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APRIL 27, 2017
ADVENTURES DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDING: Twice in
a recent two-month span, local women killed their children, then themselves. In a special report, one father shares the heartbreak of losing his family, and experts give insight into the reasons tragedies like these happen. P 7-10
THE RESULTS ARE IN: Community survey offers direction for school district P4
‘ANCHOR OF THE AREA’ New hospital promises a healthy variety of services for the community P6
A PIVOTAL PLAY: In lacrosse, the winner of the faceoff figures to reap rewards P38
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HighlandsRanchHerald.net
VOLUME 30 | ISSUE 23
2 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
Two Douglas County students falsely reported threats, authorities say Youths are facing misdemeanor charges after their arrest STAFF REPORT
Two Douglas County School District students were arrested April 20 — the anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting — on suspicion of falsely reporting threats to authorities, according to the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office. The offense is a class three misdemeanor. One of the students was
also charged with interference of staff, faculty or students at an educational institution, which is a class one misdemeanor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a class four felony. A sheriff ’s office spokeswoman said the students arrested are 14 and 17 years old and attend schools in “the Highlands Ranch area,” but she wouldn’t identify the schools. A sheriff ’s office news release said the department has been investigating threats at multiple DCSD schools in recent days. Each rumored threat was fully investigated and determined noncredible. It was during these investigations
that the sheriff ’s office learned students were falsely reporting threats against their schools in an attempt to shut down the schools on April 20, the 18th anniversary of the Columbine shooting in south Jefferson County, according to the sheriff ’s office. “At this time, we’d like to remind parents to talk to their students about the seriousness of making false reports and participating in the spread of rumors,” the news release states. “If a student believes they have learned of a legitimate threat, please contact us or school staff immediately. No student will be punished for reporting information that they believe to be true.” The school district issued a state-
MY NAME IS
NEWS IN A HURRY
TORI ABRAHAM
classes at Arapahoe Community College. I didn’t even know at the time that you could get scholarships for a community college. I am now up for the AllAmerican scholarship, which will go towards my education at the University of ColoradoBoulder. Experiencing all of this makes me want to succeed even more.
Mountain Vista High School graduate About me I was born in England and moved to the United States when I was five years old. We started off in Pennsylvania and moved to Highlands Ranch when I was in third grade. In high school, I was never passionate about learning but I got through it and graduated with good grades. Once I started at Arapahoe Community College in 2014, I developed such a strong passion for helping children. I’ve always worked with kids — my first job was at a day care — and I’ve always had a connection with children with special needs. I am so glad that I went to community college because it opened so many doors for me and it helped me with the transition from high school to college. I will be going to the University of ColoradoBoulder in August and studying psychology. In the future, I want to help youth with their psychological needs.
Tori Abraham, a graduate of Mountain Vista High School, will be heading to the University of Colorado-Boulder this fall. COURTESY PHOTO
My achievements I was a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) at Trumpet Behavioral Health in Centennial for more than a year. But I had to leave because of the pressure of school — I graduate from Arapahoe Community College this May. I worked with so many different kids — a lot were on the autism spectrum, and they were all so amazing. I loved seeing how their lives were changing because of me and the other therapists. Last year, I received a Thom Sorensen Psychology Scholarship, which paid for one of my
My inspiration My sister, Ellie, is going to the University of ColoradoDenver in August. She has always been academically successful. She received a scholarship for academics and wants to study business. We get along very well — she is one of my best friends. When I got to ACC, we had similar goals and academic achievements. Seeing her do so well is inspiring. I want us to be successful together. Fun fact I love music. I’ve been to more than 100 concerts. I listen to all genres. Right now, I am really into electronic and rap. If you have suggestions for My Name Is..., contact adewind@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
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ment the morning of April 21. “The Douglas County School District appreciates the strong partnership we have with the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office, as well as the Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Parker police departments. We are fortunate to have programs like Safe2Tell and Text-a-Tip in place to allow for anonymous reporting of concerns or threats,” the statement reads. “We urge our students, staff, parents and community members to continue utilizing these programs as needed. When they are used appropriately, these programs are effective. Working together, we can continue to keep our students and staff safe.”
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Fountains turned on The waterfall, stream and fountains at Civic Green Park, 9370 S Ridgeline Blvd., adjacent to James H. LaRue Library, are turned on for the summer. The interactive plaza fountains in front of the Jeff Case Pavilion are expected to be turned on May 15. The fountains will run throughout the summer from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and may be shut off periodically for special events. For more information about Civic Green Park, visit highlandsranch.org or contact the Metro District at 303-791-2710. Taste of Highlands Ranch The Highlands Ranch Community Association will host the Taste of Highlands Ranch from 6 to 9 p.m. May 5 at Eastridge Recreation Center, 9568 S University Blvd. The evening will feature wine, beer and spirits provided by Davidsons Liquors, cuisine from more than 30 area restaurants, an outdoor beer garden and music. The 2017 beneficiary of the event is the Muscular
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‘Oh, say can you sing?’ Anyone interested in singing The National Anthem at the 2017 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is encouraged to submit a video audition of their rendition of the first verse of the song to Fair@ Douglas.co.us. Please include your name, age and hometown in the body of the email. Videos must be no more than 90 seconds in length and must be received before May 19. Successful candidates will be contacted by June 2 and receive two complimentary general admission tickets for the fair and rodeo. Based on the number of entries live auditions may be held. SEE BRIEFS, P37
Highlands Ranch Herald 3
7April 27, 2017
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4 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
Survey finds teacher retention, tax usage are top concerns
Daniels Park Open House Daniels Park improvement details – including new trails, improved parking areas and roadway upgrades – will be shared at a public open house on Tuesday, May 2, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Philip S. Miller County Building, 100 Third Street, in Castle Rock. For further information please visit www.douglas.co.us/dcoutdoors/parks/daniels-park/
Basic building permits online Contractors and homeowners may obtain basic building permits for roofing, mechanical, construction meter and window/door replacement for residential properties online. Visit www.douglas.co.us and search for Building
Senior Life in Douglas County From senior housing to Medicare Open Enrollment, older adults in Douglas County have opportunities throughout the year to engage in community conversations about issues of importance to them. For more information or upcoming events visit www.douglas.co.us/community/senior-adult-services/
Have your Colorado State Parks pass yet? The Colorado Aspen Leaf Pass and Annual State Parks Pass are now available for purchase through the Douglas County Recorder’s Office. The annual pass is $70, and the Aspen Leaf Pass, for persons 64 and older, is $60. Visit www.douglas.co.us and search for Park Passes or visit the Colorado State Parks E-Store at https://parksstore.state.co.us
Notice of Valuation 2017 is a reappraisal year in the State of Colorado, and Notices of Valuation will be mailed on May 1 reflecting your property value as of the statutory appraisal date of June 30, 2016. Please visit the Assessor’s website at www.douglas.co.us/assessor to research comparable sales, view estimated taxes, and review information regarding appeals.
Board of County Commissioners’ Priorities
Visit www.douglas.co.us
BY MIKE DIFERDINANDO MDIFERDINANDO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Findings of a comprehensive new survey show that about two-thirds of high school students and parents believe that Douglas County schools are offering a “good” or “very good” education. But some other findings from the $220,000 survey commissioned by the Douglas County School District show a less-positive experience. Almost 40 percent of parents and guardians with children in the district do not believe the district values their opinion, according to the survey conducted late last year and in early 2017. And 30 percent of parents and 40 percent of other community members do not believe the district appropriately spends tax dollars. The survey of 16,968 people — parents, high school students, district employees and community members — was presented to the school board and community April 18. Parents of children attending DCSD schools made up 63 percent of those surveyed. “I think a lot of this information and data is not exactly a surprise to us,” board of education President Meghann Silverthorn said. “Some of it is very critical, and I think the board has already started to try and be more responsive to what the community has told us.” Board member Anne-Marie Lemieux said the survey will inform how the district makes decisions in the future. “I think we got some good information on the direction we need to go as a board, not just for what the community wants, but what our students need,” Lemieux said. In July 2016, the board of education approved the money for Corona Insights, a Denver-based research and strategy firm, to conduct the extensive community survey. While the district conducted surveys in the past, this was the first time DCSD contracted with an outside firm for an in-depth, scientific survey. The Douglas County Federation, the teachers’ union, conducted its own surveys in 2012 and 2015. “We sincerely hope that DCSD will realize that their employees need a seat at the table, and that their voices need to be heard,” said Kallie Leyba, president of the Douglas County Federation. “Employees offered similar feedback in multiple surveys over the past several years, but DCSD discounted each of those surveys. We are grateful that the district finally conducted their own assessment to validate the previous results.” School board member James Geddes suggested that a similar survey be conducted every few years to help guide the district and keep it connected to the desires of the community. “It seems to me that a serial measure, maybe every two to three years, would help us to know if we’re doing the right thing when we’re making some of these changes,” Geddes said. The following is a look at survey results among the various groups.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
Corona used the district’s email database to contact people for the survey, which meant all parents and employees with correct email contact information were invited to participate.
The collected data was aggregated and reported without identifying any individuals, Raines said. During the eight-month process, Corona collected feedback from roughly 3,200 employees, 10,000 parents, 2,913 students, 165 community members not connected to the district and 36 employers and higher-education professionals.
DCSD SURVEY BY THE NUMBERS
70 60 40 36 33 29
— percent of parents and guardians rated the district as good or very good in terms of providing a safe environment for students. — percent of employees reported that they have high morale.
— percent of parents and guardians do not think that the school district values their opinion.
— percent of employees don’t trust the board of education at all.
— percent of students don’t think it’s easy to get help with personal problems at school. — percent of employees believe that their coworkers have high morale.
Source: Douglas County School District survey by Corona Insights Parents/community members Kevin Raines, president of Corona Insights, said the two biggest concerns revealed by the survey were the need to retain quality teachers and whether or not the district is using taxpayer money wisely. Almost a third of parents rated the district as poor or very poor in terms of appropriately spending taxpayers’ money. Forty percent of parents rated the district poor or very poor when it comes to retaining quality teachers. Thirty-nine percent of parents and 50 percent of community members indicated that they do not believe the district values their opinion. The group Douglas County Parents said it hopes the district will use the new information to “make the appropriate corrections.” “We are pleased to see the district requesting community feedback again,” said Jason Virdin, spokesman for the group. “The reform-minded board and superintendent have spent much of the last eight years forcing a reform agenda on the schools in DCSD while dismissing the concerns of parents, teachers and community members.” SEE SURVEY, P5
Highlands Ranch Herald 5
7April 27, 2017
SURVEY FROM PAGE 4
The survey also found that community members without children feel more negative about the district than parents -do. - Views about the district do seem to be trending more positively, Raines said. Those views included “a lot more positive d comments about the new superintendent.” Students When asked to rate the quality of their education in the district, 65 percent of students responded with “good” or “very good.” Among parents, 67 percent responded that way. “It’s the ultimate customer service question,” Raines said. Overall, Corona found that students are having a very positive experience in Douglas County schools, but feel like they could be better equipped to move on to the real world after graduation. This was especially true of students who reported they did not plan on attending a four-year college or university. According to the survey, 41 percent of seniors “strongly agree” that they feel ready for the next phase of life and 60 percent of seniors “strongly agree” that have a plan to achieve their goals after graduation. With large numbers of stu-
dents indicating they did not feel as though they were prepared for the next phase in life, saying they wished their schools had taught them more basic life skills, the board highlighted this as an area of concern. Almost 70 percent of students said they want to be involved in helping design what they learn in class. “We give a lot of support to our juniors and seniors, but I think our students are telling us they need that a few years earlier,” board of education Vice President Judith Reynolds said. Board member David Ray agreed. “That’s a fairly significant message for us in a district that says every student should be collegebound,” Ray said. When it comes to retaining quality teachers, students are less concerned about teachers leaving than the community or their parents — just 18 percent indicated they were concerned. Teachers/district employees The survey found that when it came to curriculum changes that took place under former Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen — such as the Guaranteed Viable Curriculum, 21st century Skills and World Class Outcomes — the majority of employees generally supported the concepts but not how they were implemented. “People really don’t know what guaranteed and viable curriculum or world-class outcomes
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are,” Raines said. “People are open to the concepts, they just don’t understand them enough to support it.” In 2009, county residents elected school board members who voted for numerous reform policies over the next several years. The board hired Fagen in 2010. Fagen left the district in the summer of 2016 to take the same position in Humble, Texas, near Houston. The board of education hired Erin Kane as interim superintendent at the start of the 2016-17 school year and recently extended her contract through the 2017-18 school year. On the most contentious reforms was the implementation of a performance-based pay system. Seventy percent of district employees either “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” that the current pay system is fair and that it helps retain employees, attract employees or motivate employees to increase work quality. More than 40 percent of employees said they feel that there’s more competition in the district than collaboration. Only 20 percent said they believe there’s more collaboration than competition. However, 60 percent of employees said they are proud to work at the district. “The morale in the district is higher than it may seem,” Raines said.
A timely issue
6 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
New hospital expected to bring more services, jobs to the community UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital is scheduled to open in early 2019 BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The hospital being built in Highlands Ranch’s Central Park development will offer a Level III trauma center and a specialized focus on oncology, orthopedic and women’s services, including a birthing center and neonatal intensive-care unit. Details about the UCHealth 77-bed hospital, which broke ground in January and is slated for completion in January 2019, were presented by UCHealth officials April 19 at a Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The 340,000-square-foot hospital campus will cover the southeast parcel of the 100-acre development known as Central Park, which sits east of Lucent Boulevard, west of Barrons Boulevard and north of Town Center. Surrounding the hospital’s six-story patient tower will be a healing garden for patients, a medical office building, parking decks and space for expansion. The rest of the Central Park development, owned by Shea Properties, will have 200 single-family homes, a regional park, a communication tower for the Douglas County Sheriff ’s
This artist’s rendering shows the new hospital expected to be completed in 2019 at Central Park in Highlands Ranch. Office and retail, recreation and commercial buildings. The hospital will be the “anchor of the area,” chamber president Andrea LaRew said at the luncheon, held at the Hilton Garden Inn on Plaza Drive. UCHealth determined that Highlands Ranch was an optimal location based on demographics and the popu-
lation growth of surrounding areas, said Diane Cookson, president of UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital. The population of Douglas County grew from 285,465 people in 2010 to 322,387 residents in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Sterling Ranch, a large community under construction east of Highlands Ranch, is expected to bring more than 30,000 people in the next 20 years. But Cookson raised concerns about transportation for low-wage employees who cannot afford housing in Highlands Ranch. She said she hopes to work with other businesses and organizations in the community, such as Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Regional Transportation District, to look at options, one of which could be utilizing a shuttle from the light rail station on Mineral Avenue to the hospital campus. The hospital also will provide 500 to 600 construction jobs and 400 new, permanent jobs once it is completed. Outside physicians will be able to apply for hospital privileges or the use of facilities and equipment. Besides the Level III trauma center
IMAGE COURTESY OF UCHEALTH
— which provides 24-hour coverage by emergency physicians, prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists and transfer agreements for patients who need more comprehensive care — the hospital will have primary care, operating rooms, advanced cardiac services and a 24-hour outpatient pharmacy. At the forefront of services will be women’s, oncology and orthopedic, Cookson said. The hospital will be equipped with a birthing center, postpartum beds, a neonatal intensive-care unit, complete imaging services and a cancer center. The cancer center will offer multidisciplinary care for its patients, meaning the patient will receive opinions from his or her different doctors in one room, at one time, without having to travel to other medical campuses. “It takes a team-focused on the patient to get the optimal response,” said Thomas Purcell, the hospital’s medical oncologist and chief medical officer. Patients will also have access to National Cancer Institute Clinical research trials, Purcell said.
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Highlands Ranch Herald 7
7April 27, 2017
‘I LOST ALL OF THEM’ BY ALEX DEWIND | ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Portraits of Ethan Laber, 5, and his brother Adam, 3, teddy bears and blue gemstones — which the boys loved to find in backyard treasure hunts — were displayed for guests at a memorial service at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Jefferson County on Dec. 6. ALEX DEWIND
In a world of grief, Ryan Laber keeps memories of family close
A
t times, Ryan Laber feels as if he is drifting in the ocean. Grief washes over him in waves, recedes, then comes in again. Other times, he stands in a valley, staring at sheer cliffs encircling him, wondering how he will ever climb out. “Losing all of your children and your spouse — that is a pretty earth-shattering thing,” he says. Since his wife shot and killed their sons and then herself five months ago, the days flash back and forth between memories of life as it was and the reality of life as it is now. He is trying to move forward, wading through the sorrow, coming to terms with his wife’s depression and bipolar disorder, holding onto the joy his sons brought him. “It’s this nonstop buzz of emotion,” Laber says. “What you’ll find is that you’re just trying to look for tangible memories of the things you lost.” Laber, 40, is a 6-foot-3 solidly-built man with a welcoming demeanor and a dimpled smile, a director in an electronics company whose life revolved around his family. The sadness in his brown eyes wells into tears when he remembers. On Nov. 30, police found his wife of 12 years, Jennifer, 38, and their two sons, Adam, 3, and Ethan, 5, dead in the family minivan on an abandoned loading dock outside of a shuttered Sports Authority in Lone Tree. The Douglas County coroner determined the boys each died of a single gunshot wound and Jennifer from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Laber was upstairs in Ethan’s bedroom, where
he and Jennifer read bedtime stories to their sons, when he saw the police car pull up to their Highlands Ranch home later that day. “I put my arms on his bed and I tried to talk to them.” He knew. They were in heaven.
• WHY WE WROTE THESE STORIES See page 14 for an editorial explaining the thought process behind this package.
•
•
On a March afternoon, Laber sits in a Highlands Ranch coffee shop, next door to Salsa Brava, a favorite Mexican restaurant of his sons. As he talks about their deaths and his grief, his eyes dart from his coffee cup to the room
around him. The day his world shattered was Nov. 29. Laber had left his work at Arrow Electronics in Centennial by 5 p.m. to make it home in time for dinner, as he did every evening. But their home was dark. Jennifer, Ethan and Adam were gone. Confused, Laber started calling friends and family. He wondered if he had unconsciously said or done something to upset Jennifer, a stayat-home mom. He wondered if she had taken the boys and started driving to Minnesota, where they had lived until moving to Colorado two years ago. She had talked about wanting to move back. SEE GRIEF, P8
‘You can only see what’s immediately in front of you, behind you and beside you. You can’t focus on the future.’ Ryan Laber
8 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
What drives a parent to kill a child? Experts point to a variety of reasons, a key one being mental illness
‘Part of the reason that the recent deaths of children at the hands of their own mothers captures our horrified attention is because it is so rare.’
BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Every day, Stephanie Schmalz drives by Highlands Ranch on C-470 from her home in Morrison to her job in Lone Tree. So when she learned in November that Jennifer Laber, a Highlands Ranch mother, had killed her two young sons and then herself, the tragedy stayed with her. It moved her to post a message on a Highlands Ranch Facebook page called Word of Mouth: “I didn’t know these kids. I didn’t know this mom. I do, however, know this mom’s heart. She was likely depressed, overwhelmed, feeling worthless, not measuring up to standards that she thought others have set for her — that the world has set for her.” Her post received more than 600 likes and dozens of comments thanking Schmalz, a mother of three, for her words and extending compassion for the family involved. “I feel like what I wrote is what people think about but don’t say,” Schmalz said. “It takes a village to raise kids — it takes a village to raise a family.”
Randi Smith, psychology professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Variety of reasons for ‘rare’ occurrence The Laber tragedy — followed two months later by a similar case involving another Highlands Ranch mother and her 10-year-old daughter — generated an outpouring on social media of compassion, shock and disbelief. Many comments came from women, who although not in any way condoning — or understanding — the killings, expressed empathy for mothers who are struggling with stressors of everyday life or a mental illness such as depression. The resounding questions became: How could this happen? Why the kids? Even among mental health and forensic experts, there is no clear answer.
According to a 2014 study by Brown University in Rhode Island, over the past three decades U.S. parents have committed filicide — the act of a parent killing his or her child — about 500 times every year. Seventy-two percent of the children killed were age 6 or younger. One-third were infants. Ten percent of children killed were between 7 and 18 years old. When a parent also kills himself or herself, the act is referred to as filicidesuicide. Filicide is rare: About 74 million children from infancy to 17 years old live in the United States, according to the U.S. Census. The average number of filicide cases has stayed at about 500 a year for
GRIEF FROM PAGE 7
He called the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office at about 8 p.m. Deputies came to his house, took down information and sifted through credit card transactions. The Glock 9mm semiautomatic handgun that Jennifer had purchased earlier that day had not yet shown up. Laber went to bed at about midnight. He slept, somehow knowing he would need energy for the next day. He awoke at 5:30 a.m., and soon after, a neighbor called, asking if he had seen the news. Police had discovered three bodies in a van near the old Sports Authority in Lone Tree. Helicopters circled over the scene. Laber immediately called the sheriff ’s department. He was told there wasn’t enough information yet. “That was code for ‘we are worried about you hurting yourself and we are not going to tell you anything,’ ” Laber remembers thinking. “That’s when it sunk in.” Four months later, Laber still doesn’t understand what went wrong. Friends and family of Jennifer didn’t see signs. Her behavior hadn’t changed. Looking back, Laber believes that she had been planning her suicide for months and reached a point of calm in knowing her life would soon end. The sorrow is overwhelming. But, he
After the tragic loss of his wife and two sons, Ryan Laber passed out blue stones at a celebration of life gathering at O’Brien Park in Parker on Dec. 3. His sons loved to treasure hunt, he said, especially for blue gemstones in the backyard. ALEX DEWIND says, he is not angry: His wife was ill.
•
•
•
Ryan and Jennifer met in Minnesota, where they both grew up. Ryan, 26 at the time, was out to dinner with work clients at a restaurant. Jennifer, then 24, was at the same restaurant with friends. They met, dated for two years and married in September 2005. Shortly after, Jennifer was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, Laber says. She was hospitalized more than once in her late 20s following a suicide attempt. It was the first time Laber had ex-
perienced mental illness in someone close to him. And, at first, it angered him, coming so soon after their marriage. One time, after visiting her, he pounded so hard on the armrest in his two-door sports car that it broke. “It was at that point in time that I recognized that I couldn’t sit there and tolerate it,” he says. “I had to do something differently.” Laber reached out to his pastor, who coached him into redirecting his anger. He started going to therapy with Jennifer and attending classes to learn about mental illness. Eventually, Jennifer learned to manage the depression and bipolar
the past 30 years, though the population of the country has grown. According to Randi Smith, a psychology professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, when parents cause their children’s deaths it’s more likely to be accidental or, in some cases, part of an ongoing pattern of child abuse. “Part of the reason that the recent deaths of children at the hands of their 1 own mothers captures our horrified at- a tention is because it is so rare,” Smith e said. Reasons for filicide range from murders committed out of “love” — described as altruistic killings — to child abuse and neglect, but mental illness often stands at the forefront. That’s especially true in cases of the killing of a toddler or adolescent, who has formed an attachment with the parent, said Phillip Resnick, an internationally known forensic h psychiatrist and professor c at Case Western Reserve i University in Ohio. “Killing children once i their role is established i in the family would be an J Resnick extreme measure,” said v g Resnick, who has studa ied filicide for 50 years. “It wouldn’t be done casually or incidentally — it t would require some extreme forces p coming together.” c p SEE PARENTS, P10
disorder with medication and lifestyle changes. The couple felt stable enough to think about starting a family and Ethan and Adam were born a few years later. “We reached a point, years ago,” Laber told mourners at a Dec. 2 vigil, “where the darkness had subsided for a family to be born.” The family’s move to Colorado was prompted by a job opportunity for Laber at Arrow Electronics. Though they were leaving close friends and family, Laber and Jennifer saw it as a fresh start. The family moved to an apartment in Parker before settling in a home in a kid-friendly cul-de-sac neighborhood of Highlands Ranch. Life was easy, simple, with a happy flow from day to day. Laber made it home for dinner every weeknight. He and his sons loved to wrestle. He and Jennifer took turns cooking. On Saturdays, Laber woke up with the boys while Jennifer slept in. They made chocolate chip pancakes. Saturday nights, the four of them went out to dinner, then came home to watch movies on the couch. It was a family ritual. Jennifer was kind and caring with the boys, consistent about teaching them good manners. A vegetarian, she encouraged the boys to eat healthy. She instilled a love for cuddling. SEE GRIEF, P9
Highlands Ranch Herald 9
7April 27, 2017
‘Grief is unique — there is no one-box-fits-all’ Therapist talks about importance of working through grieving process BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Linda Coughlin Brooks lost her 17-year-old daughter nearly 20 years ago, when she died unexpectedly from epilepsy in her sleep. Brooks, a therapist who knows the grieving process all too well, has since dedicated her life to helping others. “I help someone who doesn’t know if they want to live or die,” said Brooks, sitting in her Greenwood Village Brooks office. Photos honoring her patients’ loved ones who have died cover the walls. “I help them reengage in life.” A former nurse of 37 years, Brooks is certified in death and grief studies. In her private practice, the Grief Journey, she provides care for individuals and families experiencing grief, loss and life transitions, such as a divorce. She also serves as the regional director of Compassionate Friends, a nonprofit organization with more than 700 chapters across the United States for parents who have lost a child.
MANY EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS
WHERE TO FIND HELP
One in five adults nationwide experiences a mental illness, according to the National Association of Mental Illness. One in 25 lives with a more serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Half of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14 — three-quarters by the age of 24, the association reports. About 2.6 percent of adults live with bipolar disorder. And almost 7 percent of American adults live with major depression, the leading cause of disability worldwide, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. Nearly 60 percent of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found.
Mental health and suicide prevention • Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado: Provides a statewide network of suicide prevention resources and hotlines by county. suicidepreventioncolorado.org/ page-18121. • Colorado Crisis Services: Operates a Crisis Line and Support Line and provides referrals to other mental health services in the Denver metro area. 24/7 crisis line: 844-493-TALK (8255). • AllHealth Network: Behavioral health services, including inpatient and outpatient programs and group, individual and family counseling, offered in locations across south
Research says that individuals experience grief in five stages: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. But Brooks said that grief is not linear — the experience is different for every individual. She saw a patient one time for the loss of a dog, a companion. She saw a patient for nearly two years for the loss of a mother. “Grief is unique,” she said. “There is no one-box-fits-all.”
COURTESY PHOTOS
gret, it would be that — even after you think you reach a point of stability — you still need to have the conversation.”
•
•
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After the deaths, family and friends stayed with Laber in his home. But he felt alone. He couldn’t eat. He compared the feeling to an episode of the old, black-and-white television show “Twilight Zone.” The main character travels to Earth to find that there are no other people, only buildings. “There’s this stagnation,” he
• Jefferson Center for Mental Health: Offers a variety of services, from hotline, therapy, counseling and wellness classes. Hotline: 303-425-0300, jcmh.org.
• Jennifer Laber battled depression and bipolar disorder. “She wanted nothing but for Ethan and Adam to have a mother they could depend on, a mother that felt well,” Ryan Laber said. says. “You can only see what’s immediately in front of you, behind you and beside you. You can’t focus on the future. Your eyes can’t look forward.” He sees the boys’ playset in the backyard, the toys in their rooms and the clothes in their closets. Jennifer’s clothes hang in his closet. Her jewelry box rests on the dresser. A pan inscribed with Laber and Jennifer’s names sits in the kitchen. To honor them and be reminded always, Laber printed and hung photos of Jennifer, Adam and Ethan all over the house. Everywhere he looked,
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Grief support • The Grief Journey: Bereavement care of all types including support groups and individual counseling. 303951-9240, griefandgrowth. com. • Compassionate Friends: Support groups for parents who have lost a child. compassionatefriends.org. • Parents Surviving Suicide: Support groups for those who have lost individuals to suicide. 303-322-7450. • Parents of Murdered Children: For families and friends of individuals who have died by violence. Colorado-pomc. org. For Front Range chapter, contact Phil Clark, 303-7486395.
guilt, and provides resources, such as support groups. Coming to terms with guilt and regret can shift the focus from how a person died to how they lived. And being around peers who have experienced loss and moved forward in life can instill a sense of hope in a grieving individual, Brooks said. The goal, she said, is “to see someone choose life, choose reengagement in a productive way.”
they were there. One day, he opened their urns, wanting to touch their ashes. Overcome with emotion, he collapsed. Mentally and physically exhausted, he stayed on the couch for the rest of the day. “You want to expose yourself to those feelings,” he says, “but sometimes you push too hard.”
FROM PAGE 8
Adam, 3, was a defender of people, his dad, Ryan Laber, says. Ethan, 5, would seek out the kid on the playground who was alone and play with him or her. To honor them, Laber would like to work with an organization for parents who have lost children.
• Adams County Mental Health Center (Community Reach Center): Offers crisis services, and treatment and counseling in the Metro North region for children to seniors for mental health issues from depression and anxiety to more severe disorders. 303-853-3500, www. communityreachcenter.org.
Often, phone calls and check-ins from family members and friends become less frequent as time goes on, as life goes on. But mourning loss is not a journey that an individual can do on his or her own, Brooks said. It requires a safe environment where the individual can honor and work through his or her grief. In her practice, Brooks listens, normalizes the feelings associated with grief, such as anger, regret and
GRIEF “She wanted nothing but for Ethan and Adam to have a mother they could depend on, a mother that felt well,” Laber recounted at the Dec. 6 memorial service for Jennifer and the boys. “In her mind, they deserved the utopia each of them had brought to our lives.” Ethan would seek out the kid on the playground who was alone and play with him or her. Adam, big for his age, was a defender of people. Though he was two years younger than Ethan, they weighed the same. Their favorite activity was treasure hunting for the blue glass gems the family hid in the backyard. Everything seemed to be going the right way for a young family, Laber says. They kept in contact with friends and family in Minnesota. They had a decent home, great neighbors, good schools. “Despite all that stuff, it still crept up,” Laber says of Jennifer’s bipolar disorder and depression. Tears well in his eyes. “If there was any re-
metro Denver. Emergency and crisis intervention line: 303-730-3303. Information or appointments line: 303730-8858.
•
These days, when he has the energy, he spends a couple of hours sorting through his family’s belongings. A friend who lost a loved one told him to take down some of the photos on the walls, so he did, and it helped. In his grieving, Laber has connected with others who have lost a child, a spouse, a close friend. But he finds his situation is different: “I lost all of them. It’s not like I could even be grateful for something that was still left.” The faith community, friends, family and coworkers have helped him on his road to healing, he says. Pastors from four churches reached out to him — he has relied heavily on his faith. People flooded his Facebook and mailbox with messages
and letters. Neighbors, family and friends have continually been by his side. He sees medical professionals and attends support groups to help him cope. He could have shut out the world, Laber says, but he knew that would have led him to depression. Instead, he lets the grief pass through him, following the path of others who have experienced a devastating loss. “I invited them all in to share with me where they found the footholds,” he says. “I take different pieces from what I understand from different people.” Laber is unsure if he will stay in his house. Once a place of memories, he says, it is becoming a house of ghosts. He knows he will never let go of Adam, Ethan and Jennifer. To remember Jennifer, he would like to join forces with an existing statewide organization on suicide prevention. To honor his boys, he would like to work with an organization for parents who have lost children. The future remains too murky to see. But he is certain of one thing: He would like, someday, to be a husband and father again.
10 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
PARENTS
chologist at the University of Denver, cited a variety of reasons for filicide, including an “end-ofthe-world” psychosis, when a parent feels that he or she is trying to spare their child from what is to come. Postpartum depression, a hormonal imbalKarson ance that can affect new mothers following childbirth, can be a cause in rare instances, Karson said. In instances of postpartum psychosis, the mother most likely has a history of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder, a mental disorder characterized by symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder, according to a 2016 report of filicide in the United States authored by Resnick and published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry. That was the case for Andrea Yates, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2001 drowning of her five children. The Texas woman reportedly experienced severe postpartum depression and psychosis. She is now in a state mental hospital. Postpartum psychosis occurs in about one out of 1,000 new mothers, as opposed to the two or three out of 100 new mothers who might experience postpartum depression, a common and treatable malady, Resnick said. But, he emphasized, “most people with postpartum de-
FROM PAGE 8
In a 2005 study of 30 filicide-suicide cases published by the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law — written by Resnick and four other authors — 70 percent of the motives were identified as murders committed out of “love” to relieve the real or imagined suffering of the child. The second most prevalent reason was acute psychosis, such as schizophrenia, which can cause delusions. That was the case for LaShuan Harris, a 23-year-old who, in 2005, dropped her three boys, ages 6, 2 and 16 months, into San Francisco Bay. Harris, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, believed she was listening to God and sending her children to heaven. She was found criminally insane and sentenced to a psychiatric hospital. Other motives of filicide have included mistreatment, such as child abuse resulting in death; having an unwanted child; and revenge against a spouse. In March, a Chicago father shot and killed his twin daughters. According to national media outlets, police dispatch heard the father tell his wife he wanted her to live and suffer before shooting her in the leg — she survived — and then shooting and killing himself. Michael Karson, a clinical psy-
pression don’t go on to harm their child or commit suicide.” In some altruistic filicide cases, the report in the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law says, the parent was depressed and considered the children’s deaths as extended suicides rather than homicides. The study found that parents who killed their children and themselves overall appeared to have high rates of mental illness. Smith echoed that finding. Filicide-suicide scenarios, such as the two recent cases involving mothers and their children in Highlands Ranch, she said, usually occur in the midst of a deep depression with psychotic features or in the midst of a bipolar episode. After the death of his wife and two sons, Ryan Laber publicly spoke of his wife’s battle with depression and bipolar disorder. Jennifer Laber, 38, was diagnosed in her mid20s after a suicide attempt, he said. Her autopsy revealed that she had bipolar-disorder medication in her system at the time of her death. According to the police report, Cristi Benavides, 40, the Highlands Ranch woman who was found dead with her daughter, Emma, in February, had a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. ‘Things pass, things get better’ How to prevent such tragedies is the challenge. World Psychiatry, an office
journal of the World Psychiatric Association, suggests that psychiatrists should assess filicide risk in a systematic way, as they do for suicide, by asking questions about childrearing practices, parenting problems and feelings of being overwhelmed — and then provide steps to ensure the safety of all involved. And although many resources exist for those contemplating suicide, Karson wonders whether a parent thinking of filicide would admit to those thoughts. “How,” he asked, “can we arrange a world in which a person in that situation would tell someone?” Several mental health and education experts also say establishing connections for parents to community and the support that can be found there — whether personal or professional — is key. “Many people can profit from talking with mental health care professionals, experiencing support and seeing how to change situations so that they can manage stress more productively,” said Judith Fox, associate professor of the University of Denver Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Psychology experts agree that in many filicide-suicide cases the parent acts on impulse. “Things pass, things get better,” Karson said. “All the lost opportunities — if they could just get past that impulse.”
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Highlands Ranch Herald 11
7April 27, 2017
Save The Date!
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch is proud to host its 17th annual golf tournament! The 2017 Business Golf Classic will be held at Arrowhead Golf Course, Monday, July 31st, 2017 with a 8:00 Shotgun Start.
Visit our website at www.highlandsranchchamber.org to find out about upcoming events. Non-members are welcome to attend up to two events as our guest before joining.
For more information check out www. highlandsranchchamber.org!
You can find us on Facebook (Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce), follow us on Twitter (@HRChamberHub)
Celebration!
