More ways to enjoy the outdoors coming

It’s felt like a long winter in Castle Rock, but signs of spring are starting to appear. When the weather nally allows our residents to get outside regularly, they’ll nd that the Parks and Recreation Department did not take a winter nap. Several projects wrapping up in 2023 will allow residents to take advantage of new recreational opportunities throughout town.

e rst phase of improvements to the town’s newest open space property, Metzler Family Open Space, is nearing completion. e 60-acre property was donated to the town in 2021 by the estate of Robert F. Metzler. Last year, the town constructed four miles of native-surface, single-track trails on the property and straightened the homestead’s historic silo. Now, work is underway to make it easier for residents to explore the property. A trailhead parking lot is under construction o East Allen

Letters To The Editor

Give me five e current commissioner majority represents businesses in the county to the exclusion of the majority of residents.

Recently the Colorado Legislature voted down a bill that would require counties with more than 70,000 residents to have ve commissioners. I support that bill. I think counties that large, like Douglas, where I live, should be partitioned into ve sectors and each should get to vote for their own commissioner. As the article in the Douglas County NewsPress pointed out, Douglas County is currently ruled by two commissioners, the majority of a contentious threemember county commission. Douglas County has about 370,000 residents.

While I understand the state not wanting to interfere with local governance, I believe that the state has an obligation to stand up for citizen’s rights to self-governance. Choosing our county commissioners would be a huge step forward in giving voice to “we the people.”

Terry Cannon, Castle Rock

Expand BoCC ere is no better argument for expanding the number of requisite seats on large county commissioner boards than the anti-democratic Douglas County BoCC.

It’s one thing for our partisan board

Norton

FROM

Is it always the case? No, sometimes those quick or rash decisions work out. I have had a few of those over the years where my instincts took over and I went with my gut, meeting with tremendous success. However, I can share with you that I have also made many bad decisions to take an immediate action, being brave or courageous at the absolute wrong time, and well, those turned out as you would expect, some injury, heartache, and metaphorically a lot of lost golf balls and high scores in life.

I love this quote from Matt Damon’s character in “We Bought a Zoo”: “You know, sometimes all you need is 20

Street, and signs to help visitors navigate the property — including trailhead maps and intersection way nders — are in production and will be installed by the completion of the project in May.

Butter eld Crossing Park has been well loved for over 30 years and by summer will be ready to welcome a new generation of visitors to its recently updated facilities. Work on this park kicked o last May and the basketball court and six pickleball courts are already complete, and an accessible, year-round restroom was added. Public feedback identi ed the need for an inclusive playground in our community, and this location is an ideal place for one. e members to routinely ignore large segments of DougCo residents when they sidle-up to right-wing extremism and let developers have their way with our land.

It’s another thing to watch the three whittle away at the foundations of the commissioners’ duties, the institution itself, purely for political gain. An example of which is whittling Lora’s committee duties; how does that overt power grab bene t any DougCo citizen?

For better or worse, we have the three commissioners we have. We, e People, elected each one with the expectation of honesty and integrity. Plus is our region shown in the best light by childish antics?

It’s time to grow the DougCo Board with two more members to enhance my representation by listening to my neighborhood’s community needs. Representation means representing all, not just the ones you’re beholden to. Do better.

Katie Barrett, Castle Rock

Enough infighting

I’m tired of reading about the endless in ghting between Douglas County Commissioners. And I agree a county this size may bene t from representation by more than three when two can hold a majority vote. Leading is about resolving con ict, seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” groundwork has already been laid for the Possibilities Playground, where visitors of all ages and abilities will be able to play, be challenged and have fun together. Community fundraising e orts by the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation have been instrumental in making this fully inclusive playground a reality, and donors have given over $1 million of support. With warmer weather comes the installation of playground features like roller table slides, mini ziplines and a sensory wall. Watch for a grand reopening celebration to be held in June. e most wide-reaching of our new opportunities will come this fall, with the completion of the Castle Rock portion of the Colorado Front Range Trail, which will connect to locations throughout town and the Front Range. Work began last October in the Terrain neighborhood, and crews have been constructing three new segments. In Cobblestone Ranch nding middle ground, and acting with discernment. Serving is about removing self and acting in others best interest. I don’t nd these traits in our current group of three elected to lead and Terrain, McMurdo Gulch Trail is being extended northeast to connect to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail and south to meet Hangman’s Gulch Trail, while in Montaine, work is extending the East Plum Creek Trail south to Lowell Ranch. A $2 million grant awarded by the Great Outdoors Colorado-GOCO Connect Initiative, funded by Colorado Lottery proceeds, will be provided to the town at completion. e town is proud to work with our community to enhance the quality of life and well-being of our residents by acquiring and developing parks and trails and preserving open space to meet Castle Rock’s needs. Learn more at CRgov.com/ParksAndRec. and serve. Maybe starting fresh with a slate of seven would renew a spirit of servant leadership and replace personal agendas with relevant issues.

Using Shakespeare’s quotes to temper enthusiasm in the heat of the moment, with the thought that God hates a coward, and all I need is 20 seconds of insane courage, has helped keep my balance. Do you know when and how to choose wisely? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we nd that balance between discretion and courage, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

David Corliss is the Castle Rock town manager.

