We’ve just added over a dozen new free events and activities for this summer to our events calendar!

We’ve also created a Group on Facebook where we are highlighting upcoming free stuff and asking group members to share as well. Although the group has only been in existence for a short time, we have close to 150 members as of this writing, and we’re growing quickly.

Our own Colorado-for-Free Calendar will remain the primary place to check for upcoming free things to see and do. But don’t forget to check out over 100 suggestions for ongoing free stuff arranged by Region (e.g. Front Range North, Front Range South, Southwest, etc.), by Category, or the “best of” index of featured events, activities, and samples arranged alphabetically.

You’ve heard of Facebook and MySpace and Twitter — have you heard of Ning Networks?  It’s been described as a build-your-own social network platform where interest groups – such as people who are looking for free stuff to see and do in Colorado — can share ideas, photos, and so on.

We’re giving it a try so that we can hear your ideas.  You can post free things on our Event calendar, participate in a discussion in the Forum, and post photos of free events, tours, and activities in Colorado.

To get started, visit Colorado-for-Free Ning Network, sign up for free as a member of our network, and start sharing.

I just learned of another great resource for finding things to do around Colorado — some free, some not –  as well as shopping deals and freebies:  Tip’s Colorado.  I liked the shopping savings tips in particular — I’m an “office supplies junkie,” so the spiral notebooks for 1¢, 20¢ pack of Crayons, and free dry-erase markers caught my eye.  Then there was that photo of all the free stuff Tip had acquired — chocolate candy bars, Jello, lotions, shampoo, a shaver, deodorant — all of life’s necessities!

Free is great — and nearly-free is pretty darn good too.

June 3, 2009
10 AM – 4 PM
Rite Aid (4800 Baseline Rd, Boulder )

June 4, 2009
10 AM – 4 PM
Rite Aid (20901 E. Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora)

June 6, 2009
Noon – 2 PM
Rite Aid (7677 W. Jewell Ave, Lakewood)

June 7, 2009
10 AM – 1 PM
Cherry Knolls Shopping Center (6780 S. University Blvd, Littleton)

OK now — listen up!  I know this isn’t one of those fun or offbeat things we sometimes write about, but it’s important, especially with our high elevation and sunny climate.

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour presented by AVEENO® and Rite Aid will be stopping by Boulder, Aurora, Lakewood, and Littleton in the Tour’s 38-foot customized RV to offer free full body skin cancer screenings to the public.  Local board-certified dermatologists are donating their time to offer the free screenings.

As if that isn’t enough to make it worth your while, AVEENO® will also be distributing free samples of its NEW POSITIVELY AGELESSâ„¢ Sunblock Lotion SPF 70 for Face as well as its line of CONTINUOUS PROTECTIONâ„¢ suncare products, specifically created to deliver optimal, broad and photostable UVA/UVB protection with proper use.

Take care when you go out in the sun to play in our beautiful state.  Remember:  a “healthy tan” is an oxymoron.

Think about it:  we go buy pretty wrapping paper for gifts, and most of it gets thrown away after being ripped off the package. 

Think about saving some trees this holiday season!   If you really must wrap up a gift, consider using wrapping material that is being recycled.

Free recycled maps are available from USGS for holiday wrapping now through Christmas.   The maps are rolled in bundles of 10, with a limit of two rolls per person, and are only available at The Map Store.  To pick up the free wrapping paper, visit The Map Store @ USGS in Building 810 at the Denver Federal Center. 

Are you getting ready to throw out your 2008 calendar with the pretty photos you’ve been enjoying all year?  How about wrapping up some gifts with those pretty photos instead?

Of course, the Sunday Funny Pages can make a festive statement on recycling.  Plus, if the recipient doesn’t like the present you gave them, they can at least be entertained by reading the comics.

Do you have a few large paper bags from the stores (for those times you didn’t bring enough recyclable bags for your entire order, of course)?  Have your kids, grandkids, or neighborhood kids decorate them for you to create totally unique and ever-so-cute wrapping paper.  Or bring out your own inner artist and do it yourself.

