Like the butterfly from the cocoon, we too are emerging following the long winter of COVID. Community events, nonprofit fundraisers, library programs, Chamber mixers, live music, special holiday events, networking and so much more are back in full swing and we couldn't be more excited to share with you what all has been scheduled so far for 2022! Be sure to keep checking our Community Calendar frequently for there's always something new being added. Carpe diem!

We all know that shopping locally is the best way to support your community's small businesses who are run by your neighbors and who give back to our schools and area nonprofits, but what if you need something you can't find and have to order online? You can still "give back" to your community if you shop through AmazonSmile!

Every year, American Express helps small businesses promote shopping locally on Small Business Saturday^®, the movement they started in 2010. Now, 10 years later, small businesses face one of the greatest challenges ever: a worldwide pandemic that has seen millions of Americans lose their jobs, countless small businesses close, and many more struggle to keep going. According to the Amex-commissioned 2018 Small Business Economic Impact Study, 62% of U.S. small businesses reported that they need to see consumer spending return to pre-COVID levels by the end of 2020 in order to stay in business. When you Shop Small^® this holiday season – and all year long – you can help create a big impact.

Colorado Mountain Weather Observing Systems to be Enhanced with Cameras
February 27, 2020 - Denver Metro Area

DENVER – The Colorado Division of Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announce plans to enhance the Division's network of 13 Mountain Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) with real-time camera data. In addition to receiving accurate and certified weather information, pilots will soon have the ability to visually observe weather conditions high in the Colorado Rockies before they've even departed the airport.

As new homeowners (or new parents), many of us look forward to participating in those annual holiday traditions - decorating for Christmas, passing out candy at Halloween, etc. When we bought our first house in Conifer, we were so excited to welcome Trick or Treaters to our door that we rushed to Costco to buy the giant bag of candy to be sure we'd have enough. We decorated our house, made sure our porch light was turned on, and sat in eager anticipation of little voices yelling "Trick or Treat!"

That first Halloween, we quickly realized things are done a little differently here from where we'd grown up when we had not a single goblin, ghost, Spiderman, or princess warrior grace our door. With houses spaced out further, and a lack of streetlights, going door-to-door in the neighborhood isn't really an option for kids in the mountains. After polishing off that giant bowl of candy ourselves (ouch), we discovered the fabulous world of Trunk or Treats at local schools, activities at libraries, and Trick or Treating at area businesses!

First sign of many along the family's route home through their neighborhood in Burland Ranchettes

com·mu·ni·ty
noun
1.
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

2.
a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Last week, a family in our community experienced a horrific trauma when a mountain lion attacked and bit an 8 year old boy on the head, face, and neck while he was playing outside his home with his brother.

Festivals are like family reunions, a time when we see our friends and neighbors and all are gathered for the same purpose: to enjoy a spirit of camaraderie. ~Curt Kovener

Our mountain events are where we get to show off who we are and what is important to us. They reflect the uniqueness of our communities, the personality of its residents and its history, and they help support our area nonprofits who use them to fundraise for the services they provide. It's an opportunity to gather, have fun, get the kids out of the house, connect with neighbors, make new memories, and deepen bonds of friendship and community camaraderie.

Without further ado, here is the list of community events happening in the Foothills this year (bear in mind, this is a work in progress as more events will be added to our Community Calendar as organizations finalize details and publish them). You'll find details for the events below by clicking their link to go to their Calendar listing. You can also search our Community Calendar by date, category, or keywords. Please feel free to share with friends and family, and invite them to come have some fun!

​Summer: warm days, outside fun, and eager anticipation for fresh fruit, vegetables and artisan gifts at local Farmer's Markets! We are lucky to have several to choose from throughout the season. You'll find local artists and artisans, jewelry, canned goods, home decor, and so much more.

Details on all of these can be found on our Community Calendar under 'Sales'.

Thank you for Shopping Locally!

The Beginning: "It's 2010, and small businesses are hurting from an economy in recession. In an effort to support local shops that make our communities strong,  American Express launches Small Business Saturday^® on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — to encourage people to Shop Small and bring more holiday shopping to small businesses. 

One year later, the Shop Small Movement gains momentum, as local officials across the nation take notice and promote Small Business Saturday. In 2011, the Senate unanimously passes a resolution in support of the day. By 2012, officials in all 50 states participate. 

