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Mount Herman “Leap”
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Feb. 26, March 5, 18 & 20 – New hires in leadership positions; superintendent search and farewell
By Harriet Halbig The February meeting of the Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education was held late in the month, making it impossible to include in the March issue of OCN. At that meeting, Commander Antonio Cruz of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26 presented a plaque to the district thanking them for a $1,500 donation resulting from a Jeans for Veterans Day in November where staff could wear jeans to work if they made a donation. Above: The March 18 D38 Board of Education meeting marked the last board meeting for outgoing Superintendent KC Somers, whose last day with the district was March 31. Somers, who started in July 2019, had a tenure of nearly five years. Leadership team members from administration, principals, and board members spoke about Somers’ impact and support. Executive Director of Exceptional Student Services Rick Frampton highlighted Somers’ leadership during the pandemic, and board member Ron Schwarz…
El Paso County Planning Commission, March 7 and 21 – Highway 83 access plan approved
By Helen Walklett At the March 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Highway 83 Access Control Plan (ACP) and incorporate it into the county’s master plan. The commissioners also heard three land development requests for the Tri-Lakes area during March. Highway 83 access plan The ACP covers the stretch of Highway 83 from its junction with Powers Boulevard to County Line Road, a length of almost 10 miles. It is a long-range plan for 2045 and beyond aimed at improving safety and mobility. The county’s Department of Public Works, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the City of Colorado Springs worked together to develop the plan. CDOT led the work because it owns and maintains the corridor. The Planning Commission previously received a presentation of the proposed plan at its Dec. 7 meeting. See www.ocn.me/v24n1.htm#wpcpc. Arthur Gonzalez of CDOT told the…
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, March 28 – Minor subdivisions in Black Forest and Gleneagle approved
By Helen Walklett In March, the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered minor subdivision requests for properties in Black Forest and Gleneagle. Forest Heights Estates At their March 28 land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request by the Jon Didleaux and Phyllis Didleau Revocable Trust for approval of a 32.168-acre minor subdivision to create four single-family lots and two tracts. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is located at 8250 Forest Heights Circle east of Herring Road and north of Shoup Road. The subdivision will be known as Forest Heights Estates. The application came to the BOCC with a unanimous recommendation for approval from the March 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting. At that meeting, four citizens spoke in opposition, focusing on trail access, dedication of land for trail easements, the requested waivers (pertaining to allowing a private rather than public road and…
Monument Academy School Board, March 10, 14, and 21 – Board selects executive director candidates
By Jackie Burhans Monument Academy (MA) held two special meetings and one regular board meeting by Zoom in March. Both special meetings consisted primarily of executive sessions, the second of which yielded finalists for MA’s open executive director position. The board also updated policies and heard administrative and committee reports. Executive director finalists named The MA board held a special meeting on Thursday, March 21 to go into executive session to interview and discuss candidates not yet named as finalists for the position of executive director. Before entering the executive session, it added another item “to discuss personnel matters re: an employee grievance and legal advice related to the grievance process.” The board returned after two hours and unanimously advanced the finalists for the executive director position: Joshua Yancy, Colin Vinchattle, and David Stanfield. Vinchattle is currently MA’s middle school principal. A special meeting will be held on April 4…
Monument Town Council, March 4 and 18 – Council reviews redistricting, infrastructure, and parks
By Chris Jeub The Monument Town Council covered various topics in March, including discussions on Monument redistricting, infrastructure development along Jackson Creek Parkway, and Higby Road’s classification. The council approved a daytime park at Falcon Commerce Center and addressed water delivery costs and the ongoing debate between the Loop Renewable Water Project and the Northern Delivery System (NDS). Updates were provided on the building moratorium and an inquiry into raising traffic impact fees. Monument redistricting Discussions revolved around the presentation of findings and options regarding residential district boundaries by the council’s District Advisory Commission. Points included the existence of two residential districts and the necessity to enact changes 180 days before the upcoming election, as outlined in Ordinance No. 25-2023. Emphasizing principles such as one-person-one-vote, racial equality, compactness, contiguity, and preservation of communities of interest, the commission examined census data revealing a population imbalance between District 1 and District 2…
