Humane Society wins $100K
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recently announced that the Humane Society of Boulder Valley has won the ASPCA’s $100K Challenge, a national contest designed to inspire animal shelters across the country to save more lives.
During the three-month challenge, HSBV saved a total of 2,640 cats and dogs, an increase of 968 over the same period in 2009.
According to the ASPCA, “The dedicated staff and volunteers of Boulder Valley seized a commanding early lead, despite a series of setbacks, including wildfires that rocked the region in early September, and sustained their efforts to the very end of the contest.”
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.
Nutcracker benefits schools
Boulder Ballet and the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra have again donated a portion of the proceeds from performances of The Nutcracker to local schools.
For the past five years, the two organizations have worked with schools in the Boulder area in the School Sales Program, in which 20 percent of the total ticket sales is returned to the schools that participate in the program.
Every year since the program’s inception, the totals have increased. For the November 2010 Nutcracker, school ticket sales topped $36,000, with more than 900 tickets sold. The return to the participating schools was $6,322.
Twenty-four schools participated this year, including were Eisenhower Elementary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Casey Middle School, Shining Waldorf School, Boulder High and Bonai Shalom. Eisenhower Elementary was the top seller with 126 tickets sold, which earned the school $783.
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’s low-income housing sites (managed by Boulder Housing Partners).
City awards grant funds to youth programs
The City of Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Program has announced the allocation of $192,454 to 2010 group activities and annual grant funds.
Funding decisions for group activities grants are made monthly throughout the school year by the Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB), composed of City of Boulder resident high school students. Annual grant funding decisions are made each spring by the YOAB and approved by the city manager.
Youth benefiting from the funds typically perform local volunteer work in exchange for receiving financial support.
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 1 p.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 the next two weekends leading up to Christmas, Dec. 10-12 and December 17-19. The festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
For more details visit www.coloradoevents.net.
Studio C on iheartradio app
KBCO’s Studio C Channel is now available on the iheartradio app for iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, Android and Blackberry smart phones.
KBCO already broadcasts the channel 24/7 on the station’s HD2 digital signal (received over the air by HD-equipped radios) as well as through streaming audio on www.KBCO.com. The channel features more than 20 years of exclusive live radio performances and interviews recorded at the station.
The latest installment of the Studio C collection (Volume 22) was released and sold out on Dec. 4.
