This free, two day street fair brings back an almost forgotten art form that originated in Italy and was popular in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. Italian street painters would travel from town to town creating beautiful paintings in the streets to commemorate holy days and festivals. They survived on coins thrown to them by appreciative audiences. Traditional Italian street painters were called Madonnari, because originally they recreated images of the Madonna.

The Denver Chalk Art Festival features several professional Madonnari, as well as other artists who come out to create their first pavement chalk drawings. Artists create their street visions as performance art, with audience participation and viewing part of the experience. These ephemeral paintings will vanish with weather and street traffic, but that’s part of the appeal of the art.

The festival features six professional, award-winning madonnari, live music, a wine pavilion and the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design Youth Challenge, where groups of students compete for prizes. There is also a kids area where the little ones can create their own street masterpieces.

Saturday, June 4^th, 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday June 5^th, 10 am to 7pm, Larimer Square, downtown Denver.

This “Things to Do in Denver” tip is offered by Southeast Auto Body, your Denver collision repair shop, conveniently located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

For most people, walking 10,000 steps is the equivalent of walking about 5 miles, or about an hour or more of steady walking per day. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends walking 30 to 60 minutes a day to achieve health benefits from walking. For weight loss, make sure you get 4000 to 6000 steps in an uninterrupted walk per day, and a total of about 10,000 steps a day.

Pedometers are a great motivational tool. Try one to see how many steps you log.  Start recording how many steps you take during your normal day to day activities, as well as when walking for fitness. Every 2000 to 2500 steps equals about a mile, and burns roughly 100 calories for a 150 pound person.

Find a list of Douglas County trails here, and log those steps to fitness!

How to Check Your Car’s Hoses for Damage

First, make sure the engine is cool before you look for hose damage. DO NOT work on hoses if the car is even slightly warm. If the hose cracks or worse yet, bursts, you could be showered with scalding water or antifreeze.

When your car is cool, check for hard brittle hoses or soft ‘sticky’ hoses. Inspect for bulges, weak areas, cracks and frayed ends. If you find any of these problems, replace the hose. Automobile hoses often deteriorate from within, so if you see any visible signs of damage, it’s time to replace them.

Next look at the hose clamps. Loose radiator clamps can cause coolant to leak. If the hose is damp or wet near the clamps, replace the clamp. A bit of advanced preparation can save you from dangerous, time-consuming and costly roadside emergency repairs.

While you’re checking the hoses in your car, you may want to look at the belts, too. Here is information on when to replace your car’s belts, from Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver auto body repair shop.

The concert season kicks off on Sunday, June 5^th with soft-rock band Ambrosia. The 2011 concert lineup features Peter Frampton, Loverboy, 38 Special, Richard Marx, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Under a Blood Red Sky: U2 Tribute, Super Diamond: Neil Diamond Tribute, the Stylistics and Vertical Horizon. Celebrate the 4^th of July with the Guess Who on July 3^rd and Poco on July 4^th, both followed by a fireworks display. Ticket prices range from $15 to $46, with discounts for Hudson Garden members.

Concerts begin at 6:30 pm. For ticket and other information, visit the Hudson Gardens website. Find other things to do in Denver on the Southeast Auto Body blog.

Watch the news, read newspapers or magazines, surf the ‘net – it seems like everywhere we turn, we’re hearing about vitamin D deficiencies in Americans. Is this the health concern du jour, or is all the hype something we should pay attention to? Why are hearing so much about vitamin D deficiencies?

News coverage of vitamin D deficiencies come from data in the federal government’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which indicated that in 2004, only 23% of those surveyed had sufficient levels of vitamin D. That number is down from 45% a decade earlier.

What can I do to increase my Vitamin D levels?

Exposure to sunlight is the most natural way to get vitamin D, but because of the harmful effects to the skin and the fact that busy schedules prevent many of us from spending a lot of time outdoors, we often can’t rely on sunlight to provide all of our vitamin D needs. Make sure you’re eating a variety of foods that are good sources of vitamin D such as fish, milk, eggs and cod liver oil. Vitamin D doesn’t occur naturally in very many foods, but there are a multitude of vitamin D enriched foods available today. Read labels to find foods for your family with added vitamin D in them.

Benefits of Vitamin D

* Aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, helping form and maintain strong bones and teeth

* Helps lower blood pressure, reduces stress and tension

* Regulates blood sugar levels, protecting against type 1 and type 2 diabetes

* Anti-inflammatory

* Essential to a healthy immune system, vitamin D helps fight infections

* Relieves aches and pains by reducing muscle spasms

* Helps relieve depression

If you’re curious or concerned about your vitamin D levels, consult your physician for screenings and medical guidance.

Have you encountered new craters (or smaller potholes)? Southeast Auto Body has compiled a list of phone numbers and websites for Denver and the surrounding counties where you can report potholes. You’ll also find driving tips on how to avoid potholes.

If you’re one of the many who accidentally hit a pothole, here’s information on how to check your car for possible damage, and when to have it repaired by a professional. If in doubt, call Southeast Auto Body (303.771.0440), conveniently located in Highlands Ranch and serving the entire metro Denver area. We’ll answer your questions and help you determine if you need to bring your car in for repairs.

The good news is summer is right around the corner and we’re seeing the last round of car damage from potholes. Before you know it, we’ll be back to planning our summer road trips!

This is your chance to meet local farmers and producers and find out how your food is grown. Choose from a vast selection of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, packed with flavor. Locally grown food not only tastes better, but has less environmental impact – less shipping and fewer preservatives than mass-produced foods. Buying from local farmers supports your community, helps farmers stay in business and preserves local farmlands.

Here’s a list of several Denver area farmers markets, including the Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market.

Visit the Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market, 2988 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch, CO, Sundays, M – October, 10 am – 2pm.

Crunches are a great exercise to strengthen abdominals, but core muscle exercises involve more than just abs. They involve many different muscles that run the entire length of the torso and help stabilize the spine and create back support.

Benefits of strong core muscles:

* Balance

* Good posture

* Improved sports performance

* Reduces back pain

Many core muscle exercises can be done at home with no special equipment. Find instructions for the plank, the bridge, the bicycle crunch and other core exercises online. There are also many good videos on YouTube and other websites. Pilates classes offer excellent core strengthening exercises, and there are several pilates studios in Highlands Ranch and the metro Denver area.

Radiator fluid is also called antifreeze or coolant. Whatever you call it, it’s essential to make sure your car has the correct amount as we move towards the high temperatures of summer in the Denver area. If it’s low, your engine can overheat, causing extensive engine damage.

When checking coolant levels, you need to check your radiator and the overflow reservoir. Before checking either, make sure your engine and radiator are cool. An easy way to tell is to feel the radiator hose. If it’s hot, wait until you can comfortable touch it before attempting to unscrew your radiator cap. When you begin to take the radiator cap off, if you feel pressure or fluid leaks out, the radiator is still hot. Wait until its cool, then open it by pushing the cap down and twisting it off. If you don’t see fluid, add it until you see it. Pour some in, let it settle, then check again.

Next, fill overflow reservoir. Look for the minimum and maximum fluid level marks on the side, and fill above the minimum level but don’t fill it completely to the top. When the radiator is hot, a valve opens to let excess fluid into the reservoir. Conversely, if radiator fluid is low, coolant is siphoned back to the radiator from the reservoir. When you’re finished, start your car and watch temperature gauge. If it indicates a hot engine, recheck your radiator fluid.

There are two types of engine coolant, a 50/50 pre-diluted solution or undiluted coolant. The premixed solution can be poured right in the radiator or reservoir. The undiluted formula will need to be mixed with distilled water according to package directions.

While you’re working on the radiator, it’s a good time to check your radiator hoses. If they’re cracked, bulging or don’t have a secure fit where they clamp on, it’s time to replace them.

Now go out and enjoy summer driving!

But did you know that scenes from ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’, ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’, ‘City Slickers’, ’Die Hard 2’ and many more movies feature scenes filmed at Denver or Colorado landmarks? Take a look at this list of some of the movies, TV shows and mini-series filmed in Colorado, presented by the Office of Film Television and Media. How many of them did you know were made in Colorado? Next time you’re on a road trip, stop by the places where your favorite movies were made!

Here are some quick tips to a healthier holiday season:

• Make exercise a priority. Find something to do every day to keep active. Take a 30 minute walk during the day. It’s great for your heart and lungs, clears your mind, and you get to enjoy Colorado’s fresh air and sunshine.
• Wear comfortable shoes when you go shopping and take a couple of quick laps around the mall before you make your purchases.
• Enjoy special holiday foods, but choose the ones you really like and pass up the rest.
• Eat high fiber foods – fresh fruit, salad, veggies – before going to a party.
• Drink plenty of water so you don’t mistake mild hydration for hunger.
• Stop when your day gets hectic and do a one minute meditation. Just relax and focus on breathing in peace and breathing out stress and anxiety. Repeat as needed.
• Don’t stress yourself out by overspending. Take time to savor the season with activities that don’t involve your credit cards. Take a walk or drive to view holiday lights, listen to music or watch snowflakes dance against a streetlight. The best things in life really ARE free!

Holiday Fun for Children in Highlands Ranch

Pancakes with Santa in Highlands Ranch!

Take the kids to Breakfast with Santa at the Recreation Center at Eastridge in Highlands Ranch this Saturday, December 11th from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. Join Santa for pancakes and festivities.  You youngsters will love talking to Santa, and he even has a small gift for them. Have the kids bring their wish list and make sure you bring your camera! $9 per child, $11 for adults, infants under one are free.

Kid Friendly Dickens Christmas Carol for Highlands Ranch Families

Highlands Ranch families will enjoy this special performance of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol performed by kids for kids. Your children will want to dance and sing along at this kid friendly performance at Southridge Recreation Center. Thursday, December 16th, 6:30 pm. Free to the public, but limited seating.

Family Holiday Events in Highlands Ranch

HRCA Winter Market – December 11, 12, 18 and 19

Looking for the perfect place to find unusual holiday gifts? Visit the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s Winter Market at Town Center North. The Denver Farmers’ Market joins HRCA for this German Christmas Market to offer unique handmade gifts and traditional Christmas foods.  Find great gifts or special food and craft items to make your own holiday special.  Saturday and Sunday, December 11, 12, 18 and 19 from 10AM to 3 PM. Free admission.

A Special Evening of Holiday Music – December 17th

The Highlands Ranch Concert Band presents seasonal music at the HRCA Recreation Center on Friday, December 17th at 7:00 pm.  This hour of holiday music is $5 for members, $7 for program guests. Order tickets at 303.471.8859.

Snow, slush and freezing rain. It’s hard to imagine it in Denver this year!  But despite the unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow in the metro Denver area so far, winter IS coming. Are you prepared?

