COS Town Tidings #25-197

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🤣 Today’s Chuckle

🌟Local Feature: 💐 A Symphony of Silence and Color: Dianne's Dahlias Blooms Against the Odds

📰 Top Spots for Red Light Tickets🚦

📰 Your Photo Could Make the Cover!📷

📰 What Happened Near the Powers Corridor?😢

📅 SAVE THE DATES! Only 7 Seats Left!

📆 Local Events + Free Concerts & Farmers Markets

🌦 COS Weather - Warm with potential severe PM T-storms

What did the gardener say after planting all the flowers?

👉“Now, I’m just rooting for them!” 🤣

🥰 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 by creating jobs and keeping our city thriving. 🤗

💐 A Symphony of Silence and Color: Dianne's Dahlias Blooms Against the Odds

👩‍🌾 Her story will inspire you, and her flowers will take your breath away

In a world where sound often defines our connections, Dianne Reitan has spent a lifetime adapting. At just under 3 years old, a high fever damaged her cochlear, leaving her with significant hearing loss that would shape her journey for the rest of her life.

Throughout her early years, primitive analog hearing aids offered limited help. "My speech didn't really get better until the digitals came out in my 30’s," Dianne explains. "Since I wasn't hearing that well, I wasn't speaking that well." Despite these challenges, Dianne built a successful career as a nonprofit fundraiser, where determination helped organizations thrive.

When COVID arrived as Dianne approached her 50th birthday, she found herself at a crossroads. The constant strain of office environments had taken its toll. Drawing on her fundraising expertise and innovative thinking, Dianne had a midnight epiphany that took her breath away—what about a dahlia farm on the grounds of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, where she served as a Board Trustee?

"I'm a retired nonprofit fundraiser, always thinking of unique ways to bring funds to worthwhile causes," Dianne shares. Her vision wasn't just about flowers; it was creating a sustainable revenue stream for the historic institution.

She knew the 50-year-old museum owned 27 acres of historic ranch land with its own well water—a perfect, untapped resource. Starting with just seven tubers in a community garden, she's now cultivating 900 plants representing 350 varieties on the museum grounds, producing an abundance of blooms each season.

This partnership brings agriculture back to this unused land, while offering local residents something truly special. "Dahlias are the diva of the garden," Dianne explains with passion, noting their spectacular variety. Her classes teach Colorado-specific growing techniques, while her organic bouquets feature stunning blooms that can't be found in grocery or big box stores.

From a childhood of straining to hear, Dianne has created a visual symphony that speaks volumes. Her triumph isn't just growing Dahlia flowers against Colorado's challenging climate—it's about cultivating beauty from adversity while preserving local history.

Starting in August, there will be blooming colors on the farm! At which time you will want to visit Dianne’s Dahlias at 225 North Gate Blvd to experience this beauty in person.

Dianne will have cut flowers at the farm stand on Mondays and Wednesdays. Check the schedule and learn about classes or special events at DiannesDahlias.com. Bring home a rare treasure that supports both a remarkable woman and a cherished Colorado Springs institution.

🍞 Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries 
📍3312 Austin Bluffs (Inside The Cupcake Doctor): 
M-Sat, 9am-6pm & Sun, 10am-2pm

🚦 Top Spots for Red Light Tickets

Colorado Springs uses 20 red light cameras across the city to monitor intersection violations. These cameras automatically capture photos and video whenever a vehicle might run a red light, but each incident is manually reviewed by an officer. A violation is only confirmed if a car’s front wheels enter the intersection after the light turns red.

In 2024, only about one-third of camera activations resulted in tickets. If cited, drivers receive a $75 fine but no license points. The revenue covers the cost of the program, with any extra going to the City’s general fund. Last year, the reported top intersections for violations were Platte/Chelton, Campus/Woodmen, Woodmen/Black Forest, and Lake/Cheyenne Mountain. Full Story

🤗 ONLY 7 SEATS LEFT

AI complicated or overwhelming?🤔

Not anymore! BACK, by popular demand! My "AImagination Experience" demystifies AI & shows you how to build solutions you can use today. This is your personal invitation!!

RSVP by clicking a date below - can't wait to see you there!!