(Editor’s Note: is column ran with the incorrect author’s name in the March 9 edition.)

Doug Reese, Highlands Ranch

October 3, 1926 - February 21, 2023

LeiOma Koestner passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 in Greeley, CO.

LeiOma was born in 1926 in Provo, UT where she received her education and worked as a nurse. Her nursing occupation brought her to Denver where she met and married John Koestner of Long Island, NY. ey settled in the Denver area and raised four children.

LeiOma was a dedicated wife and mother. She supported her children and grandchildren in all their activities.

LeiOma spent many years working in libraries in Englewood and Parker. She loved to read. She enjoyed the outdoors and activities in the mountains and on the water with family. She loved animals and bird watching.

LeiOma was kind and generous. She was a temple worker and was interested in genealogy and family history, as well as local history.

LeiOma was preceded in death by husband John, daughter Kerry, one brother and two sisters. She is survived by three children, three granddaughters, three greatgrandchildren, and one brother.

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Af ter more than 20 years of collecting pinball machines, Dan Nikolich’s basement had run out of space to store them all. So Nikolich opened the Colorado Pinball Pub in Littleton to share his collection.

“Pinball is a unique thing because it doesn’t matter what your background or walk of life is, pinball will draw you in,” he said. “It’s a great equalizer because it only takes one ball.”

While the concept of offering drinks and games at one location is nothing new, the Denver area is host to a number of unique takes on the Dave and Buster’s business model.

Colorado Pinball Pub is one of the newer additions to the barcade scene, having opened in 2020. The pub offers 22 pinball machines, plus a few classic arcade games like PacMan and Centipede, for unlimited play for $15 per hour.

Nikolich’s love for games started young, when he was growing up in Las Vegas and working for the MGM Arcade, so he was happy to see the recent rise in pinball’s popularity.

“Pinball is having a great resurgence right now. The last few years it’s been really hot,” he said. “We have parents who will bring their kids who have never played pinball and, at night, we get a lot of adults and date nights, stuff like that. All people seem to like pinball.”

Like the pub’s patrons, the pinball machines available range in age and theme, with Nikolich’s oldest machine being from 1981. The walls of the pub also pay homage to the history of the game, including its prohibition from 1940s to the 1970s, with pictures and news clippings.

In addition to pinball, the pub features over 150 kinds of whiskey, craft cocktails and Colorado brewed beer.

Nikolich said the goal is to have something for everyone and to make it approachable, whether that’s pinball or whiskey.

“We want you to come and learn about it and not be intimidated to ask if you don’t know something, we want to teach you, so that you can enjoy something new,” he said.

On the opposite side of the metro area, another one-of-a-kind barcade is Akihabara, which, while located in Westminster, transports visitors to the Tokyo gaming district that gives the business its name.

Owner Brandon Osha said he was blown away when he had the chance to visit Akihabara and take in its blocks of multi-story arcades.

“The first time I went to Akihabara I knew I wanted to bring that here because it’s amazing,” Osha said.

He did just that by opening Akihabara in 2016.

Similar to Nikolich, Osha grew up with a love of gaming and worked at a local arcade and GameStop. Instead of pinball though, Osha’s games of choice came in arcade cabinets, which he began collecting at age 16.

Currently, Akihabara offers 52 arcade cabinets with around 65 games, but Osha has plans to expand his location with 25 new games and additional space, which he said will be complete this summer.

Osha said the game selection, which includes fighting games, rhythm games and nostalgic classics, definitely sets Akihabara apart.

“You never see this many (arcade cabinets) in one place,” he said. “We have such a different variety of games that you won’t find anywhere else in Colorado.”

One of the stranger and more rare games Akihabara offers is a Japanese table flipping game called Cho Chabudai, but more well-known games include Third Strike, Monkeyball, Typing of the Dead and Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. All of the games are $1 or less to play.

Osha said a lot of people come in seeking a specific game that’s hard to find anywhere else, but he encourages visitors to try whatever piques their interest, even if they can’t necessarily read the Japanese instructions.

“I think it’s a lot of games that people have never seen, but they might find something that they like,” he said. “Plus, it’s usually only three buttons and a joystick, so they’re not too hard to learn.”

Akihabara’s focus on Japanese culture carries over into the bar offerings, which include Japanese beers and cocktails made with Japanese liquor, as well as a variety of packaged snacks and ramen options.

Overall, Osha said he tries to provide a space that’s both niche and for everyone, describing the Akihabara crowd as a welcoming hodgepodge.

“If you’re looking to find a friend, you’ll find one around here somewhere,” he said.

Denver Art Museum show runs through May 29

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

“Near East to Far West: Fictions of French and American Colonialism” is open in the Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum through May 29 and is lled with stories, color and historic interpretations that may be a bit skewed at times.

It includes more than 80 artworks that explore the ways artists were in uenced by the style of French Orientalism as they explored ways to portray the story of the American West, its landscapes and inhabitants ... including indigenous people and those more recently arrived ...

Curated by Jennifer Henneman, director of the Petrie Institute of Western American Art at the Denver Art Museum, the exhibit ranges from works by French artists, who were