal. It was a fantastic event,” says author-musician Brian Parsons, one of the many authors there we talked to who embraced the intimacy of the festival and easy ability to chat with other writers. “I don’t know if they thought there was going to be nonstop traffic at the tables, so I brought my daughter along to help so that I could step away every so often.”

Unlike other media conventions that separate author panels from show floors, this event brought them all into City Aud’s cavernous main chamber. Early on, speakers took to the main stage far from everyone while authors manned their tables along the sides of the venue. But as crowds failed to materialize, they migrated toward a microphone in the center of the floor encircled by uncomfortable gray benches like storytellers around a campfire. When we visited, many author tables sat unmanned while they clustered around the current speaker. The audio system was so loud that it drowned the space and hindered side conversations. The chamber was underlit and casual, with at least one of the venue’s old lights popping on randomly before slowly fading away.

“The way they had it set up really gave it a special feeling,” says author George Hayward, who has a day job in public relations. “There was an aura of gravitas or ‘this is cool’ sitting in the middle of that auditorium with all the nice furniture engaging with people about their projects and books.”

Speakers were scheduled back-to-back without breaks and seemingly anyone who wanted to speak could do so in either 15- or 45-minute segments. Due to the nature of

Home to The Civility of the Book festival

The way they had it set up really gave it a special feeling,

— George Hayward

Nick Raven

independent self-publication, lectures would typically start with personal stories of tragedy or triumph before sometimes transforming into unvetted discussions on the benefits of Eastern medicine or mental health.

“I’m a professional speaker. I speak for hours and days at a time and I can keep the attention of anybody,” says Michelle Mras, a speaker-author-actress who was

invited to attend. “I had 15 minutes. We had the historian who was terrified to speak. She had 45 minutes.”

Local musician Curtis Boucher performed on Thursday night to close out the show, giving authors breathing room to rotate through each other’s tables.

“When I walked into the room, I was like, ‘Oh man, it’s way too quiet in here,’” he says. “I wanted to spend more time walking around, talking to the authors and checking out what they had going on, but I felt like my footsteps echoing through that auditorium would almost be enough to drown out the speaker.”

BUT AMIDST ALL OF THE FESTIVAL’S strangeness, including the pair of security officers that stood firm opposite the registration table in the foyer, its high-minded concepts poked through.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect,” says bestselling author, journalist and actress Mara Purl who had a spread of books available at the show. “As [the second day] began to unfold, I had a complete sort of change of mind or change of heart. It was like, ‘I’m not sure the public is even supposed to be here this time because we as authors need to connect.’ And boy, did we.”

Nearly everyone we spoke to for this story expressed their initial confusion by and then appreciation for the festival, the value of City Aud as a venue, the need for more and better promotion for the event and the need for more cultural events like this in Colorado Springs. They agreed that this year’s event was not, by design or otherwise, an event to try and sell stuff.

But there was a lack of consensus around any single thing that could’ve made the show better. Having an intimate author-oriented event allowed them to be more flexible and less sales-oriented than a conventional show, but excluding the public would prevent would-be

authors from connecting with them and limit their sales. Mras suggested parking food trucks nearby to prevent authors and attendees alike from having to venture far for lunch because they might not return.

Whatever form this event takes next, it sure could use an edit.

5 lots in classy upscale subdivision of 37 homes. Complex has clubhouse with pool table, kitchen, meeting area, & indoor pool. Build to meet HOA guidelines which include stucco exterior, stucco privacy walls & tile roof. Can buy 1 to 5 lots (package deals). Each lot can be sold individually for $35,000 each. Nice area in walking distance to shopping & dining yet quiet & tucked away. MLS# 5194232

Investor special with a lot of potential! 1620 sq. ft. stucco 2-story new build on 1.17 acres with no back neighbors. 3 beds, 2 baths, 2-car garage. Granite counters. White cabinets. Wood laminate floors. Stainless steel appliances. UL is master suite with custom bath & walkout to 36x8 deck. A/C. Priced to reflect

A reading with Suzi Q. Smith

Mara Purl: “We as authors need to connect.”

Nick Raven

Nick Raven

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

Originally established in 1868 as Decoration Day, Memorial Day offers Americans a way to reflect and remember our fallen military members.

On Memorial Day this year, we encourage all Americans to pause for a one-minute moment of silence at 3 p.m. in order to honor those who have died while in service to the nation.

MEMORIAL DAY 2023

Single-track mind Focus Outdoors

Bike shops hope to ride pandemic success, new event, into summer

BY SARAH MCMAHON

Like the new Black Sheep Trail in Pulpit Rock Park, mountain bike sales can be a bumpy ride. Coming out of banner sales during the pandemic years, bike shops are finding their footing as they head into a new season.

The wet weather has already dampened the start for spring sales, but local businesses anticipate an increase in upcoming weeks, with the arrival of sunshine, tourists and more mountain bike trails.

Since November 2022, the mountain bike community has been working hard to get more trails in city limits. The new downhill Black Sheep Trail that traces Pulpit Rock in Austin Bluffs Open Space has been a success for riders so far. And according to Colorado Springs Mountain Bike Association, more projects are underway.

“There’s been a massive increase in the public’s desire to get involved with master planning, so we’re doing that right now with Blodgett Open Space, and then we’ll do that a little bit later with the new open space, which was just purchased,

called Fishers Canyon,” says Keith Thompson, volunteer executive director of COSMBA.

“Being able to organize a group that was able to build this really gives this hope that Black Sheep is just the start,” Thompson says. “What’s going to come out of this is a lot more of the trails that allow us to ride at the level that not only we want to ride but that pushes those skills to the next level. So that’s the excitement for the majority of the homegrown mountain bike community,” he says.

“There’s a lot of buzz going on in the mountain bike community in terms of the trails that are being built,” says Nic Ponsor owner of Criterium Bicycles on Corporate Drive. “Especially I’d say since 2020, when everyone was outdoors doing whatever they could to keep their sanity, I think we all noticed how crowded a lot of the our favorite trails got.”

But that excitement doesn’t necessarily translate into bike sales. In fact, the weather so far this year

continued on p. 16 ➔

NEW AND PRE-OWNED CARS, TRUCKS, SUVS, DIESELS, EVS & HYBRIDS!

seems to have had more of an effect.

“This spring in particular has been a little hard to gauge because the weather has not been super cooperative yet. It’s either cold or rainy or snowing, or something in between,” says Ponsor.

Todd Hood, owner of Bicycle Experience on South Tejon Street, agrees the weather is a real factor in sales.

“I don’t feel like any really any trails affect bike buying,” he says. “I feel like it’s weather and economy based, really.”

During the COVID pandemic, local outdoor recreation sales were high. With gyms closing and the need for social distancing, many people turned to road

cycling and mountain biking.

“During COVID, we saw a huge uptick in sales,” says manager Abraham Schubarth of the Colorado Springs Bike Shop on West Colorado Avenue. “It’s going to be interesting to see if that trend continues, if those new bike buyers are going to continue to ride,” he says.