• July 17, 2025 - 3:15-4:15pm (Thurs) @Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr (Only 7 seats left)

• July 22, 2025 10:30-11:30am (Tues) @OCC Library, 2418 W Pikes Peak Ave

• July 31, 2025 11am-noon (Thurs) @Sand Creek Library, 1821 S Academy

• Aug 5, 2025 1:30-2:30 pm (Tues) @Cheyenne Mountain Library, 1785 S 8th St, Ste 100

🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

📷 Your Photo Could Make the Cover!

Colorado Springs’ Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services is calling for photo submissions for the 2026 Discover COS Calendar. This year’s theme, Rooted in the Outdoors, celebrates the emotional and ecological importance of the city’s natural spaces. Whether captured on a professional camera or a phone, images should reflect the tranquility, beauty, and adventure found in local parks, trails, and open spaces.

Submissions are due by Sept 5, and winning photos will be revealed in October. Calendar donations will support reforestation at Black Canyon Open Space.

🌡️ Why Your Neighbors Are Raving About This Local Company
How to 🧊 Hack Your Home to Stay Cool

😢 What Happened Near Powers Corridor?

In Colorado Springs’ Sand Creek neighborhood, families woke up to a disturbing scene—windows shattered and hate speech spray-painted across their homes and vehicles. Reported by KRDO, apparently the overnight incident targeted at least 11 vehicles and several properties near the Powers corridor.

Police are still investigating whether the crimes were targeted, but the presence of anti-Semitic symbols and racial slurs has shaken residents. As of now, no arrests have been made, and anyone with information or security footage is urged to contact authorities. The community is coming together to support one another, stay watchful, and speak out against hate. Full Story

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

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

📆 Sample Local Events

Weather permitting

• Jul 16-19: El Paso County Fair @366 10th Street, Calhan, CO 80808

• July 16-20, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• July 19-20 (every Sat & Sun through Aug 1): Renaissance Festival @Perry Park Ave, Larkspur $30-$32

• July 19, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Dirty Money @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $63.71 (8 tickets left)

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

• July 26, 10:30am-5pm: Cat Fest CO Springs @Norris Penrose Event Center $20-$40

• 🎭 Aug 16, 7pm: Shermy's Backyard Bash (Benefit Springs Rescue Mission) @Peak Improv Theater, 3440 N Carefree $10 donation

• Aug 24, 7-9pm: Crystal Gayle @Phil Long Music Hall $45-$87 (age 14+)

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

• July 16 & 21, 10am-5pm (Mon & Wed): Summer Farmers Market @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N Gate Blvd

• July 16, 9am-2pm (Wed’s through Sept 24): Briargate Farmers Market @7610 N Union Blvd

• July 16, 3-7pm (Wed’s): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• July 17, 5-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28), Manitou Made Market @Manitou Art Center

  • —>Nature’s Start Bread Company Special at this market only! Friends & Family - BOGO Free on all breads and pastries (Limit one free per customer)

• July 17, 6-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28): Summer Market at the Lodge @Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, 2 El Paso Blvd, COS 80904 (Manitou)

• July 19, 7am-1pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Farmers Market @2407 W Colorado Ave

• July 19, 8am-2pm (Sat’s thru-Oct 4): Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument

• July 19, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Oct 11): Backyard Market @Black Forest, 6845 Shoup Rd

• July 19, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Sept 27): Homestead Yard Farmers Market @The Yard at The Homestead Collective, 9633 Prominent Point COS

• July 19, 10am-2pm: CFAM (Sat's thru Oct 3): The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd

• July 20, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, thru Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

• July 20, 10am-2pm (Sun’s thru Aug 31): Cordera Farmers Market @11894 Grandlawn Cir, COS

• July 20 (2x/mth, Jun-Oct), 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr

• July 25, Noon-4pm (Every other Fri thru Oct 3): UCCS Farmers Market @3942 Regent Circle

🎶 Summer Concert Series - Weather permitting

• 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

• July 18, 5-7pm: Wirewood Station @First & Main Town Center Park, 3305 Cinema Pt FREE

• July 18, 7-8:30pm: University Village Colorado Summer Concert Series - John King @5246 N Nevada (North Plaza next to Hacienda) FREE

• July 22, 5:30-7:30pm (Tues’s thru Sept): Music in the Park: @Bancroft Park, 2400 W Colorado Ave FREE

• July 25, 7-8:30pm: Jazz in the Garden @Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 601-631 N Tejon FREE

• Aug 2, 4-7pm: Music on The Mesa - RAFIEL & THE ROOMSHAKERS @Goldhill Mesa, 142 S Raven Mine Dr FREE

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