Finally, consider saving even more packaging from the landfill by giving a donation to your favorite charitable organization in the name of a friend or family member instead of buying them a gift they don’t really need.

November 29, 2008
10 AM to 4 PM 

OK, all of you out there who deep-fried your Thanksgiving turkey (and you know who you are), listen up!  Don’t pour that used vegetable oil down the drain or in your neighbor’s flower garden (what were you thinking?).  Instead, bring your cooking oil to one of many collection sites as part of Holiday recycOil 2008, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises.

Collection locations include Arvada, Aspen, Aurora, Boulder, Denver, Ft. Collins, Greeley, Lafayette, Louisville, Littleton, Longmont, Loveland, and Thornton.

What’s that?  You say you didn’t fry the turkey, but did cook up some sweet potato fries?  Not to worry — as long as it is cooking oil (as opposed to motor oil, for example), you can recycle it.

I’m a cat person.  I adore cats.  Whenever I see a cat, I have to stop what I’m doing and find out if that cat is willing to be my friend.  (And usually they are willing.  They know.)

So when I learned that a collaborative effort is underway to let people in Metro Denver get a microchip for their cats to help them be reunited with their humans if they get lost, I was hooked.  Even if you keep your cat indoors, there’s always a chance kitty will get out when a visitor leaves a door open, or when she decides to make a mad dash for those exciting dry leaves blowing around in the yard.

You can learn all about the locations for obtaining a free microchip in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties by visiting the CHIP your cat website.   The program is a collaboration between the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society (DAVMS), Dumb Friends League and Metro Denver Shelter Alliance members, and is sponsored by HomeAgain and Bayer resQ. Collectively, these organizations will provide FREE microchips and lifetime registrations for 150,000 cats in Metro Denver.

So far, more than 65 veterinary clinics and six animal shelters are providing this free service.  Cat owners may receive a microchip identification implant by scheduling an appointment with a participating veterinary clinic.  Or, you may attend a microchipping event at a participating shelter that offers the service on a first come, first served basis.

You may also find the information useful in their online article, How do I get my Cat in the Carrier?  I couldn’t find an article on How do I keep my Cat from Shrieking and Upchucking while riding in the Car?, but perhaps I just didn’t search long enough.

Now that spring is trying to be here, our thoughts turn to getting outdoors and enjoying the warm (?) weather!  What better way than on a bike!

Derailer Bicycle Collective is a communal, volunteer-run bike shop.  This isn’t your normal bike shop, however.  Here, you can borrow tools (for free) and obtain free parts (frames, pedals, handlebars, cranks, tires, tubes, patches, bottom brackets, derailleurs, brakes, reflectors, accessories, and most any other part imaginable…), work with a knowledgeable volunteer to learn how to fix your own bike, rent a bike for free, or build yourself a bike from the frame up with a little help and at no cost to you!

Why do they offer this?  The folks at Derailer believe that…

 ”…bicycles are the most affordable, sustainable, efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly, FUN, and liberating form of transportation and recreation.”

Do you agree & want to help this volunteer organization?  Here are a few things they could use:

• any bike tools
• metric box wrenches (esp. 10 & 15mm)
• crescent wrenches
• office supplies
• lighting equipment (bulbs, lamps, etc)
• rubber cement
• patches
• kerosene (or other degreasers/solvents)
• 20” tubes, tires and wheels
• tubes and tires, all sizes
• wheels, 24” or smaller
• alloy wheels, all sizes
• 700c wheels
• grease
• kids bikes
• floor pumps
• bike locks (keys or combos)
• helmets
• quality components
• bike stands
• portable storage (sheds, etc)
• grinder
• conduit bender
• oxyacetylene welder and/or T.I.G. welder
• Dremmel tool
• bi-lingual bicycle books, resources and volunteers!

So, as soon as this snow melts off the bike paths, let’s get out for a spin.

Derailer Bicycle Collective is located at 411 Lipan St. in Denver.
email:  derailerbicyclecollective@yahoo.com
(303) 893-0305