COS Town Tidings #25-064

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🤣 Today’s Chuckle

🌟Local Feature: 🍧 Meet the Mom Who's Scooping Up Smiles (and Gelati!)

📰 Drones & Emergencies—Be Informed🚁

📰 Pet Owners: Have Your Say Before It’s Final!🐾

📰 This Local Mexican Market Is Struggling🌮

📆 Local Events

🌤 COS Weather - Mostly sunny and mild temps

Today, on Ash Wednesday I will be giving up spreadsheets for 40 days

👉It’s going to be completely Excel Lent 🤣

🥰 Why We Spotlight Local Businesses

Every Wednesday, we shine a light on the local entrepreneurs who make Colorado Springs vibrant and unique. When you support these featured businesses, you're investing in our neighbors' dreams and helping build a stronger community. For every $1 spent at local businesses, 68 cents stays right here in our Springs economy, creating jobs and keeping our city thriving. 🤗

🍧 Meet the Mom Who's Scooping Up Smiles (and Gelati!)

💖 Kathy isn't just serving Italian ice; she's building bonds that warm hearts

Remembering those carefree days of simple joys – a warm hug, a shared laugh, a sweet treat that brightens your day? Kathy Gehauf understands. At Rita's Italian Ice on North Academy, she recreated that feeling with the authentic Italian ice she loved as a child growing up in Pennsylvania. Missing that taste of her childhood, Kathy and her husband Tyler decided to share this East Coast delight with our Colorado Springs community.

Rita's is more than just a dessert shop; it's a place where connections blossom and memories are made. As a mother of three, Kathy has poured her heart into creating a welcoming atmosphere, not just for her customers but for her young staff as well.

Many of these team members, who Kathy has known volunteering in their elementary school, are now experiencing their first jobs under her wing. You might even be served by her son Damian, who's grown up alongside the business, from second grade when it first opened and now to high school. Watching these young people grow and mature is one of Kathy's greatest joys.

From classic Italian ice to creamy custard and the signature layered gelati, Rita's offers a delightful escape, a moment of pure indulgence, no matter the season. And with dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free options, everyone can find a treat to savor.

Stop by and experience the warmth of community, the taste of something special, and the passion of a local business owner who truly cares. 

EXCLUSIVE for COS Town Tidings Subscribers! Mention this article and receive a FREE TOPPING with any gelati purchase at the Academy location only.
Treat yourself – you deserve it.

Rita's Italian Ice North Academy

• 7866 N Academy, COS 80920

• 719-465-2867

• [email protected]

• Mon-Sun Noon-8pm; Fri & Sat noon-9pm

• Facebook

🍞 Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries 
📍3312 Austin Bluffs (Inside The Cupcake Doctor): M-Sat, 9am-6pm

🚁 Drones & Emergencies—Be Informed

Drones can be a fascinating tool, but during emergencies, they can also be a serious hazard. This past weekend, an unauthorized drone flew over an active structure fire in Colorado Springs, disrupting the fire department’s response. The CSFD relies on drones to provide critical thermal imaging, helping crews locate hotspots and keep firefighters safe.

As we head into warmer months, it’s important to remember that flying drones near emergency scenes isn’t just risky—it could lead to hefty fines. Even without a formal flight restriction in place, interfering with emergency operations may violate federal, state, or local laws. If you're curious about major incidents, follow official channels—CSFD does its best to share drone footage when it's safe to do so.

🤫 Meet The Pain Whisperer - Amy Cook-Porter
Need an alternative to manage your pain?

🐾 Pet Owners: Have Your Say Before It’s Final!

Colorado is considering new pet vaccination requirements for boarding and grooming facilities following last summer’s canine respiratory disease outbreak. The proposed rules under PACFA could require vaccines like Bordetella, Parvo, and Lepto to protect animal health. While some see this as a necessary step, groomers worry that the added cost might deter pet owners.

The public will have a chance to weigh in on these changes as PACFA is inviting community feedback in April before finalizing any decisions, with new rules potentially taking effect in July. Full Story

🌡️ Why Your Neighbors Are Raving About This Local Company
Call before it becomes an emergency

🌮 This Local Mexican Market Is Struggling

For many locals, Luna Market (on S Academy) is more than just a grocery store—it’s a connection to home, culture, and authentic ingredients that can be hard to find elsewhere. But rising import taxes are making everyday staples like avocados, tortillas, and fresh meats noticeably more expensive.

Customers are feeling the pinch at checkout, with prices for key ingredients doubling or even tripling. Store owners are doing their best to keep costs manageable, but if tariffs remain high, the challenge will only grow. As families adjust their budgets, local businesses like Luna Market are bracing for more changes ahead. Full Story

🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

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🎉 Events Calendar! (More events including FREE, click above)

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

Have an event to share? Add it directly to the calendar. Click image above to access.

📆 Sample Local Events

• Mar 6-9, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Mar 6-8: Ice Castles @Cripple Creek $21-$29 (Last Days)

• March 7-16: Lucky Stiff by First Company Theater @First United Methodist Church, 420 N Nevada $5-$18 (Local small theater company, let’s support them!)

• Mar 15, Apr 19, 6:30-8:30pm: Date Night Starlight Safari – Adults Only (21+) @Cheyenne Mountain Zoo $40.75-$55.75

• Mar 22, 7-9pm: Meditation and Music by Healing Wheel Holistic @Cave of the Winds, Manitou Springs $65

• April 4, 7-9pm: Sheena Easton @Phil Long Music Hall $49-$99 (ages 14+)

• April 19, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Dirty Money @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $64.95 (20 Tickets Available)

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