Recharge Colorado GEO announces web address, call center number
COLORADO– The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) will be offering rebates for various energy upgrades beginning 8 am April 19 as part of the state’s “Recharge Colorado” campaign.
Residents can tap into the campaign at www.RechargeColorado.com to reserve a rebate online. A call center will also be available at 1-800-462-0184.
The GEO and its local partners expect brisk consumer action, particularly for Energy Star dishwashers, clothes washers and refrigerators. The Energy Star appliances account for about 16,000 of the rebates available. In light of that, it’s important for consumers statewide to have realistic expectations and recognize the “sweepstakes” nature of the program.
The Recharge Colorado website and call center were developed to help people across the state make energy savings a simple part of their everyday lives. The new site will offer personalized energy planning tools and a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind database that will pull in energy-related information from around the state. The site will also help consumers find the latest rebates on energy-efficient appliances, insulation and solar power, the simplest ways to weatherproof their homes at the lowest cost and the newest energy innovations and opportunities available where they live.
Recharge Colorado creates a one-stop clearinghouse of information and resources by bringing details about products, rebates, tax breaks and other benefits offered by the Governor’s Energy Office, utilities and local governments across Colorado to a single place. The Recharge Colorado campaign is also teaming with the Better Business Bureau to help consumers connect with the many outstanding energy efficiency and renewable energy service providers.
Governor’s Energy Office director Tom Plant said, “This comprehensive resource will give Colorado residents the opportunity to participate in energy conservation in a way that no other state can currently offer.”
Money saving opportunities include rebates for clothes washers, refrigerators and dishwashers; home upgrade rebates such as insulation, furnaces and water heaters; solar electric and hot water and wind rebates.
The GEO and its partners are providing roughly $18 million worth of rebates for Colorado with this program. The money is expected to provide approximately 75,000 rebates.
Health Fair results
WALSENBURG- Results for the April 17 Health Fair will be available at the Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic (719-738-2718) through Wednesday, April 28.
Knit Wits meet
COLORADO CITY- The Sangre de Cristo Volunteers for Change Knit Wits will meet this Thurs. April 22, at 10 am in Colorado City to work on knit, crochet, or handcrafted items for the needy. If you knit or crochet, or would like to learn, you are welcome to attend. Call Susan at 719-676-4493 or 719-250-6097 for more information and directions to the meeting.
Seedling trees for sale
PUEBLO- On Friday, April 23 CSU Extension – Pueblo County, in cooperation with the Colorado State Forest Service Nursery, will have seedling trees for sale. The sale will be held at the Colorado State Fairgrounds from 11 am- 6 pm while supplies last. Come to the west side of the Natural Resources Building.
Interested individuals must own at least two acres of land. The program’s aim is to encourage landowners to plant new forests, establish effective windbreaks to reduce erosion, protect homes, cropland, livestock and highways, and enhance wildlife habitat. Nursery stock must not be used in ornamental or landscaping plantings. No plant purchased from the CSFS may be resold. Bare root trees are available in multiples of 50 per species. Potted trees are available in multiples of 30 per species. See below for varieties and prices.
More information can be obtained by contacting Colorado State University Extension – Pueblo County at 583-6566.
• Bare Root 50 per lot $45.11
Caragana, Chokecherry, Lilac, Plum, Golden Currant, Bur Oak
• Large Potted 30 per lot $56.39
Austrian Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper
• Small Potted 30 per lot $34.37
Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern Red Cedar
AA change of meetings
WALSENBURG- There is a change/correction for the AA weekly meetings. This Fri. April 23, the meeting is at the church at 311 W. Fourth St. at 7 pm.
Huerfano Cat Coalition
WALSENBURG- The Huerfano Cat Coalition will meet this Sun. April 25 at 2 pm at the Community Center in Walsenburg. We will be discussing upcoming fund raisers to pay to spay and neuter cats in Huerfano County. We are looking for volunteers to fundraise, to help trap and transport cats to the vet and to feed and water cats. If you or anyone you know are interested helping us, please come to this meeting. It is spring and we need all the help we can get to curb the growing cat population in Huerfano County. Call 738-3167 after 6 pm for information.
Board meets Monday
WALSENBURG- The Board of the Huerfano County Water Conservancy District will meet at 6 pm on Mon. April 26 at City Hall, 525 S Albert Avenue. The meeting is open to the public.
Enterprise meets Monday
WALSENBURG- The Water Activity Enterprise of the Huerfano County Water Conservancy District will meet immediately after the HCWCD regular meeting, approximately 6:45 pm on Mon. April 26 at City Hall, 525 S Albert Avenue. The meeting is open to the public.
Peakview School is walking to fight diabetes
WALSENBURG – Peakview School is gathering their 5th & 6th grade students for a School Walk for Diabetes. They will be participating as part of an event of the American Diabetes Association, their Field Day Student Walk For Diabetes. Students will be soliciting donations from April 26 through May 5.
