The presents are unwrapped.

But the holiday spirit continues to stick around. That is, until we take down the Christmas tree, the last vestige of holiday cheer. Now it’s just the long, dark and cold march towards — hmm, what’s the next holiday? — Valentine’s? St. Patty’s? Sigh.

If you can get out of the post-holiday funk long enough, we found something nice for you to do with that now dead and dessicated live tree you bought this year. Use the services of the Tree Recycle program, which costs only $5 and benefits local youth sports programs. As an extra bonus, the service sends the tree through a chipper and will load your vehicle with the wood chips to use around your yard, if you desire.

The program is accepting trees Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and after that, you may have to bribe your garbage man. Click here for The Gazette’s list of participating locations.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE - Postal Service carrier Mike Grubbs was Santa as he delivered mail Thursday, Dec. 20 in Manitou Springs. He’s worn the Santa hat for Christmas for 23 years.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

Holiday Tea and Home Tours
Through Dec. 22, Rock Ledge Ranch
Admission is $15 or $12 for members. Reservations required. Call 578-6777 for information.

Santaland Diaries
Through Dec. 23, Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater
Tickets are $12-$22. Visit www.theatreworkscs.org for details.

Electric Safari
Through Jan. 1, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The largest holiday light show in the region warms up the zoo. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $2 for kids 3-11, and free for kids younger than 2. Zoo members receive one free visit. Visit www.cmzoo.org for details.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

Colorado Springs Philharmonic: Christmas Classics and Carols
Dec. 22-23, Pikes Peak Center
Listen to Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and join a family sing-a-long of holiday carols. Tickets are $21-$43, and are available via 520-SHOW or www.ticketswest.com.

Guided Hikes
Dec. 22-23, Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Burn off some holiday calories with a guided hike. On Saturday at 10 a.m., take a 1-mile “cookie-burner” hike with a leader, who will offer tidbits about the park’s plant and animal inhabitants. Or, gather the kids for a 2 p.m. family hike on Sunday to observe winter survival strategies. The latter is recommended for kids 9 years and older accompanied by an adult. Both hikes are free, though participants must have either a $6 daily parks pass or an annual State Parks pass.

Sunday

A Christmas Carol: Special Family Matinee
Dec. 22, SaGaJi Theatre, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Though this classic story about Scrooge plays Thursdays-Sundays throughout the month of December, families can attend this specially priced matinee on Dec. 8, 15 and 22. Tickets are $25 for adults ($23 for members), $20 for kids ($18 for members). For ticket details, call 634-5583 or visit www.csfineartscenter.org.

Sunday

Colossal Cookies and Holiday Fun!
Dec. 23, Sand Creek Branch library
Decorate cookies and join in other fun holiday activities at the library. Visit www.ppld.org for additional dates, times and locations.

… and for Christmas Eve

Santa Arrives at the Town Clock
Dec. 24, Manitou Springs’ town clock, Manitou and Canon avenues
Santa pulls up in his antique fire truck packed with goodies and good cheer. Call 685-1444 for details.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

The Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble Wintersong Concert
7:30 p.m., Shove Chapel at Colorado College, 1010 N. Nevada Ave. his award-winning ensemble combines song and spoken word to celebrate the season. Details: 577-4192 or www.cvae.org.

All weekend

Holiday Evenings
Dec. 14-15, Rock Ledge Ranch, 30th Street and Gateway Road. Take part in a Victorian Christmas, with a visit from Santa in the Carriage House. Adults $6, seniors and children 13-18 $4, children 6-12 $2, kids under 6 free. Details: 578-6777.

Saturday

Nature Hike with Santa Claus
1:30-3 p.m., Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain. Follow St. Nick on a hike through the nature center to discover nature’s gifts. Plus, bring a camera for a photo with Santa. $3. Reservations required: 520-6745.

Christmas Bird Count
8-10:30 a.m., Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Road. Participate in this national event to find and count our feathered friends, and enjoy bagels and juice afterwards. All ages and abilities welcome. Free. Reservations required: 520-6387.

Brule in Concert
7:30 p.m., Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave. This acclaimed group of Native American musicians presents their unique version of a holiday concert. $30-$35. Tickets: 520-SHOW or www.ticketswest.com.

Sunday

Reindeer coming your way!
1:30 p.m., Penrose Library, 20 N. Cascade Ave. Meet, pet, interact and take photos with live reindeer and make a reindeer craft. Visit www.ppld.org for additional dates, times and locations.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

Bear Creek by Candlelight
6-8 p.m., Bear Creek Nature Center
Enjoy the nature center’s annual open house and membership drive with a walk on candlelit trails, music, holiday treats and crafts. Free for members; memberships (starting at $20) available at the door. Reservations required: 520-6387.

Deck the Halls, a Family Pops Tradition
7:30 p.m., Pikes Peak Center
The Colorado Springs Chorale performs traditional, fun holiday music. $12-$46. Details/tickets: www.ticketswest.com or 520-SHOW.

All weekend

The Pikes Peak Ballet Theater’s “The Nutcracker”
1, 4:30 or 7 p.m., Palmer High School Auditorium
Dec. 8-9, the talented young dancers of the Pikes Peak Ballet present this holiday classic. $15. Details/tickets: 632-7511 or www.thepeakballet.org.

Zamuel Ballet School presents “The Nutcracker”
2 p.m., Mitchell High School Theater
On Dec. 8-9, see the Zamuel Ballet’s most anticipated performance of the year. $15. Details/tickets: 570-1441 or at the Zamuel School, 3560 N. Academy Blvd.

Saturday

Canine Christmas Party
10-11 a.m., Bear Creek Nature Center
Bring your dog (on a leash!) to go for a romp on the Regional Trail and bring a camera to snap a photo of your pup with Berry the Santa Bear. $4. Reservations required: 520-6387.

A Soda Shoppe Christmas
10:30 a.m., East Library
The Whiz Kids song and dance troupe perform a musical set in a 1950s diner. Free. Details: 531-6333 or www.ppld.org.

Mrs. Claus tells stories
1:30 p.m., Monument Branch library
See storyteller Cathy Kelsay as Mrs. Claus as she tells stories, sings and performs with puppets. Visit www.ppld.org for additional dates, times and locations.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE - Customers picked a Christmas tree at Cheyenne Mountain High School.

Through Dec. 9., you can buy a fresh tree or wreath from Nova Scotia and all profits will benefit the Empty Stocking Fund during a fund raiser held by the Cheyenne Mountain High School National Honor Society. Trees run $48-$66 and wreaths range from $12-$18. That’s a low, low price for the fresh scent of pine and the knowledge you contributed to 14 non-profit agencies that aid local families year round.

The lot is open today and Friday 3:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m-7 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. at the high school, 1200 Cresta Road. For more information, contact Doug Philipp at 475-6110 ext. 181 or philipp@cmsd12.org.

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

This month’s cover story,“How We Celebrate,” showcases the Christmas traditions of three special Pikes Peak Parent readers and their families. For the holidays, you can also find out about how to size active gifts for growing kids and see the (often adorable) letters first graders at Helen Hunt Elementary school wrote to Santa Claus (click for page one and page two).

My personal favorite came from Gracie, who said:

Santa, I want a present.
I want a clubhouse.
I am going to give you a cookie and some milk 4 giving people lots of presents.
I miss you santa.
By.

You can also start off 2008 with new methods for managing your household and your kids with this month’s prize drawing. Enter to win the books “Desperate Households,” “Mini Methods or Madness” and “Common Sense Parenting” in addition to a selection of AuraCacia KIDS products made from 100 percent pure citrus oils. If you’d like to enter to win, send your name, phone number and children’s ages to parent@gazette.com. Entries must be received by Dec. 31. The winner will be drawn Jan. 2 and notified by phone or e-mail. (Please note: Only one entry per person; only one prize per household in a six-month period.)

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE - Cole Feverbach, 5, gave Santa Claus one more hug as Santa left for lunch Tuesday afternoon at Chapel Hills Mall. Click on above picture for full coverage.

Santa and Rudolph don’t just deliver presents to boys and girls of English-speaking families, and Santa at Chapel Hills Mall is very aware that some of his visitors might be more comfortable asking for what they want for Christmas in Spanish.

“I talk to them in Spanish and ask them what they want for Christmas in Spanish and ask them if they’ve been good in Spanish,” Santa said during a break Tuesday. “Always they’ll say yes, they’ve been good.”

It’s very reminiscent of the famous scene in Miracle on 34th Street, where Kris Kringle speaks to a little girl in her native Dutch, thereby convincing Susan he is the REAL Mr. Claus. Imagine the looks of wonder on kids faces when they meet our local, REAL Santa!

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news

Most importantly in my opinion, the money raised through ESF stays within our community, disseminated between 14 local non-profits such as the Pikes Peak United Way, the Marion House, the Salvation Army, the Pikes Peak Community Action Agency and more.

As an additional bonus, every dollar donated through ESF grows 63%! The Gazette, El Pomar and the Bruni Foundation all match a certain percentage of donated funds, making your $1 become $1.63. By the same math, $5 becomes $8.15, $100 becomes $163. For every increment of $100,000, The Gazette, El Pomar and Bruni contribute $63,000 out of their pockets.

‘Tis the season for blessing our fellow men, giving of ourselves and other forms of general do-gooding. Why not make you dollar go further, while guaranteeing the funds stay in our own backyard? But don’t take my word for it, check out The Gazette’s coverage of local families and individuals whose lives have been improved (and their stockings filled!) by ESF and its partner agencies.

Or instead of loose change, make your donation a family excursion by attending any of the following fun events which benefit ESF :

12/5: Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert
$1 from each ticket sold will be donated to Empty Stocking Fund.
Details: www.worldarena.com

12/8: Stocking Shuffle 5K Run or Walk
This event, organized by the Empty Stocking Fund Committee student group at Colorado College, will consist of a 5K Run or Walk and a Relay with three one-mile sections.
Details: Ashley Young, 970.556.0192

12/13: Supper Solutions ESF Fund Night
Supper Solutions hosts an Empty Stocking Fund benefit night at both store locations with 10 percent of gross sales donated to the Fund.Details: Pati News, 719.573.5573 or pati@suppersolutionsinc.com

12/22: Manitou Springs Benefit Concert
All proceeds from ticket sales and donations at the concert will be donated to the Fund.
Details: Andrew Koken, 719.499.8835

12/26-28: World Arena Skate Nights
Colorado Springs World Arena hosts three skate nights to benefit Empty Stocking Fund. The public is invited to experience the thrill of skating on the same ice used by Colorado College’s hockey team!
Details: 719.477.2101

Post from: Pikes Peak Parent news