March 19, 2015 VOLU M E 2 8 | I S S UE 1 7
HighlandsRanchHerald.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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GRASPING A DREAM
Student testing ignites debate Opinions on assessments fall at both extremes By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Pine Grove Elementary fifth-grader Kole McNamara didn’t join his classmates in taking the PARCC test this month. After reviewing some of the test questions and reading about the assessment, his mother, Laura McNamara, opted the Parker student out of the testing. “I was not confident this test could show me growth in my son,” she said. “On top of it, it’s like our whole March and April is about PARCC; it’s not about any foundation (education). It’s very disappointing to me.” The Partnerships for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, which tests English and math skills, is a partial replacement for what originally was called the CSAP. Separate assessments intended to measure science and social studies skills are given to fourth-, fifth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students as the other half of the
Senior Kendall Bradbury holds the state girls Class 4A basketball championship trophy as she and the other Valor players move over to the stands to share the win with their fans. The Eagles combined accurate shooting with a stingy defense to win the March 14 title game over Sand Creek, 73-47. Photo by Tom Munds
PARCC continues on Page 10
Tattered Cover moving to Littleton Highlands Ranch lease expiring after 10 years By Christy Steadman
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com The Tattered Cover is more than a bookstore. It is a celebration of literature and community. From children to students to seniors, a broad demographic of community members visits the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch, said Eileen Forlenza, who has lived in Highlands Ranch for 15 years. The community will be sad to see it go, she said. “It brought light to the evolving culture of Highlands Ranch,” Forlenza said. “It is on the cutting edge of community trends, and the pulse of what’s going on in the country.” The Tattered Cover will move from Town Center to the Aspen Grove shopping center in Littleton. The exact date has yet to be determined, but it will be sometime in April. The store will stay open in Highlands Ranch until the move is complete. Aspen Grove is about 10 minutes from the Highlands Ranch Town Center. It is located near the Santa Fe and Mineral light rail station. The new location is “close enough to still be a part of this community,” general manager Margaret Shaheen said, “but we’ll also be meeting new neighbors and readers in Littleton.” The Tattered Cover moved into the building in Highlands Ranch on Nov. 15, 2004, and has reached the end of a 10-year lease, owner Joyce Meskis said. “Our need for a store of that size has changed with market conditions,” she said. Bookstore continues on Page 10
Residents can report potholes at douglas.co.us/roadwork/potholes, or call 303-660-7480. Shutterstock image
Pothole Patrol can fill gaps Online or phone notification available By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com
The Tattered Cover at the Highlands Ranch Town Center will be moving to Littleton in April. Employees are in the beginning stages of packing books and breaking down shelves, said general manager Margaret Shaheen, pictured. But people are still welcome to shop or enjoy the other amenities of the bookstore, she added, because the location will stay open through the end of March. Photo by Christy Steadman
Have you noticed a pothole in your area? If so, you can now report it to the county as part of the Douglas County Pothole Patrol. To report a pothole, visit douglas.co.us/ road-work/potholes, or call 303-660-7480. Pothole locations can be reported by intersection or approximate location on a county road or street. Potholes on streets owned by local municipalities are the responsibility of those individual communities. Potholes on private property like parking lots are the responsibility of those private businesses. Potholes continues on Page 10