COS Town Tidings #25-335

CLICK to READ ONLINE - if it gets cut off below

🤣 Daily Chuckle

📰 Food Assistance Changes Coming 🍎

📰 Handmade Stockings, Big Impact 🎁

📰 City Approves 2026 Budget, See What’s Funded 🏛️

Wellness: 🧩 A New Approach to Dementia Care

📆 Local Events + Concerts & 🤶 Holiday Fairs/Festivals

🌟 We want to feature your business

🌦 COS Weather - AM snow showers (light accumulation, be careful for slick spots) and cold temps

My favorite Cyber Monday deal?

👉Closing the laptop before I buy something I don’t need 🤣

🍎 Food Assistance Changes Coming

SNAP benefits for November have resumed, but millions of recipients may soon face new hurdles. Expanded federal work requirements could cause many adults—including parents—to lose food assistance unless they meet monthly work or volunteer hours. States are rushing to implement the changes, raising concerns that paperwork issues and system delays could cause eligible people to lose benefits. Full Story

🎁 Handmade Stockings, Big Impact

Reclaiming Hope, a nonprofit on the southeast side of Colorado Springs, is preparing over 543 handmade stockings for survivors of sex trafficking—more than double the number requested just a few years ago. Each stocking is personalized with toys, treats, warm winter items, and essentials chosen to match the recipient’s interests, along with a handwritten Christmas card and gift card.

Volunteers say many survivors may receive no other gifts this season, making the gesture especially meaningful. The stockings will be distributed across the Front Range in early this month as part of the organization’s broader year-round support, which includes job help, safe housing, and mentoring. Full Story

🏛️ City Approves 2026 Budget See What’s Funded

Colorado Springs City Council has adopted the 2026 City Budget, a $427.3 million General Fund plan that stays balanced without tapping reserves, thanks to $31 million in departmental savings. The budget maintains police and fire staffing, continues key road and drainage projects, supports homelessness response efforts, and funds essential city services. It also allocates $3.9 million in recreational marijuana tax revenue to public safety and sets aside $200,000 for expanded mental and behavioral health services, with a focus on veterans experiencing homelessness. Full budget materials are available on the City’s website.

🏠 Brandy’s Must-Know Tips - Pendleton Heating & Cooling

🧩 A New Approach to Dementia Care

Caregivers report that this type of non-drug support can sometimes reduce stress-related behaviors—and in some cases, even lessen the need for certain medications. The conversation also explores how the program was created, real stories from families using it, and what makes these gentle alternatives so meaningful in dementia care.

*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.

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

Have an event to share? Click on calendar above and add it

📆 Sample Local Events

*Weather permitted

• Dec 2-7, 1-4 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Dec 4-28: Mary Poppins @ Fine Arts Center, 30 West Dale St $18-$70

• Dec 4-21: The Importance of Being Earnest @ ENT Center $21-$47

• Dec 6-7, 13-14: The Ringmaster`s Christmas @The MAT, 1626 S Tejon $26.50

• Dec 7, Noon: Goat's Milk Soap Making @ Meraki Springs, 2703 W Colorado Ave $65

• Dec 10, 6-8:30pm: Cinnamon Rolls - Sourdough Baking Class @ Nature's Start Bread Company, 3312 Austin Bluffs $75

• Dec 12 & 29, 9am-5pm: Dog Days at the Zoo @ Cheyenne Mtn Zoo

• Dec 17, 6-8pm: Pedestal Flip Calendar Class @ Meraki Springs, 2703 W Colorado Ave $40

• Dec 21, 10am-Noon: Beginner Dot Mandala Painting Workshop @ Treehouse Cafe, 5965 N Academy $50 (6 Seats Available)

🎶 Fall Concerts - Weather permitting

• Dec 3, 4, 9, 6pm: Holly & Ivy concert @ Air Force Academy FREE (must register for ticket)

• Dec 6 (7pm) & 7 (2:30pm): Chamber Orchestra of Springs: Dances With The Winds @ Ent Center for the Arts $18-$41

• Dec 21, 3pm: Pikes Peak Philharmonic: Jazz @ENT Center for the Arts, 5225 N Nevada $14-$20

🤶 Holiday Festivals, Fairs & Activities

• ⛸ Through - Jan 18: Skate In The Park @Acacia Park $15

• 🕯 Through Jan 4, Fri & Sat (5:30-10pm) & Sun - Thurs (5:30-9pm): Magic of Lights at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) $28-$72/vehicle

• 🎄 Through Dec 27: Christmas at Forest Bend @ Black Forest, 9525 Burgess Rd $15 (Tickets Sell Out Fast) 

• Dec 5-23, 25-Jan 1, 5-8:30pm: Electric Safari @ Cheyenne Mtn Zoo $21-$24

   

• Dec 3, 10-13, 17-20, 26-27, 5:30-8pm: 🎄 2.5-Hour Holiday Lights & Bites Progressive Dinner @ Downtown COS $99

• Dec 4, 5:30-8:30pm: Electric Moonlight @ Cheyenne Mtn Zoo $70-$80

• Dec 5-6 (10am-4pm), 7 (10am-4pm): Holiday Food & Gift Festival @Norris Penrose Event Center 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd $8 (get $1 <coupn code HFGF25> or bring a can food item)

• Dec 6, 3:30-6pm: Christkindl Fest @ Ascension Lutheran Church, 2505 N Circle FREE admission (Must RSVP)

• Dec 6, 5:30pm: Festival of Lights Parade @ Downtown, Tejon St FREE + 🆓 FREE PARKING 3-11pm TODAY!

• Dec 7, 2:30-4pm: Grinch Mosaic Class @ The Glass Collective, 828 East Fillmore $45 (Going Fast)

• Dec 13, 4-8pm: Holiday Evening @Rock Ledge Ranch $8

• Dec 13 & 27, 6-9pm: Murder Mystery, The Hollywood Hit - Holiday Show @Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Dr $79.95 (12 Ticket Left)

• Dec 20, 10-11am: Centerpiece Workshop @ Phelan Gardens, 4955 Austin Bluffs $25

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