Author: Helen Wolt
-
Finding help gets tougher if car dealership is closed
Closures of General Motors and Chrysler dealerships don’t mean customers are stalled when looking for service and warranty work, although they may hit a few bumps in their search for assistance.For instance, Jim King, 62, of Colorado Springs bought a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 at the Medved Autoplex in Castle Rock in December — six…
-
‘Thrifty bike shop’ focuses on quality used bicycles
When Julie McCafferty, 31, noticed thrift stores doing a brisk business this year, she thought, “I want to open a thrifty bike shop.” Early in June, that wish became a reality as she launched the city’s first exclusively used bike store, in Old Colorado City. At Cycle-Re-Cycle, she buys, sells and trades previously-owned high-end bikes,…
-
Cycle-re-cycle peddling bike bargains
When Julie McCafferty, 31, noticed thrift stores doing a brisk business this year, she thought, “I want to open a thrifty bike shop.”Early in June, that wish became a reality as she launched the city’s first exclusively used bike store, in Old Colorado City.At Cycle-Re-Cycle, she buys, sells and trades previously-owned high-end bikes, and those…
-
Zoo’s hippos are smart enough to like food
Are hippos smart?April Hyatt thinks so.For five years, Hyatt has coached the Nile hippopotamuses at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.“They’re very food motivated, which makes them easy to train,” Hyatt said.Hyatt’s students are Kasai, 9, and her sister Zambezi, 16. These are big girls: Each weighs about 3,500 pounds. Two of their tricks are opening wide…
-
Rock of ages, cleft in twain
Art Ackley bought his first stamp album when he was 8. Now 85, he’s still collecting, with no plans to stop.Art and his wife, Helena, 84, have operated Ackley’s Rocks & Stamps, 3230 N. Stone Ave., for 45 years.“We really love it,” Helena Ackley said. But the long hours have become a burden, so they’re…
-
Ackleys about to turn over local rock shop after 45 years
Art Ackley bought his first stamp album when he was 8. Now 85, he’s still collecting, with no plans to stop. Art and his wife, Helena, 84, have operated Ackley’s Rocks & Stamps, at 3230 N. Stone Ave., for 45 years. “We really love it,” Helena Ackley said. But the long hours have become a…
-
Workshops aimed at helping jobless cope with stress
Crying easily. Feeling inadequate. Having trouble with relationships. All are symptoms of the anxiety of joblessness, said Steve Fehl, a training specialist at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. The center has seen a growing number of unemployed people displaying such signs of stress, he said. Many have been out of work six months or longer.…
-
Job-seekers beware: Scammers are on the rise
With Colorado’s unemployment rate up, more folks are looking for work. Also on the rise are employment-related scams and fraudulent job listings, reports Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in a consumer advisory.Two common rackets involve payment processing and mystery shopping, often advertised on Web sites like Craigslist. Job-seekers can protect themselves by understanding how these…
-
Safety pays for local auto dealer, YMCA
Business owners know that reducing expenses boosts their bottom line. Preventing on-the-job accidents and injuries is one way to cut costs. Two local enterprises have successfully trimmed costly accident claims and are reaping financial benefits in the form of dividend checks from Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance.Pinnacol provided insurance to 66…
-
Tough times spur employment-related scams
With Colorado’s unemployment rate hovering around 8 percent, more folks are looking for work. Also on the rise are employment-related scams and fraudulent job listings, reports Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in a consumer advisory. Two common rackets involve payment processing and mystery shopper opportunities. “We see both of these schemes quite frequently,” said Robyn…