Easy Winter Car Maintenance

Here’s a quick, easy and relatively inexpensive way to winterize your car before the first big snowstorm. Replace your windshield wiper blades! There’s nothing worse than being stuck in rush hour traffic in the snow or rain and finding out that your wiper blades aren’t clearing the spot right in your line of vision. It’s not just annoying, it’s a safety hazard. Good vision is essential, especially when you need to focus your attention on icy roads.

Do This BEFORE the First Big Snow

Next time you’re in the car, turn on your windshield washers and check for streaks and look to see if your blades skip or chatter as the move across the window.  If you see signs of wear, replace them. Ideally, they should be replaced every six months. Exposure to our hot Colorado sun and cold winter temps cause the rubber to deteriorate, even if you don’t use them much.

If you drive in the mountains, consider getting special winter blades. They’re designed to prevent ice and snow buildup, even in heavy snowfall. If you drive an SUV, don’t forget to check the rear window wiper blades too.

Foolproof Wiper Maintenance

Here’s an easy way to remember to maintain your wiper blades. Replace them every fall when Colorado switches to standard time and every spring when we move to daylight savings time. How easy is that?

This car care tip is brought to you by Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver collision repair specialists.

The holiday season is upon us and for many, this means travel.  Whether you’re heading home to spend Christmas with your family or taking a ski or beach vacation, you’ll probably be traveling by car or plane.   No matter how you get there, the trip inevitably means long stretches of sitting in a cramped space, which can result in poor circulation when traveling and tight, sore muscles when you arrive at your destination.

Here are some tips to help you loosen up while traveling so you feel great during the trip and are ready to join the festivities when you arrive!

Moves for the car or plane:

• Shoulder shrugs: Raise your shoulders up to your ears, hold for 5 seconds, then lower shoulders and repeat.

• With your feet on the floor, raise your toes as high as you can, hold, lower and repeat.

• Keep your feet on the floor, raise your heels high, hold for 5 seconds, lower and repeat.

• Roll your head from one side to the other, being careful not to rotate it backwards.

• While sitting in your seat, tuck in your abdominal muscles and gently arch your back.

• Most important – get up and walk around as often as possible.

Check back next week for Southeast Auto Body’s health and fitness tip on great workout ideas to do in your hotel room.

Hudson Holiday – Littleton’s Holiday Lights Extravaganza

For a truly enchanting holiday experience, take a stroll through 15 acres of unique and captivating holiday lights at Hudson Holiday, the intriguing lights exhibit at Littleton’s Hudson Gardens. Sponsored by the Museum of Outdoor Arts, this extraordinary artistic display is one of those ‘not to be missed’ Christmas activities that family and friends will talk about for years to come. It’s not just Christmas lights on trees and buildings, this extravaganza features lighting projections and choreographed light shows that have to be seen to truly be appreciated. Check out Colorado Culture’s Hudson Holiday slideshow.

Hudson Gardens Event Center is located at 6115 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. Visit the Hudson Holiday website for more information.

If you’re into holiday lights, the Denver metro area offers plenty of other great displays: Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo

Celebrating its 20th year, Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo features over 150 animated light sculptures throughout 38 acres of zoo trails.  Take the chill off and visit the elephants and the newest baby giraffe in their houses, or stop by one of the many warming stations conveniently located throughout the zoo.

Zoo Lights features several special events, included in admission price. Have the kids bring their wish lists and stop by to see Santa from December 10 to 23. There will be a special ice carving display and fire dancers from December 17 to 23, and a Kwanzaa celebration on December 26th.

Denver Botanic Gardens Trail of Lights and Blossom of Lights

The Denver Botanic Gardens features the Trail of Lights at their Chatfield location in Littleton and Blossoms of Light at the York Street location in Denver. Trail of Lights offers a walk through the countryside with lighted antique and model tractors, holiday decorations at the old 1880s homestead and a historic playhouse exhibit.

View the dazzling lights throughout the Botanic Gardens at York Street through HoloSpex glasses, an experience not to be missed! The Blossom of Lights is a display of gorgeous lighted ice sculptures and lights shining on the Henry Moore sculptures displayed throughout the gardens.

Located in Highlands Ranch and serving the Denver metro area, our collision repair specialists will take care of everything from the moment your car arrives at the shop.  We do a complete estimate of damages and work with your insurance company to make sure your car is restored to like-new condition. Our technicians have years of experience in collision repair, dent removal, repairing structural damage, auto body painting, and more. Don’t take our word for it – see what some of our past customers say about Southeast Auto Body.

We’re conveniently located in Douglas County, near Littleton, Lone Tree, Parker, Englewood, Ken Caryl, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Lakewood and Denver. Call today for an estimate.  We’ll have you back on the road soon!  303.771.0440

Maintaining your fitness routine while traveling can be a challenge, and if you’re traveling during the holidays, this can be an especially difficult time to stay in shape. Last week we offered travel workout tips to keep your muscles limber when traveling by car or plane. This week focuses on a travel workout for when you reach your destination.

Try this routine when you’re in a hotel room or guest room at the in-law’s house with limited space without exercise equipment:

•  Warm Ups: Get your body moving and your muscles warmed up by walking in place, doing jumping jacks and/or running in place. Start slow, then increase to a moderate rate to get your blood flowing.

•  Stretches:

o  Shoulders (raise one elbow behind head apply slight pressure to push your arm down your back, repeat on other arm).

o  Lower back (lay on your back, pull knees to your chest, hold, relax legs to floor, repeat).

o  Torso (sit on the floor, place left foot outside of right knee, extend right arm outside of left knee, turn and look behind you, repeat on other side).

o  Calves (hold onto counter or dresser for balance, extend right leg behind you, gently push heel to the floor until you feel a pull in your calve muscle, hold, then repeat with other leg).

•  Exercises: Use your body as resistance. Do push-ups, leg lifts, squats and sit-ups or crunches.

•  Cool down: Repeat your warm up, but at a slower pace.

Where’s Santa?  Watch NORAD Track Santa’s Travels on Christmas Eve!

Can you believe Santa is almost here? Follow Rudolph’s bright red nose as he leads Santa’s reindeer and sleigh around the world on Christmas Eve! Watch Colorado Spring’s NORAD as they track Santa’s journey from the North Pole.

In the meantime, check out the fun NORAD Santa website for hot updates from the North Pole, interactive games for the kids and more. For even more holiday entertainment, join the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page to interact with NORAD and people all over the world waiting for Santa.

Don’t forget to put out milk and cookies!

Christmas Holiday Lights in Highlands Ranch

Take a break from wrapping gifts and baking cookies to drive past some of the best lit homes in Highlands Ranch.  Here’s the HRCA’s Holiday Lights map with entrants in this year’s holiday lighting contest. The first place winner is at 9271 Wheeler Court, second place winner is at 915 Sparrow Hawk Drive.

Happy Holidays from Southeast Auto Body

Whether your holiday celebrations include Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, Southeast Auto Body wishes you a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

Winter is officially here and soon we’ll be driving in snow. Really, it WILL happen, even though we’ve been lucky so far this year! This week’s car care tip is winter tire inflation.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Did you know that with every ten degree drop in temperature your tires lose about one pound of tire pressure?  If you haven’t checked your tire pressure in the last few months, your tires may be low. This can lead to your car not handling well in snow, rain or on icy roads.

2008 or newer vehicles are required by the TREAD Act to have tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that alert you when your pressure needs to be checked.  These monitors alert you to low and high tire pressures and often display temperature readings.  If your vehicle doesn’t have a TPMS, take a few minutes to manually check your tire pressure or have your mechanic do it for you.  The TREAD Act is only required to alert the driver if the tire is under-inflated by as much as 25%, so it’s a good idea for owners of vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems to manually check their tire pressure as well, to ensure proper inflation.

Check for Proper psi for Your Car

Tire pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). Did you know that the tire pressure number printed on your tire’s sidewall is the maximum pressure for your tires? Depending on driving conditions and ambient temperature, you may need to inflate to a different psi than indicated on your tires. Check your owner’s manual or the sticker in the door jam on the driver’s side for proper tire inflation pressure.  Don’t just fill to the maximum number indicated on your tire.

This car care tip is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your complete collision repair center, serving Highlands Ranch and the metro Denver area.

Whether or not you’re a “New Year’s Resolution Person”, the start of a brand new year is a great time to assess your health and fitness and resolve to make some changes.

Take some time at the end of the year to think about what you accomplished in 2010.  Congratulate yourself on everything you have already done, whether it was getting more exercise, eating better or finding ways to eliminate stress from your life.

Next, think about what you would like to add to your list of health and fitness accomplishments and map out a plan for obtaining your goals. Making small changes is more effective than trying to accomplish a major overhaul, and will lead to many incremental successes throughout the year.  Choose one thing to do every month and switch it out to keep things fresh.  Maybe focus on fitness and exercise one month, then a dietary change the next, followed by a stress busting activity the next.

Here is a list of ideas to add to your life in 2011. Find something that appeals to you and give it a try.

*  Jumpstart your new year with the 30-Day Fitness Challenge and learn how to make small daily changes in fitness and health.

*  Eat more fruits and vegetables. Studies consistently show that a diet high in fruit and veggies and low in red and processed meats reduces your risk for common cancers.

*  Enjoy greater well-being by getting enough sleep. Experts suggest 7 to 9 hours every night.

*  Burn calories for charity. Find an organization that supports a cause that’s important to you that sponsors a fund-raising walk or run and start training.

*  Go nuts for nuts! According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, consuming 2.4 ounces of nuts daily significantly lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol.

*  Take care of yourself by adding meditation or some quiet “me time” to your week.

*  Substitute an exercise ball for your office chair. You’ll use your core muscles to subtly maintain balance, resulting in an easy abdominal workout that’s very effective over time.

*  Drink tea, especially green tea, which contains a high level of catechins, a phytochemical with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

*  Schedule regular massages to relax your muscles and relieve emotional stress.

These are just ideas to get you started, the idea is to find something you enjoy and make small changes throughout the year. Here’s to your success!  Southeast Auto Body wishes you a happy and healthy 2011.

Fireworks on Denver’s 16th Street Mall

Ring in the New Year in style! Downtown Denver is setting off two spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks shows on the 16th Street Mall.  Fireworks will be set off in two locations on the mall giving everyone downtown a great view of the show.  See them at 9 p.m. and again as midnight. Costumed entertainers and street vendors will entertain you between shows.

Noon Year’s Eve Party for the Kids!

Take the kids to their own special New Year’s celebration! Party at the Children’s Museum of Denver on Friday, December 31st from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Noon Year’s Eve party “is a party full of glittery glitzy ball drops, a plaza full of bubble wrap fireworks, rainbows of confetti, holiday art projects, laughter and FUN!”  Complete list of Noon Year’s Eve events here.

