FRESHINK | The Gazette

FRESHINK

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Colorado Nursery Centers’ Gingerbread & Jazz Stories and Photos by Linda Navarro The Gazette Festive party goers slogged through the snow/sleet/rain Saturday for one of the year’s favorite events, Gingerbread & Jazz, at the historic Colorado Springs Child Nursery Center, outlined in white lights, at Tejon and Rio Grande streets. The gala was a benefit for all the Child Nursery Centers. Professional chefs competed in a gingerbread house competition, KKTV anchors practiced their gingerbread-house art and the children who go to school at the centers had created their own holiday houses which were sold to the top bidders.
11/17/2009
Album ID: 891231
Photos by FRESH INK

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PIKE PEAK OR BUST RODEO DAYS PRESENTS CHECKS TO MILITARY CHARITIES story and photos by Linda Navarro, The Gazette
11/16/2009
Album ID: 890214
Photos by FRESH INK

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THE HOME FRONT CARES “FOR THE LOVE OF OUR TROOPS V” Photos and story by Linda Navarro The Gazette More than 980 sponsors, supporters, veterans and members of the military filled the Broadmoor International Center Wednesday night to hear Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the United States Central Command, at The Home Front Cares’ fifth annual fundraising dinner. The nonprofit, started in 2003 by retired colonels Bob Carlone and Joe Henjum, is a hometown way to support the families of troops deployed to combat zones. The wall-to-wall crowd raised several hundred thousand dollars. Petraeus, who was able to meet and talk personally with several hundred of those present, applauded THFC saying the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan “demand a great amount from our troopers. There is nothing easy about long and difficult separations from their families. We ask a great deal of these Americans. Nothing means more to our troopers than an appreciation of what they do.” The importance of THFC, said president Bentley Rayburn, is “we are here for the troops and the families and we want our troops to be focused on their mission.” If the family’s vehicle breaks down, there’s no money to pay utilities that month or any other emergency arises, the call goes out to THFC and it is solved, Rayburn said.
11/6/2009
Album ID: 882997
Photos by FRESH INK

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BOOK FAIR FUN Story and Photos by Erin Prater erin@csfreshink.com — When the school bell rang Tuesday afternoon, many French Elementary School students bypassed the double doors and rushed to the library, where the annual book fair was taking place. Though librarian JoAnne Dickinson was concerned a beleaguered economy would dampen the fair’s success, she said sales are doing “fairly well.” That’s good news for the school, which receives a portion of the profits. Last year Dickinson used the proceeds to purchase a DVD player for the school, plus books and some rugs for the library. Funds raised “directly impact the students,” she said. Assistant Principal Todd O’Connell said anyone interested in purchasing a book for a needy child can contact the school at 391-3495 and ask to speak to him. About 25 percent of the school’s students are in need of school supplies and likely don’t have the money to purchase a book, he said. The book fair will continue through Tuesday.
10/22/2009
Album ID: 871186
Photos by FRESH INK