COS Town Tidings #24-347

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🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Survey Results Are In—See the Insights💬

📰 Big Plans for Memorial Hospital North🏥

📰 Kroger vs. Albertsons: Legal Showdown🏛️

Recipe: 🌮Lentil Taco Salad in Crispy Tortilla Bowls

📆 Local Events | 🤶Holiday Events

🌤 COS Weather - Partly cloudy and warmer

 Why are tacos bad at keeping secrets?

👉Because they spill everything 🤣

💬 Survey Results Are In—See the Insights

The City of Colorado Springs released the findings from its inaugural Community Satisfaction Survey, giving residents a chance to share their thoughts on city services. The survey, conducted by ETC Institute, gathered feedback from a representative sample to identify key priorities for improvement and areas where the City is performing well.

Top priorities for residents included maintaining major streets, preventing crime, enhancing city parks, and addressing homelessness. On the positive side, residents praised snow removal, the city’s fire protection, its support for the military, and the availability of parks.

With plans to conduct the survey annually, city leaders aim to use this feedback to guide decisions and track progress. Residents can explore the results through an interactive dashboard available on the City’s website.

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🏥 Big Plans for Memorial Hospital North

UCHealth announced a transformative $407 million expansion of Memorial Hospital North, set to nearly double its size. The project includes a six-story inpatient tower, boosting bed capacity from 140 to 190 initially, with potential growth to 320 beds. It also features additional operating rooms, expanded emergency department space, and a six-level parking garage to support patients and staff.

With hospital admissions up 31% and surgeries increasing 53% since 2019, the expansion addresses the region’s growing healthcare demands. Construction begins in early 2025, with portions of the project set to open in 2027, ensuring that the hospital can continue providing advanced, accessible care for years to come. Full Story

🤫 Meet The Pain Whisperer - Amy Cook-Porter

🏛️ Kroger vs. Albertsons: Legal Showdown

The fallout from a $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons has escalated into a legal battle, with Albertsons filing a lawsuit accusing Kroger of failing to meet key obligations. Allegations include Kroger’s refusal to divest assets and lack of cooperation with regulators. In response, Kroger denies the claims, citing breaches by Albertsons and labeling the lawsuit as an attempt to deflect responsibility.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has emphasized the need for competition, as his office awaits a court decision on the matter. Albertsons is seeking $600 million in termination fees and additional damages, while Kroger remains committed to defending its actions in court. The outcome of this case could have a lasting impact on the grocery industry and its consumers. Full Story

🌡️ Why Your Neighbors Are Raving About This Local Company

🌮 Lentil Taco Salad in Crispy Tortilla Bowls

Reinvigorate Taco Tuesdays with these fun lentil taco salad bowls, overflowing with spicy, tomato-sauced lentils, shredded lettuce, and jicama for extra crunch. Served in oven-toasted edible tortilla bowls, they’re a nice change from soft-shell tacos.

Access the complete recipe with tailored modifications to suit your dietary requirements, along with convenient print options.

Affordable Advertising Options

🎉 New Events Calendar!

We're making it easier to discover and share what's happening in Colorado Springs! Our new interactive calendar is live and growing. Optional weekly SMS event reminders available!

We're rolling out events gradually to ensure everything runs smoothly. Have an event to share? Add it directly to the calendar. Click image above to access.

📆 Local Events

• Nov Dec 12-15, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Dec 12 through Mar 15, (Thurs-Sat) 1-6pm: Psycullescence Exhibit @ENT Center For the Arts, Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery

• Dec 12, 7-9pm: BINGO @Lebowski’s Taproom, 3240 Centennial Blvd FREE to attend

• Dec 12-13 (7pm), 14 (1 & 7pm): A Christmas Carol @Westside Community Center, 1628 W Bijou $16-$25

• Dec 12 (7:30pm)-29: The Little Mermaid @Fine Arts Center $58.50-$66

• Dec 12-22 (Thurs-Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2 & 7:30pm, Sun 4pm): Sense & Sensibility-Theatreworks @Ent Center for the Arts $21-$45 (Smaller Theater, Already Selling Out)

• Dec 13-14, 3:30 PM: 2.5-Hour Cocktails & Canapés Walking Tour @1 N Tejon $79 must be 21+

• Dec 13-15, 17-23, 27-29, 4-8:30pm: Christmas At Forest Bend @ Black Forest, 9525 Burgess Rd $17.50 (Must have reservation)

• Dec 13, 5-8pm: Bear Creek by Candlelight @Bear Creek Nature Center $8

• Dec 14, 10-Noon: Tamale Making Class @Lebowski’s Taproom, 3240 Centennial Blvd $45

• Dec 14, 6-10pm: Deck the Halls w/Blues & Jazz @Summa, 817 W Colorado Ave $15

• Dec 14, 7-9pm: "Christmas with Bing" @Black Forest Community Club, 12530 Black Forest Rd $35-$40

• Dec 21, 10-11am: Centerpiece Workshop @Phelan Gardens, 4955 Austin Bluffs $32.50 (2 Spots Left)

• Dec 21, 1-2pm: Centerpiece Workshop @Phelan Gardens, 4955 Austin Bluffs $32.50 (7 Spots Left)

• Dec 21, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, A Noteworthy Crime (Holiday Show) @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $72.95 (1 Ticket Left)

• Dec 21 (7:30pm) & 22 (2pm): Christmas Symphony @Pikes Peak Center $53-$82 (Limited Tickets Left)

• Dec 31, 7:30pm-Midnight: NYE-Under The Lights @ OCC, 2324 W. Colorado Ave $44.52

• Jan 10-Feb 23: Ice Castles @Cripple Creek $21-$29

• Timberline Landscaping’s 2024 “Christmas Lights Guide”: festive roadmap to over 100 decorated homes and businesses across Colorado Springs

• Magic Lights @PPIR, 16650 Midway Ranch Rd, Fountain (Through Jan 4, Daily) $33/vehicle

• Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Dec 12-23, 25-Jan 1): Where else can you see holiday lights AND feed a giraffe?

• The Broadmoor's Christmas Celebrations: From elegant holiday teas to festive dining

• Bear Creek by Candlelight (Dec 13, 5-8pm) @ Bear Creek Nature Center: The beautiful nature trails aglow with luminary lights and Bear Creek Nature Center filled with live music, smells of Texas Roadhouse chili dinner and hot chocolate, sights of twinkling lights and the joy of Santa! $8

• Holiday Extravaganz! (Dec 13) @ Ent Center for the Arts: Celebrate student musicians with holiday classics; tickets are $20

• Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch (Dec 14) @ Rock Ledge Ranch: Experience wagon rides, storytelling, and hot cider; admission is $4 to $8 per person

• Winter Wonderland with the Wolves (Dec 22) @ Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center: Join for breakfast burritos with the wolves; $40 for ages 12+, $20 for kids under 11

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