WEEK OF APRIL 10, 2025
VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 6
FREE
Microtransit service to launch in Highlands Ranch BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
Spencer Hola, left, a senior at ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, was recognized as the 2024 Colorado Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year after six COURTESY OF NICOLE HOLA years of service in the national Civil Air Patrol program.
Local teen recognized as Cadet of Year ThunderRidge High School senior establishes goal of becoming a United States Air Force officer BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
Walking through the hallways of ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Spencer Hola may seem like an ordinary high school student. But by age 18, he has experienced opportunities many adults only dream of. Spencer is a teenager who is on a high school varsity swim and dive team, is a USA Triathlon national championship qualifier and is in the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, which is a two-year pre-university curriculum.
But he is also a teenager who has flown in a Chinook helicopter, has presented to Congress in Washington D.C., and has been recognized out of more than 1,000 Colorado cadets as the 2024 Colorado Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year. “I never thought I would get here,” said Spencer. “It was my first time being recognized for any sort of award.” In February 2019, Spencer was just a 12-year-old who was curious about airplanes, so he joined the Civil Air Patrol program. The Civil Air Patrol operates
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 23
as the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It is a federally-chartered nonprofit that works to provide emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide, as well as offer diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and aerospace education. Cadets can rise to cadet colonel by completing tasks in leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. Spencer is currently a cadet lieutenant colonel in the Highlander Composite Squadron, which meets at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility. “The Civil Air Program has played an important role in shaping Spencer into the confident, service-oriented, compassionate leader and young man that he is today,” his mother, Ni-
cole Hola, said. Turning passion into reality
Spencer isn’t the first in his family to take interest in the military. From a young age, he learned a lot about the military while listening to stories from his two grandfathers who were pilots in the Navy. His passion for aviation grew as he and his twin brother attended air shows as children and participated in the Young Eagles program. “And we watched ‘Top Gun’ too many times,” Nicole said. With an interest in the military and aviation, Spencer was introduced to the Civil Air Patrol program, and “the rest was history,” SEE HOLA, P2
A new and inexpensive way for people to travel around Highlands Ranch will launch later this spring. Aiming to build on the success of Lone Tree’s Link on Demand service, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved a $2.9 million contract with Via Transportation Inc., for microtransit services in Highlands Ranch. “When it’s too far to walk and it’s really not far enough to drive their own vehicles, I think this is the way forward,” said Commissioner George Teal. In Highlands Ranch, Via, which is the service provider of microtransit in Lone Tree, plans to have up to 15 vehicles available each day during peak hours, including ADA accessible vehicles. There will also be a call center for multilingual customer service. As the county anticipates 2,200 to 2,400 rides per week, the proposed operating hours mirror Lone Tree. Hours would be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. “Via will provide microtransit service throughout all of Highlands Ranch with points into and out of Lone Tree,” said Ryan Author, Douglas County community programs coordinator. For example, connections can be made to commercial areas along Highlands Ranch Parkway, County Line Road and the Park Meadows Retail Resort. The rides can also connect people to parks, recreation centers, local hospitals, medical centers, RTD bus stations, and the County Line and Littleton/Mineral light rail stations. SEE MICROTRANSIT, P6
2025
VOTE NOW March 1st - April 15th
LONETREEVOICE.NET • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA