COS Town Tidings #24-276

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🤣Today’s Chuckle

🌟Local Feature: 🍯 Discover Black Forest's Sweetest Secret

📰 Pupil Count Determines Teacher Pay🏫

📰 Reclaiming Black Canyon: $300K Grant Secured🏞️

📰 Supply Chain Strain Hits Southern Colorado🚛

📆 Local Events | 📅 SAVE THE DATE

Crime: 🚔 Violent Eviction Raises Squatter Concerns

🌞 COS Weather - Sunny, hot with record breaking temps

Why did the worker bee quit its job?

👉It couldn’t handle the sticky situation at work!🤣

🍯 Discover Black Forest's Sweetest Secret

🍵 Seasonal Flavors Await at Honey, Tea and Me

Step back in time to 1927, when a small general store opened in Black Forest. Today, that cabin has been transformed into Honey, Tea and Me, a retreat for tea enthusiasts and honey lovers. Owner Shawndel Sievert has lovingly revitalized this historic space, creating a warm atmosphere that invites visitors to slow down and savor life's simple pleasures.

Imagine gathering here, surrounded by the aroma of freshly brewed loose-leaf teas and sweet local wildflower honey. With space for up to 20 people, it's perfect for bridal showers, baby celebrations, monthly book discussions, or whatever you can dream of.

Shawndel's journey from healthcare worker to purveyor of fine teas and honey is inspiring. When a friend's honey business was at risk of closing, she stepped in to keep the sweet tradition alive. Now, she sources honey from the oldest farm in our local region, established in 1906, ensuring each jar contains a taste of Colorado's rich history. Shawndel even creates her own signature whipped honey in-house, adding a unique touch to her offerings.

And what pairs better with honey than tea? With over 200 varieties of loose-leaf teas, Honey, Tea and Me offers a world of flavors to complement their sweet treats. Don't miss their Sunday "tea flights" – a delightful way to sample new blends and find your perfect honey-tea combination.

For autumn, treat yourself to their pumpkin spice creamed honey or a warming seasonal tea. Open Mon-Tues, 12-6pm and Wed-Sun, 10am-6pm, there's always time to stop by.

Located at 12490 Black Forest Rd, Honey, Tea and Me is a short drive away.

Watch for upcoming events! Sip and Paint class, cookie decorating, and gourmet s'mores tea pairings are just a few of the unique experiences being offered soon.

Every visit is an opportunity to create sweet memories and find your new tea. Come be part of their story – your taste buds (and your friends) will thank you!

• Website: ColoradoHoneyLady.com 

• Facebook: @honeyteame 

• Phone: 719-493-5882

🏫 Pupil Count Determines Teacher Pay

In Colorado, the "pupil count" is an annual process where student attendance determines the amount of state funding each public school district receives. This ten-day window, centered around Oct 1, requires schools to submit their enrollment numbers, which influence how much money is allocated. Most of this funding, averaging $11,300 per student, is used for teacher salaries, with the rest supporting special education, school safety, and classroom supplies.

This year, some districts like D11 saw slight increases in enrollment, while others, like Manitou Springs, experienced declines. As attendance impacts funding, schools emphasize the importance of students attending consistently, not just during the count period, to ensure they receive adequate resources. Full Story

🍞 Nature’s Start Bread Company

Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries!
Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls now available!

🏞️ Reclaiming Black Canyon: $300K Grant Secured

The City of Colorado Springs has been awarded a $300,000 grant to support the reclamation of the Black Canyon Quarry. The funding will be used for extensive earthwork, grading, and revegetation efforts, including erosion control and storm water management. This initiative is part of a larger plan to restore the quarry’s natural environment, which will eventually lead to a community-guided master planning process for its future development. 

Acquired in 2020, the 150-acre open space will undergo a transformation to improve air and water quality and support wildlife, with the goal of creating a sustainable public space for recreation and conservation.

🚛 Supply Chain Strain Hits Southern Colorado

Brace yourself, dockworkers at major ports along the East and Gulf Coasts have gone on strike, and its effects could soon be felt in southern Colorado. The most immediate impact is expected at grocery stores, where produce shortages and price hikes may occur as supply chains are disrupted. Local trucking companies are expressing concern about the strike’s duration, as extended delays could force them to make tough choices, such as cutting back operations or laying off staff.

Experts are warning that if goods can't be processed at the affected ports, rerouting shipments through the Panama Canal to the West Coast will drive up costs and further complicate supply chains. Businesses and consumers are hoping for a quick resolution to minimize the economic impact even though no compromise is apparent at the moment. Full Story

 👩‍🍳Chef Abigail, CoS Eats LLC

Spice up your culinary skills with Chef Abigail!

