(Photo by Bryan Oller)
Rachel Strong rode the mechanical bull at Sixty35 Media’s 2022 Best Of party Jan. 19. The event had been rescheduled from Dec. 8 following the Club Q tragedy in November.
Hundreds gathered for the space cowboy-themed evening, celebrating readers’ picks for the best businesses, people and activities in the Springs. Attendees also helped recognize Colorado Publishing House’s transition to a nonprofit and the recent launch of Sixty35 news magazine.
The Colorado Association of School Executives announced Jan. 23 that Dr. Wendy Birhanzel of Harrison School District 2 has been named 2023 Colorado Superintendent of the Year.
The online application for families to sign up for Colorado’s universal preschool program opened on Jan. 17. Children who turn 4 by Oct. 1 (and some aged 3 and younger, under certain conditions) are eligible for half-day preschool (10-15 hours a week) at no cost starting in the fall, with more hours available for children in need. To apply or learn more, go to upk.colorado.gov.
A federal lawsuit filed by Brandon Pope, a former staffer for Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs) against Lamborn was dismissed Jan. 19 due to a settlement agreement. Pope had accused Lamborn of endangering staff due to his “reckless” approach to the COVID pandemic and of breaching congressional ethics by using government resources to benefit his family. Lamborn’s office said in a statement the Congressional Accountability Act precluded him from disclosing terms of the settlement.
January is National Radon Action Month, and it’s never a bad time for residents to test their homes for radon — the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, says El Paso County Public Health. Kits can be found at most hardware stores, and should be marked certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program. Low-cost tests can also be purchased at sosradon.org/test-kits.