COS Town Tidings Issue #24-033

🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Adopt, Don't Shop: HSPPR Faces Surge with 54 New Pups 🐶
📰 Students Fight Food Waste 🌱
📰 Austin Bluffs Trailhead Makeover Begins 🚧

🤝 Affordable Advertising Options

🚓 Tactical Takedown: 3 Apprehended in Robbery Spree

📆 Local Events

Wanderlust: 🌲 Embrace Gratitude on Your Wellness Journey
Recipe: 🐖 Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin with Clementine Sauce
🛍 Local DEALS

🌤 COS Weather - PM snow or rain showers in parts of COS

What do you get from sitting on the snow too long?

👉 Polaroids! 🤣

🐶 Adopt, Don't Shop: HSPPR Faces Surge with 54 New Pups

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) faced an influx of 54 new dogs in one day due to multiple calls for help. Animal Law Enforcement (ALE) responded to impound numerous dogs, adding to the shelter's population.

HSPPR urges those contemplating adding a furry friend to their families to consider adopting now, emphasizing the crucial need for community support. The shelter expressed gratitude for any assistance, stating, "There's no better time than right now to make a pet's day. We need you, but more importantly, our pets need you!"

🌱 Students Fight Food Waste

Fountain Valley School (FVS) in Colorado Springs has initiated a program to minimize food waste by donating leftover meals to the Connection 4 Life Food Bank. Led by Danielle Llewelyn, the program, in operation since 2017, saves 20 to 50 pounds of food weekly. Students dedicate ten minutes between classes every Thursday to pack untouched servings. This initiative supports the food bank's efforts to feed volunteers, emphasizing the significance of repurposing surplus food for a greater cause.

FVS, in addition to the food bank support, serves meals to more than 250 people three times a day. Staff members express their commitment to maintaining a balance between providing enough for students while minimizing excess. With student motivation evident, plans are underway to expand the food bank contributions to more than once a week starting the following year.

🚧 Austin Bluffs Trailhead Makeover Begins

The Austin Bluffs Open Space trailhead is set for improvements as Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services launch the first phase this coming Monday. The project aims to enhance parking efficiency and safety, beginning with the creation of a level gravel parking area with over 50 spaces and the installation of amenities.

Phase two, contingent on funding, will introduce a paved lot with 100 parking stalls, a trailhead plaza, and drainage enhancements. The current lot will close from February 5, with weather permitting public access by month-end and project completion by April. An alternative trailhead parking area at 6411 North Nevada Avenue will be available during the closure.

🤝 Maximize Your Reach, Be Seen 32,658 Times Monthly! Partner with us through affordable advertising options that benefits both our valued subscribers and cherished local businesses. 💖

🚓 Tactical Takedown: 3 Apprehended in Robbery Spree

Between Jan 28-31, 2024, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a series of convenience store robberies, where a group, one armed with a handgun, demanded money. Late evening, Feb 1, investigators identified a suspect vehicle, leading to a pursuit to a business in the 8700 block of N. Union Blvd. Two suspects, wearing masks, entered the store and fled, triggering a pursuit. Following a tactical intervention, all three occupants were apprehended. One adult male, Desimon Carter, was arrested for the robberies, while Destiny Pona and Michael Lee were arrested for shoplifting and obstruction.

📆 Local Events

• Feb 2nd-Feb 25th (Weds-Sundays): Ice Castle @Cripple Creek $21-$27

• Feb 2nd-3rd, Noon-7 PM (Fri 2nd) & 10 AM-6 PM (Sat 3rd): Colorado Springs RV & Outdoor Show @Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd $8

• Feb 2nd-3rd, 2-5 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Feb 2nd-4th, (Fri 2-7 PM, Sat 10 AM-7 PM, Sun 10 AM - 5 PM): COLORADO SPRINGS HOME & GARDEN SHOW @Norris Penrose Center, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd $3

• Feb 2nd-3rd (every Fri & Sat in Jan), 3:30 PM: 2.5-Hour Cocktails & Canapés Walking Tour @1 N Tejon St. $79 per person Must be 21+

• Feb 3rd, 12-2 PM: Winter Cuddles @Painting With A Twist, Downtown $41-$49

• Feb 4th, 10 AM - 2 PM (every Sun): Backyard Market at Park Union @108 W Cimarron St FREE

• Feb 4th, 6-9:15 PM: Sunday Swing Dance @The Public House at The Alexander, 3104 North Nevada Ave $10

• Feb 5th, 6-8 PM: Ski School Adult @Lemon Lodge Ski Bar, 111 East Pikes Peak Ave $70