“We hit a wall last year coming out of COVID, and sales were down, and we’re following it up with another bad economy sales start,” Hood says. “I think buying is down from the more in-depth hobbyist, and we’re still seeing people coming in buying the affordable bikes, so it seems like an industry trend, like expensive bikes are definitely slower to sell this year.”

As the season unfolds, however, business owners are

hopeful that sales increase alongside the population. More people inevitably means more riders.

“In this city, we get a disproportionately high percentage of the populace that are cyclists or mountain bikers, road cyclists, whatnot, because it’s a nice place to live,” Posnor says, “and people are starting to flock to any place where it’s a nice place for recreational opportunities.”

It’s good practice to work with bike experts to find the right equipment, since safety is always an issue. And local bike shops are ready to help any level or type of rider, and work to carry inventory that local riders need. “Bike park season is coming up,,” Hood says, “so this is always when we start getting a lot busier. Shoppers who are gravity-focused come and see us for helmets and apparel.”

Local shops, too, offer continued support and maintenance for riders. “Consumers, I think, are savvy and realize the value in the back-end support that the shop supplies,” Posnor says. “I actually find that there’s a lot of people who crave the experience. I think they want people who they can ask questions of and figure things out with.”

“A lot of people, say with a mountain bike, want to be able to feel it and touch it,” Schubarth says. “Especially first-time buyers want to try something out before they even get into it.” n CSBJ

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2336 Conservatory Point

Springs Canyon - $549,900

Open concept 2673 sq. ft. 3 bed, 3 bath rancher townhome with total 1-level living. No neighbors behind or in front – only deer, pines, & scrub oak. Finished walkout basement. Spacious master suite. A/C. Gas log fireplace. Vaulted & 9’ ceilings. Attached 2-car garage. Stucco & stone exterior. Trex deck & covered patio. $300/mo HOA covers everything outside for you. Movein ready. Seller will contribute $5000 towards buyers closing costs. MLS# 8308112

Pueblo - $150,000

5 lots in classy upscale subdivision of 37 homes. Complex has clubhouse with pool table, kitchen, meeting area, & indoor pool. Build to meet HOA guidelines which include stucco exterior, stucco privacy walls & tile roof. Can buy 1 to 5 lots (package deals). Each lot can be sold individually for $35,000 each. Nice area in walking distance to shopping & dining yet quiet & tucked away.

MLS# 5194232

6943 S Picadilly Street

Aurora - $1,295,000

Stunning stucco and brick 6963 sq. ft. custom 2-story home on over 1/3 acre private lot in coveted Saddle Rock Golf Club neighborhood! Open floor plan with 5 beds, 6 baths, study, 4-car attached garage, & amazing 13,504 sq. ft. lot. Curved open staircase. Grourmet kitchen. Formal living & dining rooms. Ovesrized master suite. 3 fireplaces. Wet bars. Crown molding. Bay windows. Trex deck and balcony. Solar panels. Cherry Creek schools. Close to Buckley SFB, golfing, shopping, dining, parks, trails, pools, club house, playground, and tennis courts. MLS# 9907993

WHEN YOU’RE SERIOUS ABOUT REAL ESTATE

1601 N Billy the Kid Lane Pueblo West - $28,500

1400 Tierra Berienda Drive

➔ continued from p. 15

There’s been a massive increase in the public’s desire to get involved with master planning.

— Keith Thompson

stock.adobe.com

let the Springs become a news desert

Not only has Amnet been recognized nine times as the Best IT Firm by Colorado Springs Business Journal readers and made its way into Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado’s Excellence in Customer Service Hall of Fame — They also have the cutest dog!

5 Questions: Charonda Wills

BY AMELIA ALLEN |

Charonda Wills is the co-founder of Club Tilt & Grill, the Southeast nightclub and lounge known for soul food, old school R&B, live bands and karaoke nights. She also co-founded Dream Team Construction and Dream Home Interiors, she’s co-owner of Xpressions Beauty & Barber Studio — and she works in real estate.

You were in Indianapolis before Colorado Springs. How did you end up here?

I came out here in 2011 permanently, but my husband was out here in 2005. I was going back and forth the first five years because when we first came out here, we really came out on hope and a prayer. We started our own [construction and consulting] business in Colorado Springs — it was called The One Man Band. My husband was able to go to Home Depot in the mornings and pass out business cards. I worked at AT&T in Indiana for 17 years — then back in 2010 I stopped working at the phone company to help my husband out by doing office work from home for The One Man Band. We came up with Dream Team Construction in 2013 — and now we have a total of over 700 employees, contractors and contractors’ employees.

You have a lot of different businesses. Tell us about them.

I got my real estate license back in 2017 or 2018, and I became a Realtor. Then we started our own flooring company about four years ago — it’s called Dream Home Interiors and we [hired partners to run] that. We also have the construction company; I do the real estate; and then we started Club Tilt in 2019. In 2018 I partnered up to run Xpressions Beauty [& Barber] Studio. We also have two separate real estate companies that we run and operate [in residential sales and rental properties]. But that’s how I got out here. The first five years were the worst years — I thought it wasn’t gonna work. But it ended up working out.

How do you balance your time between all of these businesses?

I am a very easygoing person — I’m gonna find the best out of the worst situation. I might not get anything but three or four hours of sleep at night; I just tell people I’ll sleep when I’m dead. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication, that’s definitely for sure. You have a lot of moments where you want to give up, but I’m always looking at the end result. The construction

company and the flooring company basically run themselves. I manage the real estate company, collecting peoples’ rent. My business partner at the salon kind of runs that; I just make sure rent is paid, bills are paid. Most of my time is spent at Club Tilt & Grill. That’s where it’s more time consuming. [As a Realtor], I get referrals; I don’t go out looking for deals. I came out of corporate, and I think that helps. We reward our employees for great work, and we have an open door policy — all input is welcome. In managing my time, I go by my calendar. My calendar is my livelihood. From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. I do a meditation workout deal; from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. I’ll spend at Club Tilt. I just constantly have to be going and doing.

Tell us about your educational background.

I went to an airline school back in ‘89. I was going to be a flight attendant. They wanted to send me to upstate New York, and I didn’t want to go. I was like, ‘Eh, that’s too far.’ So then I went back to school for computer programming; decided it wasn’t for me. Then I went back to school and got my associate’s degree in business management. And then I got my master’s in human resources.

How did you get the idea for Club Tilt?

Club Tilt was something we did just to see if we could do it. My husband loves to cook. We were sitting down one day in our basement and he said, ‘I love to cook.’ Back in Indiana my mom ran a restaurant inside of a club, so I was like, ‘We can do a bar and a restaurant to see how it goes. All we would do is try it, and if it doesn’t work, shut it down.’ And he was like, ‘Let’s try it.’ And that’s how it started. We’d never run a bar or restaurant our entire lives — neither one of us — and we tried it anyway and it’s working out. And then when COVID came we were able to keep it because we had those other avenues of revenue. We fumbled along the way, but it worked out. n CSBJ

“I just tell people I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Your guide to events in the Pikes Peak region CALENDAR

INDY FUNDRAISER

Songs to Save the Indy, “a Folk FUNdraiser concert to keep local news local.” With live music from Joe Uveges, Jeremy and Lindsay Facknitz, Mike Hogan and Mary Sprunger-Froese, performing the music of Lou and Peter Berryman. Saturday, June 3, two shows, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; tickets $19.93 (the year the Indy launched) benefiting the nonprofit Colorado Springs Independent, available at themat.org or 719-465-6321; Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St.

