About Pueblo County, CO

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

Happy Worm Herders thanks the community!

FREE Organic Waste Disposal

Gaia Institute's Happy Worm Herders City-Wide Composting & Vermicomposting program will be hosting a series of free organic waste disposal days for the residents of Pueblo City and County!

Happy Worm Herders will accept lawn, leaf, and food waste - including pumpkins and cooking oil or grease. Organic waste must be clean - no trash - and in plastic bags or containers, which will be returned immediately.

Lawn care service providers may bring lawn/leaf waste for $2 per load. Restaurants and food service providers may bring food waste and cooking oil / grease free, but the waste must be in containers.

The first drop-off day is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2009, just after Thanks Giving, at Happy Worm Herders worm farm on Stockyard Road. Drop off hours will be 10:00am to 3:00pm. Donations will be accepted.

For more information or directions, contact Gaia at gaiawellnesscenter@earthlink.net or 719-320-5080.

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

GRAND OPENING OF GAIA'S GARDENS GREENHOUSE FEATURING AN INDOOR PLANT SALE THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11AM - 3PM BOTH DAYS
Join us as we celebrate the GRAND OPENING of Gaia's Gardens Greenhouse featuring an Indoor-Plant Sale, this Saturday and Sunday, November 7 & 8, 2009, 11:00am - 3:00pm both days, at the Gaia Institute Wellness Center, 622 E. 8th Street (corner of E. 8th Street and Fountain Avenue)! Proceeds will help us offset Winter utilities and introduce our new program featuring greenhouse activities, called YOUNG MOTHERS TODAY. This program will be operated mostly by young Moms who had their babies during their teen years. It will help bring them together to gain strength from each other and learn new skills. Remember, we can help you:

• keep your indoor gardening activities going all year long! Our Happy Worm Herders Worm Castings are nature's superior single-ingredient plant food and soil amendment, to keep your plants their healthiest all year long! Castings can even be used 'straight' to start seeds - for indoor herb and vegetable gardens or for getting a jump on next year's planting season.
• keep your indoor composting activities going all year long! Our Happy Worm Herders Composting Condo Kits can help you get set up to do indoor composting of your own organic waste WHILE you produce your own castings for next season!
• feed and bed down your outdoor gardens! Top application of our Happy Worm Herders Worm Castings during the Fall will ensure that your plants, trees, shrubs, and gardens get plenty of time-released nutrients to enhance root growth and strength!

Wood-Chip mulch also available! Look for us on Facebook (link below) and on Merchant Circle! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6875&id=1736725298&l=c552de1db2 Check out our coupon and sale promotion on Merchant Circle, too. Please remember that your donations may be tax deductible. Gaia is recognized as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, per Internal Revenue Code. Please forward this announcement! Thank you for your on-going support and encouragement!

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