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, March 28 – Restoration of Elephant Rock cabins proposed
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) cancelled its March 4 meeting due to snow but convened on March 28 to hear a proposal from Lindsay and Richard Willan to restore six cabins and the long house at the Elephant Rock property. Town Attorney Scott Krob told the board that the application for annexation of the Ben Lomand property had been withdrawn. The board held a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a multi-family residential development in a C1 zone, followed by a vote on a resolution to grant the permit. It heard a request from Nikki McDonald to transfer a water tap from a property on Greeley Avenue to another property she owns. The board heard reports from Town Administrator Dawn Collins and Fire Chief John Vincent. The March 28 meeting was preceded by an executive session. Cabins could be asset…
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, March 11 – Board hears update on the Loop
By James Howald At its March meeting, the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) board heard operational reports from District Manager Jessie Shaffer, Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine, District Engineer Ariel Hacker, board Treasurer Roy Martinez, and board Secretary Bill Clewe, who also serves as the district’s liaison with the Joint Use Committee (JUC), which oversees the Tri-Lakes Waste Water Treatment Facility. The meeting ended with an executive session. Loop water reuse project advances In his Manager’s Report, Shaffer told the board he expected a report on Colorado Springs Utility’s Edward Bailey Water Treatment Facility (EBWTF) to be complete in March. The report will help the Loop board decide if the EBWTF can be used to treat the Loop’s water, or if the Loop will need to build its own treatment facility. That decision will be a large factor in determining the total cost of the water reuse project. Shaffer said…
Monument Sanitation District, March 20 – Property owner petitions for inclusion
By Jackie Burhans and James Howald The Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board held a public hearing March 20 on a homeowner’s petition for inclusion in the MSD service area. The board also heard an operational report from District Manager Mark Parker. Failing septic system prompts request Parker told the board that he had been approached by Rick Squires, the owner of a 2.8-acre property at 128 Monument Lake Rd., to provide sewer service to the property. Parker opened a public hearing to consider the request. Parker explained that the leech field of the septic system at Squires’ property was failing, and El Paso County would not issue a permit to repair or replace it since MSD had sewer infrastructure close to the property. Parker said that Squires would pay all costs required to bring sewer service to his property. Those costs would include an $8,000 sewer tap fee and the…
Continue Reading,,, Monument Sanitation District, March 20 – Property owner petitions for inclusion
Triview Metropolitan District, March 20 – Additional acre-feet of water decreed; escrow agreement approved
By Natalie Barszcz The Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) board held its regular meeting a day earlier than originally scheduled. The board heard about the district receiving an unexpected amount of additional acre-feet of water decreed from the Arkansas Valley Irrigation Co. (AVIC), approved an escrow agreement with a landowner, received multiple updates on the district’s projects, and heard about the snow removal efforts during the mid-March winter storm that delivered about 24 inches in some areas of the district. An executive session was held to discuss various matters. Secretary/Treasurer James Barnhart was excused. Extra acre-feet of water decreed District Manager James McGrady said AVIC had decreed an average annual yield of about 569.4 acre-feet of water. The district had been hoping for 526 acre-feet and had initially purchased about 435 acre-feet of water. The additional water cost to the district is about $688,775, for a total cost of about $5.9…
Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 21 – Good news on radium, PFAS
By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At its March meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board heard good news on water quality from General Manager Jeff Hodge. El Paso County Commissioner Holly Williams gave the board an overview of the county’s study of the Denver basin aquifers. The board also heard operational reports. Radium and PFAS at low levels Hodge told the board that the hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) adsorption technology the district had implemented had reduced radium in the water DWSD delivers to its customers from the Holbein water treatment plant. The maximum contaminant level for radium is 5 pCi/L and DWSD water had tested at 5.1 pCi/L in 2022, Hodge said. Recent testing showed radium at 1.2 pCi/L, well within the limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Hodge gave the board information developed by Merrick Inc., the engineering company DWSD hired to design its HMO…