ART EVENT

Friday Night Art Trivia, led by Bob Morsch. “May’s theme is the arts — which might include TV, movies, pop art, theater, fine art, etc. Be prepared for a multitude of surprises around the theme of art. The ticket price includes dinner: Cubano or vegetarian sandwiches, chips and dip and a veggie tray.” Friday, May 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; $21 (FAC members $19); Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St.; see fac.coloradocollege.edu/ event/art-trivia-night for more info.

ART EXHIBITS

45º Gallery, 2528 W. Colorado Ave., Suite B, 719-434-1214, 45degreegallery.com. New works by potter Carey Berry and painter Emily Fair. Through May.

Academy Art & Frame, 7560 N. Academy Blvd., 719-265-6694, academyframesco. com. Military Appreciation Show with works by military members or family.

Art 1eleven Gallery, 111 E. Bijou St., 719493-5084, facebook.com/Art1elevenGallery. Works by multimedia artist Alexandra Feinstein.

Bosky Studio, 17B E. Bijou St., 719-6405282, facebook.com/bosky.studio. Almost Maybe by Kurt Kieffer: “My goal is to create pieces that evoke emotions and inspire viewers to reflect on instances in their own lives that have enabled them to become better versions of themselves.” Through June.

The Bridge and Commons galleries, 218 W. Colorado Ave., #104, 719-629-7055, thebridgeartgallery.com. Old Friends, with works by Don Green, Bill Burgess and Michael Cellan, who “were good friends and made art together for years.” Includes drawing, painting and sculpture. Through May 27.

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., fac. coloradocollege.edu. Contested Terrains, the work of five artists reflects “how human intervention has shaped landscapes across the Americas.” Nina Leo and Moez Surani’s Lullabies for a Waning Empire, through July 7.

Commonwheel Artists Co-op, 719-6851008, 102 Cañon Ave., Manitou Springs, commonwheel.com. You’re My Cuppa Tea — all things tea, including ceramic teacups, saucers and teapots, plus paintings, prints, illustrations, calligraphy and felting work. Through May 29.

TERRITORY DAYS

For those who were fretting, we have been assured there will be turkey legs again this year at Territory Days, Old Colorado City’s annual (except for the COVID years) Memorial Day street festival. It all starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, and runs through 6 p.m. on Monday. In between there will be mass amounts of food, educational displays, vendors, patriotic tributes and 25 bands. See shopoldcoloradocity.com/territory-days for more info.

The Compulsion to Find Order in Disorder, a new series from artist/photographer Robert Gray. The Carter Payne, 320 S. Weber St., tinyurl.com/Gray-45th.

Through June.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., 719-520-1899, cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com. Eat Me Drink Me — “works that challenge our everyday notions of perception and scale.” Through May 27.

Day Dreamers, featuring works by James Jerel Anderson — “the small day dreams that we experience throughout everyday life. The little things we see. And the inspiration that comes with them.”

Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, 121 S. Tejon St., #111; 719-634-2204, info@ culturaloffice.org; through June 30.

G44 Gallery, 121 E. Boulder St., 720-9510573, g44gallery.com. Trinity, by Meghan Wilbar, who “works with a pared-down sensibility to capture the experience of the land and sky through torn paper and drawn line.” Redemption, by Annaliese Allen: “In many of my relationships, vulnerable raw stories have been shared with a cup of tea in hand. Reflecting the slow process of tea practices, I have implemented collage and assemblage to tell the most vulnerable aspects of my story.” Through May.

The Gallery at Studio West, 22 N. Sierra Madre St., 719-502-3282, pikespeak.edu/ academics/studio-west/art-gallery.php.

Pikes Peak State College Spring Student Exhibition. Through May 26.

Gallery 113, 125½ N. Tejon St., gallery113cos.com, 719-634-5299. Featured artists: Dana Lee Stoner and Denise Duker. Through May.

The Garfield Gallery, 332 E. Willamette Ave., 719-227-8836, garfieldgallery.com. Beast, Banana & The Creamy ‘What For’: Small Works by Dawn Eeh: She’s “primarily known for her expressionistic yet modern mixed-media paintings that capture the wide variety of emotions and experiences of humanity.” Experiment of Thought, works by Jesse Stockwell: “I had a quote stuck in my mind for years about spending one’s life dedicated to one’s art. I knew what I had to do.” Through May 27.

GOCA (UCCS/Galleries of Contemporary Art), Xi Zhang/Exit: Childhood, “affords an opportunity to take stock of the enormous evolution in Zhang’s work through the single largest collection of paintings from within the Metallic Leaf Garden series delivered to the public to date.” Through July 1; gallery talk with Ivar Zeile, Saturday, June 17, 4 p.m. , Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery, Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., 719-255-3504, gocadigital.org.

Hunter-Wolff Gallery, 2510 W. Colorado Ave., 719-520-9494, hunterwolffgallery. com. Sculpture by Fred Lunger.

Kreuser Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St., 719464-5880, kreusergallery.com. Colors, Grease, and Wait-eh, works by Maynard, “a self-taught artist who wasn’t afraid of color, and who spent his working years as a welder.” Seeing, Into and Beyond, works by Lisa Wallace Deen: “The natural world and our physical bodies are battered by the struggle to survive. But there is something beyond physical matter.” Transcend, new works by Wendy Mike: “How far can I push the body? How compelling can it be without crossing the line into being either grotesque or innocuous?” Through May 26.

LightSpeed Curations, 306 S. 25th St., lightspeedart.art. Tudor House of Kosmic Fun (back by popular demand): “Experience blacklight art that is bright, fun, interactive and sure to make you smile!”

The Look Up Gallery, 11 E. Bijou St. (inside Yobel), thelookupgallery.com. New largescale works by Nichole Montanez.

Manitou Art Center, 513/515 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-1861, manitouartcenter.org. Art for Every Day by Luka Carter, featuring “collaborations with Bri McGrew and Kingsland Editions”

continued on p. 22 ➔

Courtesy Territory Days

June

2 - 8, 2023 PLAY HARD. WIN BIG.

