1-Color
February 13, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 5 A publication of
lonetreevoice.net
School safety: It takes a team Mental health training one key, say former counselor, school district officials By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
Arapahoe High School senior Lizzie Stephani has been part of Sky Ridge Medical Center’s junior volunteer program for four years. Courtesy photo
Program a window into future Area high school students covet long-term assignment By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia. com Dr. Tiffany Richason was among Sky Ridge Medical Center’s first volunteers. A little more than 10 years later, she’s back — working there as a physician and mentoring young women who may
follow her path. “It’s really fun for me to be able to kind of be on the reciprocating end and hopefully be an inspiration to others,” said Richason, an obstetrician and gynecologist. “That was me a few years ago. I really appreciated the doctors who didn’t brush me aside.” Richason is among hundreds of younger people who’ve participated in the Lone Tree hospital’s volunteer program — an opportunity that’s become highly coveted and competitive among
area high school students. The approximately 50 volunteers selected each year typically are high-performing students from Douglas County, Cherry Creek and Littleton school districts who often volunteer there throughout their high school years. While the hours apply to the students’ required community service, most hope to devote their lives to the Program continues on Page 11
News of the Dec. 13 Arapahoe High School shooting hit former Rock Canyon High School guidance counselor Susan Young hard. “The second I heard it, I just sat down in my living room and started crying,” she said. Young didn’t know Highlands Ranch resident and shooter Karl Pierson or his victim, Claire Davis. But as a 15-year high school guidance counselor, she knows the pressures unique to teens, and the counselors who serve them. “Every one of us has had students we worked with that have taken their lives,” said Young, who retired last year and now runs an independent counseling business. “It’s devastating when that happens.” Young is equally certain the team at Rock Canyon prevented tragedies. Post-Columbine, the Douglas County School District developed “an extensive protocol” for threat assessments that included counselors, social workers, psychologists, security staff and teachers, among others, she said. No red flag was ignored. Safety continues on Page 5
Continued job growth linked to light rail Young workers not keen on car ownership, economic development experts say By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
large home and driving a quality car — or any car at all. “These young people want to live in a mixed-use community, a village kind of setting where they can walk,” Denver South EDP president Mike Fitzgerald told the Lone Tree City Council during its Feb. 4 meeting. “They want to live in multi-family housing. They may or may not have a preference to buy (a home). More of them do not want to own a car than do, so they want to be as close to mass transit as possible.” Extending the light rail line south would add 2.3 miles of track from Lincoln Avenue across Interstate 25 to RidgeGate Parkway. The Regional Transportation District doesn’t have funding to accomplish the work through its FasTracks Program, so it’s exploring financial partnerships. With its huge stake in the outcome, Lone Tree’s
Companies building in south metro Denver since 2011 have brought, or will bring, almost 5,500 new jobs to the area, according to the Denver South Economic Development Partnership. Continued job growth hinges in large part on building the southeast light rail extension, experts say. That’s because the young workers most likely to fill those jobs don’t want to own vehicles. Company leaders said their targeted work force of 25- to 35-year olds reflect changes in lifestyle preferences. Their wish 6x1.75_BringAppetite_Layout 1 2/3/14owning 11:15 AM lists don’t necessarily include a Page 1
Rail continues on Page 11
Economic development in south metro Denver hinges on the extension of light rail — which now stops here at Lincoln Avenue — south to RidgeGate Parkway, many say. Photo by Jane Reuter
BRING YOUR APPETITE! FEBRUARY 22 - 28
DenverRestaurantWeek.com #denverYUM