When the Festivities are Over, Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Recycle your tinsel-free tree at any one of these Douglas County locations between Friday, December 24th and Sunday, January 16th.  Drop your tree off and pick up some free recycled Christmas tree mulch while you’re there.

•           Dad Clark Park

•           Highland Heritage Regional Park, Douglas County Site

•           Redstone Park

•           Toepfer Park

Find more information on the HRCA website.

Now that the metro Denver area has had snow and icy roads, you may be in need of an auto collision repair shop. When your car has been in an accident and you’re looking for the best auto body shop, what should you look for? How can you be sure you’re choosing an automotive collision shop that you can trust?

Look for an I-CAR Gold Class collision repair facility. The I-CAR Gold Class Professional

status recognizes auto body shops that are committed to quality and excellence through training.

Ken Stafford, President and CEO of Southeast Auto Body, is proud to say that his employees meet the I-CAR Gold Class Professional Status designation, often taking the I-CAR classes and testing on their own time to ensure they are always on top of the latest industry techniques and standards.

What Does I-CAR Gold Class Professional Status Mean?

I-CAR is an international not-for-profit training organization formed by the collision industry in 1979 to develop standards of training and knowledge in the auto collision repair industry. Their goal is to administer programs to recognize professional achievement in the industry.

To obtain Gold Class status, SE Auto Body employees have completed the I-CAR Professional Development Program, including ongoing yearly training. Employees have taken course in steel structure technologies and repair, hazardous materials and refinish safety, trim and hardware, glass replacement and more. Each employee must achieve a passing score and accumulates points that have to be updated yearly.

This means that when you bring your car to Southeast Auto Body in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, it’s being worked on by professional technicians who take pride in their work and are up to date on the latest industry technology. Call 303.771.0440 today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Interval training is exercise that alternates between bursts of intense exercise and periods of light intervals. This is often used as training by long distance runners and other athletes to increase their cardiovascular ability, but is also a very effective weight loss routine for everyone. It’s a great way to build endurance quickly.  There are many excellent walking paths and trails in Highlands Ranch that are ideal for interval training walks or jogs.

Benefits of interval training:

* Burn more calories

* Improve aerobic capacity

* You don’t need special equipment, it can be done on a walk around your neighborhood

A common and easy way to implement an interval training program is to add bursts of fast walking into your regular walks, or if you’re in good shape, add bursts of jogging into your brisk walks. First, begin with 3 to 5 minutes of low intensity walking to warm up.

Walk or jog at your normal pace for a few minutes before beginning your higher intensity burst of exercise. For your first interval, start with a fast interval of 30 seconds to a minute, followed by three or more minutes at your normal pace as you bring your heart rate back down, then another high intensity interval.

Be careful not to add too much strenuous activity into your routine until your body is ready or you’ll end up with sore or injured muscles. It’s OK to add just one interval the first time out and gradually increase as you’re able. The point is to add bursts of fat-burning and muscle toning aerobic activity over time.  The intervals will add variety to your workout and keep you motivated.

For a more formal routine, consult a personal fitness trainer who can create an interval routine geared to your specific sport or lifestyle.

Always consult your doctor before beginning interval training, especially if you have a chronic heart condition or are just beginning an exercise routine.

There are two great Colorado theatre options in Highlands Ranch this week, one especially for children and families, the other for adults or families.

PlayGround Theatre Company’s Showtime

This one is coming up fast, on Saturday January 8, 2011 at 2:00 pm. Take the whole family to the PlayGround Theatre Company’s Showtime at the Wildcat Mountain Auditorium at the Southridge Recreation facility in Highlands Ranch. This energetic performance features a variety of humorous and entertaining western tales about riding, roping and the gold rush. Kids will love the live theatre performed right in front of them!

Celebrate Celtic Culture in Highlands Ranch

The HRCA Kicks off the 2011 Winter Cultural Series with Denver Brass & Bagpipes on Thursday, January 13th at Cherry Hills Community Church. You’ll thoroughly enjoy this unique combination of brass and bagpipes!

Upcoming Highlands Ranch Winter Culture Series Performances

January 27      Colorado Chamber Orchestra

February 10     Mudra Dance Studio – Bollywood Dance

February 24     Ballet Ariel

All performances are held at Cherry Hills Community Church from 7:00 to 8:30. Tickets can be purchased at any HRCA recreation center or call 303.471.8859. Tickets are not available online. For general information, call 303.791.2500.

The last thing you want in the winter is to get in your car, turn the key and – nothing. It doesn’t matter when this happens, it’s always at a bad time!

A dead battery is one of the most common car problems in cold weather. It’s not always obvious if your battery is losing its charge, but if your automobile isn’t starting like it normally does, that definitely could be a sign of a bad battery.  The best advice is to have your battery checked before you have problems.  It’s recommended that you check it once a year, especially if you’ve had the battery for two or more years.  The average life of a battery is three to five years.

When checking your auto battery, look for these signs:

*  Are your battery terminal clamps snug?

*  Are the cable connectors cracked or showing signs of damage?

*  Are the battery terminals corroded?

*  Is your battery fluid level low?

Easy Winter Auto Battery Maintenance

If you see signs of corrosion on your battery terminals, clean them with a mixture of baking soda and water.  If your battery cables aren’t tight, adjust them so they fit snugly on the terminals, and if they’re cracked or damaged, replace them.  If your battery fluid is low, refill with distilled water.  And just to be safe, store jumper cables in your trunk in case of emergency.

This car care tip is provide by Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver collision repair facility serving Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, Lone Tree, Lakewood, Parker and the surrounding Colorado area.

One of the keys to effective interval training is to drop down to a recovery level low enough to bring your heart rate down to a moderate pace before doing the next high intensity interval.  If you don’t drop down to a moderate recovery pace, you’re just doing a high intensity aerobic workout, which isn’t interval training and won’t result in the many benefits of an interval training routine.

You can add interval training to almost any exercise routine, not just walking or running.  Try adding short bursts of high intensity to your cycling, swimming or treadmill routine.  Interval training keeps your workout exciting, making it easier to stick with your exercise program.

Work with a Highlands Ranch Personal Trainer

If you’re new to interval training, you may want to work with a personal trainer who can assess your fitness level and create a program tailored to your abilities and needs.  You can find a personal trainer in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Denver or the surrounding area online, or visit the HRCA personal training page.

Author Reading and Book Signing Event

Join Deborah Rodriguez, author of Kabul Beauty School as she returns to the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch this month to read from and sign her first work of fiction, A Cup of Friendship.

Deb’s personal story is a journey from her discontent as a hairdresser in her mother’s salon to her humanitarian work in third world countries that eventually led her to Afghanistan, where she started a beauty school for the women of Kabul.  Breaking through cultural barriers and forming friendships with the women she met in Afghanistan not only enriched their lives, but hers, too.  A Cup of Friendship is a fictionalized view of daily life in Afghanistan, a unique glimpse of life in a war torn country.  Ms. Rodriguez will be at the Tattered Cover, Highlands Ranch on Wednesday, January 26th at 7:30 pm.

Other January Events at Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch

Wednesday, January 19 Join Journal Keepers on the third Wednesday of each month, where participants journal about topics selected by a group member, then share their thoughts and writing.  All are welcome. 10 am

Thursday, January 20 Colorado author, Eleanor Brown, will read from and sign her novel, The Weird Sisters, about three sisters who return to their childhood home and find much more than they expected. 7:30 pm

Friday, January 21 Denver writer and lawyer Michael Sabbeth signs and discusses his book, The Good, the Bad & the Difference: How to Talk With Children about Values.  7:30 pm

Friday, January 28 Family Friday Night. Bring the kids in their pajamas to enjoy stories, activities and snacks.  This event is held every month. 6:30 pm

Now that its winter in Colorado, our cars have been exposed to magnesium chloride, commonly called mag chloride, the substance that the Colorado Department of Transportation (C-DOT) uses to de-ice our highways and roadways. It’s commonly used as a pre-storm treatment to keep our highways and intersections from freezing over.

Why Does Colorado Use Mag Chloride?

There are many benefits to using mag chloride instead of sand or sand/rock salt mixtures. While rock salt loses its effectiveness at about 15 degrees Fahrenheit, magnesium chloride melts snow and ice up to 10 degrees below zero. It reduces the temperature that water freezes, and works at cold temperatures for a longer period of time, a necessity in the frigid temperatures during our Colorado winter storms.

Mag Chloride Damages Our Vehicles

While mag chloride makes driving on icy, snow covered roads safer and is very effective in preventing ice buildup on highways and intersections, it is very damaging to our vehicles. Unfortunately, the bonding agent that helps it adhere to roads also causes it to stick to the surfaces of our cars.

Signs of Magnesium Chloride Corrosion

Magnesium chloride is corrosive to the metal, rubber, plastic and chrome surfaces of automobiles. It corrodes auto body paint and causes auto paint to chip. It often rusts wheels and hubs together. It eats through or damages shoes and rotors, wires, bolts and other parts of a car’s engine.

Ken Stafford, owner of Southeast Auto Body, a Denver auto body and collision repair shop located in Highlands Ranch, says that when mag chloride damage occurs, you will start to see stains or spots on the chrome on your car. You may also see rust spots on your rims or other areas.

After driving on roads treated with mag chloride, you will see a thin, filmy, white or brownish layer on the surface of your car. It’s important to wash mag chloride off quickly and not give it time to corrode your chrome, rims and car surface. Take it to a car wash every couple of weeks, ideally to one with an under-car cycle. It’s often recommended to thoroughly wash your car within 24 hours of driving on roads treated with mag chloride. The longer it’s on your car, the more long-term damage will occur.

If you wash it yourself, pay special attention to the wheel rims, braking system, undercarriage and chrome, not just the visible surface. If there is an option for magnesium chloride cleaning spray, use it.

Have Your Car Professionally Waxed – The Best Defense Against Mag Chloride Damage

Ken Stafford says once mag chloride damage occurs, it can’t be reversed or fixed. The best corrosion protection defense, in addition to regular car washing is to wax your car.  Waxing creates a barrier against mag chloride, preventing damage. If you didn’t have your car waxed before the winter season started, now is an excellent time to have it waxed.

Call Southeast Auto Body at 303.771.0440 to schedule an appointment for a professional car wax, before your car incurs further magnesium chloride damage.

The race starts at 8:30 am on Sunday, February 6th and is followed by a post-race party. Max Muscle, the official race sponsor, will have tons of cool raffle prizes. Wear your favorite NFL jersey and win even more great prizes.