Students and teachers at Peakview are working together to raise funds to support the important research, information and advocacy efforts of the American Diabetes Association. Approximately 23.6 million children and adults have diabetes in United States, and one in three babies born today will develop diabetes in their lifetime.
Not only are students raising funds, but they are also actively learning lifelong lessons about the seriousness of diabetes and how eating healthy and exercising can help prevent the disease. The school receives a percentage of the funds raised for the American Diabetes Association to purchase needed physical education equipment and school medical supplies.
"We are so excited to participate in School Walk for Diabetes,” said Kathi Douglas, 5th grade teacher and project coordinator. “It is a chance for us to make a difference in our community and at the same time raise money for an important cause."
More than 1,600 schools participated in School Walk for Diabetes during the 2006/2007 school year and the number grows significantly each year.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation′s leading health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association supports volunteers in every state and region of the country, providing service to hundreds of communities across the country.
USDA Grants Available for Conservation Projects April 26 Deadline
LAKEWOOD, CO- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to seek creative solutions to assist agricultural and natural resource issues. As a result, NRCS recently announced that some $25 million is available to fund projects designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. All interested participants are strongly encouraged to visit www.grants.gov or for more detailed information as all applications must be submitted by April 26.
Jodi Hastings, NRCS State Resource Conservationist, said “We’re also looking for projects that will find solutions to improve water, soil and air quality; improve nutrient management; enhance wildlife habitat and pollinator populations; and that deal with emerging issues including energy conservation, and specialty crops.” The maximum federal contribution for each project is $1 million.
For this request for proposals (RFP), USDA will use a two phased approach for accepting applications. The approach requires applicants to submit a pre-proposal to NRCS′s National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. by close of business on Mon. April 26. Pre-proposals may be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov or through traditional mail services. USDA may fund projects directly from the pre-proposal or may require additional information. In that event, NRCS will notify those pre-proposal submitters and request a full application which must be submitted by June 4.
Finally, USDA strongly encourages beginning farmers and ranchers, limited resource farmers or ranchers, Indian tribes or community-based organizations that service these groups to apply for these grants as ten percent of the total funding, some $25 million, is designated to specifically assist them.
Achievement Day for FCE Extension
WALSENBURG- The Prairie Ranges and River Roundup FCE extension Clubs will be having their Achievement Day on April 27 at the Community Center. Displays of items made during the year will be on display, and lunch will be served for members and their guests at noon with a program to follow.
Tentative agreement reached with Re-1
WALSENBURG- A tentative agreement between the teachers and Huerfano School District RE-1 has been reached. The negotiated agreement has gone to the teachers’ association for ratification this week and is scheduled for a Board vote at the its regular meeting on April 27. Details of next year’s contract will be released after ratification and adoption by the RE-1 Board of Education.
The negotiating team was made up of teacher members of the Huerfano Education Association, administrators including Superintendent Mike Doyle, Business Manager Tony Brgoch, building principals, and board members Elisha Meadows and Erin Jerant. The teachers’ contract is for the 2010-11 year.
RE-1 Art Exhibition
WALSENBURG- Come support the arts education programs in Huerfano Re-1 and see the inspired artwork created by our amazing students. The high school work will be juried and many pieces will be for sale as a fundraiser, so bring your wallets and purchase artwork by artists who one day may be famous!
The opening for the show is Thurs. April 29 5-7 pm. The show will run from April 29-May 5 at Peakview Elementary. There will be a music performance as well at 6 pm in the Peakview Cafeteria featuring the high school Music and Drama Departments’ Broadway Showcase. Refreshments will be served. For information call Linn G. Baker 738-1610.
Children’s Day/Book Day Show and Tell
WALSENBURG- The Book Day show and tell will be held during story hour April 30, at Spanish Peaks Library. Please come at 10:30 and bring something you want to show and tell. For information call 738-2774.
Preschool /Kindergarten Screening
LA VETA– Reminder! On Thurs. May 6 from 8-3 pm at the Preschool building, preschool screenings will be held for vision, hearing, gross/fine motor, concept, and speech/ language development. Screenings are by appointment only. Please call Irene at the La Veta Elementary Office- 742-3621- Ext.17. Student must be 4 years old by June 1. In-district students have prioritized registration privileges. Parents should bring updated immunization record and birth certificate.
Participation in this screening does not guarantee enrollment in La Veta Schools.
Stockgrowers to meet
WALSENBURG- The Huerfano Basin Stockgrowers meeting will be held May 6 at 7:00 pm at the Community Center in Walsenburg. Discussion will be about promoting locally-raised beef and other home-grown products. The public is welcome to attend.
Walsenburg Community Garden plant sale
WALSENBURG– The volunteers will be selling bedding plants May 8 at the Community Garden Site from 9-12. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Community Garden. Come by and pick out your garden veggies, ready for planting on Mother’s day!
Walk 4 Life
WALSENBURG- The Open Arms Pregnancy Resource Center will hold its annual Walk 4 Life on Sat. May 8 starting at 10 am. We will meet at the new Walsenburg library.
