Inside COS Town Tidings Issue #064

🤣 Today’s Chuckle
🌧 COS Weather - Slick roads, some areas additional light snow

🌨️ Winter's Grip: Colorado Springs Faces Delays and Closures

🎁 United Way Spreads Joy: 1,700 Gifts for Students

🤝 Partner with us - affordable advertising options

🎰 Illegal Gambling Crackdown: CSPD Seizes 120 Machines

📦 USPS Holiday Mailing Deadlines

👉 Volunteers still needed Dec 16th 🤝

📆 Local Events - updated daily
🤶 Holiday Craft Fairs

Wellness: Lend a Hand! 🤝 Kindness Unleashed

🥘 Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

💥 Who Should We Feature?

💞Heartfelt Thanks! Help Us Improve

Thank you for making Colorado Springs Town Tidings your go-to community newsletter! 🙌 Your support means the world to us.

This newsletter is YOURS, so please tell us what events, stories, or local gems you want to see? What do you not want to see? Your input shapes our future.

Let's make it even better together! 👉 Click to share your ideas.👈

Where do the reindeer like to stop for ice cream?
👉 Deery Queen 🤣

Our hope is that we made you smile today…pass it on.

Roads slick and icy to start. Check for late starts and closures here.

🌨️ Winter's Grip: Colorado Springs Faces Delays and Closures

As you already know, a winter storm system swept through Colorado Springs and surrounding areas experiencing significant snowfall, prompting various school districts to announce delays and closures for this morning.

The National Weather Service issues a winter weather advisory until 11 a.m., with warnings and advisories spanning much of southern Colorado. Some regions in El Paso County accumulate up to 4 inches of snow.

Military bases, including Fort Carson (2-hour delay), Pueblo Chemical Depot (closed), and Peterson & Schriever Space Force Base (3-hour delayed reporting for non-mission essential personnel), also adapt to the wintry conditions. Challenging travel conditions until later this morning, with improvements and a sunny weekend forecasted.

Click to check up-to-date school, military bases and business delays/closures.

Fountain and Colorado Springs enact accident alert status, encouraging drivers in non-injury crashes with no alcohol/drug involvement to exchange information and file reports by clicking here.

🎁 United Way Spreads Joy: 1,700 Gifts for Students

Pikes Peak United Way spreads holiday cheer, gifting over 1,700 presents to students in need at Remington, Carver, and Edison Elementary schools. The program, expanded for the second year, aims to fulfill every child's wish, with Santa possibly joining the festivities.

🤝 Partner with us to connect with our caring community through affordable advertising options that benefits both our valued subscribers and cherished local businesses. 💖

🎰 Illegal Gambling Crackdown: CSPD Seizes 120 Machines

Colorado Springs Police crack down on 34 illegal gambling spots, seizing over 120 machines. Some persisted despite warnings, leading to felony charges. Lt. Chacon emphasizes the link between these businesses and increased crime rates, focusing on reducing criminal activities. 

Upcoming COS Area Events

👆 Volunteers still needed Dec 16th

Join the Bob Telmosse' Foundation in their mission to bring holiday magic to those in need. Volunteer for the Christmas Giveaway event on December 16th, (setup today) and be a part of creating unforgettable memories.

Additionally, consider contributing to the Wish List by dropping off items at designated locations, spreading cheer in the true spirit of the season.

• Dec 14th - 31st, Tues & Wed 7 PM, Thurs & Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 2, 5, 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM: Elf The Musical @Fine Arts Center $26-$60.50

• Dec 14th-23rd, 5-7:30 PM: Electric Safari @Chyenne Mountain Zoo $24 non member

• Dec 14th, 7:30 AM: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting @1401 Recreation Way COS

• Dec 14th, 2-5 PM: 3-Hour Original Colorado Springs Food Tour @1 Tejon St $69-$87

• Dec 14th, 6:30-8:30 PM: Gingerbread Gnome | Upgrade w/ DIY Candle @Painting With a Twist | Powers Blvd $39-$49

