community news For the benefit of our community
Earth day challenge, homelessness, mental health, bullying, board openings THERESA BAER
JOIN THE EARTH DAY CHALLENGE The Earth Day Challenge is an online competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and win prizes! Through April 30, participants earn points to win prizes such sustainable gifts or gift cards and every household that earns 5,000 points will be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize of one year of free curbside composting or $200 in grocery store gift cards. This year, the goal is to remove 1,500 tons of CO2 collectively! Learn more about prizes and how the challenge works at fcgov.com/ earthdaychallenge, and consider an easy way to start earning points is to sign up for a free home efficiency assessment through Larimer County (see below.) FREE HOME EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENTS Larimer County Conservation Corps performs home efficiency assessments as a free service to Fort Collins Utilities and Loveland Water and Power customers. Corps members also educate residents about water and energy efficiency practices and services as well retro-fit water-conserving shower heads and faucet aerators, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, clotheslines, light bulbs, furnace air filters, and highefficiency toilets based on residents’ needs. Learn more and schedule your assessment online at www.larimer.org/ ewd/lccc/energy. GREELEY REC CENTER REOPENS CLIMBING WALL After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Greeley Recreation Center reopened their final facility amenity–the indoor climbing wall–which is the only public climbing wall in Greeley. Bouldering is offered Monday through Friday from 6am until 8pm and Saturday from 8am until 2pm while top rope with climbing staff is available Monday and 14
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Wednesday from 4pm until 8pm plus the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10am until 2pm. Visit greeleyrec.com for more information. GARDENING RESOURCES Resource Central is once again offering “waterwise gardening made easy with professionally designed, perennial kits including starters plants, plant-bynumber maps and seasonal plant care information.” These garden-in-a-box kits are available for ordering now with pickup in May/June across the Front Range including Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. Plus select water providers offer a limited number of $25 discounts! Learn more and order before they are sold out at www. resourcecentral.org/gardens/shop. Look to CSU Extension for more gardening resources including free webinars on topics such as vegetable
varieties, trees, irrigation, beneficial insects and much more. The events are scheduled through December and registration is required. Visit CSUHort. blogspot.com for details and to register. COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON MENTAL HEALTH/SUICIDE PREVENTION Imagine Zero of Larimer County welcomes parents to this month’s interactive community conversation, “Connect with Intention around Mental Health,” to discuss what is going well around mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention across the lifespan in Larimer, identify gaps, and come up with creative solutions. This free event happens Tuesday, April 12 from 8:30am until 3:30pm at The Ranch, South Exhibition Hall, 5280 Arena Circle in Loveland, and will include a large group training, breakout sessions, and time for networking and collaboration between