By 2017, there were more than 7,200 Neighborhood Champions across all 50 states... [with] an estimated 108 million consumers reported shopping or dining at local independently-owned businesses on Small Business Saturday — generating roughly $12 billion in reported spending."
Small Business Saturday History

Why buy local? According to a report by Michigan State University, "It means nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employ local workers at decent wages and serve primarily local consumers. It means becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on imports. Control moves from the boardrooms of distant corporations and back into the community where it belongs."

Paul Romer, son of former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, was one of the people just awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics. Did you know that Conifer Mountain was a development by Roy Romer and that many of the roads on the mountain, including Paul's Drive, were named after his family? A little historical tidbit from Frank Fransioli who alerted us to this news! Read more below!

Park County, Colorado has a vibrant railroad history and they celebrate this each year with the Boreas Pass Railroad Day. Part of that storied history includes the Como Depot which has painstakingly been restored over the past few years to show its former glory and the steam engine once again whistles down the track - come see all that the South Park Rail Society and Denver, South Park & Pacific Historical Society have accomplished! On Saturday, August 18th, you can take a ride on Klondike Kate, tour the roundhouse, view Como's Historic School House and Painted houses, enjoy Living History Demonstrations, listen to the Denver Brass, head over Boreas Pass to visit the Breckenridge Highline Railroad Park, Roberts Cabin and Sawmill Museum, and then have dinner offered by the Como Civic Association.

Explore more in our previous blog, The Rich History of the 285 Corridor, and check out the South Park National Heritage website, tour the South Park Museum, and delve into the Park County Historical Society and Park County Local History Archives' treasure troves of photos and information!

Below you will find several YouTube videos that showcase the history of railroads in South Park and the restoration of the Como Depot. Enjoy!

It started with a Tweet: "Need big color displays this 4th of July? With high fire danger why not try #hiking one of Colorado's amazing trails and see the #wildflowers instead! @MyMountainTown @MattMakens @Colorado @WXRules @COParksWildlife @PSICC_NF @CPW_NE @RockyNPS #4thofJuly #IndependenceDay2018 #cowx" and led to our newest partnership with the fantastic duo Miller and Debbie, the MAD Hippies! They hike all over Colorado and we are excited they will begin sharing their "raw, unfilitered life adventures" with us here on our Mountain Secrets Blog. If you are looking for advice or recommendations on the best places to go, tips on what to take with you and how best to be good stewards, safe hiking practices, or wondering if you are up for the difficulty level of a certain hike, they are your outdoor experts; come see what they have to share! Please welcome MAD Hippies Life to My Mountain Town!

Festivals are like family reunions, a time when we see our friends and neighbors and all are gathered for the same purpose: to enjoy a spirit of camaraderie. ~Curt Kovener

Frozen Dead Guy Days. Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Burro Days in Fairplay. Evergreen Fine Arts Festival. Conifer Christmas Parade. Pine Grove Rhubarb Festival. Georgetown Bighorn Sheep Festival. Buffalo Bill Days. When you think of these events, you feel an essence of what makes those communities unique, what captures the flavor of that town, the personality of its residents, and its history. Of course there are many more events in each place, and each provides us an opportunity to gather, partake in a shared experience, connect with neighbors, make new memories, and deepen bonds of friendship and community camaraderie.

Without further ado, here is the list of community events happening in the Foothills this year (bear in mind, this is a work in progress as not everything is confirmed yet). You'll find details on these events on our Community Calendar - search by date, category, or keywords. Please feel free to share with friends and family, and invite them to come have some fun!

Did you know that with just the click of a couple of buttons, you can have Amazon send money to your favorite nonprofit organizations? It costs you nothing extra, you still get the same deals and service you expect from Amazon, and you help raise a little more money for our local nonprofits with your purchases. Pretty sweet, isn't it?! It's called AmazonSmile, and we've got the list of eligible nonprofits below from which you can choose.

Small Business Saturday is a great time to promote not only your own business, but that of your fellow businesses in the area as well! Did you know that you can create your own custom "Shop Small" graphics? It takes a little finagling if you have a longer business name, but you can go through and try several iterations if you don't quite like what you get back. There's no charge, and they'll send some generic graphics as well as Tip Sheets for how best to use these marketing materials! You'll get a Facebook cover photo, Profile Pic, an email header, and other ready-to-use graphics. Give it a try!

It's all at this link here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote

Learn more about Small Business Saturday here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/