• Dec 15th, (Every Friday) 9-10 AM: Senior Fitness @Westside Community Center $2

• Dec 16th, 10 AM; Centerpiece Workshop, Phelan Gardens, 4955 Austin Bluffs $22.50

• Dec 16th, 11 AM & 1 PM: Holiday Character Stroll @Downtown COS and Acacia Park FREE

• Dec 16th, 11 AM-1 PM: Merry&Bright Rustic Snowman | Canvas, Wood or Sled @Painting With A Twist, Downtown $39-59

• Dec 16th, noon-2 PM; Holiday Goat Patch Miniatures Ornament Make-and-Take workshop @ Goat Patch $30

• Dec 16th, 2 & 7 PM: Colorado Springs Conservatory’s Holiday Extravaganz! @ Ent Center for the Arts $20

• Dec 16th 7:30 PM & 17th 2:30 PM: Christmas Symphony, CS Philharmonic @Pikes Peak Center $42

🧵🎄 Upcoming Holiday Craft Fairs 🤶🧶

• Dec 17th, noon-5 PM; One Stop Holiday Shop @Goat Patch Brewing Company  

Have an upcoming event you want us to share?

👉 Click here to submit your event for consideration 👈

📦 USPS Holiday Mailing Deadlines 

• USPS Ground Advantage — Dec. 16

• First-Class Mail (including greeting cards) — Dec. 16

• Priority Mail — Dec. 18

• Priority Mail Express — Dec. 20

Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO), Diplomatic Post Office (DPO)

• First-Class Mail & Priority Mail deadline has passed

• Priority Mail Express Military Service — Dec. 15*

* PMEMS not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093

Lend a Hand! 🤝 Kindness Unleashed

In sync with our Kindness Series this week, today illuminates the profound connection between extending a helping hand and nurturing both kindness and well-being in your everyday life.

Extend a Helping Hand

In the midst of the holiday rush, let's extend a helping hand to those in need. Today, be on the lookout for opportunities to assist others. Whether it's helping someone carry their bags, holding the door open, or offering a kind word, these small acts of kindness create a ripple effect of positivity.

Remember, your kindness today could be the beacon that brightens someone else's day tomorrow!! 🤗💗

🥘 Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

This casserole combines brown rice with broccoli and chicken- no canned soup in sight! Instead, use yogurt for a lighter yet still wonderfully creamy chicken broccoli rice casserole! Best of all, this recipe uses just 10 ingredients, one pan, and practically just minutes of hands-on prep!

Prep: 7 mins | Cook: 50 mins | Total: 57 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb raw boneless & skinless chicken breasts cubed or 1 lb chicken thighs

• 2 tbsp avocado oil

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 2 tsp oregano

• 1 tsp salt

• Ground black pepper to taste

• 2 cups brown rice rinsed & drained

• 4 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock low sodium

• 8 cups 1.5 lbs broccoli, chopped

• 1 cup plain yogurt fat 2+%

• 1/4 cup green onion finely chopped

• 1 cup marble or any hard cheese shredded

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Preheat large dutch oven on medium-high heat and swirl oil to coat.

2. Add raw chicken, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add rice and stock, stir and bring to a boil. Lay broccoli on top and do not stir, cover and bake in the oven for 40 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven, add yogurt and green onion, stir. Sprinkle cheese on top.

5. Return to oven, bake until cheese has melted. Serve hot.

Notes

• Make ahead: You can freeze this before or after it’s baked. If cooking from frozen, add an extra hour to the baking time. Or allow it to thaw first, then bake as written in the recipe.

• Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in a fridge overnight. Reheat in a microwave or in the oven at 375 F for 10 minutes.

• Type of brown rice: Brown jasmine or basmati rice grains stay separated once cooked. Long grain brown rice is just as good taste wise. Short grain rice will yield in more mushy casserole but still delicious.

• Plain or Greek yogurt with 2% and higher fat content is best. Skim yogurt lacks flavor and will not make casserole as creamy.

• Chicken thighs: You can use boneless and skinless. Chicken breasts are more dry than thighs. Use what you have or like.

• Cannot make this in slow cooker.

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