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Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area ocn.me/social
Issue #306 — Volume 26 Number 9 — Saturday, September 5, 2026
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Our website is OCN.ME. Audio is posted for most of the articles and videos for some events. In the paper, events with videos are marked:
Local Events Readers should assume that event information published in this issue is subject to change and information should be confirmed a day or two before the event by calling the information number or checking the organization’s website. See page 22 and page 23 or check www.ocn. me/events for event locations and other details of these and many other local events. •
Goat Patch Brewing Monument Summer Music Series, Every Sun. through Oct. 4, 2 pm-5 pm.
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Monument Comprehensive Plan 2040 Community Open House, Wed., Sep. 9, 12 pm-4 pm.
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Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Wed., Sep. 9, 4 pm-6 pm. Margaret Mizushima.
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Monumental Impact - Makerspace Orientation, Wed., Sep. 9, 5 pm; Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am; Mon., Sep. 21, 6 pm; Wed., Sep. 30, 5 pm; Sat., Oct. 3, 10 am. See ad on page 3.
•
Community Concert: In Rememberance - A Tribute to the Heroes and the Fallen, Thu., Sep. 10, 7 pm-9 pm. See ad on page 2.
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Monumental Impact - Internship Orientation, Fri., Sep. 11, 2 pm. See ad on page 3.
•
Family of Christ Lutheran Church 9-11 Prayer Vigil, Fri., Sep. 11, 4 pm-6 pm
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5th Annual Gleneagle Spirit 5k Run/Walk, Kid’s Run, and Finish Line Festival, Sat., Sep. 12, 8 am-12 pm. See ad on page 4.
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Art Hop, Thu., Sep. 17, 5 pm-8 pm. See ad on page 3.
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Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Thu., Sep. 17, 5 pm-8 pm. Amy Tordoff and Sheilah Jane.
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Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Sep. 17, 7 pm-8 pm
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Larkspur Autumn Arts and Crafts Fest, Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 20, 10 am-4 pm. See ad on page 4.
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Tri-Lakes Chamber's Monument Pours in the Park (formerly Bines and Brews Festival), Sat., Sep. 19, 12 pm-4 pm.
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Ride for Tim memorial honor ride, Sat., Sep. 19, 1 pm-5 pm. See On the Trail column on page 17.
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Encore Community Arts Presents "Stuart Little", Fri., Sep. 25, 10 am & 6:30 pm; Sat., Sep. 26, 2 pm & 6:30 pm. See ad on page 5.
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Monumental Impact - Maker Showcase, Fri., Sep. 25, 4:30 pm-6 pm. See ad on page 3.
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Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Sat., Sep. 26, 12 pm-2 pm. Jan MacKell Collins.
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OCN Publication, Sat., Oct. 3
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Western Museum of Mining and Industry - Miners' Pumpkin Patch, Every Sat. in Oct., 9 am-4 pm. See ad on page 10.
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Front Range Makers' Market, Sat., Oct. 10, 9 am-4 pm; Sun., Oct. 11, 10 am-3 pm. See ad on page 24.
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Monument Town Council "Talk with the Town", Tue., Oct. 13, 6 pm-8 pm. See ad on page 13.
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Empty Bowls 2026 Dinner and Silent Auction, Wed., Oct. 14, 5 pm-7:30 pm. See ad on page 9.
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Bookies & Cookies, Sun., Oct. 25, 2 pm-5 pm.
In this issue County News, 1-3 Monument News 1, 4-7 Palmer Lake News 1, 7-8 Water & San District News 8-12 Fire District News 12 D38 News 12-14 WIA News 14 Letters and Columns 14-17 Snapshots 17-20 Notices and Calendar 21-23 OCN Info 1, 14-15, 18, 21-24
Above: The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve Buc-ee’s’ appeal on Aug 27. At issue was whether Buc-ee’s could be classified as a convenience store. More than 100 people were in line to get into Centennial Hall in Colorado Springs an hour before the hearing began. The 200-seat Hall was filled and 165 people testified. Only two people spoke in favor of Buc-ee’s. County staff will now administratively review the plans, which means there will be no more public hearings. Photos by Michael Weinfeld. Additional photos on page 20.
El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 27
Commissoners find Buc-ee's is a convenience store, not a gas station, despite having 120 fueling stations By Michael Weinfeld A huge crowd went home disappointed when the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 4-1 to approve Bucee’s’ appeal on Aug 27. Commissioner Bill Wysong was the sole vote against the motion.
Board rules that Buc-ee’s is a "convenience store"
At issue was whether the proposed 74,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s proposed to be built on the combined parcel of about 53.4 acres west of I-25 and south of County Line Road,
could be classified under the county’s Land Development Code as a convenience store, which is allowed under the parcel's current C-1 (commercial) zoning, rather than a gas station, which is not allowed. Buc-ee’s consultant Nina Dossey, a senior executive consultant with Vertex Consulting Services, testified that by definition a convenience store is “purely customer oriented,” and Buc-ee’s fits that definition. BOCC Vice Chair Lauren Nelson moved to approve the appeal, saying, “It’s really important that we think about the role of govern-
ment as respecting private property rights.” She said the land had been zoned commercial for 68 years. She didn’t want to focus on whether Buc-ee’s was a travel center or a gas station, but whether it meets the criteria of a C-1 zoning district. She listed some of the allowed uses as “retail as part of a shopping center, a hotel, a restaurant, a hospital.” Commission Chair Carrie Geitner defended her vote, saying, “I think the burden of proof has been met here.”
BUC-EE'S (Cont. on 2)
Monument Town Council, Aug. 3
Water rate increases, withdrawl from the loop approved By Marlene Brown At the regular Monument Town Council (MTC) meeting held Aug. 3, Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek recognized, on behalf of the town, retiring Fire Chief Andy Kovacs, thanking him for his six years of service. Having come from California and working with wildfires there, Kovacs made wildfire safety one of his main objectives. Kovacs, who will remain in the Monument area, noted that he and his wife recently bought a house in Promontory Point. The new incoming Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald was then introduced and welcomed to
his new position on his first day with the Monument Fire District. He looks forward to working with the different departments at the Town of Monument and continuing the positive partnerships that have been built over the years.
Water rate increases
Jennifer Phillips, finance director, proposed increases in water rates, fines, and fees. The new rates took effect Sept. 1. A 10% increase to the water rates would be for customers whose water usages are 3,00124,000 gallons, and 24,001-plus gallons would be a 15% increase. Monthly base rates will remain the
same; those who use less than 3,001 gallons per month won’t see an increase. Some fees and deposits have changed and would be explained to the residential customer and the commercial customers as warranted. The increases in rates, fees, and fines were approved 7-0.
Proposed use tax increase
The council debated raising the use tax from 2% to 3.5%. Much of the discussion was focused on the vehicle use tax. If a resident buys a vehicle in Monument, the use tax will be remitted to the town. But also, the use tax is charged to developers for
MONUMENT (cont. on 4)
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Aug. 13
Board appoints administrator, declares water emergency and imposes water restrictions By Douglas Shoback The Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) tackled a wide-ranging agenda during its workshop and regular meeting Aug.13 addressing fire and EMS consolidation, water restrictions, data centers, legal costs, wildfire preparedness and the appointment of a new town administrator. The board unanimously approved Resolution 29-2026, appointing Patrick G. Davidson as
Palmer Lake’s new town administrator effective Aug. 24. Davidson is the former town administrator for Elizabeth, where he served for four years, 2021-25. During his time in Elizabeth, he modernized the town’s fiscal policies by establishing enterprise fund capital reserves, reduced General Fund operational costs by 25%, and increased the town’s reserves and cash-on-hand by over $20 million. The pressing matter of water
conservation was tackled when trustees approved Resolution 302026, declaring a Stage 1 water emergency. The resolution imposes mandatory restrictions allowing landscape irrigation only on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., citing severe drought conditions and declining well yields. The command staff with the Monument Fire District provided information on response times and po-
PALMER LAKE (cont. on 7)
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BUC-EE'S (Cont. from 1) She continued that Buc-ee’s was similar to “the convenience stores that we have looked at that have already been approved in this area.” “I understand that many of you may be disappointed that I agree that the applicant has met that burden of proof. I’ll just say I believe you all came here in good faith and
I came here today in good faith as well,” she said. Wysong told the crowd he couldn’t vote for the motion because, “The burden of proof still remains on the applicant. I don’t believe they met that burden of proof.” The decision is not a final approval of Buc-ee’s, which would include 120 fueling stations and 20
EV charging stations on vacant land along I-25. The project will now be reviewed by county staff, and there will be no more public hearings. Buc-ee’s next step is to submit a site development plan.
The testimony
More than 100 people were in line to get into Centennial Hall in Colorado Springs an hour before the hearing began. The 200-seat hall was filled, and 165 people testified during the more than eight-hour hearing. Only two people spoke in favor of Bucee’s. The two who spoke in favor were first. Both were Monument residents. Chris Jeub testified, “We can’t be a county that doesn’t like something and then finds a way to interpret the code to not like it or to push it out.” He said he actually walked the
Vol. 26 No. 9
property with his son and thought it looked like “a good place for a Target.” Matt Dunston told the board, “This site makes a lot of sense. It is a convenience store no matter how large it may be. For all intents and purposes, it does meet the standards of the convenience store.” Then came testimony from those opposed. A young boy named Benji Peters drew applause when he talked directly to Commission Chair Geitner. “Madam chair, in 2024 you made a promise that all projects approved were to have to provide you with proof and evidence that they have 300 years’ worth of water. Bucee’s has not given any evidence that they have 300 years of water, and if you approve them as a convenience store today, they won’t ever have to.
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Saturday, September 5, 2026 They are not following the rules. You made a promise. My parents have taught me that it is important to keep our promises. I’m counting on you to do the right thing. Keep your promises and make Buc-ee’s follow all the rules just like everyone else.” Geitner admonished the crowd for not following the rules of silence, one of many times she had to do that. Caitlin Quander said she represented nearby landowners who opposed the project. “It does not primarily serve the neighborhood in which it is located,” she said, “It is a travel center, not a convenience store.” Eric Lindeman was the final speaker before the vote. He testified that he had been an architect in Colorado for 21 years and “in my 21 years I have nev-
er seen such an egregious definition of the word convenience store.” A large number of people filed out of the auditorium before the decision was announced when people started getting an inkling of how the vote might go. Addendum: The anti-Bucee’s group Tri-Lakes Strong is complaining that opponents weren’t given a fair shake at the hearing because the supporting graphics it
submitted weren’t shown on the overhead screen during opponents’ testimony, but graphics were shown while the Buc-ee’s representative was speaking. In an email sent to Our Community News, the group said the denial of graphics greatly affected the communication of the opposition’s case. ********** The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave. Suite 100,
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MONUMENT (Cont. from 1) the building equipment and materials. Ordinance 19-2026 proposes a ballot issue to increase the use tax and needs to be decided on the verbiage before the end of the month to be on the November ballot. Ordinance 21-2026 requested approval of the Falcon Commerce Center Preliminary Plan, Phase 2, Planned Unit Development (PUD) Area D. The project, Karl Malone Powersports, is a 30,000-square-foot recreational vehicle dealership, built on 43 acres. The ordinance was continued from the July 6 MTC meeting. The architectural design was adjusted to include a mix of wood, stone, and stucco. The building code is moving away from the standard metal building. Another stipulation to Karl Malone Powersports’ approval was restricting the use of 30-foot pylon signs. This was keeping in line with updating the building code regarding the elimination of such signs to lower-profile signs, thus reflected in the Final Plan. The Final Plan was approved 7-0.
Chamber lease approved
The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce lease was
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Vol. 26 No. 9
approved in a 4-3 vote. It involves a five-year lease agreement for the property at 166 Second St. The property is where the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District Administration Offices were located and was the Monument Town Hall location for decades. The Chamber moved in January 2015, with a five-year lease for $1 per year and has maintained the building ever since. The new lease is a graduated scale to increase each year to move closer to the local market rate. The Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit organization that works closely with the Town of Monument (TOM), brings in and supports new businesses that have been built and are being built in the area. The compromises of the lease fit better in the Chamber’s long-term plans.
Withdrawal from the Loop
The council voted unanimously to withdraw from the Loop Water Authority (LWA). The town had been a member since 2022. In December 2024, the Cherokee Water District withdrew from LWA. The Donala Water and Sanitation District has also withdrawn. (See Donala article on page 9 and LWA article on page 10.)
Joint Area Transportation Plan
Dan Ungerlieder, director of the Planning Commission, presented a request for approval of an intergovernmental agreement between the TOM and Triview Metro District (TMD). Upon visiting with Jim McGrady, director of TMD, and realizing that both organizations had many of the same plans and goals for the future, such as Higby Road and Jackson Creek Parkway (JCP) widening and maintaining the intersection to become a major roadway. They are also talking about bike trails and connections up and over the highway. They will be able to develop estimated costs, look for developer impact fees, and be able to budget for their plans along JCP. The Master Plan will include projects down JCP from Highway 105 to Baptist Road. A motion was made and approved by a vote of 7-0 to accept the agreement with TMD for the Joint Area Transportation Plan. VanDenHoek introduced Officer Paul Nyman, who was recognized for reaching the five-
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Above: Finance Director Jennifer Phillips shows a chart detailing the water rate increases. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
year milestone of service with the Monument Police Department. Summer Intern Emma Birl, a Monument native and a 2024 graduate of Palmer Ridge High School, explained her accomplishments while working with the Finance Department and that she will be going to Washington, D.C. for a fall internship in Congress. She explained that working within the town and learning the ins and outs of local government has been quite a learning experience. The council moved into executive session and returned to the meeting after discussing opposition to Buc-ee’s classification as a “convenience store.” MTC said in a letter that Buc-ee’s is fundamentally different from the neighborhood convenience store. (See epcdevplanreview.com for the complete letter posted for public viewing to EDARP (electronic development application review program).
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Above: New Monument Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald addresses the council. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
********** Regular meetings are typically held on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, located at 645 Beacon Lite Road, Monument. If the meeting falls on a holiday, it will be held the following Tuesday. See townofmonument.org for agendas and supporting documents. Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.
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Vol. 26 No. 9
Monument Planning Commission, Aug. 12
7 Brew Coffee, Native Sun projects advance to council By Janet Sellers On Aug. 12, the Monument Planning Commission handled routine administrative matters before moving into public hearings and key land-use recommendations bound for the Town Council.
7 Brew Coffee site development
The commission evaluated a site development proposal for 7 Brew Coffee, a compact commercial project. The plans detailed a streamlined,
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approximately 510-square-foot building layout supported by a six-stall parking arrangement, optimized drive aisles, essential utility connections, drainage infrastructure, pedestrian access points, and an enclosed trash facility. Following a review of traffic circulation and site design, the commission voted 6–0 to recommend approval to the Town Council. The site is located at 15822 Jackson Creek Parkway within the Monument Marketplace development. The project involves a compact drivethru-only building layout situated on a roughly 0.9-acre parcel (near shared spaces like the adjacent Freddy’s).
Native Sun Construction PUD amendment
Commissioners reviewed a Planned Unit Development (PUD) amendment request from Native Sun tied to property along Woodcarver Road. Discussion centered on ensuring proposed workspace operations and infrastructure modifications aligned seamlessly with local municipal code requirements and surrounding zoning designations. The commission voted 6–0 to recommend approval of the PUD amendment, advancing the proposal for final review by the Town Council. The Native Sun property is located at 15010 Woodcarver Road (right next to its headquarters at 15020 Woodcarver Road) in Monument. Official municipal proceedings and local public records can be seen via this Town of Monu-
ment Meeting Archive, which offers additional context on town developments and municipal board discussions from that week. In addition to standard administrative business, commissioners addressed calendar logistics for the upcoming autumn months. To accommodate scheduling conflicts, the board formally approved a motion to shift their scheduled November meeting date from Wednesday, Nov. 11, to Thursday, Nov. 12. The commission advises the Town Council on land use and development issues. The commission’s recommendations are based on local and state laws, zoning, and municipal codes. ********** The next regular meeting of the Monument Planning Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite Road. This session is slated to feature a public open house regarding the Monument 2040 comprehensive plan update. For further information on commission meetings, please visit www.townofmonument. org/263/planning commission-commissionboard-of-adjustment or contact 719-884-8028. A recording with a transcript of each meeting is also available. Janet Sellers can be reached at JanetSellers@ocn.me.
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Monument Town Council, Aug. 17
Development adjacent to AF Academy rejected By Marlene Brown At a public hearing during the Aug. 17 meeting of the Monument Town Council regarding Santa Fe Meadows Ordinances No. 15-2026 and 16-2026, Planning Director Dan Ungerleider read a statement from Amy Kelly of the Air Force Academy regarding development of a property adjacent to the academy. Since Feb. 20, the tempo in Jackson Valley has increased significantly as part of the national defense strategy. Training includes parachute drops and military flights. The proposed single-family housing development directly borders this area, introducing significant safety infrastructure. Civilian housing can introduce stormwater erosion in Monument Creek, trespassing/security issues including civilian drones, and Wi-Fi aerial jamming.
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Ungerleider said the academy has stormwater treatment barriers built into their plans per code. Discussion points also came up with the property border being so close to the 4,500-foot runway and that the property owners were welcome to pursue a consersation easement with Palmer Land Trust or others that might help. Those avenues will take time, he said. The motion to approve Ordinances No. 152026 and No. 16-2026 failed 1-6. Councilmember Chad Smith cast the sole vote in favor.
Hillpoint development plan approved
Ordinance No. 22-2026 sought approval for the Final Planned Unit Development Plan for Connexus Lot 1 Filing 2, also known as Hillpoint, located along Old Denver Highway. After a one-hour presentation laying out multi-family housing, including 312 two-bedroom apartment units and 42 three-bedroom townhomes, parks and open space, shopping, parking, and traffic mitigation, a motion was made and seconded for approval of the plan. That motion passed 7-0.
