Herald HIGHLANDS RANCH 2.28.13
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 15
February 28, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Record roadwork on agenda $18.9 million in improvements slated for Ranch By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews. com Between 2006 and 2012, Douglas County spent $21.6 million on Highlands Ranch roads. An estimated $18.9 million is expected to be spent in 2013. “We’ve been able to, as a county, not have to do a whole lot of maintenance because Highlands Ranch is a relatively new community, but roads are now breaking down and we’ve got to get caught up,” said County Commissioner
CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE COSTS IN HIGHLANDS RANCH 2006 — $1.435 million 2007 — $1.608 million 2008 — $1.809 million 2009 — $3.242 million 2010 — $3.017 million 2011 — $5.546 million 2012 — $4.967 million 2013 — $18.9 million (projected) Data provided by Douglas County Jill Repella. The work will be spread out over the year to minimize the impact on commuters, or as Repella said, not turn Highlands Ranch into one giant cone zone. “We definitely want to be sensitive in how we expedite such
a high number of projects,” she added. The 2013 priority projects for Highlands Ranch include: • Accelerating maintenance and reconstruction of existing roadway infrastructure throughout the community. • Intersection improvements throughout Highlands Ranch that help reduce congestion and improve safety, mobility and traffic operations. • Implementing right-turn lanes at University and Cresthill, at Highlands Ranch Parkway and Broadway, at Highlands Ranch Parkway and Wildcat Reserve Parkway and at Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Broadway. • Continuing the BroadConstruction continues on Page 23
The continued work at the Broadway/C-470 Interchange is among the $18.9 million in road construction and maintenance budgeted for Highlands Ranch in 2013. The amount is a sharp increase over spending in recent years. File photo
Immigrant tuition bill advances Handful of GOP supporters help measure pass Senate By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Undocumented immigrant children are part of the “melting pot” of our society, and they should have “the same opportunities as other kids do.” And that’s just Republicans talking. A bill that would allow undocumented students in Colorado to pay in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities passed the Senate on Feb. 25, with three Republicans joining all 20 Democrats in voting yes on Senate Bill 33. Report The bill, which has been dubbed ASSET — Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow — would apply to all students, so long as they have graduated from high school and have attended a Colorado school for at least three years. “There are some pretty great kids out there who could benefit if we pass this,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, during a Senate floor debate in the days leading up to the final vote. Joining Brophy in voting for the bill were fellow Republican Senators Owen Hill of Colorado Springs and Larry Crowder of Alamosa. Any issue involving illegal immigration has been a dicey one for Republicans in recent years. On one hand, the number of Hispanic voters only continues to grow — and they overwhelmingly support Democrats. At the same time, Republican lawmakers face pressure from the right wing of their party to oppose any efforts that it sees as being akin to softening on issues sur-
Capitol
Ann Zelenka of Highlands Ranch, left, and Diane Patrick of Elbert County both volunteer every Wednesday with the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. The two women price out more than 100 items for the organization’s thrift store, Treasures, each week. Photos by Ryan Boldrey
Volunteers make all the difference Third of needy families helped by group live in Highlands Ranch By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
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Ann Zelenka of Highlands Ranch is one of 152 active volunteers at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. The retired surgical assisant has been helping the organization for nearly five years.
nn Zelenka has made a life of helping others in need. The retired surgical assistant now helps others in a different way. Every Wednesday, going on five years, she’s made the short drive from Highlands Ranch to Castle Rock to give her time to the Douglas/ Elbert Task Force. The 69-year-old is one of 152 volunteers the task force relied on to provide over $1 million of assistance last year to needy families in the two counties. “Ninety cents of every dollar that comes in goes back into the operation,” said Joe Roos, director of philanthropy, and one of just 10 part- and full-time staffers with the task force. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers we couldn’t do that. I like to say that this is the greatest love story in Douglas County.” It’s also a pretty good love story for Elbert
County, and the reason Elbert resident Diane Patrick — who prices out hundreds of donations for the organization’s thrift store each Wednesday with Zelenka — signed on. “There are just so few services in Elbert County,” Patrick said. “That’s why I chose to volunteer here. The organization helps a lot of people from all over both counties.” The goal of the organization is to meet the immediate needs of residents who are in financial distress and at risk of becoming homeless. The task force uses grant money, proceeds from the thrift store and financial donations to help pay utility bills and rent. More than 85 percent of all clients also take advantage of the task force’s food bank, Roos said, adding that the task force also provides items like hygiene products and pet food that clients can’t purchase with food stamps. In 2012, the task force served 15,684 people in the two counties. More than a third of those who received assistance are residents of Highlands Ranch. “I’d like to see more people from the Highlands Ranch area get involved,” said Kathy D’Amore, volunteer coordinator for the task force. “Ann is the only volunteer Volunteers continues on Page 23
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