All are invited to join us and gather sponsors to donate toward the walk. Also, anyone who can’t walk can be sponsor. This will be a leisurely 5k (3.2 mile) walk. Baby strollers and kids of all ages are welcome to join us.
Please call 738-9994 for a sponsor sign-up sheet or to sponsor someone who will walk.
Help make CF stand for “Cure Found” Cystic Fibrosis Walkathon
LA VETA- Help Make CF Stand For "Cure Found." Join us for the Cystic Fibrosis Walkathon Saturday, May 8 from 10 am to 3 pm at the La Veta High School football field. Price $10 for individuals; $30 for teams up to 4 members; $7.50 for each additional team member (8 person team max.) 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. To register, contact Valerie Stephenson at 742-3662 ext. 44. Donations may be sent in care of La Veta High School, PO Box 85, La Veta, CO 81055. Make checks payable to La Veta High School.
Lincoln Day Dinner
WALSENBURG- Come to a Western Roundup on Sat. May 8 at the Huerfano County Community Center. At 5:30 pm there will be a silent auction and at 6 pm dinner will be served. Purchase your tickets by April 30. Call Carol 738-3582. The speaker will be former Bronco Mike Kellogg and many conservative candidates for the state of Colorado.
Mother’s Day Brunch
GARDNER- The Community Church of Gardner will sponsor a Mother′s Day Brunch Sat. May 8 at 11 am at the Gardner Community Center. Reservations are necessary. Call Barbara, 746-2026, or Glee, 746-2989, to RSVP. All mothers, daughters, grandmas, mothers-in-law, step-mothers, etc. are invited. Admission is $3 for adults; $2 for kids 12 and under.
Worship service times changing
WALSENBURG- Major changes in the United Church of Walsenburg worship service times will begin June 6. Services will revert back to the 11 am time rather than the present 10 am. The change allows Pastor Bobby Barnhill to schedule a 9 am service at the Gardner United Methodist Church once a month, on the first Sunday.
To celebrate with and to bless the reopening of the Gardner church, the Walsenburg church will join with them for one service. The May 2 service in Walsenburg will be cancelled and the entire congregation will worship with the Gardner congregation. To carpool on May 2, Walsenburg members will meet at the church at 8:15 am. A potluck brunch will follow the Gardner service.
Great Colorado PaybackShatters records for returning property
DENVER – Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy today kicked off the 2010 Great Colorado Payback with news that this year and last will both shatter records for returning lost and forgotten property to Colorado’s citizens.
On Sunday, as part of the effort, Kennedy’s office will publish almost 80,000 new names – the owners of more than $50 million in lost and forgotten property who were added this past year to a database that now contains over 1.5 million names.
Kennedy said that this year’s list includes six people with property worth over $100,000 and one family with property worth over $500,000.
“We had a 41% increase in the property we returned over the fiscal year before,” said Kennedy. “We’re already ahead of where we were last year at this time, and we still have three more months to go.” In the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year, the Great Colorado Payback returned a record $25.5 million to claimants.
The Great Colorado Payback, the state’s unclaimed property program, holds lost and forgotten property turned over to the state by financial institutions, insurance companies, and other businesses until claimed by the rightful owner.
Kennedy is encouraging people to check her website or call her office to see whether their name is in the Great Colorado Payback database.
“We keep looking for new and better ways to let people know we’re holding their property and to simplify the process for returning it,” said Kennedy. “Particularly in this current economic downturn, we want to reunite owners with long lost family heirlooms, as well as funds that are rightfully theirs.”
The Great Colorado Payback currently holds over $450 million in property that belongs to over 1.5 million owners. There is no charge for the service and no time limit to file a claim. For additional information on the unclaimed property program or to search for your name in the Great Colorado Payback database, please visit www.greatcopayback.com or call 303-866-6070 or toll-free at 1-800-825-2111.
USDA funding for water conservation
LAKEWOOD, CO- The US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced the availability of funding that will help producers conserve surface and ground water and improve water quality on agricultural land through its Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP). Some $20 million in financial assistance for new AWEP projects is now available and proposal must be submitted by May 17.
NRCS implements the AWEP program through project areas identified and proposed by eligible partners. Eligible partners include federally recognized indian tribes; states; units of local government; agricultural associations, and other groups of producers–such as irrigation associations, agricultural land trusts, or other nongovernmental organizations that have experience working with agricultural producers. Upon a project area being approved and announced by NRCS, individual producers within the project area can then apply for assistance through their local NRCS field office.
The focus of water enhancement activities within the program includes water quality or water conservation plan development; water conservation restoration or enhancement projects; water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects; irrigation system improvements; irrigation efficiency enhancements; activities designed to mitigate the effects of drought, and; related activities determined to help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land.
Eligible partners have until May 17 to submit a proposal. To view the full request for proposals, or for information about how to apply, please visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/AWEP. For additional information about NRCS and the conservation programs that may be available for you, please visit: www.co.nrcs.usda.gov.
