An estimated 2,500 people turned out to loudly protest convicted felon, sexual abuser and President Donald Trump and his co-president Elon Musk and their erratic governing style, economy-destroying tariffs, alienating of America’s allies, crony capitalism, ignoring people’s rights to due process, rolling back of civil and human rights, illegal dismantling of federal agencies and worse, at one of the biggest protests ever in town. The demonstration was one of about 1,400 similar protests taking place across the nation on April 5 as Americans, increasingly worried about Trump pushing the country into authoritarianism, rise in solidarity against Trump and Trumpism.
Category: Good things about Mesa County
Food, Good things about Mesa County, Local gossip, Weird western slope stuff
Sweet Coloradough is coming to Grand Junction
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Sweet Coloradough bakery and café announced April 13 on Facebook that they are starting this week to interview people to work in a new store at 1410 North Ave. in Grand Junction, the building currently occupied by Daylight Doughnuts. Their Facebook post says they pay their employees “$20/hour+.” If you want to apply for a job, the application is here.
Sweet Coloradough is a family-owned and operated business that creates “hand crafted” and “decadent” doughnuts. They say they have “One mission…. try to make the best thing a person has ever eaten.” All of their items are made from scratch. Until now, their other stores have been in Eagle, Glenwood Springs and Rifle. They previously had two other stores, in Snowmass and Carbondale, but sold them.
Diversity, Good things about Mesa County
Tickets almost gone for Good Judy’s Easter Sunday Drag Brunch
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You had better hurry and get your tickets if you want to enjoy Good Judy’s Easter Sunday 2024 “Bunny Business” Drag Brunch.
Good Judy’s is located at 103 N. 1st Street in downtown Grand Junction, on the northwest corner of First and Main. Good Judy’s just issued a “low ticket warning” as tickets for this event are going fast.
Charter schools, Cody Davis, Democrats, Elections, Good things about Mesa County, Grassroots advocacy, Housing, Human rights, Immigration, Local concerns, politics, Poverty, Worker advocacy
Former CMU Professor Tom Acker to run against Cody Davis for County Commissioner
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Retired CMU Spanish Professor Tom Acker
A Democrat has joined the race against Cody Davis for Mesa County Commissioner. Tom Acker is currently the only Democrat running for local office in Mesa County.
Acker was a professor of Spanish language at CMU for two decades. He is now a retired professor emeritus, an honorary title conferred upon him for his distinguished service to the academic community. He is a founding member of the award-winning Hispanic Affairs Project.
Originally from the east coast, in the 1980s Acker worked with refugees from the Mariel Boatlift, after over 125,000 Cubans piled into boats and headed for Florida after the Cuban government announced that anyone who wanted to leave the country was free to do so.
While he lived in Pennsylvania, Acker worked with a federally-funded agency to help farmers interact with agriculture workers.
Good things about Mesa County, Insurance, Local concerns, Media, Red Rock dealerships
News anchor Bernie Lange leaves KKCO, moves to KREX
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Welcome to KREX, Bernie Lange
Award-winning, long time local news anchor Bernie Lange has left KKCO and will start working at KREX-TV Channel 5 on Monday, March 25 as the station’s main anchor for their 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts. He has more than 20 years experience in broadcast journalism.
Good things about Mesa County, Health, Local business
High cholesterol? Go to Bella Balsamic & the Pressed Olive on Main Street
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A 750 ml bottle of Bella Balsamic’s butter-infused olive oil
Western slopers who are struggling with high cholesterol need to know about Bella Balsamic and the Pressed Olive on Main Street in Grand Junction.
We’re really lucky to have this store in Grand Junction. The only other one in the country is in Punta Gorda, Florida. I love it because not only are its products unique, delicious and not available in grocery stores, but they could save your life.
Art, Good things about Mesa County, Health care
Craig Gallery in Palisade to host art event 11/25 to benefit HopeWest
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Painting by Kay Crane of the Craig Gallery in Palisade with a bow on it like the ones that will designate art pieces that, if sold at the Nov. 25th event, will benefit HopeWest
Craig Gallery at 128 E. 3rd in downtown Palisade is hosting a holiday event called “Put a Bow on It” on Saturday, November 25, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Owner Tammy Craig says, “In the spirit of the season, ten percent of all sales and 100% of pieces sold sporting a bow will be donated to HopeWest.”
Gallery Director Kay Crane says, “We’re so happy to be able to do this. My family has been helped and comforted by HopeWest, as have so many others in the Grand Valley. Hospice is all about comfort — for those who are leaving and those who are staying.”
The gallery features a wide variety of artistic pieces aimed at holiday gift giving, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, photography and more. They say they have something to fit every budget and taste.
Artists featured in Craig Gallery include Dianna Fritzler, Cynthia Duff, Bud Markos, Chris Eaton, Christine Feller, Diane Anglim, DJ Janowski, Gail Evans, Gayle Garson, Gerry Jensen, Jennifer Kass, John Anglim, Kathryn McBride, Kay Crane, Lori Brietzke (Lorelei), Mary Pat Ettinger, Monica Esposito, Nancee Busse, Nina Williams, Peg Oswald, Ron Cloyd, Sandi Seckman, Shavique, Diane Saulnier, Tammy Craig and Matthew Seeds.
