COS Town Tidings #25-273

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🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 New Program, Big Compassion 💙

📰 Giant AFW Breaks Ground in NE COS 📍

📰 Self-Driving Trucks on Duty 🚧

🏛️ Trivia Time: Which Springs Workers Went Without Pay In 2013?

📆 Local Events + Farmers Markets & Fall Fairs/Festivals

🌤 COS Weather - Slightly above average temps with slight chance of isolated sprinkles

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Due to the rise of autonomous vehicles

👉It's only a matter of time until a country singer makes a song about their truck leaving them 🤣

💙 New Program, Big Compassion

In a time when tensions and misunderstandings can escalate quickly, the Blue Envelope Program is a quiet but powerful new tool now available in El Paso County. Created to support people with disabilities or communication challenges, the program helps reduce stress during traffic stops or interactions with law enforcement by giving officers a visible cue that the driver may need extra time, clarity, or compassion.

It’s free, no ID is required, and it could make a big difference. If this sounds helpful for you—or someone you know—please share it. The more people know, the safer our community becomes.

📍 Giant AFW Breaks Ground in NE COS

Colorado Springs is getting a major new neighbor on the northeast side—American Furniture Warehouse has officially received the go-ahead to build its long-awaited second location, this time near Powers and Dublin. This $45 million build 345,000-square-foot store will be even bigger than the original Fillmore and I-25 location, which opened in 1999.

Locals have had strong opinions about this one, especially on the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department’s Facebook post—so if you haven’t chimed in yet, we’d love to know: What are your thoughts on this new spot?

🚧 Self-Driving Trucks on Duty

Colorado is leading the way in road safety with the launch of a self-driving work truck, part of a pilot program by CDOT funded through a $2 million federal grant. The truck features a truck-mounted attenuator (TMA) designed to absorb impacts in work zones, offering an extra layer of protection for maintenance crews.

With over 30 work-zone deaths reported statewide last year, this innovation could be a game-changer—especially as more funding may be on the way to expand the program. While not suited for every road condition yet, this autonomous vehicle is a promising step toward safer construction zones. Full Story

👀 Local tip: If you're passing through a construction zone, keep an eye out—and maybe a bit of admiration—for one of these futuristic trucks in action. Just another sign that Colorado Springs is stepping into tomorrow.

🏛️ Trivia: Which Springs Workers Went Without Pay In 2013?

Did you know that when the federal government shut down in Oct 2013, thousands of Colorado Springs families felt an immediate strain—not just at the city’s multiple military bases, but at local businesses, parks, and kitchen tables alike? Defense workers, park rangers, and contractors found themselves furloughed, anxiously waiting for answers as paychecks suddenly disappeared and amenities like commissaries and childcare centers closed their doors. Local hairdressers and restaurants stepped up with free haircuts and meals for furloughed defense workers, and families scrambled to support one another through uncertainty.

How many days did the 2013 federal government shutdown last, leaving Colorado Springs workers furloughed and local parks closed?

Beloved destinations such as Rocky Mountain National Park and local federal-run outdoor areas closed, cancelling plans for countless residents and cutting off vital tourism dollars at the peak of autumn. Even after the shutdown ended, damage lingered: area incomes reportedly dropped by nearly $111 million, underscoring how connected Colorado Springs is to its federal roots. The city discovered just how fragile daily life can be when our national government hits pause.

Answer: 16 days *Source, *Source2 

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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

• Sept 30-Oct 5, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Sept 30, 4:30-6:30pm: Floral Design Workshop @WMMI, 225 North Gate $105

• Sept 30: 5:30-8pm: Music & Blooms @Gather Mountain Blooms, 5210 South US Hwy 85 87 $11.17

• Oct 3 (Noon-6pm), 4 (10am-5pm), 5 (11am-4pm): The Springs Home Show @Colorado Springs Event Center, 3960 Palmer Park Blvd FREE

• Oct 4, 6:30-8pm: Movies Under the Stars - Zombieland @Bristol Brewing FREE

• Oct 4, 7pm: Fashion With A Purpose @Phil Long Music Hall $78-$153

• Oct 5, 11am: The Local Motive - Leaf Peepin' Party @Kinship Landing $54.50

• 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

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

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

• Oct 11, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, Game Over @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $74.95 (11 ticket left)

• Oct 17, 6pm & 9pm: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th anniversary @Ivywild School Gym Auditorium, 1604 S Cascade Ave $22

• Oct 29, 6pm: Secret of Black Forest Bistro Murder Mystery Dinner @6750 Shoup Rd $80

• Nov 8, 3-6pm: Senior Holiday Dinner Dance @COS City Hub, 4304 Austin Bluffs 65+ FREE (must register, tickets going fast)

👩‍🌾 Farmers Markets - Weather permitting

• Sept Oct 1 & 6, 10am-5pm (Mon & Wed’s thru Oct 15): Summer Farmers Market @ Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 225 N Gate Blvd

• Oct 1, 3-7pm (Wed’s thru Oct 15): Colorado Farm and Art Market (CFAM) @Pioneers Museum, 215 S Tejon

• Oct 3, Noon-4pm: UCCS Farmers Market @3942 Regent Circle (Last one for the season)

• Oct 4, 7am-1pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Farmers Market @2407 W Colorado Ave

• Oct 4, 8am-2pm: Monument Hill Farmers Market @66 Jefferson St, Monument (Last one for the season)

• Oct 4, 9am-1pm (Sat’s thru Oct 11): Backyard Market @Black Forest, 6845 Shoup Rd (Local produce advertised)

  • 🌟Stop by this booth…🧄 You HAVE to Taste What They're Growing at The Green Witch Homestead!

• Oct 4, 10am-2pm: CFAM: The Margarita at Pine Creek, 7350 Pine Creek Rd (Local produce advertised & Last one for the season)

• Oct 5 & 19, 11am-3pm: Southeast Farmer's Market (Food Coalition) @Stompin' Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Dr

• Oct 12, 9am-2pm (Every other Sun, thru Oct 26): COS Sunday Market @Acacia Park, Downtown

🍂 Fall Festivals & Fairs - Weather permitting

• Sept 30, 5-9pm: Pikes Peak Oktoberfest @Hillside Gardens & Events, 1006 S Institute St $12.51

• Oct 3-26, 10am-5pm (Every Fri, Sat & Sun): Long Neck Pumpkin Farm @ 7595 California Dr, COS $18

• Oct 4, 8am-2pm (Sat's thru Oct 11): OCC Craft Fair @Old Colorado City History Center, 1 S 24th St

• Oct 4, 9am-10pm: Oktoberfest @Pikes Peak Brewing, 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr, Monument

• Oct 4-31 (Fri's 9:30am-2:30pm), (Sat/Sun 9:30-4pm): Pumpkin Fest @Gaither Mountain Blooms, 5210 S Hwy 85 $11.17

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

• Oct 4, 10am-4pm: Harvest Festival @Rock Ledge Ranch $8

• Oct 4 (10am-6pm) & 5 (10am-4pm): Market Days @Norris Penrose Event Center $7.23 (Early Bird, ends Oct 3)

  • —>🌿 Zenfullyme: Your Answer To Aches, Stress & Problem Skin

• Oct 4 & 5, 10am-6pm: Oktoberfest @ Gather Mountain Blooms, 5210 S Hwy 85 $18-$35

• Oct 4, 2-7pm: Oktoberfest @Whistle Pig Brewing , 2117 Templeton Gap $13-$45

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