November 25, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
Sky’s the limit for Sky Ridge robots Hospital’s high-tech surgery program expanding BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Already serving as one of the state’s leaders in robot-assisted surgery, Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree is making a major investment in the future by building a special robotics unit. Construction in the Lone Tree hospital’s Evergreen building is currently underway for an outpatient robotic surgery center covering more than 26,000 square feet, slated to open in 2022. Sky Ridge CEO Kirk McCarty said robot-assisted surgery allows doctors to perform a variety of procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Robotic surgery is usually associated with minimally invasive surgery, which can be performed through tiny incisions. In a robot-assisted procedure, surgeons operate on patients using a camera arm and mechanical
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
aging citizens with socialization. That along with physical activity and a healthy diet are three of the most important things for seniors, Lew said. The Living Well and Aging Ad Hoc Committee has served seniors in the community since 2012. Its mission listed on the cityoflonetree.com site is to identify and advocate for issues in the aging
The Douglas County School District is taking steps to acquire a complex along Lincoln Boulevard that was formerly The Wildlife Experience museum, and later a University of Colorado campus, with hopes of using the property for a long list of district programming and uses. District staff have touted the proposal as a can’t-miss opportunity to forge new partnerships with higher education institutions, provide significantly more career and technical education to students and help students gain access to major industries in the area. The 175,000-square-foot space could also be used for central administration office space, event space, professional development for teachers and other uses, staff said. If the deal goes through, the facility could be up and running with DCSD programs by 2023. The Wildlife Experience, between Lone Tree and Parker, was established in 2002 as a natural-history museum, theater complex and events venue by David and Gail Liniger, who founded the real estate company Re/Max.
SEE SENIORS, P3
SEE WILDLIFE, P4
Sky Ridge Medical Center Vice President of Operations Will Berton and Linda Watson Kolstad, the hospital’s vice president of marketing and public relations, discuss the equipment and technology required to build a new robotics surgery center. PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES
Lone Tree panel offers socialization, advocacy for seniors
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Five women sat around a table at The Lone Tree Hub snacking on popcorn, sipping coffee and
School district poised to acquire former Wildlife Experience Benefits touted, but some complain the deal feels rushed
SEE SKY RIDGE, P6
Third Thursday events to provide face-to-face interaction
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 40
chatting away. They talked about reading books their grandchildren had recommended during COVID, taking courses at the rec center, getting vaccines and who had the mumps or chicken pox growing up. “We’re hangin’,” said organizer Joyce Lew, co-chair of the Living Well and Aging Committee. The Nov. 18 meetup was part of the committee’s Third Thursday event series — just one of several activities it puts on to provide
TAPPING TALENT
Artists help to define local beer scene
P12
WINTER SPORTS AHEAD
Practices underway as seasons loom
P16