Sorry, thank you, and please help

Some odds and ends this week, including correcting a huge error on my part.

My apologies to the members of Pueblo West Youth Athletic Fields, Inc., and anyone who might have shown up last week for the Wild West Fest fundraiser at Pueblo West High School's Cyclone Stadium.

We ran a story last week that had been written for today's paper. After making the last-minute change in run date, I forgot to change the date of the concert to reflect the earlier run.

So, you still have time to buy tickets for the four-hour concert, made possible by the generosity of four local bands and Little Caesar's Pizza. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the fun starts an hour later, with plans to call it quits at 6 p.m.

Tickets will be $10 at the gate for anyone older than 10, or can be purchased at Markway Animal Medical Center on Joe Martinez Boulevard.

I hope to see you there.

Whew. Crow can be tough to swallow.

It's easy, though, to say thanks to retired Air Force Capt. Kevin Sarni, a Colorado Springs resident and pyrotechnic enthusiast who treated local residents to a beautiful fireworks show at Lake Pueblo on May 26.

Sarni had to jump through lots of hoops to stage the show, which he dreamed up as a way to say thanks to military men and women, firefighters, police officers and others who serve the public every day with not much thanks at all.

Although he was able to secure some private and corporate funding, most of the costs came out of his own pocket.

I had tried without success to reach him before the show, after hearing various rumors about it during the week before Memorial Day. But no luck.

A serendipitous call after a photo ran in last week's View finally put us in touch with each other.

Sarni said he learned a lot this year, and despite some tough lessons and many obstacles, has vowed to stage another Memorial Day fireworks extravaganza next year.

When the time rolls around, we'll let you know so all who want to help will have the chance to do so.

Finally, I have to wonder why the Pueblo West Community Teen Cooperative has been able to raise barely more than $10,000 of the $90,000 it needs by July 4 to make the down payment on a vacant building they plan to convert into a teen center by fall.

With nearly 1,300 teenagers enrolled at Pueblo West High School, and at least that many students at our two middle schools - not to mention the 3,500 or so kids in elementary schools here - I have to wonder why so many families have yet to donate to the cause.

The organization's teen advisory board and other young volunteers spent last weekend weeding the yards of local senior citizens - a segment of the community that will be using the center during daytime hours.

If you haven't given to the campaign yet, I hope you will - $10, $20, $1,000 - whatever you can afford.

The money will enable PWCTC to open a center that will serve several large segments of the community for years to come.

The organization is in line for potential grant funding for ongoing costs, and has an army of volunteers ready to help with minor renovations and other tasks necessary to opening the doors.

But they need a building before any of the rest of their plans can be carried out.

If you can't afford to give cash but want to help, give Executive Director Rebecca Kaspari a call at 647-1790.

Loretta Sword is editor of The Pueblo West View and can be reached via e-mail at lsword@pueblowestview.com. 

Email

Print