Bree on a Budget: Pueblo, We Got Your Back! This Halloween season, Bree Pappan is turning up the festive spirit with a special treat for listeners. In this spooky and fun-filled episode, Bree welcomes Chris Segura, Director of Communications and Engagement at United Way of Pueblo County, to talk about a community favorite: the annual Trunk or Treat. Together, they share all the details about this year’s event, from creative costumes to decorated car trunks, showing that Pueblo knows how to make Halloween both safe and spectacular.

Bree also announces the Pueblo Star Journal’s first annual Halloween Budget Costume Contest, open to kids and adults alike. It is all about creativity, fun, and community pride without spending a fortune. Bree’s October article focuses on helping families enjoy the holiday while saving money, proving that with a little imagination, everyone can join the celebration.

We know how hard it can be these days to make ends meet, and that is why Bree on a Budget is here to say, “Pueblo, we got your back.” Whether you are hunting for candy, crafting the perfect costume, or simply looking for local Halloween fun, this episode is your guide to a safe, spirited, and budget-friendly holiday. Tune in, get inspired, and let the magic (and savings) begin!

DON'T FORGET TO EMAIL YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME PICTURES TO BREE BY OCT 30! EMAIL TO BREE@PUEBLOSTARJOURNAL.ORG.

Your Voice, Your Vote: District 3 Interview with Ted Hernandez The Pueblo Star Journal continues its Your Voice, Your Vote series with District 3 City Council candidate Ted Hernandez. As part of PSJ’s expanding Investigative Channels, this conversation builds on earlier interviews with local leaders, including Joe Perko, to give Pueblo voters clear, factual, and community-centered insights ahead of the election.

In this special State of Art episode, host Bree Pappan welcomes musician and lecturer Aaron Zimola, who joins the Pueblo City-County Library District’s All Pueblo Reads 2025 celebration of The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb.

Aaron, now celebrating his first year living in Pueblo, shares his journey of discovering our community, exploring housing opportunities, investments, and the welcoming spirit that defines the city. He takes listeners on an inspiring exploration of Pueblo’s cultural institutions, offering a fresh appreciation for the creative treasures that make this region so unique.

Their conversation bridges literature, history, and place, connecting Slocumb’s story of music and identity to Colorado’s own "Stradivarius of the West," George W. Fisk. The episode concludes with Aaron’s violin performance, a reflection of craftsmanship, passion, and the power of art to unite us all.

What an episode!

Your Voice Your Vote: Pueblo City Council Candidate Joe Perko

In this episode of Your Voice Your Vote, the Pueblo Star Journal sits down with Joe Perko, candidate for Pueblo City Council. This conversation explores four key topics that matter most to voters: city budget priorities, public safety and community well-being, governance and accountability, and Perko’s personal vision for Pueblo’s future.

Perko shares his perspective on addressing Pueblo’s fiscal challenges, building trust in public safety efforts, and strengthening collaboration in local government. In the final segment, he speaks directly to voters about why he believes he is the best choice to serve on the City Council.

Whether you’re an undecided voter or simply looking to learn more about those shaping Pueblo’s future, this episode offers clear insights into the ideas and priorities of one of the candidates seeking to represent you.

To learn more about Joe Perko and his campaign, please visit: https://www.perkoforcc3.com/

Voices of Pueblo: Bree on a Budget – Thrifting and Savings

The Voices of Pueblo podcast welcomes a brand-new voice to the conversation — Bree Pappan, the thrifty maverick behind the Bree on a Budget column in the September issue of the Pueblo Star Journal.

In this inaugural companion episode, Bree joins Gregory Howell and Cynthia Nicola to go beyond the page and dive into the art and practice of saving smart. Together, they explore how thrifting, resale, and secondhand shopping have become essential tools for Pueblo families facing rising costs — and how these choices also support local businesses and reduce waste.

From practical tips and personal stories to a few laughs about bargain hunting, this episode shows that living well on a budget is not only possible, it’s empowering.

Whether you’re a seasoned bargain hunter or just beginning to look for new ways to stretch your dollars, this conversation offers insight, encouragement, and a fresh sense of community spirit.

Here is the link to the article online: https://pueblostarjournal.org/community/2025/09/16/welcome-to-pueblo-weve-got-your-back/

Tune in to discover why we say: Pueblo … we’ve got your back.

In this episode of State of Art, host Bree Pappan dives into Pueblo’s evolving music scene with three dynamic voices who are shaping its future: Marc Sabatella, Aaron Zimola, and Brock Kilgore. Each brings extraordinary experience in music, education, and cultural innovation, and together they paint a compelling picture of what it means to build a thriving creative community from the ground up. From jazz and classical to local showcases and educational outreach, these musicians are on a mission to amplify Pueblo’s soundscape and create new opportunities for collaboration.

Marc Sabatella, a renowned musician and educator, shares how his journey led him to found the Pueblo Musicians Hangout, a growing collective that meets at Analogue Records and Books to exchange ideas, spark projects, and foster a spirit of mentorship. Aaron Zimola, an accomplished violinist and entertainment industry marketing executive, reflects on his move from Los Angeles to Pueblo and why smaller cities like Pueblo offer fertile ground for creatives to truly thrive. Their conversation reveals the power of connection, vision, and resilience in building a vibrant arts ecosystem.

Together with multi-talented musician and educator Brock Kilgore, the trio explores their hopes for Pueblo’s musical future. They share ideas about jam sessions, local festivals, cross-genre collaborations, college preparation for emerging talent, and the dream of a community music center where creativity can flourish every day. This is more than a meetup. It is a movement. Tune in and be inspired by the passion, purpose, and possibilities resonating through Pueblo’s musical heartbeat.

CONTACT: Pueblo Musicians Hangout | Marc Sabatella | TEL 303.241.1106 | marc@outsideshore.com

In this episode of Voices of Pueblo, Gregory Howell sits down with Abbie Krause, Executive Director of the Pueblo Zoo, to explore how this historic institution is redefining education and conservation in Southern Colorado. With a legacy rooted in New Deal-era civic pride and a mission focused on environmental stewardship, the Pueblo Zoo is more than a place to see animals — it’s a place to learn, grow, and lead.

Abbie shares how programs like Zoo School, ZooALIVE, and the zoo’s summer camps are empowering Pueblo’s youth to become future scientists, educators, and conservation leaders. From hands-on learning experiences to teen volunteer leadership, the Pueblo Zoo is building pathways for curiosity, compassion, and community connection.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, animal lover, or simply curious about the future of conservation in Pueblo, this episode will inspire you to see the zoo in a whole new light. Tune in and discover why the Pueblo Zoo remains one of the region’s most cherished and essential educational assets.

To learn more visit the Pueblo Zoo website: https://www.pueblozoo.org/

State of Art: Chosen Canvas at Liminal Space Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado In this episode of State of Art, host Bree Pappan introduces the upcoming Chosen Canvas exhibition opening September 5 at Liminal Space Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado. This collaborative installation brings together poet Kathleen Willard, mixed media artist Cheryl Scott, and fiber artist Bethany Economos to challenge traditional notions of domesticity, feminism, and the undervalued labor of women.

We explore how repurposed textiles, upcycled materials, and powerful poetry are woven into an immersive experience that reclaims “women’s work” as revolutionary art. From Willard’s roots in the feminist movement to Economos’ defiant embroidery and Scott’s joyful recycled creations, this podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Chosen Canvas came to life — and what it asks of each of us.

Tune in and be inspired by art that speaks, stitches, and stirs the soul.

Pueblo Arts Alliance Studios