Herald HRH 10-10-2013
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 47
October 10, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Master plan beneficial amid rain History helped prepare Highlands Ranch for floods By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com As floodwaters devastated much of the state a few weeks back, Highlands Ranch found itself in much better shape than many. Much of that good fortune can be attributed to the community being a relatively young, planned development. “Not to poke at other people because they have been around 100 years, but they built where they did because they needed water and they just slowly built out and didn’t take into account their development or the fact that they were in a flood plain,” said Forrest Dykstra, the Metro District’s manager of development engineering. “It is one of the advantages of starting from scratch with a whole community; you say, ‘OK, we are not going to build in a flood plain.’” As Highlands Ranch was developed,
only trail crossings and parks were built in the local flood plains, and no major structures or buildings were placed there. “That is not going to put anybody out of a home or put them at risk for personal injury,” Dykstra said. “Nobody is going to worry about getting an ambulance or fire engine in or being able to get in or out of a neighborhood.” Metro District Public Works Director Jeff Case said Highlands Ranch had the benefit of working with Mission Viejo, a company that had already built out an entire community in California from start to finish. In addition to that, state laws on development were changing, and reservoirs such as Chatfield and Bear Creek were being built in reaction to the 1965 flood that affected much of the south metro area. “The 1965 flood was kind of a catharRain continues on Page 18
The design at Marcy Gulch in Highlands Ranch helps to catch rainwater runoff. Courtesy photo
Chamber names new president LaRew set to take reins of local business group By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
Rocky Heights sixth-grader Morgan Cruz hits the trail with the school’s mountain bike club Sept. 30. The club, which is in its third week, has 44 cyclists. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
Rocky Heights riding HIGH Middle school bicycling club takes to Backcountry trails By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com After learning that Mountain Ridge Middle School had its own mountain biking club, Linda Homstad’s wheels started spinning. At the time, Homstad was teaching at Ranch View Middle School, but the second the sixth-grade English teacher arrived at Rocky Heights Middle School after transferring from across town, she put those wheels in motion and created a club of her own. “Having these trails right here, we just had to do it,” said Homstad, who sponsors the club along with fellow teacher Cullen Hilsendager. The school, located just south of Rock Canyon High School, backs up to the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s Backcountry Wilderness Area trails. Despite the school’s prime location, Homstad was pleasantly surprised at the turnout of interested students when the club gathered for the first time this fall. “I was hoping for 10 students,” she said. “We ended up with
44. We had so many kids that wanted to do it that we had to split it up over two days.” Homstad and Hilsendager head out on Wednesdays with the more advanced riders and spend Mondays with the beginners. Accompanied by about five parent volunteers each day, they split into small groups so everyone can ride at their own pace. The club plans on continuing to ride through mid-November and then pick back up in the spring, while having small-group rides on nice days throughout the winter. When seventh-grader Jack Bartholomew first heard that the club was forming, he jumped at the chance to join. Biking for nearly four years, Bartholomew said riding helps him keep his mind clear, and since he isn’t involved in any other extracurricular activities, it is the perfect chance for him to meet some new friends. “This is awesome,” he said. “It is something I like to do and something I enjoy doing every day after school. I know these trails pretty well, too, so I know where I’m going.” While Bartholomew enjoys the adrenaline rush of going downhill and likes to get technical with his riding, other riders in the beginning class just like getting out there. Sixth-graders Alyssa Marino and Ainsley Messenger have been riding their bikes to school together since the third grade, but are just beginning to hit the trails. “I’m excited to ride some different places,” Messenger said. “I was looking for something to do and this sounded fun.”
The Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch has announced that Andrea LaRew will begin serving as its new president, effective Oct. 15. LaRew has been involved with nonprofit organizations for 23 years, including a 2½-year period from 2010-12 when she served as the director of marketing and programs at The West Chamber of Commerce in Jefferson County. LaRew “Her reputation within the chamber community and nonprofit community is absolutely stellar,” said Highlands Ranch chamber chair-elect Dave Simonson. “She’s a very impressive person from top to bottom. She understands the commitment she is making and is not looking at the position as a job, but instead a career in which she can help the growth and development of the chamber.” Selected from a pool of 20 applicants and out of three finalists, LaRew replaces LaRae Marsik, who resigned Aug. 31 after spending one year at the helm. Marsik was responsible for helping grow membership by 21 percent, launching an online employment center, developing a mobile app, implementing the organization’s first business technology forum, and creating a business education team. LaRew, who holds a degree in psychology from Metro State University, hopes to take that momentum and run with it and said that she intends to seek out new partnerships and strategic alliances for the LaRew continues on Page 18
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