Use Tax Ballot measure wording approved
The MTC passed 6-1 a motion to approve Ordinance No. 019-2026 for a ballot issue in the Nov. 3 election increasing the tax rate contingent upon elector approval amending the Monument Municipal Code. Councilmember Kenneth Kimple cast the sole vote opposed. See the article on the Monument Town Council Aug. 3 meeting for details on the use tax issue. Jennifer Phillips, Finance director and interim Public Works director, presented the initial 2027 Proposed Preliminary Budget and began a critical Public Works maintenance and facility discussion. Staff discussed re-evaluating material storage and workspace needs. Phillips presented a comprehensive User Fee Study conducted in partnership with Willdan Financial Services. The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 64-2026 which updates
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OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Page 7
municipal fees effective October 1, 2026 across administration, court, police, and planning departments including a 20% subsidy on planning fees to balance developer recovery and community benefits. The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 56-2026 calling for a contract with All Copy Products for managed print and mailing services. The MTC moved into an executive session. **********
Regular meetings are typically held on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, located at 645 Beacon Lite Road, Monument. If the meeting falls on a holiday, it will be held the following Tuesday. See townofmonument.org for agendas and supporting documents. Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.
Right: Mitch LaKind has announced he won’t seek re-election as mayor of Monument this November. In a statement released online, LaKind said, “Serving this community has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.” He said in the six years he served first as trustee and then as mayor, he has worked with residents, staff, and other elected officials to “move Monument forward.” LaKind said he wanted to be clear that “no one pushed me out. This decision is mine, made freely, with a clear conscience and my integrity intact.” Photo courtesy of the Town of Monument.
tential locations for future fire stations. The presentation was part of an ongoing feasibility study examining the possible consolidation of fire and emergency medical services between Monument and Palmer Lake. Two potential station sites were discussed, including the Elephant Rock property and the district’s existing location. The board also heard from resident Becky Albright, who introduced a proposed town-wide community book read centered on Alexandra Hudson’s The Soul of Civility. Albright described the initiative as an opportunity for residents to consider shared values and help cast a vision for a brighter future in Palmer Lake. Another proposal involved a potential land swap on Hermosa Avenue. Marcia McGuire presented a plan to exchange a roughly onethird-acre town landscape easement for a similarly sized parcel containing two ponds and wildlife habitat. The proposed exchange would preserve the property as open space permanently. The board expressed frustration over the continuing delay surrounding the withdrawal of the proposed Buc-ee’s annexation. An executive session scheduled to address the matter was canceled because there was no substantive report available. Trustees noted that legal negotiations over the annexation withdrawal have been repeatedly delayed
since February. See Buc-ee’s article on page 1. Data centers also drew significant attention. Trustees discussed potential environmental, electricalpower and water impacts associated with such facilities and directed the town attorney to draft a temporary moratorium on new data-center applications. The proposed pause would give the town time to conduct additional study before considering applications. Personnel and financial issues came into focus as well. Town Attorney Godbold updated trustees on efforts to recruit an impartial hearing officer and outside counsel for a pending employment matter, saying the town needs to move toward a public hearing quickly. The board authorized the purchase of a used police vehicle for up to $18,000. The purchase will use STEP funds and replace a vehicle being retired from the town’s fleet. Meanwhile, a legal-fee report showed the town had spent $174,605 through July 31, already exceeding its entire $140,000 legal budget for 2026 by 24.7%. Wildfire preparedness remained another concern. Trustees discussed rescheduling a workshop with the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management to improve regional evacuation planning and strengthen public education about the “Ready, Set, Go” evacuation system.
The meeting closed with public comments and discussion about short-term rentals and bear safety. Trustees heard concerns that some STR properties lack bear-resistant trash containers, contributing to re-
fuse being scattered through neighborhoods and creating unsafe encounters with wildlife. Douglas Shoback can be reached at douglasshoback@ocn.me.
Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Aug. 27
Legal and water matters take a front seat By Douglas Shoback Legal matters occupied part of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees (PLBOT) workshop and meeting held Aug. 27. Town Attorney James Godbold updated trustees on the removal hearing involving Trustee Roger Mosley. Godbold said a prospective hearing officer is tentatively available in late September or after Oct. 25. He also plans to retain an independent outside presenting attorney to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Godbold provided an update on three active lawsuits involving the town. One is scheduled for oral argument on appeal, another was administratively dismissed but has a pending motion to reopen, and a third recently had a motion to dismiss denied. Water remained another significant concern. Town Administrator Patrick Davidson reported that Phase 1 of the Shady Lane water project remains on schedule for completion in October. As the town continues outreach regarding its Stage 1 water emergency, Davidson clarified that residents may use buckets to water newly planted trees and vegetation. Support Our Community. Shop Tri-Lakes and Black Forest!
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At the same time, residents are being asked to conserve water by avoiding activities such as washing vehicles, hosing down driveways, and operating automatic sprinklers. Stormwater infrastructure presented another financial challenge. Davidson reported that engineers now estimate Phase 1 improvements on High Street will cost about $4 million, up from $2.2 million in 2022. Combined with improvements planned for the Glenn tennis courts, the estimated cost reaches $5.7 million. Before the town can qualify for matching funds from FEMA, the Department of Local Affairs and watershed protection grants, it must first E W D•AIn-House Y C O T T Design AGES ASSIST • Low and No Maintenance NDecks spend about $200,000 on a comprehensive hydrology study. N E Wmore D AconY C O T T A G E and S A Permitting S S I S T E D •L Repairs I V I N G •H Replacements OMES One of the meeting’s sequential decisions involved the future of Palmer Lake’s fire services. Trustees unanimously directed the town administrator, fire chief, and Exceptional quality of life is waiting at town attorney to begin formal mergNew Day Cottages. Residents enjoy er negotiations with the Monument life is waiting at Fire Exceptional District and to quality scheduleof public a cozy, comfortable, caring lifestyle; outreach NEW D A Y C O Tenjoy T A G E S A S S I Sfamily T E D enjoys L I V I Npeace G H OofMmind E S knowing Newsessions. Day Cottages. Residents The negotiations are intended a cozy, comfortable, caring lifestyle; their loved ones are happy, well cared to produce an Intergovernmental
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Agreement and potential ballot language for a special election in March 2027. Monument Fire has confirmed that it has the capacity to absorb six full-time Palmer Lake firefighters. The board unanimously approved an agreement allowing “25 and 1” to conduct due diligence on an unoccupied four-acre portion of the Elephant Rock property at 350 Highway 105. The proposed access agreement would run for 60 days, with an option for a 30-day extension. Town staff and the town attorney were directed to prepare the agreement, with the town administrator authorized to sign it once finalized. The board also received a briefing from El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker on preparations for the Nov. 3 general election. Schleiker said the county will deploy a record
41 Voter Service and Polling Centers and 44 secure ballot drop boxes monitored by video around the clock. Schleiker reminded residents that Colorado does not accept postmarks for ballots. Ballots must be physically received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The county has also activated its Office of Emergency Management to assist with election security and logistical preparations. Town Clerk Erica Romero reported that the draft municipal ballot had been finalized following a candidate name drawing earlier that day. The coordinated election includes two verified candidates for mayor and 11 candidates seeking trustee positions. Trustees also moved toward a temporary halt on new data center development. Following recommendations from Planning Commission members and
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town staff, the board directed staff to draft a six-month moratorium resolution. The proposed moratorium is intended to give the town time to address community concerns about the substantial water and electricity demands associated with data centers. The resolution is expected to come before the board for a vote at its next meeting. The board spent considerable time discussing bear activity and trash regulations after residents reported bears being attracted to unsecured garbage, particularly at short-term rental (STR) properties. While some trustees favored im-
mediately requiring certified bear-resistant containers at STRs, Godbold warned that targeting a specific class of property owners could create equal protection concerns. The existing town code already prohibits attracting wildlife. Rather than immediately imposing a new requirement, the board decided to work with local trash companies to organize an informational meeting at Town Hall for residents interested in bear-resistant containers. During public comment, resident Eric Intercepts raised concerns about a year-long delay involving a conservation easement and
Vol. 26 No. 9
more than $12,000 in property tax abatement for land behind Lake View Estates. Town officials said the matter is currently seventh on the town’s catch-up priority list as officials work through a backlog. ********** The next meeting of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees is scheduled for Sept.1. More information about the meetings and board findings can be found on the official Palmer Lake website: https://www.townofpalmerlake.com. Douglas Shoback can be reached at douglasshoback@ocn.me.
Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 10
Taste and odor issues battled By James Howald Operations Superintendent Dan LaFontaine discussed all the factors contributing to Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District’s (WWSD) recent problems with the musty taste and odor of water delivered to customers beginning at the end of July. The WWSD board heard an update on the Loop from Loop Executive Director Jason Hann, an engineering report from District Engineer Cydney Saelens, and a financial report from Director Roy Martinez. The meeting ended with an executive session.
Algae, high demand, and offline wells lead to complaints
LaFontaine told the board that on July 27 a sudden algae bloom in Lake Woodmoor led to spikes in methyl-isoborneol (MIB) and geosmin in the lake water. Both compounds have an unpleasant dirt-like or fishy taste and odor, although they pose no risk to health. This situation led to cus-
tomer complaints for weeks, LaFontaine said. He noted that some people can taste these compounds when they are one part per trillion; for most, the taste becomes a problem at the level of two or three parts per million. LaFontaine said that when the taste and odor problems came to light, district staff started optimizing oxidation processes at the district’s two treatment plants to reduce the impact. In addition, staff placed a rush order for 600 gallons of GreenClean, a peroxidebased, National Science Foundation-certified algaecide that is safe to use in drinking water to treat the top six feet of lake water. The algaecide cannot be stored onsite and must be ordered when there is an outbreak of algae, LaFontaine said. He emphasized that the bad taste was not a safety issue and the algaecide, which was applied on Aug. 10, would make a difference within a week. He said water lines would be flushed through fire hydrants to speed up the rate at which better-tasting water would reach customers. LaFontaine discussed steps customers could take in their homes to remediate the situation. Shower water is difficult to treat, he said, and whole-home charcoal filters can strip out the chlorine, possibly leading to biological contamination. He recommended activated carbon filtration at point of use and chilling water before drinking. Brita pitchers work well, he said, as do small in-line filters for washing machines. When the algae bloom
became acute, three of the district’s wells were out of production, making it difficult to lessen the bad taste by blending water from the lake with ground water, which is typically bettertasting than surface water. Well 21 has been repaired and returned to production; Wells 12 and 23 are still out of service. LaFontaine said the water being delivered to customers was currently 25% well water. Wells alone cannot meet demand during the summer months, when irrigation makes use of water from the lake necessary. He noted the water level in Lake Woodmoor had declined by 10 feet since the taste and odor issues started. District Manager Jessie Shaffer recalled that a few years back, adding ozonation to the treatment plants was tested. It improved taste but increased bromide formation, which has its own risks, and was very expensive and was judged not feasible. Shaffer said it might be time to review that decision.
Two districts drop out of the Loop
Hann told the board that the Town of Monument had passed a resolution to leave the Loop at its last board meeting, and he expected the Donala Water and Sanitation District to take the same step at its next board meeting, leaving WWSD the only participant and triggering the disbanding of the Loop Water Authority. In its latest issue of the Pipeline newsletter, the district committed to moving forward with a downsized, less expensive version of the Loop, which will allow the district to deliver the 3,000 acre-feet of renewable water it owns at the Woodmoor Ranch to customers.
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Saelens reviewed construction projects currently underway. The widening of Higby Road should wrap up in the next few weeks, she said, and she is developing an Intergovernmental Agreement between WWSD and the Town of Monument to govern the widening of the northbound lane of Jackson Creek Parkway between Baptist Road and Highway 105. The district’s portion of the utility relocations required by the county’s improvements to Highway 105 east of Lake Woodmoor Drive will go to bid on Sept. 2, with a contract award expected in October. The rebuilding of the sewer outfall adjacent to the Santa Fe Trail is out for bids, with an award expected in September.
OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026 In terms of wells, the Well 12R rebuild is near completion. LaFontaine said that, due to new regulations regarding PFAS chemicals, five weeks of testing will be needed before Well 12R can be returned to production. Saelens said Well 13 was drilled but never put in production because of deficiencies in its construction. It’s now being re-evaluated, Saelens said. Shaffer added that Well 13 was drilled in 1987 near the intersection of Winding Hills Road and Top O’ the Moor Drive East but was not as productive as expected. The economics have changed, Shaffer said, and the well may be viable now.
Financial report
Martinez said water service fees
through the end of June were ahead of projections. Income from leases had a significant bump, and overtime costs were greater than expected. LaFontaine said turnover of staff led to overtime for training.
Executive session
Page 9
10 a.m. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the district office at 1845 Woodmoor Drive; the Sept.14 meeting is an exception to accommodate board members’ travel plans. Please
see www.woodmoorwater.com or call 719-488-2525 to verify meeting times and locations. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
The meeting ended with an executive session for the board to receive legal advice regarding issues related to the purchase or sale of property, negotiating positions, and agreements with Quantum Group, the Town of Monument, the Loop Water Authority, the Mines Shopping Center, Buff’s Wash and REX Colorado Corp. No action was taken following the executive session. ********** The next meeting is on Sept. 14 at
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Monument Sanitation District, Aug.19
High-speed internet installation gets support By Jackie Burhans and James Howald At its meeting in August, the Monument Sanitation District (MSD) board heard a manager’s report from District Manager Mark Parker. It also voted to revise the sewer specifications that govern the district’s wastewater collection system.
Manager’s report
Parker told the board he was averaging 17 requests a day to locate underground infrastructure for Conexon Connect, a company installing high-speed internet fiber throughout the MSD service area. He said he was continuing to meet weekly with El Paso County and the Town of Monument to discuss the work on Beacon Lite Road. The project is still two or three months away from paving, Parker said. The meetings did not include any news about installing the sewer lines required by the proposed travel center (Buc-ee’s) at the intersection of I-25 and County Line Road. Parker noted that once Beacon Lite Road is repaved, El Paso County would put in place a five-year moratorium on any road changes. Parker mentioned two new developments in the MSD service area. Willow Springs Ranch, located west of Old Denver Road and north of Forest Lakes Drive, will add a fi-
nal 27 homes, Parker said, and 32 homes will be built on the Rickenbacker property, located east of Rickenbacker Avenue and north of Forest Lake Drive. The Rickenbacker property was annexed into the MSD service area in August of 2022.
New rules for manholes
Parker said updates to the Sewer Use Regulations for MSD required developers to install infiltration pans, at a cost of $200 per pan, on all manholes to prevent rainwater from entering the wastewater collection system. Rainwater entering through manholes makes its way to the TriLakes Wastewater Facility, where it is treated along with wastewater, raising operating costs. ********** Monument Sanitation District meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the district conference room at 130 Second St., Monument. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16. See MonumentSanitationDistrict. org for meeting dates and times. For a district service map, see www. MonumentSanitationDistrict.org/ district-map. For Information: 719481-4886. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
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Donala Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 13
General manager terminated; district withdraws from Loop By James Howald and Jackie Burhans At the end of its August meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) board voted to terminate General Manager John Kuosman. Earlier in the meeting, the board passed a resolution to withdraw from the Loop water reuse program. Kuosman and Kelsey Briggs, a project manager at Spheros Environmental, discussed how DWSD could make greater use of surface water and move in the direction of longterm sustainability using water exchanges. The board considered how it might amend its budget after the withdrawal from the Loop and other recent developments and reviewed plans for a community survey. Deputy General Manager Christina Hawker reviewed recent cyber-attacks on water districts in the Midwest. The meeting ended with an executive session.
Kuosman dismissed after two months
After returning to open session following an executive session, Director Scott McCulloch moved to terminate Kuosman, and the board voted unanimously to do so. No details about the decision were made public. Kuosman was hired as general manager on March 27, 2026 from a John Kuosman field of 14 ap-
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plicants and started in the position in June. Vanderschuere said Deputy General Manager Christina Hawker would assume Kuosman’s responsibilities.
DWSD leaves the Loop
The DWSD board’s decision to withdraw from the Loop water reuse project was foreshadowed by a decision it made at its previous meeting in July not to make a payment to the Loop that would have funded DWSD’s portion of the Loop’s expenses for the remainder of 2026. At its meeting in August, the board made the decision to withdraw final by passing Resolution 2026-6, which declares that the district will not appropriate funds to participate in the Loop for the remainder of the 2026 fiscal year and will end participation by Oct. 31. The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.
Water exchanges provide sustainability
A “water exchange” is a legal mechanism that allows water to be diverted from an upstream location and replaced with equivalent water from a downstream source so that the water owned by downstream consumers is not diminished. At its July meeting, DWSD considered replacing the renewable water it would have received from the Loop with renewable treated water discharged from the Upper Monument Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF) along
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with water from exchanges, making the district less dependent on water pumped from depleting aquifers. At the August meeting, Kuosman and Briggs explained how DWSD’s new plan depended on two foundational water exchanges, one of which would divert water treated at the UMCRWWTF and replace it with water from the district’s Willow Creek Ranch stored in the Pueblo Reservoir, and the other of which would replace it with water from the Laughlin Ditch. Kuosman and Briggs estimated how much water these exchanges could supply in years with little rainfall, average rainfall, and abundant rainfall. Kuosman concluded that in a year with average rainfall the exchanges could meet 100% of the district’s demand with 72 acre-feet of extra water that could be stored using DWSD’s Aquifer Storage and Retrieval program. In a dry year,
the district could pump water from its existing wells and could buy water from Colorado Springs Utilities through an existing interconnection. He estimated one wet year would provide enough extra water to offset three dry years. Vanderschuere pointed out that the exchanges would be challenging to operate because water would need to be taken during very narrow windows of time when flood conditions prevail or when snow is melting. Kuosman said more analysis needed to be done and recommended hiring a program manager to study the design. Briggs said other districts manage exchanges daily using dashboards. Kuosman said there were other possible water exchanges the district should investigate and the next step would be to bring in DWSD’s water lawyer.
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Budget reconsidered
Kuosman told the board that the district was on track to underspend its current budget by $930,000 due to its decision to withdraw from the Loop, savings on fire remediation expenses at the Willow Creek Ranch no longer needed because of the Willow Creek fire, and rescheduling of water tank rehabilitation. He recommended reallocating some of those funds for an evaluation of the R. Hull water treatment plant and for compensating a project manager who would be responsible for DWSD’s transition to renewable water. The board took no action on Kuosman’s suggestions.