*Party Food! (Watch Parties, Tailgate & More) Cooking Class 
(grab your COUPON CODE and sign up!)

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🖼️ Showcase Your Nature Art at Fountain Creek!

Fountain Creek Nature Center is seeking local artists and photographers to feature in its monthly rotating art exhibit. Submissions for Jan to June 2025 are now open! This exhibit offers a platform for creatives to display and sell their nature-themed works. A portion of the sales will benefit the Nature Centers. Artists are required to provide at least ten unique pieces that are inspired by Colorado’s natural beauty. The submission deadline is Oct 19, 2024. This initiative not only supports local talent but also contributes to educational programs at the Center. Questions? Contact Victoria Dinkel, CIG, Interpretive Program Specialist at 719-520-6767.

📆 Local Events

• Oct 2-6: Fountain Creek Watershed District’s 11th Annual Creek Week Cleanup

• Oct 2, 10am-1pm: First Wednesday Job Fair @PPWFC, 1675 Garden of the Gods

• Oct 2-6, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Oct 2 (every Wed), 3-7pm: Colorado Farm and Art Market @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• Oct 2, 5-8:30pm: Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series @Hillside Gardens, 1006 S Institute St $18 (LAST CONCERT FOR THE SEASON)

  • 🌟Spotlight: 🎵Enjoy Music, Friends, and Scenic Beauty at Hillside Gardens

• Oct 2 (7pm), 3-4 (7:30pm), 5 (2 & 7:30pm), 6 (2pm): Dial M for Murder @Fine Arts Center, 30 W Dale St $26-$63 (Selling Fast)

• Oct 3, 7-9pm: BINGO @Lebowski’s Taproom, 3240 Centennial Blvd FREE to attend

• Oct 3-4 (7:30pm), 5 (2pm & 7:30pm) -Oct 13, Henry IV and V @ENT CENTER FOR THE ARTS at UCCS $21-$45

• Oct 4-27 (Fri's 9:30am-2:30pm; Sat-Sun 9:30am-4pm): Pumpkin Fest @ Venetucci Farm $9.11

• Oct 4-27 (Fri-Sun) 10am-5pm: Longneck Pumpkin Farm @7595 California Dr $18

• Oct 4 (1-9pm), 5 (10am-7pm), 6 (10am-6pm): Mind, Body, Spirit Celebration @Colorado Springs Event Center $10

• Oct 4, 4:30-6:30pm: Boo in the Barn @ Venetucci Farm $9.11

• Oct 4-5, 7:30pm: If I Could Turn Back Time: 80's Hits @Pikes Peak Ctr $41-$115

• Oct 5, 1-3:30: Nature Journaling Guided Walk @Bear Creek $25-$30 (Prepaid registration required)

  • —>🌟Spotlight: 🍂 The Healing Power You've Been Overlooking

• Oct 5, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, A Noteworthy Crime @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $72.95 (4 Tickets Left)

• Oct 12, 1-3pm: Tea for Two and a Plate Rack Too Miniature Class @Who Gives a Scrap, 810 Arcturus Dr $25 (3 Spots Left)

• Oct 12, 9am-3pm: Free RV Winterization Class @Pikes Peak RV, 4815 E Platte (Spots filling up fast)

• Oct 18-20, 25-27, 31, 4-8:30pm: Boo at the Zoo @Cheyenne Mountain Zoo $23-$25 Family Friendly

• Oct 19, Noon-2pm: Spooky Charcuterie Class with Charcuterallie @Goat Patch Brewing, 2727 N Cascade $60.54 (10 Seats Left)

• Oct 20, 11am-1:30pm: Chunky Blanket Workshop | Mimosa Included! @Painting With A Twist (downtown) $75 (6 Seats Left)

• Nov 10, 7-8:30pm: Cave of the Winds Soundbath @Cave of the Winds $65 (Limited Tickets Available)

• Nov 22-24: Vintage Market Days of Colorado Springs @Norris Penrose Ctr, 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd $13.30-$18.42

🚔 Violent Eviction Raises Squatter Concerns

During a recent eviction on Verde Dr, in Southeast Colorado Springs, deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office encountered squatters who refused to leave. Among them was Erek Jones, who resisted officers and attempted to assault a deputy. Another individual, Ernie Jones, also became aggressive. Backup arrived from both the Sheriff's Office and the CSPD to defuse the situation, and both men were arrested. Erek Jones, who had an outstanding warrant, faces several charges.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to take proactive security measures to prevent squatters from entering their homes, especially when out of town.

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