OCN

Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

OCN > 2301 > Snapshots of Our Community

Snapshots of Our Community

Monument tree lighting, Dec. 3

The Monument holiday tree lighting event was held Dec. 3 at the Limbach Park. Hundreds of onlookers enjoyed music and conviviality in the afternoon, and just as the sun set, the park was lit up with holiday lights. Many people were wearing Santa hats, but Santa himself was also in the crowd to greet kids and join the fun. Caption by Janet Sellers. Photo by Michael Weinfeld. See page < 24 > for additional photos and information on the festive event.

TLWC to accept 2023 grant applications starting Jan. 15

Eligible groups can start applying for grants from the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) on Jan. 15. Groups eligible to apply for grants up to $2,000 include nonprofits, public service organizations, and public schools that serve the Tri-Lakes area. The TLWC grant program focuses on smaller organizations that typically don’t have the staffing or resources to pursue grants from major granting foundations. In the photo taken Oct. 1, Monument Warriors Team Coordinator Lisa Glen displays the new track uniforms and sound system purchased with a TLWC 2022 grant. Photo by Sue Leggiero.

Monument Hill Kiwanis sponsors North Pole Craft Fair, Dec. 3

Above: On Dec. 3, the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club presented the 16th annual North Pole at Tri-Lakes Arts and Crafts Fair at the Grace Best education center, 66 Jefferson St. in Monument. A variety of arts and crafts were featured, and the “Cookie Walk” returned. Live music entertained visitors throughout the event.
Above: RF Smith greeted visitors and explained how the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club contributes to our community and its youths. Photos by Steve Pate.
Above: Members of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club took part in the North Pole at Tri-Lakes Arts and Crafts Fair at Grace Best Education Center on Dec. 3. The fair is one of the ways the Kiwanis raise money for El Paso County nonprofits. From left are, Kathy and Rich Strom, Rich Hicks, Scott Ross and Mark Zeiger. Photo by Warren Gerig.

Monument Hill Kiwanis rang the bell at King Soopers and Walmart

Mahlon Lang of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club was one of the members who rang the bell for the Salvation Army during the holiday season. Club members act as bell ringers outside King Soopers and Walmart in Monument from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve. Overall, Kiwanis volunteers contribute over 750 hours each year to this project. All proceeds are donated to the Salvation Army. Photo by Bob Harrigan.

Monument celebrates Small Town Christmas, Dec. 3

Above: Elves were on hand to greet visitors and celebrate Small Town Christmas in Historic Monument on Dec. 3. Here, an elf stands by Bella Casa and the Roost, two local shops, welcoming passersby into the stores.
Above: The costumed gnome guest artist at the Roost offered her newest work, Gnomes and More Gnomes, for her first ever presentation and sale. Can you find the human among the gnomes here? Photos by Janet Sellers.

Monument tree lighting, Dec. 3

Local dancers performed parts of their Newfangled Nutcracker holiday program Dec. 3 at the Limbach Park band stage as part of the Monument holiday tree lighting event.. Photos above by Janet Sellers. Photo below by Michael Weinfeld. See also the photo on page < 1 >.

Shield616 awards Monument PD protective gear, Dec. 5

The Monument Police Department (MPD) has been awarded six more sets of protective amor. Donors, supporters, and several officers gathered at Arlene’s Beans on Dec. 5 for Shield616 to present the equipment to MPD. Shield616 is a nonprofit ministry created to support first responders throughout Colorado, Oklahoma, and Wyoming with new, upgraded vests and other safety items to protect them while doing their job. For more information and to donate, go to shield616.org/donate. Photo by Marlene Brown.

Monument Lake closed for sewer replacement project, Dec. 5

Above and below: Monument Lake closed on Dec. 5 for a sewer improvement project. Palmer Lake Sanitation District is upgrading the main sewer line from 12 inches to 18 inches. The work is expected to be finished this month. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.

From a reader: The Moon, the Stars, and Mars, Dec. 8

I took this photo on Dec. 8. It shows the Palmer Lake Star, the full moon with Mars, and a passing train. You have to love Palmer Lake! Photo by John Emmons.

