Veterans Day is November 11.  Please say thank you to all the men and women who served or who are currently serving in our Armed Forces.

Pueblo Veteran’s Day Events

Veterans Day Parade:  Pueblo’s Veteran’s Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 beginning at Union Avenue and B Street.  The Veteran’s Day Parade is free.  The parade route will follow Union Avenue beginning at B Street and Union Avenue heading down Union Avenue to First Street, left on First Street ending at Greenwood.

Veterans Lunch:  The Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post No. 5812 will host a free lunch for veterans on Nov. 7 from noon to 3 p.m. All service members are welcome to attend. Family, friends and the public are welcome to enjoy the Veterans lunch for $5. VFW Post No. 5812 is located at 127 E. Spaulding Ave, Pueblo West.

Applebee’s Invites All Veterans & Active Duty Military to Eat Free on Veterans Day

In recognition of service to our country, all veterans and active duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009.   Applebee’s launched a pilot program last year on Veterans Day offering free entrees to military service personnel and veterans. Because the response was so overwhelmingly positive, Applebee’s is extending the invitation nationwide this year.

Proof of former or current service required.  Proof includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform.  For additional details, visit: http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/.

Deb Jones, ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO
Realtor with Merit Co., Inc.
http://www.DebJones.com
http://www.MyPuebloWest.com
1-719-440-6202 – Email: Deb@DebJones.com
Real Estate Assistance in the Pikes Peak Region

Can you believe all of this snow and winter weather we’ve been having?  A little early for me!  However, the snow should be gone to celebrate Halloween on Saturday.

Halloween Bash:  The Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Department will hold a Halloween Bash at Lovell Park on Oct. 31 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on ball field No. 1 and is free to all who attend.

Participants will receive a treat when they arrive and are invited to participate in carnival games, cake walks and a costume contest, which will begin at 3 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, the Halloween Bash will be moved inside to Pueblo West Middle School and will be held from 5-7 p.m.

Deb

This week was the Colorado Association of Realtor’s annual convention at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.  The convention is always a great time to meet realtors from across the state, attend continuing education classes, and view what’s new at the vendor displays.  It was a little disappointing that so few people attended the convention – out of about 24,000 Colorado realtors, less than 1000 attended the convention.  A sign of the bad economic times I guess.  One interesting thing I did learn at the convention was something that is happening in our own backyard!

I met Larry Belkin, President of Encore Communities USA.  His company is developing a master planned community near the Walking Stick Vista Golf Club and Colorado State University-Pueblo.  Walking Stick Vista will be a community of Tuscan Villas and Luxury Homes in a “relaxed environment” that will be closer to the amenities that Pueblo has to offer.  Larry told me that they plan to have a new exit off of I-25 that will lead to the community and he says that he hopes to have some model homes completed by the end of the year.  Larry also said that they will target Pueblo West homeowners who may be ready to give up their 1-acre lots for a home closer to town.  You can view what’s being planned at:  http://www.walkingstickvista.com/.  I can’t wait to see what they have planned – sounds great!

Deb

Here are the Pueblo West real estate statistics for 3rd Quarter 2009, 7/1/2009-9/30/2009

Of the 141 Single Family Sold, 2 were condo/townhomes.

Residential homes sold 3^rd quarter by price

14 < $100K
44 between $100-150K
46 between $150-200K
23 between $200-250K
14 over $250K

Residential homes sold 3rd quarter by Pueblo West MLS location [To describe the Multiple List Service area breakdown, Pueblo West Acreage includes those lots on one acre(+) on the south side of Highway 50, not including the Golf Course area (which are usually smaller lot sizes), Liberty Point (the areas adjacent to Pueblo Lake boundaries) or Pueblo West East (generally areas east of the first McCulloch with smaller lot sizes).  There are two designated manufactured home park areas which are on smaller lots, one on the north side and one on the south side of Highway 50.]:

35 – Pueblo West Acreage
28 – PuebloWest East
22 – Pueblo West Golf Course
  4 – Pueblo West Liberty Point
11 – Pueblo West Manufactured Homes
41 – Pueblo West N of Highway 50

Generally speaking, residential sales are up but inventory is down.  I attribute the increased residential sales to first-time-homebuyers making a purchase to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit which currently expires November 30.  Residential sales are still below last years sales levels. 

Vacant lots sold 3rd quarter by Pueblo West MLS location:

3 – Pueblo West Acreage
4 – Pueblo West East
1 – Pueblo West Golf Course
4 – Pueblo West Liberty Point
7 – Pueblo West N of Highway 50

Vacant lot sales remain steady but at lower levels.  There’s just not that much building going on.  Many of our local builders have closed their sales offices and ceased building spec homes.  The number of homes in the year’s Parade of Homes was much lower than previous years.  However the number of vacant lots on the market has gone up.  Vacant lot sellers have told me that they want to sell their lots since they don’t plan on developing the lots or moving to Colorado and they are hoping to sell in order to get some cash.  Most of the lot sellers I’ve talked to live in our country’s mid section (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois) where marketing efforts were concentrated when Robert McCulloch first developed Pueblo West.  If you live in Pueblo West or are a local builder and if you are interested in a particular lot because it is adjacent to your property or you want to build, give me a call.  I’ve talked to many lot owners who want to sell but have decided not to place their lot on the market at this time.

Deb

Pueblo will be experiencing unusually cold and dreary weather this weekend.  Here are some suggestions for things to do:

***Visit the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library to view entertainer Cheech Marin’s “The Chicano Collection” exhibition of works that depict urban life and the Chicano experience today.  The exhibit is free and open to the public starting Saturday October 10 through Sunday November 22, 2009, Monday-Thursday, 9am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday, 9am to 6pm; and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm.

***Visit the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center to see the following exhibitions:

            White Gallery – “Representing the West” Art Exhibition and Sale

            King Gallery – International Watermedia XVI:  Pikes Peak Watercolor Society

            Hoag Gallery – Faces & Places:  Selections from the Francis King Collection of Western Art

            Regional Gallery – Gene Kloss Print Collection

            3 rd Floor Foyer Gallery – Peter Marchand Photography

            Boardroom – Susan Askey:  Four Corners, Four Seasons, Four Directions

Hours:  Tue-Sat , 11am to 4pm.  Admission to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center and Buell Children’s Museum is $4 for adults and $3 for children.  Members of the military and their families receive a $1 discount off of the admission price with a military ID. A discount of $5 off of a family membership is also available to military members.  Members of the Arts Center to include Studio 210 members are admitted free. Free adjacent parking.                         

***Read a book, specifically join other Puebloans in reading “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros and “Sun, Stone and Shadows: 20 Great Mexican Short Stories” as part of The Big Read: All Pueblo Reads.  Kick-off events at Rawlings Public Library begin on Saturday, October 10 and  include a Neighborhood Craft Project, contributing/learning about the Community Offrenda, hearing mystery writer Manuel Ramos speak at 12:30 p.m., participating in Art for Everyone: A Family Mexican Mural Workshop at 1:30 p.m.  Many more events are scheduled between October 10 and November 13. Visit www.pueblolibrary.org or call 562-5600 for more information.

*** Take a walk, a GHOST walk!  The 5th annual Ghost Walk through the Historic Union Avenue District finishes up October 9 th and 10th.  Walking tours leave every 15 minutes from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting at La Placita of El Pueblo History Museum.  In case of bad weather, the event will move indoors.   The stories for this year’s Ghost Walk are:  Christmas Day Massacre Fort El Pueblo, Charles Goodnight, James Beckwourth, Theatre in the Old West, Pueblo’s Hanging Tree, Cathay Williams – Buffalo Soldier, Dad’s Flood Story, Telephone Operators’ Heroics in the 1921 Flood, Baxter Bridge Shoot-Out, and La Llorona.  Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Hospitality Networks’ support of homeless families, and the Domestic Violence Task Force’s efforts to provide training for those who work with victims, and for anti-violence advertising in the community.   The cost for tickets is $7 in advance and $8 at the event. Children ages five and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.  Advance tickets may be purchased at the Y.W.C.A., 801 N. Santa Fe Ave., and at El Pueblo History Museum.

Deb

I received the first freeze warning for Pueblo West, effective Midnight tonight through the morning of October 2^nd.  Here are some things you might want to do: 

1.  Bring in or cover outside potted plants.
2.  Harvest any vegetables you may still have in your garden.  Green tomatoes will ripen inside or use green tomatoes in a multitude of yummy recipes you can find online or use my hearty chili recipe below.  Alternatively, you can cover your garden plants.
3.  Disconnect your garden hoses from the spigot.
4.  Turnoff and drain your sprinkler system.
5.  If you own a vacant house, you should check to make sure your heating system has been turned on or take steps to winterize the plumbing system.

Green Tomato Chili

1 lb ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, chopped (or some roasted chile peppers picked up at last weeks Chile & Frijole Festival!)
3 medium-size green tomatoes (1 lb), chopped
1 tsp chili powder, or to taste
½ tsp cumin powder
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
½ tsp garlic salt
1 can (16 oz) red kidney beans
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans
1 can (15 oz) black beans
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 can (6 oz) water

Crumble beef into a large pot and cook over medium heat until no longer pink.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and simmer 1 hour. 

Recipe is easily doubled.

This weekend (September 25-27, 2009) is the 15th Annual Loaf ‘N Jug Chile & Frijoles Festival!

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce created the festival to celebrate the harvest of the Mira Sol Chile (otherwise known as the Pueblo Chile) and to promote our area’s agriculture, especially its home-grown chilies and pinto beans, as well as to display the works of many talented artisans and crafts people. The festival will take place in downtown Pueblo, at the Union Avenue Historic District, on Union Avenue between 1st and “B” Streets. Festival hours are Friday, 3pm-11pm; Saturday, 10am-11pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm. For more information on scheduled entertainment, the Chile and Salsa showdown, El Pueblo History Museum 1840 Mercado, Farmer’s Market, Sunday’s Hot 2 Trot 5K Run & 2 Mile Fun Walk, or the Jalapeno-Eating Contest call the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce at 719-542-1704 or visit www.pueblochamber.org.

I can’t wait to smell the delicious aroma of roasting chile peppers and stock up on bags of roasted chiles for later use during the cold winter months. This weekend promises to be much warmer than the unseasonal temperatures we’ve experienced this week, so get out and enjoy one of the premier events in Pueblo ! See you there!

Deb

Pueblo West is 40 years old! Can you believe it? Stop by the Pueblo West library on Saturday between 10am and 5pm for celebration activities provided by the Pueblo West History Association. There will be a “virtual tour” of Pueblo West early homes, entertainment provided by the Pueblo West High School choir and the Pueblo SunSational chorus, and light refreshments.

Don’t forget, the Pueblo 2009 Parade of Homes continues this weekend. See the latest in building techniques from some of Pueblo ’s finest builders. Especially interesting are the energy conservation innovations. Tickets are $5.00 at Loaf and Jug.

Deb

$8000 First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Expires Soon!
Time is running out to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. You have to close the deal by December 1st of this year.  If you have just started looking for a home, be advised you should plan for 45 to 60 days to close a home loan.  There will no longer be time to close on a home that is being sold as a short sale unless the seller has already received pre-approval to sell short.

There are bills in both the U.S. House and the Senate to extend the tax credit, to include raising the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000 and extending the benefit to cover all buyers. However, the passing of any of these bills is not a sure thing and may not happen. If you decide to wait and take the chance the tax credit might be extended, you may find that the selection of homes has decreased and that mortgage rates have increased.

Pueblo 2009 Parade of Homes

The Pueblo 2009 Parade of Homes dates are September 11-27, 2009. Homes will be open on Fridays from 1-6pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 11am-6pm. Go here for more info: http://www.puebloparade.com. Tickets ($5.00 Adults) and Magazines are available at area Loaf n’ Jug Stores. This is a good chance to see the newest innovations in home building and tour the homes of some of Pueblo’s best builders!

Deb

Last weekend I completed the 3-Day Breast Cancer 60-mile walk.  The first day I made it to the 16.2 mile mark where I felt a little woozy (it was very hot up in Denver ) and I was medically evac’d for the rest of the day.  I completed the walk on days two and three.  My feet look like raw hamburger meat and I’m still limping a little.  I have to say that the logistics of the whole operation was run with military precision.  The crew (all volunteers) hailed from all over the country.  There is actually a 3-Day cult-like group who volunteer together at 3-Day walks across the country!  The crew fed all of us walkers, marked the trails, kept us safe along the route, and took care of our medical needs.  I received better medical treatment during the 3-Day walk than I’ve ever had anywhere!  At one point, there were 6 nurses standing around me evaluating my condition when I was feeling faint.  The opening and closing ceremonies were heart-warming and tear-jerking at the same time.  I talked with many walkers along the way, so many of them walking for very different reasons.  There was the pregnant gal who was walking as a way to repay the grant she received for medical treatment when she had no insurance.  There was the Air Force gal who was walking from her mother (from Virginia ) in honor of their grandmother/mother.  We all camped together in pink, yes PINK, tents.  It was truly a wonderful experience.  I’m still collecting donations.  You can go to my http://www.MyPuebloWest.com website and click on the pink icon.  Thanks so much to all of the people who made such generous contributions to my goal!

For those of you who want to do something similar but really aren’t up for 60 miles, the Susan G. Komen Colorado Springs Race for the Cure occurs on Sunday, September 13 in the Garden of the Gods.  This is only a “short” 3-mile walk without the huge fund raising commitment.  What better place to go for a walk then in the Garden of the Gods!  Go here for more info:  http://www.komencs.org/.

Have a Happy Labor Day.  Don’t forget, this will be the last weekend for the Colorado State Fair.

Deb