For event details and registration, go to PikesPeakSBDC.org/sbw

DAY 1

JUNE 2

FRIDAY

SMALL BUSINESS BASH & AWARDS CELEBRATION

Switchbacks Weidner Field

Awards Ceremony: 3:00-4:00PM

Networking & Refreshments: 4:00-6:00PM

Game Starts: 7:00PM | Three Ticket Levels: $25, $50, $100

Kick off Small Business Week 2023 with fun, festivities, and soccer as the Switchbacks take on the Oakland Roots SC! Join us in honoring our local business community with the following awards:

• Small Business Person of the Year

• Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year

• Family-Owned Small Business of the Year

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Small Business Champion of the Year

DAY 3 FLYING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS: HOW TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE

JUNE 6

TUESDAY

iFLY Colorado Springs

9:00-9:30AM: Networking & Light Breakfast

9:30-10:30AM: Workshop | Tickets: $20

As technology advances and the global workforce continues to evolve, the future of work is becoming increasingly uncertain. As we navigate this rapidly changing landscape, it’s important to explore what the future holds and how we can adapt to thrive in a new world of work. Our experts will provide insights into the trends and challenges shaping the future of work, and offer their perspectives on how individuals, businesses, and governments can prepare for what lies ahead. Join us as we delve into this critical topic and chart a path forward for the future of work.

DAY 5 CLOSING CEREMONY

JUNE 8

THURSDAY

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

DAY 2

JUNE 5

MONDAY

BECOME A MARKETING CHAMPION!

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

9:00-9:30AM: Networking & Light Breakfast

9:30-10:30AM: Workshop

Tickets: $20

Chat GTP and AI are revolutionizing business and marketing by enabling personalization, automation, predictive analytics, chatbots, image and speech recognition, and content creation. These advancements allow businesses to operate more efficiently and effectively, better understand and engage with their customers, and ultimately drive growth and profitability. As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely to become an even more essential tool for businesses and marketers in the years to come. Join us for this cuttingedge discussion on the emerging marketing trends that are likely to become increasingly important in 2023.

DAY 4 BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM: HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN MVPs

JUNE 7

WEDNESDAY

Rocky Mountain Vibes UCHealth Park

11:00-11:30AM: Networking & Light Lunch

11:30AM-12:30PM: Workshop | Tickets: $25

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business world, having a strong team is essential to achieving success. However, building a winning team is not always easy - it requires a combination of leadership, communication, and collaboration skills; as well as a deep understanding of what motivates and inspires each team member. Our panel of experts brings a wealth of experience in building and leading successful teams and will share their insights and best practices for creating a highperforming team culture. Whether you’re a manager, entrepreneur, or simply interested in learning more about effective team-building strategies, this panel discussion promises to be both informative and engaging. Join us as we explore the key elements of building a winning team and discuss how to apply them to your own organization.

4:30-6:00PM: Cocktails, networking, & short presentation | Tickets: $25

Let’s get together one last time to socialize, celebrate, and meet athletes from local sports clubs and Team USA.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

Presented By

HOSTED BY

ENJOY OUR “BUBBLE PLAY” ZONE Meadow Grass Music Festival

MAY 26-27-28

THEATRE CAMPS!

CALENDAR

➔ continued from p. 20

and “Print Intervention by Graphics Research Lab.” Through May 26.

Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., surfacegallerycos.com. SWIPE: Abstract Adventures with Dating Apps, new work by Laurel Justice. Plus: recent works by Marisa White, “In the end, Mother Nature always reclaims what we abandon.” Through May 26.

Through Our Eyes, art from the frontlines of the foster care system for Foster Care Awareness Month. Featuring art from Kids Crossing foster youths, foster families/parents, caseworkers, therapists and home coordinators. Through May 31.

PPLD’s Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive, 719-531-6333 ext. 7012, kidscrossing.com.

BIG ADVENTURES for curious minds!

Join us as we explore the possibilities of the Performing Arts.

STARTING JUNE 5

20 DIFFERENT CAMPS

20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

True North Art Gallery, 31 E. Bijou St., 210842-2476, truenorthartgallery@gmail. com, truenorthartgallery.com. “From encaustics and mixed-media to abstract paintings and even lipstick art.”

AGES 4-18

Songs to Save the Indy

A Fundraising Concert to Keep Local News Local SATURDAY, JUNE 3 4pm & 7:30pm

Tickets $19.93 – the year the Indy was founded!

person with autism.” Tuesday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.; RMWF Screening Room at Lincoln Center, 2727 N. Cascade Ave., #140; see tinyurl.com/rmwf-Michelle for tickets and more info.

Movie Night at Weidner Field: Top Gun: Maverick, the 2022 sequel with Tom Cruise. Includes backyard games on the field and pre-movie music by the Jake Loggins Band. Saturday, June 3, gates open at 6 p.m.; Weidner Field, 111 W. Cimarron St.; see switchbacksfc.com/tickets/ concerts-events for tickets and more info.

KIDS & FAMILIES

Unique & Differing Needs Camp, “specially designed for campers ages 7-11 with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, developmental disabilities/delays or medical fragility. Campers, their caregiver, and Camp Mentors will skip, boogie, and roll through Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as we learn the different movements our animals make and why it is beneficial to their well-be-

discoverspace.org/summer-of-discovery for fees and other info.

Little Wonders: Go Go Grasshopper, “discover the world of nature with your 2- or 3-year-old. Interactive activities and a short hike make this the perfect introduction to the outdoors for your child. Child must be accompanied by an adult.” $3 per person including siblings and adults, preregistration/prepayment required. Wednesday, May 31, 10-11:15 a.m. and 1-2:15 p.m.; Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road, tinyurl.com/epco-fun.

Who Dung It? “Spend your Scaterday morning discovering whose poo is along our trails. We’ll learn all about scat from our local wildlife, from what we can discover inside to where we can find it outside. Get ready to embrace the silly and gross while learning! Geared towards all ages!” Saturday, June 10, 10-11:30 a.m.; $5/ person, $4/member, prepaid registration required. Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, tinyurl. com/epco-fun.

Sustainability Series: Watershed Wonders, “join staff from the Fountain Creek Watershed District for a presentation and activities to learn about our watershed then visit Bear Creek with nature center staff to search for life in the water! All ages and families welcome.” Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to noon ; $5/person, $4/ member; Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road, tinyurl.com/epco-fun.

Milkweed Magic, “Milkweed is an important plant to many creatures (more than just the Monarch). An abundance of insects and animals use and depend on this plant. Come explore the milkweed meadow and see how many uses it has for the many creatures that share its habitat. Geared towards all ages!” Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to noon; $5/person, $4/ member, prepaid registration required. Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Peppergrass Lane, Fountain, tinyurl.com/ epco-fun.

SPECIAL EVENT

present an evening of music and comedy. It is all for a good cause as we raise money and memberships for this beloved weekly independent newspaper.

Get your tickets now for the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. “Concerts include chamber and orchestral music, presented by world-class musicians who teach throughout the three-week festival and the pre-professional student fellows who are on campus to learn and perform.” June 4-23 on the CC campus and at other Springs venues; free and ticketed events; first concert is June 7. See tinyurl.com/CC23-Summer (or call 719-389-6552) for tickets.

FILM

Movie Matinee: A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks. Friday, June 2, 2 p.m.; free; PPLD/Cheyenne Mountain Library, 1785 S. Eighth St., #100; snacks and refreshments will be provided. See ppld.librarymarket.com/movie-matinee-mancalled-otto for more information.

Film in the Community: Being Michelle, presented by Rocky Mountain Women’s Film. “Follows the astounding journey of a deaf and disabled woman who survived incarceration under unimaginable circumstances by a system that refused to accommodate her needs as a deaf

ing. (One caregiver may also attend this camp without an additional fee.)” Saturdays, June 10 and July 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; registration required online; Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road; cmzoo.org/events.

Summer of Discovery: Back to the Moon, includes workshops best suited to kids ages 6-12. On Saturdays from June 3 to Aug. 5, “we will discover new facets of space travel, examine the importance of returning to the moon, learn how to use robotic technology, test our creative skills in engineering design challenges, and much more!” Space Foundation Discovery Center, 4425 Arrowswest Drive; see

For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, Pikes Peak Library District has compiled lists of picture books and chapter books for young readers; learn more at ppld.org/asian-pacific-american-heritage.

Fly fishing, learn the basics of fly fishing Saturday, May 27, starting at 10 a.m. For ages 8 and older; all equipment provided. Meet at Dragonfly Pond at Mueller State Park, 21045 CO-67, Divide; park pass is required; 719-687-2366. Find more park activities at cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/ Pages/Calendar.aspx.

PROSE & POETRY

Colorado Book Awards: There are only two more Saturdays when you can hear Colorado Book Award finalists read from their works. May 27 — anthology, literary fiction and poetry at Library 21c; and June 3 — sci-fi/fantasy and thriller at Rockrimmon Library. Get your tickets now to attend the Finalists Celebration and Winners Announcement — Satur-

Joe Uveges, Jeremy & Lindsay Facknitz, Mike Hogan, and Mary Sprunger-Froese

Courtesy Colorado College

CALENDAR

THEATER

Boys in the Band, the Mart Crowley play presented by Springs Ensemble Theatre, “revolves around a group of gay men attending a birthday party in New York City. When it premiered off-Broadway in 1968, it was groundbreaking for its intimate portrayal of gay life. SET is proud to put this show on as part of Pride Month.” Runs Thursday, June 1, through the 18th at Pikes Peak State College’s Downtown Studio, 100 W. Pikes Peak Ave. See tinyurl.com/SET-June for times and tickets.

day, June 10, at Penrose House Garden Pavilion; for more information, see tinyurl.com/CO-books-23.

OUTDOOR REC

Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28, at Mueller State Park are stuffed with activities — from a bird walk to fly fishing lessons to a lecture on the prehistory of the Pikes Peak region on Saturday, and from Rock Pond and Cahill Loop hikes to a Be Bear Aware! presentation on Sunday. Mueller State Park visitor center, 21045 CO-67, Divide; 719-687-2366; see cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/pages/calendar.aspx (filter for Mueller State Park) for more info.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Hillside Hub Birthday Bash, “From 3 to 4:30 we’ll host farm tours, kid-focused activities, and a cookoff featuring local greens. From 4:30 to 6, the event will focus on dinner, music, dancing, speeches and awards.” Saturday, June 3, 3-6 p.m.; Food to Power, 1090 S. Institute St.; see foodtopowerco.org/events/hillside-hubbirthday-bash for more info.

Rocky Mountain Vibes vs. Northern Colorado Owlz: Opening Day, Saturday, May 27, gates open 5:35 p.m., UCHealth Park, 4385 Tutt Blvd.; see vibesbaseball.com/landing/index for tickets and more info.

MeadowGrass Music Festival, three days of live music, camping, kids’ activities, beer, yoga and more. May 26-28; La

Foret Conference & Retreat Center, 6145 Shoup Road; see rockymountainhighway.org for tickets and more info.

THEATER

Free-For-All: Pericles, PPLD and Theatreworks’ traveling (through July) production of the Shakespeare play: “a fast-paced journey of heroes, villains, shipwrecks, pirates, jousting and more.” Partial schedule of upcoming (mostly outdoor) shows: Panorama Park , Thursday, June 1, 6 p.m., 4540 Fenton Road. Deerfield Hills Community Center, Saturday, June 3, 10:30 a.m., 4290 Deerfield Hills Road. Bancroft Park on behalf of Old Colorado City Library, Saturday, June 3, 5 p.m., West Colorado Avenue at South 24th Street. Limbach Park on behalf of the town of Monument, Sunday, June 4, 1 p.m., 151 Front St., Monument. Colorado Springs Senior Center, indoors with seating, Friday, June 9, 2 p.m., 1514 N. Hancock Ave. Bell Tower Arts Center, Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m., 201 E. Second St., Florence. Meadows Park Community Center on behalf of Cheyenne Mountain Library, Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m., 1943 S. El Paso Ave. See entcenterforthearts.org/theatreworks/events/free-forall for more info.

My Fair Lady, Lerner and Loewe’s musical about a Cockney flower seller who wants to speak like a proper lady. Tuesday-Thursday, May 24-25, 7:30 p.m.; Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave.; see pikespeakcenter.com for more information and tickets.

BEMIS SCHOOL OF ART

Emory John Collinson

CITIZEN-POWERED MEDIA BOARD:

Back to THE FUTURE

FRAN ZANKOWSKI HAS SPENT DECADES

turning alternative community newspapers into thriving, feisty and widely respected operations. Now he returns to one of those success stories, the Colorado Springs Independent, for an encore.

The board of Citizen-Powered Media, nonprofit parent of the Indy and the Colorado Springs Business Journal, proudly announces the appointment of Zankowski as our new publisher. We use the term “new” loosely, as Fran previously served as CEO/COO of the Indy and CSBJ for 10-plus years before leaving at the end of 2015 to become publisher of the Boulder Weekly

We are thrilled to have Fran return for his version of Back to the Future, bringing the skills and experience we need to continue stabilizing the company and elevating our publications to new heights.

The search for a publisher began four months ago after Amy Gillentine departed for personal reasons. There were many possibilities, but only one person who already knew the Indy and how to restore its well-earned stature in the Pikes Peak region. Having Fran Zankowski at the helm is the best outcome we could have imagined.

Fran has been the CPM board treasurer for the past six months, and is thus well acquainted with the Indy’s recent struggles as we identified substantial past-due bills earlier this year. Our options were to declare bankruptcy, or to make major workforce reductions. On March 15, we took the painful step of laying off half of our staff. We also drastically cut expenses to address our financial obligations. We were firmly against declaring bankruptcy; it would have come at a real cost to other local businesses and betrayed the loyal supporters who have stood by us for years. We knew the path we chose was treacherous, but it was right and ethical. Transparency with our readers and staff was paramount.

Since then, we have received support from generous benefactors and a small but growing group of sustaining members who have helped us clear two-thirds of our debt. Many advertisers have paid their outstanding balances to aid us in righting the ship, and new advertisers have placed their trust in our dedication and commitment. We’re actively working to satisfy those we still owe, and we’re immensely grateful to companies that have reduced our past-due balances, furthering our journey toward fiscal health.

Over the past three months, we have taken other steps to improve operations. We engaged HR Branches, a local human resources firm, to assist in enhancing personnel processes. A veteran bookkeeper was hired to rectify the financial issues that led to our past problems. Our staff has transitioned to remote work, while retaining some existing office space while we search for a team hub.