CHAMBER STAFF ANDREA LAREW, PRESIDENT
andrea@highlandsranchchamber.org
Beautiful Refresh of the Hilton Garden Inn Denver South Park Meadows 9290 S. Meridian Blvd Englewood, CO 80112
BRIE MCMAHON, MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
brie@highlandsranchchamber.org
DIANE KAHLER, PROGRAM AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
diane@highlandsranchchamber.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR – TONY SMITH, CU DENVER CHAIR ELECT – TIM LINDSEY, BEAR MORTGAGE
Ambassador of the Month – Heidi Bowman Name of Business: Fresh Harvest Food Bank Title: Public Relations/Program Coordination How long have you been with/ owned this company? I have been involved with Fresh Harvest Food Bank for nearly six years; officially joined the team in October of 2015! What is the mission/vision of your company? The mission of Fresh Harvest Food Bank, in it’s role as a pantry, is to provide nutrition, support and education directly to households facing food insecurity throughout Douglas County
and surrounding areas. As a food bank, Fresh Harvest happily shares with other nonprofits throughout Colorado that have a similar mission: providing for ‘Neighbors-in-Need.’ There are no costs for any of the programs we provide. As the need for our services has grown substantially in recent months, we look forward to expanding our space, broadening our offerings and to the continued generous support of our community! What do you most like about your job? No two days are ever alike! How do you spend your free time? My free time is spent with my family! What do you like most about being an Ambassador for the Chamber? I am a people person, so thoroughly enjoy connecting within our ever expanding community!
PAST CHAIR – JUSTIN VAUGHN, VAUGHN LAW OFFICES SECRETARY – AMY SHERMAN, NW DOUGLAS COUNTY EDC TREASURER – JUSTIN ENSIGN, FIRSTBANK CAROLYN BURTARD, SMART FOOD – JUICE PLUS+ MICHELE BERGH, PANORAMA ORTHOPEDICS & SPINE JERRY FLANNERY, HRCA ANDREA FERRETTI, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO STEWART GALLAGHER, COLORADO VAULT & SAFE DEPOSIT BOX CO. MIKE HEFLEBOWER, HEFLEBOWER FUNERAL SERVICES ROB KEVWITCH, GRIST BREWING COMPANY DR. MATT THOMPSON, 100% CHIROPRACTIC ROBERT WAREHAM, THE LAW CENTER, P.C.
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12 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
Mountain Vista dedicates tennis courts to Susan Cash Staff, players and families honor former tennis coach who lost battle with cancer BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On a cloudy April day, a bundle of pink balloons floated into the sky over the tennis courts of Mountain Vista High School. The balloons were for Susan Cash, a mother, wife, friend to many, elementary school teacher and tennis coach who lost her battle to breast cancer last July. Her legacy lives on through what is now the Susan Cash Tennis Center at Mountain Vista. “She will be forever honored on this campus,” Wendy Strait, a counselor at Mountain Vista and a friend of the Cash family, said at the April 21 dedication ceremony. “The courts will not stand for wins or losses, but for integrity.” Cash was the girls tennis coach for eight years and an elementary school teacher in Douglas County. Her husband, Ric, is the head football coach at Mountain Vista High School. Four of her five children have gone or currently go to the high school. Those that knew Cash describe her
Mountain Vista High School staff, tennis players and parents release pink balloons at the Susan Cash Tennis Center dedication ceremony on April 21. Cash, a former tennis coach at Mountain Vista, a mother of five, and the wife of Mountain Vista head football coach Rick Cash, died of breast cancer last August. ALEX DEWIND as honest, caring, family and faith oriented, thoughtful, a kid at heart. Her smile lit up the room. She was competitive and encouraging on the court. Above all, she put others first. “She was a selfless leader,” tennis coach Jim Flanigan said at the dedication ceremony. “In this day
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and age, it’s hard to find people that are selfless in what they do.” About 100 people, including players, parents, staff and the Cash family, gathered in the parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts for the dedication ceremony. Most of them wore pink shirts or jackets. Through tears and laughs, they shared stories
of Cash. Then they released dozens of pink balloons over the tennis courts — a symbol of a beloved member of the community. “She was a great coach, a great person,” girls tennis team captain Casey Zhong said. “When we play on these courts, we will be motivated to play for someone close to us.”
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Highlands Ranch Herald 13
14 Highlands Ranch Herald
LOCAL
April 27, 2017A
VOICES Our thought process behind this week’s special report OUR VIEW
Craig Marshall Smith
D
ao, Dao, daylight come and me want to go home.” Let’s say a 69-year-old man is forcibly volunteered off of an airplane, and he’s a doctor, a father, a grandfather, he’s Chinese, maybe there are some skeletons in his closet, and you have an opinion about it. Snap. It’s never been easier to let other people know what you are thinking, and no one is holding back. As soon as someone, let’s say a White House spokesperson, puts his foot in his mouth, posts and tweets are all over it.
What is in it for the poster? Social media and the internet give the illusion that your opinion matters. Having your thoughts made visible for a potential audience of millions — worldwide — is very alluring. It can be done easily, cleanly, and privately. They are little hit-and-run commentaries that once were reserved for paid commentators. Your opinions can be right there next to theirs now. It becomes progressive, like SEE SMITH, P31
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Teachers deserve respect, adequate pay Just a few short months after being sworn in, new school board directors Vogel, Ray and Lemieux were able to secure the survey that community members had been requesting for more than four years. Tuesday night (April 18), the results of that survey were shared at a Board of Education meeting. I knew that the pay and evaluation structures created by district administrators were controversial, but I was shocked to learn what a low opinion our professional educators had of them. Many of the people hired into our district administration over the past six years have
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One in five adults experiences a mental illness; one in five children ages 13-18 has, or will have, a serious mental illness. It’s time to talk about the issue and make sure resources and support systems exist to help. Douglas County began doing that three years ago following several tragedies related to mental illness. County officials have pulled together a 31-member collaborative coalition — the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative — that has pooled its resources
SEE OUR VIEW, P15
Everyone is ready with an opinion, and the world is no better for it QUIET DESPERATION
LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
media. There was compassion for all involved. But there also was shock and disbelief: Why would a parent kill his or her child? Because the tragedies occurred in such proximity to each other, and because one of our communities was struggling with the ensuing grief, we thought it important to try to understand why this happened and to put these cases in context of issues surrounding them. Those stories are packaged as a special report in this week’s editions, on our communities’ websites and at coloradocommunitymedia.com.
On Nov. 30, Jennifer Laber was found dead with her two sons, ages 3 and 5, in the family minivan outside a closed Sports Authority. Just two months later, on Jan. 30, Cristi Benavides and her 10-year-old daughter were found dead in the basement of a home. In both instances, law enforcement authorities determined the mothers had killed their children, and then themselves. Both families lived in the Douglas County community of Highlands Ranch, one of the more than 20 towns, cities and counties that Colorado Community Media covers. The tragedies devastated family members, neighbors and school communities and generated an outpouring of comments on social
little to no experience in education. Perhaps this is why 83 percent of our licensed teachers do not believe that the pay structure the district created retains and attracts quality employees to Douglas County. Since 2010, I have watched many, many teachers and building administrators leave our county for greener pastures. More are leaving this year. It’s past time for us to address the problems in our school district — starting with respect and adequate pay for our teachers! Stephanie Chancy Highlands Ranch SEE LETTERS, P15
Waiting for the punch line? Stay hopeful if it never comes
T
here is nothing like a good joke or very clever story that captivates us and then makes us laugh or think WINNING a little deeper based on the WORDS punch line. The timing and delivery of the joke or story and the punch line itself are both very important to the success of the Michael Norton joke or story and how it is received. As we watch in horror sometimes at what is happening locally and globally, I’ll bet there are people out there like me who are still waiting for that “punch line” to be delivered. But sadly and unfortunately, the punch line never comes, and as a matter of fact, typically the story, or what we thought might have been a prank or joke only gets worse and results in intended or unintended tragedy. Sorry, no punch line here. An example may be, “Hey did you hear about the people on board a major airline carrier? So get this, they were sitting
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and services, assessed where gaps exist and is implementing programs to filll the holes. One of those programs will pilot in May, which is Mental Health Awareness month. A statewide public health campaign led by Tri-County Health Department also gets underway May 1. “Let’s Talk Colorado” focuses on eliminating the stigma around mental illness so that those who need the help will seek it. Look for our stories about the two programs in next week’s editions.
on the plane, already seated and the flight crew announces that they need four seats and that paying customers would have to be willing to give up their seat for credit and a flight home the next day. And then the flight crew says …” Oops, again no punch line here. “So the flight crew, gate agents, pilot, operations team, and security personnel of a major airline got together to see how they could get four paying passengers off of an airplane so that they could get four of their own staff on to the plane.” So the pilot says …, or the person in charge of security says …, or the flight crew says …, or any one of them says “Why don’t we just take people out of their seats. That has to be our best option.” Wait, what? Where is the punch line here, certainly there has to be one. Now imagine you didn’t know that this event really happened, you might be waiting for the punch line or ending to a funny story. But the ending wasn’t funny, there was no “punch line,” only stunned disbelief. Now sometimes a reaction like stunned disbelief is what a storyteller or comedian may SEE NORTON, P15
Highlands Ranch Herald A legal newspaper of general circulation in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Highlands Ranch Herald 15
7April 27, 2017
NORTON FROM PAGE 14
be going for, however I am sure that this major airline was not looking to have a ridiculous incident erupt into stunned disbelief across the world. We watch every day in stunned disbelief don’t we? We don’t know what is real or what is fake when it comes to the news do we? And even when we know it to be absolutely true, we still watch or listen in stunned disbelief, waiting for that punch line or some sign or hint that is was just a joke or prank or simply just not real.
LETTERS FROM PAGE 14
Charter process needs a review I sat on the Douglas County School District Charter Application Review Team as a parent volunteer for three straight years, ending just last year, and not once did I hear that there was student competition for seats. Thus, this new insight — as reported in this newspaper several weeks ago — affects both current charters and public
OUR VIEW FROM PAGE 14
Reporter Alex DeWind spent weeks researching and reporting to find answers to the why. She found that the act of a parent killing his or her child is rare. And that the reasons are varied, but that mental illness is at the forefront. In both of these instances, family members and law enforcement say depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder were present. To ensure we presented this sensitive topic appropriately, we followed the media resource guide compiled by the World Health Organization and the International Association for Suicide Prevention to help journalists cover suicide, along with other guidelines for reporting on homicides. We worked not to sensationalize the stories, to explain in context the reasons that could lead to these tragedies and to find sources with knowledge and authority on the issue. We hope the stories spotlight the importance of public community discussion on mental illness and the need for support systems. Also,
And we do this because although we live amongst the chaos and situations where we have no control or where we have not participated in any way shape or form, we look for the punch line or good news turnaround because we live with hope. The goal is that the majority of the hopeful will be able to bring back the hopeless from the brink of stunned disbelief and hopelessness. There was an episode of the television show “Seinfeld” where Jerry and George are on a double date. George asks Jerry not to be funny so that his date would not find Jerry attractive. Jerry pouts most of the evening, comes across as dark and
depressed and then he makes this statement when asked why he was so sad, “There is just too much sadness in the world to be happy.” Obviously this was a sitcom and that line was intended as a punch line or comedic statement. Our world is filled with very sad and serious situations; they are not laughing matters at all. To fix them or attempt to fix them we have to balance our fear, anger, anxiety, and angst with hope and encouragement, love and kindness, love and forgiveness. Not tolerance and not political correctness, but hope and encouragement, love and kindness, and love and forgiveness.
So how about you, are you waiting in stunned disbelief and for somehow some way a punch line will bring closure to a sad or tragic event, or have you figured out how to filter the noise and news in such a way where you can live with hope, encouragement, and love? I would love to hear all about it at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can rise above the hopelessness by living with hope, it really will be a better than good week.
schools in the district. The intent of the 1993 Charter School Act is not being carried out by many of the charter school applications. The district canceled charter school bus transportation last year, effectively limiting choice. There is no charter school student exit data and if the student returns to their home school after the October count date, the home school receives no money and must admit the student. If all the accepted applications begin by next fall, the district will have the highest number of charters in Colorado.
The timing of the report requested by the board to examine the impact of charters is questionable and will not affect this year’s application process. The district needs to get a better plan in certain areas than simply using charters to absorb student count changes.
Maybe it is time to stop the current application process until the board members have a completed report and specific policy to which they all adhere. Barb Cousins Highlands Ranch
a sidebar provides information on resources for grief and mental health support. Finally, when Ryan Laber shared with us the story of his family and his experience with devastating grief, we committed to him that it would be told with great care, compassion and respect. Journalistic ethics guidelines call on us to minimize harm in the telling of truth. We do that by treating our sources as human beings who deserve our respect and compassion, particularly in circumstances such as these. And to ensure Mr. Laber did not incur any more harm because of our story, we made an exception to our guideline that does not allow sources to read articles before publication. We are conscious of the privilege of telling his story. We wanted to make sure we got it right. We realize these stories may be uncomfortable to read. Our hope is that they bring some understanding of not only the consequences for those left behind but also what can lead to these kinds of tragedies. As one mother said: “It takes a village to raise a family.” In the broader sense, a community is a family. We must take care of each other.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU If you would like to share your opinion, visit our website at www.coloradocommunitymedia.com or write a letter to the editor. Include your name, full address and the best telephone number to contact you. Send letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com.
Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corporation, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.
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April 27, 2017A
Coalition will hunt for funds to pay for highway widening BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Widening what’s known as “The Gap” along Interstate 25 between Castle Rock and Monument is top of mind for government officials across the Front Range. The stretch where the roadway narrows to two lanes in each direction for 17 miles presents a safety hazard because of congestion, officials said. Plus, officials hope a better interstate will act as an economic catalyst and im-
prove what’s also a national security corridor. In January, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced plans to accelerate environmental and planning processes to have an improvement project shovel-ready by 2019. The catch was funding — somewhere between $300 million and $500 million still needed to be secured. On April 19, numerous officials came together at a news conference held in Douglas County to announce the founding of a coalition
Chairman Roger Partridge said, the coalition can find that money by the end of the year. Coalition membership includes representation from areas like Monument, Palmer Lake, Castle Pines, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree and Arapahoe and Pueblo counties. “It’s just such an important project that we have many, many included,” Partridge said, opening the news conference on April 19. Douglas County commis-
that will seek to identify those dollars at the local, state and federal level. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said the I-25 Gap project has wide public support among his constituents, and that El Paso residents “want it done.” “What we need now is focused, legislative support,” he said at the news conference. “We’re in this for the fight. We’re going to make sure it happens.” Hopefully, Douglas County Board of Commissioners
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sioners have already traveled to Washington D.C. and stressed this project’s important to the Colorado delegation, Partridge said. And although the county has not been approached with a request for local dollars, Partridge said, the county is ready and willing to be a financial partner. The event had federal representation with the likes of Congressman Mike Coffman, who serves communities such as Aurora and portions of Littleton and Centennial.
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Highlands Ranch Herald 17
7April 27, 2017
‘Murder at the Brown Palace’ has ties to Mansion Special presentation draws sold-out crowd in Highlands Ranch BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Dick Kreck is a storyteller. The former Denver Post columnist-turned-author has written six books about the history of Colorado. His topics range from the infamous Smaldones, a mob family based in north Denver, to the communities that popped up along the Union Pacific railroad track that runs through Nebraska and Wyoming. “I started writing about history before I left the Post,” Kreck said. “I love doing research.” On a recent night at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, nearly 200 guests from south metro Denver sat before Kreck as he spoke of his book, titled “Murder at the Brown Palace: A True Story of Seduction and Betrayal.” One of the book’s main characters is Isabel Springer, who once lived in the historic building in which guests were seated.
Dick Kreck signs copies of his book “Murder at the Brown Palace: A True Story of Seduction and Betrayal” at an April 17 event hosted at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, 9950 E. Gateway Drive, by the Highlands Ranch Historical Society. Kreck moved to Denver from Los Angeles in 1968 and was a columnist at the Denver Post for 38 years. ALEX DEWIND The story tells the shortlived tale of Isabel and her husband, John Springer, who in 1987 bought the property now known as the Mansion. Springer, a prominent businessman and politician
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downtown Denver. The hotel is the site of a murder that emerged from a love-triangle involving Isabel, a former love affair of hers and John Springer’s business partner.
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The summary of Kreck’s book left more than one guest of the evening saying: “What a scandal.” One of those guests was Val Davis of Littleton. She attended the event with a friend who is a member of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society, the organization that hosted the evening. “I think the Brown Palace Hotel is beautiful — fascinating,” Davis said, standing upstairs in the Mansion, in front of the suite that was once Isabel’s. Guests were able to explore the bedrooms after the presentation. “And everyone likes a scandal.” The April 17 event was part of the Highlands Ranch Historical Society Now and Then series, a program started three years ago to preserve the history of the Mansion through oral presentations. The presentations are videotaped and used as training guides for Mansion volunteers who lead public tours. The videotapes are also given to the Douglas County History Research Center. “We are all really pleased,” said board member Nancy Linsenbigler. “There is wonderful history here.”
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18 Highlands Ranch Herald
The
LOCAL
April 27, 2017A
LIFE
appeal to home school
Benefits, challenges of parents who teach their kids
HOME-SCHOOL PROGRAMS The Home School Connection offers group-setting classes for home-schooled children in grades kindergarten through sixth. Students may attend one class a week. Subjects include performing arts, creative writing, science and physical education. Locations are in Westminster, Lakewood and Evergreen.
BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
B
ecause of her experience as a student in public schools, Ashley Maes decided to homeschool her 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. “When I was in school, I never felt challenged,” the Littleton resident said. “I was present in school but not participating, and I felt like I could do more for my children.” She continues home schooling because of the freedom it provides — her family isn’t restricted to a school-day schedule and her kids can explore their passions and interests, Maes said. Maes’ decision to home-school reflects a trend that has significantly grown over the past two decades. In 1999, there were about 850,000 home-schooled students ages 5 through 17 in the United States, according to a household education survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. That number jumped to an estimated 1.1 million students in 2003 and an estimated 1.5 million students in 2007, the most recent year of the survey. In Colorado, 7,659 students were registered with public school districts as home-schooled in 2016, up from 6,462 students in 2010, according to the Colorado Department of Education. Douglas County School District currently has 509 home-schooled students, the district reports. In fall of 2016, according to records from the Colorado Department of Education, Jefferson County Public Schools had 436 home-schooled students and Adams 12 Five Star Schools had 313. All of the districts’ home-school counts have increased since 2010. Families home-school for a number of reasons. Considered the most important are religious or moral instruction, concern about the school environment and dissatisfaction with academic instruction at other schools, the survey by the U.S. Department of Education reported. Colleen Sprister, of Sedalia, wanted her four children, ages 7, 9, 11 and 13, to have a Christ-based education. Private school was not in her family’s budget, so she and her husband decided to home-school. Sprister’s children are enrolled in Classical Conversations, an international home-school program with an emphasis on classical learning and Christianity. They work in group settings one day a week with other
For more information, call 720-289-9230 or email info@wwahomeschool.org. Two Roads is a K-12 charter school that offers home-school programs at its two campuses — 6980 Pierce St., Arvada, and 5890 Alkire St., Littleton. Home-school students are required to take a minimum of 6.25 hours of classes per week on campus. For more information, call the Arvada campus at 303-423-3377 or the Littleton campus at 720-425-6163. The Academy Charter School, based in Castle Rock, offers a home-school program with curriculum, lessons and classes for homeschooled students in Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Parker. The program is tuition-free with a small cost for materials. For more information, visit academycharter. org/home-school.
FAST FACTS Home school programs must have no less than 172 days of instruction, averaging four hours a day.
Colleen Sprister, a resident of Sedalia, home-schools her four children, ages 7, 9, 11 and 13. She made the decision because she wanted her kids to have a Christ-based education. “I get to see my kids through the good and the struggles every day ,” she said, “and we get to work through it as a family.” COURTESY PHOTO Classical Conversations students from Castle Rock, Parker and Elizabeth. The other four days, they work on assignments at home. Her kids also participate in recreational activities, such as gymnastics and football, and work on their family’s small-scale farm. Home schooling has strengthened the relationship of her family, Sprister said. “I get to see my kids through the good, the struggles, every day, and we get to work through it as a family,” she said. Like Classical Conversations, many resources provide curriculum for families who home-school. Programs are offered online or as an extension of a public or charter school. Some are free; others have a fee for curriculum and material. When a parent or legal guardian decides to home-school a child, they take on the responsibility for the student’s education, according to the Colorado Department of Education.
That includes providing curriculum, books, supplies and tests and maintaining permanent records. That also includes making sure the student has at least 172 days of instruction a year in basic subjects, such as reading, writing, math, history, science and others. For Maes, taking on the role of a teacher has been challenging. Keeping her kids focused and interested can be difficult, she said. “It’s hard being with your kids all the time and getting them motivated,” Maes said. “Because you’re Mom, they feel like they can argue with you.” Another challenge that some homeschool families face is being labeled with stereotypes, such as socially awkward or sheltered. Maes had concerns about socialization when she first started homeschooling her children, she said. But she no longer worries about that. Her children interact with others when they are out running errands. They play with kids in their neighborhood,
Students in a home-school program must have academic progress evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Home schooling is considered nonpublic and is not regulated by the state of Colorado. The parent who oversees the homeschool program is responsible for obtaining and paying for books, supplies and tests. Home-school resources vary because programs can be purchased from private companies or the parent or guardian can create the curriculum. Source: Colorado Department of Education kids on their sports teams and students at the charter school they attend one day a week. “I used to be terrified that they would be hermits,” Maes said. “They are learning to interact with a variety of age groups.” Maes isn’t sure if she will homeschool her children through high school. She is taking it year by year. For now, the positives outweigh the negatives. “The relationship I am developing with them is different,” Maes said, “and I’m treasuring that because I won’t get that time back.”
Highlands Ranch Herald 19
7April 27, 2017
Spending the summer with live music
I
f there’s a better part of summer than music under the stars, I don’t know what it is. Colorado has no shortage of picturesque LINER locations for summer concerts, NOTES and while everyone is well aware of places like Red Rocks, many more intimate venues exist that provide a lovely setting for some classic acts. The Denver Botanic Gardens, Clarke Reader Arvada Center and Hudson Gardens in Littleton have concert lineups that are shining jewels. “What makes a good concert series is a mix of the new with the familiar,” said Barry Osborne, marketing manager with Swallow Hill Music, which puts on the concerts at the Botanic Gardens and Arvada Center. “We want these experiences to be like relaxing in your backyard, listening to
WHAT’S PLAYING? To find the Summer Stage Concert Series at The Arvada Center, call 720-898-7200 or visit www.SummerAtTheCenter.com. To find the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series, call 1-877-435-9849 or visit concerts.botanicgardens.org. To find the Hudson Gardens & Event Summer Concert Series, visit www.altitudetickets. com. something you really love.” The lineups at all three venues tend toward classic rock acts, with musicians like Three Dog Night coming to the Arvada Center, Joan Jett, Firefall and Yes heading to Hudson, and Stephen Stills, Judy Collins and Randy Newman performing at the Botanic Gardens. “People are really excited about Stills and Collins, particularly because Collins is a Colorado musician,” Osborne said. “Newman is such a great songwriter. I think it will be really interesting to see
how he balances his deep, sarcastic songs with his popular movie songs.” Blues wizards are always fantastic performers, and this summer offers a mix of old hands and the new guard performing. The Robert Cray Band and Jonny Lang will be stopping by Arvada, Littleton will host The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and the Botanic Gardens hosts blues god Buddy Guy and a special coheadlining performance with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’. “The Taj Mo’ show is going to be really special, because they’re in such high demand as solo artists,” Osborne said. “They’re well-known friends, and seeing them together will reinvent the way they approach their music.” Among the three venues, all your stylistic bases are covered. A fan of country and bluegrass? Clint Black and The Punch Brothers are heading your way. More of a jazz fan? You can’t miss Herbie Hancock and Béla Fleck & The Flecktones and The Chick
Corea Elektric Band. For pop lovers, The B-52s, Michael McDonald, Loverboy and Survivor will all be in town. And if your leanings take you off the beaten path, José González and Dweezil Zappa playing years of his father’s music will more than serve. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. So I encourage you to check out one of these venues and see someone you’ve always been curious or have heard good things about. “We’ve got the whole summer ahead,” Osborne said, “and we’re really excited about it.” Me, too. Clarke Reader’s column on how music connects to our lives appears every other week. A community editor with Colorado Community Media, he is so excited to see Randy Newman live — he better play “Sail Away.” Check out his music blog at calmacil20.blogspot.com. And share what concerts you’ll be going to this summer at creader@ coloradocommunitymedia.com.
Caring for our Community by
Book had its origin in rough time for author BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
“Merp!” An opinionated little black cat named Chloe comments and assists narrator Katy Hawkins through a maze of clues to solve arson and murder in a California coastal town called Comfort — and to help an unsettled community coalesce — in “Chloe and the Lighthouse” by Littleton author Cathy Horvath. Horvath said she had written since she was a kid, but this book “poured into my head when I stopped sleeping.” At the time, she had a black cat named Chloe, a model for the furry friend in the book. Stressed over a falling-out with a friend, she found it cathartic to invent and write about a “not-nice person.” And, as a career massage therapist, she shares a viewpoint with Katy, who has a similar business, and relates to people well. Until Katy hits it big time with a lottery ticket. (Many of us like to daydream about what we’d do if we were to win a bundle!) The writer had lived in California for a little while and has traveled on Highway 1. The town of Comfort reflects memories of small towns on that route — with a bit of Downtown Littleton “imagination and honesty” mixed in. (She said Parker women thought they recognized a flavor of downtown Parker.) Mourning the death of her mom, who left her a winning lottery ticket, Katy decides on a long vacation and flies west from her Colorado home,
leaving her cat-loving financial adviser in charge of more money than she could imagine. A spiffy Jaguar is a first purchase when she lands and she and her cat, who walks on a purple leash catching bugs, head for some healing ocean air. The sign to Comfort beckons and they find the Blue Heron, a mansion made into B&B, operated by one Mabel Moretti, who then enters the storyline. A gallery fire in the little downtown resulted in the death of a promising artist, she learns as she meets the variety of characters one finds in any collection of local merchants—and she meets a not-nice character as well (Chloe instantly dislikes the guy). A ghostly lighthouse is visible from her window. What goes on there? And a ghostly cloud floats nearby on occasions. Who might it be? Multiple storylines weave through an appealing landscape as interesting characters interact and in general find friends, while Katy finds a new home, although a threatening cloud hovers near Katy for a while. Cathy Horvath says many character are suggested by people she knows — friendly shop owners Dottie and Charlie are modeled on her mom and dad, for instance … She has the outline of the next book written (“Chloe and the Poisoned Apple”) and hopes to publish it by the end of the year. Her first book is self-published and is available from Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Horvath’s website: cthorvath.com.
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20 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017
Palmer Lake art show offers great reason to drive south
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ocal sculptor Reven Marie Swanson, who has completed several public art pieces for South Suburban Parks and Recreation District over the years, has SONYA’S an exhibit of her SAMPLER works, “Delicate Balance,” at TriLake Center for the Arts, 304 Highway 105 in Palmer Lake through June 2. Included is a fluttery mobile of colorful butterflies. Area art-lovers who have yet to discover this Sonya Ellingboe pleasing gallery will enjoy a trip south. We especially suggest the beautiful Highway 105 drive from Sedalia. (And a stop at Rock House Ice Cream at 24 Highway 105 might also appeal.) Gallery hours: noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 719-481-0475. `Color in Action’ Watercolorist Patricia Barr Clarke of Highlands Ranch will teach a May 6 workshop, “Color in Action,” for the Heritage Fine Arts Guild, which is open to non-members as well. She will focus on limited palettes in wet-on-wet applications and glazes and will have handouts on color theory and pigments. A full supply list is at heritage-
guild.com/membership, as is information on the guild and reservations. Fee is $50 non-members and $30 members; reservations are necessary. Preservation awards Littleton Preservation Awards will be given by Historic Littleton Inc. and the city’s Historic Preservation Board on May 4 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St. , Littleton. Doors open and refreshments at 6:30 p.m., followed by presentations at 7. Awards will be given to Bristlecone Construction, 2420 W. Main Street, Littleton, for Outstanding Achievement; the Littleton City Councils, past and present, for Stewardship; and former councilmembers and community activists Susan Thornton and Pat Cronenberger for Advocacy. The community is invited. Castle Rock Chorale The Castle Rock Chorale’s Spring Concert will include selections from “Frostiana,” by Thompson. Folk tunes from Copland’s “Old American Songs” and romantic settings from “Five Hebrew Love Songs” by Whitacre. Concerts will double: May 12, 7:30 p.m. — Christ’s Episcopal Church, 615 4th St., Castle Rock; May 13, 7:30 p.m. — Smoky Hill United Methodist Church, 19491 E. Smoky Hill Road, Centennial. Tickets cost $15/$10 and free under 12. Temple collaboration The Temple Artists, who collaborate
at the Temple, 2400 Curtis St., Denver (Historic former Temple Emmanuel) offer new free programming, in cooperation with Platteforum youth art space on its first floor. • On May 2, at 6:30 p.m. Katie Caron, Anne Cunningham and Nathan Abels, a tactile artist and teacher at the Colorado School for the Blind, will present “Sensory Advantage.” It is focused on the exhibit that was created with Arapahoe Community College students and Abel’s classes in a show in the Colorado Gallery for the Arts. Admission is free. • On May 16 at 6:30 p.m., Temple artists Eden Myles and local artist/ writer Will Mier will present “Black and White,” a one-time performance on the ways chess can represent life, art and business, while playing a game. Signed interpretation will be available. Littleton Symphony “Colossal Classics and Surprising Concertos: King of Instruments” will feature organist Rick Seaton with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra in St. Saens’ “Symphony No. 3,” known as the “Organ Symphony.” Soloist flutist Brooke Ferguson will perform Mendante’s “Flute Concerto in E minor” Also on the program: Wagner’s “Entrance of the Gods Into Valhalla.” Tickets and information: littletonsymphony.org or 303-933-6824.
Call for artists The Annual Friends’ Craft Fair, held Oct. 7 in Littleton, is already half full. Registration form: littletongov. org: click City Services, City Departments, Littleton Museum, Programs/ Events, Friends Craft Fair for an application. Information: Sherry Kling at the Littleton Museum, 303-795-3950, skling@littletongov.org. ACC concerts The Arapahoe Community College Music Department will present three free concerts in May, in the Waring Theatre. Information: Dr. Hidemi Matsushita, department chair, hidemi. matsushita@arapahoe.edu, 303-7975867. • May 5, 7:30 p.m. ACC Jazz Ensemble. (Follow the Art Walk with Jazz.) • May 8, 7 p.m. ACC String Orchestra • May 9, 7 p.m. ACC Concert Choir ‘Begin With Books’ The Arapahoe Library District wants to expand its Children’s Literacy Outreach, “Begin With Books,” near Smoky Hill Library. Volunteers provide storytimes, puppets, books, songs and finger plays to children birth to 5 years old who attend community in-home daycares. (Currently about 30 are served.) No experience needed — training will be provided. Arapahoelibraries.org/ volunteer-at-arapahoe-libraries or call 303-792-8960.
PARKER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MAY 5 PARKER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Notes from Nature
MAY 20
FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES SIREN SONG - A PIRATE ODYSSEY
DISCOVERY PARK JUNE 1 TUNISIA JUNE 15 RYAN CHRYS & THE ROUGH CUTS JUNE 22 HAZEL MILLER JUNE 29 THAT EIGHTIES BAND
BUY TICKETS AT WWW.PARKERARTS.ORG OR CALL 303.805.6800
7
ADVENTURES The Royal Gorge Route Railroad Page 4
a special supplement of
Places To Go Page 2
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olorado Adventures
Places to go
ABOUT THIS SECTION Late spring and summer bring a wealth of activities and events to the Denver metro area. Consider all of this: • Miles and miles of hiking and biking trails. • State parks, including Roxborough, Chatfield and Cherry Creek. • Annual family-friendly events that draw thousands of people. Those include Parker Days, Western Welcome Week, Buffalo Bill Days, the Arvada Harvest Festival, the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival and Westy Fest. But sometimes — especially as the weather warms up and the days get longer — you just want to get out of town. Colorado has a multitude of welcoming destinations, and we explore some of them in this section. Some of the destinations in this section are just on the outskirts of the metro area. One of those nearby spots is Estes Park, where you might see an elk or two and can stay at a worldfamous hotel. If you want a longer road trip, consider Telluride. It’s about a sevenhour drive, but you’ll still be in the beautiful state of Colorado. Maybe such a trip will become an annual tradition for your family, one to join the county fair outings and those long summer bike rides. — Chris Rotar
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is in Aspen, of course. Photo courtesy of Chris Council and Emily Chaplin
Aspen
Durango
ELEVATION: 7,908
ELEVATION: 6,512
WHERE IS IT? Most Denver-area road trippers go west on I-70 to Glenwood Springs, then turn southeast on State Highway 82, altogether a trip of about four hours. In the summer, consider going through Leadville to Twin Lakes, then over stunning Independence Pass. NEED TO KNOW: Though typically thought of as the domain of the jet set, Aspen’s got a lot to offer regular folk as well. The Aspen Music Festival and School hosts hundreds of live musical performances though the summer. The free Aspen Art Museum, housed in a daring structure that looks a bit like a wicker basket, houses a bevy of striking pieces. More adventurous visitors might consider a hike to Conundrum Hot Springs, a clothing-optional geothermal spring accessible by an eight-mile trail south of town. FUN FACT:
The Stanley Hotel. Photo courtesy of Visit Estes Park
PLACES TO GO written by David Gilbert
Aspen went through several incarnations before it became some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Before World War II, Aspen’s population had dwindled to less than a thousand. In the 1970s, counterculture icons like Hunter S. Thompson and John Denver popularized Aspen as a funky, bohemian colony. MORE INFORMATION: www.aspenpitkin.com
WHERE IS IT? The quickest way is down Highway 285, turning west at Del Norte on Highway 160. The most beautiful way is Highway 285, turning west at Poncha Springs, west on Highway 50 to Montrose, then south on Highway 550 – the Million Dollar Highway, a spectacular wend along the shoulder of giant mountains. NEED TO KNOW: Durango is uniquely situated between the desert of the Four Corners region and the mountains of the igneous San Juans. Mesa Verde National Park, with its ancient and mysterious ruins, is just down the road. The Durango and Silverton Railroad heads north out of town through magnificent scenery. Little-known Navajo Lake is 50 miles southeast, straddling the New Mexico border, where a bevy of boat rentals can be had. FUN FACT: Hike back to Denver on the Colorado Trail – the south end is in Durango, the north in Waterton Canyon. Fun fact: The original name of the Animas River that runs through town was the Rio de las Animas Perdidas – the River of Lost Souls. MORE INFORMATION: durango.org
Places to go
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Places to go Estes Park
Fort Collins
Glenwood Springs
ELEVATION: 7,522
ELEVATION: 5,003
ELEVATION: 7,761
WHERE IS IT?
WHERE IS IT?
WHERE IS IT?
There are several gorgeous routes into Estes Park, though the most common is to take Highway 36 northwest out of Boulder. It’s about an hour and a half from Denver. The Peak to Peak Highway, a more scenic route, departs from Golden and goes through Nederland.
North of Denver on I-25 by about an hour and a half. If you hit the Wyoming border, you’ve gone too far – or you’re headed to buy fireworks.
NEED TO KNOW: There are few better jumping-off points to experience Colorado’s high alpine tundra during its brief summer than Estes Park. Trail Ridge Road, which traverses the crest of the Rockies through Rocky Mountain National Park, starts just outside of town. About 11 miles of the road are above timberline. The park is loaded with world-class hiking, views, wildlife and natural splendor. Though quite a bit less remote than the 1980 horror movie “The Shining” made it out to be, the stately old Stanley Hotel offers late-night ghost tours to guests, though they are asked to refrain from hacking open doors with fire axes. FUN FACT: For years, the death toll from the 1976 Big Thompson flood that swept through the canyon to the east of Estes was listed as 144, until in 2008, supposed victim Darrell Johnson was found to be alive and well, living in Oklahoma. It turned out he had decided to ditch a crummy cabin rental without telling anyone, and was presumed dead when the cabin was washed away.
NEED TO KNOW: Fort Collins teems with old-school charm, from the restored trolley that clatters between City Park and College Avenue to the quirky shops in Old Town. Stop at Walrus Ice Cream on Mountain Avenue for a root beer float made with Coopersmith’s Root Beer, or at the Silver Grill Café for gooey cinnamon roll French toast. West of town, head up Poudre Canyon to see the strange folded granite of northern Colorado. The Mishawaka Amphitheatre holds concerts by the river all summer. No visit would be complete without a tour of the New Belgium Brewery. FUN FACT: Horsetooth Reservoir, on the west side of town, submerged the town of Stout when it was filled in 1949. Legend has it that the town’s old stone buildings are still standing deep beneath the surface. MORE INFORMATION: visitftcollins.com
West on I-70, just shy of three hours. NEED TO KNOW: Glenwood Springs has long been known for the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, a massive geothermal soaking pool alleged to have healing properties. Same with the Yampah Spa & Salon, featuring naturally occurring “vapor caves” filled with minerals that some say can cure a range of ailments. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, largely perched atop a mountaintop at the edge of town, features zip lines, a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, and giant swings that fling visitors over the abyss below. Get someone else to drive on the way into town, so you can gawk at Glenwood Canyon. FUN FACT: Doc Holliday, the Old West gunfighter, died in a Glenwood Springs hospital in 1887. Holliday had always figured he’d “die with his boots on,” and his last words – while looking at his bare feet – were “This is funny.” MORE INFORMATION: visitglenwood.com
Places to go
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MORE INFORMATION: visitestespark.com
The Durango & Silverton Railroad. Photo courtesy of Yvonne Lashmet
Summer color at Linden and Mountain in Fort Collins. Photo courtesy of Tim O’Hara and Visit Fort Collins
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A Royal Ride The Royal Gorge Route Railroad: an epic adventure
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2017
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2017
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Places to go The free gondola from Telluride ascends to Mountain Village. Photo courtesy of visittelluride. com
Grand Lake ELEVATION: 8,369 FEET WHERE IS IT?
Go west out of Denver on I-70, then north on Highway 40 west of Idaho Springs. Turn north on Highway 34 at Granby. NEED TO KNOW:
Grand Lake is Colorado’s largest natural body of water, and boating, sailing and fishing abound. The town of Grand Lake, on the lake’s north shore, boasts a boardwalk with dozens of shops and restaurants. The Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre hosts musicals all summer – this season’s lineup includes “Mamma Mia!”, “Newsies,” “West Side Story” and “Almost Heaven.” Hit up one of the many boat-rental outfits to head out on the lake – local marinas rent everything from paddle boards to pontoon party boats. FUN FACT:
Though on the western side of the Continental Divide, Grand Lake provides water to the Front Range via the Alva B. Adams Tunnel. MORE INFORMATION:
visitgrandcounty.com/explore/towns/grand-lake/
Grand Junction ELEVATION: 4,583 FEET WHERE IS IT?
Due west on I-70, about four hours. Can’t miss it.
NEED TO KNOW:
The undisputed capital of the Western Slope, GJ (as the locals call it) is the hub of desert adventure. Colorado National Monument is just west of town, featuring landscapes of spires and cliffs. Main Street between First and Seventh streets is
a lovely walk of quirky shops and good eats. Stroll a block south on Fifth to check out the top-notch Museum of the West. Venture south of town to journey onto the Uncompahgre Plateau, a vivacious landscape of canyons. East takes you up Grand Mesa, to fab fishing in 10,000 lakes. West goes deep into the Colorado River Canyons. North is no-man’s-land. And, of course, there are the wineries in town and in nearby towns, like Palisade, which is also known for its peaches. FUN FACT:
Peter Heller’s 2012 post-apocalyptic novel “The Dog Stars” is largely set in and around the ruins of Grand Junction. MORE INFORMATION: visitgrandjunction.com
Great Sand Dunes National Park ELEVATION: 7,520 TO 13,604 FEET WHERE IS IT?
The easy way is south on I-25, turning west on Highway 160 at Walsenburg, then north into the park. The prettier way is down Highway 285, turning off onto Highway 17 at the north end of the San Luis Valley. NEED TO KNOW:
The tallest dunes in North America, the Great Sand Dunes cover 80 square miles of the valley floor. Close to Memorial Day, visitors can experience Medano Creek, a temporary stream that flows in successive waves. Intrepid trekkers can head up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for some stunning scenery.
Places to go
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Sunrise over Colorado National Monument. Photo courtesy of the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau
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Places to go ALSO IN THE AREA: Crestone, a lost-in-time hippie village, and Colorado Gators, a geothermal outpost home to some massive reptiles. South of the park is Sand Dunes Swimming Pool, a geothermally heated pool and greenhouse with low-cost rental cabins. FUN FACT:
Legend has it that mysterious web-footed horses roam the dunes in the moonlight. MORE INFORMATION: nps.gov/grsa
Telluride ELEVATION: 8,750 FEET WHERE IS IT?
Go west on I-70 to Grand Junction, then south on Highway 50 to Ridgway. Go west on State Highway 62 to Placerville, then east on State Highway 145. At roughly seven hours from Denver, it’s about as out of the way as a Colorado town gets.
galleries and gourmet restaurants on Colorado Avenue, but for a bird’s-eye view, check out the gondola to Mountain Village – a free, 13-minute ride to a mountaintop town featuring eye-popping views. The other joy of summer in Telluride is access to the high country of the San Juan Mountains, teeming with waterfalls and ghost towns. Coming into Telluride from the east are two of the West’s most famous four-wheel-drive roads: Imogene Pass and Black Bear Pass, the latter dropping precariously into town with a spine-tingling descent down a series of unforgiving switchbacks. FUN FACT:
The summit of Imogene Pass – more than 13,000 feet high – is home to a restored Colorado National Guard installation called Fort Peabody, which was built in 1904 to keep deported striking miners from sneaking back into town. MORE INFORMATION: visittelluride.com Human-powered watercraft on Grand Lake. Photo courtesy of Grand County
NEED TO KNOW:
Telluride is nestled in a stunning box canyon beneath towering peaks. Visitors can stroll the
Places to go
Great Sand Dunes National Park. Photo by Shutterstock.com
Find Clues Solve Puzzles Reach the Goal 860 Tabor St. Suite 210 Lakewood, CO (303) 396-7359
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Vail
Woodland Park
ELEVATION: 8,022 FEET
ELEVATION: 8,465 FEET
WHERE IS IT?
Due west on I-70 about 2 ½ hours from Denver. NEED TO KNOW:
Though the town’s name is synonymous with skiing, Vail is loads of fun in the summer as well. Events abound. The Bravo! Vail Music Festival will run from June 22 to Aug. 4 this year, featuring chamber, classical and jazz performances. The Vail International Dance Festival will run from July 29 to Aug. 12, and boasts top-notch dance talent from around the globe. The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, showcase all manner of high elevation plants in a variety of settings, crowned by a 120-foot waterfall. FUN FACT:
Vail was founded in the early 1960s by a group of World War II 10th Mountain Division veterans who fell in love with the area while training at nearby Camp Hale in the war years. MORE INFORMATION: visitvailvalley.com
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olorado Adventures
WHERE IS IT? Head northwest out of Colorado Springs on Highway 24, about 20 miles from I-25. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, take the back way through Deckers. NEED TO KNOW: The hot new thing in Woodland Park is the Dinosaur Resource Center, a handson kid-friendly dinotopia featuring more than 30 skeletons and “life restorations.” Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is 15 miles west of town, home to fossilized redwood tree stumps and displays of some of the exquisite fossils found in the area. Rangers host night sky programs several times through the summer, taking advantage of the glorious night skies. The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, 10 miles west of town, offers a variety of tours to meet the center’s resident lobos. FUN FACT: At nearly 8,500 feet above sea level, Woodland Park’s average July high temperature is only 74 – the perfect place to beat summer heat within easy reach of the big city. MORE INFORMATION: woodlandparkchamber.com
Vail Village at dusk. Photo courtesy of Abby Hein and Vail Resorts
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Highlands Ranch Herald 29
April 27, 2017
First Friday Art Walks return to Littleton Tours of historic sites downtown have been added to list of activities
choose either the north or south side of Main Street. (Or, one can do both in the course of an evening.) The tour guides will lead groups west to the Melting Pot, with brief stories about former and present occupants of historic buildings. (Longer, more detailed tours will probably be offered at Western Welcome Week — watch for notice.) Participating galleries are listed and most downtown businesses will be open to walkers of all ages. • The Depot Art Gallery, with its next-door Caboose Gallery, at 2069 W. Powers Ave. is a good starting spot, with its large adjacent parking lot. The Littleton Fine Arts Guild will be hosting the opening reception (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) for its Anniversary Show, juried by longtime Arapahoe High School art teacher and popular community instructor Phyllis Vandehaar. The exhibit runs to May 21.
BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Downtown Littleton’s First Friday Art Walks are returning for the summer, starting May 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free and many related local businesses, restaurants and bars will be open to welcome strollers. A new feature will be 30-minute Historic Walking Tours of Downtown Littleton, led by members of Littleton’s Historic Preservation Board and Historic Littleton Inc., starting every half-hour from 5 to 9 p.m. Walkers will meet at the Littleton Municipal Courthouse and
• Outnumbered Gallery, 5654 S. Prince St., which inspired the start of the Art Walks last summer, is featuring “The Grace Project — Colorado Exhibition” (through May 27), featuring photographs of women who have experienced mastectomy surgery due to breast cancer. Photographer Charise Isis is inspired by classic Greek sculptures of goddesses, “sculptural relics that have survived the ages,” often with some scars, according to writer Ellyn Ruddick. Isis will appear at 4:30 and 8 p.m. to talk with visitors. (The large gallery also features works by a number of gallery artists, including jewelry and art-to-wear). • The Outnumbered Art Fair will include a group of artists not currently represented by Outnumbered, who will appear in the lovely Atrium at LittleTown, 2329 W. Main St., on each First Friday, from 5 to 9
Lone Tree
Aurora Castle Rock/Franktown ALL ARE WELCOME!
Trinity
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY AN ECUMENICAL CATHOLIC
CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY Invites you to worship with us Sunday. Mass at 10am with fellowship following Celtic Mass, First Saturday of the month, 5pm.
All are welcome to the Lord’s table
Lutheran Church & School
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School Bible Study 9:30am Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)
303-841-4660 www.tlcas.org 16738 E. Iliff Ave, Aurora (behind Discount Tire) WORLD MISSION CHURCH 303 997-9000 | Mon & Wed 10-3 churchofholyfamily.org A NEW WAY TO CELEBRETE AN ANCIENT FAITH
(KOREAN CHURCH)
303-792-7222
Centennial
Parker
STM Catholic School Preschool – Grade 8
8035 South Quebec Street Centennial, ServingCO the80112 southeast 303.770.1150
area
Denver
www.stthomasmore.org
Greenwood Village
DUE TO THE FIRE, MEETING TO BE HELD AT
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Services:
Sunday 8:30am - Traditional 10:00am - Non-traditional 10:00am - Children’s Sunday School
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AT CU SOUTH DENVER
8:45 am & 10:30 am 9030 MILLER ROAD PARKER, CO 80138 3038412125 www.pepc.org
10035 Peoria Street Meeting every Sunday at 9:30 Tapestry United Methodist Church on Facebook
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
www.tapestryumc.org
Methodist Church
1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047
tapestry umc
All are welcome!
LIVING WATER CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Castle Rock/Franktown First United
Sunday Worship
Catholic Parish & School
Seven Sunday Masses Two Daily Masses Confessions Six Days a Week
Parker evangelical Presbyterian church Connect – Grow – Serve
St. Thomas More
7049 E PARK DR., FRANKTOWN, CO 80016 TIME: 12:30 PM PHONE: 303-688-1004
www.fumccr.org
Parker
Chabad Jewish Center South Metro Denver Synagogue, Preschool, Hebrew School & Much More! www.DenverJewishCenter.com
FAITH COMMUNITY
p.m. This is a new event. • Willow — An Artisan’s Market, 2400 W. Main St., will host a featured artist on May 5, and is always filled with a great variety of original art and fine crafts. • Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St. presently hosts “Les Trois Tracys,” paintings by local artists Tracy Haines, Tracy Wall and Tracy Wilson. The Stanton Gallery will be open for visitors. • ACC Art and Design CenterJantzen Gallery (Corner of Prince and Alamo) is listed, but we are not aware of an exhibit at press time. •ßºº Colorado Gallery of the Arts, first floor of the Arapahoe Community College Annex, east side of the Main Campus building at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, will be hosting the Multimedia, Graphic Design and Illustration Student Showcase, “CATALYST.” (Open May and August only.)
Congregation Beth Shalom Serving the Southeast Denver area
Call or check our website for information on services and social events! www.cbsdenver.org
303-794-6643
Little Blessings Day Care www.littleblessingspdo.com
Sunday Services - 10 a.m. Cimarron Middle School 12130 Canterberry Parkway Parker, CO 80138 www.CSLParker.org
Joy Lutheran Church Sharing God’s Love
To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Karen at 303-566-4091 or email kearhart@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
SAturdAy 5:30pm
SundAy 8am & 10:30am
9:15am Education hour
Pastor Rod Hank
Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 • ELCA • www.joylc.org
Pine Lane Elementary South 6475 E Ponderosa Dr. Parker, CO 80138 303-941-0668
30 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
PHOTO CONTEST
! s e z ri
Kids are intrigued by the large sword included in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s “Vikings: Beyond the Legend” exhibit. COURTESY PHOTO
‘Vikings: Beyond the Legend’ sails into Denver museum
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Collection of artifacts helps shine light on ancient lifestyles BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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The setting is Scandinavia about 750 to 1100 CE. “Vikings: Beyond the Legend,” the exhibit that arrived in March at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, does much to contradict the myths about big hairy barbarians with horns on their helmets — an image which was probably developed by Victorian artists’ dramatic depictions. The large collection of artifacts will include a heavy sword and exhibits about boats used by these skilled mariners, but no helmets with horns. They were active merchants throughout Europe and farther afield. Finely wrought crafts are displayed, along with evidences of a farmer’s life — the primary focus of those people. Two replica boats, named Arby and Eik Sande, are built in traditional style, with techniques of the time. Not a nationality, “Viking” meant going out trading as well as raiding, and the exhibit encompasses Danes, Swedes and Norwegians, who almost certainly crossed paths as they traveled. They ranged to Greenland and Iceland. Slave trade was active over a large area of their world and trading in assorted goods occupied many men, while women ran the small farms, with help from children. Men and women were basically farmers, who grew crops and raised livestock. Extended families lived
IF YOU GO THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE is at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. Tickets cost $25.95/adults; $21.95 seniors; $17.95 junior/student, 3-18. The museum is generally open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there are special related programs on some evenings, such as a Family Viking Feast on May 12. See dmns.org or call 303-370-6000.
GET READY TO EAT On the museum’s website is a RECIPE FOR VIKING BREAD, based on an analysis of Viking Age bread, found in Birka, Sweden: 2/3 cup barley flour About 6 tablespoons whole-meal flour 2 teaspoons crushed flax seeds About 1/2 cup water 2 teaspoons lard or butter Pinch of salt. Work into a dough and knead for five minutes — if too wet or hard, add flour or water. Let dough rest cold for at least one hour, preferably longer. Shape into flat cakes, about 1/4-inch thick. Bake in a dry cast-iron pan over medium heat, 5-8 minutes on each side, or in a 300-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. together, and there is evidence that women had more freedom than in other parts of the world. Religion involved a host of gods and goddesses (Thor, Odin, Frejya, Frigga, Loki and many more) with complex realms, powers and responsibilities. Costumed interpreters will help to tell stories of lives long ago and explain how artifacts were used, and there are hands-on exhibits to intrigue kids and their parents. Plan a day in another world.
Highlands Ranch Herald 31
7April 27, 2017
Pinwheels are reminder in fight against child abuse BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County residents may have seen displays of blue pinwheels throughout the county this month. The pinwheel gardens are part of a nationwide effort made by Pinwheels for Prevention, launched by Prevent Child Abuse America in 2008, which seeks to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. Douglas County participated by placing 200 pinwheels outside the Douglas County Human Services Building in Castle Rock on April 17, plus additional pinwheels at the sheriff ’s office substation in Highlands Ranch. The county received 3,700 calls to its child abuse and neglect hotline in 2016, approximately the same as 2015, a county spokeswoman said. “I’m glad that people are reporting but it’s unacceptable. We shouldn’t have any abuse,” Douglas County Commissioner David Weaver told county employees April 17. “Our children Pinwheels are used as the are tomorrow. These children are precious.” national symbol for child abuse prevention. PHOTOS BY JESSICA GIBBS Douglas County employees gather to hear county commissioners speak before setting out to “plant their pinwheels” in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Douglas County employees work to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month by placing blue pinwheels in front of the Douglas County Human Services Center in Castle Rock on April 17.
SMITH FROM PAGE 14
graffiti. One post leads to another to another. I think — it’s just a hunch — that we’re all fed up. We’re fed up and feeling helpless. A nocturnal tweet is better than warm milk. Get something off your chest, and crawl in bed. At least you said something, even if you can’t do anything about it. I limit myself to this column, which is plenty. I am not on social media. I was, briefly, and it was unpleasant. There are trolls who shame, and for some of them, it’s a calling and a career. If a celebrity, for example, posts a photograph that can be found in any way to be objectionable, look out. What I don’t understand are the disbelieving reactions when someone gets shamed. This is America. It’s what we do. Post almost anything and it’s a piñata for every imaginable configuration of insight and intelligence. All people, deep down, are not good. There are busloads of the other kind. Can you see Gandhi on a smartphone? Nope. But if images of him in his khadi wrap were posted, it’s Katy bar the door.