Packet pick-up opens at 7:30 am. Early bird registration is $25 and is open through January 23rd. Other discounts are available up to two weeks prior to the race, or register on race day. Visit the HRCA Super Bowl Run page for details on registration deadlines and special pricing packages. Race beneficiary is Highlands Ranch Scholarship Foundation.

The Super Bowl Sunday race is the first in a series of races that take place throughout 2011 at various locations in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Here is the complete 2011 race calendar, including times for the new youth triathlon team races. The next race is the HRCA St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run on March 12th.

Find things to do in Highlands Ranch every Friday on the Southeast Auto Body blog.

The Cultural Fair and Taste of China features Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, traditional folk art displays, crafts, costumes and special Chinese New Year refreshments. Stage performances on Saturday feature Great Wall Chinese Academy performers and Sunday features the Hanban Culture Troupe Group from Harbin, China.

Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30

Culture Fair and Taste of China: 3 pm to 6 pm
Stage performances: 4:30 to 5:30 pm
Ticket information and directions
Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Happy New Year!)

Who’s right? Does driving when your engine is cold damage it? And if so, how long should you warm it up before driving?

Well, the good news is that you really don’t have to sit in a cold car waiting for the engine to warm up. Since the late 1980’s, cars have been equipped with electronic fuel injection systems. These replace the carburetors of older models and automatically adjust the fuel flow for the most efficient engine performance. With an electronic fuel injection system, your car will actually warm up faster when you’re driving than when idling.

On a cold winter morning your car is ready to drive after 30 to 60 seconds of idling. This is long enough to get the oil circulating so you won’t damage engine parts. These days, oil is formulated to bond with engine parts, so there is always a layer of oil on them, even when the car is off so there is no need to let the engine idle for several minutes to allow oil to coat moving parts.

When it’s REALLY cold…

If temperatures are below zero, it’s a good idea to warm your engine up for 5 minutes, even with an electronic fuel injection system. And for safety reasons, you also may need to wait a couple of minutes to let your defroster work so you can see when you’re driving.

Why did my dad warm the car up before driving in the winter?

Back in the day, many of us remember winters when our parents started the car and let it run for 5 to 10 minutes before driving off. At that time, they were absolutely correct to do that. Automobiles were equipped with carburetors, so when they let the engine run it warmed up the engine block and gave it time to distribute oil to all moving parts. Now that our vehicles are equipped with electronic fuel injection systems, in most cases we can get in and drive right off.

This winter car care tip is presented by Southeast Auto Body, metro Denver’s collision repair specialist, located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  303.771.0440

Health Benefits of Sleep

According to Prevention magazine, it’s important to get through five full sleep cycles each night to get the full health benefits of sleep. You need stage four sleep, which occurs towards the end of each 90 minute sleep cycle, to boost your immunity. To achieve five full sleep cycles, you need at least 7 ½ hours of uninterrupted sleep. And one night isn’t enough. To reap the full immune benefits of sleep, you need to get 7 ½ hours of sleep (or more) per night for a minimum of three nights in a row. Plus, a  Harvard University studies of humans and animals show that sleep plays a major role not just in immune function, but in memory, learning, metabolism and other vital functions.

So what are you waiting for? Sleep is one of the easiest and most relaxing ways to boost your immunity to colds, flu and other viruses. This may be just the excuse you were looking for to get a good night’s sleep!

Find more weekly health and fitness tip on the Southeast Auto Body blog, Highland Ranch’s collision repair specialists.

Join friends for a walk through participating art galleries that offer an eclectic mix of sculptures, paintings and photography. Enjoy a glass of wine or complimentary appetizers while you watch artists demonstrate their work. Stop for drinks or dinner at one of the many restaurants and bars in the district. This energetic event offers art exhibit open houses, street vendors, performance art, music and not-to-be-missed people watching.

The Art District on Santa Fe is located in Denver on and near Santa Fe Drive and Kalamath Street between Alameda and 12^th Avenue. Free guided shuttle coaches are available. Find more information on the First Friday arts walk and current gallery exhibits here.

Stay Safe with a Winter Car Safety Kit

It’s always a good idea to carry emergency supplies, so if you have to spend time stranded in your car waiting for help you can stay safe and warm. You also want to make sure other vehicles can see your automobile along the roadway to avoid accidents.  Here is a list of items to keep in your car during the winter months (and all year) for roadside emergencies and personal comfort and survival until help arrives.

Auto Safety Kit:
Flashlight and extra batteries
Emergency numbers for towing services
Jumper Cables
Ice Scraper and snow brush
First aid kit
Kitty litter for traction under tires
Flares or reflective triangles
Extra window washer solvent

Roadside Emergency Car Survival Kit:
Blanket (this can also be put under tires for traction on ice)
Extra clothes
Mittens, warm hat, scarf
First aid kit
Bottled water
Non-perishable food

Bonus tip: Make sure the spare tire in your trunk is properly inflated.

This week’s car care tip is provided by Southeast Auto Body, providing auto collision repair services in the metro Denver, Colorado area.

Let Fresh Air in the House

It’s a good idea to open your bedroom window for a few minutes every morning and at night before you go to bed to allow fresh oxygen into your house and let the carbon dioxide you exhale leave the house. According to Prevention magazine, if you don’t get the fresh oxygen your body needs you’ll feel tired and lethargic. Five or ten minutes each morning and evening is enough to refresh the air in your house without causing your heating bill to go sky high, and will make you feel much better.

Change Your Furnace Filter

It’s important to change your furnace filter often during the winter months. Change it every three months, or ideally during the months you’re using heat, change it every month. The filters are designed to trap dirt and other airborne allergens, and when your furnace is on every day, airborne particles build up faster. This results in clogged filters, which are less efficient, causing the air in your home to retain airborne allergens and other particles.

This week’s health and fitness tip is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your Highlands Ranch collision repair specialists.

Relaxing Colorado Weekend Getaways

Glenwood Hot Springs, located on I-70 between Vail and Aspen, offers romantic lodging with unlimited hot springs pool access. Soothe and relax in the warm water with therapeutic minerals fed by the nearby Yampah spring. Indulge your loved one with one of the many spa packages at Spa of the Rockies.

For a hot springs romance closer to home, Indian Hot Springs in nearby Idaho Springs is the perfect Valentine’s Day weekend spa getaway. Take your loved one up for a day in the mineral swimming pool and book an hour in the outdoor mineral water Jacuzzi baths, indoor private mineral baths or geo-thermal cave baths. Come for the day or stay for the weekend.

Overnight Spa and Dinner Packages at Indian Hot Springs includes lodging, geo-thermal cave baths or indoor private baths filled with healing naturally hot mineral water, use of the mineral water swimming pool and more.

Special Highland Ranch Family Valentine’s Event!

And for Highlands Ranch families, this weekend – February 4^th and 5^{th –} is the HRCA Father & Daughter Sweetheart Ball. Dad, take your favorite girl(s) out for an evening of dancing, photos and fun! This will be a special memory for years to come!

Don’t miss next week’s Southeast Auto Body “Things to Do in Highlands Ranch” blog to find romantic Valentine’s Day dining in Denver and our picks for the Top 5 Denver decadent deserts and chocolates.

Top Tips to Save Gas

Gas prices are going up again. Nationwide, they’re over $3 a gallon and expected to continue to rise. According to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), next spring and summer we will see the second highest prices in our lifetime. They could hit $4 a gallon. Colorado residents are lucky that gas prices are lower than the nationwide average, but we will still be feeling the pinch at the pump.

The Top 7 Tried and True Tips to Improve Gas Mileage:

* Get a tune up to make sure your car is running at top efficiency, check your owner’s manual for recommended maintenance schedules

* Make sure your tires are properly inflated

* Have regular oil changes to improve engine efficiency and use the recommended grade of motor oil

* Replace dirty air filters

* Have your wheels aligned

* Don’t idle for more than a minute, turn the car off

* Don’t warm your car up before driving, it wastes gas

Watch for future blog posts about driving tips to save fuel and ways to save at the pump.

For each exercise, do 12 reps for 1 to 3 sets. (Start slowly, working up to 3 reps as you gain strength, and if you feel pain, stop the exercise).

Basic crunches on an exercise ball:

1. When crunches are done without the stability ball, leg muscles are often inadvertently used more than the abdominals. Using the fit ball helps you focus on your abs, resulting in a better abdominal workout. The ball conforms to your back making it more comfortable to do the abdominal exercises without straining your back.

2. Lie on the ball, with your toes on the floor for balance, positioning the ball under your lower torso and hips. (To get into position, sit on the ball, then walk your feet forward so the ball rolls under your back.)

3. Cross your arms over your chest or put them behind your head.

4. Contract your abs and lift your torso off the ball, leading with your chin, keeping a space between your chest and chin, curling up while keeping the ball stable.

5. Lower back down.

Reverse curl. Targets lower abdominal muscles:

1. Lie on the floor with feet in the air holding onto the exercise ball, with your arms at your sides, palms on the floor.

2. Lead with your heels, raising your glutes (butt) off the floor.  Focus on using your abs, rather than the momentum of your legs.

3. Return to starting position.

For a more advanced abdominal workout using a fitness ball, try the lumbar roll:

1. Lie on your back, face up, with the fitness ball under your legs against your glutes, hamstrings and calves.

2. Extend your arms out, palms up, at shoulder height.

3. Keep your shoulders on the floor and slowly roll the ball to the right side, then the left side, using your abdominal muscles, not the momentum of the movement to move from side to side.

Check with your physician before beginning this or any exercise routine.

Valentine’s Day Fine Dining in Denver

Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day restaurant can be challenging. You want the evening to be romantic and memorable, with the perfect mix of indulgent atmosphere, exceptional cuisine and a sophisticated wine list. The Denver and Highlands Ranch areas offer your choice of romantic restaurants. Make the weekend even more perfect by adding on a brunch in a gorgeous setting.

Top 5 Denver Decadent Deserts and Chocolates

Treat your favorite Valentine to some of Denver’s mouth-watering candies, cupcakes, chocolates or toffee, made and served in Colorado.

1. D Bar Desserts: Food Network pastry chef, Keegan Gerhard, chef-owner, serves up incredible cupcakes and more. Closed Mondays.

2. Dietrich’s Chocolate and Espresso: Hand-made chocolates. Owner Erich Dietrich apprenticed the craft of making chocolates and pastries in Germany. Closed Mondays.

3. Enstrom’s Almond Toffee: Special Valentine selections, almond toffee, gourmet chocolates.

4. Roberta’s Chocolates Candies & Nuts: Gourmet Colorado sweet treats, gift boxes and more.

5. See’s Candies: Beautiful heart-shaped Valentine’s Day chocolate assortments. Aspen Grove, Littleton.

Still looking for a perfect Colorado Valentine’s Day getaway? Southeast Auto Body recommends local Colorado hot springs and spas.

