Almanac Week of 02.12.20

Wednesday, Feb. 12

TSC (Teller Senior Coalition) Transit is excited to announce our bus service on Wednesdays and Fridays in Woodland Park and the lower Ute Pass area. TSC also offers a joint venture with Cripple Creek Transit on Wednesdays to provide much needed transportation service between Cripple Creek and Woodland Park. TSC Transit will be picking up from the Senior Center and will be making stops at Pikes Peak Family Medicine, Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, City Market, Safeway, Walgreens, Walmart and the Department of Social Services upon request. In addition, new ride services are available on a limited basis to Green Mountain Falls, Cascade and Manitou Springs. Call 719-687-0256 for more details or visit the TSC website at www.tellerseniorcoalition.org. for a full schedule of pick up and drop off time

Chamber Award Nominations. Nominations for the Chamber’s prestigious Annual Awards have opened and have been extended. What better time than RIGHT NOW to reflect back on the Year of 2019 and submit your nomination for one or more of the following categories. Categories include Business of the Year, Employee of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and of course, the title prize, Wagon Boss. Nominees for the above named awards will be kept confidential. Notification will be made to the winner prior to the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on March 20, 2020.  Save the date on your calendar to attend the dinner, too!  Watch your mail for the Dinner invitation. For more information, visit the Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce website.

Feb. 13

The Teller County Commissioners will meet on Feb. 13 at 9:15 a.m. in the Centennial Building in Cripple Creek.

The Woodland Park Planning Commission will meet on Feb. 13 at the Woodland Park Council Chambers, located next to city hall, starting at 7 p.m.

Feb. 14

Happy Valentine’s Day from TMJ. Check out the many offerings at local restaurants, eateries, bars and casinos.

Saturday, Feb. 15

Final weekend for Cripple Creek Ice Festival. The annual Cripple Creek Ice Festival is a must see for everyone in February.  The ice carvers are carve their design masterpieces in ice between February 8th and February 16th.  This year carvers will be competing for a “People’s Choice” cash prize. Visitors to the event will be able to vote for the carving that they think is the best.  On Feb. 16th the winner will be announced.  The carvers were given the option to pick whatever theme they wanted.  There will be carvings of underwater creatures, mystical dragons, characters from Toy Story, and giant insects to name a few. A significant ice sculpture will be completed by Saturday, Feb. 8th, by each carver.  They will add to the carving and/or complete another significant piece by Feb. 15th.  Your vote counts each time you come to the event.  Voting can be done at the Official Ice Festival Merchandise Area, or at select Player’s Clubs inside Bronco Billy’s, the Brass Ass, the Christmas Casino, JP McGills or the Midnight Rose.  Each day those that vote will be entered into a new drawing for special prizes. Food and retails vendors as well as music and a beer garden will be set up on Saturdays and Sundays, Feb. 8th & 9th, and Feb. 15th & 16th, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  The carvings will be lit up at night and they can be viewed throughout the festival and until they start to melt.  Official event merchandise will be available to purchase from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily, Feb. 8th-16th. For more information, call Jeff Mosher, the marketing director for the city of Cripple Creek, at 719-689-3461 or check out https://visitcripplecreek.com/event/ice-fest/?srh=Cripple+Creek+Ice+Festival

Fossil Beds Activities.  The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant is open year-round. The Monument is now open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Here are a few of the special programs for February: *Great Backyard Bird Count, Saturday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds as they host the citizen science event called The Great Backyard Bird Count. During this event, you will be able to join a park volunteer/birder to help count birds. The data will be used by scientists to track the health of bird populations. It’s a world-wide event. Join park volunteers as they lead bird hikes at 9:15 AM, 10:15 AM, or 11:15 AM. There will also be activities for families (i.e. scavenger hunt and making bird-feeders) from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. There is no cost beyond the normal entrance fee of $10.00 per adult (15 years and younger are free).*Night Sky Program, February 21 from 7   to 9 p.m. Join park staff and members of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society to gaze at the dark skies above Florissant Fossil Beds in search of planets, galaxies, nebulas, and more. Meet at the visitor center.

There are no additional fees for any park programs beyond the daily entrance fee of $10.00 per adult (15 and younger are free). Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers 15 miles of beautiful, yet lesser known, hiking trails to explore, a free Junior Ranger Program, three short self-guided trails, a park video and museum exhibits, and bookstore.  For additional information, please call (719) 748-3253 or visit our website: www.nps.gov/flfo or on Facebook or Twitter at /FlorissantNPS

Mueller Hikes and Activities. With cooler days, celebrate winter at Mueller State Park. This is a great time to avoid the crowds and enjoy a plethora of great trails on foot, snowshoe or by cross-country, telemark skis.   A full schedule of naturalist programs can help you to look, learn and enjoy the surroundings.   All activities are free; a park pass for your vehicle is the only cost. Scheduled hikes, with special naturalists and park experts, are held on most weekends. For more information, call 719-687-2366.

