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February 7, 2014 Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 12 A publication of
centennialcitizen.net
Funding approved for road widening On Arapahoe, Waco-to-Himalaya project likely to occur in two phases By George Lurie
glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com At a study session this week, city council approved spending an additional $6 million to widen a 1.5-mile stretch of Arapahoe Road between Waco and Himalaya. According to Travis Greiman, the city’s engineering manager, the current total estimated budget for the proposed widening project is $15.1 million. The City of Centennial is contributing $10 million to the project. Other funding partners include the City of Aurora ($500,000) and Arapahoe County ($4.1 million). SEMSWA — the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority — will also kick in $561,000 to the overall project cost.
By George Lurie
glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com
I
n the heart of Centennial, there’s an oasis of activity called Holly Creek. On a 17-acre “campus” just northwest of where Arapahoe Road intersects South Holly Street, some 350 seniors are engaged in everything from tai-chi and singing and dancing to manufacturing wooden toys and broadcasting live from an on-site radio station. The Holly Creek “retirement community” is, in fact, anything but retiring. Residents bustle about the complex’s country club-like central building, which features towering 30-foot-tall wood paneled ceilings and museum-quality artwork. “We’re all living longer,” says Marilyn Berry, director of sales and marketing at Holly Creek. “The goal is to live longer healthier. Recent studies have shown that people who live in retirement communities live an average of six years longer.” Maintaining a high quality of life, says Berry, “is all about staying engaged — spiritually, socially, intellectually and physically.” At Holly Creek, where the average resident is 83, there are three restaurants, a movie theater, gym, indoor/outdoor pool, even a concierge desk. A not-for-profit, Holly Creek offers what Berry refers to as “a continuum of care:” 214 apartmenthomes and cottages, 28 “assisted living” apartments, 12 “memory care” rooms and a 24-bed skilled-nursing facility. As of Jan. 31, Holly Creek boasted a 100 percent occupancy rate. But residence at Holly Creek does not come inexpensively. There’s a one-time “entry fee” that starts at $199,000. Residents, Berry explains, also must meet certain financial standards and then sign a “Life Care Contract.” Monthly rent, based on the type of living accommodation, starts at $2,900 and covers everything but cable TV and Internet service. And if residents are fortunate enough to outlive their money, Berry says a privately funded foundation connected to Holly Creek “picks up their expenses and allows them to live here for the rest of their lives.” If residents decide to move out, 90 percent of their entry fee is refundable, Berry explains. “If they die, the entry fee is refunded to their estate.” Wind Crest, located in Highlands Ranch, is the South Metro area’s largest senior-living facility. Located off C-470 and Santa Fe and operated by for-profit, Maryland-based Erickson Living, the 85-acre development opened in 2007 and offers more than 1,000 senior apartments. Seniors continues on Page 10
Road continues on Page 10
Pets get love from Legislature Bill would allow EMTs to provide emergency care for dogs, cats By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com A bill that cleared a legislative committee on Jan. 30 is one that is certain to make Fido and Mittens happy. Senate Bill 39 would allow emergency medical responders to provide medical care to house dogs and cats. Medical Report personnel responding to emergency scenes do that now any way, but they’re actually not allowed to do so under current law. Because of that, EMTs put themselves at risk for litigation whenever they try to save an animal’s life. State Sen. David Balmer, R-Centennial, said the bill would change state law to
Capitol
Top, Herb Bowman, an 85-year-old retired nuclear physicist, holds one of the wooden toy cars he and other Holly Creek residents make and distribute to poor children around the world. Center, Dick Gustafson, a Holly Creek resident who for many years was a popular DJ in the Vail area, started the facility’s own on-site radio station recently. Above, resident Bill Keebler spent the morning on Jan. 31 turning out toy cars in Holly Creek’s wood shop. “I have so much fun working in here,” he said. Photos by George Lurie
Pets continues on Page 10
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