We employed a proven grant writer to pursue funding opportunities, and we rehired two staffers laid off on March 15. We’ve established a structure for an advisory committee of community leaders. We expanded our distribution to make the paper easier to find, and we talked with other nonprofit news teams to learn from them.

Obviously we listened to you, our readers, with a major course correction on rebranding as we brought back the Indy and CSBJ

But our rebuilding process still needed someone permanently in charge, and Fran brings the expertise and energy to make it all work — again.

Why do all this? Because we recognize the importance of publications that amplify the voices and address the needs of marginalized members in our community. We have come a long way, thanks to unwavering dedication and hard work from our staff, and unprecedented support from the community.

We are committed to holding local government, school districts and other entities accountable, fostering connections among people, and helping promote opportunities for collaborative change. These are the values that drive us at Citizen-Powered Media.

Our mission is simple: Deliver the Truth. Build Community. Engage Citizens. Our vision extends beyond mere words to effect social change. With strong leadership, devoted staff and a determined board, we are confident in our ability to face the future. Welcome back, Fran, and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to our progress thus far.

We aren’t completely out of the woods. We still have work to do to rebuild trust with our readers, increase membership to ensure a solid financial base, and strengthen relationships. However, many hands and hearts have cleared a path forward, and we now can see a bright and thriving future. Thank you for your continuing support!

Ahriana Platten, Dave Gardner, Ralph Routon

With strong leadership, devoted staff and a determined board, we are confident in our ability to face the future.

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN W

ELCOME BACK FRAN ZANKOWSKI: MY MENtor, former partner, and the nation’s best alt media operator — as the Indy ’s new publisher.

Fran and I first connected in Montreal, at the June 1997 national gathering of alt newsweeklies. At these confabs, in addition to massive partying — we were younger then — we learned from our counterparts in 110 other markets about how best to publish an alternative newsweekly to counter the often biased spin published by the absentee-owned monopoly daily. It was empowering to capture insights and history from wicked smart people

One afternoon, for three hours, Fran and I explored this French-Canadian city while swapping stories and critiquing one another’s operations, successes and failures.

Fran discussed his frustrations with ever-changing ownership at his publication. In many markets, hedge funds and daily newspapers were scooping up alt weeklies. Several years before, his publishers/owners/founders had sold out their six great New England newsweeklies to a small daily chain owned by the Los Angeles Times. One year later that group of papers was in turn gobbled up by the Chicago Tribune

Fran’s tales of incompetent micro-management made me both moan and laugh. He wanted to return to a locally owned paper.

I talked about how we needed help in managing our growth, and told him about the boycotts and other difficulties in running a paper in what was then arguably the nation’s most hard-right conservative city.

As a gay man, Fran knew the importance of the Indy to Colorado Springs, Colorado and the nation. I welcomed his offer to visit to critique our operations. One thing led to another, and in 2006 Fran joined our team as general manager/advertising director, and then in 2012 became CEO of our ever-expanding company, where he did a masterful job overseeing all of our growing day-to-day operations, as well as helping us launch IndyGive!

In January 2016, he headed 75 miles north to lead the Boulder Weekly, a market about as polar opposite to Colorado Springs as one could imagine. He is now returning. My good friend Fran has the wisdom, kindness, skills, insights and experience to lead the Indy back to greatness. Welcome back Fran!

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

Colorado Springs Business Journal readers have chosen their favorite businesses in the Pikes Peak region. Join us for an evening of networking and for an opportunity to honor these exceptional companies, leaders and organizations for this outstanding achievement.

JUNE 22, 2023 | PINERY NORTH | 5-7 P.M.

the QR code to purchase tickets today!

Sponsored by

— John Weiss Co-founder

Helen Lewis

Fran Zankowski

LOWDOWN

By Jim Hightower jimhightower.com

OFTENTIMES, WHEN YOU suspect you’re being gouged by corporate price fixers — you are.

Take the rat-a-tat-tat of today’s price jumps at supermarkets and chain restaurants. They make you want to race to the cash register before they raise prices again!

No, no! cry the CEOs of food giants, it’s not us, it’s “supply chain disruptions”; then corporate politicians and economists chime in with old platitudes about the invisible hand of “supply and demand” and media know-nothings also pile on, blathering about “ne’er-do-wells” causing a labor shortage.

But, hogwash — your suspicions are right: It’s plain ol’ price fixing by avaricious food monopolies. Top executives even brag about it when talking to their bankers and stockholders. McDonald’s, for example, recently told investors that “strategic menu price increases” in the past three months had boosted profits by 63 percent. Big Mac’s CEO exulted: “I’m really proud of how our system has executed pricing.” Never mind that it’s their customers being executed.

poverty labor force for this multibilliondollar industry.

MEANWHILE, DOWN SOUTH...

There’s a common political refrain among Texas progressives: “Thank God for Mississippi.”

Our own state government, run by corporate lobbyists and right-wing nutballs, is a notorious hellhole for efforts to provide even a little more fairness for the poor, the working class and the environment. So, Lone Star progressives need some straw to grasp to keep from tumbling into the ditch of total despair. Mississippi has been that straw — no matter how mingy our state officials are, Texans can count on the Magnolia State to be one digit worse.

But — have mercy! — Texans are suddenly in danger of losing our reputational buffer, for Mississippi is close to making a momentous upgrade this election year. An unabashed working-class Democrat with a program of For-the-People reforms and an anti-plutocrat campaign for governor has already pulled even with the right-wing incumbent!

“Well,” say free-market proselytizers, “just buy from a competitor.” But in nearly all segments of today’s food economy, a handful of giants control the market, with each one in on the fix. For example, Chipotle, a McDonald’s rival, also jacked up prices in the same three-month period, manufacturing an 84 percent profit increase. Its CEO then gloated to Wall Streeters: “I think we’ve demonstrated we do have pricing power.”

By the way, these same giants are also fattening their profits by ripping off their workers. The federal poverty level is now $25,000 a year, with fast-food workers typically getting only $3,000 a year more than that bare minimum for a 40-hour week. But there’s the “gotcha” — the profiteering executives hold each worker to about 26 hours a week, creating a sub-

Brandon Presley is the upstart’s name. A “little-d” democratic populist elected at 23 years old to be mayor of his small hometown (where he still lives), he’s now in his fourth term as a highly effective, widely popular member of the state utility commission. There, he has successfully battled the electric power giants and telecom profiteers on behalf of everyday ratepayers, workers and the environment.

Presley (who actually is an Elvis cousin!) is not a pure liberal — he’s pro-gun and anti-choice. But this is Mississippi, and while it’s essential to strive for the pure light of liberalism, a multi-racial, majority of workaday Mississippians see Presley as a pure champion of basics they’ve long been denied — from health care to voting rights. So, they’re rallying for change — after all, even a dog knows the difference between being stumbled over and being kicked!

The people of Mississippi know they’re being kicked by the moneyed powers, and Brandon Presley is saying, “Let’s kick back.” To learn more, go to brandonpresley.com.

