COS Town Tidings #25-217

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🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Drivers: Don't Miss This Law Change🚍

📰 Another Hallford Pleads Guilty⚖️

📰 Wildfire Safety Town Hall Tonight🔥

🧰 Trivia Time: Can You Spot This Legendary Carpenter's Handiwork Today?

🤔 "Should I Create an AI Account?" Your Privacy Questions Answered

📅 SAVE THE DATE! TODAY @1:30pm (Beat the heat and join me)

📆 Local Events + Free Concerts & Farmers Markets

🌤 COS Weather - Hot with possible isolated PM showers

What did the school bus say when it got a compliment?

👉“Thanks, I try to keep it ‘wheel’!” 🤣

🚍 Drivers: Don't Miss This Law Change

With school starting this week and next, and school buses return to the roads, Colorado has a new law in effect that changes when drivers must stop. Vehicles in both directions must stop when a school bus is flashing red lights—unless there’s a physical barrier like a raised median between lanes. Painted lines no longer count. Drivers should stop at least 20 feet back, remain stopped until the lights stop flashing, and stay alert for children crossing after the bus drives off. This law aims to boost safety for students. Full Story

🤗 TODAY - FREE Event

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!!

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

• Aug 23, 10:30-Noon (Sat) @Cheyenne Mountain Library, 1785 S 8th St, Ste 100

🤔 "Should I Create an AI Account?" Your Privacy Questions Answered

👋 I wanted to share a question from an attendee at our recent AImagination Experience workshop:

"…regarding risks of creating an account with AI platforms. I've been using ChatGPT regularly but have no login because I don't know who has access… A lot of personal data is being uploaded and feels more private to have no login. What are your thoughts…?"

Privacy concerns are definitely top of mind for many of us. Here are 5 of my observations…

Privacy #2: 🔹 WHAT TO SHARE

A good rule I follow is simple - don't put anything into AI tools you wouldn't want made public. (Although I have to admit, I'm an open book so not a great example 😏) Think of it like having a conversation in a coffee shop rather than your living room.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s AI Privacy Concerns or get the full list in our new, FREE AI For Everyone Community.

⚖️ Another Hallford Pleads Guilty

Carie Hallford, co-owner of the now-infamous Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud this week, admitting she knowingly took payments for funeral services she never delivered. The case, which began in 2023 with the shocking discovery of nearly 200 decomposing bodies, has continued to unfold painfully for families.

Prosecutors and her defense team are recommending a 15-year sentence, with a final decision expected Dec 3. Her husband, Jon, is already serving a 20-year sentence. According to KKTV, testimony suggests over 900 bodies may have been mishandled—making this one of the most unsettling and far-reaching funeral home scandals in Colorado history. Full Story

🔥 Wildfire Safety Town Hall Tonight

With record heat and dry weather gripping the region, the Colorado Springs Fire Department is holding its first wildfire preparedness town hall for residents living in the city’s eastern grassland areas. The meeting takes place tonight at the Pavilion at Banning Lewis Ranch and includes dramatic drone footage of recent local fires, insights on fire response tactics, and practical guidance on evacuation, emergency alerts, and home wildfire mitigation.

The event is part of a broader town hall series aimed at empowering neighborhoods in the Prairieland Urban Interface with tools to stay ready. Attendees can also enroll in emergency notification systems and the free chipping program at the event.

🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

🧰 TRIVIA: Can You Spot This Legendary Carpenter's Handiwork Today?

Did you know that Winfield Scott Stratton, who would later strike it rich with the Independence Mine, helped shape one of Colorado Springs’ oldest landmarks through his carpentry expertise?

When Winfield Scott Stratton made his mining fortune, what unusual choice did he make about his daily life?

Before fame and fortune, Stratton lent his building knowledge to Major Henry McAllister during the construction of the McAllister House, advising on sturdy double brick walls and leaving his mark on the ornate porches and staircase still admired today.

His life came full circle as he used his resources to support his community—an influence that began with those very first projects alongside the McAllister family and continued through his visionary philanthropic work across Colorado Springs.

Answer: He lived modestly in a small house on Weber St *Source

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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

• Aug 6-10, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Aug 8, 5-9pm: 7th Annual Black Forest Biergarten Fundraiser @ Black Forest Log School Park $35

• Aug 8-9, 15-16 & 22-23, 7:30pm: Circus of the Night @The MAT, 1626 S Tejon $28

• Aug 9, 6:30am-2pm: Black Forest Festival 2025 @12530 Black Forest Rd

• Aug 9, 2:30-8pm: Rocky Mountain Flower Fest @Gather Mountain Blooms, 5210 S Hwy 85 $41-$49

• Aug 9, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Dirty Money @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $59.46 (12 tickets left)

• 🎭 Aug 9, 7pm: The Ruler Is King Of School Supplies Comedy Show! @Peak Improv Theater, 3440 N Carefree $15

• Aug 16, 11am-2pm: Sunflower Scribbles with Renee Darling Art @JAKs Brewery, 555 Amelia St $60

  • —> 🎨 Art That Sparks Joy: The Colorful World of Renee Darling

• Aug 16, 5pm: Velvet Hills Chorus Presents: A Million Dreams @ENT Center $20

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

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

🍑 Palisade Peaches & 🍉Rocky Ford melons now available at various markets!

• Aug 6, 9am-2pm (Wed’s through Sept 24): Briargate Farmers Market @7610 N Union Blvd

• Aug 6 & 11, 10am-5pm (Mon & Wed): Summer Farmers Market @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N Gate Blvd

• Aug 6, 3-7pm (Wed’s): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• Aug 7, 5-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28), Manitou Made Market @Manitou Art Center

• Aug 7, 6-8pm (Thurs thru Aug 28): Summer Market at the Lodge @Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, 2 El Paso Blvd, COS 80904 (Manitou)

• Aug 8, Noon-4pm (Every other Fri thru Oct 3): UCCS Farmers Market @3942 Regent Circle

• Aug 9, 7am-1pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Farmers Market @2407 W Colorado Ave

• Aug 9, 8am-2pm (Sat’s thru-Oct 4): Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument

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

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

• Aug 9, 10am-2pm: CFAM (Sat's thru Oct 3): The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd

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

• Aug 17, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, thru Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

• Aug 17 (2x/mth, Jun-Oct), 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr

🎶 Summer Concert Series - Weather permitting

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

• Aug 8, 7-8:30pm: University Village Colorado Summer Concert Series - Soul School @5246 N Nevada (North Plaza next to Hacienda) FREE

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

• Aug 9, 4-7pm: Music on The Mesa - COLLECTIVE GROOVE @Goldhill Mesa, 142 S Raven Mine Dr FREE

• Aug 16, 4-7pm: Music on The Mesa - USAFA BAND “PEGASUS” • STEELHENGE @Goldhill Mesa, 142 S Raven Mine Dr FREE

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