COS Town Tidings #26-029

📖 READ ONLINE

🤣 Today’s Chuckle

📰 Your Taxes & the Library 📚

📰 Saving Water, One Park at a Time 💦

📰 Restaurants Warn of New Scam 🚨

Recipe: 🥪 Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches

🛍 New: Bargain Box Weekly Sales!

📆 Local Events + Concerts & Fairs/Festivals/Activities

🌤 COS Weather - Mostly sunny, dry, breezy and mild temps

🙋‍♀️ We want to Feature Your Business

The Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) operates as an independent public entity funded mostly by property taxes, serving nearly 700,000 people across El Paso County. About 95% of its revenue comes from a small portion of property and vehicle taxes, while the rest comes from grants, donations, fines, and fees. State rules like TABOR cap how much the Library can collect each year, even when home values rise, meaning budgets don’t always keep pace with inflation or population growth.

Most spending goes toward staff, daily operations, and maintaining buildings and technology, with a smaller portion reserved for major one-time projects. Any remaining funds are tightly restricted and can only be used with Board approval, helping ensure long-term stability while continuing to meet community needs. For the complete budget, visit PPLD’s website.

📚 Poor Richard’s Downtown, Books and Gifts

Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation is continuing its long-term shift toward native plants and grasses across city-owned land, focusing on water conservation and lower maintenance. Since 2012, the city has converted 102 acres of Kentucky bluegrass into native species, saving nearly 40 million gallons of water and close to $400,000 in maintenance costs last year alone.

While growing native plants has become a success story inside the city greenhouse, converting large grassy areas has moved more slowly due to aging irrigation systems and high upfront costs. Even so, parks like Wasson, Keller, Wildflower, and Duck Lake show the long-term payoff, and more areas, including Cottonwood Creek Park, are on the list when funding allows.

👵 From "Too Fragile" To Daily Adventures... with Kristen Nielsen

A new week means new treasures! We're giving you a first look at the incredible finds and amazing sales hitting the floor for through Jan 31. Watch now to see what's waiting for you!

Location: 405 S Nevada Ave, Open Tues - Sat 10am-2pm. (719) 475-1029

Restaurant owners in Old Colorado City say two men may be targeting local spots by presenting gift cards that appear valid but carry no funds, then leaving before payment is confirmed. After one business shared its experience online, others chimed in with similar stories, prompting quick word-of-mouth alerts across the neighborhood.

While CSPD has not confirmed whether all cases are connected, an investigation is underway. In response, the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado is encouraging restaurants to review payment procedures, such as pre-authorizing cards or limiting prepaid gift card use. Beyond the financial hit, owners say these incidents can shake staff confidence, especially in an already challenging economy, and they’re urging any affected businesses to report incidents so patterns can be identified. Full Story

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🎯 The Secret to Financial Confidence You Deserve

Easy slow cooker Italian chicken sandwiches made with simple ingredients and packed with savory, spicy flavors. Grab your favorite jar of giardiniera, a few simple spices, and delicious toppings for a weeknight dinner or game day meal everyone will love!

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

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🍞 Fresh Baked Sourdough breads, pastries
Nature's Start Bread Company
📍3312 Austin Bluffs (Inside The Cupcake Doctor):
M-Sat, 9am-6pm

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