Food, Good things about Mesa County, Local scut
Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, where are you?
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Sign promising the arrival of a Great Greek Mediterranean Grill at 2566 Patterson Rd.
Ever since the sign went up last spring at 2566 Patterson Road next to the new Coffee Trader announcing “The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill” would be “Coming Soon,” foodies have been watching with great anticipation, thrilled at the prospect of having delicious new Greek/Mediterranean cuisine in town.
Employees at the Coffee Trader said the place expected to open in September, but we’re going to have to wait for our lamb, chicken, beef or shrimp souvlaki, spanakopita, avgolemono soup, gyros, falafel plates, tzatziki, lemon potatoes and more.
After the sign went up, nothing else happened.
Art, Good things about Mesa County
Newly-expanded Craig Gallery in Palisade gets twenty new artists
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Artist Gail Evans by the big red heart sculpture in front of the Craig Gallery in Palisade
After an ownership change at the Blue Pig Gallery in Palisade drove artists away earlier this year, more than twenty Grand Valley artists will now display their work in the newly-expanded Craig Gallery Palisade at 128 East 3rd Street in the heart of downtown Palisade. The Gallery is easily identified by the big, red metal heart sculpture in front of the building.
Gallery owner Tammy Craig, who also owns Fruit and Wine Real Estate, has wanted to expand the Gallery for some time.
“Then Kay Crane became available and I saw the opportunity to take the gallery to the next level with a full-time Gallery Director,” she says. “Kay’s expertise and experience are unparalleled. As the former Director of the Blue Pig Gallery and an artist in her own right, Kay is well known for attracting and working well with top-flight artists.”
Good things about Mesa County, Public health
Peer 180 Community Recovery Support offers free addiction recovery & support services downtown for individuals and families
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Building at 201 South Ave. next to Union Station that houses Peer 180 All Recovery Community Center
Just south of the old Grand Junction Union Station Train Depot at 119 Pitkin Ave. (that is soon to be be refurbished) is another, smaller building at 201 South Ave., that also says “Union Station” at the top and is also kind of historic in its own right.
This building is now the location of Peer 180 Community Recovery Support, a new, grant-funded non-profit organization that helps people recover from addiction by providing services, support, education, advocacy, activities, and non-religious recovery programs. What sets Peer 180 apart is that it welcomes not just individuals, but entire families and even their friends, is free to everyone and is not religious-based. They even have a play room for children so parents can easily attend recovery events and activities. The building is located downtown, just a 4 minute walk from the downtown Van’s Car Wash.
Education, Good Republicans, Good things about Mesa County, Health, politics, Public health, Safety
State Sen. Janice Rich (R) introduces bill to require CPR training in High Schools
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Sen. Rich, shown here in 2022 when she was a House Representative, has a track record of introducing beneficial, bipartisan legislation and getting it passed. Here she is seen at the signing on April 12, 2022 of HB22-1040, “Homeowners’ Reasonable Access to Common Areas,” which limited homeowner associations’ (HOAs) ability to restrict homeowners’ access to their own common open space and amenities. (Left to right: House Rep. Edie Hooton, Rep. Janice Rich, Gov. Polis, Sen. Tammy Story)
State Senator Janice Rich (R) is doing something we haven’t seen in years from our elected state Senator: Introducing thoughtful, beneficial, bipartisan legislation that can benefit everyone.
Sen. Rich recently introduced SB23-023, a bill that requires high schools that teach the state’s comprehensive health education program to instruct students in how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The bill has the potential to save many lives.
Children, City of Grand Junction, Education, Good things about Mesa County, Grand Junction City Council, Grassroots advocacy
Group urgently seeks help to keep Orchard Mesa Pool open
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Orchard Mesa Pool
Mesa County residents have formed a group to try to keep Orchard Mesa Community Center Pool open, and they are asking the rest of the community for help.
In mid-November, 2022, the City of Grand Junction announced the possible closure of the Orchard Mesa Pool in early 2023.
The group, Save the Pool, is encouraging people with families to come to the December 21st Grand Junction City Council meeting this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall Auditorium, 250 N. 5th Street, Grand Junction to stand in solidarity to keep the pool open.
Corporations, Economics, Ethics, Good things about Mesa County, Red Rock dealerships
Red Rock starts getting the message, unwinds deal for strapped couple & gives out personal cell phone numbers of local partners for people to call if they’ve been wronged
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Red Rock Nissan at 2582 Highway 6 & 50 in Grand Junction
The Red Rock Auto Group seems to be starting to get the message about the financial hardship they’ve been causing people by defrauding customers and carrying out business in bad faith.
This week Red Rock Nissan went out of their way to help “the Andersons” (not their real name), a struggling young couple with three kids, two of whom are special needs kids, who were recently featured in this blog as an example of the kind of bad deals people were unknowingly getting into at these dealerships.