Free Will ASTROLOGY

(May 21-June 20): Your meandering trek through the Unpromised Land wasn’t as demoralizing as you feared. The skirmish with the metaphorical dragon was a bit disruptive, but hey, you are still breathing and walking around — and even seem to have been energized by the weird thrill of the adventure. The only other possible downside was the new dent in your

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Testing time is ahead, but don’t get your nerves in an uproar with fantasy-spawned stress. For the most part, your challenges and trials will be interesting, not unsettling. There will be few if any trick questions. There will be straightforward prods to stretch your capacities and expand your understanding. Bonus! I bet you’ll get the brilliant impulse to shed the ball and chain you’ve been absentmindedly carrying around with you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Biologist Edward O. Wilson said that the most social animals are ants, termites and honeybees. He used the following criteria to define that description: “altruism, instincts devoted to social life, and the tightness of the bonds that turn colonies into virtual superorganisms.” I’m going to advocate that you regard ants, termites and honeybees as teachers and role models for you. The coming weeks will be a great time to boost your skill at socializing and networking. You will be wise to ruminate about how you could improve your life by enhancing your ability to cooperate with others. And remember to boost your altruism!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Jack Sarfatti is an authentic but maverick physicist born under the sign of Virgo. He suggests that if we make ourselves receptive and alert, we may get help from our future selves. They are trying to communicate good ideas to us back through time. Alas, most of us don’t believe such a thing is feasible, so we aren’t attuned to the potential help. I will encourage you to transcend any natural skepticism you might have about Sarfatti’s theory. As a fun experiment, imagine that the Future You has an important transmission for you — maybe several transmissions. For best results, formulate three specific questions to pose to the Future You.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I have five points for your consideration. 1) You are alive in your mysterious, endlessly interesting life, and you are imbued with the fantastically potent power of awareness. How could you not feel thrilled? 2) You’re on a planet that’s always surprising, and you’re in an era when so many things are changing that you can’t help being fascinated. How could you not feel thrilled? 3) You have some intriguing project to look forward to, or some challenging but engaging work you’re doing, or some mindbending riddle you’re trying to solve. How could you not feel thrilled? 4) You’re playing the most enigmatic game in the universe, also known as your destiny on Earth,

sweet dream. But I suspect that in the long run, that imperfection will inspire you to work even harder on behalf of your sweet dream — and this will be a blessing. Here’s another perk: The ordeal you endured effectively cleaned out stale old karma, freeing up space for a slew of fresh help and resources.

and you love ruminating on questions about what it all means. How could you not feel thrilled? 5) You never know what’s going to happen next. You’re like a hero in an epic movie that is endlessly entertaining. How could you not feel thrilled?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn,” advises Scorpio author Neil Gaiman. Let’s make that one of your mantras for the coming weeks. In my astrological understanding, you are due to cash in on favors you have bestowed on others. The generosity you have expressed should be streaming back your way in abundance. Be bold about welcoming the bounty. In fact, I hope you will nudge and prompt people, if necessary, to reward you for your past support and blessings.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): So many of us are starved of being listened to with full attention. So many of us yearn to be seen and heard and felt by people who are skilled at receptive empathy. How many of us? I’d say the figure is about 99.9 percent. That’s the bad news, Sagittarius. The good news is that in the coming weeks, you will have an exceptional ability to win the attention of good listeners. To boost the potential healing effects of this opportunity, here’s what I recommend: Refine and deepen your own listening skills. Express them with panache.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Because you’re a Capricorn, earthiness is probably one of your strengths. It’s your birthright to be practical and sensible and wellgrounded. Now and then, however, your earthiness devolves into muddiness. You get too sober and earnest. You’re bogged down in excess pragmatism. I suspect you may be susceptible to such a state these days. What to do? It may help if you add elements of air and fire to your constitution, just to balance things out. Give yourself a secret nickname with a fiery feel, like Blaze, or a crispy briskness, like Breezy. What else could you do to rouse fresh, glowing vigor, Breezy Blaze — even a touch of wildness?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I love to use metaphors in my writing, but I hate to mix unrelated metaphors. I thrive on referring to poetry, sometimes even surrealistic poetry, but I try to avoid sounding like a lunatic. However, at this juncture in your hero’s journey, Aquarius, I frankly feel that the most effective way to communicate with you is to offer you mixed metaphors and surrealist poetry that border on sounding

lunatic. Why? Because you seem primed to wander around on the edges of reality. I’m guessing you’ll respond best to a message that’s aligned with your unruly mood. So here goes: Get ready to surf the spiritual undertow all the way to the teeming wilderness on the other side of the cracked mirror. Ignore the provocative wasteland on your left and the intriguing chaos on your right. Stay focused on the stars in your eyes and devote yourself to wild joy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “The gift of patience opens when our body, heart, and mind slow enough to move in unison.” So says Piscean poet Mark Nepo. I feel confident you are about to glide into such a grand harmony, dear Pisces. Through a blend of grace and your relaxed efforts to be true to your deepest desires, your body, heart and mind will synchronize and synergize. Patience will be just one of the gifts you will receive. Others include: a clear vision of your most beautiful future; a lucid understanding of what will be most meaningful to you in the next three years; and a profound sense of feeling at home in the world wherever you go.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): My reading of the astrological omens inspires me to make a series of paradoxical predictions for you. Here are five scenarios I foresee as being quite possible in the coming weeks.

1) An epic journey to a sanctuary close to home. 2) A boundary that doesn’t keep people apart but brings them closer. 3) A rambunctious intervention that calms you down and helps you feel more at peace.

4) A complex process that leads to simple clarity. 5) A visit to the past that empowers you to redesign the future.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do you want a seed to fulfill its destiny? You must bury it in the ground. There, if it’s able to draw on water and the proper nutrients, it will break open and sprout. Its life as a seed will be over. The plant it eventually grows into will look nothing like its source. We take this process for granted, but it’s always a miracle. Now let’s invoke this story as a metaphor for what you are hopefully on the verge of, Taurus. I invite you to do all that’s helpful and necessary to ensure your seed germinates!

HOMEWORK: What is the most spiritually nourishing pleasure you should seek out but don’t? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology. com.

News of the WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

The fetishists

• David Neal, 52, is the night manager at the 4th Avenue South Hilton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee — or he was, until a bizarre incident on March 30. WKRN-TV reported that around 5 a.m. that day, Neal allegedly made a key card to enter an occupied room and suck on the toes of the sleeping guest. When officers arrived at the hotel, Neal admitted entering the room but said he had done so because he smelled smoke and wanted to check on the occupant. He was arrested on May 5 at his home and charged with aggravated burglary and assault.

• A cyclist and a hunter came to the rescue of a 51-year-old man who had been tied to a tree near the German town of Bueckburg on May 3, KRQE-TV reported. The situation was the unfortunate outcome of a sex game he had been playing with a woman; he told police that after she tied him up, she got a phone call and suddenly fled. He was fully dressed and had pantyhose over his head when he was found, but the box cutter he had brought “for such situations” was unreachable. The man was unharmed and refused to identify the woman for authorities.