I don’t know why people continue to be so trusting. There may be some faith-based root in it that I don’t have. Maybe teaching gave that to me. Students turned on a dime, if they didn’t get the grade they wanted, or if they had an untoward agenda. One anonymously wrote with a Sharpie on my office door. I was the problem, why she couldn’t draw. Not her inability to know which end of a pencil to sharpen. Then she took to campus-wide emails. Learning when to zip your lips is no longer being taught. My alma mater is afflicted with someone who won’t shut up. He has three sons, and they all play basketball. He is embarrassing the school, his sons and himself, but he doesn’t care. In fact, he is rolling around in his own comments like a backyard dog in its own scat. The catch is that his sons are good, and the team wins, and in sports that’s what matters. Dr. David Dao boarded a flight in Chicago. All he wanted to do was what we all want to do. Go home. Not so fast, doctor. An opinion is a judgment founded on probabilities. Or not. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.
Join the City of Lone Tree and South Suburban Parks & Recreation in celebrating the grand opening of The Lone Tree Hub, a multigenerational, flexible space that will provide the Lone Tree community access to a variety of classes and activities for the entire family to enjoy.
Monday, May 1st 8827 Lone Tree Parkway 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. 12:15 – 12:30 p.m. 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Ribbon-Cutting and Opening Remarks Light Refreshments and Facility Tours Parent/Grandparent Tot Lego Time (Bring your kids to participate!)
32 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
Development could bring thousands of homes to Castle Pines The Canyons expected to be built east of I-25 in 2019
“Once those news residents come, I think it’s really going to change things.”
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Castle Pines officials are working with developer Shea Homes on the master plan for a new neighborhood known as The Canyons, which could mean the addition of about 2,000 new homes to the city of 10,500 people. The development is planned east of Interstate 25 and just south of the Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Marcus Pachner, spokesman for Shea Homes, said the company is tentatively planning a two-phase project, with the first phase covering 650 acres and bringing 1,100 homes to the site. Upon total project build-out, that number could rise to approximately 2,000 single and multi-family homes. When Shea purchased 1,270 acres of The Canyons in 2015, the company said it intends to invest $75 million in the community within the next four years. Construction is planned for early 2019, and homes could be ready for move-in by late 2019. Although a price point isn’t yet available, the development will likely include houses ranging from starter homes
Andrew Dunbar, owner of Castle Pines Orthodontics
fit for millennials to more luxurystyle properties, Pachner said. There is also a dedicated school site in phase one of the project. “We certainly have to allow for all buyers and price points to enter the market,” he said. As for the look and feel of the community, Pachner said incorporating nature into the plans is “the primary guiding principle for the site.” About a third of the 1,270 acres will remain open space, he said. Shea will also incorporate numerous parks and roughly 15 miles of trails. With views of the reservoir to the north, Pikes Peak to the south and the Front Range to the west, Pachner said Shea Homes will create a “naturally breathtaking but amenity-rich community.” The connection to nature will likely influence the style of homes
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Scott O'Neil and the Rosetta Music Society Shuffle
Saturday, May 6 at 8pm Shuffle is a classical-pops hybrid, incorporating works by modern 'popular' composers as diverse as Björk, Pat Metheny, Annie Lennox, Rodgers and Hart, Henry Mancini, and Clean Bandit, supplemented with modern 'serious' composers like Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, and John Adams, and mixed in with classics by Bach, Prokofiev, Elgar, and others.
O'Connor Band featuring Mark O'Connor Lyrics by Tim Rice Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Directed by Gina Rattan Choreography by Sarah O’Gleby Musical Direction by Max Mamon Featuring Lauren Shealy as Eva Miles Jacoby as Che | Jesse Sharp as Perón
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Theatrical Sponsor
Thursday, May 11 at 7:30pm Winner of the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album (Coming Home) The O’Connor Band isn’t your typical family band. Three of the four members— including American music legend Mark O’Connor—play fiddle, and the fourth plays mandolin. With the help of guitar and bass, The O’Connor Band delivers beautiful and thoughtful original vocal songs, classic covers, and sophisticated instrumentals with a fresh, powerful, unprecedented sound that has won over fans of every style from bluegrass to indie folk to Americana.
Hospitality Sponsor
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10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree, CO 80124
Photo: John David Pittman
found in The Canyons as well, Pachner said. Although specific design plans are still in flux, Shea is considering ranch-style homes that focus on main-floor living. “So, it’s (nature) really inspiring every level of the community,” Pachner said, adding the overlying goal is to bring more faces to Castle Pines. “We’re bringing in new residents that will support existing businesses.” That’s good news to business owners and residents like Andrew Dunbar, owner of Castle Pines Orthodontics. The orthodontist has operated his practice in Castle Pines for 15 years. He moved his family to town in 2002. As a resident, he said, he’s somewhat concerned about the increase in traffic, but that was the only negative he found with the project proposal. But he anticipates some who call Castle Pines home will
be unhappy with the results of a rising population, such as longer lines at the grocery store or stoplights. Still, he believes the “sleepy, small-town” feel will stay intact, and that the new neighborhood will do more good than not for small businesses. “Once those news residents come, I think it’s really going to change things,” he said. Castle Pines Director of Development Sam Bishop said the city is attracted to the nature-based development plan. “It’s going to bring additional opportunities as far as recreation,” he said. For now, the city is focusing on making sure the infrastructure would be in place for such a big community as the two entities collaborate on the project in 2017. If all goes well, he said, the project could come before the city council for review by mid-summer. Both Bishop and Pachner said the relationship between city and developer has been a good one. Overall, Pachner said, the master plan has taken Shea 16 to 18 months to create. Moving forward, they’ll take 2017 to work with the city and focus on the project’s preliminary plans. “The city has very high standards,” Pachner said. “They are holding us accountable to that.”
Working Together to Support People with Developmental Disabilities On March 20-22, numerous organizations supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) joined forces for the 2017 Disability Policy Seminar in Washington DC. The seminar offered an opportunity to come together with passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to learn and discuss the key issues on Capitol Hill and make a powerful impact on Congress. 32 Coloradans were in attendance from 5 separate, integral organizations – Developmental Pathways, The Arc of Colorado and local chapters, JFK Partners, The Alliance, and the DD Council. This year, the seminar largely focused on health care and what the road ahead looks like for programs such as social security and Medicaid. Organizations engaged in supporting people with I/DD believe in the importance of Medicaid dollars; they also believe in the integrity of the Medicaid program and want to see it continue to aid critical long term supports and deter at risk individuals from utilizing institutionalized care. Arapahoe County and Douglas County have greatly shown they not only support individuals with I/DD or the loved ones that support them, but they also understand the ongoing funding crisis. In 2001, voters passed a referendum in both counties approving a mill levy that supports thousands annually. To learn more about the issues on Capitol Hill or local issues that impact individuals with I/DD, contact Developmental Pathways, the Community Centered Board for Arapahoe County, Douglas County, and the City of Aurora at 303-858-2255 or visit us at www.dpcolo.org.
325 Inverness Drive South, Englewood 303-858-2255 | www.DevelopmentalPathways.org
Highlands Ranch Herald 33
7April 27, 2017
Student artists take awards in congressional contest Buck holds ceremony where winners are revealed BY TOM SKELLEY TSKELLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On April 14, Congressman Ken Buck, R-Windsor, announced Alexis Garcia Moreno, a student at Greeley’s Northridge High School, as the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for the 4th Congressional District. Five Douglas County student artists were also honored at the ceremony, hosted at the Centennial Library in Greeley. “The students who participated in this competition give me optimism about our country’s future,” Buck stated. “The same patience, perseverance, and passion needed to create incredible works of art will allow these students to excel in the world.” The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982. This year, 97 students from 21 schools in the district submitted pieces in mediums including painting, drawing, mixed media, and photography. A panel of qualified artists judged the entries. Douglas County students recognized at the event were: • First Place: Kayla Inman, Rock
Rock Canyon High School student Kayla Inman and her art teacher Drew Walter pose with Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, during a ceremony in Greeley honoring winners in the 4th District’s Congressional Art Competition. Buck says the skills the artists displayed in their work will serve them throughout their lives. Inman took first place for her entry. COURTESY PHOTOS Canyon High School. • Second Place: Morgan Moen, ThunderRidge High School. • Juror Award: Mack Stauffer, Lutheran High School. • Honorable Mention: Natalie McElmeel, Legend High School. • Honorable Mention: Karia Van
Auyssteen, Rock Canyon High School. Moreno’s artwork, a portrait of Albert Einstein entitled “E=MC2,” will be displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol, and Garcia Moreno will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a reception honoring nationwide competition winners.
Congressman Ken Buck presents an award to ThunderRidge High School student Morgan Moen. Moen took second place in the Congressional Art Competition for the 4th Congressional District.
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34 Highlands Ranch Herald
April 27, 2017A
Letting loose on a Friday night Adult therapeutic recreation dance rocks Parker Rec Center BY TOM SKELLEY TSKELLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A
s they do once a month, Douglas County adults with special needs gathered at the Parker Recreation Center on April 14 to get down with their friends. “The goal is just to get as many people as possible to come socialize and make friends, and improve their quality of life, and to let loose on a Friday night in a safe environment,” said Deni Jacobs, therapeutic programs director for Parker Recreation. The therapeutic recreation dances
are held 10 months a year on the second Friday for adults 18 and over with disabilities. Regular attendees know of the dances through their involvement with day recreation programs, Jacobs said. The dances give them the opportunity to have fun with their friends and the chance to meet others who just drop in for the evening. Funds for the parties come from a mill levy grant through the county, so attendees pay $5 for dancing, food and other entertainment, including a piñata and DJ. Nicole Augustine said she enjoyed the music and being with new people, while Jordan Kaiwi added that the dances give him a chance to be more open and relaxed. “I’m having a blast, I’m having a good time,” Kaiwi, a Parker resident, said. “It gets me up and moving. It gets me dancing with my friends. It’s way easier than a job interview.”
Haley Johnson, left, reacts as her father, Evan, leads her under the limbo stick at the Parker Recreation Center on April 14. The dances take place on the second Friday of every month, giving participants the chance to interact socially and have fun together. PHOTOS BY TOM SKELLEY
Dancers raise the roof at the Adult TR Dance, hosted by the Parker Recreation Department, on April 14. The dances are funded partly through a grant from Douglas County and feature a DJ, dancing and food and games. Nathan Goodmah obliterates a pinata as Deni Jacobs does her best to blindfold him, while Doug Snell, rear left, and Liam Wang, rear right, look on. About 30 adults with special needs attended the dance at the Parker Recreation Center on April 14.
Highlands Ranch Herald 35
7April 27, 2017
Ladybugs take over preschool BY STEPHANIE MASON SMASON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
O
n April 21, thousands of little, red bugs crawled across the hands of Merryhill Preschool children while they released them into the world in honor of Earth Day. “One of them almost went up my nose,” said Paislee Braithwaite, 5, while giggling. The kids and teachers put ladybugs in their favorite spots on the playground behind the Lone Tree school. “I like that they can fly,” said Luis Hernandez, 5. “I hope they fly everywhere except Antarctica.” In preparation for the event, the children worked on craft projects that taught them about the bugs. All the kids wore their own ladybug hats while releasing the insects into the world. “They look forward to this every year,” said Jodi Fernandez, a Merryhill Preschool teacher. “The kids love it.” PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE MASON
Charlie Taylor shows the ladybugs that refused to leave her hands during the ladybug release at Merryhill Preschool on April 21. Luis Hernandez and Rashad McFalls joke about the ladybugs crawling around their school during the ladybug release at Merryhill Preschool on April 21.
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Jodi Fernandez, known to her students as Miss Jodi, puts ladybugs into small containers so her students can release them during the ladybug release at Merryhill Preschool on April 21.
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Kristen Leugers holds her cup of ladybugs during the ladybug release at Merryhill Preschool on April 21 and giggles in excitement as she gets ready to release the bugs.
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36 Highlands Ranch Herald
THINGS to DO
THEATER
‘The Robber Bridegroom’: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sunday, April 30, at 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. The musical follows a rascally robber of the woods as he courts the only daughter of the richest planter in the country. The proceedings go awry, however, thanks to a case of double-mistaken identity. Tickets available at the box office, by calling 303-794-2787 or online at townhallartscenter.org/ robber-bridegroom. Banachek, ‘The Alpha Project’: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Theatre of Dreams, 735 Park St., Castle Rock. Banachek is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed psychic powers then later reveal he was fooling them. Tickets available at http:// Tickets. AmazingShows.com or call 303660-6799. ‘Toy Story, the Children’s Muical’ Auditions: 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at Spotlight Performing Arts Center, 6328 E. County Line Road, Highlands Ranch. Class lasts 8 weeks; students learn acting, dancing and vocal techniques while preparing for musical. For ages 3-10 years. Classes run from 3:45-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Performance in late June. Go to www.spotlightperformers.com or call 720-44-DANCE for information and tuition rates.
ART
Studio Art Sale and Workshops: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at 6628 S. Marion St., Centennial. Presented by the artists of the SoSu Artists Collective. Workshops include: Boho necklace workshop, 10 a.m. to noon (contact hoodartworks@yahoo. com); mixed media collage workshop using spring themes, noon to 2 p.m. (contact janetm52@comcast.net); paint a spring birdhouse, 2-4 p.m. (contact pandjvincelette@ msn.com); bag o’ tricks workshop: recycle, paint and fuse plastic shopping bags into original pieces of art (contact ml3baird@gmail. com). Workshops are limited to 8 students each. Email each workshop’s contact for cost and other information. For information, call 303-246-3987.
MUSIC
Concert Organist: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd.,
this week’s TOP FIVE United in Love Concert: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree. Benefits Denver Actors Fund. For tickets and information, call 720-509-1000 or go to www.lonetreeartscenter.org.
International Tabletop Game Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Castle Pines Library, 360 Village Square Lane. Drop in to this family-friendly free event. Presented by the Lone Tree Low-tech Gaming Group. Play all types of board games, card games and RPGs. Learn a new game or bring your own. Contact Izzy Corbo at LTLTGames@yahoo.com.
Hey, Good Lookin’: 6-7 p.m. Monday, May 1 at Dazbog, 202 Wilcox St., Castle Rock. This Lifetree Café program looks at a healthy approach to body image. Call 303-814-0142. Go to LifetreeCafe.com. Group meets every Monday for coffee and conversation. Group watches a new video every week about life, faith, and ups and downs.
Good Ol’ Fashioned Hoedown: noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Coventry Farms, 7990 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Horse rides, horse painting, craft fair, face painting, silent auction, live music and more. Proceeds benefit The Right Step Inc. Tickets available at therightstepinc.org.
Highlands Ranch. Performed by Tom Trenney. Contact: Mark Zwilling at 303 794-2683 or mzwilling@ gostandrew.com. Littleton Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., Littleton. Colossal Classics and Surprising Concertos: King of Instruments is the final concert of the season. Information and tickets available at www.littletonsymphony.org or by calling 303-933-6824.
EVENTS
Ships of the Sea: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way. Learn about pirates, passages and ships through the ages, along with model shipbuilding. Register to receive the day’s schedule. Call 3037917323 or go to DCL. org.
go to DCL.org.
Spring Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way. Purchase used books, CDs and DVDs. No registration required. Call 303-791-7323 or
Masters of Disguise: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Parker Library, 20105 E. Mainstreet. Learn tips and tricks to prep for cosplay and costume making with Colorado Fabrics. Program for teens and adults. Registration is required; call 303-791-7323
Help Teens Cope With Stress: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 at Koelbel Library, 5955 S. Holly St., Centennial. Moms Fight Back presents this free community event. Learn to recognize and respond appropriately to signs of depression and mental health crisis in our youth. For parents only. Space is limited. RSVP at https://www.facebook. com/events/153809218473438/
or go to DCL.org. Celebramos El Dia: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Kids will learn about diverse cultures and heritages through crafts, stories, dance and more. Registration is required; call 303-791-7323 or go to DCL.org. Dynamic Mars: Getting to Know the Planet: 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at the James H. LaRue Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Join Dr. Laura Kerber of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to explore the wild Martian landscape, including current scientific and engineering plans for Mars’ future. Ideal for teens and adults. Registration is required; call 303-791-7323 or go to DCL.org. Free Legal Clinic: 2-3:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain the process and procedures for all areas of civil litigation. Walk-ins welcome; everyone seated first-come, first-served. Clinics offered the first Monday of each month. 2017 dates are June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4. Call 303-791-7323. 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 at the James H. LaRue Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. An estimated 500 million people were infected worldwide, and 50 million to 100 million died of the disease. Learn more at this Highlands Ranch Genealogical Society program. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. for conversations with fellow genealogists. Victoria’s Tea Fundraiser: 2-4 p.m.