Community survey
Kuosman said he had been asked to move the district in the direction of renewable water sources, and a first step in that direction was to assess customer knowledge and opinion through a survey. He submitted a draft of a survey with 20 questions intended to establish a baseline of community opinions to the board and asked for feedback. Vanderschuere said he thought the community would favor increasing the district’s debt limit over a mill levy override that would increase property taxes. McCulloch objected to asking respondents to state their income range, arguing it was irrelevant. The board discussed how the survey should frame tax increases versus increasing the district’s debt limit. Kuosman said he would incorporate the board’s feedback into a second draft of the survey.
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By James Howald The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) was formed in November of 2022 with four participating districts: the Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD), the Town of Monument (TOM) and the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD). The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) provided $4 million in funding for the project, to be administered by the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). CMD withdrew from the Loop in December of 2024. At its board meeting in August, DWSD voted to discontinue its participation. The Town of Monument made the same decision at its August board meeting, leaving Woodmoor Water and Sanitation as the Loop’s sole participating district and requiring the Loop to begin the process of dissolution. At its August board meeting, the Loop board heard a report on its finances and an update from Executive Director Jason Hann, which included a discussion of how to terminate existing contracts with providers. The meeting ended with an executive session.
Summary of finances
Corbin Fromm, of Fromm & Company LLC, the Loop’s accounting firm, told the board that claims to-
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Vanderschuere asked Hawker what steps the district had taken to protect itself from cyber attacks like those directed at water districts in the Midwest. Hawker said those attacks were damaging because the districts targeted used outdated security practices such as connecting their infrastructure to the internet. DWSD’s infrastructure is not vulnerable in that way, Hawker said, because it uses a private network, among other reasons. She declined to give specific details but pointed out that the district was proactive where security was concerned and was constantly assessing its practices, which include ongoing penetration testing.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss personnel matters. Attendance was limited to board members only. ********** The next board meeting is on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs. James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me
Two member withdrawals trigger dissolution
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taling $999,000 were submitted in August, with JVA Inc.’s invoice being the largest at $854,000. Board President Jessie Shaffer pointed out that the Loop’s bank balance stood at $845,000, not enough to pay all the claims submitted. Shaffer said the Loop was waiting for the BOCC to reimburse the Loop for its Q2 expenses, which totaled $969,000, out of the funds the BOCC received from ARPA for the project. Hann recommended the board defer payment of the invoice from JVA until the Q2 reimbursement was received. JVA’s invoice was recently received, Hann said, and there was a 30-day grace period, which should be enough time for the Loop to receive its reimbursement from the BOCC. The board voted to approve the claims and delay payment of the JVA invoice as discussed. Fromm said he would submit the reimbursement request for the Loop’s Q3 expenses, totaling $337,000, within the week. In his financial report, Fromm said the Loop had spent $1.69 million, or 34% of its budget, so far in 2026. Fromm noted a third-party audit of the Loop’s finances would be presented at its meeting in September. The board voted unanimously to accept Fromm’s report.
Executive director update
In his update, Hann told the board that the BOCC would treat the Loop as a feasibility study and would not seek repayment of any of the ARPA funds dispersed to the Loop. He said the expected reimbursement for Q3 expenses would exhaust the $4 million the BOCC had received from ARPA and would leave the Loop with a bank balance of $4,000 once all future invoices were paid. He said he had stopped all work by contractors and directed that all new tasks required his approval. Hann asked the board for a vote to terminate all contracts with suppliers. Shaffer said the contracts needed to remain in force until all deliverables have been received. The board voted to authorize Hann to terminate contracts as needed.
Executive session
The meeting ended with an executive session to receive legal advice on the effects of member withdrawal from the authority, and to consider severance for Hann. **********
OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026 The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m. Regu-
lar meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Mon-
ument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-
488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations. James Howald
Page 11 can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.
Triview Metropolitan District, Aug. 20
Joint transportation plan with Town of Monument reviewed By Erin Poole The Triview Metropolitan District (TMD) board regular meeting on Aug. 20 covered operations reports, including updates on a recent flash flood at the Bale Ditch, increases in Eye on Water self-monitoring tool usage, Higby Road landscaping efforts, the start of the Northern Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI) project, and reflections on the success of the recent TMD ribbon-cutting and open house. The board also reviewed an intergovernmental agreement between the Town of Monument (TOM) and TMD to embark on a joint transportation plan. Marco Fiorito, District 2 TOM councilmember, joined the board meeting to discuss a proposal to resume joint meetings between the two groups. Finally, the board received legal updates related to amending TMD rules and regulations. The board went into an executive session to discuss the Colorado Revised Statutes on intergovernmental agreements with Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) with regard to the Town of Monument.
Flash flood at Bale Ditch
TMD Utilities Superintendent Gary Potter reported a flash flood at the Bale Ditch resulting from recent significant increases in rainfall. The flow through the Bale went from 10 to over 100 CFS in under an hour, causing sediment and other detritus to block the head gate. The powerful water flow, along with considerable sediment, moved boulders on the dam, which required repair. The reason so much sediment debris made it to the dam is not yet known, but speculation is that it entered the South Arkansas River west of Monument at a new housing construction site in Salida and, possibly due to a failed silt fence, made its way in fast-moving waters to Bale Ditch.
Increase in usage of Eye on Water tool
Sara Lamb, district administrator, said August is administratively the busiest month for TMD. The call volume is very high from residents seeking support. Though phone calls providing customer support take a lot of staff time, Lamb told the board that resident interactions provide an opportunity to connect and build relationships with the community as well as to share the Eye on Water real-time water usage monitoring tool, which has seen an increase in account sign-ups. This free tool allows customers to monitor their own water usage, which can help with managing their water bill and conserving water wherever possible.
Landscaping completed on Higby Road roundabout
The Public Works team recently completed the landscaping for the first roundabout on Higby Road, reported Matt Rayno, Public Works and Parks and Open Space manager. The roundabout, near Lewis-Palmer High School, is one of two planned as part of the larger
improvement project scheduled to be fully completed by Sept. 25, well ahead of the planned timeline. The roundabout landscaping project, designed by Rayno, was completed quickly but took a significant amount of re-routing of the irrigation systems and mature trees around the Higby Road improvement area as the overall project moved along. Rayno and his team completed all this episodic irrigation work as issues were identified, resulting in significant financial and time savings in the project. Rayno also shared that nine public works employees who specialize in operating large snow equipment for TMD are signed up for the Western Snow and Ice Conference and Snow Operator’s Rodeo, an event taking place at the end of September in Loveland. In addition to competition, the event provides educational and networking opportunities for the TMD snow wranglers and serves to prepare and transition the team to winter conditions. Rayno hopes to bring a competitive winter-ready team to the rodeo this year.
Above and below: The Triview Metropolitan District Board of Directors and staff celebrate the opening of the new utility operations and administration building during the ribbon-cutting and open house on Aug. 14. The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind, and Monument Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek joined the festivities. Photo by Erin Poole.
Northern Monument Creek Interceptor project launches
Sub cuts have started on the north end of the NMCI project, reported District Manager Jim McGrady. These 20-foot cuts along the center line of the pipe, which is 35 feet under the ground, mark the beginning of this muchanticipated project. Once these primary cuts are done, pipes will be laid as the project works from north to south. McGrady updated the board on the planned dissolution of Triview Metropolitan Districts 2 and 4, which were created by developers to build roads primarily in the Promontory Pointe and Sanctuary areas. Because that work has been completed for some time, attorneys for Triview 2 and 4 advised them to dissolve the districts and maintain a scaled-back district strictly to meet once annually to approve the mill levy and pay the debt service on bonds they issued to build the district infrastructure, which will be a significant administrative savings. McGrady reminded the group that, despite the similar monikers, these two districts are in no way affiliated with Triview Metropolitan District, and their dissolution in no way impacts TMD or the services TMD provides to residents. TMD has since absorbed the maintenance responsibilities for the infrastructure built by these two developer districts.
Open house and ribbon-cutting a huge success
Steve Sheffield, Operations manager, extended praise to the TMD team for the success of the Aug.14 ribboncutting and open house at the new utility operations and administration building. The TMD team, now united in one modern and functional space, worked diligently to put the finishing touches on the building ahead of the event, which drew about 100 people,
from Monument elected officials to community members. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was kicked off by Jason Gross, TMD board president, who welcomed guests and thanked supporters and those integral to the design and construction of the new building. Gross highlighted the commitment of the TMD board, saying, “Local elected officials are a special group … folks who care enough about our community to volunteer our time and talents to serve.”
Intergovernmental agreement between Town of Monument and TMD
McGrady updated the board that the Monument Town Council recently reviewed and approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), which is a cost-sharing agreement to conduct a major regional traffic study. The overall cost of the project is around $400,000 and would be split evenly between the TOM and TMD. An open house for public comment on the project is being scheduled, and more information will be available on the TMD website (triviewmetro.com). Traffic counts, critical to understanding the extent and flow of traffic, will not be conducted until after Higby Road work completion in early October to avoid artificially inflated counts along other major roads. TMD will also independently pursue a corridor study supported by HR Green Inc. to specifically review current conditions along Jackson Creek Parkway and understand how traffic will change when there is further economic development in that area. Exploring expanded access from Baptist Road to retail areas along Jackson Creek Parkway will be a major feature of the corridor
study. The corridor study is underway, gathering traffic count information, and is expected to wrap up in the next month. Results from the corridor study will be added to the larger collaborative traffic study with the TOM. After review and discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the IGA and move forward with the project.
Joint meeting between TMD and TOM proposed
Madeline VanDenHoek, TOM manager, recently sent a memo to McGrady stating that the Town Council requested to schedule a joint meeting between the TMD board and the Town Council with the goal of expanding collaborations across the two groups. In her memo, VanDenHoek suggested a meeting with McGrady and key staff from both agencies to lay out an agenda for the anticipated meeting. Marco Fiorito, District 2
councilmember, joined the board meeting to provide additional context for the
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meeting request. Fiorito stated that the TOM is headed in a positive, steady direction and the timing is favorable to plan for resumption of joint meetings and improved communication between groups. The joint traffic study, described above, may only be the start of agency-crossing projects which will require close partnership and a deeper common understanding between the groups. Fiorito suggested a meet-and-greet style session for the first meeting, which will be open to the public. The TMD board expressed interest in pursuing this collaboration, noting an increase in communication and transparency will be beneficial to both agencies. McGrady will reach out to VanDenHoek to schedule a joint meeting, and details will be added to the TMD website when available.
Amendments to TMD water and wastewater rules and regulations
Scott Goldstein, an attorney with WBA Local Gov-
ernment Law, prompted the board about the process to review and update the TMD rules and regulations governing water and wastewater services in the district, which had been set aside while the NMCI bonds were being pursued. The rules and regulations need to be updated and modernized to reflect the way TMD currently operates. Due to significant differences in operations and legalities between water and wastewater, the board needs to take a close look at both documents to ensure compliance and accuracy. For example, the process to turn off water services for non-payment cannot legally be used for wastewater, so another approach must be identified, such as statutory liens, which allow unpaid sewer bills to be added to tax bills, which are subsequently passed on to the district to cover the bill. McGrady noted that the team is also working on updating the outdated standard specifications for water and wastewater, which will be brought
Vol. 26 No. 9
to the board for consideration at the September meeting. The standard specifications were shared with the TOM in the hope of bringing both groups into alignment on the standards. The TOM sent its comments to McGrady, which will be reviewed and incorporated where possible. The board moved into executive session at 7:24 pm. ********** Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month at the district office located at 1641 Baja Drive, West Baptist Road in Monument. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. For Zoom meeting joining instructions, meeting agendas, minutes, and updates, visit https://triviewmetro.com. Erin Poole can be reached at erinpoole@ocn.me.
Monument Fire District, Aug. 26
Station 3 work continues; health benefits discussed By Gordon Reichal New Monument Fire District (MFD) Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald was welcomed by MFD Board of Directors President Mark Gunderman to his first monthly board meeting on Aug. 26. The relationship with Chief Fitzgerald was called a great start. The board heard budget details, which were declared “all good.” The budget report was unanimously approved by the board.
Station 3 and training update
Work on Fire Station 3 remains on schedule with 23% completed, even with the recent short work stoppages as thunder and lightning storms rolled through the area and construction crews took cover. The crane at the location is currently the highest point in Monument at 198 feet and is supporting both the north and south wall steel beam placement. Mountain View Electric continues work and inspection of the electrical infrastructure of this new MFD facility. A “topping out” ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 12, when the highest part of the building will have been put in place. Occupancy is on schedule for March-April 2027. The Town of Monument has approved several permit requests for the new Training Center tower. Residents can expect short traffic delays as large flatbed trucks deliver building pieces and start stacking units as they arrive on-site. Details on the delivery dates will be announced when finalized.
2027 MFD health benefits
There was a long discussion on 2027 member health benefits. Details were presented in a seven-page draft for the establishment of employee contribution rates, employer matching contributions, and vacation/leave bank contribution rules. Six groups were identified to determine voluntary participation in the benefits program: fire chief, administrative, chief officers, company officers,
driver/engineer and firefighter paramedic, and firefighters. The discussion included input and preferences on levels of contribution linked to MFD staff family needs. The next steps are to finalize “seed money” to have medical benefit funds immediately available on Jan. 1 2027 if needed. The Board of Directors must authorize the upgraded benefits program options, approve the specific trust fund to handle benefits support, develop an education campaign to inform MFD staff and families of the expanded options and levels of coverage/contributions, and ensure all benefits and enrollments are completed before Jan.1.
Touch-a-Truck event
MFD and the Town of Monument hosted a Toucha-Truck event on Aug. 15 at the fire district’s administrative offices. Fire apparatus, Monument Police vehicles, and heavy equipment were attractions. Monument Professional Firefighters Local 4319 hosted a free pancake breakfast. Large numbers of families enjoyed touching vehicles and talking to first responders, police, wildland firefighters, and state land rehabilitation services. See photos on page 19.
MFD Strategic Plan
Chief Fitzgerald spoke of his activities and impressions concerning the new five-year Strategic Plan development. He observed, during his oversight of two working groups that were addressing priorities and operations improvement and execution plans, that the level of dedication and interest in the MFD vision sets the stage for continued excellence in support of the Tri-Lakes community. Fitzgerald reported his participation in many local, regional, and national-level meetings, including North El Paso County Fire Chiefs, Pikes Peak Regional Wildfire Preparedness and Fire Chiefs Council, Colorado State Fire Chiefs Town Hall &
Legislative Support, and, as past president, continued his activities in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Missouri Valley Division.
Construction inspections
MFD Division Chief-Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley briefed monthly tasks to ensure all construction materials meet state, county, and local fire codes. In July, there were 17 fire inspections, 13 construction permits, and three public events. In total during July, MFD responded to 376 incidents, ranging from 211 medical calls to three wildland fire calls, one of which was in Monument. Support Services Division Chief Jamey Bumgarner announced the two new engines are nearly online to answer calls, with their outfitting of equipment nearing completion. A significant new item was the finalization of the sale of the old Fire Station 3 on Woodmoor Drive. Bumgarner served as emcee for the MFD Change of Command, attended a Summit for Intelligence Sharing, oversaw various construction facility activities, and coordinated the Fourth of July Parade. MFD facility and equipment maintenance and repair issues are critical to responding 24/7 to all community calls for assistance, he said. ********** Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams virtual joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719484-0911. Gordon Reichal can be reached at gordonreichal@ocn.me.
Monument Academy School Board, Aug. 20
Board hears marketing update, approves strategic plan By Jackie Burhans The Monument Academy (MA) board met on Aug. 20 to hear an update from its marketing firm, approve its strategic plan, set committee assignments, approve stipends and raises, update its homeschool calendar, and waive its class-size policy.
Marketing update
Audrey Kerchner, chief strategist for Inkyma, MA’s marketing firm, presented an update on its 202526 efforts and its plan for 2026-27. She noted that it was said it would be great to get 75 students over two years, but MA had overshot by getting 110 new enrolled students. Inkyma started by tweaking the website by adding a call to action and creating a funnel to lead to a landing page to schedule a school tour and then automation to manage the influx. Inkyma generated awareness via Google Ads and ACTV Digital Signage in local businesses. She said Inkyma also intermingled social media posts with other content and created a marketing dashboard to help make decisions on what to change. Kerchner said the goal in year two is to stabilize and grow smarter by maintaining the baseline and using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and AI Optimization to get to prospects earlier in the research cycle. She suggested adding search terms and creating content that AI could use in conversations about getting to the desired kind of school and making sure that MA shows up. She also said Inkyma was starting to plan
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with a campaign cadence calendar to include all the events for the 2026-27 school year to get out of the reactive mode. She said Inkyma is looking to see where automation and AI can alleviate the extra burden off existing staff by building AI assistants. She also said Inkyma is working with Executive Director Collin Vinchattle on a retention program. Board member Craig Carle said marketing works, and he looks forward to continued growth. President Lindsay Clinton asked if Inkyma had worked with other schools on AI implementation and what she put in place for privacy. Kerchner said she had worked with other highly regulated industries and planned to use Gemini Enterprise as an AI bubble inside MA’s tenant so it would stay inside the organization. If custom apps are required, she said Inkyma would work to see if it could be hosted on MA’s servers, so the information never leaves its system.
Strategic plan
The board approved its three-year strategic plan goals and action plan. Clinton said the plan, developed at its board retreat, focuses on Academic Excellence, Financial Stability, Human Capital, and Operations and Facilities. Vinchattle said it was a thoughtful process, and the biggest challenge is not trying to accomplish it all at once. Clinton, noting that it is a three-year plan, said MA wanted to dream big but have successes and accomplishments along the way to check off. Clinton thanked all who worked on it. The board unanimously approved the plan.
