Bike giveaway coming
Community Cycles will hold its fifth annual Holiday Kid’s Bike Giveaway on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Boulder Indoor Cycling, 3550 Frontier Ave. Community Cycles, a nonprofit organization that educates and advocates for the safe use of bicycles, has about 300 refurbished bikes to give away. Last year, Community Cycles distributed 300 bikes in just three hours. A $25 donation is suggested per bike; however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Parents and guardians without children must bring a recent report card for each child receiving a bike. Community Cycles collects bikes from the community throughout the year; and the smaller children’s bikes are recycled back into the community with this holiday event. Community Cycles is seeking about 40 volunteers. To volunteer, or for more information, contact Sue Prant at 303-564-9681. To donate a bike to the event, call the shop at 720-565-6019. Event proceeds fund Community Cycle advocacy and biking programs. For more information visit www.communitycycles.org.
Free HIV testing this month
To commemorate World AIDS Day, observed every Dec. 1 since 1988, and to increase awareness about HIV testing services, Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is offering free, anonymous, rapid HIV tests during the month of December. The usual fee for a rapid HIV test at BCPH is $38. “Knowing your status is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of HIV,” said Carol Helwig, BCPH HIV/STI outreach program coordinator. “If you don’t know your status, now is the time to get tested — for yourself, for your loved ones, for the community.”
The rapid test is minimally invasive, requiring only a finger stick. Results are available during the 30-minute, anonymous visit. A trained counselor also discusses HIV risk and a personal risk reduction plan during the appointment. 2011 will mark 30th year since the first cases of AIDS were identified. Call 303-413-7500 to make an appointment at the Boulder or Longmont BCPH sites.
Firefighters brighten holidays for local kids
The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department’s Youth Services Initiative (YSI) program is working with the Boulder Fire Department’s IAFF Local 900 union to host holiday parties for program youth and their families during the week of Dec. 13. Last year’s holiday parties served more than 150 families and delivered nearly 500 gifts to the children. YSI provides youth from low-income families with opportunities and resources to make positive recreational, educational and lifestyle choices through after-school programs and community involvement activities. To make a donation, visit www.BoulderParks-Rec.org and click on the “Youth Services toy drive – Donate today!” link. Donations will help purchase gifts for children served by the YSI program who are living at Boulder’slow-income housing sites (managed by Boulder Housing Partners).
Holiday specials in Allenspark
Shoppers at Allenspark can win various prizes at a weekly Celebrate Allenspark prize drawing.
To participate in the weekly drawings for prizes, pick up a flyer at any of the businesses in Allenspark. When you visit a business, get your flyer initialed, and after you’ve visited five businesses, drop off your card at Peaceful Valley Ranch, The Old Gallery or Eagle Plume’s. Drawings are held every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. through Dec. 19. Other festivities in Allenspark this holiday season include portrait sessions, activities for kids and an interactive model train exhibit. Visit the website www.allensparkoldgallery.com for updates on prizes, special discounts and special activities.
Birds of prey slide show and tour
Learn how to recognize birds of prey at a slideshow and driving tour. The presentation will cover how to distinguish between different raptors by identifying common field marks and the habitat requirements, behavior and ecology of birds of prey. The show will take place Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Longmont Public Library on 4th Avenue and Emery Street. The driving tour will take place on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. Boulder County volunteer naturalists will lead a tour of some of Boulder County’s best areas to view birds of prey to learn about their habitat and behavior and work on observation and identification skills. Register by calling 303-678-6214 no later than Dec. 16.
Shop for holiday gifts
Shop for holiday gifts from a wide array of exhibitors at the Boulder Holiday Gift Festival. The festival will be located at 902 Pearl St. and will be open Dec. 17-19. The festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more details visit www.coloradoevents.net.
Boulder taking input on stream restoration project
Boulder County Parks and Open Space is accepting public comments until Dec. 22 regarding a potential partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District for a stream restoration project along Lower Boulder Creek on Boulder County’s Alexander Dawson property, located between N 109th Street and Kenosha Road. A public meeting will be held on Dec. 15 at the Boulder County Recycling Center at 1901 63rd St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A formal presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. and public comment will be recorded. The project is a joint effort led by the Corps and involves approximately a one-mile reach of Lower Boulder Creek. To learn more and to submit comments, visit www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org or contact the project planner, Ernst Strenge, at 303-678-6269 or LBC@bouldercounty.org. To find out more and to provide comments to the Corps about the project itself, visit the Corps’ website at www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-p/boulder.