Saturday, May 6, at The Gathering Place at Christ’s Episcopal Church, 615 4th St., Castle Rock. Enjoy tea, scones, music and stories. Proceeds benefit the Castle Rock Historical Society and Museum. Purchase tickets at the museum or online at www.castlerockmuseum.org under the Event Tickets tab. Contact 303814-3164 or museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org. Star Trek Wars: 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Show off your knowledge of “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” in this sci-fi trivia contest. Registration is required; call 303-791-7323 or go to DCL.org. Colonizing Titan vs. Mars: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at the James H. LaRue Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch. Join writer and planetary scientist Dr. Amanda Hendrix to learn about the viability of colonizing Saturn’s moon, Titan, versus Mars. Great for all ages. Registration is required; call 303-791-7323 or go to DCL. org. Pies And Tarts Culinary Class: 6-9 p.m. Monday, May 8 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. Learn to make pie crusts with simple ingredients and turn them into pies and tarts. For ages 16 and older. Call 303-805-6800 or go to www.parkerartscenter.com. Finding Hidden Treasures in Family Search: 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit,
April 27, 2017A
6400 S. University Blvd., Centen- S nial. Program of the Columbine Genealogical & Historical Society w is presented by Barbara Elliott, W society member, and features the P FamilySearch.org website. Contact ColumbineGenealogy@gmail.com. p Go to www.facebook.com/Columbi- s e neGenealogy a Afghanistan: 3-4 p.m. Wednesday, a May 10 at RiverPointe, 5225 S. Prince F St., Littleton. In October of 2001, the U.S. led a coalition invasion of Af- l ghanistan seeking to oust the ruling 3 Taliban and find Al Qaeda leaders, c including Osama bin Laden in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Join Active Minds for a look at the story of Afghanistan, both before and since 9/11. We will also take a look forward at what the future holds for this war-torn country. Call 303-797-0600 to RSVP. Book Discussion: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock. Dr. Max Frazier leads the discussion of “One of Ours,” by Willa Cather. Frazier specializes in autobiography and women writing from the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Refreshments served at 6:45 p.m. Contact the Castle Rock Museum at 303-814-3164, museum@castlerockhistoricalsociety.org, or www. castlerockhistoricalsociety.org. Admission is free. Birding Insights Workshops: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 13, time TBD (Spring Migration), at Audubon Nature Center, 11280 S. Waterton Road, Littleton. Register at http://www. denveraudubon.org/event/. Workshops give adults and teens birding knowledge and tips, including techniques for identification, food preferences, life cycle and more. Broken Tee Women’s 18-Hole Saturday Golf Club: play on Saturday mornings; season starts in April. Broken Tee Golf Course is at 2101 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood. Good for working women and mothers. Contact BTWSGC@aol.com
ROAD CarFit for Seniors: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month through September, at Dahlia Campus for Health and Wellbeing, 3401 Eudora St., Denver. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month through September, at AAA-Colorado Southglenn, 700 S. University Blvd., SEE CALENDAR, P37
Highlands Ranch Herald 37
7April 27, 2017
BRIEFS
CALENDAR
FROM PAGE 2
FROM PAGE 36
Strides for Epilepsy 5K The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado will host the Strides for Epilepsy 5K Walk/Run at 8:30 a.m. June 11 at City Park in Denver. All proceeds directly support programming and services such as summer camps for children with epilepsy, support groups, information and referral services, care management and other resources for the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado. Online registration is available at bit. ly/2kjPxm6. For more information, call 303-377-9774 or email strides@epilepsycolorado.org.
Centennial. Presented by the Reaching Older Adults Program, the 20-minute checkup is free but registration is requested. Call 303991-5740 for an appointment.
HEALTH
Briscoe Building Grand Opening: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 4 at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. The Castle Rock Historical Society helped name the building after Mary Briscoe, who was a local resident and the county nurse in the late 1930s. Ribbon cutting at noon. All nurses invited to help celebrate Mary Briscoe and the new building.
Time & Togetherness, Save a Life: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Seven Stones Chatfield, 9635 N. Rampart Range Road. Free, family-friendly Time & Togetherness event includes snacks, live music, family crafts and games, tours and more. You can also donate blood with Bonfils; drop in (will possibly wait) or make an appointment by calling 303-363-2300, or go to donors.bonfils. org and use site code B168. RSVP by Monday, May 1 by calling 303-619-9697, or go to http://www.discoversevenstones.com/ Bone Builders and Bone Breakers: 1011:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker. Support lifelong bone health by knowing how to get all the nutrients your bones need. Call 303-805-6800 or go to www.
parkerartscenter.com.
EDUCATION
Douglas County AAUW Scholarship: application, transcripts and letters of recommendation due July 15. Scholarship is open to Douglas County residents only. Money may be used for tuition, books or child care while attending school. Scholarship application and instructions available online at douglascounty-co.aauw.net. Editor’s note: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Wednesday for publication the following week. Send listings to calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com. No attachments, please. Listings are free and run on a space-available basis.
Marketplace ANNOUNCEMENTS
GARAGE & ESTATE SALES
PLACE YOUR AD TODAY!
303-566-4091
MERCHANDISE
Firewood
Party Bus Available. All Events. www.gt-tours.com Tom (303)653-7147
Instruction Garage Sales
Kids’ Summer Writing Classes For kids entering 2nd-12th grades
June 5-July 27 | 10:00-11:30 and 3:00-4:30 Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 8545 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial Contact Ann Morris for more information admorris9597@gmail.com or 720-999-2040
Affordable Tutoring Pre-K to Adult All Subjects - Proven Results Also, learning disabilities Partner with Developmental Pathways
PROCESS LEARNING
ProcessLearningTutoring.com
or Call (720)-495-4870 Discover the Difference We Can Make for You
Misc. Notices Want To Purchase minerals and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: P.O. Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201
FARM & AGRICULTURE Farm Products & Produce Grain Finished Buffalo
quartered, halves and whole
719-775-8742
* 80+ HOME GARAGE SALE * SAVE THE DATE! CHERRY KNOLLS NEIGHBORHOOD Southglenn/Centennial Arapahoe Rd. & E. Nobles Rd. Maps Available Fri & Sat, May 5 & 6 Arvada
Aurora
Yard sale April 29th & 30th 9am-3pm 6051 Van Gordon Street
Community Garage Sale
Heritage Eagle Bend Clubhouse Saturday May 6th 8am-2pm E470 & Gartrell Home Decor, Housewares, Furniture, Tools, Lawn Equipment, Electronics, Holiday and Craft Items Rain or Shine
Arts & Crafts 20th Annual Winter Park Craft Fair
Friday 8-11 - Saturday 8-12 Sunday 8-13 Lions Pancake Breakfast Come and enjoy!! Vendor space available 970-531-3170 - jjbeam@hotmail.com
Skutt Kiln
Hardly Used, Works Well 100 molds + included $700 obo 303-421-3559 leave message and will get back to you
Community Subdivision Fri & Sat, May 12th & 13th 8am-4pm Numerous homeowners in the Pradera community will be participating in this event Major cross streets into Pradera are Bayou Gulch and Parker Road., Parker 80134 Call Dotson Skaggs, Kentwood Company, 303-909-9350 for more information.
Split & Delivered $275 a cord Stacking available extra $25 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Air hockey table available. Free. Must be able to pick up. Commercial-grade air hockey table in good condition. Please call 303-88-1609
PETS
Boats and Water Sports
Horse & Tack 2 beautiful 1/2 Arabian Reining Horses 1 buck skin gelding 1 Palomino mare (champion at Denver Show) Do you like to win? 303-261-9303
Electric Bicycle Sale Buy 1 ebike & get 1 ebike FREE All 2016 New & Used electric Bikes on sale LIMETED SUPPLY HURRY FAST – BRAND NEW 2016 ELECTRIC BIKES 303-257-0164
Autos for Sale Place an ad to sell your car on this page $25 for 2 weeks in 16 papers and online 303-566-4091
Sporting goods
Bicycles
Gigantic Garage Sale in the Pradera Golf
TRANSPORTATION
We are community.
1990 Pro Star Mastercraft Ski boat & trailer Gray and Red 351 Ford Engine 600 hours, exc. cond. Cover and Canvas portable top $7,500 (303)421-9367 Arvada
1990 Pro Star Mastercraft Ski boat & trailer Gray and Red 351 Ford Engine 600 hours, exc. cond. Cover and Canvas portable top $7,500 (303)421-9367 Arvada
Wanted
Cash for all Vehicles! Your Community Connector to Boundless Rewards
Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUV’s
Any condition • Running or not Under $700
(303)741-0762
Cell: (303)918-2185 for texting
ADVERTISE IN THE MARKETPLACE 303-566-4091
Bestcashforcars.com
DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK, BOAT, RV; Running or not, to www.developmentaldisabled.org Tax deductible! 303-659-1744. 19 years of service (go onto website to see 57 Chevy)
38 Highlands Ranch Herald
LOCAL
April 27, 2017A
SPORTS
Pushing through the pain can pay off
W
Valor Christian sophomore Eric Pacheco controls a faceoff against Ponderosa sophomore Andy Bauer during an April 11 game at Echo Park Automotive Stadium. Pacheco claims winning faceoffs in high school is about efficiency. JIM BENTON
Faceoffs are where it all begins Techniques to gain possession have huge influence on outcome in boys lacrosse BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It might not look like a game of rockpaper-scissors when two players trot to the center of the field for a faceoff in boys lacrosse, but that’s a complicated form of what it is. The player who has the better plan to counter the other player’s move and is able to execute usually is the winner. SEE LACROSSE, P39
ALL THE RIGHT MOVES Basic moves used by players taking faceoffs in boys lacrosse.
before the opponent gains possession. The ball is usually raked away from the opposing faceoff specialist.
Clamp: A player using the clamp quickly moves his wrists over so the pocket of the lacrosse stick is clamped down on the ball before the opponent can do so. Jam: The jam is a move where the stick is punched over the ball to block the opponent from any access. It is a defensive move to gain possession of the ball instead of creating a fast break. Rake: The rake is when the player moves his stick under the jam
Jump: Used to counter almost any move by picking up the head of the stick and pushing it forward over the ball, with the stick usually under the stick of the opponent. Punch: A move to counter the jump where the ball is punched with the stick forward to be scooped up. Sources: www.coachup.com; Stack. com; blog.comlax.com/nation/ articles/thelacrosse-faceoff
STANDOUT PERFORMERS Anna Hall, track, sophomore, Valor Christian: She won the 200 meters (25.29 seconds) and the 400 (56.41) at the Dakota Ridge Invitational on April 22. She was second in the 100 hurdles. Pearl Schwartz, lacrosse, junior, Cherry Creek: Schwartz scored five goals and had two assists in the Bruins’ 14-5 win
over Arapahoe on April 19. Cole Carman, baseball, senior, Arapahoe: He threw 87 pitches, struck out seven batters, allowed five hits and three earned runs in six innings in the Warriors’ 7-5 victory over Smoky Hill on April 21. Jacob Dack, track, senior, Lutheran:
Dack was a double winner April 18 at the Holy Family Tiger Invitational. He was first in the discus (148 feet) and shot put (53-11). Jack Lisowy, baseball, junior, Douglas County: The Huskies trimmed Heritage, 6-5, in eight innings on April 22 and Lisowy went 2-for-3 with a homer and had three runs batted in.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS are five athletes named from south metro area high schools. Preference is given to those making their debut on the list. To nominate an athlete, contact Jim Benton at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com
hile talking with Jack Huber, I could only think about how it takes a few steps to get everything working after sitting for a while and how things I used to be able to easily do are now harder. And I’ve never had a major injury. Jack Huber, a senior wrestler and football player at ThunderRidge, has undergone surgeries OVERTIME for injuries to his shoulder, knees and chest. Despite pain plus long rehabilitation stints, he kept grinding and qualified for the state wrestling tournament three straight seasons. He finished fifth at 182 pounds in the 2017 Class 5A tournament. Jim Benton “The injuries started my sophomore year,” he said. “I had to decide if I wanted to keep doing this because of all the money spent for the surgeries, and it was painful. I decided to stick it out, one more year, one more time.” Huber signed a letter of intent to wrestle at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo during an April 27 signing ceremony at ThunderRidge. He will join his brother Joe on the Mustangs’ wrestling team. Joe Huber was a 2015 Ponderosa High graduate. “A year ago, I didn’t know if I would be able to wrestle,” Jack said. “I didn’t know with the surgery if it was going to work. I feel good now. I feel normal again.” No mercy for boys volleyball bid Boys volleyball took a called third strike at the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Legislative Council meeting on April 20. The club-level Colorado Boys High School Volleyball Association and the CHSAAsanctioned Tri-Peaks League prepared a proposal requesting that boys volleyball be sanctioned as a two-classification spring sport. But, for the third time in recent years, a bid to have the sport sanctioned was denied when 54 percent of the 72-member council voted to not even open the classification and League Organizing Committee report for consideration. Also at the meeting, a mercy rule for all levels of boys and girls basketball was considered by the council and approved by a 59-11 vote. If a team has a 35-point lead after three quarters, a running clock will start and only stop for timeouts, injuries and free throws. In hockey action, Chaparral and Woodland Park will be added as new teams for the 2017-18 season. Former swim coach honored Former Littleton boys and girls swim coach Maurice “Stringy” Erwin will be one of six people inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. The 53rd annual induction banquet, set for April 27 at the Denver City Marriott, is sold SEE BENTON, P39
Highlands Ranch Herald 39
7April 27, 2017
LACROSSE
LEADING THE WAY
FROM PAGE 38
And winning faceoffs is crucial to a team’s success. Teams face off at the start of the game, the beginning of each quarter and after every goal is scored. “Possession is a big part of the game,” Bear Creek coach Issac NelsonGarner said. A faceoff starts with two players crouched with their sticks lying horizontally on each side of the midfield line. The ball is place between the head of each stick and the butt-end pointing down the midfield line. Once the whistle is blown, each player fights for the ball in an effort to gain possession. “Winning face offs is a mixture of power and speed,” ThunderRidge senior Brett Naves said. “If you’re faster than the other guy, you can win, but if you are stronger than the other guy, you can also win. So it’s kind of like a rock-paper-scissors match.” Basic faceoff techniques include the clamp, jam and rake. The clamp can be neutralized by a jam. The rake usually loses to the clamp but the rake can beat the jam. “I start with the clamp, but if I’m getting beat with a clamp I usually like to switch it up and try jumping him,” Ponderosa sophomore Andy Bauer said.
BENTON FROM PAGE 38
out and Erwin’s family and friends have reserved three tables to honor the longtime coach. The three-sport letterman at Litteton was a Lions coach for 46 years. He coached baseball and football in addition to swimming. His boys swim teams
The top boys faceoff percentage leaders from area schools, through games of April 20: • Nick Pacheco, Valor: .786 • Ryan Stewart, Cherry Creek: .780 • Brett Boos, Chaparral: .747 • Eric Pacheco, Valor: .722 • Mike Madayag, Golden: .719 • JT Simonton, Cherry Creek: .716 • Duke Hindman, Littleton: .713 •Shawn Casebolt, Lakewood: .694 • Alex Fielding, Heritage: .647 • Landon Nolta, Mountain Vista: .636 A jump is when a player holds down the stick of the opponent who has clamped. A player using the clamp quickly moves his wrists over so the back of the head is clamped down on the ball before the opponent. The jam is a move where the head and shaft are punched over the ball to block the opponent from any access. The rake is when the player moves his stick under the jam before it can disable him. “You have to have the right body and special muscles. You need special reflexes and you need more shoulder power to press and you need good foot movement,” Wheat Ridge sophomore Tanner Spirek said. But physical attributes just might be secondary. “The most important quality for a faceoff player is competiveness,” Little-
won seven state titles and the girls squads captured five state crowns. Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey will be honored as Boys High School Athlete of the Year. Jim Benton is a sports writer for Colorado Community Media. He has been covering sports in the Denver area since 1968. He can be reached at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com or at 303-566-4083.
Girls game features a different move ton coach Andrew Paredes said. “If that player has a refuse-to-lose attitude, he will fight and scrap for every loose ball and win them more often than he loses them.” Paredes also points out that, as in hockey, other players need to be involved in gaining possession following a faceoff. “An excellent faceoff unit can control the game for its team,” Parades said. “While the faceoff player himself is the central part of that unit, the three players combined really make a difference. There will be games when your faceoff player wins most of the balls himself.” Good faceoff players are specialists and FOGO (faceoff and get off) has become a revered position. Valor Christian sophomore Eric Pacheco is one of the state’s top faceoff specialists. “At the high school level, everyone is really an elite faceoff guy,” said Eric Pacheco, whose senior brother Nick also takes faceoffs. “You are not really
going to run into anyone with faster hands or quicker reaction time. It’s more about efficiency. Nick and I really work to be efficient on faceoffs. We work on not having wasted movements and being technical.” Chaparral junior Brett Boos is second in the state in winning faceoff percentage and leads in ground balls. But he also plays some as a defensive midfielder. In a recent game against Ponderosa, he won 15 of 19 faceoffs by pushing the ball downfield and picked up six ground balls. “Quickness and strength are the keys to winning faceoffs,” he said. “And ground balls help the team keep possession.” A winning faceoff percentage can usually be traced to winning teams. Once a team scores, wins a faceoff, keeps possession and has another chance to score, it often leads to scoring sprees. “If you don’t have the ball,” Valor coach John Grant Jr. said, “you can’t score.”
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Using Sustainable Printing Practices. • It’s the paper: Biodegradable, renewable, recycled, reusable. • It’s the ink: Soy based inks are used, reused then recycled. • It’s the plate: Process-free plates eliminate VOC’s and reduce water usage. • It’s the press: Using cold-set presses reduces the amount of VOC’s put into the air. • It’s the location: Printed locally reducing shipping & postage costs, while saving gas, emissions & time.