Southeast Auto Body’s Top 5 Tips to save at the gas pump:

* Shop around. Compare gas prices on your normal driving route to find the lowest price filling stations, or check online gas calculators at sites like gas buddy: http://coloradogasprices.com

* Don’t top the tank off. Stop pumping when the automatic nozzle clicks off to avoid excess gas that will seep or spill out.

* Use a lower octane gas. Check your car manual, you may be surprised to see that it recommends NOT using the high-octane premium fuel.

* Tighten your gas cap so fuel can’t leak out and evaporate.

* When you finish filling up, turn the nozzle upside down in your tank, you may get an extra half cup of gas!

Want to get better gas mileage? Southeast Auto Body, your Highlands Ranch auto collision repair service, offers their Top 7 Tried and True Tips to Improve Gas Mileage.

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women

Symptoms of heart attack in women differ from the well-known male symptoms of chest pain (pressure, squeezing, tightness or numbing), abdominal pain, discomfort in the arms, back or neck, shortness of breath or dizziness.

Signs of heart attack in women are often mistaken for flu or other common ailments and are often disregarded, even in hospital emergency rooms.  These symptoms include indigestion and extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and fainting. Often, women never feel the chest pain that indicates a heart attack in males.

According to the National Institutes of Health, women often experience physical symptoms for a month or more before experiencing a heart attack, so it’s important to be aware of changes in your health and seek medical advice and treatment.

Take Charge of Your Heart Health…

Next week, Southeast Auto Body’s health and fitness tip will provide ways to take charge of your health to reduce your risk of heart disease, as well as provide an easy way to help educate women about their risk of heart attacks and how to prevent them.

Taking place this year from February 26 to March 11, 2011, restaurant week offers a multi-course dinner for two for the fixed price of $52.80 at hundreds of local Colorado eateries. Each offers a special menu for the event, showcasing the chef’s love of food. You can also just purchase one special restaurant week meal for $26.40 or order from the regular menu at normal menu pricing.

Featured restaurants this year include just about any imaginable cuisine including French, Cuban, Italian, Japanese, global, seafood, steak houses, Colorado style and more. Visit Denver Restaurant Week to view restaurants and menus by cuisine or neighborhood.

Find more Things to Do in Highlands Ranch and Denver tips from Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver collision repair shop, conveniently located in Highlands Ranch.

Do I really need to replace the belts in my car?

You took your car in for routine maintenance and the mechanic says you need to replace your belts.  Or your dashboard lights indicate a belt issue, or maybe you checked your automobile manual and see that it’s time to replace them. Changing your car’s belts will cost several hundred dollars and you don’t know if you really want the expense right now. Do you REALLY need to replace your belts? You haven’t noticed any problems with them.

The answer is yes, you do need to replace them at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. Don’t take your car’s belts for granted.  Breaking a belt while driving can do serious engine damage that will cost you much more than the cost of replacing your belt at the recommended interval, usually several thousand dollars. Plus you’ll be stranded when it breaks.

Types of Belts

Depending on the age of your car and type of car, you may have serpentine, timing, v-belts or a combination of the above.  The serpentine belt is a single, wider belt used to replace the multiple belts that were used in older cars.   It drives many devices in the engine, including the alternator, water pump, power steering, air conditioning compressor and the air pump. A timing belt turns the camshaft(s) and controls the timing of the engine’s valves.  V-belts were often used in older cars, are thinner than a serpentine belt, and are individual belts for various accessories.

What Causes Belts to Break Down?

Several factors contribute to wear and tear of automobile belts, including mileage, the age of the car, heat, belt tension and oil contamination.  Sometimes you can see the grooves on the belt shedding, or the belt appears slightly loose.  In older cars, you may hear a squeaking noise during start-up or when driving.  Another sign is coolant leaks.  Most cars have a dashboard indicator that will tell you that your belts need to be looked at.

Replace Your Car’s Belts Regularly

Replacing belts at recommended intervals is one car care tip that you need to follow. It’s not an option. Because the belts run major engine parts, it’s important to have them installed correctly or further damage can occur. Valves and pistons must be correctly synchronized so they don’t collide and break. Most people need to have belts replaced by a professional mechanic to ensure that they are installed correctly.

This car care tip of the week is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver collision repair service center, conveniently located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Last week, the Southeast Auto Body health and fitness tip was about American Heart Month and how heart disease and heart attack symptoms in women differ from the more well-known signs in men, often causing them to go unrecognized. This week’s health tip empowers you with ways to take charge of your health to reduce your risk of heart disease, and gives you an easy way to donate to an organization created by the American Heart Association to educate women about their risk of heart attack and how to prevent it.

Lifestyle Strategies to Improve Your Heart Health

Some risk factors can’t be controlled, such as family history, age and gender. But research has shown that women can lower their risk of heart disease by as much as 80% by leading a healthy lifestyle. Here are 5 medication-free strategies from Mayo Clinic to help prevent heart disease:

1. Don’t smoke or use tobacco

2. Exercise for 30 minutes on most days

3. Eat a heart-healthy diet

4. Maintain a healthy weight

5. Get regular health screenings

Take the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7 Success Plan” assessment and make a pledge to improve one area of your health. The tool gives you a heart score and an opportunity to create a plan for forming new, healthy habits.

An Easy Way to Get Involved in Heart Disease Education and Prevention

Through March 31, 2011, for every viewing of these short videos about heart disease in women, Campbell’s will donate $1 to Go Red for Women, an organization created by the American Heart Association to empower women to take charge of their heart health. Please take a minute to watch the videos!

This Health and Fitness tip is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your Denver collision repair service.

Often, new movies, actors and directors gain their initial exposure and fame at local film festivals throughout the country. Colorado residents are lucky to have many excellent film events to choose from throughout the year, several taking place in the next few weeks. They’re a great place to view indie and other unknown, but maybe soon-to-be famous films, as well as hang out with actors, directors and others in the movie industry. Here is a list of some of the best Colorado film festivals for 2011:

Durango Independent Film Festival, Durango, CO March 2–6, 2011

This festival, in its 6^thyear, features over 100 films including comedies, shorts, feature films, adventure films, documentaries and family programming.

Vail Film Festival, Vail, CO March 3–April 3, 2011

The 8^th annual Vail Film Festival includes film screenings, classes, live music, nightly galas, a filmmaker reception, and more. Attendees can get discounted lift tickets for skiing and snowboarding in this gorgeous mountain setting.

Aspen Shortsfest, Aspen, CO April 5-10, 2011

Known as one of the world’s 50 leading film festivals, the 20^th annual Shortsfest, is an Oscar-qualifying competition features trend-setting short films.

Breckenridge Film Festival,Breckenridge, CO June 9–12, 2011

Celebrate the art of films in this spectacular setting in the mountains of Colorado, featuring independent films, premieres, educational programs and receptions with stars and famous hosts.

The Film Festival of Colorado, Denver, CO June 23–26, 2011

Featuring the world-class talent of the film industry, this 2^nd annual event takes place at the Tivoli in downtown Denver. Enjoy feature films, shorts, documentaries, comedy, environmental films and more.

Telluride Film Festival, Telluride, CO Sept 2-5, 2011

Offering all types of films, seminars and conversations with filmmakers and others in the industry, the 38^th annual Telluride Film Festival takes place in the mountains of southwest Colorado.

Estes Park Film Festival, Estes Park, CO Sept 16-18, 2011

Showcasing cutting edge indie films, the 6^th annual Estes Park Film Festival takes place in downtown Estes at the Historic Park Theatre, against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

Aspen Film Fest, Aspen, CO Sept 21-25, 2011

Celebrate the beautiful fall Rocky Mountain colors at this film festival with an emphasis on independent productions. Attend film viewings, special events and presentations.

Starz Film Festival, Denver, CO November, 2011

Denverites, don’t miss the vast selection of film screenings, red-carpet events and receptions in downtown Denver. Meet filmmakers and actors at various events throughout the week.

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Colorado Springs, CO  November, 2011

This is the longest continuous-running women’s film festival in North America, featuring thought-provoking feature films, shorts, animated films and documentaries. Also, join RMWFF at the Stargazers Theater for a night of award-winning shorts on April 2, 2011.

Boulder International Film Festival, Boulder, CO February, 2012

Voted one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “25 Coolest Film Festivals” in 2009, this event takes place at venues throughout Boulder and features many as of yet unknown filmmakers, feature films, documentaries and shorts.

Things to do in Denver and Colorado is provided by Southeast Auto Body, an award winning collision repair business in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Here’s an easy car care tip, one that is often overlooked. Make a quick visual inspection of all of your vehicle lights and replace bulbs as needed. The lights on our cars help us see as we drive, as well as allow others to see us on the road. Brake lights, backup lights, headlights and tail lights, and turn signal lights all let other cars know what our intentions are, which helps avoid accidents.

8 vehicle lights to Inspect on a regular basis:

1. Headlights (low and high beam)

2. Tail lights

3. Turn signal lights

4. License plate lights

5. Emergency flasher lights (hazards)

6. Backup lights

7. Parking lights

8. Dash indicator lights

Easy Automobile Light Inspection

First, stand in front of your car while a friend turns on your headlights. Check low and high beam, parking lights, emergency flasher lights, and right and left turn signals. Then stand behind the car to inspect your tail lights, brake lights, hazard lights, license plate lights, backup lights and both turn signals.

Don’t just look for burned out bulbs, also check for dim bulbs and hazy headlight lens, both can reduce visibility when driving. An easy way to check headlight brightness is to park facing a wall, about five feet away. Are your headlights bright or soft white, or are they yellow and dim? Are the circles aligned evenly on the wall? If your headlights look yellow, it’s time to replace the headlight bulb, and it’s best to replace both at the same time. If your lights aren’t aligned correctly, have them properly aligned.

While you’re checking lights, do a quick inspection of the lights on your dash, as well as the interior lights that come on when you open the door. Replace any that are out or that have become dim. Now you’re ready to roll!

The St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run is a family event. Come out and run or walk the course, which ends at the Highlands Ranch Town Center. New this year is a FREE Kids Fun Run that starts immediately after the 5K race. Following the race, the Town Center is hosting St. Patty’s Day festival fun.

Find information on pricing, registration, sponsorship, training and volunteer opportunities on the Highlands Ranch Community Association website. Next up in the race series – on April 9th is the HRCA Heritage/Adventure 5K/10K Run.

Race Training and Instruction in Colorado

New this year, HRCA offers Triathalon Instructional Training that includes bike, run and swim instruction and group workouts. There is also a Kids That Tri Team where kids of all levels can learn all areas of Triathalon from a certified coach.

