COS Town Tidings #25-255

📖 READ ONLINE

🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 From Nest to Sky—Owl's Big Night Tonight🦉

📰 Suicide Rates Down, But Caution Ahead📉

📰 Restaurant Closed in Shame & One Passed with Pride😱

🛍 LOCAL DEALS

Recipe: 🍪 Paleo Almond Butter Cookies

📆 Local Events + Free Concerts, Farmers Markets & Fall Fairs/Festivals

🌦 COS Weather - Warm with PM T-storms

Recreation: 🥾 Hike, Bike, or Roll This Local Path - Skyline Trail

What do you call an owl with an attitude?

👉A scowl 🤣

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🦉 From Nest to Sky—Owl's Big Night Tonight

A young great horned owl, found near Bear Creek Regional Park earlier this year, will return to the wild during the 16th annual Happy Trails BBQ fundraiser tonight. After months of rehabilitation and care—including time with a foster owl family—the owlet is ready to soar again. The public release is set for 7:15pm as part of a larger evening celebrating nature education.

The event, hosted at Bear Creek Nature Center, features live music, tri-tip BBQ, desserts from local businesses, beverages, art for sale, and educational encounters with live owls. Proceeds help fund more than 1,000 affordable programs and scholarships across Bear Creek and Fountain Creek Nature Centers, making outdoor learning accessible to all.

• TONIGHT, Sept 12, 6-9pm: Happy Trails BBQ Fundraiser- Hoot-enanny! @Bear Creek Nature Center $75 (Online Registration Closed, Call Bear Creek Nature Center at 719-520-6387 to purchase tickets)

😍 Neighbors Are Raving About This Local Company
Brandy’s Must-Know Tips for a Healthier Home

📉 Suicide Rates Down, But Caution Ahead

El Paso County has seen a nearly 18% decrease in suicides in 2024—a hopeful shift after leading the state in suicide deaths in 2023. Local organizations have worked together to increase mental health support through workplace programs, senior outreach, and safe firearm storage education.

Despite these gains, most suicide deaths still involve men, many with military ties, and firearms are involved in 60% of cases. Advocates warn that recent federal public health funding cuts could jeopardize this progress and urge residents to contact your elected representatives. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 anytime, for help. Full Story

🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

😱 Which Restaurant Closed in Shame & Which Passed with Pride?

Pho Sister, at Nevada and Las Vegas, was ordered to shut down after failing a health inspection for the second time this year. Several concerning violations were found, including unsafe food handling and improper cooking temperatures. The doors were locked earlier this week, with signs suggesting new ownership and plans to reopen by October — but for now, it's closed until an inspector gives the green light.

Several other restaurants also failed inspections, while many earned top marks. Here’s the quick rundown (one chain at different locations was even on both lists!) ⬇️

❌ Failing Scores (re-inspection required):

• Zocalo – 418 S Tejon

• Staybridge Suites – 7130 Commerce Center Dr

• Pikes Poke Bowl – 9290 Highland Rdg Hts (3 consecutive failures)

🥇 Top Scores! Meanwhile, The Warehouse Restaurant, across from Weidner Field, earned top marks and praise for its commitment to health and safety. Chef James Africano has created a unique upscale experience with a focus on wild game like elk and bison — plus an art-filled dining room that doubles as a local gallery. Guests are encouraged to make weekend reservations, though weeknights remain more flexible. It’s not just a meal; it’s a full sensory experience. Full Story

✅ High Scores:

• Mod Pizza – 5925 Dublin

• The Springs Bagel Company – 4621 Austin Bluffs

• Colorado Mountain Brewery – 600 S 21st

Health inspection results across El Paso County are available online for those wanting to check their favorite spots.

*Note: Most local restaurants take food safety incredibly seriously. In fact, many owners respond to violations swiftly and thoroughly, often making fixes the same day while they wait for reinspection. 

🛍 Discounts, Specials & More

Let us know of local deals you want us to add? [email protected]

Nature’s Start Bread Company: Inside The Cupcake Doctor, 3312 Austin Bluffs. Open Mon-Sat: 9am-6pm & Sun 10am-2pm (Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries, crackers, cookies, and more!)

• 👉 DEAL TODAY & SAT: FREE Devine Sticky Bun with purchase, while supplies last!  

• 🌟spotlight: 🍞 A Slice of Home: Nature's Start Bread Company Rises in Colorado Springs

Wild Birds Unlimited: 2450 Montebello Square Dr. Open Mon-Sat: 9am-5:30pm & Sun 11am-3pm

• 👉 DEAL SAT 9/13 ONLY: National Peanut Day with 15% off any size peanut and peanut feeders

• 🌟spotlight: 🐦 Discover the Art of Nature at Wild Birds Unlimited!