Bright idea

Franklin County [Kansas] Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a driver on I-35 near Ottawa on May 5 after other motorists alerted law enforcement of his erratic

driving, Fox4 News reported. When officers approached the car, they saw that the driver was wearing a Bud Light can costume. “A career in law enforcement is exciting, and you get to experience something new every day,” the sheriff’s department posted on its Facebook page. The driver posted bond on his DUI and was released from the county jail.

Dodgy judgment

driving, Fox4 News reported. When graduate this month. So she did

Chloe Stein, 23, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, stopped attending classes at Penn State more than a year and a half ago, but her family was expecting her to graduate this month. So she did what any enterprising college student would do: She faked her own kidnapping. The New York Post reported that Stein left her job at Sonic on May 1 and texted her boyfriend that she’d been pulled over by police on a quiet road — then she disappeared. When authorities caught up with her about 20 hours later, she was at the home of an acquaintance a few miles from the Sonic, where she had walked after abandoning her car and phone. She at first told police she had been bound and “semi-assaulted,” but then admitted the whole thing was a hoax to cover for the fact that she wouldn’t be graduating from college. State trooper Steve Limani said the search for Stein had cost the state “tens of thousands of dollars” in manpower and equipment. She is facing a number of charges.

her job at Sonic on May 1 and texted her

ON MAY 8 IN ENID, OKLAHOMA, OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO A farm where someone had reported hearing shouts of “Help!” Officers David Sneed and Neil Storey arrived at the scene and also heard the cries for help: “I think it’s a person,” Sneed says on bodycam video. When they discovered the source of the hollering, it wasn’t a person at all, but a goat. A person working at the farm then approached the officers and explained that the loud goat was “a little upset because I separated him from his friends,” People reported.

PUZZLES

All words to be constructed pertain to the topic to the right. To your advantage one word has already been traced. You must trace the three remaining words, using only the letters designated by the darkened circles. Words may begin and end from either column but each letter can only be used once.

Each puzzle has a difficulty rating (right). Four stars signify the highest degree of difficulty.

Given to the right are the point values for each word. Your words must correctly match these point values.

MINI SUDOKU X

SUDOKU X

57 Address to click

58 1990s hit with the line “keep playing that song, all night” 60 Got the picture 61 Not cramped 63 Antitraffic org.

13 Able to weather difficult conditions (“Channel Firing”)

21 Mekong Valley language

23 Abu Dhabi’s grp.

26 New Orleans N.B.A. team, informally

29 Expression of befuddlement

30 Ikea founder Ingvar ___ 31 Nest egg letters

70 Device that might say “In two miles …” 71 Coat put on when it’s cold? (“Mending Wall”)

Down

1 Use a hammer on (“In a Station of the Metro”)

2 One with a deed

3 Pig of children’s TV

4 Sets up tents

5 ___ Field (Shea Stadium successor)

6 Not competitive

7 Summer hrs. in Sonoma

8 Freight in flight

9 Vintage 10 All-important numbers for TV execs

11 Competitor’s concession

12 This puzzle has 78 of them

32 Conjunction used three times in the first line of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 65 33 Not leave unattended 36 Aria, typically 37 “God Bless the ___” 38 Place to retire in a hurry? 40 Groundbreaker? 41 Ages and ages

Discouraging words

Critically important

Vegan cookout option

Occur in conversation 50 “Well, darn!”

51 Incinerates (“To a Mouse”)

52 Dubrovnik resident 55 Bucks, boars and bulls

56 Fleet-footed (“A Maypole”)

58 “How Firm a Foundation,” for one

59 “Survivor” host Probst

62 Customizable Nintendo avatar 65 “Proud Mary” band, in brief

Find the answers on p. 28

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729 S. Institute Street Cheyenne Addition - $289,900

Fix me please! Cute 1108 sq. ft. 2 bed, 1 bath rancher. Den or office. Carport. Shed. 600 sq. ft. exterior basement for storage. Bring your paint brush & imagination to make it own. Sold as is & priced accordingly. Walking distance to Memorial Park. MLS# 8675884

1620 sq. ft. stucco 2-story new build on 1.17 acres with no back neighbors. 3 beds, 2 baths, 2-car garage. Granite counters. White cabinets. Wood laminate floors. Stainless steel appliances. UL is master suite with custom bath & walkout to 36x8 deck. A/C. Priced to reflect what still needs to be done: lights, trim, baseboards, & hardware installed; master bath finishes; concrete driveway poured; & septic installed. MLS# 5769245 (OTHER)

2336 Conservatory

Point – Springs

Canyon - $549,900

Open concept 2673 sq. ft. 3 bed, 3 bath rancher townhome with total 1-level living. No neighbors behind or in front –only deer, pines, & scrub oak. Finished walkout basement. Spacious master suite. A/C. Gas log fireplace. Vaulted & 9’ ceilings. Attached 2-car garage. Stucco & stone exterior. Trex deck & covered patio. $300/ mo HOA covers everything outside for you. Move-in ready. Seller will contribute $5000 towards buyers closing costs. MLS# 8308112 (CENTRAL) Call Bobbi at 719-499-9451 for more information.

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6943 S Picadilly Street – Aurora$1,295,000

Stunning stucco and brick 6963 sq. ft. custom 2-story home on over 1/3 acre private lot in coveted Saddle Rock Golf Club neighborhood!

Open floor plan with 5 beds, 6 baths, study, 4-car attached garage, & 13,504 sq. ft. lot. Curved open staircase. Gourmet kitchen. Formal living & dining rooms. Oversized master suite. 3 fireplaces. Wet bars. Crown molding. Trex decks. Solar panels. Cherry Creek schools. Close to Buckley SFB, golfing, shopping, dining, parks, trails, pools, club house, playground, and tennis courts. MLS# 9907993

(OTHER) Call Bobbi Price. The Platinum Group. 719-499-9451.

1408 Tierra Berienda – Pueblo - $25,000

4310 sq. ft. lot in upscale subdivision of 37 homes. Close to I-25, shopping, and dining. Complex has clubhouse with pool table, kitchen, meeting area, & indoor pool. Small park. Must conform to blend in (stucco, tile roofing, & privacy walls). May purchase 1 to 5 lots. Call Bobbi at 719499-9451 for more information. MLS# 5093736 (LAND)

1601 N Billy the Kid Lane – Pueblo West$28,500

1.47 acre lot at end of quiet cul de sac with sweeping unobstructed mountain & Pikes Peak views. Flat at front of lot & moving back the lot gently slopes to allow for a walkout. Backs and sides to open space. Easy commute to both Colorado Springs or Pueblo. MLS# 5628454 (LAND) Call Bobbi Price. The Platinum Group. 719499-9451.

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3179 County Road

61 – Cripple Creek$80,000

Beautiful 5.25 acre lot in a small gated community called Rainbow Ridge with only 9 parcels. Pikes Peak & mountain views. Community stocked fishing pond on lot. Towering pines & aspen. Lots of sunshine. Located approximately 10 miles south of Divide off Highway 67. Easy commute & privacy on several possible building sites. This subdivision is off grid.

MLS# 8657980 (LAND) Call Bobbi Price. The Platinum Group. 719499-9451.

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