• Feb 6th, 2-4:30 PM: Colorado Collages @HGarden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center, 1805 N 30th St $20

• Feb 7th, 9:30 AM-Noon: Soup 2 Cooking Class @The French Kitchen, 4771 N Academy Blvd $109 (ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT) 

• Feb 9th, 6-8 PM: Make and Take Macrame Heart Coasters @The FestiviTea Company @2336 Vickers Dr Ste 130 $25

• Feb 9th, 6-8:30 PM: Valentine's Family Fun Night @Hillside Community Center, 925 S Institute St. FREE

• Feb 10th, 10 AM - 2 PM: Winter Fun at Fox Run fundraiser @Fox Run Regional Park, 2110 Stella Dr $5

• Feb 10th, 3 PM: Love is in the Air @Brush Crazy, 4416 Austin Bluffs Pkwy $20

• Feb 10th, 4:20-6 PM: CAKE decorating class @The FestiviTea Company @2336 Vickers Dr Ste 130 $65

🌲 Embrace Gratitude on Your Wellness Journey

As we conclude the "Wellness Wanderlust" series, whether you choose Garden of the Gods or any outdoor open space, let the natural setting become your canvas for practicing gratitude. Amidst the beauty of nature, promote stress reduction, mood enhancement, and overall well-being. If you go out today, make sure you go early before the storm rolls in.

Actionable Steps 🏔️

• 🚶‍♂️ Pause and Appreciate: During your hike, take brief pauses to soak in the natural beauty, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to explore.
  

• 📸 Capture Moments of Gratitude: Reflect on your outdoor experience, capturing moments of gratitude and peace that inspire and uplift you.

By incorporating these practices into your outdoor journey, cultivate a deeper connection with nature, enhancing your overall well-being through the transformative power of gratitude. 🌿✨ 

*Information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care professional, nothing above should be construed as medical advice.

🐖 Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin with Clementine Sauce

This lean and juicy cut of pork makes for a quick, easy, and economical way to put an elegant and mouthwatering dinner on the table! Paired with an Asian style clementine sauce to give it a sweet and savory seasonal twist.

PREP: 30 mins | COOK: 29 mins | TOTAL: 59 mins

Ingredients

• 1 each pork tenderloin

• 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil light, flavorless, high smoke point

Marinade

• ⅓ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar

• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar light

Sauce

• 3 cloves garlic large

• 1 Tbsp. ginger minced or grated

• 2 each green onion small diced

• 3 each cuties clementine, two cut in half for juice, one peeled and segmented

• ⅓ cup soy sauce

• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar

• ¼ cup brown sugar light

• 1 Tbsp. corn starch with a little water to form a slurry

Instructions

Trim Pork

1. Remove sliver skin from tenderloin with a thin blade and discard, (see post for instructions)

Marinate

1. Combine marinade ingredients and stir to combine.

2. Coat pork with marinade, allowing it to rest in it while heating the skillet in the next step. Can be done in advance, but total marinating time should not exceed 1 hour.

Sear and Cook Pork

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Heat cast iron pan on high heat over high heat for several minutes, until very hot.

3. Add oil to pan and swirl to evenly coat the bottom.

4. Remove pork from marinade and shake off excess.

5. Carefully place pork into pan to sear.

6. Turn tenderloin over after 2 to 4 minutes, once one side has a dark brown sear.

7. Place pan into hot oven and cook until the thickest part of the loin shows a temperature of 140 to 145 degrees when inserting thermometer into the center, about 20 to 25 minutes.

8. Remove the pork from the pan, set aside to rest, covering loosely with aluminum foil.

Sauce

1. Return pan to stove over medium high heat.

2. Add garlic and ginger, stirring to combine.

3. Sauté very briefly, until garlic is just beginning to brown.

4. Add green onions to pan.

5. Squeeze halved clementine oranges into the pan.

6. Add soy sauce and rice wine vinegar.

7. Add brown sugar, stirring in to melt.

8. Combine cornstarch with a small amount of cold water to form a homogenous slurry.

9. Once sauce has come to a boil, stir cornstarch slurry in to thicken.

10. Reduce heat to low.

11. Add the clementine segments, stir to combine.

12. Remove from heat.

Serve

1. Slice the tenderloin into desired size portions.

2. Drizzle sauce over, making sure each portion gets a few fruit segments.

🛍 Discounts, Specials & More

Want to let us know of local deals you want us to add? [email protected] 

• Songbird Orchids, 2204 W Colorado Ave: February 6th - 10th, get 10% off all orchids including arrangements & 10% off all gift baskets including Valentine's Specialty Baskets

  • Spotlight: Mystery Blooms 🌸: What Julie Wants You to Know!

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