Continue Reading,,, Donala Water and Sanitation District, March 21 – Good news on radium, PFAS
El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, March 21 – Board debates relationship to CS
By James Howald At a brief meeting in March, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board heard a progress report from John Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co., who also serves as the Loop Water Authority’s project planning and workflow manager. Board President Jessie Shaffer gave a financial report. The board also held an executive session. Alignment study underway Kuosman told the board that the alignment study, which will address the locations of pipelines and easements required to convey water from Fountain Creek northward to customers in the participating water districts, is underway and he expected it to be complete by the end of March. At a previous meeting, Rebecca Hutchinson, a consultant with Merrick who is working on pipeline and easement issues for the Loop, told the board that she has contracted with two companies that specialize in easement investigations…
Donald Wescott Fire Protection District, March 6 – Real property exclusion/inclusion approved
By Natalie Barszcz The Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) board met on March 6 and conducted a public hearing on the proposed exclusion of the majority of real property within the district’s jurisdiction pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 32-1-501(1.5) so that it may be included into the jurisdiction of Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD). Director Mike Forsythe joined the meeting at 4:52 p.m. Real property exclusion/inclusion proposal The district’s attorney, Emily Powell of Ireland Stapleton Pryor Pascoe PC law firm, attending in person, said the district and TLMFPD had been working since 2022 to merge the two agencies into a single fire protection district that will provide fire protection services to the combined area. TLMFPD will be the surviving district and will officially change its name to “Monument Fire District” to reflect the broader geographic area of the district. Powell said the merger…
Monument Fire District, Feb. 28, March 6 and 27 – Wescott property inclusion approved; land purchase agreements discussed
By Natalie Barszcz At the Monument Fire District meeting on Feb. 28, the board held a public hearing before approving the inclusion of two unincorporated El Paso County properties in the Forest View Acres subdivision, approved the 2024 Employee Handbook, and received an update on the Station 3 rebuild land purchase agreement. The board held a special meeting on March 6 to conduct a public hearing for the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) and Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) inclusion/exclusion of real property process. On March 27, the board received information about the land purchase costs to rebuild Station 3, received an after-action storm report for the mid-March snow event, and held a lengthy discussion on the opportunity to purchase acreage for a future sixth station. Fire Chief Andy Kovacs was absent for the Feb. 28 and the March 27 meetings. President Mike Smaldino…
Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, March 20 – District to provide clarity
By Janet Sellers Note: this reporter attended via an online Zoom meeting. This article was based on the agenda available online at www.BFFire.org, her notes from the meeting, and notes from BFFRPD secretary Donna Arkowski. Some details from the meeting were unavailable to this reporter at this writing. Black Forest fire district reaches full capacity for budget estimations The Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) appears to have reached full capacity considering budget estimations and configuration of facilities. This provides staff the opportunity to focus on solidifying processes, structure, procedures, asset management, and long-range planning. Therefore, staff has reorganized to emphasize the roles, responsibilities, and accountability for each section, branch, division, group, unit, and team. The monthly department report reflects these changes providing simple, clear, and concise information regarding projects and data while eliminating areas that have “nothing to report.” District to provide clarity Board Chair Nate Dowden noted that…
Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), March 9 – Council of Governments preparing wildfire protection plan
By Marlene Brown The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) held its bi-monthly meeting March 9. NEPCO’s purpose is to serve and be a point of contact between local government and agencies regarding land use matters that impact member associations and their residents. NEPCO is a nonprofit corporation formed in June 2000. Bob Swedenburg, vice president, is a founding member of NEPCO with continued service since its inception. Mike Aspenson, president, called the meeting to order. NEPCO has 51 Homeowners Associations (HOAs); there were 21 HOAs present, short of a quorum. Several board members gave their reports. Wildfire/Preparedness Committee Chair Beth Lonnquist spoke to remind those present that Monument Fire District (MFD) opened registration on March 26 for free chipping days for HOAs in the area. MFD will send two firefighters and a chipping truck. HOAs will need 10-12 people working together to prepare the slash and…