Abortion, Activism, Consumer advocacy, Equal rights, Extremism, Good things about Mesa County
Need a job? Want to make a difference? Cobalt Abortion Fund is seeking to hire 2-3 more organizers on the western slope
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Are you looking for a rewarding job that will give you a way to help people and make big difference in their lives?
Cobalt Advocates is looking to hire two to three more organizers on the western slope.
Cobalt operates the Cobalt Abortion Fund, a dedicated abortion fund that helps people cover the cost and manage the logistics of getting an abortion, like transportation, lodging and child care. The Cobalt Abortion fund is 100% donor-funded, and it is the only independent fund of its kind in Colorado.
Cobalt’s goal is to make sure no one has to endure any financial or logistical burdens when it comes to abortion.
Abortion, Good things about Mesa County, Health, Health care, Human rights
Need help finding and paying for an abortion in Grand Junction? Contact Cobalt. They’ll help.
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Cobalt Advocates and the Cobalt Abortion Fund are a terrific resources for anyone seeking an abortion on the western slope
If you live in Grand Junction, Mesa County or anywhere on the western slope, need an abortion and are having a hard time finding and/or affording one, your best resource and first stop should be Cobalt Advocates.
Cobalt believes nothing should come between you and your reproductive decisions, no matter who you are or where you live. Cobalt operates the Cobalt Abortion Fund, a dedicated abortion fund that helps people cover the cost of an abortion. They also help with the costs and logistics and other needs people often have when getting an abortion, like transportation and lodging. The Cobalt Abortion fund is 100% donor-funded, and is the only independent fund of its kind in Colorado. Cobalt’s goal is to make sure no one has to endure a a financial or logistic burden when it comes to abortion.
Andrea Haitz, Children, Embarrassing Republicans, Equal rights, Ethics, Extremism, Good things about Mesa County, Intolerance, LGBT issues, Transphobia
First Congregational Church welcomes trans kids amid furor over School Board President Andrea Haitz’s transphobic memes
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The First Congregational Church sign (Photo: Shirley Zimmerman Kodis)
After the uproar over anti-transgender memes District 51 School Board President Andrea Haitz posted recently on her personal social media accounts, the First Congregational Church at 5th and Kennedy in Grand Junction took steps to make it clear to the public that their church welcomes transexual kids. The church is directly across the street from Grand Junction High School.
Church Administrator Beth Rakestraw said on her social media account that “Transkids are loved and welcomed at my church!” The church describes itself on its website as a “progressive Christian community” and says “We welcome all people regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender preference, ability, and disability…At our church you don’t have to check your brain at the door. We believe that science and religion are not mutually exclusive. … No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.”
Haitz tried to walk back her posts by telling the Daily Sentinel that people had “misinterpreted” her memes because they “don’t understand satire,” but that was disproved after Heidi Hess of One Colorado revealed to the Daily Sentinel that Haitz belonged to the Facebook group Reboot 2022, whose mission statement says “Transgender is not an option.”
Activism, Consumer advocacy, Ethics, Good Republicans, Good things about Mesa County, HOAs, politics
Rep. Janice Rich rescues homeowners locked out of common space
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A bill that House Rep. Janice Rich introduced in response to the plight of Grand Junction residents who were unjustly shut out of their common space by an overzealous HOA, “Homeowners’ Reasonable Access to Common Areas,” gets signed by Governor Polis at the state Capitol in Denver on April 12, 2022. (Left to right: House Rep. Edie Hooton, Rep. Janice Rich, Gov. Polis, Sen. Tammy Story)
A year ago this blog highlighted the plight of homeowners who suddenly found themselves repeatedly locked out of their own common space park for months at a time by an overzealous homeowners association (HOA). The example was the Moonridge Falls subdivision in Grand Junction where, without consulting homeowners, the HOA locked the ornamental gates to the home owners’ small open space park in winter due to a sudden fear that ice on the 2-foot deep irrigation pond in the park posed a danger. No one had been injured on the pond, there hadn’t been any accident or incident involving the pond, the pond ices over every year and the park hadn’t been locked before as far back as most neighbors could remember.
Activism, Coronavirus pandemic, Good Republicans, Good things about Mesa County, Local scut, Pandemic, Pop culture, Tim Foster, Weird Grand Junction Stuff, Worker advocacy
7th Street Deli saved by Tim Foster
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The 7th Street Deli has been at the same location on 7th Street and Bookcliff for 15 years
The 7th-Street Deli has been saved!
The deli was threatened with eviction in mid-January for non-payment of back rent. The owner had suffered a prolonged 50% loss of business due to back-to-back renovation projects that took place on 7th Street in 2019 and 2020, and then got hit with the no-indoor dining order in 2020 from Covid. Deli owner Debbie Allen had made it through all those obstacles and was finally getting out of her debt when the property owner slapped her with an eviction notice and a lawsuit for tens of thousands in back rent. The deli started a GoFundMe account and donations poured in. By the end of January they had raised about $8,000, but it wasn’t enough to pay off all the back rent.