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Kelly Young ~ Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126

Incredible Colorado Springs Schools

This is a two part series with the second series coming tomorrow. I know that schools are important to know about and understand for many people moving to a new area. Today I am taking us on an interesting journey of the first of two very incredible schools in Colorado Springs. What makes them so important? Who they are and what they stand for.

What started as a Teen Center in an old Goodill Building on the West side of Colorado Springs has grown into its own. Colorado Springs's TESLA Educational Opportunity Center is an incredible school that gives far more than it gets. We often hear about the top schools for sports, etc. in the state but don't hear about the schools that really make a difference. TESLA is a school for kids who just don't do well in traditional schools. Specifically those kids who have been kicked out of other schools in the area find TESLA as their last option. For more information about TESLA and what is available here click on the following link to access their home page. http://www.d11.org/tesla/

Colorado Springs TESLA School

One often unknown program but powerful and life changing is the Nueva Ventura Program, run by Director and Assistant Principal Kathy Stultz. Nueva is partially based on the idea that "all kids learn just not the same way on the same day" W.M. Spady. Kids here find opportunities and support to overcome personal challenges. There prorgram base and structure is completely focused on empowering each student to succeed achademically and behaviorally. Here is the website for more information. http://www.d11.org/tesla/Nueva_Ventura_homepage.htm

TESLA is a landmark for Colorado Springs because it offers the reminder every day that kids are not given up on and success is possible. For example, every November,Ms. Stultz offers students the chance to watch documentaries written and produced by women for week. That Friday the Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival (http://www.rmwfilmfest.org/) brings the filmmakers to TESLA for a Film Makers Forum with the kids. More than one filmmaker has said it was a life changing experience. I believe this to be true for the kids as well.

Colorado Springs Coffee Shop Travels the Globe

I am always excited to discover a new coffee shop and experience their unique character, ambiance and coffee expression(s). Today I wanted to introduce you to an old friend, the Black Bear Coffee Shop. "The Bear" opened in January 1999 the the intention of creating a place where friends, teachers, neighbors and anyone wanting to stop in could come together, have a great cup of coffee or tea and a warm welcome. Having just celebrated their 10 year anniversary I guess they are off to a great start. I use to meet customers here more often than I did at the office because it was much more convenient to where we were going to look at Colorado Property.

With an outdoor patio it is the perfect place to meet and greet, get ready for a bike ride, connect with friends or just sit and read the paper.

Black Bear Coffee Shop Outdoor Patio

The Black Bear is the only coffee shop I know whose Bear Coffee Cup travels the globe and sends letters and postcards back to post on a huge bulletin board. There is nothing like looking at where a coffee mug has traveled to that will get my travel bug lit up and ready for a trip.

Black Bear Coffee Shop Travel Map

The decor setup is a Colorado mountain cabin with fireplace dancing with delight. The menu is a great combination of sandwhiches (all individually made to order), soup, hot drinks of every variety, baked goods that taste as good as they look. Did I forget to mention an incredible breakfast burrito?

Black Bear Interior

Located just off of Hwy 115 and Academy Blvd. it is ideal for Ft. Carson commuters or a quick lunch getaway. As they say, Not on Every Corner...Just On Yours!

Colorado Springs Massage Therapist

In thinking about moving to a new area and all the different things to learn, discover and explore one seemed to jump higher on the priority list than others. In my life there is nothing like going to get a good massage and I thought having a couple of people to call and try out is always a good idea. Two come to mind and can also be personally recommended as I have been to both.

Susan Rissman is a massage therapist here in Colorado Springs and you will also find her out and about on the live music scene. She is an excellent massage therapist and has a voice that belts out blues like no other. Susan offers different levels of massage and leaves you feeling like melted butter. Call 719-510-6812 to for an appointment.

Another great massage option is Tessa Grace Aluna. Tessa Grace also works for the United States Olympic Committee in keeping athletes massaged, prepped and ready. She offers everything from a first time massage to one of the most intense deep tissue massages I have ever had. Call 719-641-7498 for an appointment.

Here is to a happy life.

Colorado Springs Last minute Valentine ~ A Woman's Heart

Are you looking for a creative way, or a last minute way, to say Happy Valentine's Day to your the woman(en) in your life? How about offering to take care of the kids and sending the special lady in life to a day of fun and health?

Today the ladies at Red Rock Realty are sponsoring a table at Dance Today a day long event hosted by Memorial Hospital from 10:00 - 2:00. The focus is on women, their heart health, knowing your numbers and fun ~ lots of it. With women's heart disease at an all time high it is great to see Memorial putting on a fun event to get women educated and focused.

Drop by and learn a new dance step from 10:00 and 2:00 today at Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center. Dance styles include:

  • Cupid Shuffle
  • Country Line Dancing
  • Salsa Line Dancing
  • Hip Hop

In between dance steps take the time to get your heart health evaluated with free blood pressure, cholesterol and Spirometry/Oxygen.

Mr. Biggs Family Fun center is located at 5825 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. The number for more information is (719) 955-7220. The easiest way to get here is to take I-25 to the Rockrimmon Exit. Turn West and go to the first light (Mark Dabling). Turn North on Mark Dabling and Mr. Biggs is on the left hand side (less than a mile).

Fun & Interesting Real Estate

Today I took a trip South of Colorado Springs to Beulah Colorado. It is a quaint small community tucked into the Wet Mountains just over 1 hour from the Colorado Springs airport. We were down looking at a property for the second time. I mentioned that I brought my camera along because I wanted to write a post about it and the buyers made me promise no photos and no details until after the offer they are making is worked and they are under contract.

Beulah is a fun community to write about because it was the mountain area where Pueblo residents kept summer homes. The scenery and terrain changes dramataically as you come straight out through the plains and down a hill into a lush, open meadow where deer are more common than not. With Greenhorn mountain (a snow-capped peak for3/4's of the year) in the distance and smaller mountains ringing the valley it is a small treasurer. The irrigation for the hay meadows makes it lush and beautiful. Big pine forests, a lot of which is national forest ground, provides that fabulous fragent pine smell just driving by. As you drive in, tranquilty seems to start to take over. What a place to be.

Two restaurants, a coffee shop, general store with gas station and beverage store next door provide all the necessary and nice to have's for a weekend or a lifestyle. With its access to Pueblo and Colorado Springs it is a popular place for real estate.

As promised to these buyers I won't say much but will come back and post photos, etc. soon.