Gleneagle Civic Association Board of Directors, Mar. 17 – Discussion of management’s role continues
By David Futey On March 21, the Gleneagle Civic Association (GCA) Board of Directors held its bi-monthly meeting, which was the second meeting since the all-volunteer GCA board hired Warren Management Group (WMG) to assist with administration of the associated Gleneagle community. The GCA board members in attendance were President Gordon Streich, Vice President Shawna Uehling, Glen Leimbach, Mark Connell, and Glen Gutnayer. There were eight community members in attendance along with WMG representatives Joshua Gregory and Holly Finney. The meeting began at 5:30 p.m. In February, WMG emailed a document to GCA members and posted it to the GCA portal on the WMG website (portal.warrenmgmt.com). The document outlined WMG duties and services provided to the GCA board and community. These duties include certain homeowners’ communications; management services such as advising the Board of Directors who retain decision-making responsibility and serving as a liaison with legal counsel when legal action…
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Feb. 28 and March 27 – Tri-Lakes Women’s Club donates defibrillator
By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Feb. 28 after the deadline for the March edition of OCN. At that meeting, the board heard about plans to increase safety at Toboggan Hill along with other director reports. At the March 27 WIA board meeting, representatives from the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) gave an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the board. The board also heard concerns from a resident on the placement of a shed on a neighboring property. Automated external defibrillator given to WIA Carol Costakis, Jan McKinley, and Sue Leggiero from the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club told about their organization which has existed for over 50 years with a mission to do community service, grant making, and provide educational opportunities for its members and the community. TLWC has given out over $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and public service agencies. Most recently they…
March Weather Wrap
By Bill Kappel March this year had its usual swings between winter and spring and was of course punctuated by a major snowstorm during the middle of the month. Temperatures were a little below average overall, but there were no real cold or warm periods. Precipitation and snowfall were above average again, which is good news because moisture during this time of the year is critical for the start of the growing season. After a slow start to the snowfall this season, we have managed to put three months in a row of above normal snowfall, bringing our seasonal total to above average and we still have another month or so of good snowfall potential. The month started off mild, with highs reaching the upper 50s to low 60s, about 15-20 degrees warmer than normal for the start of March. This was interrupted by a quick-moving cold front that brought…
Letters to Our Community – Protect Fox Run Park from development
The El Paso County Parks and Recreation Department’s decision to construct a multi-million-dollar nature center facility in a remote section of Fox Run Park, with a tower and canopy walk, event room, and a 60-car parking area, will destroy the very qualities that make this small, forested park so special. A news release on the website even says the structure is envisioned as a hub for tourism. The county claims to have done public outreach but made zero effort to include locals who are most directly impacted. If you study the reports on its website, it is obvious that it began with this goal and worked backward to justify it; all decisions were made privately by park and nature center staff/volunteers and its hired design/architecture team. The feasibility study doesn’t even consider any environmental or wildlife impacts, and the traffic study incredibly claims that there will be no impact on…
Continue Reading,,, Letters to Our Community – Protect Fox Run Park from development
Letters to Our Community – Environmental disaster looming at Colorado Pumpkin Patch?
An estimated 500 cubic yards of finely ground asphalt millings from the surface of public roads are piled up at the Colorado Pumpkin Patch LLC property on 40 acres of residential-zoned land next to Highway 105 west of Highway 83. These asphalt granules contain cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and likely heavy metals as well as accumulated tire and vehicle brake wear residue and engine exhaust artifacts from years of road use. The asphalt paving industry recycles almost all asphalt millings into new hot rolled asphalt which seals in the contaminants. Unbound (loose) asphalt millings have an incredibly high total surface area through which rain and snow melt percolates, leaching contaminants into the aquifer below. The Pumpkin Patch is surrounded by residences which obtain drinking water from their private wells. Above: Graphic provided by Dave Ellis. El Paso County stipulated these asphalt millings are to be spread over acres of…
Letters to Our Community – Little Log Church celebrates 100 years
