Castle Rock News Press 0925

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September 25, 2014 VOLU M E 1 2 | I SS UE 25 | F R E E

CastleRockNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

Council fueling up taxi program

People walk with their dogs at the Dumb Friends League Wag N’ Trail event Sept. 20 at the Glendale Farm Open Space.

Hike helps homeless pups PHOTOS BY MIKE DIFERDINANDO

RIGHT: George, a 9-year old Akita, poses for a picture at the Dumb Friends League Wag N’Trail event. BELOW: Free toys and treats were given out at the Dumb Friends League Wag N’Trail event at the Glendale Farm Open Space.

B Y

ShopLocal Colorado.com F IND AL L OF OU R ADV ERTIS ER S O NL INE

Town approves WISE pipeline

Federal, state leaders tour schools Students show off efforts that garnered green awards By Jane Reuter

jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com

P LE AS E R ECYCLE T HIS COPY

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com

Taxi continues on Page 9

P L E AS E S UPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVE RTI SER S FOR T HE I R CONTR IBUTION TO K EE PI NG OU R C OMMUNIT Y CONNECTED

G ET SOCIAL WITH US

By Mike DiFerdinando

The Castle Rock taxi voucher program was given a lifeline last week. On Sept. 16, town council voted 5-0 to approve a $10,000 increase in the program’s budget that will help keep it afloat for the remainder of the year. Councilmembers Brett Ford and Chip Wilson were not at the meeting. The taxi voucher program started in 2011 to help support the transit-dependent residents of the town, including some elderly and disabled citizens who otherwise wouldn’t have transportation. The voucher program contributes a maximum of $10 per ride, with passengers paying any overage to the driver. Riders must register ahead of time and then call in advance for a ride. Service, which is for rides for work, shopping and medical appointments only, is limited to town boundaries. “The whole point of the program is to provide rides for people who can’t get around any other way,” said traffic engineering manager Bob Watts. According to Watts, ridership has increased almost 100 percent over the past year, causing the program to eat through its yearly budget quicker than expected.

Dogs and people from all over the metro area came out for the Dumb Friends League Wag N’ Trail event Sept. 20 at the Glendale Farm Open Space in Douglas County. Money raised from the 1.6-mile hike will go to support the Castle Rock Buddy Center, a shelter for homeless animals. The trail featured stops along the way for family photos, water and snacks.

P O W E R E D

Town OKs $10,000 hike in voucher initiative

Three Douglas County elementary schools fairly buzzed with a combination of excitement, nerves and pride Sept. 16 when federal and state leaders toured their buildings as part of the 2014 Green Strides Best Practices Tour. Heritage Elementary in Highlands Ranch, Flagstone Elementary in Castle Rock and Larkspur Elementary all have earned national recognition for their conservation efforts. Larkspur earned the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Award in 2014, and Flagstone in 2012. Flagstone and Heritage are among four DCSD schools that received the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA Green Flag Award. Castle Rock and Copper Mesa elementary schools also earned the Green Flag designation. The Colorado Department of Education hosted the Denver metro-area tour, one of several stops Tour continues on Page 7

Heritage Elementary fourth-grader Isabella Heydman holds one of the school’s chickens during a Sept. 16 presentation to state and federal officials about the Highlands Ranch school’s environmental programs. Photo by Jane Reuter

Renewable water expected to start flowing into Castle Rock by 2017 By Mike DiFerdinando

mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com The last piece of the WISE water puzzle is now in place for Castle Rock. Town council has approved an agreement that will bring WISE — Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency Partnership — water to the town through a new western pipeline. Council voted 5-0 on Sept. 16 to approve the agreement between the town and the other members of the WISE water collective. Councilmembers Brett Ford and Chip Wilson were not present for the vote. “We are estimating that the total capital and infrastructure costs will be around $35 million for the Town of Castle Rock. That includes building the pipeline, local infrastructure, modifications and the other things we have to do associated with the project,” Castle Rock utilities director Mark Marlowe said. The South Metro WISE Authority is made up of 10 water providers that are all part of the larger South Metro Water Pipeline continues on Page 9


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