Voice
Lone Tree 11-14-2013
Lone Tree
November 14, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlonetreenews.com
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 44
Board VP looks ahead Larsen has goal of united community By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Santa Claus, aka Larry Propp, rides down the escalator at Park Meadows mall moments after his arrival Nov. 9. Accompanying him is the Chick-fil-A cow mascot. Photo by Jane Reuter
HERE COMES
SANTA
Annual event kicks off holiday shopping season By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Highlands Ranch residents Casey and Stella Oyloe may only be 6 and 4, but their Christmas lists reveal their technological maturity. “An iPhone and pixie dust,” 6-yearold Stella said as she, her sister and two cousins waited to see Santa Claus at Park Meadows mall Nov. 9. “An iPhone and a baby doll,” 4-year old Casey said. Cousin Patrick Westhoff, 7, of Commerce City, had an equally adult request. “Avalanche tickets,” he said, struggling and failing to think of anything else he wanted. Zoe Westhoff, meanwhile, has her hopes set on a more traditional childhood-variety gift. “My Little Pony and a Princess Twilight Sparkle doll,” the 7-year-old said. Around the corner, Castle Rock 4-yearold Emma Maddaford, attired for the morning in a sparkling red sweater dress, said she wants a mermaid tale and Christmas pajamas. Her 3-year-old brother Miles explained his fondest desire in detail.
SANTA AT PARK MEADOWS
Children can visit Santa at the village near the Vistas mall entrance on the following dates and times: • Nov. 9 - Dec. 13 Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Nov. 29 Black Friday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Dec. 14 - Dec. 21 Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Dec. 22 - Dec. 23 Sunday-Monday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Dec. 24 Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. “I want the Polar Express train that goes around the tree, and then we can push a button and it goes around the tree,” he said. The six were among hundreds of children waiting at the Lone Tree mall Saturday morning to greet Santa Claus and kick off the holiday shopping season. Santa, known to some as Sterling resident Larry Propp, arrived in grand style on a South Metro fire truck. As he stepped out of the cab, a small girl broke free from the crowd of onlookers and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He quickly was surrounded by excited children, who accompanied him on a walk through the mall to Santa’s Village — a section of the
mall reserved for Santa and his visitors from now through Christmas. Children weren’t the only ones happy to see Santa. The day of Santa’s arrival at the mall is typically one of the busiest of the year at Justice children’s clothing store, manager Cori Wagner said. “I think this is going to be a better shopping season than last year,” she said. “I think now that the furlough is over, people will be spending money.” Lego store supervisor Courtney Morgan said a shorter shopping season meant the season started early this year. “On Halloween night, we put all our Christmas stuff up,” she said. “So I think people this year are more apt to get in the spirit earlier.” Park Meadows traditionally draws high traffic — with parking lots often filled to capacity — during the holiday season, but manager Pamela Schenck-Kelly isn’t sure this season will set records. “It’s difficult when you have big numbers to grow by big numbers,” she said. “The retail industry has plateaued at this point.” Employees are difficult to find this year, indicating a drop in unemployment, Schenck-Kelly said. “The other factor is I think the community has become very stabilized,” she said. Santa continues on Page 7
Kevin Larsen, likely the next Douglas County School Board president, said he hopes to help mend the rift in the community created during the recent election. Now vice president of the board, Larsen is expected to fill the lead position vacated by termlimited president John Carson. A believer in the board’s education reform policies, Larsen said he’s pleased the candidates who share those beliefs won the Nov. Larsen 5 election. But he also recognizes that not everyone feels the same way. “Part of my belief is I’m in the right place at the right time for what Douglas County needs,” he said. “I’m going to offer everything I can as a leader to get this community together, and to make education deliver what we need to for these kids.” Larsen said the quantity of votes the losing candidates received exceeds that of any other school board candidates in any previous race. “So I’m respectful and know there were many people who supported the other candidates,” he said. “I think what we got was approval from the majority of voters to say, ‘Continue the strategic plan, more of us are supporting it than don’t.’ “I think we’ve articulated what we believe. Equally, or maybe at this moment, more importantly, how we say it is going to make the difference of getting unity in the community.” While the board hasn’t voted on any changes to meetings, Larsen has ideas he believes will improve interactions between the board, community members and teachers. Those include holding regular working session meetings as well as board meetings and limiting public comment during board meetings to agenda items to ensure meetings stay productive. Separate community forums would then serve as an opportunity for parents and others to express separate concerns. He also hopes to address the concern many have about the amount of time the board spends in executive session. “I don’t know if it means fewer, but I want to increase the perception and the reality of having a lot more things done out in the open where people feel they can observe it, see it, know what’s going on,” he said. “Executive sessions are still necessary for certain things.” Larsen also said he wants to meet with principals and teachers and solicit feedback from them on the district policies. “We’re going to need to listen and understand the questions they have,” he said. Despite the campaign’s divisiveness, Larsen said he sees reason for optimism. Board continues on Page 7
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