$30 Winter Park Ski Trips for Denver Kids 7-17

Denver Parks and Recreation is offering  a $30 Learn to Ski and Ride program for youths ages 7-17. This awesome deal covers lessons, lift tickets, equipment rental, ski attire and transportation. Everything is held in Winter Park, and the instructors are from the Winter Park ski resort. Registration is going on NOW. More info here. To register, interested residents can contact the participating recreation center closest to them:

Ski Trip Date	Recreation Center	Phone Number
Monday, December 19, 2011	Montbello/Glenarm	(720) 865-0580
Wednesday, December 21, 2011	St. Charles/Swansea	(303) 295-4462
Tuesday, January 3, 2012	La Familia	(303) 698-4995
Friday, January 13, 2012	Eisenhower/Cook/Harvard Gulch	(720) 865-0730
Wednesday, January 25, 2012	Southwest	(720) 865-0670
Friday, January 27, 2012	Central	(720) 865-0750
Tuesday, January 31, 2012	Scheitler/Montclair	(720) 865-0640
Wednesday, February 1, 2012	Barnum	(303) 937-4659
Thursday, February 9, 2012	St. Charles/Swansea/Glenarm	(303) 295-4462
Tuesday, February 21, 2012	Eisenhower/Cook/Harvard Gulch	(720) 865-0730
Friday, February 24, 2012	Athmar/Washington Park	(303) 937-4600
Wednesday, March 7, 2012	Scheitler/Montclair	(720) 865-0640
Tuesday, March 13, 2012	Outdoor Recreation	(720) 865-0680
Friday, March 23, 2012	Outdoor Recreation	(720) 865-0680

Don't Miss Denver's 2 for 1 Tix Website

If you haven't checked out Denver's 2 for 1 Tix website, you need to visit it now. A ton of great deals on cultural events around the city, including theater events, concerts and ticketed museum exhibits. This is the type of website you want to check regularly, because the deals constantly change.

Low Cost Internet Access for FREE School Lunch Families

Don't forget that Comcast is offering low-cost Internet access for children whose families qualify for free school lunches. The FCC is making Comcast offer the deal, as part of its mega-acquisition of broadcast network NBC Universal. These huge mergers never end well for consumers, so we urge you to take advantage of the deal if you qualify. Anyway, Internet Essentials offers broadband Internet for $9.95 a month with no activation and no equipment rental fees. Families that qualify for the discount Internet can also get a computer for $149. Naturally, customers with service during the last 90 days do not qualify, free lunch or not. Learn about the program on the Internet Essentials website.

Cut Your Colorado Energy Bills NOW

My furnace kicked on the other day, and it made me shudder to think about the high cost of keeping warm during the winter. We use an adjustable thermostat control that keeps the house cooler at night and that kicks on to a higher temp right before we get up in the morning, which saves us considerable money during the cold months. During the day, we bundle up to stay warm indoors, rather than using the thermostat. I try to keep appliances, etc. unplugged when not in use, which also saves money. We cover windows in plastic like this, which works pretty good to insulate our 100-year-old alley house. And finally, I enrolled in Xcel's Averaged Monthly Payment program, which spreads your heating and cooling costs over the entire year so that your bill is more predictable.

Find out info on Xcel's Average Monthly Payment program here.

Also, Colorado LEAP starts on November 1st.  LEAP is an energy assistance program for people with very low incomes and provides payments directly to your electric company during the high use months.

If you are seeking help between May 1 and October 31, or if you do not qualify for federal assistance under the LEAP program or have already received LEAP and need help again, then you can seek help directly from Energy Outreach Colorado on a year-round basis. To qualify for their funds, you must owe a past-due balance on your utility bill.

To read about rebates, weatherization and appliance replacement programs offered through the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, click here. 

In the meantime, here are some no-cost energy saving tips:

• Use an adjustable thermostsat and keep it low at night. Or turn down your thermostat at night and when you are away from home.
• Keep all furnace ducts clear of obstructions
• Check the furnace filter once a month when you get your utility bill
• Turn down the water heater temp to 125 degrees
• Take shorter showers instead of baths
• Use cold water for laundry when possible
• Do full loads of laundry and dishes, use energy-saving cycles, air dry dishes
  
  
  
  

One of Denver's Best Community Service Websites

One of the best resource/service websites around Denver is kept by the folks at Arvada's Shrine of St. Anne. This comprehensive website offers updated and organized listings of job fairs, food banks, job training assistance and emergency and ongoing social services, all in one easy-to-navigate place. If you need help, or know someone that needs help, this is a great place to start finding it.