COS Town Tidings #25-181

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🤣 Daily Chuckle

📰 Did Your Taxes Pay for The Senior Open? 💰

📰 Cuteness Alert: First Swim for Baby Penguin!🐧

📰 Return to Nature Owner Sentenced—But Wait…🏛️

Wellness: 😲 Why Your Brain Changes After 40

📆 Local Events + Free Concerts & Farmers Markets

🌟 We want to feature your business

🌦 COS Weather - Slightly cooler with PM T-storms

They say penguins mate for their whole life

👉God knows where they get the stamina 🤣

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💰 Did Your Taxes Pay for The Senior Open?

Now that the U.S. Senior Open has wrapped at The Broadmoor, some residents are left wondering how nearly $508,000 in city resources were allocated for the event. The funds came from LART—a tax paid by visitors through hotels and car rentals—not from local taxpayers.

While officials call it a smart investment for tourism and the economy, the funding came at a time when smaller community events like the Western Street Breakfast and Festival of Lights saw budget cuts. With over $24 million expected in economic return, the tournament has undoubtedly benefited the city—but it’s also sparked a deeper conversation about priorities, equity, and how our tourism dollars are spent. Full Story

🐧 Cuteness Alert: First Swim for Baby Penguin!

Sparrow, the adorable new penguin chick at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, made a splash this past week by joining Captain and Pearl for its first swim. As its soft down gives way to juvenile waterproof feathers, Sparrow is quickly learning to navigate the water.

Named to match the pirate-themed pair, this little explorer is also becoming more active around the nest, learning to preen and carry objects. While the chick’s sex hasn’t yet been identified, it’s clear Sparrow is already stealing hearts—and swimming into a big future.

🏛️ Return to Nature Owner Sentenced—But Wait…

The former owner of Return to Nature Funeral Home, Jon Hallford, has been sentenced to the maximum federal prison term for financial crimes and ordered to pay $1 million in restitution. This marks a major development in the ongoing case, which gained national attention in 2023 after nearly 200 improperly stored bodies were found at the Penrose-based facility.

His wife, Carie, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a federal trial in September, and both Hallfords still have state-level charges pending. Families impacted by the scandal were present in court, voicing the deep pain and betrayal they continue to carry as they wait for further justice. Full Story

😲 Why Your Brain Changes After 40

Dr. Mindy Pelz explains how menopause affects not just hormones but key brain chemicals—and offers natural lifestyle tools that can help women over 40 protect their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

*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.

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

Have an event to share? Reply and let me know (include link) 

💕 Featured Event

• July 3, 6-7:30pm (1st Thurs each month): Gratitude Exchange @Sacred Space Therapeutics, 459 Windchime Pl, COS FREE

📆 Sample Local Events

Weather permitting

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

• July 3 & 4, 5-8pm: First Friday (and special Thurs event this week) Art Walk @ Gallery113, 125 N Tejon St FREE

  • —> 🖼️ Where Art Speaks to Your Soul

• July 4, 10am-4pm: Family Fourth @Rock Ledge Ranch $8

• July 5-6 (every Sat & Sun through Aug 1): Renaissance Festival @Perry Park Ave, Larkspur $30-$32

• July 8-12: Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo @Norris Penrose Center $25-$50

• July 12, 7-9pm: Tiffany @Phil Long Music Hall $57-$87 (age 14+)

• July 19, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Dirty Money @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $63.71 (13 tickets left)

• July 19-20, 26-27, 7pm: Ice Cream Theatre THE RINGMASTER`S ATTIC @The MAT, 1626 S. Tejon $16.50

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

• July 2, 9am-2pm (Wed’s through Sept 24): Briargate Farmers Market @7610 N Union Blvd

• July 2, 3-7pm (Wed’s): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• July 5, 8am-2pm (Sat’s through-Oct 4): Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument

• July 5, 9am-1pm (Sat’s through Oct 11): Backyard Market @Black Forest, 6845 Shoup Rd

• July 5, 10am-2pm: CFAM (Sat's): The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd

• July 6, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, Jun 8-Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

• July 6, 10am-2pm (Sun’s through Aug 31): Cordera Farmers Market @11894 Grandlawn Cir, COS

• July 6 (2x/mth, Jun-Oct), 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr

🎶 Summer Concert Series - Weather permitting

• July 1, 5:30-7:30pm (Tuesdays Jun 3 through Sept): Music in the Park: @Bancroft Park, 2400 W Colorado Ave FREE

• July 4 (Every Thurs), 4-9pm: Collective Groove Band @Banning Lewis Ranch, Vista Park FREE (public + community market)

  • —>🌟Spotlight: Stop by SherBeth’s stand and say hi to Beth

• July 4, 5-7pm: Run with Scissors @First & Main Town Center Park, 3305 Cinema Pt FREE

• July 11, 7-8:30pm: University Village Colorado Summer Concert Series - Chain Station @5246 N Nevada (North Plaza next to Hacienda) FREE

• July 11, 7-8:30pm: Jazz in the Garden @Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 601-631 N Tejon FREE

• July 17 (Every Thurs), 6-8pm: The Sofa Killers @Banning Lewis Ranch, Vista Park FREE (public + community market)

  • —>🌟Spotlight: Stop by SherBeth’s stand and say hi to Beth

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