A FRIEND INDEED
September 1, 2016 VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 4 | FREE
Therapy animals help bring comfort for those in need. PAGE 12
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New roadway offers long-sought relief North Meadows Extension project is now complete
By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Christine Nichols and Roger Felch aim to get on C-470 in Morrison by 6 a.m. every morning to drive to work at Castle View High School. At that hour, they can usually make the 40mile drive from home to school in about 50 minutes, barring snow. On snowy days, they leave much earlier, sometimes before
the district announces delays or cancellations. “Afternoons are always much slower,” Nichols said. “Usually a little over an hour, with congestion at Santa Fe and C-470.” That’s why the teachers — both of whom have been at Castle View for 10 years — have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the North Meadows Extension in Castle Rock. “It will cut off a good 10 to 15 minutes in the morning, and anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes in the afternoon,” Nichols said of their commute.
The school district also plans on using the new road with up to five different buses daily, said Donna Grattino, director of transportation for the Douglas County School District. The North Meadows Extension — now named Castle Rock Parkway/North Meadows Drive — is a new two-mile road connecting The Meadows to U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25. The project broke ground in October 2013 and is the Town of Castle Rock’s largest Roadwork continues on Page 7
The North Meadows Extension — now named Castle Rock Parkway/ North Meadows Drive — is a brand-new two-mile road connecting The Meadows to U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25. Photo by Shanna Fortier
SUMMER ENCORE Party in the Pines celebration brings community together while marking an end to the seaon. PAGE 5
REF ROAD AHEAD
Once plentiful, officials are harder to find for footbal games. PAGE 24
Gary Tedder — with his son Ryan displaying his platinum record plaques — speaks to students at Castle Rock Middle School about following their dreams. Photos by Mike DiFerdinando
Program built on compassion Increased self-confidence is benefit of participation
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Ashleigh Wise and her father Corey speak about the Ambassadors of Compassion Leadership Program. Ashleigh completed the program while at Cimarron Middle School.
Ashleigh Wise credits the Ambassadors of Compassion Leadership Program with bringing her a newfound confidence and making her feel more connected to her classmates. Wise is a 2016 graduate of the program at Cimarron Middle School in Parker. “Throughout the 13 weeks, I learned that I had more in common with the other students than I thought I did,” said Wise, now a freshman at Legend High School. “In my service project, our main goal was to inspire people and make them think positive, so we made a whole bunch of sticky
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FOR THE WIN Castle View and Ralston Valley game settled with penalty kick. PAGE 25
Mentors continues on Page 6
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