August 18, 2016 VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 31
LET THERE BE BEARDS There’s more to facial-hair fashion than meets the eye. PAGE 12
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Stricter marijuana ordinance a ‘smart move’ New county law, among the strongest in state, aims to eliminate illegal grows By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Alicia dances with her daughter Fiona, 2, while listening to the Eagles tribute band, The Long Run, during the final event in this year’s Lone Tree Summer Concert Series. Photos by Katie Pickrell
What can beat people, food and music? Lone Tree’s final concert in series brings out residents for farewell to summer By Katie Pickrell Special to Colorado Community Media Genevieve Rivera and Jeremy Matza could hear the music from their back porch, so they sauntered over to Sweetwater Park to check it out. What they found was The Long Run, Colorado’s tribute band to The Eagles, playing the final concert of Lone Tree’s 2016 Summer Concert Series.
“It’s a nice thing to do in the neighborhood that we could just walk to,” Matza said. “We’re really enjoying the food, we like the music.” “The sunset was beautiful,” Rivera added. “It’s nice that you can be outdoors while doing all of this.” Families and friends turned out for the Aug. 13 concert, which also included the third annual Lone Tree Food Truck Soiree, a competition among Denver metro-area award-winning food trucks. The City of Lone Tree sponsored the free concert series. Annette Rebellato, who came with Concert continues on Page 14
Thanks to the recently passed county law that sharply reduces the number of marijuana plants that can be grown in a home, a Highlands Ranch family is looking forward to a return to normalcy in their neighborhood. “It’ll be nice for my daughter to be able to go outside and start playing again,” said James, who asked that his last name not be used because he said he fears for his family’s safety. “We won’t have to worry about the smell anymore and the traffic at night.” James was referring to a nearby rental home on Bentwood Circle in the community’s Bentley Hills subdivision, which the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported to have 66 legal medical marijuana plants growing inside. Ordinance continues on Page 7
FAST FACTS As of July, Colorado had 102,620 active medical marijuana patients.
From left, Pink Tank employees Trish Woodard, Youssef Zalal and Jordan Titoni pose for a photo inside their awardwinning food truck.
Future of RidgeGate East project explored Many varieties of uses planned for development
Doctors had issued a recommendation of 50 marijuana plants or more for 8,200 patients, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported. According to the governor’s office, from 2014 to 2016, the number of medical marijuana patients with physician recommendations for an extended plant count of 50 or more plants increased by 54 percent. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which regulates medical marijuana, reports that severe pain is the documented condition for 93 percent of medical marijuana patients, 22 percent of whom are between the ages of 21 and 30.
By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media
Aerial view of RidgeGate East. The site east of I-25 is the proposed location for the new Lone Tree City Center. Courtesy photo
The Lone Tree City Council and the public got their first look at a preliminary plan for the development of the area east of I-25 known as RidgeGate East at a council study session on Aug. 2. The 2,400-acre site extending from Lincoln Avenue to what will be the end-of the-line light rail station just south of RidgeGate Parkway has been divided into two sub-area plans. The RidgeGate continues on Page 14
SETTING UP SHOP Whether short or tall, volleyball setters rely on skill to get the job done. Check out this story and others as we continue our fall sports previews on PAGE 26.
Experiencing facial redness this summer despite using sunscreen daily?
WE CAN HELP! 303-945-2080 Dr. Kimberly Neyman
See page 7 for Dr. Kim Neyman’s column on Rosacea.