David Arkenstone and Friends at TLCA, Dec. 9

David Arkenstone and Friends performed an eclectic mix of instrumental music to an appreciative sold-out audience at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts on Dec. 9. Arkenstone, a five-time Grammy nominee with numerous Billboard hits, was accompanied by Kimberly Zaleski (flutist), Megan Shung (violin), Carlyn Kessler (cello), and Josh Gilgoff (percussion). Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker ballet at an early age, Arkenstone proceeded to become a world-renowned dynamic instrumentalist and musical storyteller. His music has been heard in movie and television scores, World of Warcraft and other video game soundtracks, themes for various NBC Sports events, and in over 60 released studio albums. The concert play list included a mix of genres and winter themed songs including Jade Mountain, Arabian Nights, I Saw Three Ships, The Ice Palace, Snow Dance, and Snows of Avalon. Photo by David Futey.

Friends of Fox Run Park Ornament Party, Dec. 10

On Dec. 10, kids of all ages joined the Friends of Fox Run Park Volunteers—including
local high school Honor Society volunteers—to make festive holiday ornaments from wooden tree cookies and eat holiday treats with spiced cider. The free annual event celebrates and appreciates the Friends and is held at Fox Run Park in the Warming Hut next to the Twin Ponds. Twin Ponds is always frozen this time of year,
but it was much warmer—and jollier —inside the Warming Hut. Photo by Janet Sellers.

A Christmas Carol at Palmer Lake Town Hall, Dec. 10

Above and below: At Palmer Lake Town Hall on Dec. 10, the “Funky Little Theater Company” (a Palmer Lake Arts Council event), gave its modern, fantastical adaptation of A Christmas Carol complete with fireside chats that led into the old-timey story with its timeless message that all people can choose to share kindness and compassion, but only while they are alive, and especially in the wintry holiday season. The story is Charles Dickens’ 1843 response to society’s scorn of poverty, especially child poverty; Dickens wished to put forward arguments against it. Dickens’ powerful Victorian-era story later inspired several aspects of Christmas, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit. Photos by Janet Sellers.

Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17

Monument cemetery took part in the national Wreaths Across America program on Dec. 17. The local program was organized by Wreaths Across America coordinator Sheri Miller. Retired U.S. Lt. Col. John Sharp laid the Army wreath. Aviation ASW Operator Third Class Doug Lyons, U.S. Navy veteran, laid the Marine Corps wreath and gave the closing prayer. Ken Kimple, U.S. Navy retired, laid the Navy wreath. Rep. Terri Carver, U.S. Air Force retired, laid the Air Force wreath. Trustee Sana Abbott laid the Space Force wreath; U.S. Navy Senior Chief William Doyle laid the Coast Guard wreath; Lt. Col. Tim Marburger, U.S. Air Force, retired, laid the Merchant Marines wreath and Mayor-elect Mitch LaKind, U.S. Navy veteran, laid the POW/MIA wreath. Photo and caption provided by the Town of Monument.

Chamber Christmas Party, Dec. 20

Leann Hemenway (center) of Community Banks of Colorado welcomes the Tri-lakes Chamber of Commerce as hosts of their yearly Christmas party Dec. 20. Also pictured to her right: Santa Claus (Jeff MacLean of Thrivent Financial), President and CEO of the Chamber Terri Hayes, Justin Styll of Tall Boy Marketing, and Board Chairman Eric Metzger of EmPower Technologies. Photo by Chris Jeub.

Monument Preserve Wildfire mitigation as of Dec. 27

Continuing efforts to mitigate wildfire risks are evident along trails in the Monument Preserve. Substantial groves of Gambel oak and other vegetation have been removed along the trail just south of Mount Herman Road leading to Monument Rock as seen Dec. 27. Photo by Steve Pate.

Pikes Peak Fireworks, Dec. 31

Members of the Pikes Peak AdAmAn Club set off fireworks from the top of Pikes Peak at midnight New Year’s Eve, a tradition it started in 1922. The mountaineers climbed Pikes Peak on Dec. 30 and 31 to ignite the spectacular display seen all over the area including in Monument. These photos were taken in the Costco parking lot on North Nevada Avenue. The AdAmAn Club is dedicated to the memory of the original members, Ed Morath, Fred Morath, Fred Barr, Willis Magee, and Harry Standley. They intended to add only one new member a year, which is where the AdAmAn club got its name (AdAmAn=add a man). The club now has more than 100 current, honorary, associate, and charter members. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Other Snapshots of Our Community articles

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *