Superhero Summer free family event in Cascade on May 4
Get ready to kick off the summer in heroic style! Families are invited to Superhero Summer, a free event packed with fun crafts, exciting games and caped crusaders on Sunday, May 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Marcroft Hall (9105 Chipita Park Rd.) in Cascade.
Kids of all ages are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superheroes and enjoy an afternoon filled with crafts, games and photo ops with three real-life superhero characters. Every child will receive a superhero passport to earn stickers for each activity they complete. Once their passport is full, they win a small prize!
“All activities are completely free,” emphasizes Nancy Dixon of Building Ute Pass Community, the nonprofit organization hosting the event. “This is a fun event to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of a Superhero Summer.”
Indoor and outdoor stations will offer superhero-themed games, crafts, popcorn and drinks. The Ute Pass Elementary Parent Action Committee (PAC) will host a craft table. Families can explore summer resources from local organizations, including Green Box Arts, the Green Mountain Falls swimming pool, Pikes Peak Library District, Cascade Fire Department, Community Partnership Family Resource Center, Millibo Art Theatre and more.
While the event is geared toward preK through 5th grade, all kids-at-heart are welcome! Six National Honor Society students from Manitou Springs High School will be on hand to help lead the fun.
Costumes are highly encouraged! For information, visit BuildingUtePassCommunity.org.
Making homes insurable, fire defensible topic of April 28 forum in GMF
The communities of lower Ute Pass are in one of Colorado’s highest wildfire-prone areas, according to the Colorado State Forestry Service, but there are steps you can take to protect your home, your family and our forests.
The Green Mountain Falls Fire Mitigation Advisory Committee (FMAC) invites you to a free public event designed to help residents make their homes more insurable and fire-resilient.
FMAC is appointed by the Green Mountain Falls Board of Trustees. Their efforts include fire mitigation assessments, organizing “Chipper Days” to remove dangerous fuels, and helping residents manage wildfire risks on their property. Earlier this year, FMAC partnered with Team Rubicon – a veteran-led humanitarian aid organization – to conduct chainsaw training to provide residents with the skills to safely and effectively mitigate their properties from wildfire risks.
“We love our home in Green Mountain Falls, and we need affordable, practical, expert advice to lower insurance costs and defend our homes from wildfire,” says Paul Yingling, chair of FMAC.
The forum on April 28 will include a question-and-answer session with panelists Sean Mullally and Don Moore. Mullally, a licensed agency team member with State Farm in Woodland Park, will offer insights into how the company decides if a home is insurable and what owners can do to obtain coverage. Moore, co-founder of the NoFloCo Fire Mitigation Posse, Florissant, will discuss the group’s philosophy and proactive methods for addressing structure survivability against wildfire.
The public event will be held at Green Mountain Falls Town Hall, 10615 Green Mountain Falls Road, on Monday, April 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. Contact Paul Yingling at Paul.L.Yingling@gmail.com to register to attend in person or via MS Teams.
Twelve miles, six days: Trail Work Days in Ute Pass start in May
The Friends of Ute Pass Trails seeks volunteers to help maintain twelve miles of hiking trails in and around Green Mountain Falls over a series of six work days this summer.
“We’re always looking for energetic people,” says Rocco Blasi, president of the nonprofit group that uses certified crew leaders to teach volunteers the art of maintaining hiking trails and the rewards of giving back to the community.
This year, the Friends are part of a new project. “We’re excited to partner with Ute Pass Elementary School to apply for Leave No Trace Gold Site Certification for the area’s trails,” says Blasi. This designation requires a commitment from land managers to educate trails’ users on minimizing their impact on the land, aiming for increased stewardship of open spaces.
“Trails are a year-round commitment,” Blasi noted. While volunteer work days occur in the summer, inspecting trail conditions, developing maintenance priorities, reporting to land managers and fundraising occupy the colder months.
Summer work days are approximately 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a free lunch. Details confirmed via email one week prior. No experience needed. The Friends will teach you how to safely use tools and equipment. Minimum age 14, accompanied by parent/guardian.
2025 Trail Work Days:
May 18
June 21
July 20
August 16
September 7
September 27 (National Public Lands Day)
For more information, visit: FriendsofUtePass.org. To participate in the work days, email: FriendsofUtePass@gmail.com.