🍪 Paleo Almond Butter Cookies

Even in a home that is committed to eating healthy, cookies still have a place. Just because your OREO days are over, doesn’t mean you can’t still eat cookies.

And that’s what this recipe is for. These cookies are easy to make and so incredibly delicious. You won't believe how healthy they are!

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

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

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📆 Sample Local Events

For more weekend Events, click here

*Weather Permitting

• Sept 12-21, 10am-6pm (Closed Mon & Tues): Parade of Homes in Colorado Springs $18

• Sept 12-13, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Sept 12, 7pm: LA Phil Trio: Mastery in Motion @ENT Center $44

• Sept 12 & Oct 10, 7:30pm: The MAT!ch Game @The MAT, 1626 S Tejon $17.50

• Sept 13, 10am-2pm: Conejos Neighborhood Reunion @Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon FREE (Pls Register)

• Sept 13, 11am-4pm: HSPPR’s Pawtoberfest @Union Printers Home at Printers Hill $20-$55

• Sept 13, 1-4pm: Food To Power’s annual Harvest Celebration @Hillside Hub, 1090 S Institute St $10

• Sept 13, 7:30-9pm: Movies Under the Stars - Shrek @Bristol Brewing FREE

• Sept 20, 10am-5pm: Annual Powwow @Rock Ledge Ranch $8

• Sept 27, 9am-11am: Beginning Bridge Workshop @Bridge Center, 901 N 17th St $10

• Sept 27, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Game Over @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $74.95 (18 ticket left)

• Oct 8, 2-3:30pm: South/Southeast Colorado 50+ Workforce Listening Session (Virtual)

• Oct 10-12, 17-19, 24-26: First Company Theater Presents, Brigadoon @First United Methodist Church, 420 N Nevada $20

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

• Sept 13, 7am-1pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Farmers Market @2407 W Colorado Ave

• Sept 13, 8am-2pm (Sat’s thru Oct 4): Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument

• Sept 13, 8am-2pm (Sat thru Sept 27): Metcalf Park Market @618 E.Ohio Ave Fountain

• Sept 13, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Oct 11): Backyard Market @Black Forest, 6845 Shoup Rd (Local produce advertised)

• Sept 13, 10am-2pm: CFAM (Sat's thru Oct 3): The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd

• Sept 14, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, thru Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

• Sept 15 & 17, 10am-5pm (Mon & Wed’s thru Oct 15): Summer Farmers Market @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N Gate Blvd

• Sept 17, 9am-2pm (Wed’s thru Sept 24): Briargate Farmers Market @7610 N Union Blvd

• Sept 17, 3-7pm (Wed’s thru Oct 15): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• Sept 19, Noon-4pm (Every other Fri thru Oct 3): UCCS Farmers Market @3942 Regent Circle 

• Sept 21, 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr (Last one for the season)

🎶 Fall Concert Series - Weather permitting

• Sept 12, 6-7pm: Palmer Lake Library Concert Series, Some Sweet Day @Palmer Lake Village Green & Gazebo, 66 Lower Glenway St FREE

• Sept 13, 11am-2pm: Music on The Mesa - WIREWOOD STATION @Goldhill Mesa, 142 S Raven Mine Dr FREE

• Sept 16, 5:30-7:30pm (Tues’s thru Sept): Music in the Park: @Bancroft Park, 2400 W Colorado Ave FREE

• Sept 20, 6pm & 21, 2pm: Pikes Peak Music Assn presents - Echoes of the Heart Land @Bancroft Park, OCC FREE

🍂 Fall Festivals & Fairs - Weather permitting

• Sept 13, Noon-5pm: Palmer Lake Wine Festival @399 CO-105, Palmer Lake Ages 21+ $58

• Sept 19-21: Chile and Frijoles Festival @downtown Pueblo along Union Ave $6-$65

• Sept 27, 10am-2pm: McAllister House Museum Harvest Festival @ 423 N Cascade Ave FREE

• Oct 4, Miner's Pumpkin Patch @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 North Gate $13

🥾 Hike, Bike, or Roll This Local Path - Skyline Trail

Skyline Trail—often dubbed the “Powerline Trail” for its alignment with tall utility lines—runs just over 1.5 miles through the Briargate area, offering locals a moderate, rolling route to walk, bike, or blade. While much of the trail is smooth concrete, the section north of Research Pkwy transitions into dirt, adding a rustic touch.

It links to the Woodmen Trail and leads adventurers past spots like Reflection Pond, High Plains Elementary, and Rampart Park, which has everything from disc golf to dog-friendly fields. With its street crossings, scenic switchbacks, and future plans to expand north into larger regional trail systems, this is one local trail that’s ready for a quick outdoor walk.

Location: Parking is available in Rampart Park (8270 Lexington Dr) 
Trail end points: Research Pkwy and Chapel Hills Dr and Woodmen Trail south of Briargate Blvd

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