Committee assignments
Clinton said that, once assigned, committee reports would have a system of reporting every other month with additional reports added as needed. The following committee assignments of board members were unanimously approved: • Curriculum East – Clinton • Curriculum West – Joe Fantocone • Finance – Carle, Fantocone • Governance – Clinton, Jilinda Dygert • School Accountability and Advisory Commit-
tee (SAAC) East – Adam Fisher • SAAC West – Dygert • Building and Facilities – Clinton, Fisher • Resource Development – Carle, Fantocone Clinton said she and Vinchattle would work on the committee reporting cycles while school principals would work on meeting schedules.
Compensation
Finance Director Laura Polen expressed her gratitude to staff and said that, encouraged by a brighter economic outlook from the state, increased enrollment and increased per pupil revenue, she proposed a retroactive 3% salary increase for the past school year to be paid in September. MA had budgeted for a bonus, but she was now proposing a raise. Carle and Clinton expressed their gratitude to staff and support for this proposal, and the board unanimously approved it. Vinchattle requested approval for staff stipends for extra duty work carried out over the summer. This included filling in roles, creating new roles, and taking care of curriculum needs. Polen noted that staff were taking on additional responsibilities during a transition time, including counselling, scheduling, and graduation audits. The board unanimously approved the requested stipends.
Homeschool program
Vinchattle said that due to legislative changes and ongoing rulemaking at the state level, MA had to adjust its homeschool program and would no longer be able to offer Friday experiences, so it needed to adjust its calendar. He said the changes had caused a rollercoaster of responses from families, some of whom dropped out due to requirements for information to the state and due to program changes including the removal of reimbursement for curriculum and experiences. However, with the news that a lot of homeschool enrichment programs are shutting down, MA has seen a lot of new families. He said enrollment was currently at 91 after dropping from 100 to the 80s, and he expected to get back up to the previous level. The board unanimously approved the chang-
OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026 es to the homeschool program calendar.
Class size policy waiver approved
Vinchattle requested a one-time waiver for policy JCS-MA regarding its fifth-grade classroom size, noting that a teacher resigned this week. He said the teacher let the school know at 10 a.m., and they provided notice to parents at 2 p.m. The option they selected was to condense five fifth-grade classes to four, which would push the class size to 27 students per classroom, higher than the policyspecified 20-24 range. He spoke to teachers who felt it would be best for student stability to have kids come into slightly larger classrooms with experienced teachers and to add a teacher’s aide for extra support. He also got feedback from parents on both sides of the question. Clinton concurred with the suggestion to condense, saying with four veteran teachers it should go smoothly. She said MA did not want to rush but wanted to be intentional in its hiring, and this was a great opportunity for parents to step up and support the teachers. The board unanimously approved the onetime waiver. MA policies can be found at http:// tinyurl.com/ma-policies.
Policy approvals
The following policy changes were approved unanimously. • MA Bylaws – Changes were made to sections on board member recalls, the mission advisory committee, and preservation of mission and educational philosophy. Any edits would require a supermajority of board members to approve. • DCD-MA Continuing Disclosure – Related to its bond refinancing, it states that MA will comply and provide financial information working with the Digital Assurance Certification (DAC) platform, which will transmit the filings to the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA) system. • JICAE-MA Uniform Policy – Brought to the board last month for a first read, changes
•
included changing the terminology from vendors to suppliers and clarifying some language. The policy was also renamed the Elementary School Uniform Policy. JICAM-MA Middle School Uniform Policy – Additional edits include rules around fingernail painting and defining the appropriate length of skirts, shorts, skorts, and jumpers.
Board actions
The board unanimously approved the following requests and agreements: • The addition of an executive administrative assistant position to support the executive director and the School Board. • An updated organizational chart showing new positions and reporting relationships. • A memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pikes Peak State College for concurrent enrollment. • An agreement with Wember Inc. for ownerrepresentative services for the performing arts center project. The board discussed a proposal for a therapy dog to be present at MA to help kids who are having a rough day but decided to have legal review the procedures and policies added to the handbook and bring it to the September meeting for approval.
Highlights
Board meeting highlights include: • Lynx Leading the Way. Carle introduced this as a way to highlight community members such as top-notch teachers, parents, and students. This was formerly called “Spotlight” but will now be done as a video with the Lynx mascot. This month, Business Manager Dawn Bartlett was celebrated for her hard work and growth mindset, Carle said. She always leads with kindness and is willing to help, he noted. Vinchattle said she stepped in and took on a new role, helping with HR, finance, and a new substitute system. Clinton thanked the video team and noted that it could be shared
Page 13 as a social media reel. Executive director. Vinchattle thanked the PTO for donating picnic tables for the East Campus and announced that the first football game would be held on MA’s new field on Aug. 28. He mentioned that Operations Manager Jake Dicus was working on addressing a sinkhole, and a construction company would start working on it the following Monday. • Finance director. Polen presented the unaudited financials for June, which represents 100% of the school year. West Campus showed a net income of $1 million, Middle School showed a net loss of $141,000, and High School showed a net loss of $579,000. The combined result was a net income of $288,000. Polen noted that the budget is loaded into the School District System (SDS) platform and posted on the financial transparency page. The audit went well, and the performing arts center is hoping to break ground in October. The new field was turned over for use on Aug. 26, and the final turnover date for the track and field project is Sept. 22. • Citizen comment: Teacher Amy Mackenzie thanked the board for passing policy KFAMA Public Conduct on School Property and for setting character expectations. She also appreciated the consideration of the fourday school week but said the question lingers on how to retain quality teachers when they could work elsewhere for higher pay and less work but see spending on consultants and worry about a pay freeze. She asked if MA could start an endowment or investment fund or a Gala goal for annual teacher increases. ********** The MA School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. The next regular board meeting has been moved to Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Campus. The agenda and packet will be available at tinyurl.com/ma-boarddocs. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. •
Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education, Aug. 17
Board enters contract for new Home School Enrichment curriculum, sets focus subjects for upcoming year By Harriet Halbig The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education discussed a number of subjects involving goals for the upcoming year, facility and operations updates, and a new curriculum for the Home School Enrichment Program. Achievements by students and staff were also recognized.
Priority 4 update: facilities and planning
Director of Planning, Facilities and Grounds Melissa Andrews reported an update on capital projects and new locations for the Homeschool Enrichment Academy and the Transitions program. The structure for the Homeschool Enrichment Program has been delivered. Inspections are underway, and it is hoped that the program may begin classes in the new location in October. The new location for the Transitions program is the modular building in the Lewis-Palmer High School parking lot near the stadium. To prepare the structure for this use, two additional rooms have been created within the modular unit. One room will include laundry equipment and supplies, and the other will be a personal room with a toilet and sink. Andrews explained that her department includes responsibilities for the condition of buildings and grounds, the nutrition department, and transportation. She said that the district employs a number of specialized employees such as HVAC engineers, carpenters, and mechanics who make it possible for a number of tasks to be completed without hiring outside contractors. In addition to saving money, this allows a quicker response in case of emergency. Part of this year’s goal for the department is to train staff in monitoring the condition of buildings and grounds and to be able to determine what can be done by the staff at a given location and what must be referred to central staff. The department also monitors capacity utilization by keeping up to date on local developments, determining how many of the homes are likely to house students, and when these students are likely to enter the schools. Andrews highlighted some projects which did not require district funding. Among these is the Safe Routes to Schools trail which extends from Lewis-Palmer Elementary School to Lewis-Palmer Middle School and Palmer Ridge High School. This project has been in progress for a number of years and the district has just received a grant of $800,000 for its completion. The call for proposals has been closed, and it’s hoped that a contract can be drawn in the next few weeks. Other grants involve playground upgrades and the use of Medicaid funds to purchase a special needs bus. There have also been improvements to drainage near Palmer Ridge High School and the addition of an armed guard at Prairie
Above: Lewis-Palmer D38 recognized Monument Hill Kiwanis for its years of service and generosity to the district. From left are board Treasurer Todd Brown, Mike Luginbuhl, board Director Tim Bennett, Sharon Williams, Kathy Strom, Ted Bauman, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Dave Bailey, Kiwanis President Jim Wolf, Bill Kaelin, and Larry Young. Photo courtesy of D38.
Above: Lewis-Palmer High School senior and wrestler Lily Lundy was recognized for representing Team USA at the U17 World Championships. Pictured, from left, are board President Ron Schwarz, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, Lundy, and Coach Cole Jackson. Photo courtesy of D38.
Winds Elementary. Rental fees from the farmers market have paid for the repaving of the parking lot by the administration building. There will be a new roundabout on Higby Road near the Lewis-Palmer High School parking lot and a new crosswalk for students at that location. To view the presentation on Priority 4, please see boarddocs under the Board of Education tab on the district website, lewispalmer.org. Choose the meeting date, view the agenda, and choose the agenda item.
Board focus items for the upcoming year
At its Aug. 11 work session, the board examined a list of focus areas from last year and updated it for 2026-27. These included at least one item from each of the six priorities in the district’s strategic plan. Since that meeting, completion deadlines have been added to the list. To view the list of
Above: Lewis-Palmer Middle School Multimedia and Design teacher Nathan Strycker received a Making it Happen award from the International Society for Transforming Education. From left above are board Secretary Ginger Schaaf, board Vice President Dr. Patti Shank, Strycker, Superintendent Amber Whetstine, and Lewis-Palmer Middle School Principal Courtney Harrell. Photo courtesy of D38.
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Vol. 26 No. 9
focus areas, please see boarddocs under item D3. The board discussed the subject of employee compensation at length, determining that the district would need an additional $5 million per year to bring it to parity with neighboring districts. It was decided that the district must seek additional revenue sources to make this possible, and the board dedicated itself to reporting back to local stakeholders on a regular basis. Related to this problem is the issue of retention of good teachers, who are now leaving the district because of this issue. The board approved the list of focus items for 2026-27.
crease will account for additional expenses associated with food prices and preparation. Board President Ron Schwarz asked Baker what the increase in participation in school meals has been since the beginning of the Healthy School Meals program. She said the increase had been 600% for breakfast and 175% for lunch. Asked if this is maximizing the facilities, she said yes. Asked if there is any discussion of state funding for infrastructure to serve such a large number, Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway responded that no, this is all a local responsibility. The board passed a resolution to approve meal prices as presented.
grams as the Stars of Tomorrow talent show, Empty Bowl Dinners and student leadership programs. Kiwanis President Jim Wolf said the club also earns funds through its annual peach sale and holiday craft fair. The organization has donated over $300,000 to the district, primarily in support of children and youth in the district. A renewed Memorandum of Agreement was presented to Wolf. In her Superintendent’s Spotlight, Whetstine recognized Chief Business Officer Brett Ridgway for being awarded a 2026 Pinnacle of Achievement Award by the Association of School Business Officials International.
The board approved a contract to add a partnership with Farm Roots Enrichment, a program housed on a farm in Monument which teaches students a variety of skills related to outdoor learning to help build confidence, resilience, curiosity, leadership, and a connection to the natural world. Students do farm chores, care for animals, grow and harvest food crops, and do journaling and creative activities. To view the presentation from Farm Roots, please see boarddocs under item D1. The board unanimously passed a resolution to contract with Farm Roots.
The board honored Lewis-Palmer High School Senior Lilly Lundy for representing Team USA at the U17 World Championships in Azerbaijan during the summer. Lundy is a member of the Ranger Wrestling Team and the Motown Wrestling Club. Lundy’s coach Cole Jackson was also in attendance. Multimedia and Design teacher Nathan Strycker of Lewis-Palmer Middle School was recognized for receiving a Making It Happen award from the International Society for Transforming Education. The award was presented at the InnEdCO (Innovative Education Colorado) conference in Breckenridge. Lewis-Palmer Principal Courtney Harrel spoke on his behalf and said that Strycker demonstrated his innovation and skills by assigning his design students to design a logo for the school’s new theme, “Start here, go anywhere.” The winning design is now featured on school T-shirts and marketing materials. Harrel also praised Strycker for getting an engraving machine and 3D printer for the school. Superintendent Amber Whetstine thanked Monument Hill Kiwanis for its ongoing support for the district. She thanked them for such pro-
Board Treasurer Todd Brown requested that the consent agenda item to approve the architect’s proposal for changes at Prairie Winds Elementary should not be approved without further discussion. He felt that there should be more than one proposal for a project of this size. Ridgway said that in the spring there was discussion of making it possible to lock each door individually, but that HVAC conditions would have to be considered. Schwarz said that the board would ask the architect for two or three alternatives while retaining the feeling of openness. Ridgway said that the district may not be able to afford these changes under the current capital budget. ********** The Lewis-Palmer D38 Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month in the Bauman Learning Center, 146 Jefferson St., Monument. The next meeting will be on Sept. 21. For further information, contact vwood@lewispalmer.org. Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.
New Home School Enrichment curriculum approved
Recognitions
Meal prices for 2026-27
Director of Nutrition Services Stacey Baker provided an update on the pricing of meal services in the upcoming year. Baker explained that the Department of Agriculture provides guidance regarding meal prices. Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program provides free breakfast and lunch for all elementary school students. There is a cost for secondary students and adults. This has been raised by 30 cents. This in-
Consent agenda item pulled for review
Woodmoor Improvement Association, Aug. 26
New state law increases fines as bear activity rises By Jackie Burhans The Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board met on Aug. 22 to hear about increased bear activity and new state laws imposing fines for negligent luring of bears. President Brian Bush was absent.
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Bear activity
Covenant Director Jennifer Davis noted that a new state law, House Bill 26-1342 Negligently Luring Bears strengthens Colorado law by lowering the standard from intent to knowingly leaving food out where there is a reasonable probability of attracting bears. It also eliminates the requirement to give a warning for the first offense and raises the fine for a third or subsequent offense from $2,000 to $5,000. She noted that Woodmoor has had problems with residents leaving their trashcans out permanently. Public Safety Director Brad Gleason said that WIA has had a lot of reported bear sightings and noticed a lot of trash cans knocked over. Bears are very active, he said, and asked that residents take their trashcans in after pickup and not invite bears. Davis said she would check to see who would issue the fines. Vice President Peter Bille said he had seen two trash cans flipped over on Woodmoor Drive and reiterated the request that residents take their trashcans in. For more information on the new state law, see https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1342.
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Director highlights
Treasurer. Pete Giusti reported that the budget is doing great, highlighting grant money for fire mitigation and an equipment purchase for Woodmoor Public Safety. Income is slightly low, he said, but so are expenses, and WIA is on target to finish the year as expected. HOA Administrator. Denise Cagliaro said that there were 135 overdue accounts, and liens have been filed. Giusti said they had ended 2025 with 95 accounts still on the books and that had gone up to 537 after the due date, so progress has been made. Covenants: Davis reported that July had eight covenant-related items resulting in violations for a barking dog, firewood, and unstowed items. There were 24 HOA checks and one covenant hearing in July. There are two covenant hearings scheduled for September. She said that 66 letters had been sent to South Woodmoor residents about tall grass, dead trees, and pine needles, noting that WIA will work on Central Woodmoor next. Architectural Control: Miller reported 56 project submissions in July, 44 of which were approved administra-tively. Eleven projects were approved by the Architectural Control Committee (ACC), and one was rejected. There have been 286 projects submitted year to date, which is a 1.4% decrease from 2025,
with a 98.6% approval rate. Forestry: Director Jason Hann said that nine Firewise visits and three grant visits were performed in July. He said he was finishing the third mitigation reimbursement packet for submission in the next few weeks. • Common Areas. Director of Common Areas Steve Cutler reported that backflow testing was performed on June 29 and the passing results were forwarded to the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District. • President. Bille reported on behalf of Bush that the staff and board are working on updating WIA documenta-tion, currently focusing on the Project Design Standards Manual (PDSM). He thanked Hann for working on the project, saying it would make it easier for residents to find consistent information in a single source. ********** The WIA Board of Directors usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Barn at 1691 Woodmoor Drive, Monument. The next meeting will be on Sept. 23. The WIA calendar can be found at www. woodmoor.org/events/. Once approved and posted, the WIA board meeting minutes can be found at www.woodmoor.org/board-of-directors/. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me. •
Letters to Our Community Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. Guidelines for letters are on page 23. The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer. Letters are arranged in alphabetical order based on the last name of the author.
Reform metro district laws
Colorado’s legislators must act to reduce the cost to run metro districts. For example, the rentseeking and antiquated requirement that notices be published in particular types of newspapers should be eliminated. My metro district spends hundreds of dollars to publish notices in newspapers that are not read in the community. OCN
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does not qualify under Colorado law but has higher (any) readership in the district. My metro district also has a website available for anyone to read. Modernizing transparency rules will lower costs and improve visibility on local governments. Andrew Bussa
Night sky/Buc-ee’s
The El Paso County Commissioners’ zoning vote for the Buc-ee’s mega-plex is discouraging, but it is not a final construction approval. The Palmer Divide is not just a highway corridor; it is our shared backyard, a fragile lifeline where our human families, pristine dark skies, and ancient wildlife networks are completely interconnected. If we let this 74,000-square-foot mega-center shatter our home, we lose more than quiet nights. The 24/7 stadium lighting will inflict catastrophic ecosystem damage, blinding millions of birds traveling the Central Flyway, which uses our land
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as a vital resting stop. When we deplete our vanishing aquifers and fracture the migration path used by regional elk and mule deer, we disrupt the natural balance keeping our entire ecosystem healthy. We are the stewards of this land, and its survival directly impacts our own safety, water security, and quality of life. We can still actively protect our community through unified, forward-focused legal and environmental action: First, we must file a Rule 106 court challenge within the strict 28-day window to legally contest the flawed “convenience store” zoning interpretation. Second, we must demand exhaustive state reviews. By flooding the Colorado Division of Water Resources and the Colorado Department of Transportation with public comments, we can force intense scrutiny on aquifer depletion and traffic safety. Finally, by aligning with organized community groups and leveraging joint municipal opposition from local town councils, we ensure our collective voices carry real weight. Let’s stand together, support our local advocacy networks, and safeguard the fragile ecosystem we all depend on to survive. The mandate to protect the safety and permanent integrity of the Palmer Divide Wildlife and Ecosphere Corridor belongs to all of us. Janet Sellers
OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026
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Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore
Some favorite books of this summer By the staff at Covered Treasures “Everywhere in the world, people like to celebrate their birthdays. Countries are no different. They like to note their creation and to celebrate what they have achieved, and do so in a way that offers hope for their future.”—1,000 Days in America Here are a handful of books that have been favorites of ours this summer. Little Wonder By Sophie Chen Keller (Ballantine Books) $30 Song is a nobody, just a food delivery worker from a village in Northeast China, but her son, River, is a little wonder. At the age of 4, he toddles to a piano and taps out his favorite song. At 8, he masters Liszt’s three Liebestraume; at 10, he blazes through the complete set of Chopin’s études. At every step, through loss, illness, and poverty, Song is there to light his way—until finally, at the age of 11, River is invited to study with a preeminent teacher in Beijing. But in the chaos of Beijing Railway Station, Song faces every mother’s nightmare: She loses her grip on River’s hand and is unable to find him after a desperate, harrowing search. Over the next days, weeks, and eventually, years, Song and River fight to forge a path back to each other as they carve out new lives that carry them farther apart. An exploration of a mother’s love and a son’s yearning, Little Wonder takes us on an extraordinary journey through a modern Beijing. This Book Made Me Think of You By Libby Page (Berkley Books) $30 When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock, because Joe died five months ago. When she goes to pick up the present, Alfie, the kind bookshop owner, explains the gift—twelve books carefully chosen by Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him. Her monthly trips to the bookstore—and heartfelt conversations with Alfie—give Tilly the comfort she craves and the courage to set out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world, and her books help her to begin to heal and to live her life again. Yesteryear By Caro Claire Burke (Knopf) $30 Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband is a handsome
cowboy, her six children are delightful. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes? What Natalie’s followers—all 8 million of them—don’t know won’t hurt them. Natalie isn’t simply living the good life; she’s living the ideal, and just so happens to be building an empire from it. Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers; something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her softhanded husband is suddenly a competent farmer. When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible. A gripping novel that is darkly funny and a little frightening. Theo of Golden By Allen Levi (Atria Books) $20 One spring morning, an 86-year-old stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from, or why. His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers. Visiting a local coffeehouse, Theo examines 92 pencil portraits hanging on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden, done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving them to the person depicted in the drawing. With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life is altered. In the three years since Levi self-published Theo, it has become a best-seller, remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for 36 weeks. The Calamity Club By Kathryn Stockett (Spiegel & Grau) $35 Oxford, Mississippi, 1933. Abandoned by her mother one Christmas Eve, 11-year-old Meg Lefleur has learned the hard way to rely on no one. Now one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, she fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford to ask her socialite sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. But as the Depression tightens its grip, Birdie discovers her sister’s seemingly charmed life is one of lies. Then, Birdie encounters Charlie, a woman running low on luck with little left to lose. When their fates—and Meg’s—converge, Charlie comes up with an audacious plan for them to take control of their lives. But in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife and women’s freedom is fragile, even the smallest act of defiance can have dangerous consequences. The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer, an epic testament to underestimated women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. Whistler By Ann Patchett (Harper) $30 When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they no-
Library Events
Changes in Palmer Lake Library hours; new programs in Monument By Harriet Halbig The Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has launched a new program that will make it possible to use the library during unstaffed hours. Palmer Lake Library has been open three days a week. It will now be open five days a week, with staffing from 2 to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Wednesdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. This schedule went into effect on Aug. 31. Individuals who are at least 18 years old, have a 400 series library card which has been active for at least 90 days, and are in good standing with the district may apply for a non-transferable hybrid access badge which will allow them to enter the library seven days a week between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. except for federal or library holidays. Patrons with a pass may bring a guest with them but are responsible for the guest’s conduct while in the library. Those using the library during unstaffed hours can browse the stacks, use the computers and printers, pick up holds, or linger to read newspapers or magazines. Those using the library during unstaffed hours are expected to follow the PPLD Code of Conduct. If a patron has questions that require contact with a librarian, there will be an intercom available. Librarians will be available during regular open hours. If a patron has a question outside of those hours, a member of the Security Operations Center will take a message. The Security Operations Center will monitor the library during the 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. time period. For information on how to complete training for the access badge and further questions, please see the library district website, ppld.org.
Monument Library programs
Regularly occurring programs at the Monument Library include: • Storytime each Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:15. • Socrates Café adult discussion group on Tuesdays from 1 to 3. • Paws to Read on Tuesdays from 4 to 5. Increase fluency by reading to a Paws to Read therapy dog. For ages up to 12. • Toddler Time on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10 and 10:30 to 11 for toddlers 1 and 2 and their parent or caregiver. Saturday, Sept. 5 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. tweens ages 9 to 12 are welcome to participate in a Tabletop Roleplaying Game. Create your own hero and explore new worlds in this interactive game. Registration is required at 719-531-6333 extension 7005. This program will be repeated on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 3:30 to 5:45. Thursday, Sept. 10 from 3 to 4, attend a program on Art for Older Adults. This program develops self-reliance even for those who require a partner to help with using materials. All materials provided. Registration is required at 719-5316333 ext. 7005 The Teen Advisory Board will meet from 5 to 6 on Thursday, Sept. 10. Teens ages 13 to 18 are encouraged to join the board to learn leadership skills and earn volunteer hours. Members of the board may help with library events and have input on future activities. Registration is required at 719-531-6333 ext. 7005 Adults who need help using their smartphone, laptop, tablet, or navigating the library’s online catalog may come to the Device Drop In program between 11 and noon on Thursday, Sept. 17. Come in anytime during that hour and a staff member will assist you. No registration required.
tice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than a year when Daphne was 9. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed both their lives. Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, and the small yet consequential moments that define our lives. A simple story, this book is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything. Mad Mabel By Sally Hepworth (St. Martin’s Press) $29 Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is 81 years old, grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers begin to fly: Apparently Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Years ago, she was Mad Mabel Waller, Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades. Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated and is about to prove everyone wrong. Once again. A Far-Flung Life By M.L. Stedman (Scribner) $30 When we do something that can’t be undone or mended, how do we go on living? How do we find our way when there is no right answer? These questions are at the center of this epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that echoes for decades. The MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station in remote Western Australia for generations, a million acres of arid land. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, under a bright blue sky, a driver swerves to avoid hitting a kangaroo and the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered. Until next month, happy reading. The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.
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The Monument Book Group for adults will meet from 10:30 to 12:30 on Friday, Sept. 18. All are welcome to attend this group. The selection for September is Winter Dance by Gary Paulsen. No registration required. The Teen Craft Group will meet from 5 to 6 on Monday, Sept. 21. Bring a craft to work on while socializing with other crafters your age. This group meets on the first and third Monday of each month. No registration required. Teens 13 to 18 are invited to attend a pro-
gram on Creative Writing Basics from 5 to 6 on Thursday, Sept. 24. Do you love to read and go on fantastical adventures? Why not create your own? Learn the basics of creative writing and go home with a reusable writing template in this fun and instructional workshop. Registration is required at 719-531-6333 ext. 7005 The Monument Fiber Arts Group will meet from 10:30 to noon on Friday, Sept. 25. Those interested in knitting, crochet, or other fiber arts are welcome to bring a project and socialize with
Vol. 26 No. 9
other crafters. No registration is required. The Idea Lab: Recycled City program for those ages 6 to 12 will be offered on Friday, Sept. 25 from 4:30 to 5:30. Work together or individually to plan and build a city using recycled materials. The only limit is your imagination! If you have a group of 10 or more who wish to participate, please call the library to be sure there is room. No registration is required. Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.
The Nature of Our Community
What and where is the Palmer Divide? By Dr. Judith von Ahlefeldt, landscape ecologist The Palmer Divide is a major geologic feature of Northern El Paso County and is locally known as a “weather catcher.” It shares the “weather catcher” title with Raton Ridge (7,835 feet), which separates the watersheds of the Arkansas River from a watershed complex at the New Mexico border, and also the Cheyenne Ridge (7,473 feet) west of Cheyenne, Wyo., which rises between the North and South Platte River watersheds. The “Palmer Divide” is a modern, recent, local name which begins the “divide” at Palmer Lake— a spring-fed lake parallel to the Front Range mountains that extends past I-25 (at the infamous Monument Hill (7,352 feet). The “divide” separates the South Platte and Arkansas River Watersheds on the east side of the Continental Divide. Bald Mountain (in Douglas County on the north side of County Line Road just east of Monument Hill in Douglas County has a summit of 7,887 feet and is lower than the 9,000-plus-foot Front Range. From there, the Palmer Divide takes a shallow ”U” shape, trending southeast through the ponderosa forests and prairies of Black Forest in northern El Paso County to the highest point east of the Rockies in El Paso County—Vollmer Hill at 7,704 feet. East of Vollmer Hill, the “divide” between the South Platte and Arkansas drainages trends northeast mainly through prairies to Limon, in Lincoln County, where the north-south ridge east of Limon hosts headwaters of the Arikaree and
Republican Rivers that flow into the Missouri River hundreds of miles to the east at St. Louis. James J. Abert, a graduate of the first class of Army Topographic Engineers from West Point Military Academy, participated in Maj. Stephen Long’s scientific expedition in 1820. The Abert squirrel honors James Abert’s scientific legacy. The Long Expedition discovered and described what is now called Palmer Lake as an unusual spring-fed lake at the base of the mountains. The lake flowed to both the north and south—an unusual pattern, since most Front Range creeks emanated from valleys on either side of a mountain ridge. In 1835, Col. Henry Dodge described this as “Summit Lake,” and it also appears as “Divide Lake” on later maps. In the bigger landscape picture, the “Palmer Divide” is a segment, east of the Front Range, for perhaps 30 miles east from Palmer Lake. That segment separates part of the South Platte and Arkansas River systems.
Where do these rivers originate?
Both these rivers originate far to the west in high elevations on an eastern slope of McNabee Peak of the Continental Divide (a 13er) in the Mosquito Range. The South Platte originates on the north side of this eastern slope and flows through Denver before joining the Missouri River, and from the south side of McNabee Peak’s east side, the waters of the Arkansas River flow near Divide before heading for Pueblo, where Fountain Creek and upstream Monument Creek join the Arkansas
River just east of downtown Pueblo. So, in the Tri-Lakes-Black Forest area, the Platte-Arkansas Divide (Palmer Divide) is a really important landscape feature. You can essentially stand with one foot on land that sends its raindrops north to a tributary of the South Platte River system of the Missouri Basin, and joins the Mississippi at St. Louis, and the other foot on land that sends its tributary runoff to the Arkansas River, which empties directly into the Mississippi River far south and northeast of Texarkana, Texas and along the eastern border of Arkansas. Ultimately, any precipitation along either side of the Palmer Divide could reach the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico after a very long journey. At Palmer Lake, watersheds draining north from the Palmer Divide start with Plum Creek, west of I-25. The highest point in eastern El Paso County is in Black Forest at Vollmer Hill, which slopes gently to the north and east, and has a steeper gradient to the south and west. On the north side of Vollmer Hill, running to the Platte River, are East and West Cherry Creeks and East and West Kiowa Creeks. The Bijou Basin, on the northeast side of Homestead Ranch, hosts Bijou Creek, which also flows to the South Platte. More on the Palmer Divide next month! Dr. Judith von Ahlefeldt can be reached at judithvonahlefeldt@ocn.me.
September Wildfire Preparation Tips
Free home wildfire preparedness course available By Lisa Hatfield Free self-paced wildfire preparation course for you: Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO) is again offering an interactive way for you to learn the basics of wildfire risk reduction and how to rally your neighborhood to do the work together! Neighborhood Ambassador Training work can be done from Oct. 5 through mid-December at your own pace, with advice and evaluation from FACO. To register, go to https://forms.fillout. com/t/omvWqSntt2us or write to LisaHatfield@ocn. me with questions. • • • •
September’s wildfire tips:
The 5 feet closest to home or shed should contain no fuel (lumber, bushes, newspapers, anything that can burn). Make sure no branches are within 10 feet of the house and roof. “Limb up” tree branches for a 6-10-foot gap from the ground to the first branches. Are trees within 30 feet of home all vigorous
and thriving? For forest health, the Colorado State Forest Service recommends no more than 30 trees per acre. That means at least 10 feet of space from the outside crown of one tree to the beginning of the next tree branches. • (Unfortunately, some Tri-Lakes area properties have closer to 500 trees per acre, so they struggle to survive, can’t resist infestations, and would spread fire exponentially.) • It’s now a safe month to remove ponderosa pines infested with mountain pine beetles, since the beetles are done flying for the year. For more ideas, look online for Colorado State Forest Service’s The Home Ignition Zone: A Guide to Preparing Your Home for Wildfire and Creating Defensible Space (https://tinyurl.com/homeignitionzone), and ask your local fire district for site-specific guidance. ********** Lisa Hatfield can be reached at LisaHatfield@ocn.
me. Lisa is a volunteer with Fire Adapted Colorado (https://fireadapted.org/), an author of clean disaster adventure novels, and trained volunteer property evaluator who loves to answer questions.
Above: Prune branches hanging over your roof and within 10 feet of the chimney. Graphic from https:// csfs.colostate.edu/live-wildfire-ready/ (Live Wildfire Ready).
High Altitude Nature and Gardens
The environmental impact: why dark skies matter By Janet Sellers Over 80% of migratory birds in North America travel at night, relying on the moon and stars for navigation. Artificial light at night (ALAN) disorients them, drawing them off-course into urban areas where they exhaust critical energy or collide with glass. Our Palmer Divide is a critical wildlife migration corridor that serves as a vital ecological bridge in central Colorado. It connects the Rocky Mountain foothills to the western edge of the Great Plains Central Flyway. Millions of migratory birds use it as a rest and nesting stop during seasonal migrations. Because the divide bridges the high plains and the Rocky Mountains, its unique topography funnels vast waves of songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors twice a year. When light pollution bleeds into the sky, it disorients them, leading to fatal building collisions or exhaustion. Keeping the Palmer Divide dark preserves a safe celestial highway. At the same time, roughly 50% of the Earth’s animal species are nocturnal. Disrupting natural light-dark cycles wreaks havoc on their feeding, mating, and predator-prey dynamics. Pollinators such as moths, beetles, and nocturnal bees are drawn away from plants by artificial glow, while amphibians and soil organisms experience altered circadian rhythms that disrupt nutrient cycles.
Urban development and traffic along the Interstate 25 corridor between Denver and Colorado Springs heavily fragment this area. To prevent habitat isolation and reduce vehicle collisions, local groups like the Palmer Land Conservancy have established dedicated conservation zones, such as Douglas County’s massive wildlife overpass near Greenland, allowing animals to safely cross the highway. How can we answer the uncompromising demand for dark skies to safeguard wildlife, human life, and our living future? Rather than leaving gardens in total darkness where safety requires it, we can implement dark-sky-friendly solutions at home: • Down-facing and fully shielded fixtures: Replace open-bulb sconces with downwardpointing, solid-top fixtures (look for DarkSky-approved certification) to keep light off tree canopies. • Low and ground-level lighting: Use low-voltage bollards or stepped path lights that keep illumination strictly close to the ground. • Warm spectrum LEDs (<2700K or amber): Birds and insects are intensely drawn to blue and white light. Use warm LEDs (2200K– 2700K) or true amber bug-lights, which are far less disruptive to nocturnal wildlife.
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Smart controls and motion sensors: Install motion sensors and timers so outdoor lighting stays on only when humans are actually present. • Indoor light trespass controls: Close curtains and blinds after dusk during peak spring and autumn migration seasons, preventing indoor light from bleeding into the garden. To see how Front Range growth and water scarcity threaten our agricultural roots, consider watching the short documentary Mirasol: Looking at the Sun, produced by the Palmer Land Conservancy, via the Palmer Land Conservancy website at https://www.palmerland.org/. ********** Janet L. Sellers is an artist and 20-year journalist designing “architecture of awe” prototypes, consulting on permaculture, traditional ecological wisdom, and community environmental engagement. She can be contacted at JanetSellers@ocn.me.
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On the Trail (in memory of Tim Watkins)
Ride for Tim scheduled for Sept. 19 By Steve Pate As we have previously reported, Tim Watkins was shot and killed while riding his mountain bike in one of his favorite areas near Mount Herman and Limbaugh Canyon on Sept. 15, 2017. This year, the annual Ride for Tim in remembrance of Tim Watkins will be on Sept. 19 starting at 1 p.m. at the Tim Watkins Memorial in Palmer Lake, 66 N. Glenway, near the library. Anyone is welcome to participate in the memorial and ride the Santa Fe Trail down to Monument, where friends will meet at the Trails End Tap Room, 252 Front St., Monu-
ment, 80132. The gathering at Trails End will start at around 2:30 p.m. Again this year, Jennifer Bucholtz, criminal investigator with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, will be at the tap room. If you have any new information about Watkins’s murder, please share that with Bucholtz, who can be reached at 719-520-7227 or by email at JenniferBucholtz@ElPasoCo.com. Last year, many of the riders rode some of Watkins’s favorite trails and what is now the Tim Watkins Memorial Trail in the Monument Preserve north of Mount Herman Road. Steve Pate may be contacted at stevepate@ocn.me
Above: Tim Watkins Memorial Trail in Monument Preserve north of Mount Herman Road. Photo by Brian Mullin.
Art Matters
Art: our sanctuary for daily life and common ground By Janet Sellers
How our bodies need art as their neuroaesthetic need for sanctuary
Our high-stress modern environments (like the rapid development along our corridors) create sensory fatigue, yet pre-verbal, harmonious visual structures such as fine art offer the brain a restorative pause. “Our brain on art” is a phrase that goes beyond artists, as neuroscientists and the general public alike are beginning to understand our need for restorative experiences that don’t ask a lot from us. These aesthetic experiences give us tremendous benefits just for the looking—and more so in having art near us every day at home, work, and even travel. Increasingly, public spaces are turning to immersive, “time-based
art”—large-scale digital or video installations where imagery shifts, breathes, and evolves. Rather than a static picture frozen on a wall, these works act like digital windows or living landscapes, using subtle movement to change the energy of a room and offer quiet moments of visual rest. Airports and high-density public spaces increasingly rely on restorative artworks to cultivate physiological calm, support emotional regulation, and foster positive human engagement amid complex environments. From curated traditional art exhibits to grand time-based art, we can enjoy and benefit from art and creativity in many ways. Prototype-to-placement: To briefly pull back the curtain on the studio process, I’ll share how physical modules and large-scale trip-
tychs are engineered—not just to hang on a wall. They function as portable “pocket sanctuaries” on a phone, wall, and other spaces as civic touchpoints that invite viewers to pause and breathe. The traditional triptych, a threepart image in materials such as paintings, photography, or textiles, offers its three-part imagery in sections. For the artist, it can make the artwork very doable because the format allows for creating a large, immersive artwork in manageable sizes that form a whole. Even the separate parts fulfill an important purpose: Our mind connects the parts to a greater whole. In the case of the time-based artworks, it is often a loop of interacting imagery that flows before our eyes, capturing our attention in a real-life scenario complete with a sense of gentle mo-
tion.
Art as a common ground
When we tie it back to community identity, we can see how shared art spaces anchor a neighborhood’s soul against the tide of chaotic overdevelopment. Our local sculpture parks and sculpture paths bring a sense of place and belonging where we live, work, and play. Street signs are there, but a sculpture or outdoor mural is a true wayfinding element in a place, as are our living landscape elements. Janet L. Sellers is a master artist, long-term journalist, and MFA researcher designing “architecture of awe” and kinesthetic activation prototypes. Her research and writing on community engagement and visual ecology serve over 20,000 households each month. She can be contacted at JanetSellers@ocn.me
Snapshots of Our Community MFDChange of Command, Aug. 3
Above and below: On Aug. 3, Fire Chief Andy Kovacs remarked at the ceremony for his 36 years of public service and the Monument Fire District Change of Command: “Leadership is a practice and a passion of our fire district team, which I have had the honor and privilege to command.” Chief Colin Fitzgerald accepted command of the Monument Fire District while Division Chief of Administration Jamey Bumgarner, master of ceremonies, observes. He thanked all the attendees and said, “I am honored, humbled, and excited to be here; I truly am. It only took me a few minutes of being here initially to figure out where the strength of this district resides, and that is with the people.” Photos by Gordon Reichal.
Fire preparedness, Aug. 5
Above and below: Monument Fire District Division Chief of Operations/Fire Marshal (right) and EMS Carrie Fuller, MFD educator (left), briefed over 60 TriLakes residents on Personal Wildland Fire Action plans Aug. 5 at Trinity Lutheran Church. These are some of their tips to improve household survival. 1. “Get ready” Dispose of or relocate combustibles from around your home; 2. “Prepare and be aware” Alert the household and neighbors of your action plan and ensure family members and pets are accounted for and ready to leave; and 3. “Act Early” Get your Go Kit and leave when you feel like or are advised to start your evacuation plan. Photos by Gordon Reichal.
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PL Chief assists Elk Fire efforts
Vol. 26 No. 9
Students help TLC garden, Aug. 8
On Aug. 6, Palmer Lake Fire Chief John Vincent received a resources order for the Elk Fire in southwestern Colorado. Due to an increase in fire activity, there was a request for more resources. Vincent began a 72-hour deployment as a task force leader. Fire conditions in and around Colorado continue to be extreme, so please use caution with your activities. The Palmer Lake Fire Department is committed to being a state and national resource to help our fellow communities. Photos and caption courtesy of Palmer Lake Fire Fighters Association.
Backpack Giveaway, Aug. 9
Above: Lots of student enthusiasm helped to make the garden grow at the TriLakes Cares food garden in summer. From left are Cash Morris, Miles Burns, Olivia Graves, Kira Manzer, and Shila Land; (not pictured is Liz Graves, who also volunteered). They watered, weeded, planted seeds, and transplanted seedlings. Photo by Janet Sellers.
Monumental Flower Power
Above and below: Backpacks filled with school supplies were given away at Centennial Park in Palmer Lake on Aug. 9. The backpacks and supplies for all grades—elementary, middle, and high school—were donated by various groups and individuals. The event was sponsored by Lee and Associates Real Estate. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.
Above: This year, Monument did not have its usual flowerbeds and hanging baskets, which were very much missed by locals and visitors all season. Local citizen John Howe decided to help the community and bring cheerful flowers to downtown Monument this summer. He seeded and planted and filled the flower beds at the Tri-Lakes Chamber with marigolds, snapdragons and more, and cared for them, watering and weeding all summer to bring the beauty of flowers into town. Photo by Janet Sellers.
Play Park Groundbreaking, Aug. 10
Above and below: Ground was broken on the Heart of Monument Play Park on Aug. 10. Town officials, members of the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club (MHKC), donors, sponsors, and the public attended the ceremony on the future site of the park south of the Monument Community Presbyterian Church parking lot. Kiwanis member Scott Ross says 150 donors and sponsors have contributed $767,000 so far. That will pay for Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 of the park that is designed for all ages and abilities. MHKC is welcoming more donations, as another $48,000 is needed to finish Phase 2, which will have a shaded area, toddler fence, and accessible exercise equipment. They hope the park will open in late September or early October. Photos by Michael Weinfeld. Drawing of what the park will look like courtesy of the Heart of Monument Committee.
YouTube OCN Video Playlists Monument Town Council Meeting, Aug. 3
Heart of Monument Play Park Groundbreaking, Aug. 10
Lang Investment Services Annual Pig Roast, Aug. 14
Monument Fire District Toucha-Truck Community Breakfast, Aug. 15
Triview Metropolitan District Office Ribbon Cutting, Aug. 14
Board of County Commissioners Hearing on Buc-ee's Appeal, Aug. 27
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Rain interrupts annual pig roast
MFD Touch-a-Truck,
Above and below: A downpour interrupted the annual pig roast put on by Monument investment adviser Matt Lang on Aug. 14. It was sprinkling when people started lining up for the free food and drink. Awnings protected the food and a small eating area, but then the skies opened up and a deluge drenched the site in the parking lot of Lang’s investment office. The event has been held annually, rain or shine, since 1999. This year’s food included pulled pork sandwiches, street tacos, baked beans, lemonade and beer. All free. Lolley’s served free ice cream and there was a bounce house for kids. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.
Above and below: Monument Fire District and Firefighters Union 4319 hosted a Touch a Truck community breakfast Aug. 15. There were 60-foot ladders, kids imagining driving a fire truck, and El Paso County emergency vehicles. Tri-Lakes enjoyed a first responder meet-and-greet morning and some pretty good pancakes, too. Photos by Gordon Reichal.
Stop Buc-ee's Meeting, Aug. 19 Gleneagle Sertoma donates $25K
Above: Gleneagle Sertoma (GS) presented a check for $25,000 to the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club (MHKC) on Aug. 19. The money will help build the Heart of Monument Play Park south of the Monument Community Presbyterian Church parking lot. GS Program Chair Donna O’Bryant says it’s the largest donation the group has ever made. From left are GS President Steve Kouri, MHKC President Jim Wolf, Bryant, and Joe Kneedler of MHKC. Photo by Bob Harrigan.
Above: More than 300 people gathered Aug. 19 at Palmer Ridge High School to hear Tri-Lakes Preservation Inc. President Sean Sawyer and Vice President Matt Beverly (pictured on stage) discuss the next steps in the proposed Buc-ee’s development. Sawyer and Beverly urged residents to attend the El Paso Board of County Commissioners hearing Aug. 27 and support denial of the appeal. They stressed that the hearing would focus solely on whether Buc-ee’s fits the property’s existing C-1 zoning. Beverly said the proposal has generated more public feedback than any other development he has seen. Tri-Lakes Preservation’s Stop Buc-ee’s website is at https://www.stopbuceespalmerlake.com/. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
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Art Hop, Aug. 20
Vol. 26 No. 9
Buc-ee's hearing, Aug. 27
Above: Laurel Schow Tri-Lakes Strong public testimony group organizing into groups of 12 speakers outside. Photo by Judy von Ahlefeldt. Above: At the Aug. 20 Art Hop, Lorraine Danzo shared her grand body of work on the exhibition wall of Bella Art and Frame Gallery. She demonstrated painting and chatted with visitors throughout the early evening event. Danzo is a longtime artist with the gallery. Below: On Second Street near the “art alley,” local student Heidi Promersberger brought the studio to the street with her beaded bracelet creations. The last 2026 Art Hop will be Thu., Sept. 17, 5-8 pm in Downtown Monument. Photos by Janet Sellers.
Above: Signs outside Centennial Hall. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
MFD Five-Year Plan,
Above: Citizens speaking to the commissioners. The names of speakers and the graphics they submitted were not projected. Photo by Judy von Ahlefeldt.
Above: On Aug. 21, Jeremy Furman, Monument Fire District (MFD) accreditation manager, briefed the combined MFD leadership and Board of Directors on developing the district’s new five-year Strategic Plan. Six strategic themes were developed to guide the working group: 1. Career growth and advancement; 2. Wildland fire program and regional/national deployment; 3. MFD culture as a core strength; 4. Compensation benefits and retention; 5. Promotion pipeline and succession; and 6. Potential mergers with neighboring districts. An initial survey was completed seeking input from the community and the MFD team members. Responses were received from 119 community members and 312 MFD team members to help baseline the five-year plan. The top community response issue was area wildland fire preparation and response. Photo by Gordon Reichal.
Above: A full hearing room with citizens lined up at the microphones testifying. The display shows speaker has 42 seconds left. Photo by Judy von Ahlefeldt.
Flags lowered for Dolly Parton
Above: Flags are flying at half-staff in Monument as they are throughout the country in memory of Dolly Parton. Parton died Aug. 25 after what her family called “a brief battle with cancer.” She was 80 years old. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Above: Because the crowd was admonished for clapping, this group of women waved their arms in the air when they liked what was said in testimony. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
OCN
Saturday, September 5, 2026
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.
Slash drop off, mulch program ends Sept. 12
Slash Operation: $10 fee for each load dropped off. Through Sept. 12 — Tue. and Thu. evenings: 5 to 7:30 pm, Sat., 8 am to 4 pm. Mulch is available while supplies last. Mulch loader schedule: Saturdays only — 8 am to 4 pm. Loader fee is $5 per bucket. Shoup Rd & Herring Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80908
garage codes, hazardous materials in use, etc. that will make it easier for them to help. www.communityconnect.io/info/co-monument.
Coyote Safety
With coyote activity on the rise in our neighborhoods, please stay alert to keep our community, children and pets safe. • Stay Vigilant: Keep a close eye on small children during outdoor activities. • Pets: Keep dogs on short leashes and avoid leaving them unattended, especially at dawn and dusk. • Secure Attractants: Keep trash bins sealed and do not leave pet food or water bowls outside. • Practice Hazing: If you see a coyote, don't run. Stand tall, wave your arms, and make loud noises to scare it away. Let’s work together to respect local wildlife while keeping our households secure.
School Bus Safety
County seeks feedback on the Revised LDC
El Paso County is requesting that county residents, businesses, and other stakeholders review the latest revised draft of the Land Development Code and provide comments. The LDC is posted at https://elpasocountyldc.konveio. com/ldc-modules-1-2-zoning-districts-uses-and-development-standards. The consolidated draft covering zoning districts, land uses, site design, landscaping, parking, signs, subdivision standards, lighting, and other regulations that guide growth and development in unincorporated El Paso County. The work is not complete, and community feedback remains an essential part of developing the final Land Development Code. "Public participation is a critical part of this process, and we encourage everyone to review the draft and share their feedback," said Meggan Herington, Executive Director of the Planning and Community Development Department.
El Paso County Property Protection Program
El Paso County has launched a new Property Protection Program to help prevent fraudulent deed transfers and real estate scams. The program alerts property owners whenever a document is filed using their name on any property, so owners can quickly verify whether the filing is legitimate or the result of attempted fraud. Residents may register multiple name variations and household members. At this time, the program can only monitor filings made after you enroll, but officials are exploring options to expand coverage. Property records can also be reviewed in person at the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. To learn more or register, visit the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Property Protection Program webpage. For more information on the PPP program, go to this link: https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco. com/recording/property-protection/
Prepare now for wildfires
You need to prepare your property for when wildfire comes close. See Colorado State Forest Service’s booklet - The Home Ignition Zone: a guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating defensible space. https://tinyurl.com/homeignitionzone. It’s up to you to reduce the risks on your private property by analyzing where the fuels are - easy things like getting pine needles out of your gutter will help. The booklet has ideas for homes in prairies, forests, or suburban areas.
Drivers who pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and flashing lights constitute a dangerous and life-threatening violation of traffic laws. In Colorado, you must (A) stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, stopping at least 20 feet away, unless you are on the opposite side of a highway divided by a physical, raised, or depressed median; (B) On a two-lane road or one where painted lines, but no physical barrier, separate lanes, you must still stop; (C) After stopping, you must remain stopped until the bus’s lights stop flashing and it begins to move again. Colorado school buses are increasingly being equipped with automated stop arm cameras to record and catch drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus. Recent legislation allows for the installation and use of these systems by school districts. Academy School District 20 in Colorado uses school bus cameras, including the stop arm camera system and interior cameras, to enhance student safety and to document drivers who pass a stopped school bus with flashing lights and an extended stop arm.
Tri-Lakes Cares needs your support
Tri-Lakes Cares is the only food pantry and human services organization serving northern El Paso County through emergency relief and self-sufficiency programs. The community-based, volunteer-supported center is a critical resource for our neighbors in need. The best way to help support Tri-Lakes Cares is to donate. Visit https://trilakescares.org/donate to learn how to donate money, medical items, personal supplies, or food. Please check the web for current needs in our food pantry at https://tri-lakescares. org/donate/current-needs. Donation drop-off hours are Mon.-Thu., 9 am-4 pm. For more information about TriLakes Cares or how you can help, contact Tri-Lakes Cares at 719-481-4864 or info@tri-lakescares.org.
Forest and gardening volunteers needed
Friends of Fox Run Park has openings for student volunteers (and grownups, too) most of the year for various tasks. Besides tasks, the group offers information and skills demonstrations for each 2-3 hour session, and celebrates volunteers at the park with annual community events. The Tri Lakes Cares on-site garden in Monument also needs volunteers in Fall, Spring and Summer. Gardening tasks include preparing garden beds, weeding, sowing seeds, and developing the compost. Bring gardening gloves, some tools will be provided on the workdays. Contact Janet Sellers at JanetSellers@ocn.me or Marlene Brown at MarleneBrown@ocn.me for more information.
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MFD seeks your help
Monument Fire District residents and businesses can create a secure account at Community Connect which firefighters can access in emergencies to find out about people with special needs, aggressive or anxious pets, gate or
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State and County Volunteer Opportunities
The Colorado State University Extension office in El Paso County has several opportunities for individuals interested in volunteering. https://elpaso.extension. colostate.edu/volunteer-opportunities/ The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program is composed of a collective citizens group with a true and common
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Why advertise in OCN? • OCN is mailed FREE to every resident and business in the Tri-Lakes area. We mail more than 21,000 copies every month and put another 700 copies in stacks throughout the area. OCN has the one of the largest mailed circulations among local newspapers in Colorado. We put copies of OCN into the hands of those people most likely to buy your products or services: local residents and businesses. • OCN is a primary source for Tri-Lakes area news. Since its founding in 2001, OCN has been presenting unbiased, detailed coverage of Tri-Lakes area governmental entities and their deliberations and actions. Credibility is key. Advertising in a credible medium typically rubs off on the advertisers in that media. • OCN gives preference to Tri-Lakes area businesses. As part of OCN ’s long-standing commitment to encouraging the economic health of the Tri-Lakes area, we offer a significantly discounted ad rate to Tri-Lakes area businesses as a way to help local businesses like yours succeed. • OCN’s low ad rates and monthly publication schedule help stretch your ad budget. OCN has one of the lowest ad costs per printed copy of any local publication. Since OCN is a monthly publication, your ad is out there for a month—more than four times longer than other local papers. Many of our advertisers tell us they’re still getting calls in the third and fourth week of the month. • OCN doesn’t use contracts. You aren’t tied down. Adjust your advertising month-to-month to meet your changing needs. Our advertisers run ads in OCN because they see benefit in it, not because they’re bound by a contract they signed months before. To reward frequent advertisers, OCN has a Frequent Advertiser Bonus (FAB) rewards program. You earn up to 10% of your ad cost as a reward you can use to reduce the cost of future OCN advertising. The more you advertise with OCN OCN, the more you save. Thanks to our FAB rewards program, OCN advertisers have saved more than $128,000! • You are supporting a good thing. Your advertising dollars support a unique all-volunteer, Tri-Lakes-focused effort to present factual, comprehensive news to all Tri-Lakes area residents and businesses.
And the best reason of all: It works! Janet Huffor, Stubby’s Dog Wash – “We have had GREAT response from our ads. Better than any advertising we have done before!” Crystal Wright, Crystal’s In-Home Training - “I have had the best success with advertising in the Our Community News for my business. 95% of my new clients are coming from this local paper, and I couldn’t be more pleased. If you are thinking of advertising in the Monument area, I recommend you advertise with this paper.” Mike Smith, Woodsmith Custom Creations - “OCN is the only paper that works for me. I’ve tried other newspapers, one that comes out daily and another that comes out weekly. Compared to the results I get from advertising in the OCN the other papers are flops. I get a fairly priced ad in my targeted area with calls referencing my ad every month. It can’t be beat!” Randi and Dale Sehestedt, Woodmoor Handyman and Snow Plowing - “OCN is the only paper we advertise in and it consistently brings us plenty of good local customers. Great paper and great people to work with.” Mary Sue Hafey, Fringe Benefits Custom Interiors - “Since I starting advertising with OCN years ago, it has helped brand my company while consistently increasing my exposure and sales!” Elba D’Asaro, Spa Medica - “OCN ads work!”
For more information on advertising, go to wp.ocn.me/advertise or contact John Heiser at (719) 488-3455 or ads@ocn.me.
