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

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Snapshots of Our Community

Picnic N Planes, May 30

Above: On May 30, the Western Museum of Mining & Industry (WMMI) held its annual Picnic N Planes event in celebration of the Air Force Academy graduation and Thunderbirds air show. The museum’s hilltop was dotted with numerous lawn chairs, blankets, and umbrellas to shade the sun as over 500 visitors took advantage of the ideal vantage point for the Thunderbird’s aerial show. Museum Executive Director Grant Dewey said the museum “was very excited to host the event and to have visitors from around the state take part.” Museum volunteer Gary Steffens was among a group aged 19 to 75 from Denver and Colorado Springs who make this an annual event. Steffens said, “This is the ninth year we have attended for the friendship, food to share, and the great air show.” The museum has hosted the event for more than a dozen years. Information on upcoming museum events is at wmmi.org. Photo by David Futey.

Sanctuary Pointe Park opens

Above: The Triview Metropolitan District Board of Directors and Classic Homes officially opened the new Sanctuary Pointe Park on Sanctuary Rim Drive in Sanctuary Pointe on May 31. Food trucks were available and Wirewood Station provided music from the covered pavilion. Jim McGrady handled the ribbon-cutting on behalf of Tri-Lakes Metropolitan District. Triview and Classic Homes each contributed about $1 million to the construction, which includes a sporting field, covered pavilion, and access to about 10 miles of hiking trails. Photo by Steve Pate.

Tri-Lakes Lions Fishing Derby

Above and below: The Tri-Lakes Lions Club held its annual kids fishing derby at Palmer Lake on June 1. About 260 kids registered for this year’s event and were accompanied by parents or other adults who helped bait hooks, cast, and handle fish. Last year’s event was cold and windy, but this year saw calm, sunny conditions. Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocked the lake with rainbow trout a few days before the derby, and those using “power baits” seemed to land more fish than those using worms or other baits. Again this year, Jim Hazuka organized the Lions Club and other volunteers who helped with registration and measuring fish for the contests—largest fish for each age group. Sponsors included Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which donated fishing gear for those who did not bring their own, Bass Pro Shops, Roadrunner Bait, which donated free fishing worms, Rosie’s Diner, the Town of Palmer Lake, Safeway, Colorado Friends and Family Fishing, Tri-Lakes Printing, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and 3GEngagement. Photos by Steve Pate.

Kiwanis celebrates 50th

Above: Monument Hill Kiwanis Club celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 1. Members got together at Maguireville, which is where Monument resident Jim Maguire has two barns filled with memorabilia. They celebrated past Kiwanis achievements and heard President Scott Ross talk about plans for the future. A spokesman says the club gave out $109,000 in grants last year to “make a positive difference for youth and our community.” Photo by Bob Harrigan.

Silver Key Thrift Store reopens

Above: The Silver Key Thrift Store in the West End Center on Highway 105 has expanded and had its “Grand Reopening” on June 7. About 100 people turned out to support the store, which provides funding for many activities and resources for seniors through the local Silver Key Senior Center in the Grace Best Elementary School building in Monument. Jason DeBueno, president of Silver Key, Colorado Springs, was on hand, along with local dignitaries Jayme Holligan, director of Volunteer Events and Community Engagement, and Sue Walker, who manages the local Silver Key center. Tammy Jones manages the newly reopened thrift store and the volunteers who staff and support the store. The store offers a variety of clothing, books, paintings, tools, cooking utensils, etc., at low cost. Photo by Steve Pate.

D38 Innovate 38, June 20

Above: On June 20, nearly 50 people gathered at the D38 Learning Center in the Big Red administration building to participate in the Innovate 38 community discussion. Attendees included staff, parents, community members, community partners, and students. The forum was designed to discuss programming ideas for D38’s new Career and Innovation Center, to be located at the newly purchased facility, slated to open in August 2025. Director of Innovative Programs Jessica McAllister welcomed attendees, set meeting norms, and defined Career and Technical Education (CTE) as a modern, expanded version of vocational technology that emphasizes real-world, hands-on skills leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs. Dr. Tatiana Bailey Ph.D. of Data-Driven Economic Strategies, reviewed the state of the job market, focusing on job areas with high rates of growth. Attendees broke into table sessions to discuss goals for programming in the new center. For more information on CTE, see www.lewispalmer.org/page/career-technical-education. To see the Innovate 38 forum video and slides, see bit.ly/d38-innovate. Pictured standing at the front of the room with the microphone is McAllister. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative

Above: The Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA) held one of six public listening meetings at Bear Creek Elementary School on June 21. The alliance introduced and explained the Outdoor Pikes Peak Initiative (OPPI) and listened to interested members of outdoor businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and local outdoor enthusiasts. The PPROA’s mission is to strengthen the outdoor industry in the Pikes Peak Region through leadership and collaboration. One of its core values is the protection, conservation, and stewardship of natural resources. Land and water management promotes healthy ecosystems for communities and wildlife. Proper management of natural resources can promote economic growth for local businesses and the workforce, the alliance says. PPORA is asking for help from the area communities in the planning process of OPPI. For more information, contact it at pproa.org. Photo by Marlene Brown.

Rainbow over Gleneagle, June 21

Above: For a brief moment at 5:30 a.m. on June 21, a rainbow greeted early risers in the Gleneagle area as a light rain fell. Photo by David Futey.

Shakespeare in Palmer Lake, June 22

Above and below: Shakespeare’s Two Gents was presented by Act Out Theatreworks on the Village Green in Palmer Lake on Saturday, June 22. The play is a version of Two Gentlemen from Verona. Using the words of Shakespeare’s time, actors were staged upon the lawn, attired in campy modern garb. The event was courtesy of the Palmer Lake Arts Council. Photo above by Janet Sellers. Photo below by Lynn Roth.

St. Peter welcomes new principal

Above: St. Peter Catholic School has a new principal. Karen Shannahan comes from St. Pius X Catholic School in Aurora, where she held the same position. Before that, she was a fifth-grade teacher at Monument Academy. The school says Shannahan “plans to focus on forming virtuous students and promoting academic excellence through nurturing relationships with students, parents, staff, parishioners and the Monument community.” Photo courtesy of Karen Shannahan.

Art Hop, June 28

Above: June 28, artist Steve Castle of Woodmoor presented his watercolors of Americana at the Love Shop outdoor porch venue. An Air Force veteran and aerospace retiree, Castle has been making watercolor paintings since childhood. Next to him is his painting The Sole Survivor. The vintage truck depicted was the only surviving—and untouched—part of the Flying W Ranch after the Waldo Canyon wildfire.
Above: James Divine of JazzySaxMan.com played pop songs on his saxophone on Front Street.
Above: The music group Hickabee, complete with bass, fiddle, guitars, and mandolin, played folk and blues tunes from the Monument Mercantile shop veranda for Art Hop passersby. Photos by Janet Sellers.

Art Sites completes installations

Above: On June 28, the selection committee for the Art Sites outdoor public art in Monument celebrated the completion of the installation of sculptures throughout Monument in June at the Secret Window events venue. The artist call was well received nationwide, and artists from across the United States submitted their work with 12 artists’ works chosen for the 2024-25 exhibition season, delivered by the artists and installed by the Town of Monument in June. Photo by Janet Sellers.

Other Snapshots of Our Community