Military Discounts
Since I'm always trying to support the troops, here is the latest list of companies in Pueblo that offer military discounts.  You may have to ASK for the discount and present your military ID but you'll get the discount.  (Thanks to my super shopper Sheilah for this info!)  If you know of more companies, please let me know so I can share the info with all my readers! 

Home Depot and Lowe's - 10% discount
Lady Footlocker in Pueblo Mall - 20% discount 

MoMo West Japanese Restaurant
After reading about MoMo's in the latest version of the Pueblo West View (http://pueblowestview.com/business/1259823600/1), my husband and I just had to stop by and check them out.  Usually we eat Japanese at Miyake's in Pueblo at 4104 Outlook Blvd Ste 132 which we like very much but we were excited to try something closer to home.  Momo's is located at 76 N. McCulloch, No 160 (right next to Boondocks near Wal-Mart).  I have to say we had a GREAT dinner.  Nice size portions at a good price.  The service was friendly.  The sushi was fresh.  Plus we got some freebies.  The chef brought out a panko batter-fried concoction with a sweet/spicy glaze. It was so melt-in-your-mouth creamy we couldn't figure out what was inside so we had to ask our friendly head waitress Corrina.  To our surprise it was Red Snapper.  Absolutely delicious!  A dessert freebie was Mochi ice cream, a large bon-bon of red bean ice cream wrapped in rice paper.  This was also delicious.  Two delicacies that we wouldn't have tried otherwise!   Stop by MoMo's and let me know what you think.  Welcome to Pueblo West!

As always, if you've got some info to share about our community, don't hesitate to email or call so I can spread the word!

Deb

Pueblo - America's Home of Heroes

In 1993 the US Congress proclaimed Pueblo, Colorado to be "America's Home Of Heroes". At that time, Pueblo held the distinction of being the only city in America with FOUR living recipients of the Medal of Honor: William J. Crawford (WWII), Carl L. Sitter and Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy (Korea) and Drew D. Dix (Vietnam). The Medal of Honor is the highest military award that can be bestowed upon a member of the United States Armed Forces.

On September 21, 2001 the Pueblo’s Medal of Honor memorial was dedicated outside the entrance to the Pueblo Convention Center at “Heroes’ Plaza”. Four 8-foot bronze statues of Pueblo's Medal of Honor recipients dominate the plaza and encircle a pool of water. The water feature is a reference to the words of President Dwight Eisenhower who, upon placing the Medal of Honor around Raymond "Jerry" Murphy's neck said: "What is it in the water out there in Pueblo, all you guys turn out to be heroes?" Read more about the Medal of Honor memorial and Pueblo’s Medal of Honor Heroes at: http://www.pueblomohfoundation.com/index.php?page=memorial

Holiday Mailing Guidelines for Heroes

Pueblo is a VERY patriotic place to live. Many of our residents are currently serving in the military and are deployed overseas. If your military hero will be away from home for the holidays, you are running out of time to send your holiday gifts and letters. Mail and packages for troops that serve in the Iraq and Afghanistan area should be sent by Dec. 4. Holiday mail, including packages and cards, going to military bases in other parts of the world should be shipped by Dec. 11. Visit http://USPS.com to get all of the info. Don’t forget that you’ll need custom forms for APO/FPO addresses. You may have seen the Postal Service TV commercials advertising Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping “If it fits, it ships.” Priority mail flat-rate shipping (boxes are free at the post office) will offer the best shipping value. Deb

With Thanksgiving next week, now is a time to reflect on all the positives in our lives.  Studies have shown that people who regularly express gratitude have a higher sense of well-being.   Be grateful for what you have!

If you are cooking the big bird and accompaniments this holiday, remember that our higher altitude may require some cooking adjustments.  Liquids evaporate faster, boiling occurs at lower temperatures, and baked goods will rise faster.  You may have to add more liquid, less sugar or less baking powder in baked goods.  Refer to high-altitude directions on packaged products and consult a cookbook for your particular holiday recipe.

Two Pueblo West churches are providing free Thanksgiving dinner to all.  

• The Pueblo West Baptist Church at 180 Croyden Drive (one block south of the Pueblo West VFW post off Spaulding) will provide dinner on Saturday, Nov 21, noon-2pm.  See http://www.pueblowestbaptistchurch.com/2009_11_01_archive.html.
• The Oasis Christian Church will hold Thanksgiving dinner at the Pueblo West Shrine Club from 2-4pm on Thanksgiving Day.  Make reservations by Nov 23 by calling 647-8088.  See http://www.theoasischristianchurch.com.

And if you want to walk off the pounds you think you may gain at Thanksgiving dinner, the Pueblo YMCA is sponsoring their 1^st Annual Turkey Trot; a free 1-K kids fun run and a (not-free) 5-K run/walk at 9am on Turkey Day.  For more info and to register visit http://puebloymca.org.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Deb

Thank you Congress for extending and expanding the Home Buyers Tax Credit!   The President signed the bill into law last Friday. 

The law extends the First Time Home Buyers Credit through April 30, 2010 and expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.  The chart below, provided by the National Association of Realtors, compares features between the existing law and the one just signed.  If you have questions, some answers can be found here:  http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/. 

Bottom line - although foreclosures in the State of Colorado DECREASED last month and while the inventory of available homes is less, there ARE still homes available and now you have more time to take advantage of the federal tax credit.  This is especially good for homes that are listed as short sales since there will now be time to get the seller's lender approval to complete the sale prior to termination of the credit.

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

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.