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desire to partner with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office by volunteering their services while learning more about the internal workings of the law enforcement community. Information is at https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/volun-
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teer-program/. The El Paso County Volunteer Program is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to learn about the various functions of county government as well as give back to the community. The Coun-
Vol. 26 No. 9
ty’s numerous boards and commissions need your experience, talents and time. https://bocc. elpasoco.com/volunteer/.
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.
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G O V E R N M E N TA L B O D I E S
Academy Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Sep. 16, 6 pm-9 pm. Usually meets third Wed. Public can join the Skype meeting: Monthly board meeting is on Skype at this link https://join.skype.com/ OfBkDyhucmep Info: Steve Callicott (President) 719-3259039 https://www.academywsdco.gov. Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District board meeting, Wed., Sep. 23, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. Usually meets fourth Wed. Visit http://www.bffire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes or contact 719-495-4300. Donala Water & Sanitation District board meeting, Thu., Sep. 17, 1:30 pm-4:30 pm. Meets third Thu. 15850 Holbein Drive, COS 80921. Check the website www. donalawater.org for the access code for the electronic meeting. Info: 719-488-3603 El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Hearing on Buc-ee's Appeal, Thu., Sep. 3, 9 am-5 pm; Thu., Sep. 10, 9 am-5 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 9 am-5 pm; Thu., Sep. 24, 9 am-5 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 9 am-5 pm. 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 Centennial Hall. El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting, Tue., Sep. 8, 9 am-10 am; Tue., Sep. 15, 9 am-10 am; Tue., Sep. 22, 9 am-10 am; Tue., Sep. 29, 9 am-10 am. Usually every Tue. 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. El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Thu., Sep. 3, 9 am-12 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 9 am-12 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 9 am-12 pm. Normally meets first & third Thu. (as required). Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are livestreamed on the El Paso County News & Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Info: 719-520-6300 El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority meeting, Thu., Sep. 17, 9 am-12 pm. Normally meets third Thu. No meeting in Dec. Monument Town Hall Boardroom, 645 Beacon Lite Rd. Info: 719-488-3603 or https://www.loopwater.org. Lewis-Palmer School District 38 board meeting, Mon., Sep. 21, 6 pm-9 pm. 6 pm. Meets in the school year, third Mon. 146 N Jefferson St, Monument. The Board of Education meeting will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ LPSDCommunity, agenda, and supporting documents at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/lewispalmer/Board.nsf/ vpublic. Contact Vicki Wood. Phone: 719.481.9546 Email: vwood@lewispalmer.org Website: www.lewispalmer.org. Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Parent and Community Advisory Committee (PCAC), Tue., Sep. 8, 6 pm. Formerly known as the District Accountability Advisory Committee (DAAC). Meets six times a year at a different school each month. The September 8, 2026 meeting will be at the District 38 Bauman Learning Center, 146 N. Jefferson St. For information, check the D38 website or contact tmckee@lewispalmer.org. Monument Academy School Board meeting, Thu., Sep. 10, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm. Usually meets the second Thu. East Campus gym, 4303 Pinehurst Circle. Info: 719431-8001 or https://www.monumentacademy.net/schoolboard. Monument Comprehensive Plan 2040 Community Open House, Wed., Sep. 9, 12 pm-4 pm. Monument Town Hall, Council Chamber, 645 Beacon Lite Road, Monument 80132. Info and download links for the plan: https://www.townofmonument.org/395/ComprehensivePlan—Monument-2040. Interested in getting involved in the Monument Comprehensive Plan process? The Planning Team and Town staff will be there to share the final draft of the Comprehensive Plan, answer questions, and hear your final thoughts before the Plan is finalized. Stop by anytime, we hope to see you there! Monument Fire District board meeting, Wed., Sep. 23, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm. Meets 4th Wed. in person or via Microsoft Teams. Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For up-todate meeting information, visit www.monumentfire.org for updates and the agenda listing the Microsoft Teams joining codes, or contact 719-488-0911. Monument Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Sep. 9, 6 pm-9 pm. Usually meets the second Wed. Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. To see the options for remote public participation in each meeting, visit www.townofmonument.org/263/PlanningCommission-Board-of-Adjustment. Info: 719-884-8028. Monument Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Sep. 16, 9 am-12 pm. Meets third Wed. In-person at 130 Second St. Also available on Google Meet. Find joining instructions at https://www.monumentsanitationdistrict. org/. Info: 719-481-4886 Monument Town Council meeting, Tue., Sep. 8, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 21, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm. Normally meets first and third Mon. Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Info: 719-884-801 for remote attendance links. www. townofmonument.org/260/Board-of-Trustees Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Sat., Sep. 12, 10 am-12 pm. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar, May, July, Sep., Nov.) the 2nd Sat., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr.
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Members of local HOAs are welcome. www.nepco.org. Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting, Thu., Sep. 10, 6 pm-9 pm; Thu., Sep. 24, 6 pm-9 pm. Usually meets second and fourth Thu. Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Info: 719-481-2953 or https://www. townofpalmerlake.com. Palmer Lake Sanitation District board meeting, Wed., Sep. 9, 9 am-12 pm. Meets second Wed. Call-in only: 650-479-3208, Access Code 76439078, 120 Middle Glenway. Info: 719-481-2732 or www.plsd.org. Palmer Lake Town Planning Commission meeting, Wed., Sep. 16, 6 pm-9 pm. Meets third Wed. Palmer Lake Town Hall, 28 Valley Crescent. Info: 719-481-2953 or https://www.townofpalmerlake.com. Tri-Lakes Wastewater Facility Joint Use Committee meeting, Tue., Sep. 8, 10 am-1 pm. Meets second Tue. 16510 Mitchell Ave. Info: See tlwastewater.com/index.html. Triview Metropolitan District board meeting, Thu., Sep. 17, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm. Usually meets third Thu. In person or via Zoom. 1641 Baja Drive, Monument. Visit www.triviewmetro.com for updates and the agenda listing the Zoom joining codes, or contact 719-488-6868. Village Center Metropolitan District Board Meeting, Tue., Sep. 15, 4 pm-7 pm. Normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Serranos Coffee Shop. If the meeting time/location changes, it will be updated on the District’s website: https://villagecentermd.colorado.gov Woodmoor Improvement Association Board Meeting, Wed., Sep. 23, 7 pm-8 pm. Usually meets fourth Wed. Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Info: 719-4882693. www.woodmoor.org Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District board meeting, Fri., Sep. 11, 1 pm-5 pm. Normally meets second Mon. 1845 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. Info: 719488-2525. www.woodmoorwater.com.
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W E E K LY & M O N T H LY E V E N T S
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Support Our Community. Volunteer with OCN!
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Please join us today! Meet a group of interesting and committed people. Learn new skills—use your enthusiasm and creativity to benefit our community and celebrate unfiltered information. Please call John Heiser, Publisher, at (719) 488-3455, or email johnheiser@ocn.me to see how you can contribute. Contact us today!
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A.A. Big Book Study, Thu., Sep. 3, 7 pm-9 pm; Thu., Sep. 10, 7 pm-9 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 7 pm-9 pm; Thu., Sep. 24, 7 pm-9 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 7 pm-9 pm. Every Thu., 7 pm, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 W. Baptist Rd. Call 425-436-6200, access code 575176# AARP Black Forest #1100, Wed., Sep. 9, 11:30 am-1 pm. Second Wed., In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. All ages welcome. Info: http://www. aarpchapter1100blackforest.com AARP Local Senior Social, Wed., Sep. 23, 1 pm-4 pm. In-person Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Rd. Info: http://www.aarpchapter1100blackforest.com Al-Anon for family and friends of alcoholics, Thu., Sep. 3, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Tue., Sep. 8, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 10, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Tue., Sep. 15, 7:30 pm9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Tue., Sep. 22, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 24, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Tue., Sep. 29, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm. Every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 pm, Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org. Al-Anon meeting: Letting Go, Thu., Sep. 3, 9 am10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 10, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 17, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 24, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Oct. 1, 9 am-10:15 am. Every Thu., 9-10:15 am at Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd., Monument. For additional information go to www.al-anon-co.org. Al-Anon meeting: Monument Serenity, Thu., Sep. 3, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 10, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 17, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Sep. 24, 9 am-10:15 am; Thu., Oct. 1, 9 am-10:15 am. Every Thu., 7 pm, The Church at Woodmoor, 18125 Furrow Road, Monument. For additional information go to www.al-anon-co.org.. Alcoholics Anonymous, Thu., Sep. 3, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Fri., Sep. 4, 12 pm-1 pm; Tue., Sep. 8, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 10, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Fri., Sep. 11, 12 pm-1 pm; Tue., Sep. 15, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Fri., Sep. 18, 12 pm-1 pm; Tue., Sep. 22, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Thu., Sep. 24, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Fri., Sep. 25, 12 pm-1 pm; Tue., Sep. 29, 7:30 pm9:30 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm; Fri., Oct. 2, 12 pm-1 pm. Every Tue. & Thu., 7:30 pm Black Forest Lutheran Church, 12455 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908. AA is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Join us with your questions. Info: bflc@bflchurch.org. American Legion Tri-Lakes Post 9-11, Wed., Sep. 9, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm. Second Wed., 6:30 pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Community Meeting House, 300 CO Hwy 105, Monument. New members welcome. Info: Visit website at www.trilakespost9-11.org. Benet Hill Monastery Sunday Worship Service, Sun., Sep. 6, 10:15 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 13, 10:15 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 20, 10:15 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 27, 10:15 am-11:30 am; Sun., Oct. 4, 10:15 am11:30 am. Every Sun., 10:15 am worship service. Visit prayer sites. Walk the labyrinth in the forest. Individual and group retreats. 3190 Benet Lane, 80921. Info: (719) 6330655. Benethillmonastery.org Bingo night, American Legion post 9-11 Tri-Lakes, Sat., Sep. 12, 6 pm-9 pm; Sat., Sep. 26, 6 pm-9 pm. 2nd and 4th Sat., 6-9 pm, Kings Deer Golf Club, 19255 Royal Troon Dr, Monument. Dementia Caregiver Support Group, Sat., Sep. 12, 9:45 am-11:15 am. Meets monthly, second Sat., 9:45-11:15 am. Meets in-person. Free and open to the public. The Oct. 2025 through Feb. 2026 meetings will be at Falcon’s Nest at Jackson Creek Senior Living, 16601 Jackson Creek Parkway, Monument, CO 80132. Jackson Creek Senior Living has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter to host a six-month in-person support group for families, spouses and caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. The prior meeting place was the First National Bank Monument ( 581 Highway 105, Monument, CO 80132). Registration is required, call 800-272-3900 or email khare@alz.org to register. Friends of Fox Run Park, Thu., Sep. 24, 7 pm-9 pm. Zoom meeting, fourth Thu., 7 pm. Join the growing group volunteering at the park: forest safety, trails, trees, education, special events, more; stay tuned! Email friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com. We will email you the link the day of the meeting. Gleneagle Service to Mankind (Sertoma), Wed., Sep. 16, 11:45 am-1 pm. First and third Wed., 11:45 am to 1 pm. A chapter of Sertoma International, Inc., this is the longest continuously active civic service organization in Northern El Paso County. “Serving Together, Growing Community.” First and third Wednesday lunch meetings include a program speaker of current local interest. Community service projects, sponsoring hearing health programs, youth activities and our national heritage. For meeting location write to contactus@gleneaglesertoma.org. Gleneagle Women’s Club, membership luncheon, Wed., Sep. 16-Thu., Sep. 17. Third Fri., (Sep.-June), various venues, 12 activity groups, i.e., hiking, bridge, etc. Guests welcome. For information contact Marcie at 520205-0578.
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Lions Club Bingo, Mon., Sep. 7, 5:30 pm-10 pm; Sat., Sep. 12, 8:30 am-1 pm; Sat., Sep. 19, 8:30 am-1 pm; Sat., Sep. 26, 8:30 am-1 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 5:30 pm-10 pm. Every Sat. (except the first Sat.), 8:30 am-1 pm and first Mon., 5:30-10 pm Tri-Lakes Lions Club’s portion of the proceeds benefit those in need in the Tri-Lakes community. Updated info and location: Jim Naylor, 719-481-8741 or www.trilakeslionsclub.org. Mind Quest - After School Puzzle Club, Wed., Sep. 9, 4:30 pm-6 pm; Wed., Sep. 16, 4:30 pm-6 pm; Wed., Sep. 23, 4:30 pm-6 pm; Wed., Sep. 30, 4:30 pm-6 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Info at 719-623-7494 and mindquestpuzzles. com. Register at https://www.mindquestpuzzles.com/ collections/speed-puzzling-clubs Mind Quest - Breakfast Club, Fri., Sep. 25, 7:30 am-9 am. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Come puzzle and chat! Info: 719623-7494 mindquestpuzzles.com. Email mymindquest@ gmail.com to sign up. Mind Quest - Bunco Game Night, Tue., Sep. 8, 6 pm-8 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Info: 719-6237494 mindquestpuzzles.com. Register at https://www. mindquestpuzzles.com/products/bunco-game-night-2ndtuesday Mind Quest - Game Time, Sun., Sep. 6, 1 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 13, 1 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 20, 1 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 27, 1 pm-5 pm; Sun., Oct. 4, 1 pm-5 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Info at 719-623-7494 and mindquestpuzzles. com. Come play games with us – bring your own or use ours! Mind Quest - Home Schooling Speed Puzzle Club, Tue., Sep. 8, 1 pm-3 pm; Tue., Sep. 15, 1 pm-3 pm; Tue., Sep. 22, 1 pm-3 pm; Tue., Sep. 29, 1 pm-3 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Info at 719-623-7494 and mindquestpuzzles. com. Register at https://www.mindquestpuzzles.com/ collections/speed-puzzling-clubs Mind Quest - Jigsaw Puzzle Chess, Wed., Sep. 30, 5 pm-8 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Info at 719-623-7494 and mindquestpuzzles.com. Free. Mind Quest - Jigsaw Puzzle Meet-Up, Mon., Sep. 7, 11 am-1 pm; Mon., Sep. 21, 11 am-1 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 11 am-1 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. 719-623-7494 Mind Quest - Rummikub Game Day, Sun., Sep. 13, 2 pm-4 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. 719-623-7494. Register at https://mindquestpuzzles.com Mind Quest - Uno Game Day, Sun., Sep. 20, 2 pm-4 pm. Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. 719-623-7494. Register at www. mindquestpuzzles.com Mind Quest Speed Puzzling Competitions - Pairs, Mon., Sep. 14, 5:45 pm-8 pm. Check-in: 5:45 pm, Start Time 6 pm. Solos – First Mon., Pairs – Second Mon., and Teams – Third Mon. Two hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Info and registration at mindquestpuzzles.com. Events held at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Mind Quest Speed Puzzling Competitions - Solos, Mon., Sep. 7, 5:45 pm-8 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 5:45 pm-8 pm. Check-in: 5:45 pm, Start Time 6 pm. Solos – First Mon., Pairs – Second Mon., and Teams – Third Mon. Two hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Info and registration at mindquestpuzzles.com. Events held at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Mind Quest Speed Puzzling Competitions - Teams, Mon., Sep. 21, 5:45 pm-8 pm. Check-in: 5:45 pm, Start Time 6 pm. Solos – First Mon., Pairs – Second Mon., and Teams – Third Mon. Two hours to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Info and registration at mindquestpuzzles.com. Events held at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO. 80133. Monument Hill Kiwanis Club meeting, Every Sat., 8 am-10 am; Sat., Sep. 12, 8 am-10 am; Sat., Sep. 19, 8 am-10 am; Sat., Sep. 26, 8 am-10 am; Sat., Oct. 3, 8 am-10 am. Every Sat., 8 am. www.MHKiwanis.org, MonumentHillKiwanis@gmail.com for details, guests are welcome. Service leadership clubs, Key clubs, Builders Club, and K-kids at D38 schools. Memberships are open to the public. Info: RF Smith, 719-210-4987, www.MHKiwanis. org. Monument Life Recovery Group, Mon., Sep. 7, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 14, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 21, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 28, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. Every Mon., 6:30-7:30 pm, The Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Rd. This faith-based support group is for those seeking freedom from all hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Daycare for children under age 11. Info: www.liferecoverygroups.com/meetings/life-recoverygroup-3/ Monumental Impact: Make it work Clinic: Tech + Tools, Tue., Sep. 22, 3 pm. Meets in-person at Monumental Impact, 866 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Free and open to the public. Bring something you would like advice on troubleshooting, repairing or getting working again. Assistance depends on the expertise of volunteers available that day. Hosted by Monumental Impact. Information: http://monumentalimpact.org/make-it-work/. Neighborhood Net Ham Radio, Sat., Sep. 5, 10 am-1 pm; Sat., Sep. 12, 10 am-1 pm; Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am-1 pm; Sat., Sep. 26, 10 am-1 pm; Sat., Oct. 3, 10 am-1 pm. Every Sat., 10 am. Amateur ham radio operators practice for emergencies on weekly repeater nets so neighbors can help neighbors. Sign up at www.mereowx.org/neighborhood-net or contactus@mereowx.org. Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Sat., Sep. 12, 10 am-12 pm. Usually meets bi-monthly (Jan., Mar, May, July, Sep., Nov.) the 2nd Sat., Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr. Members of local HOAs are welcome. www.nepco.org. Palmer Divide Quiltmakers, Thu., Sep. 3, 6:30 pm8:30 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. First Thu., 6:308:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm) at Monument Hill Church, 18725 Monument Hill Rd, Monument, CO 80132.. Note: Dec. 4, 2025 meeting 5:00-7:30 pm at the Woodmoor Barn Community Center, 1691 Woodmoor Dr, Monument, CO 80132. https://palmerdividequilters.com. Palmer Lake Art Group, Sat., Sep. 12, 9:30 am-11:30 am. Second Sat., 9:30 am. 300 Hwy 105, NE corner of I-25 and 105. For art programs, social gathering and business meetings. Guests welcome. Info: 719-460-4179, https:// palmerlakeartgroup.co.. Palmer Lake Historical Society, Thu., Sep. 17, 7 pm-8 pm. The PLHS normally meets (open to the public) on the third Thursday at 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Palmer Lake Town Hall, 42 Valley Crescent St. Guest speakers, free to the public. Info: Kokesdm@yahoo.com, or visit www. palmerdividehistory.org Pikes Peak Genealogical Society, Wed., Sep. 9, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm. Zoom meeting, second Wed., 6:30pm: Zoom hangout. 7 pm: meeting starts. Monthly special speaker programs. At the Sept. 9th meeting, Tamara Hallo will talk about Family Search and Ancestry. Do I need both? For zoom meeting details contact: president@ppgs.org. Info:
