By Chris Briggs-Hale When the 2021-22 school year comes to a close this spring, I will be hanging up my principal’s “hat” and retiring from Ute Pass Elementary School. It has been my privilege to work in public education for 29 years. During this time, I have served 14 years as a teacher, teacher leader […]
What makes Manitou Springs a wonderful community to live and work? How and where does our town get our community vitality and character (weird though it may be)? I submit that it is the people of Manitou Springs past and present who make our town wonderful. Collectively, we make Manitou what it is and what […]
To the editor: City Council will be asked to vote on the rezoning request at the Trading Post at its Feb. 1 meeting. Please attend in person, asking people to write a note to City Council expressing their opinion of the zoning request and subsequent warehouse that is proposed to be built at one of […]
To the editor: Upwards of 75 percent of the voters, me included, opposed the recent ballot question about adding a third marijuana store in town. I hope that City Council will view this election result as a rebuke of one proprietor undertaking an initiative to allow a third store in a narrow section of town […]
To the editor: What if City Council decided to use the additional 4 percent marijuana tax to replace the current funding mechanism for the water/sewer enterprise and the stormwater enterprise? Water and sewer base fees and the stormwater drainage fee could be removed from residents’ bills every month (upwards of $50 per month on my […]
There is no material benefit and a huge cost for Manitou Springs in voting for the marijuana ballot initiative. The proponents (Epic Remedy and PMF Co.) have colluded in a sophisticated stealth attack on our community for their self-serving interest. Nowhere is this more evident than in their Dec. 24 flier content and mid-holiday timing, […]
To the editor: I found Scott Hunt’s letter in last week’s Bulletin to be misleading at best. Let’s go through the points one by one: 1. “What types of spending are being hidden from you?” The answer is none. Detailed public budget meetings are held in the fourth quarter each year as part of the […]
To the editor: This is in response to Mr. Hunt’s letter from the Jan. 6 Pikes Peak Bulletin. In Mr. Hunt’s letter, the main argument he gives for voting yes to the ballot initiative is that it will create transparency within the city of Manitou Springs so that we can see where the sales revenue […]
To the editor: There seem to be many open questions regarding the current Ballot Question 1 to allow for a third marijuana store in Manitou Springs in the commercial zone district within 150 feet to the south of U.S. Highway 24. I, for one, do not object to a third store in Manitou and the […]
To the editor: I urge you to vote yes for a third marijuana store in Manitou Springs. Vote yes for local government transparency. Political insiders don’t want you to know how revenues from marijuana taxes are being spent. Voting yes for a third marijuana store will mean the city can no longer operate in the […]
To the editor: Manitou voters are receiving special mail-in ballots this week, asking to amend the City Municipal Code that would allow a third medical/retail marijuana store. The proposed location would be on Manitou’s west end, in the area commonly known as Higginbotham Flats, which is adjacent to Manitou’s Parks and Open Space and the […]
To the editor: Although I believe that allowing retail marijuana sales in Manitou is good policy, I am writing this letter to urge citizens to vote no on the initiative to add a third store. In 2013 and 2014, when the question of allowing retail marijuana sales was hotly debated in our community, I was […]
To the editor: I am extremely concerned about the idea of a third marijuana shop in Manitou Springs. I believe that City Council did a nice job of kicking the can down the road to the voters, but the shortened time-frame from doing so to election date has caught many people off-guard. I believe the […]
To the editor: I want to start the new year with a “thank you.” Thank you to all of the parents and community members who have expressed gratitude and shown support to our educators in Manitou Springs School District 14. Although our students have been consistently learning in-person this school year, there are great obstacles […]
As we celebrate the holiday season, I want to thank you for all that you do to make Manitou Springs a special place. Whether you’re a new resident, a longtime resident, a business owner, an employee or a community partner, together, you are all part of what makes Manitou Springs amazing. Serving Manitou Springs has […]
Back in late July, some wheels began turning toward a major new partnership in Manitou Springs’ arts, culture and economic community. Today, almost five months later, that effort has reached the brink of reality, which as of Jan. 1, 2022, will mean the birth of a new organization — Creative Alliance Manitou Springs. Playing with […]
To the editor: The new hotel being built next to the Day’s Inn is generating a lot of controversy. The height of the building and the way it is positioned so close to Manitou Avenue has raised numerous questions. How could this have happened? Who approved of this? Did the Urban Renewal Authority board approve […]
To the editor: I write concerning the worrisome traffic safety situation on Crystal Park Road. Specifically, I am referring to the various bends found on the stretch between Manitou Avenue and Crystal Hills Boulevard. I believe that the lack of traffic-calming measures constitutes a serious safety hazard, particularly with the absence of sidewalks and the […]
To the editor: I have very much been enjoying the new electric scooters that are now in Colorado Springs. I work two jobs, and have to commute between them. The distance is around 1.5 miles, so this is perfect for a scooter ride (their top speed is 15 mph), which eliminates the short car trips […]
Courtesy of the Manitou BeeHive When we look around the world today, we might notice heightened levels of anxiety, acts of anger, rage or shutting down, or a general sense of unrest in ourselves and those around us. How can we work to calm the effects of this dysregulation? Mindful play. Play is an essential […]