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Service Above Self - Join Us! The Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch, “Service above Self ” Meetings Every Thursday at the Lone Tree Golf Club, 9808 Sunningdale Blvd. Lone Tree Noon-1:30 PM
ROTARY CLUB - OF HIGHLANDS RANCH
or First and Third Wednesdays at Children’s Hospital, 9139 S. Ridgeline Blvd, Highlands Ranch 7:15 AM-8:30 AM
Contact Mary Kay Hasz 303-888-1867 Voted Best Local Non-Profit
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April 27, 2017A
Pugh pursues pro soccer career Mountain Vista grad spent freshman year at UCLA STAFF REPORT
Mallory Pugh made one decision but still faces another choice. Pugh, the 18-year-old Mountain Vista graduate and member of the U.S. women’s Olympic soccer team, announced she is leaving UCLA to pursue professional soccer opportunities. The unanswered question is which opportunity she will pick. According to Sports Illustrated, Pugh would like to play for Portland in the National Women’s Soccer League but Washington has the top spot in the 10-team NWSL distribution order to claim an incoming player. Pugh turned down an offer to join Portland before deciding to attend UCLA but deals could be made if she decides to play in the NWSL. Portland has eight national team players on its roster, including five from the U.S. team. Teams in France, like Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain, are also reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Pugh if she doesn’t play in the NWSL. SI has reported that Portland has
Mallory Pugh is shown last year warming up for a national team match in Commerce City against Japan. F ILE PHOTO offered a trade for the right to sign Pugh, but apparently Washington isn’t listening. The stalemate could be settled at the NWSL owners meeting April 28 in Orlando, Florida. Pugh enrolled at UCLA for the 2017 winter quarter and played in three
spring matches and was set the make her freshman varsity debut this fall. “The decision was certainly not easy for me to make,” Pugh said in a UCLA news release. “UCLA is such a special place and being a Bruin was an incredible thing. UCLA soccer
brought amazing things to my life and chasing after a national championship with my friends and teammates would’ve been special but I could not turn down this opportunity. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, UCLA athletics and everyone else for the support I have behind me.” UCLA coach Amanda Cromwell understood it was difficult career decision for Pugh. “We are sad to see Mal depart UCLA but it’s exciting for her to have such a unique opportunity,” said UCLA Cromwell. “Our relationship with Mal started a long time ago in the recruiting process. We’ve seen here develop and grow into an amazing young women and player. Mal will always be a Bruin and we have no doubt that she is destined for great things as her career progresses.” Pugh has four goals since she made her national team debut in January 2016 when she was 17. Pugh played parts of three seasons for Mountain Vista but didn’t play her senior season because of U.S. national soccer team commitments. In 32 games for the Golden Eagles, she tallied 47 goals and 21 assists. She helped Vista win the state championship as a freshman when she scored 10 goals. She played just 10 games her junior season and didn’t play in the state playoffs but had 24 goals and 60 points.
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Highlands Ranch Herald 41
7April 27, 2017
STEPPING UP
Rock Canyon’s Claire Steffe gets nearly upended as Ponderosa goalkeeper Raven Bernier goes in for the block and fellow Mustang Maddie Gabel pursues the play. Rock Canyon won 3-1 on April 20 at Shea Stadium. PAUL DISALVO
Falcons chalk up win on the pitch
BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Highlands Ranch scored less than two minutes into the game and went on to post a shutout as the host team outscored Westminster 5-0 in the April 22 non-league girls soccer game. “We are coming to the end of a season that hasn’t gone quite like we hoped it would go,” Highlands Ranch coach Spencer Ward said. “We are a
young team but I feel we have been much more competitive this season and we are playing better soccer this year than we did last year.” He said the five graduating seniors will be missed but he expects he will have quite a few girls who gained varsity soccer experience this season returning who will help the team continue to improve. “This is a great group of young ladies who get along well together and know how to play hard as a team,” the coach said. “They know there were games this season that they should have played better. But the effort has been there in every game. I feel this is SEE FALCONS, P45
Answers
Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
Highlands Ranch girls soccer team shuts out Westminster
THANKS for
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Highlands Ranch Herald 45
7April 27, 2017
FALCONS
They said it The game was special for Kerr as the senior scored her first goal of the season. “I am an outside midfielder so I don’t get a lot of scoring opportunities,” Kerr said. “Today, we had the attack going, I controlled the ball as we pushed past the defense and I put it into the net. It felt really good to score and hear my teammates cheer for me as I score my first goal of the season.”
Highlands Ranch scored five goals in the first half. Key players/statistics Makayla Kinzel paced the Falcons as she scored a pair of goals. Gallegos, Brittney Kerr and Jamie Guszak each scored a goal for Highlands Ranch, while teammates Anna Gallo, Sophia Sheppard and Sarah Baird each had an assist. The Falcons took 39 shots on goal. The aggressive attack and solid defensive play limited the Wolves’ opportunities to take shots at the goal. Senior Izzy DePinto and junior Jessica Shumer shared each played goalie for one half of the game. DePinto had the Falcons’ only save.
FROM PAGE 41
a learning season for our young players who have improved as we work to be even more competitive next season.” Key moments Highlands Ranch set the tempo of the game early as the Falcons mounted a swift attack and freshman Sara Gallegos scored a goal less than two minutes into the game. The Falcon won the battle for loose balls and pressed the attack, so most of the game was played on the Westminster side of the field.
Going forward The win over Westminster raised the Falcons’ season record to 3-6-1 as they head into the home stretch of the regular season. They close out the schedule at home May 4 against Regis.
Highlands Ranch forward Sara Gallegos, right, and Westminster defender Jocelin Macias race to be first to the ball during the April 22 non-league girls soccer game. Gallegos scored the Falcons’ first goal as Highlands Ranch went on to win the game, 5-0. TOM MUNDS
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46 Highlands Ranch Herald
Public Notices Public Trustees
Notices
April 27, 2017A
Public Trustees
Public Trustees PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0032
Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0034
Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0036
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/6/2017 11:55:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County.
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/6/2017 3:20:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County.
Original Grantor: OVIDIO ENRIQUE PEREZ, II AND SARAH A PEREZ Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR FFC MORTGAGE CORP., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: PACIFIC UNION FINANCIAL, LLC Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 4/15/2016 Recording Date of DOT: 5/17/2016 Reception No. of DOT: 2016030880 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $255,852.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $255,145.75 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust.
Original Grantor: MICHAEL A. GIST AND TERRI F. GIST Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR MAJESTIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AN ILLINOIS CORPORATION Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE (CWALT 2005-17) Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 4/15/2005 Recording Date of DOT: 4/21/2005 Reception No. of DOT: 2005034732 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $420,000.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $396,651.64
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.
Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 69, HIGHLANDS RANCH FILING NO. 122-L, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO.
Which has the address of: 10647 Cherrybrook Circle, Littleton, CO 80126
Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: A default in payment required by the Deed of Trust. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 12, HIGHLANDS RANCH-FILING NO. 95-D, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 3090 East Wyecliff Lane, Littleton, CO 80126
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process.
If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process.
First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
Dated: 2/6/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
Dated: 2/6/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: ALISON L. BERRY Colorado Registration #: 34531 9800 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. SUITE 400, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: (303) 706-9994 Attorney File #: 17-014078
*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website : http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No. 2017-0032 First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
KAREN J RADAKOVICH Colorado Registration #: 11649 4750 TABLE MESA DRIVE, BOULDER, COLORADO 80305-5575 Phone #: (303) 494-3000 Fax #: Attorney File #: 7192-9620 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No. 2017-0034 First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0036
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/6/2017 3:23:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: AYTAN TURGEMAN Original Beneficiary: WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, FA Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 5/15/2006 Recording Date of DOT: 5/23/2006 Reception No. of DOT: 2006043315 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $247,920.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $268,767.37 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: the failure to make timely payments required under said Deed of Trust and the Evidence of Debt secured thereby. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 31, HIGHLANDS RANCH - FILING NO. 118-G, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 645 Blue Heron Way, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process. First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 2/6/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: EVE GRINA Colorado Registration #: 43658 7700 E. ARAPAHOE ROAD, SUITE 230, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (877) 369-6122 Fax #: Attorney File #: CO-17-760784-LL *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website : http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0036 First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0037
To advertise your public notices call 303-566-4100 PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE Public Trustees
Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0037 To Whom It May Concern: On 2/6/2017 3:25:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: JEFF G WASDEN AND MONICA A WASDEN Original Beneficiary: FIRSTBANK Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: FIRSTBANK Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 8/17/2011 Recording Date of DOT: 9/13/2011 Reception No. of DOT: 2011054952 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $271,500.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $154,343.32
Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0047
Public Trustees
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/16/2017 3:09:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County.
Original Grantor: RICHARD O. SCHROEDER Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR RBC MORTGAGE COMPANY Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION ("FANNIE MAE"), A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 7/31/2003 Recording Date of DOT: 8/6/2003 Reception No. of DOT: 2003118257 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $322,700.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $247,072.40
Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for by the Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations thereof.
Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: the failure to make timely payments required under said Deed of Trust and the Evidence of Debt secured thereby.
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.
The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.
Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 45, HIGHLANDS RANCH FILING NO. 110-D, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO
Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 225, HIGHLANDS RANCH - FILING NO. 112-A, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO.
Which has the address of: 3081 West White Oak Trail, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Which has the address of: 9421 Desert Willow Trail, Littleton, CO 80129
NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process. First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 2/6/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: STEPHEN T. JOHNSON Colorado Registration #: 10226 1200 17TH STREET, SUITE 3000, DENVER, COLORADO 80202 Phone #: (303) 623-9000 Fax #: Attorney File #: 230374-00287 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website : http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0037 First Publication: 4/6/2017 Last Publication: 5/4/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0047 To Whom It May Concern: On 2/16/2017 3:09:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relat-
NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855-411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process First Publication: 4/13/2017 Last Publication: 5/11/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 2/17/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
EVE GRINA Colorado Registration #: 43658 7700 E. ARAPAHOE ROAD, SUITE 230, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (877) 369-6122 Fax #: Attorney File #: CO-16-750396-LL *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Tr ustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0047 First Publication: 4/13/2017 Last Publication: 5/11/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0049
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/23/2017 4:07:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County.
Highlands Ranch * 1
7April 27, 2017 PUBLIC NOTICE
Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0049
Public Trustees
To Whom It May Concern: On 2/23/2017 4:07:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County.
Original Grantor: DELLA DARLENE JONES Original Beneficiary: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: WELLS FARGO BANK, NA Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 8/19/2011 Recording Date of DOT: 8/25/2011 Reception No. of DOT: 2011051673 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $173,591.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $170,168.74
Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.
The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.
Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 108, ROXBOROUGH VILLAGE FILING NO. 16-A, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 9571 Bighorn Way, Littleton, CO 80125 NOTICE OF SALE
The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process. First Publication: 4/20/2017 Last Publication: 5/18/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 2/27/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: ALISON L. BERRY Colorado Registration #: 34531 9800 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. SUITE 400, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: Attorney File #: 17-014468
*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website : http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0049 First Publication: 4/20/2017 Last Publication: 5/18/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0060 To Whom It May Concern: On 3/3/2017 2:24:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: BRIAN S. PETERS AND MICHELLE A. PETERS Original Beneficiary: AFFILIATED FINANCIAL GROUP, INC Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 3/31/2004 Recording Date of DOT: 4/1/2004 Reception No. of DOT: 2004032113 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $278,400.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $259,063.74 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust.
PUBLIC NOTICE Public Trustees
Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0060 To Whom It May Concern: On 3/3/2017 2:24:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: BRIAN S. PETERS AND MICHELLE A. PETERS Original Beneficiary: AFFILIATED FINANCIAL GROUP, INC Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 3/31/2004 Recording Date of DOT: 4/1/2004 Reception No. of DOT: 2004032113 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $278,400.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $259,063.74 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 6, INTRAVEST 320 - FILING NO. 1H, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 10625 Jaguar Point, Littleton, CO 80124 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38-103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process. First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 3/6/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: NICHOLAS H. SANTARELLI Colorado Registration #: 46592 9800 S. MERIDIAN BLVD. SUITE 400, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: Attorney File #: 17-014588
Dated: 3/1/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Legal Notice No.: 2017-0060 First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
NICHOLE WILLIAMS Colorado Registration #: 49611 1199 BANNOCK STREET , DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000006551568
Public Trustees
PUBLIC NOTICE Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0053 To Whom It May Concern: On 2/28/2017 12:02:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: MAURICIO CARMONA AND ADRIANNA CARMONA Original Beneficiary: ARGENT MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ARGENT SECURITIES INC., ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-M2 Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 6/26/2006 Recording Date of DOT: 7/11/2006 Reception No. of DOT: 2006058844 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $216,750.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $191,010.14 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 1, BLOCK 4, PULTE HOMES AT ROXBOROUGH VILLAGE FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO Which has the address of: 9965 Fairwood St, Littleton, CO 80125 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at the Public Trustee’s office, 402 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. If you believe that your lender or servicer has failed to provide a single point of contact (38-38103.1 CRS) or they are still pursuing foreclosure even though you have submitted a completed loss mitigation application or you have been offered and have accepted a loss mitigation option (38-38-103.2 CRS), you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General (720-508-6006) or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855-411-2372) or both. However, the filing of a complaint in and of itself will not stop the foreclosure process. First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the P ublic Trustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0060 First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: Attorney File #: 17-014588
Dated: 3/1/2017 CHRISTINE DUFFY DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: NICHOLE WILLIAMS Colorado Registration #: 49611 1199 BANNOCK STREET , DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000006551568
Public Trustees
*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No.: 2017-0053 First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
Misc. Private Legals Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to: OCCUPANT - Robert K Barrows - Amanda D Hyatt - Ann B Peters - Colorado Title Guaranty Co, El Paso Abstract Co - Daniel R Grossman Daniel R Grossman and Pamela M Grossman wife - Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service - Eugene L Grossman - Eugene L Grossman and Daniel R Grossman - G J CarterLouis, ACS SBSE C/O Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service - John J Wilkinson, Secretary The Woodmoor Corporation Margie Clemmer - State of Colorado Department of Revenue - Steven N Arnold, President The Woodmoor Corporation - The Women's Bank NA - The Women's Bank NA nka COBIZ Bank - The Woodmoor Corporation - W K Tevebaugh Vice President The Women's Bank NA You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 12th day of November 2013 the then County Treasurer of the County of Douglas, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to Amanda D Hyatt the following described real estate situate in the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, to wit: LOT 161 SOUTHDOWNS AT ROXBOROUGH 0.38 AM/L and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to Amanda D Hyatt. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent* taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2012. That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of Robert K Barrows for said year 2012 That said Amanda D Hyatt on the 1st day of February 2017 the present holder of said certificate, has made request upon the Treasurer of said County for a deed to said real estate; That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said at 1:00 o’clock P.M., on the 3rd day of August 2017 unless the same has been redeemed. Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 20th day of April 2017 /s/ Diane A. Holbert County Treasurer of Douglas County Legal Notice No.: 930917 First Publication: April 20, 2017 Last Publication: May 4, 2017 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press
City and County Public Notice PUBLIC INVITATION TO BID Separate sealed bids for 2017 HOT IN-PLACE REPAVING PROJECT, DOUGLAS COUNTY PROJECT NUMBER 2017-006, will be received by the Owner, Douglas County Government, Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104, until Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. This project consists of hot in-place repaving throughout Douglas County.
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Separate sealed bids for 2017 HOT IN-PLACE REPAVING PROJECT, DOUGLAS COUNTY PROJECT NUMBER 2017-006, will be received by the Owner, Douglas County Government, Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104, until Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. This project consists of hot in-place repaving throughout Douglas County.
City and County
The Contract Documents will be available after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017 through Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website (www.rockymountainbidsystem.com) or they may be obtained at the above address. Electronic versions of the Plans obtained by any other means than as described above may not be complete or accurate, and it is the Bidder’s responsibility to obtain a complete set of the Project Plans and Specifications. Douglas County will not be held responsible for misinformation received from private plan rooms.
A PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at the Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. All questions are due to Daniel Roberts, P.E., Project Engineer by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The Bid Opening will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at the same address. The Project includes the following major items and approximate quantities:
• Hot Mix Asphalt (Grading SX) (75) (PG 6422) (Haul and Asphalt) (Full Depth Patching) – 330 TON • Hot Mix Asphalt (Grading SX) (75) (PG 6422) (Haul and Asphalt) (Paving) – 5,297 TON • Hot In-Place Recycling and Repaving – 96,299 SY • Pavement Marking Paint (Waterborne) – 177 GAL Prior to submitting a Bid Proposal, Bidders shall have received prequalification status (active status) with the Colorado Department of Transportation to bid on individual projects of the size and kind of work as set forth herein. Any questions on the bidding process shall be directed to Daniel Roberts, P.E., Project Engineer, at 303.660.7490.
Plan holder information can be found on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website. Legal Notice No.: 930948 First Publication: April 27, 2017 Second Publication: May 4, 2017 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION
A public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission on May 15, 2017, at 7:00 P.M., in the Commissioners Hearing Room, 100 Third St., Castle Rock, CO., for a change in zoning from PD -Planned Development and RRRural Residential to PD-Planned Development. The subject property is located approximately 2,000-feet to the southeast of the intersection of State Highways 83 and 86. For more information call Douglas County Planning, 303-6607460. File #/Name: ZR2012-008 / Franktown Village Planned Development Legal Notice No.: 930952 First Publication: April 27, 2017 Last Publication: April 27, 2017 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION
A public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission on May 15, 2017, at 7:00 P.M., in the Commissioners Hearing Room, 100 Third St., Castle Rock, CO., for an appeal concerning water regulations in the Douglas County Zoning Resolution for properties located 1) approximately 2,000-feet to the southeast of the intersection of State Highways 83 and 86 and 2) southwest of and abutting and southeast of and abutting the intersection of Tanglewood Road and Burning Tree Drive, continuing easterly to Bibles Hill Drive. For more information call Douglas County Planning, 303-660-7460. File #/Name: ZR2014-003-WS / Franktown Village PD Water Appeal. Legal Notice No.: 930953 First Publication: April 27, 2017 Last Publication: April 27, 2017 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press
The Contract Documents will be available after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017 through Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website (www.rockymountainbidsystem.com) or they may be obtained at the above address. Electronic versions of the Plans obtained by any other means than as described above may not be complete or accurate, and it is the Bidder’s responsibility to obtain a complete set of the Project Plans and Specifications. Douglas County will not be held responsible for misinformation received from private plan rooms.
Without public notices, the government wouldn’t have to say anything else. *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www.douglas.co.us/publictrustee/
Legal Notice 2017-0053 Public notices areNo.: a community’s window into the government. From zoning regulations to local budgets, First Publication: 4/27/2017 Last Publication: 5/25/2017 governments have used local newspapers to inform citizens of its actions as an essential part of your right Publisher: Douglas County News Press PRE-BID will be to know. You know where to look, when toA look andCONFERENCE what to look forheld to at be involved as a citizen. Local 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at newspapers provide you with the information needoftoPublic get Works involved. the you Department Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. All questions are due to Daniel Roberts, P.E., Project Engineer by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. The Bid Opening will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at the same address.
Notices are meant to be noticed. Read your public notices and get involved! The Project includes the following major items and approximate quantities:
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