For 100 years, the Little Log Church has stood in Palmer Lake. It is a humble, log structure that has survived various congregations and generations. It has been embraced and loved by many, ig- nored by some, and disliked by others. Regardless of the community’s feelings about the church, it continues to stand firmly here. What purpose does Little Log Church have? Well, its purpose is to show God’s faithfulness to all who live here—to assure broken, weary, sinful, defeated, seekers of God that God has a presence here. God’s glory is clearly displayed in the beautiful surround- ings, but He is also in the people who seek Him here. We are grateful for the community of people at Little Log Church and for those in our wider com- munity of churches who acknowledge that God has a future and hope for us. Little Log Church is more than just…
Continue Reading,,, Letters to Our Community – Little Log Church celebrates 100 years
Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Poetry month
By the staff at Covered Treasures “Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.”—Rita Dove April is National Poetry Month! Reading poetry can engage all the senses and is one reason many children’s picture books are written in poetry form. This month we feature poetry for all ages, written by nationally known authors as well as some talented local poets. You Are Here; Poetry in the Natural WorldAda Limon, Editor (Milkweed Editions) $25 This sparkling curated collection was edited by Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. poet laureate. It is in honor of the natural world and all it means to be humans living within it. The poems selected for inclusion can be appreciated by experienced poetry lovers as well as by those who are just beginning to learn to appreciate the art of poetry. Coffee Cup Tales & Old Car NutsBy Lon Wartman $16 The witty, truthful, and…
Continue Reading,,, Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Poetry month
April Library Events – National Library Week – Newly extended hours in Monument
By Harriet Halbig The week of April 8 is National Library Week. In commemoration, the Monument Library will hold an open house on Tuesday, April 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy dessert platters from Lolly’s Ice Cream, a program of Irish dancers from Rose Courtney Academy of Irish Dance at 7 p.m., and a scavenger hunt with a prize of a family fun pack from Dave and Buster’s. There will be a planetarium-themed escape room for teens on April 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. The program, Back to the Planetarium, is open to ages 12 to 18. Registration is required. Please go to the library website ppld.org and then programs by location. Or call 719-531-6333 extension 7005. The tween Dungeons and Dragons Club, for ages 9 to 12, will meet on May 4 from 4 to 5:30. No experience is required and new members are welcome. Registration is required at…
Continue Reading,,, April Library Events – National Library Week – Newly extended hours in Monument
Palmer Lake Historical Society, Mar. 21 – Presentation on Monument Cemetery
By Marlene Brown The Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) March meeting began with introduction of 2024 President Jennine Engel, a longtime resident whose family is from Palmer Lake. Then Doug Lange, treasurer, presented a $500 check on behalf of PLHS to Sue Cook as a grant to the Spring Valley Cemetery. It is another pioneer cemetery located off County Line Road in Douglas County. The next presentation was a charcoal drawing of Catherine McShane, wife of David McShane, one of the first homesteaders in 1865 in the Town of Palmer Lake. There has been a charcoal drawing of David McShane hanging in Lucretia Vaille Museum, but recently the picture of Catherine was found in the frame and hidden behind David’s picture. What a surprise! The March program The Monument Cemetery was presented by John Howe and Michael Weinfeld. Howe is a member of the board for Our Community News and a former member of…
Continue Reading,,, Palmer Lake Historical Society, Mar. 21 – Presentation on Monument Cemetery
On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Mount Herman “Leap”
By Steve Pate Occasionally I saw the term, “grid day,” mentioned by Randy Phillips on social media. I was not sure what this meant until I learned that Phillips intended to summit Mount Herman on Feb. 29 to complete his grid—summitting Mount Herman on every calendar day of the year. This meant that he had the chance to complete his “grid” only every four years when a Leap Year rolled around. Above: Group photo on Broken Ankle Trail to Mount Herman. Photo by Randy Phillips. So, on Thursday, Feb. 29 (Leap Day), Phillips and 24 supporters ascended Mount Herman via the Broken Ankle Trail and celebrated Phillips’s completion of his goal on all 366 calendar days. Steve Pate can be contacted at stevepate@ocn.me Other On the Trail articles
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Enjoy being outdoors, but be prepared (11/2/2024)
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Prescribed burn promotes forest health (7/6/2024)
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Palmer Lake bridge dedication ceremony (6/1/2024)
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Cadets build bridge over Monument Creek (5/4/2024)
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Palmer Lake Reservoir hike (3/2/2024)