OCN
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www.ppgs.org. Relentless Recovery, Recovery Gathering, Mon., Sep. 14, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 28, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm. 2nd and 4th Mon., 7:30-8:30 pm, hybrid zoom and in person at Lake & Lantern Cafe, 84 CO-105 #2, Palmer Lake. “All humans welcome.” To register: https://hardbeauty.life/ dyr/. Ridgeview Baptist Church, Sun., Sep. 6, 10:30 am-12 pm; Sun., Sep. 13, 10:30 am-12 pm; Sun., Sep. 20, 10:30 am-12 pm; Sun., Sep. 27, 10:30 am-12 pm; Sun., Oct. 4, 10:30 am-12 pm. Every Sun., 10:30 am, 5740 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, 80918. All are welcome. Info: 719357-6515 or www.ridgeviewcolorado.org. St. Matthias Sunday Services, Sun., Sep. 6, 10 am11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 13, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 20, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 27, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Oct. 4, 10 am-11:30 am. 10 am. Join us at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 18320 Furrow Road, Monument. Traditional worship and meaningful fellowship in a loving church community. https://www.saint-matthias.org. The Renovation Church, Sun., Sep. 6, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 13, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 20, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Sep. 27, 10 am-11:30 am; Sun., Oct. 4, 10 am-11:30 am. Service every Sun., 10 am. Phil Long Music Hall, 13071 Bass Pro Dr., Colorado Springs. A Place to Belong. Real people with Real problems serving a Real God who Really loves us. www.TheRenovationChurch.org Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast, Thu., Sep. 3, 7:30 am-9 am; Thu., Sep. 17, 7:30 am-9 am; Thu., Oct. 1, 7:30 am-9 am. First and third Thu., in person or via Zoom 166 2nd Street Monument 7:30-9 am free registration at www.TriLakeschamber.com Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club Meeting, Thu., Sep. 3, 6 pm-8 pm; Thu., Sep. 17, 6 pm-8 pm; Thu., Oct. 1, 6 pm-8 pm. First and third Thu., 6 pm-8 pm. First Thursday via zoom and third Thursday in person at the Chamber of Commerce, 166 2nd St., Monument. Details: www.tlrotary. com, Trilakesdynamicrotary@gmail.com. Guests welcome. We are a service club serving Tri-Lakes. Memberships open to the public. Info: www.tlrotary.com. Tri-Lakes Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am-12 pm. Third Sat., 10 am-noon, Monument Community Presbyterian Church, 238 Third St., Monument. Info: Syble Krafft, 719-488-2669; Barry (group president), 719-351-9485. If you need any help, please call Syble or Barry. Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) monthly meeting, Fri., Sep. 18, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Third Fri., 11:30 am. To become a member, or learn about the club, visit our website at www.tlwc.net Contact Info: Tri-Lakes Women’s Club membership@tlwc.net. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7829, Wed., Sep. 16, 7 pm-10 pm. Third Wed., 7 pm, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce community room, 166 2nd St., Monument. New members welcome. Info: Post Commander and POC Rodney Fetterman, rwfette@gmail.com. Women’s A. A. Step Study, Mon., Sep. 7, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 14, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 21, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; Mon., Sep. 28, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; Mon., Oct. 5, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. Every Mon., 6:30 pm, meeting remotely, check for details. Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 Baptist Rd. Park in the west lot. Info: 866-6419190.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
5th Annual Gleneagle Spirit 5k Run/Walk, Kid’s Run, and Finish Line Festival, Sat., Sep. 12, 8 am-12 pm. Proceeds go to the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, go to www.gleneaglespiritrun.com for details. Art Hop, Thu., Sep. 17, 5 pm-8 pm. Last one for 2026. Downtown Monument. Art, Music, Authors, Galleries, and More. See ad on page 2. Bookies & Cookies, Sun., Oct. 25, 2 pm-5 pm. Woodmoor Barn Community Center 1691 Woodmoor Dr, Monument CO 80132. Bring your family and friends and join us for a time of shopping, community, and free raffles! At the Bookies & Cookies event, you can meet incredible local authors and small business owners while shopping for books, baked goods, antiques, clay earrings, and more!Get some holiday shopping done early and find new stories you and your kids will love. We’ll also have a small scavenger hunt for fun for the whole family! Please contact Annie at anniecribbs@hotmail.com with questions! Community Concert: In Rememberance - A Tribute to the Heroes and the Fallen, Thu., Sep. 10, 7 pm-9 pm. St. Peter Catholic Church, 55 Jefferson St., Monument 80132. Free Concert by the St. Peter Music Ministry. Please join us in the church for a night of prayerful and patriotic reflection offered by our music ministry. We will pay prayerful tribute to those who have served as military and first responders as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11. In prayer, Scripture, and song, we will also remember those who were victims of this senseless tragedy. In addition, we will remember all those who have fought for our freedoms these 250 years of our nation, especially those who served in Pearl Harbor 85 years ago. Info: 719-4813511, https://www.petertherock.org. Covered Treasures Bookstore Book Signing, Wed., Sep. 9, 4 pm-6 pm. Award Winning Author Margaret Mizushima will sign her new thriller in The Timber Creek K-9 Mystery Series: Fighting Edge. Don’t miss it! Thu., Sep. 17, 5 pm-8 pm. Author Amy Tordoff will sign her new historical fantasy novel All We Have Is Time and Author Sheilah Jane will sign her memoir Shadows and Sunrises: A True Story of Shame, Strength and Rebirth Across Continents. Sat., Sep. 26, 12 pm-2 pm. Author, Historian and Public Speaker – Jan MacKell Collins will be here with her fabulous array of Colorado history books, including her newest Brothels, Bordellos & Bad Girls: Prostitution in Colorado 1860-1930. Jan is so much fun. Please join us! 105 2nd Street, Monument. 719-481-2665. Empty Bowls 2026 Dinner and Silent Auction, Wed., Oct. 14, 5 pm-7:30 pm. Lewis-Palmer High School,1300 Higby Road, Monument, 80132. Proceeds benefit Tri-Lakes Cares! Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Tri-Lakes Cares Pantry! Advanced tickets now available. $25 in advance. $30 at the door. Visit mhkiwanis.org and click on the Bowls icon. One child under 12 FREE with each purchased ticket. Ticket includes: Dinner of soup, bread, drink & dessert donated by local restaurants and merchants and Handmade Bowl donated by a local artist. For Information, contact Dave Bailey, 408-821-5121 or EmptyBowlsMHK@gmail.com Encore Community Arts Presents "Disney's 101 Dalmatians Kids", Sat., Nov. 7, 1 pm and 4 pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, 17750 Knollwood Drive, Monument 80132. Join Encore Community Arts for Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids, a fun-filled musical adventure featuring Cruella de Vil, Pongo, Perdita, and a lovable cast of puppies! Follow the Dalmatians as they work together to outsmart Cruella and bring their family home. This family-friendly production features young performers from the Tri-Lakes area and beyond. Tickets are available at http://www. encorecommunityarts.org Encore Community Arts Presents "Stuart Little", Fri., Sep. 25, 10 am & 6:30 pm; Sat., Sep. 26, 2 pm & 6:30 pm. At Trinity Lutheran Church, 17750 Knollwood Drive, Monument 80132. Encore Community Arts presents Stuart Little, a heartwarming stage adaptation of E.B. White’s beloved classic, adapted by Joseph Robinette. Follow Stuart, a courageous little mouse, as he navigates the challenges of family, friendship, and finding his place in the world. This charming production is filled with adventure, humor, and plenty of heart—perfect for audiences of all ages! Tickets: www.encorecommunityarts.org Family of Christ Lutheran Church 9-11 Prayer Vigil, Fri., Sep. 11, 4 pm-6 pm. Family of Christ Lutheran Church, 675 W. Baptist Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921. The community is welcome to submit prayers through the link. Each prayer will be read aloud and prayed over. Attendees sit quietly in prayer throughout the candlelit vigil. The vigil
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is an annual event where more than 250 individual prayers come forward from the congregation and community. No pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Susan Johnson, 760-505-3433. Submit your prayers here: https://familyofchristlutheran.ccbchurch.com/goto/ forms/735/responses/new. Front Range Makers' Market, Sat., Oct. 10, 9 am-4 pm; Sun., Oct. 11, 10 am-3 pm. 125+ Local Makers. Lewis Palmer High School. Info can be found at frmakersmarket. com Goat Patch Brewing Monument Summer Music Series, Sun., Sep. 6, 2 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 13, 2 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 20, 2 pm-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 27, 2 pm-5 pm; Sun., Oct. 4, 2 pm-5 pm. 1756 Lake Woodmoor Dr.. Goat Patch Brewing Company will offer a diverse lineup of live musical talent at the Summer Music Series at the newly rebranded Goat Patch – Monument locations this spring, summer, and fall. Beginning on May 3, the Summer Music Series will take place every Sunday from 2 to 5 pm at Goat Patch – Monument. The lineup is just like the Goat Patch tap list, with something for everyone— from acoustic sets to multi-piece bands that range in genre from rock to punk to funk, mixed with jazz, country, and dance throwbacks that span the eras, plus more. Info: https:// www.goatpatchbrewing.com/monument-events. Larkspur Autumn Arts and Crafts Fest, Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am-5 pm; Sun., Sep. 20, 10 am-4 pm. Larkspur Community Park, 8820 Spruce Mountain Road, Larkspur 80118. Sponsored by the Larkspur Area Chamber of Commerce. FREE – Family Friendly Event! Come and enjoy unique and local Arts and Crafts, live music, food trucks, and kid friendly activities. Be a part of traditional small-town festival located between Colorado Spring and Denver. Invite your friends! Info: https://larkspurchamberofcommerce. com/. Monument Comprehensive Plan 2040 Community Open House, Wed., Sep. 9, 12 pm-4 pm. Monument Town Hall, Council Chamber, 645 Beacon Lite Road, Monument 80132. Info and download links for the plan: https://www.townofmonument.org/395/ComprehensivePlan—Monument-2040. Interested in getting involved in the Monument Comprehensive Plan process? The Planning Team and Town staff will be there to share the final draft of the Comprehensive Plan, answer questions, and hear your final thoughts before the Plan is finalized. Stop by anytime, we hope to see you there! Monument Town Council "Talk with the Town", Tue., Oct. 13, 6 pm-8 pm. Town Hall Board Room, 645 Beacon Lite Rd., Monument. Talk with the Town Council about all things Monument. . Info: 719-884-801 townofmonument. org Monumental Impact - Internship Orientation, Fri., Sep. 11, 2 pm. Meets in-person at Monumental Impact, 866 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Learn about Monumental Impact’s upcoming internship term (Sep 14–Apr 16) for high school and college-age students. Work alongside mentors on real-world projects in product development, makerspace services, marketing, entrepreneurship, events and business operations. Hosted by Monumental Impact. Information: http://monumentalimpact.org/orientations/ Monumental Impact - Maker Showcase, Fri., Sep. 25, 4:30 pm-6 pm. Meets in-person at Monumental Impact, 866 Highway 105, Palmer Lake. Free and open to the public. See what local makers, students and community members are creating, or bring a project, prototype, experiment, artwork, robot or work-in-progress to share. Projects do not need to be finished. Hosted by Monumental Impact. Information: http://monumentalimpact.org. Monumental Impact - Makerspace Orientation, Wed., Sep. 9, 5 pm; Sat., Sep. 19, 10 am; Mon., Sep. 21, 6 pm; Wed., Sep. 30, 5 pm; Sat., Oct. 3, 10 am; Mon., Oct. 19, 6 pm; Mon., Nov. 2, 6 pm. 866 Hwy 105, Palmer Lake. Community Makerspace (“a space to make”) and how to get involved. Tour the community makerspace, learn about available equipment, memberships, programs and ways to get involved as a member or volunteer. Hosted by Monumental Impact. Free and open to the public. Registration and information: monumentalimpact.org/ orientations/. OCN Publication, Sat., Oct. 3; Sat., Nov. 7. We are all volunteers at OCN and need YOUR help. Become an OCN reporter! Help us report ‘What was discussed and what was decided.’ Contact me TODAY! JohnHeiser@ocn.me or (719) 488-3455. Ride for Tim memorial honor ride, Sat., Sep. 19, 1 pm-5 pm. Meet at the Tim Watkins Memorial near Palmer Lake Library, 1 pm, social gathering at 2:30 pm at Trails End Tap Room, 252 Front St., Monument, CO 80132 Tri-Lakes Chamber's Monument Pours in the Park (formerly Bines and Brews Festival), Sat., Sep. 19,
Content
Articles in Our Community News focus on the deliberations of Tri-Lakes area governmental bodies such as the Monument Board of Trustees, Palmer Lake Town Council, and many of the local water, sanitation, fire, and school district boards. Unlike papers that try to figure out what the “story” is and then get quotes on each side to presumably lead the reader to conclude what the “truth” is, OCN’s role is to report in detail on public meetings of local governmental entities. We report what was talked about and what was decided supplemented with board packet information. By reading OCN, you can find out what you might have learned if you had attended those public meetings. In this context, “truth” is that the articles accurately represent what transpired at the meetings. The content of ads, inserts, and letters to the editor in OCN is solely the responsibility of the advertisers and authors who place those ads, inserts, and letters. The appearance of an ad, insert, or letter in OCN does not imply endorsement of the ad, insert, or letter’s content or purpose. While OCN does not knowingly run false ads, inserts, or letters, we do not research the accuracy of that content. Readers are encouraged to do their own research prior to committing to use the products or services offered or accept the conclusions of letters to the editor. Readers with concerns about the content of an ad, insert, or letter should take up those concerns with the advertiser or author. Contact John Heiser, Publisher, at johnheiser@ ocn.me or (719) 488-3455 with any questions.
Look for our next issue
Saturday, Oct. 3
Ad space reservations due: Fri., Sept. 11 Finished ad artwork due: Fri., Sept. 18 Letters to the editor due: Fri., Sept. 18 Calendar items due: Fri., Sept. 25 Visit our website to read, download, and search all the back issues at WWW.OCN.ME
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12 pm-4 pm. Limbach Park in Downtown Monument. This event delivers tasty beverages, time with friends, and live music, all in a gorgeous setting. There will be beer, cider, moonshine, wine, cocktails, non-alcoholic options, food, and upbeat live music. Invite your friends and help determine which brewer will receive the People’s Choice Beer Award and who will receive the People’s Choice Libations Award. Professional judges will also honor one of the brewers with a Top Hop Award. You may purchase tickets on our website at www.trilakeschamber.com/Pours-in-the-Park. And if you decide on Saturday that you want to attend, tickets are available at the gate. Western Museum of Mining and Industry - Miners' Pumpkin Patch, Sat., Oct. 3, 9 am-4 pm; Sat., Oct. 10, 9 am-4 pm; Sat., Oct. 17, 9 am-4 pm; Sat., Oct. 24, 9 am-4 pm. Our Biggest Event of the Year… All October Long! Fall is calling — and we’re answering with fun for the whole family, every Saturday in October! Get ready for hayrides, pumpkin picking, lawn games, food trucks, and so much MORE. Each weekend brings something new — from magical moments with a real magician to up-close animal encounters and surprise guest appearances you won’t want to miss! It’s fall-filled fun you’ll want to come back for again and again. See you there! 225 N Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 info@wmmi.org 719-488-0880
Our Community Calendar carries listings on a space-available basis for Tri-Lakes events that are sponsored by local governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. We include events that are open to the general public and are not religious or self-promotional in nature. If space is available, complimentary calendar listings are included, when requested, for events advertised in the current issue. To have your event listed at no charge in Our Community Calendar, please send the information to calendar@ocn.me or Our Community News, P.O. Box 1742, Monument, Colorado 80132.
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Our Community News welcomes letters to the editor on topics of general interest to readers in the Tri-Lakes area. We do not knowingly print letters that are substantially the same as letters that have been submitted to other publications. To ensure that OCN contains a variety of viewpoints, each letter writer is limited to a maximum of one (1) letter per issue and six (6) letters within a twelve (12)month period. To submit a letter, please: • Email your letter, preferably as an attached Microsoft Word document, to editor@ocn.me or mail a copy to Our Community News, P.O. Box 1742, Monument, CO 80132-1742. • Identify your submission as a letter to the editor and confirm that it has not been submitted to any other publication. • Include a suggested headline or title that summarizes the topic you are addressing. • Limit your letter to no more than 300 words including your suggested headline and closing. • Include your full name, home address, phone numbers, and email address, if you have one. Only your name will be published. • Submit your letter so we receive it no later than midnight, Friday, two weeks prior to the publication date. If you have not received an acknowledgement two days after your email submission or one week after you mailed your letter, please contact John Heiser, Publisher, at (719) 488-3455 or editor@ ocn.me. At OCN’s sole discretion, we may ask you for clarification of your statements. Include references, such as website links, in your letter for any facts and figures you cite. OCN does not guarantee every letter will appear in print or on-line and does not guarantee a publication date. The number of letters printed on a particular topic or in a particular issue may be limited. Letters containing personal attacks or endorsements for or complaints about individually-named commercial products or services will not be published.
OCN is published on the first Saturday of each month by Colorado Cooperative Association Our Community News, Inc. John Heiser, President (719) 488-3455—FAX: (828) 649-2720 Advertising: ads@ocn.me Back issues: www.ocn.me Editorial content: editor@ocn.me Event information: calendar@ocn.me © Copyright 2001-2026 Our Community News, Inc. P.O. Box 1742 Monument, Colorado 80132-1742 All rights reserved.
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Read, download, search, and listen to OCN content at our mobile-friendly website OCN.ME
Vol. 26 No. 9
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