Join the HRCA Running Club and team up with local experienced runners to get in shape for upcoming runs. This program, designed for all levels of runners, provides an opportunity to work on speed, tempo runs and long runs. Beginners will learn how to start running for the first time, and more advanced runners will learn how to improve training goals. Contact HRCA for training programs and recreation activities to help you get in shape for upcoming races and events.

Visit the Southeast Auto Body blog for more Colorado health and fitness tips.

Are you a car buff? Gear head? Carenthusiast? Are you waiting for spring and the start of the Colorado classic car show season? We are too. In the meantime, we did some digging and found some great Colorado car museums with amazing exhibits to keep you busy until car season officially begins and beyond. Some are little-know gems, and all are worth a visit.

An Interesting Mix of Metro Denver Car Museums

Cussler Museum, Arvada, CO

Author Clive Cussler is an avid classic car collector and stores over 80 of them in a museum/warehouse in Arvada, Colorado. This little-known museum is open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer, opening for the season this year on April 25, 2011.

Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver, CO

This classic Denver museum houses a vast collection of all types of transportation, from antique automobiles to steam locomotives and farm equipment. Stop by to view Amelia Earhart’s Gold Bug Kissel and an actual Big Boy locomotive steamer. Conveniently located in Denver near the Coliseum, this museum is open year round, Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 4pm.

Terry’s Auto Museum, Denver, CO

This private car collection consists of over 360 automobiles. Most of them are owner Terry’s favorites – Nash, Rambler and AMC. In addition this amazing collection of cars, the garage they’re located in is filled with automobile memorabilia including old metal and neon gas station signs, toy cars, gas pumps and other classic nostalgic items. The museum is “not open to the public, car people are always welcome to visit”.

Two Unique Boulder Area Car Museums

Shelby American Collection, Boulder, CO

This one is incredible! Classic car buffs and collectors will love this collection of the most famous Shelby American cars ever built. The museum, located in Boulder, Colorado, is made possible through the generosity of many Shelby collectors and owners. Open year round, Saturdays from 10 – 4, admission is $5. Shelby enthusiasts will want to attend the annual Shelby event in December, featuring Carroll Shelby.

Dougherty Museum Collection, Longmont, CO

Located one mile south of Longmont on Highway 287, this museum contains a collection of restored antique automobiles. See the original Stanley Steamers that took passengers to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, as well as the 1902 Mobile Steamer once owned by Boulder pioneer Andrew J. Macky, thought to be the first car in Boulder! Open Friday through Sunday, June – August, 11 am -5 pm. $5 admission.

Watch for an upcoming blog about Colorado Car Museums worth a day trip to visit! This “Things to Do in Denver” blog is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your Littleton auto body repair shop.

Well, it happened. The price of gas in the metro Denver area has gone over the $3 a gallon mark and it’s going to increase over the next few months. We may see record highs in Colorado before the year is over.

As gas prices rise, we look for ways to save money on gas and improve our gas mileage. Yes, you’ve heard them before, but these driving tips to help save fuel DO work!

The easiest way to save gas is to drive less. Ask if your employer will let you telecommute for part of the workweek. Carpool to work. Plan your errands so you drive fewer miles each week.  Walk or ride a bike as often as you can.

Top 7 Driving Tips to Save Gas:

1. Unload heavy items from the trunk.

2. Remove car top carriers that aren’t being used to reduce wind drag.

3. Slow down.  Try driving within the speed limit instead of going 5 or 10 over.

4. Go easy on the gas pedal. You don’t have to be super slow, just accelerate moderately.

5. Reduce heavy braking, watch the road ahead and ease off the gas and coast to red lights and stop signs.

6. Turn electronics and heat or air conditioning off before you shut the engine off.  It helps the car start easier, saving gas.

7. Maintain a steady speed. Use cruise control on highways.

Be sure to read Southeast Auto Body’s Top 5 Tips to Save at the Gas Pump in Denver and The Top 7 Tried and True Tips to Improve Gas Mileage for more tips to help you save on fuel.

Often, the darker or deeper the color, the more nutrients the fruit or veggie has. For example, the TLC channel says that spinach offers 8 times more vitamin C than iceberg lettuce, and a ruby red grapefruit provides 25 times more vitamin A than a white grapefruit. But it’s still important to eat from the full color spectrum because each fruit or vegetable offers a unique combination of nutrients.

Add a Rainbow of Colors to Your Diet Every Week this Month

Try some of these suggestions to add colorful fruits and vegetables into your menu every day, increasing the nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables you serve your family.

1. Red: Apples, tomatoes, cherries, cranberries, red grapes, pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, beets, red onions, red peppers, radishes, rhubarb

2. Orange: Carrots, cantaloupe, peaches, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes

3. Yellow: Bananas, lemons, squash, mangos, yellow summer squash, pineapple, pears

4. Green: Lettuce, green beans, avocados, green grapes, honeydew, green pears, limes, kiwifruit, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, endive, greens, peas, green peppers, spinach, zucchini

5. Blue& Purple: Blueberries, elderberries, eggplant, grapes, blackberries, plums, beets, purple cauliflower, purple figs, purple asparagus, cabbage

These are just suggestions. Keep colors in mind when shopping and see what new foods you can add to your diet!

Watch for an upcoming Southeast Auto Body health and fitness blog with details on the nutritional value each food color group provides.

This information is not intended to provide medical advice, it is for informational purposes only, and does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Always seek the advice of your physician before making changes to your health care routine.

Are you a car buff? Gear head? Car enthusiast? Are you waiting for spring and the start of the Colorado classic car show season? We are too. In the meantime, we did some digging and found some great Colorado car museums with amazing exhibits to keep you busy until car season officially begins and beyond. Some are little-know gems, and all are worth a visit.

An Interesting Mix of Metro Denver Car Museums

Cussler Museum, Arvada, CO

Author Clive Cussler is an avid classic car collector and stores over 80 of them in a museum/warehouse in Arvada, Colorado. This little-known museum is open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer, opening for the season this year on April 25, 2011.

Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver, CO

This classic Denver museum houses a vast collection of all types of transportation, from antique automobiles to steam locomotives and farm equipment. Stop by to view Amelia Earhart’s Gold Bug Kissel and an actual Big Boy locomotive steamer. Conveniently located in Denver near the Coliseum, this museum is open year round, Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 4pm.

Terry’s Auto Museum, Denver, CO

This private car collection consists of over 360 automobiles. Most of them are owner Terry’s favorites – Nash, Rambler and AMC. In addition this amazing collection of cars, the garage they’re located in is filled with automobile memorabilia including old metal and neon gas station signs, toy cars, gas pumps and other classic nostalgic items. The museum is “not open to the public, car people are always welcome to visit”.

Two Unique Boulder Area Car Museums

Shelby American Collection, Boulder, CO

This one is incredible! Classic car buffs and collectors will love this collection of the most famous Shelby American cars ever built. The museum, located in Boulder, Colorado, is made possible through the generosity of many Shelby collectors and owners. Open year round, Saturdays from 10 – 4, admission is $5. Shelby enthusiasts will want to attend the annual Shelby event in December, featuring Carroll Shelby.

Dougherty Museum Collection, Longmont, CO

Located one mile south of Longmont on Highway 287, this museum contains a collection of restored antique automobiles. See the original Stanley Steamers that took passengers to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, as well as the 1902 Mobile Steamer once owned by Boulder pioneer Andrew J. Macky, thought to be the first car in Boulder!  Open Friday through Sunday, June – August, 11 am -5 pm. $5 admission.

Watch for an upcoming blog about Colorado Car Museums worth a day trip to visit! This “Things to Do in Denver” blog is provided by Southeast Auto Body, your Littleton auto body repair shop.

Signs of Damage Caused by Hitting a Pothole

Tire Damage

If you hit a pothole, the most obvious sign of damage is a flat tire. If this happens, pull over as soon as possible and change the tire, don’t drive on it and damage the rim. Often, with pothole damage, your tire will need to be replaced, but the rim will still be OK.

Even if your car seems to be driving smoothly and doesn’t show signs of damage, but you know you hit a pothole hard, check your tire and rim for damage the next time you stop. If the edge of the rim is bent, have your mechanic look at it.  It probably needs to be replaced. Do a visual check of your tire. If there is visible cord material or a bulge on the sidewall, replace it immediately. You don’t want to risk having your wheel assembly or tire fail while driving.

Alignment

Other signs of damage caused by hitting a pothole in the road are your car pulling to one side or the other or the steering wheel isn’t properly aligned. If you have either of these conditions, there is a good chance that your car has been knocked out of alignment and front end components may have been damaged. If you’re in the metro Denver area, call Southeast Auto Body.

Next week, Southeast Auto Body’s car care tip will talk about what causes potholes on Colorado roads, how to avoid potholes, as well as a resource list to report potholes in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Denver, Douglas County, Arapahoe County and Jefferson County.

RED fruits and vegetables may help maintain heart health, urinary tract health, memory function and lower the risk of some cancers.

ORANGE and YELLOW fruits and veggies contain antioxidants, including vitamin C, that may help promote vision and heart health, a healthy immune system and may help prevent cancer.

GREEN vegetables and fruits contain phytochemicals that can improve eye health, keep bones and teeth strong and help lower cancer risk.

BLUE and PURPLE According to a study called the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) analysis, eating purple fruits and vegetables helps reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome (a precursor to diabetes), as well as boost brain health.

Get more Southeast Auto Body tips on how to add a rainbow of color to your diet every week this month.

This information is not intended to provide medical advice, it is for informational purposes only, and does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Always seek the advice of your physician before making changes to your health care routine.

On the western edge of Colorado, southwest of Grand Junction is the Colorado Gateway Auto Museum. Showcasing the collection of Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks, the museum tells the story of how the automobile has impacted society, featuring “the history, science, design and social impact of the American car”.

The museum features a 100 year timeline of the American automobile, covering about 30,000 square feet. The main gallery is the Timeline Gallery, featuring a selection of cars from several decades. Surrounding the Timeline Gallery are specialized galleries such as the Hollywood High Style Gallery, The Custom Crazy Gallery, the American Muscle Gallery, the F-88 Gallery and others.

Spend an hour walking through the galleries, or ideally, take at least a couple of hours to read the storyboards, watch videos and experience the interactive exhibits. The museum staff will assist you in finding nearby restaurants and lodging.

The Andy Mallett Antique Car Museum in the Pioneer Museum, Gunnison, CO

Located in the Gunnison Pioneer Museum, the Andy Mallett Antique and Classic Car Exhibit is one of the largest car collections in Colorado, featuring a collection of over 70 cars and trucks that car buffs won’t want to miss. The Pioneer Museum also features a Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge train engine, flanger, gondola, boxcar, livestock car and caboose. The museum is located near Jorgenson Park on Highway 50.

Plan a day trip or weekend getaway to the Colorado Gateway Auto Museum or the Andy Mallett Antique Car Museum. Both are located near Colorado hiking and other mountain attractions, with excellent lodging nearby. Call ahead or check the auto museum websites for days of operation and hours.

Be sure to check out unique Denver area car museums on the Southeast Auto Body website, for a great list of car collections in the Denver and Boulder areas.

Potholes on Colorado roads are inevitable this time of year. Since we can’t prevent them, here are some tips to avoid them – and prevent damage to your vehicle.

Watch traffic ahead of you, if everyone is swerving, slow down and watch for road damage. Stay several car lengths behind the car ahead of you so you have a better view of the road ahead of you. Watch out for puddles. Drive around them or take it slow, they often hide big potholes. If you’re on a road with several potholes, slow down. The harder you hit one, the more damage to your car will occur.

What causes potholes?

Potholes occur in winter when temperatures are below freezing. Small cracks in the pavement get snow or rainwater in them. When the water freezes, it expands, making the cracks larger or causing the asphalt to bulge or rise. Warmer temperatures and sunshine during the day cause the moisture to thaw, vibrations from vehicles driving over the cracks make the cracks bigger, and colder temperatures at night cause the water to expand again. End result – potholes.

Report a Pothole

No matter where you live in Colorado, you can call or go online to report potholes that need repairs.

* Highlands Ranch and Douglas County, Douglas County Public Works, 303.660.7480, or online at Citizen Connect

*  Centennial, 24-hour Call Center 303-325-8000 or Citizen Response Form

*  Littleton, online Pothole Report Form

*  Denver, Dial 311

*  Arapahoe County, One Call, That’s All, 720-874-ROAD

*  Jefferson County, 303-271-5200 or use the online form

Have you hit a pothole and wonder if you’ve damaged your car?  Find common signs of damage caused by potholes and what to do about it, from Southeast Auto Body, your collision repair specialists in Highland Ranch, Colorado.

Over 25 screenings are available for Colorado residents age 18 and over, with results delivered to participants 3 to 6 weeks after each fair. If a participant has critical health issues, they will receive a phone call within 72 hours of their screenings.

Here is a listing of the basic screenings offered at every health fair, as well as screenings offered at select fairs throughout the metro Denver area. Find a complete listing of locations, dates and specific screenings offered at each 9 News Health Fair.

Free Health Screenings at Every 9 News Health Fair:

*  Blood pressure/pulse

*  Height/Weight/Body Mass Index

*  Vision Test

Low Cost Basic Screenings offered at Every 9 News Health Fair:

*  Blood Chemistry Screening ($30)

*  Blood Cell Count Screening ($15)

*  Take home Colon Cancer Screening Kit ($20)

*  PSA Screening for men ($25)

In addition, many sites will also offer:

*  Vitamin D screening ($40)

*  Hemoglobin A1C ($25)

*  Plus a variety of optional free screenings

Find a Health Fair Near You:

Highlands Ranch 9 News Health Fair, Saturday, April 2, 2011, 7 am to Noon

Eastridge Rec Center
9568 S University Blvd
Highlands Ranch, CO   80126

Littleton 9 News Health Fair, Saturday, April 9, 2011, 7 am to Noon

Columbine United Church
6375 S Platte Canyon Rd
Littleton, CO   80123

For a complete list of Colorado 9 News Health Fairs, visit 9 HealthFair.

The show features special exhibits that car buffs, serious buyers and families won’t want to miss:

* Be the first to see 2012 concepts and intros.

* Visit the Styling, Performance & Auto Accessories Showcase featuring accessories, performance tires, racing additions and more.

* View the newest energy efficient models including electrics, hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles.

* Take the entire family to the Kids Stop Pit Stop, featuring 6 educational exhibits about energy and fuel.

* See classic automobiles from 1917 to 1960 at the Classic Car Showcase presented by the Colorado Auto Club.

Hours, tickets and more information here.

Check all fluids and top them off if necessary:

* Transmission

* Motor oil

* Radiator

* Windshield wiper fluid

* Brake fluid

* Power steering fluid

* Have a mechanic check your differential fluid

Check your tire pressure

Check your battery

Wash winter dirt, mag chloride and other grime off your car. Call 303.771.0440 to schedule a professional car wax at Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver auto body repair shop. We’ll give your car a beautiful shine and protect it from the Colorado sun.

If you’re beginning a new fitness routine or starting a new sport, set up an exercise schedule. Start slowly if you haven’t been working out much during the winter. Work out 3 to 4 days a week on alternate days. Start with slow steady aerobic exercise, such as walking or bike riding, and add intervals once you have established your routine. If you’re at an advanced level, step up the intensity, making sure to measure your exercise effectiveness.

Southeast Auto Body tips to improve your fitness routine this spring:

* Buy new shoes. Most walking or running shoes last between 300 and 400 miles. Look at your shoes. Are the soles worn out? If so, the cushioning inside is worn out, too. Time to replace!

* Apply sunscreen! Make sure to use SPF 15 or higher when you’re out in the Colorado sun.

* Train with others at your fitness level. It’s motivating to have a support system facing the same challenges you are.

* Join an exercise boot camp. These routines are super effective, working upper and lower body and abdominals. They’re great for burning fat. Look online to find a local boot camp in Highlands Ranch, Littleton or anywhere in the metro Denver area.

* And don’t forget to stretch before, during and after exercising to make muscles more flexible and reduce your chances of injury.

Saturday Car Get Together

Start the season off in Colorado Springs at the Saturday Car Get Together. This weekly event starts on Saturday, April 2, 2011, on every Saturday with temperatures at 50 degrees or higher. Car buffs with sports cars, classic cars, muscle cars, low riders and motorcycles are invited to come hang out and meet other Colorado car enthusiasts. This is a free event, with no judging, held in the  Old Grocery Warehouse parking lot at 4370 Austin Bluffs Parkway, at 3:30 pm. Information: defaultcs@yahoo.com, 719.661.2935.

1^st Annual Spring Fling Car Show at Paradise Cove

Check out the 1^st Annual Spring Fling Car Show, the first of seven car shows being held at Paradise Cove this year.  Located in Lakewood, this no entry fee event is open to all makes and models. Prizes, DJ and music by classic rockers, The Colorado Cruisers Band. Saturday, April 23^rd, noon to 4 PM, registration at 11:30, awards at 3:30.

Cussler Museum

Mark your calendar, the Cussler Museum, Arvada’s museum of rare and vintage cars opens for the 2011 season on Monday, April 25^th.

If your vehicle has been in an accident and there are dents or more extensive body damage, there is often structural damage as well. It’s important to have a certified auto body technician look at your car and determine the extent of damage. Maintaining the structural integrity of your car is critical. Your vehicle was designed to meet safety, durability and performance standards, and if the structure isn’t repaired to the vehicle’s original specifications, you may have serious issues down the road.

Find the Best Collision Repair Specialists in Colorado

It’s important to repair body damage, which improves the appearance and value of your vehicle, but don’t stop there. Have a reliable collision repair specialist assess total damage, including unibody or structural damage as well. The certified technicians at Southeast Auto Body can inspect and measure your vehicle frame or unibody and repair it so that it’s within the vehicle’s original specifications. When done correctly, this will ensure years of reliable transportation.

Complete Auto Body Repair Facility in Douglas County

Southeast Auto Body operates a complete auto body repair facility servicing all of Douglas County and the metro Denver area. We are conveniently located in Highlands Ranch, one block south of County Line Road on Colorado Boulevard, behind the Sears repair center.

Call Southeast Auto Body today 303.771.0440 for more information and an estimate. We offer a lifetime guarantee on repairs for as long as you own your vehicle.

Did you know that allergy levels are often tested by the number and type of pollens that stick to a greased rod? Even the National Allergy Bureau uses this method.

Protect Yourself from Histamines

Experts recommend that you start taking allergy medication early in the spring, even before trees bud to get a protective layer of medication in your system to calm allergies symptoms before they get worse. See your physician for the best allergy treatment plan for your symptoms.

Natural Ways to Combat Colorado Allergies

For those who prefer more natural methods to control allergies, try taking Vitamin C, which is an antihistamine. Drink lots of green tea, it contains EGCG, a compound that may block the production of histamines. And according to Martha Howard, M.D, with Wellness Associates in Chicago, onion and garlic both have high levels of quercetin, an antioxidant that may prevent cells from releasing histamine.

Reduce Exposure to Pollens

When it seems like pollen and other seasonal allergens are everywhere, take some simple precautions to reduce exposure.

* As much as possible, stay away from trees, bushes, weeds and grasses that cause your allergy symptoms.

* Stay inside on windy or wet days when pollen counts are at their highest.

* Wash pets frequently.

* Take your shoes off at the door so you don’t track in pollen and other allergens.

* Wash clothing that was worn outside.

* Keep your windows closed, use central air if necessary.

* Dust and vacuum 2 or 3 times a week to reduce indoor pollen.

This information is not intended as medical advice. Follow the advice of your physician or health care practitioner. See your physician for treatment of severe allergy symptoms.

Denver Zoo

Come see the new baby animals, watch the sea lion show and animal feedings, and stop by the upcoming Asian Tropics exhibit to see how it’s coming along.  Here are the next free zoo days for 2011.

Free days in 2011: Wednesday, October 12, Thursday, October 20, Sunday, November 6, Saturday, November 12.

In addition to the free days, stop by a local Wendy’s restaurant for a coupon for $4 off admission price to the zoo any day from May 1 to May 26.

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Explore the “Real Pirates” special exhibit, as well as wildlife displays with gorgeous panoramic views, Egyptian mummies, North American Indian cultures, Space Odyssey and more.

Free days in 2011: Sunday, April 17, Monday, August 22, Sunday, August 28, Sunday, September 18, Monday, September 26, Monday, October 31, Sunday, November 13, Monday, December 5.

The Denver Children’s Museum

Treat your kids to a free evening at the Children’s Museum on the first Tuesday of every month from 4 pm to 8 pm. Sponsored by Target, this is a great time to check out a real Denver Fire Department truck, explore a backyard as a bunny or bird, play with huge bubbles,make arts and craftprojects and more.

Denver Botanic Gardens

From May 1^st to November 13^th, 2011, enjoy the outdoor sculpture exhibition by American modernist Allan Houser as you stroll through the wide range of distinct gardens at the York Street location. Kids will love to play and explore in the Mordecai Children’s Garden.

Free days in 2011: Friday, April 22, Tuesday, July 19, Monday, August 29, Monday, September 26, Monday, October 10.

Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield

Located along the banks of Deer Creek in Littleton, this nature preserve offers winding paths through gardens, a historical farm and working beehives. It’s a great place for birdwatching.

Free days in 2011: Friday, April 22, Friday, June 3, Friday, July 1, Friday, August 5, Friday, November 4.

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys

Voted the Westword’s “Best Place to Play Old-School Nintendo – 2011”, this unique museum offers an interesting array of toys from the 1800’s to today. Kids of all ages will love the amazing collection of dolls, dollhouses and other miniatures. Your visit includes a free craft or workshop.

Free days are the first Sunday of every month from 1 to 4 pm.

The Hudson Gardens

In honor of Patriot Day, the Hudson Gardens in Littleton offers an annual free day every year on September 11^th to “reflect, remember, reconnect”. This falls on a Sunday in 2011 and will be open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Denver Art Museum

The sleek design of the Hamilton building is a must see along with the many exhibits at the Denver Art Museum. Free First Saturday is sponsored by Target, providing general admission to Colorado residents. There is an extra charge for special exhibits. This month, museum admission is also free on Sunday, April 24^th.

Free days in 2011: May 7,  June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, September 10, October 1, November 5, December 3.

In the metro Denver area, Southeast Auto Body, located in Highlands Ranch on Colorado Boulevard has several ASE Certified Technicians who have both experience and certification to repair your auto body damage and refinish your car. The work at Southeast Auto Body will be done correctly and is covered by a lifetime guarantee on the repairs for as long as you own the vehicle.

ASE certifications are earned by individual technicians, not the collision repair shop itself. Each ASE certified repair technician has studied and then passed tests on major technical areas of repair and service. The ASE collision repair and refinish test series includes one test for paint refinishers and three for repair technicians. The ASE Collision Repair Test Series for repair technicians includes structural damage repair, non-structural damage repair, vehicle electrical and mechanical system repair. Each ASE Certified repair technician at Southeast Auto Body is required to take the exam every five years, thus insuring that they are up to speed on the latest technology and techniques in auto body repair.

The Highlands Ranch Community Association offers four recreational facilities for use by residents, each with special features as well as common amenities. The Westridgerec centeris unique in that it has indoor turf for field practice, Northridge has a tennis pavilion and a diving pool, and Southridge has the Wildcat Mountain Auditorium where you can enjoy seasonal performances.

Highlands Ranch Sports and Fitness

The list of fitness classes includes group fitness, mind/body classes, indoor cycling and aqua fitness. Find the perfect class for your busy schedule, level of fitness and location. There are classes for every age and fitness level, from mom and tot yoga to Senior Fit Aqua Motion, and everything in between. Classes are offered throughout the year, with many offering drop-in classes. Find recreation opportunities in the complete May through August, 2011 Activity Guide. Choose from cultural events, special events, aquatics, art, backcountry, cooking, dance, education, fitness, gymnastics, horseback riding, kids classes, martial arts, sports and therapeutic recreation. Many sports programs begin in May, so be sure to check the schedule and register.

Hammonds Candies Easter Event

Celebrate chocolate Easter bunnies, marshmallow eggs and all kinds of special candies made from original family recipes at Hammonds Candies in Denver. What better way to start your Easter season in Denver than with the Easter Bunny at the Hammonds Candies Easter Event on Saturday, April 16^th. Bring the kids, and don’t forget your camera for fun family photos with the Easter Bunny! Make balloon animals, have your face painted and more.

Colorado Easter Egg Hunts

For our friends near Southeast Auto Body in Highlands Ranch, come see the Easter Bunny at Northridge Park on Saturday, April 23^rd. Families with young children will love the HRCA Easter Egg Hunt, which starts promptly at 10:00 am. The egg hunt is for kids ages one to eleven.

If you don’t find enough eggs in Highlands Ranch, take your Easter basket to Copper Mountain on Sunday, April 24th for the “Largest Easter Egg Hunt in Colorado”. Spend the day searching for over 50,000 eggs hidden for you to find! The day kicks off with an Easter egg hunt at 10 am for kids six and under, followed by a hunt for bigger kids at noon. The hunt is on throughout the day around Copper Mountain village for anyone age 12 and over, with prizes including candy, trinkets, t-shirts, lift tickets and more. And while you’re at Copper, try your hand at Egg Putt-Putt, using Easter eggs as golf balls on 9 holes of “greens” on the snow.

The Bunny Express

Take a ride on the Bunny Express!  Kids of all ages will love an Easter ride on a vintage 1880’s passenger coach at the Colorado Railroad Museum. This special event takes place at the museum in Golden on Saturday, April 23^rd.

Bunny Trail EggVenture

Make a bunny ear headband, play games, dye eggs, hear music, listen to story time with the Easter Bunny and lots more Easter fun at the Children’s Museum of Denver’s Bunny Trail EggVenture on Saturday, April 23^rd. Special Easter activities are included in general museum admission.

Before you take your car in for a wheel alignment, do some simple checks and adjustments to see if you can correct the problems. If your car is pulling to one side or the other when you’re driving, pay attention to whether it does this all the time or just once in a while. If it’s only happening occasionally, it might be caused by an uneven road.

If you rule out road conditions, check to see if your tires are properly inflated. If one or more is improperly inflated it will affect the handling of your car. If your tires are properly inflated and your car is still pulling try switching your front tires. If the car still pulls the same way, you need an alignment. If the car is now pulling the opposite way, it’s the tire. Speaking of tires, check them for uneven tire wear, that’s a sign of alignment issues.

Having proper wheel alignment will reduce tire wear, improve handling and give you a smoother ride, and give you better gas mileage. If you have questions about your car’s alignment or frame, don’t hesitate to call Southeast Auto Body, your auto body repair shop in Highlands Ranch, serving the Denver area. We’re always happy to answer your car care questions.303.771.0440

The 5K Run is a Boulder Bolder qualifier, so you won’t want to miss this one. The race starts and finishes at the Southridge Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch. Starting time is 8:30 am. Find details and registration information at HRCA. Race beneficiary is El Centro Su Teatro.

The duathlon is a 5K run/20k bike/5k run, also on Saturday, May 7^th. The race winds through scenic areas of Highlands Ranch beginning at the Recreation Center at Southridge, and starts at 6 am. Race beneficiaries are the Civil Air Patrol and the Mustang Squadron and you can find registration and other information on the HRCA duathlon event page.

Racer participants and their fans can enjoy a post-race Cinco de Mayo celebration following each race.

The trolley ride lasts about half an hour. Running along the Platte River in downtown Denver, it offers unique views of downtown Denver and the river that Denver was built around. Your ride takes you past Elitch Gardens, The Children’s Museum of Denver, The Downtown Aquarium and INVESCO Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos.Visit the trolley website for ticket information, schedules and more.

The trolley runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from late April through the end of October, departing every ½ hour from 15^th Street and Confluence Park, dependent on weather.

Find more unique things to do in Denver provided by Southeast Auto Body, your metro Denver collision repair specialists.

Southeast Auto Body, located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and serving the entire metro Denver area, understands the concept of “seeing is believing”. Whether your car has major body and/or frame damage, or just needs bumper or dent repair, our experienced auto body professionals have worked on something similar. With I-CAR Gold status designation, ASE Certifications, as well as being a SikkensAcoat Select shop, our team has experience and education to repair your car to pre-accident (or better) condition.

Get recommendations from friends, check out testimonials from other SEAB customers, then see for yourself on the Southeast Auto Body before and after photo gallery! They just might be the best automotive dent repair testimonials you’ll find anywhere. Call us to discuss your auto body repair needs. 303.771.0440

If you’re not used to a spicy diet using peppers, add them gradually and in small quantities to acquire a taste for them, as well as build up your ability to eat them. Here are some good ideas to add peppers to your diet:

* Spice up soups by adding peppers to them

* Make salsa using mild peppers

* Add to refried beans or guacamole

* Chop up small amounts of peppers and add to sauces

Look online for great chile pepper recipes. Those of us who live in the Denver area are lucky to be able to find some of the best green chile in the country in our grocery stores and restaurants, so experiment and enjoy!

Consult your physician before making these or other diet changes.

May 1, 9^th Annual JDBR Street Rodders Show and Shine, Buenos Tiempos Restaurant,1000 Depot Hill Rd., Broomfield, CO, 9 am to 3 pm.  303.466.6386

May 1, 16^th Annual “Great Machine” Car Show, Arapahoe Park, Golden (44^th & Indiana).

May 7, every Saturday through September 24, Denver Cars and Coffee, Club Auto, 11100 @ 8^th Ave, Lakewood, CO, 9 am to noon.

May 21, 1^st Annual May Day Car Show at Paradise Cove, noon to 4 pm.

May 30, 2^nd Annual Memorial Day Car Show at Caldonia’s Roadside Barbeque, 2252 S. Parker Road.Noon to 4pm.

May 30, Piflers Memorial Day Car Show, 11353 W. Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO, 10 am.

What is ASE Certification?

ASE Certification is designated by the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Excellence. To become ASE certified, an auto body repair technician must pass one or more of the Collision Repair exams and provide proof of a minimum of two years relevant work experience.

Who Sets the Standards and Creates the Tests?

You can be assured that your ASE certified technician has been tested on the most relevant and up-to-date techniques because the questions are written and approved by a cross-section of national industry experts, including industry trainers. The experts who provide input on ASE Certification testing includes  those who do hands on work as collision repair technicians and refinishers, as well as vehicle manufacturer representatives, paint manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and insurance companies. Because the National Institute for Automotive Excellence is non-profit, it includes input from various sources, but remains unbiased towards any particular manufacturer, insurer or refinishing system.

ASE Recertification

To remain certified, each collision repair and refinish technician is required to take the test every five years. This ensures that they have stayed current on the latest industry technology. Find out how Southeast Auto Body’s ASE Certified repair technicians can restore your damaged car to pre-accident condition.

HRCA Free Fitness Day

The Highlands Ranch Community Association invites you to drop in and try one of their drop-in fitness classes for free on Monday, May 16. This is a great way to see how you like some of the programs offered that you haven’t tried yet. Find options on the fitness calendar, then give Options include yoga, zumba, lifting classes, interval training and more.

Highlands Ranch Outdoor Pools Open Soon!

Opening day for all HRCA pools is May 27^th, just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend. Regular summer hours, which include lap swim, swim programs, summer swim team and youth swim programs, begin on May 31^st. Get details for outdoor (and indoor) Highlands Ranch pool on the HRCA pool schedule page.

HRCA Sports Camps for Kids and Adults

If you haven’t already enrolled in one of the Highlands Ranch sports camps, check out the schedule here. Choose from rugby, soccer, lacrosse, playground games and more.