In this issue of City News, you’ll find out how to watch the City's 2022 State of the City address, recycle your Christmas tree and give back through volunteering. Happy New Year!

- Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager

State of the City - Feb. 1

Save the date for the 2022 State of the City: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1. Mayor Jeni Arndt and Interim City Manager Kelly DiMartino will reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of 2021, and look ahead to the future of Fort Collins. The event will be held at the Lincoln Center and streamed live online.

Have a question or topic you’d like to see addressed during the event? Submit your ideas at www.fcgov.com/stateofthecity or reach out on social media.

Ring in the Cue Year!

The Lincoln Center invites you to kick off the new year right as they get set to cue the lights for their first shows of 2022!

Get set to celebrate friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie as the national tour of Waitress begins a new year of theatrical magic at The Lincoln Center January 6-8. This heart-warming story follows Jenna, an expert pie maker in a rocky marriage who dreams of winning a baking contest that may offer her a fresh start. This “empowering musical of the highest order!” (Chicago Tribune) features direction by Tony-winner Dianne Paulus and original music by Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles.

On January 20, join cave diver and environmental anthropologist Dr. Kenny Broad for National Geographic Live: Extreme Cave Diving. Through his incredible images and video of the “blue holes” of the Bahamas, Dr. Broad reveals a potential treasure trove of scientific knowledge.  

Tickets start at $15 or $20 and are available at LCtix.com or by calling 970.221.6730.

All patrons five years of age or older attending these performances must provide either: 1) proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a photo/student ID or 2) proof of negative COVID-19 test with a photo/student ID. Click here for more details. Masks are required for all persons age three and older regardless of vaccination status.

Winter Bike to Work (or Wherever) Day is Feb. 11!

Save the date for Winter Bike to Work (or Wherever) Day on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022!

Fort Collins has typically hosted Winter BT(W)D in December, but we've taken the opportunity to align our event with the International Winter Bike to Work Day.

It may be cold, it may be snowy, but it's still possible to ride a bike year-round in Fort Collins. We'll help keep you warm with hot food and plenty of coffee (and more) provided for free to bicyclists, walkers, skaters and scooters.

Breakfast stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for community members riding a bike, scooting, rolling or walking to their destination. A map of stations will be published prior to the event.

Holiday Recycling

From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, household waste increases by more than 25%! 

This year, you can recycle your Christmas tree at 3 locations:

• TIMBERLINE RECYCLING CENTER HARD-TO-RECYCLE MATERIALS YARD: 1903 S. Timberline Rd. | $10
• HAGEMEN EARTH CYCLE: 3501 E Prospect Rd. | $5
• LARIMER COUNTY LANDFILL: 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd. // Green Waste Drop-off | $5

Be sure to remove all items from tree before dropping off, including: lights, wire, hooks, ornaments, tinsel and fake snow.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Events & City Closures

The City is proud to sponsor and participate in this year's local Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events in Fort Collins. The theme for this year’s Community Celebration is The March is Far from Over, and community members are invited to participate in a variety of events to honor the legacy of Dr. King, including a community march. The full list of events and opportunities to volunteer can be found at mlkfortcollins.org.

Citywide Vigil for MLK Day
The City invites neighbors across Fort Collins to set battery-powered, tea light luminaries along sidewalks and driveways as part of a citywide vigil on Monday, Jan. 17. These small lights throughout our city seek to honor the words of Dr. King when he said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

To request luminary materials for your home or business to participate in the vigil, fill out the form from Neighborhood Services. Please note that supplies are limited. For those who would like to purchase their own materials, details can be found here.

City Closures
All City offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17 to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Essential services will continue as usual, and full list of closures and holiday hours for facilities will be posted at fcgov.com later this month.

Test for Radon in January!

This month is National Radon Action Month, and the City is encouraging community members to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless and naturally-occurring gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Colorado homes are at a higher risk of radon. Testing your home is simple and inexpensive. Here are a few options:

• Be one of the first 100 people to receive a free short-term kit at the Fort Collins Senior Center during the month of January.
• Purchase a radon test kit. The City of Fort Collins sells discounted short-term ($6) and long-term ($20) kits for you to test your own home. These kits are available at the Fort Collins Senior Center, located at 1200 Raintree Dr.

If your home has high radon levels:

• Hire a professional. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment provides links to contractors that are certified by the National Radon Proficiency Program and the National Radon Safety Board. Visit their website to find qualified radon contractors in your area.

Spring is in the Air with the New Recreator

Have you heard the news? The Recreator is moving to a new cycle of three times per year, starting in 2022. The spring edition is now available online, and print copies are ready for you to pick up in all recreation facilities. Flip through the pages and find a new program to try in the new year, get ready to register for summer day camps, and take a look at the new enroll-by-day fitness programs. Check out all the ways you can register for programs and then set those alarms for registration day on Thursday, January 13 at 7 a.m.!

Artists of All Ages Wanted!

The City's Art in Public Places (APP) Program, in cooperation with community partners Bohemian Foundation and Downtown Development Authority, seek to involve local artists/teams by commissioning them to paint murals or otherwise artistically decorate working pianos for the Pianos About Town Project. Selected artists will paint a piano on Old Town Square or another location determined by the program. The intent of this project is for the artist to work where the public can see their artistic process and to place decorated pianos around Fort Collins for the community to play and enjoy. Deadline: February 1.

The APP Program is also seeking designs from artists aged 3 to 18 years old for the annual Pedestrian Paver Project. Since 2002, the program has worked with the City’s Engineering and Streets Departments to incorporate granite pavers with drawings by youth community members into sidewalks throughout the city during sidewalk improvements. More than 260 pavers have been placed so far. The paver designs are selected through an open call process and each young artist receives an honorarium for their work. Deadline: March 29.

Additional opportunities for artists are also currently available.

Give Back This Year: Volunteer with Recreation

Recreation is up and running full steam ahead in 2022! Would you be interested in helping provide fun in the community? Recreation is looking for a variety of volunteers – from short-term, special events to weekly, seasonal commitments. No matter what your schedule looks like, the Recreation Team is eager to work with you. Here are some examples of available volunteer opportunities:

• Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO): Help give quality and equal opportunities for recreation and leisure to community members with disabilities. Assist with theatre, cycling, rugby, unified soccer, tennis, swimming and more!
• Kids in the Park: Spend the day at Twin Silo Park, assisting with this beloved community event. Dozens of volunteers are needed for bubble making, people counting, kite decorating and more!
• Sports: Volunteer as a youth sports coach. Whether on the field or off, you will make a difference in kids’ lives as they participate in a team sport.
• Youth Summer Camps: Join Camp FunQuest as a field trip driver. See the joy in children’s eyes as they arrive at fun filled destinations and field trips throughout the summer.
• Senior Center Trips: Additional volunteers are needed to drive older adults on day trips to the theater, dinners out on the town, shopping excursions, and more.

If you are interested in getting involved, please email Ashley Ruffer, aruffer@fcgov.com for more information!

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215 N Mason St

Fort Collins, CO 80524