- On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Black Forest Trails Association (12/2/2023)
- Mount Herman fire averted (11/4/2023)
- Letters to Our Community – Protesting no parking signs at Pike National Forest (11/4/2023)
- On the Trail (in Memory of Tim Watkins) – Investigation of Tim Watkins’ murder revitalized (10/5/2023)
Continue Reading,,, On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins) – Mount Herman “Leap”
High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Garden helps, bloopers, and dangers
By Janet Sellers April for gardeners April still gets lots of cold weather that can kill garden plants that don’t have their organic systems at work. The organic garden has a natural pace for give-and-take with microorganisms that plants depend on for life. The microcosm of organic organisms survives cold weather dormancy but doesn’t get going until the soil climate is right for activity at specific temperatures. Many use frost cloth for temperature and harsh weather protection into the summer season. Music from nature Last month, I shared that bird songs and classical music have a profound effect on plants. Human speech also plays a part. But overstimulation—especially from loud or strident music—is harmful to the plant, also true for other living things like people and animals. Bird song sound frequencies can also have a calming effect on plants, reducing stress and improving their ability to cope with environmental factors…
Continue Reading,,, High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Garden helps, bloopers, and dangers
Art Matters – The most beautiful investment and tax deduction
By Janet Sellers Art to buy, lease, or rent has its benefits We can buy art, but we can also lease or rent artworks. Sculptures and artworks lend a powerful uplift to places, especially businesses. One primary source for art leasing is the artmakers themselves. Leasing allows the prospective buyer to get a feel for the art in the place, such as a corporate building or to give a special atmosphere to a property—visitors and tenants like to feel the luxury that art brings to a place. Museums offer art rentals, and there are art rental agreements with art collectors as well, since rental and leasing income is another way that art generates income while keeping ownership. Museums and private collectors are two ways to do this, and sometimes galleries will rent or lease artworks. Often, the temporary art rental may become a sale as well. Art dealers also allow…
Continue Reading,,, Art Matters – The most beautiful investment and tax deduction
Snapshots of Our Community
NASTaP hike in Fox Run Park, Mar. 9 Above: Members of Native American Sacred Trees and Places (NASTaP) and others went on a hike with Heidi Wigand-Nicely to look for Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) on March 9 in Fox Run Regional Park. CMTs in Fox Run Park have been purported to have been bent, twisted, grafted or otherwise modified by the Ute and other tribes before the late 1800s. One of NASTaP’s strategic goals is to identify, document and protect Native American CMTs and sacred places. Nearly 100 trees have been identified in Fox Run Park with distinguishing traits such as bark peels, bent shapes and tie-down marks, girdling and burls, split trunks, and branches. The trees were used for trail markers, burial markers, medicine, and for ceremonial purposes. Fox Run Park and the surrounding areas included in the Front Range are known campsites for the nomadic indigenous peoples for hundreds…
Our Community Notices
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the information number for that event. Please notify us if your event listing needs to be updated. Tax preparation help VITA provides free tax preparation to individuals and families who have a household income of less than $60,000. For more information contact Elizabeth Quevedo, Senior V.P. of Community Impact, Pikes Peak United Way, elizabeth@ppunitedway.org, 719-955-0762 (ofc), 423-333-4431 (cell). WMMI needs volunteers The Museum of Mining and Industry is currently recruiting for Visitor Services Associates and Guides. Please consider sharing your time and expertise. Volunteers must be 18 and older and pass a background check. For information about volunteer opportunities, please call 719-488-0880 or email at volunteer@wmmi.org. Children’s Literacy Center The center provides free one-on-one literacy tutoring to Tri-Lakes…
Our Community Calendar
By Janet Sellers Although we strive for accuracy in these listings, dates or times are often changed after publication. Please double-check the time and place of any event you wish to attend by calling the info number for that event. Please contact calendar@ocn.me with changes and additions. GOVERNMENTAL BODIES Forest Lakes Metropolitan District, Pinon Pines Metropolitan District 1, 2 & 3 board typically meets quarterly on the first Mon. Meetings are held via teleconference. For virtual joining instructions and updates see www.forestlakesmetrodistrict.com. El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, usually every Tue., 9 am. View agendas and meetings at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Meetings are held at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Info: 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1pm Centennial Hall. Monument Town Council meeting, Mon., Apr. 1 & 15, 6:30 pm, Town…