Society & Community

Colorado Springs – September 18, 2026 -- GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers will open its 64th location on Saturday, September 26, bringing free educational, therapeutic, career-development and social programs to individuals with Down syndrome and their families across the Pikes Peak region.

The grand opening celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2360 Montebello Square Dr, Suite A, in Colorado Springs. Founder and Chief Belief Officer Nancy Gianni and her daughter, GiGi Gianni, will attend to mark the milestone.

A group of local parents built the Playhouse from scratch

The Colorado Springs location began with families searching for resources after a Down syndrome diagnosis. Startup Lead Katie Stoddard found GiGi's Playhouse online shortly after her daughter Margo was born but discovered no location existed near her family, prompting a group of local parents to form a startup committee.

Boulder, Colo. – September 18, 2026 -- Two new murals have gone up in Nederland and Lyons, Colorado, part of a campaign urging homeowners to treat wildfire mitigation as routine home upkeep rather than an emergency response.

Wildfire Partners commissioned the artwork to reach residents directly

The murals, funded by Boulder County's Wildfire Partners program, are located at Nederland Feed and Pet on CO-72 in Nederland and on Broadway between 4th and 5th Ave. in Lyons. Artists Taylor Shaw and Rachel Dinda designed the pieces, each carrying the campaign headline "Home Sweet Mitigated Home" alongside embedded images of properly mitigated homes -- including examples of removed juniper plants, a highly combustible landscaping choice near many county houses.

Avon, Ohio – September 18, 2026 -- A new national survey finds that 63% of homeowners rate their storm preparedness a 7 out of 10 or higher, yet most still reach for the wrong repair tools once damage actually occurs. The T-Rex® Tape Storm Readiness Report, based on a September 2026 poll of 1,000 homeowners conducted by T-Rex® Brand, found 48% have tested batteries for emergency devices and 45% have trimmed trees around their homes as part of storm prep.

Eight in 10 homeowners face unexpected repairs

Eighty percent of respondents have experienced unexpected home damage requiring repair, and 43% say it's happening more often than five years ago, pointing to aging homes and severe weather as top causes. Despite this, only 30% have organized their repair tools as part of storm preparation, and just 51% say emergency storm supplies would be easy to find when needed.

Central Florida – September 17, 2026 -- As hurricane season peaks and National Preparedness Month draws attention to household safety, Frank Gay Services is urging Central Florida homeowners to inspect plumbing, electrical and air-conditioning systems before storm damage or summer wear causes bigger problems.

Homeowners should watch for warning signs before systems fail

"Seasonal home checks provide an opportunity to spot concerns before those issues disrupt their routines," said Josh Geltz, Operations Manager with Frank Gay Services. He advised residents to contact a licensed professional when plumbing, electrical or air-conditioning systems look, sound or perform differently than expected.

Los Angeles – September 17, 2026 -- NOAA forecasters say there is a greater than 90% chance the current El Niño will become very strong during fall and winter 2026-27, with a 69% chance it could exceed every El Niño measured since 1950. The warning comes as Farmers Insurance urges homeowners and business owners to review coverage before severe weather hits.

El Niño forms when parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm well above normal, shifting the jet stream that steers U.S. storm patterns. A strong event can bring heavy rain, flooding, powerful storms, landslides and dangerous winter weather, though impacts vary by region and are not guaranteed everywhere. The pattern typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts up to 12 months; the most recent one ran from 2023 to 2024.

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. – September 16, 2026 -- Dogs of all sizes are hitting the waves this year at Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon, an event where canine surfing skills translate directly into rescue funding for orphan pets.

Competitors surf in 10-minute heats judged by surf pros

Dogs compete in weight-class heats, each lasting 10 minutes, while a panel of surf professionals and enthusiasts score performances on ride length, wave technique, enthusiasm and confidence on the board. First-, second- and third-place winners are crowned in each weight class, with top finishers advancing to the Best-In-Surf finals.

A Freestyle contest lets dogs surf with friends and owners

A separate Freestyle Surf Contest features a Duos & Trios category, where two or three dogs share a single surfboard, and the Peeps & Pups Tandem Competition, pairing dogs with their human companions on the waves.

Moab, Utah – September 16, 2026 -- The Mud Springs Trail System has officially opened in San Juan County near Moab, adding purpose-built mountain biking trails for youth racing, adaptive cyclists, families and riders of varying skill levels.

A decade-long project cuts the ribbon during a major youth race weekend

Local and regional partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 11, capping nearly ten years of work to build a new race-capable public trail system. The opening lined up with the first Utah High School Cycling League race weekend at Mud Springs, which drew more than 1,100 youth mountain bikers to the area.

Phase 1 totals about 11 miles of machine-built, bermed trail

Mud Springs offers fast, flowy trails with bermed turns. Seven miles of beginner- and intermediate-level trail were built last fall, and roughly 3.5 additional miles of intermediate- and advanced-level trail are expected to be finished later this season.

Middletown, Delaware – September 16, 2026 -- Homebuilder Schell Brothers is opening four signature model homes at its Monarch community for a first-ever Parade of Homes, with all proceeds from ticketed events going to local charities.

Four floor plans open across three Saturdays in September

The Bridgeport, The Cassidy, The Chesapeake and The Shearwater will be open to guests on September 12, 19 and 26, each from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors can tour all four homes at each event to see different interior designs and layouts.

Each Saturday pairs a theme with a different cause

The September 12 event, Dine & Design, features local food and benefits the Delaware Restaurant Foundation. Monarch Soundcheck on September 19 offers live music and supports the Gibby & Everett Foundation. The series closes September 26 with Pours for Nemours, featuring Schell Brothers' Tipsy Blokes beer and spirits, raising funds for Nemours Children's Hospital.

Guilford, Conn. – September 16, 2026 -- Families planning a funeral in Guilford now have more ways than ever to shape a service around a loved one's actual life, according to a new HelloNation feature spotlighting George Sullivan III of Guilford Funeral Home.

Music and readings set the emotional tone of a service

The article explains that families often select songs tied to specific life moments or cultural traditions, using music to shape how a service feels for attendees. Readings, whether religious passages, poetry, or personal writings, are used alongside music to reflect the individual's beliefs and add emotional depth.

United States – September 16, 2026 -- Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is marking the anniversary of the September 11 attacks by reaffirming its commitment to support veterans and service members for as long as they need help, not on a fixed timeline.

WWP CEO Walt Piatt says the organization's promise has no expiration date

"After 9/11, millions of Americans raised their hands and said, 'Send me,'" Piatt said. "It is now our turn to keep our promise to be there for them no matter what. Not for five years. Not for 25 years. For as long as they need us."

The nonprofit began in 2003 with backpacks delivered to wounded service members' bedsides

WWP started by handing out backpacks filled with comfort items to wounded troops in hospitals. That simple gesture grew into a broader effort to support warriors and their families through recovery and beyond.