Upcoming

Volunteers Sought For Advisory Committees/Commissions. The town of Green Mountain Falls is searching for volunteers for a number of key advisory groups, such as the Trails Committee, Planning Commission, Fire Mitigation Committee and Parks and Recreation Committee. These groups play a key role in advising the trustees. See related story in this week’s TMJ. And for more information, or to apply for any (or all) of the available opportunities, please follow the link below and submit the completed information to Town Hall. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Volunteer%20Application_2.pdf]

Chamber Business After Hours is Teller County’s largest networking event.  All Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to attend.  Take advantage of this opportunity to network and catch up with your friends, clients and customers plus meet new members in an informal setting.  Business After Hours is a great way to share information about your business and learn about other members. Fun, food, drinks and door prizes.  Don’t forget your business cards. The next After Hours event is scheduled for Feb. 18 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The event, is hosted by Park State Bank & Trust, will feature great prizes. For more information, call 719-687-9885.

Carniball “Rocky’s Middle Earth.” This is scheduled for Feb. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Memorial Hall in Manitou Springs. This is the third annual Manitou Springs CarniBall. Come and enjoy the Mardi Gras-inspired evening, complete with masquerade ball, tapas and dancing. For  more information contact the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau at 719-685-5089 or visit www.manitousprings.org.

Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cookoff and Carnivale Parade. This annual event, kicks off on Feb.  22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-off at Soda Springs Park in downtown historic Manitou Springs. The parade then follows at 1 p.m. For more information, contact the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau and Office of Economic Development (719) 685-5089.

Shop and Ski. This popular discount program, offered by the Manitou Springs Visitors Center, allows participants to receive a 40 percent off voucher to Ski Monarch. Save Manitou Springs shopping, dining, lodging, gas or service receipts dated from now through March 15 and turn them into the Manitou Springs Visitors Center, 354 Manitou Avenue.  There are a few blackout dates, such as Feb. 15 and Feb. 16.

Shooting Program For Kids. Join the Teller County Marksmanship & Self-Defense Group shooting program for grades 8-12 students of Teller County.Instruction will cover basic marksmanship and emphasize the safe and responsible operation and use of firearms. The course, in conjunction with Teller County 4-H Shooting Sports, will offer both rimfire and air-rifle instruction, and be conducted in Victor and Divide. Instructors will include NRA certified and US Olympic qualified personnel. All necessary equipment, firearms, and ammo will be provided. Parents Contact Annie Durham 719-722-9248.

Ute Pass-Woodland Park Kiwanis Bingo. Join the fun during the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Twenty dollars buys a packet for 10 games, 6 cards for each game It’s a great opportunity to have fun and socialize with your friends and neighbors. Come early and have dinner! Food and drinks will be available for purchase during the games!  This event is sponsored by the Ute Pass-Woodland Park Kiwanis club.  The proceeds benefit the children of Teller County. For more information, call 315-5004 or email upkiwanis@gmail.com.

Taste of the Grape. Scheduled for March 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. The fund-raising event is sponsored by Ute Pass Kiwanis and Banana Belt Liquors and features more than 50 wines and  brews. Appetizers donated by a variety of local restaurants. Proceeds benefit the children of Teller County. For more information, call 719-6862595. Tickets available at Banana Belt Liquors and at www.eventbrite.com.

Stop the Bleeding Training. On Sat. March 21st at 9am, a Stop The Bleed class conducted by members of the Cripple Creek Fire Department will be held.  Thanks’ to Chief Dean O’Nale and his people we are able to offer this class for FREE.If you are not familiar with the Stop The Bleed program, it is a Dept. Homeland Security campaign to empower the average citizen to help with bleeding control until 1st responders arrive. There is a lot of good info online about the program and why it is something you should know. This is a tool you should have in your toolbox of skills! It is roughly a 90 minute class and will be held in Cripple Creek at 9am March 21st (Sat) at either the CC fire dept. or one of the casino conference rooms (depending on level of interest). We encourage all of you to attend and if you have a friend or family member who would like to attend, please sign them up. I will be there and hope to see all of you there as well. We would just like to add that this class fits with one of our groups founding principles. That principle being that you strengthen your community by empowering the individual. This is a great opportunity to show that our concept is valid and workable. For more information, contact the Cripple Creek Fire Department or city hall at 719-689-2502.

Margarita March. Scheduled for March 19 in Manitou Springs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is the city’s first Margarita March, being held at four of Manitou Springs’ finest dining establishments, serving a variety of 4 oz. margarita tasters and food pairings. Participating establishments: The Loop, Armadillo Ranch, Keg Lounge. Tickets are $40 available on Eventbrite. For more information, call the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Bureau and Office of Economic Development (719) 685-5089