March 5, 2015 VOLU M E 1 4 | I S SUE 7
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Highlands Ranch High gets new leader Page to leave assistant principal post at Rock Canyon for top job By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Rock Canyon High School Assistant Principal Chris Page first walked the halls of Highlands Ranch High as a student teacher. Starting next fall, he’ll do so as its principal. Principal Jerry Goings is retiring at the end of the academic year, concluding 10 years at the school’s helm. Page knows Goings will be a tough act to follow. “They are big shoes,” he said. “I want to be able to bring a little bit of Chris Page there but honor some of the great work that’s been happening at the school.” Goings believes Page is ideally suited for the position, citing his historic ties to the school and district. “He loves kids, has a real strong connection to our community,” he said. “I’m excited for Chris. I think he’ll do a great job.”
A 2003 graduate of Adams State College, Page had “a great experience” as a student teacher at Highlands Ranch. He never dreamed then he’d someday lead that or any school. “Since sixth grade, I wanted to be a teacher,” said the 36-year-old. “But I thought I was going to teach for about 30 years, retire, get on a school board and get into politics. That was my plan.” That plan changed as his teaching career continued. Page was among the first teachers hired at Rocky Heights Middle School, and opened Rock Canyon High School as a football, track and wrestling coach. He’s been involved in almost every area of the school: teaching, creating classes, coaching the mock trial team and moving up the ladder to dean and finally assistant principal. Page continues on Page 6
Rock Canyon Assistant Principal Chris Page will take over for Jerry Goings as Highlands Ranch’s principal at the end of the school year. Photo by Jane Reuter
Snow days explained by district Team process toward schools’ closure or delay begins in wee hours By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Lasinda Crane, co-owner of Cranelli’s Itlalian Restaurant, mixes a drink during a standing-room-only Friday dinner hour Feb. 20. Photos by Jane Reuter
Cranelli’s known for food, fun, service Family-owned eatery has fans happily waiting in line By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Jen Fewel ignored dire warnings about a record snowstorm to eat at her favorite Lone Tree restaurant Feb. 20. Cranelli’s is more than 20 miles from her home near downtown Denver. She dines there at least once a month. “I’ve become very addicted,” said Fewel, who first sampled the restaurant’s food at the 2014 Taste of Lone Tree. “It’s small and it’s crazy and you usually have to wait. But if you come in a restaurant and it’s empty, that’s an indication of the food. The fact that people are willing to wait? That says something. “And her personality,” she said, gesturing at co-owner Lasinda Crane, “is fantastic. It adds to the ambiance.” Crane and her husband, longtime Lone Tree chef Jimmy Crane, regularly welcome a standing-room-only crowd of diners to the 44-seat Italian restaurant on the ground floor of the Crest apartments. Its funky location and limited seating capacity don’t deter Cranelli’s many fans, who patiently wait their turn for a weekend night table or barstool. Yelp, Open Table and TripAdvisor reviewers give Cranelli’s an average 4.5 of 5 stars, based on hundreds of reviews. “You might have to stand in line, but
The Douglas County School District’s Facebook page flamed with angry messages the snowy morning of Feb. 26. “I thought safety was a priority for DCSD; guess not!” “DCSD = Don’t Call Snow Days.” “Valor and Regis are closed. I guess we don’t pay enough to keep our kids safe.” Almost all the 135 posts were from parents, all but a handful upset the district had not canceled or delayed classes. Jeffco and Denver public and several private schools canceled. Two rural Douglas County elementary schools were on 90-minute delays, but all other district schools were on a normal schedule. In Douglas County, consideration about whether or not to cancel or delay classes began about 3 a.m., when most parents and students were sound asleep. That’s when the district sends teams of drivers from the maintenance and transportation Snow day continues on Page 9
Chef and co-owner Jimmy Crane is a whirlwind as he moves around the kitchen on a busy Friday night. you’re always welcome here,” said longtime Lone Tree resident Fred Kaserman. “If food is your number one priority, it’s excellent here. So is the hospitality.” Most recently the site of Chicago R Dogs, a restaurant that sold an ambitiously unique combination of hot dogs and Asian food, the Park Meadows Drive site also was home to Luca’s Jersey Pizza.
Cranelli’s has easily overcome its predecessors’ obstacles, straining the small parking lot’s capacity on Friday and Saturday nights. Wait staff have learned to nimbly navigate the obstacle course of tables and people, hoisting plates hot with steaming pasta high above diners. Cranelli’s continues on Page 9
Vincent Rickard, right, helps keep girlfriend Julia Kramer warm as the ninth-graders walk home from Highlands Ranch’s STEM Academy on Feb. 26. Photo by Jane Reuter