Town staff sets sights on 58 major projects for 2011

Town staff spends a majority of its time on direct service delivery, customer service and organizational leadership and management.

Still, the staff – with Town Council’s direction – sets out to complete a litany of major projects each year in the areas of community services, community planning, economic development, capital improvements and organizational efforts.

Staff has a very good track record in those efforts and never has completed less than about 95 percent of the major projects it has outlined at the beginning of the year.

Town Council on Tuesday approved the Town leadership team’s ambitious, 58-item 2011 Major Projects Work Program. The full list is posted at CRgov.com/2011projects. It does not identify every project – only the major ones, which typically are the most important to complete.

A highlight in the first half of the year is April’s municipal election, which not only will see three Town Council seats on the ballot but also a commercial medical marijuana referendum. Several medical marijuana-related items are on the projects list, including Town Council consideration of whether to regulate residential grow houses.

During the second half of the year, a major focus will be on long-term water efforts, including a renewable water project involving East Plum Creek, as well as regional water partnerships.

Some other projects Town of Castle Rock staff intends to complete in 2011:

• · Implement an optional water bill round-up program to assist low-income customers
• · Establish a new nonprofit grant program
• · Complete the trail expansion project at Ridgeline Open Space, Phase I of Hangman’s Gulch Trail and the Sellars Gulch low water crossing project at Lewis Street
• · Complete construction of Wrangler Park and prepare for construction of Phase I of Philip S. Miller Park in 2012
• · Conduct a resident survey and present the results to Town Council
• · Add live streaming Town Council meetings and other new videos to CRgov.com
• · Complete final design and right of way acquisition for the North Meadows Extension
• · Complete planning and design for an expansion to the Town’s Fire Training facility
• · Prepare for an April 2012 election on a long-term renewable water property tax, bond authorization and de-Brucing
• · Complete recommendations for new economic development assistance programs
• Plan and prioritize for future trail and bicycle lane projects

Saturday, August 28, 2010
12 Noon till 10:00 p.m.
Free Outdoor Festival in the heart of downtown Denver.
Skyline Park @ 16th St. Mall and Arapahoe. MAP

Another free music in the park event in Colorado

Sarah Samantha Rose is part of the “Unknown Fest” but she’s known quite well in her hometown of Parker. Sarah has been singing in church since she was quite young is a graduate of the Douglas County Childrens Chorale and has performed at  Lannie’s Clocktower as a regular along with  the Pinnacle Theater, Denver Downtown Aquarium, City Park Festival of the Arts and Herman’s Hideaway.

With a heart to give back, she also participates in many musical fundraising events giving over 100 hours a year to causes like  The Red Cross, Relay For Life, Foster Grandparents and the Adoption Alliance.

Sarah also won eleven awards in 2010 from the Colorado Country Music Association.

Sarah is excited to be participating in The Unknownfest this year.

Unknownfest Voted Best New Outdoor Festival by Westword

UnknownfestRated an August Best Bet by 5280 Magazine.
And it’s FREE!! Spread the word and we’ll see you there!!

Schedule for the Unknownfest 2010

12:00 – Sarah Samantha Rose

12:45 – Chella Negro

1:30 – Cutter Nuxon

2:45 – Kevin Mileski

4:15 – Ground Up

5:45 – The Hippogriffs

7:15 – Dave Tamkin

8:45 – Foma

The Unknownfest is proud to have MTV Networks, Westword, Coda Inc. and the Downtown Denver Partnership as sponsors this year.

For more information go to Gruckee.com

Related Articles:

Free live music at Takoda Tavern

Free music in the park Victorian Peaks Parker CO

Free music in the park, O’Brien Park, Parker Colorado

Snowstorm coming to Castle Rock in time for the holidays

No more dreaming of a white Christmas in Castle Rock – one looks to be a reality, with as much as 10 inches of snow expected here between late tonight and early Thursday.

The Town’s snow removal crews are planning to take to the streets about 2 a.m. Wednesday to begin battling back against the storm. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 6 a.m. and noon Wednesday, which could mean a tricky morning commute.

Small plow operators are expected to join the snow-removal effort tomorrow afternoon, when crews first expect to head onto residential streets. The work will continue around the clock until the storm stops and streets are passable, probably sometime Christmas Eve.

Town offices are expected to remain open Wednesday and Thursday, and Police and Fire personnel are ready to respond to any storm-related incidents.

The Town’s online snowplow tracking system, accessible at CRgov.com/plowtracker, will be updated once snow-removal operations begin. In addition, the Town will post updates as needed on its Web site, CRgov.com, and on its Facebook page (facebook.com/crgov) and Twitter feed (@crgov).

Stay safe, and enjoy the snow.

PRESS RELEASE

Holiday Bazaar – Craft Show at Idyllwilde  Parker/Castle Rock
November 21, 2009 – 9 am to 4 pm

(Idyllwilde Grand Hall at Canterberry Pkwy & Idyllwilde) <map
Looking for some great Holiday Gifts? Find jewelry, books, artwork, baked goods, creative stitchery, home décor, and more. Door prizes. Get into the spirit with Christmas music, decorated tree and lights, and snacks.

Want to vendor your wares? Contact Vickie: VickieGalimov@msn.com or Naomi: naomipenner@yahoo.com. (Idyllwilde residents: $25 booth space, non-residents $40. Some tables available.)

This is the month of Thanksgiving. Share your blessings – Entry fee: 2 food items or 2 gently used, clean toys for the Parker Task Force or $5 toward the same cause.

November 21st, beginning at 1:00 p.m., carolers, bell ringers, musicians, hot chocolate, carriage rides, puppet shows and a variety of special holiday celebrations comprise this “Norman Rockwell experience.”

The Starlighting program begins at 5 p.m. and includes a group sing of Silent Night and the traditional reading of the Starlighting Poem. That jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, directs the crowd in the count-down to the lighting of the Star. The Castle Rock Fire Department sponsors a Chili Supper at the station on Perry Street from 3-7:00 p.m. For more details, visit www.castlerock.org or call the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce at 303-688-4597.

The Starlighting Title Sponsor, Castle Rock Bank, is proud to sponsor this long-standing community tradition as it celebrates its 35th anniversary as your independent, locally-owned community bank.

Enjoy this video showing the sights of Castle Rock Colorado during the Starlighting December 2008.

2010 Starlighting in Castle Rock Colorado information

The winter journey is filled with merry activities both inside and outside of the museum beginning with the wildlife themed trail of lights. This path around The Wildlife Experience is lined with beautiful light sculptures and colorfully light-coated trees. Escape the cold with a cup of cocoa from a refreshment station along the path and get a family picture with dazzling Winter WonderLights backdrop, or with one of the many stunning sculptures found along the path!

A perfect place to end the trails’ journey is in The Wildlife Experience’s newest exhibit Globeology. Visitors can warm up by exploring this quarter-mile indoor path through eight different worldly biomes including the Arctic Tundra where visitors can gaze eye to eye with polar bears and delight in the Aurora Borealis.

Before you leave the warmth of the indoors, be sure to write your letter to Santa as you will soon bundle up to wander around the whimsical Santa’s Village. Full of winter charm and merriment, guests enter the enchanting village and are instantly transported to the magical world of the North Pole. Live reindeer prepare for the big night as elves keep busy by entertaining and spreading good cheer. Throughout the village, families are welcomed to a variety of snowy villas where children can visit with Santa as they warm by the fire in the Claus’ living room and take a picture. Each villa provides a new encounter of holiday traditions, new and old, cheerful elves and clever ornamental trimmings. Educational opportunities await families to learn about favorite winter animals, such as the arctic fox, polar bears, orca whales…and many more!

After delivering your letter to Santa, guests can escape the winter chill and relax in the Extreme Screen Theater with a showing of the original animated, How the Grinch Stole Christmas complete with popcorn and other favorite holiday treats.

Start a new tradition with your family and The Wildlife Experience.

Winter WonderLights runs nightly, December 11-24 (For a sneak peek visit us December 4 & 5)from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. (last ticket will be sold at 8p.m.)

Winter WonderLights admission includes all activities (trail of lights, Globeology, letters to Santa, Santa’s Village, Santa visits, live reindeer and How The Grinch Stole Christmas):
Adults: $9
Seniors: $8
Children 3-12 $6
Children 2 and under: FREE!

Members receive a $2.00 discount.

Purchase your tickets to Winter WonderLights online

See more great family events on their website Wildlife Experience!

Map to the Wildlife Experience

Location: 11264 Gallahadion Ln (Canterberry Crossing)
Date: Saturday, November 7th 2010
Time: 10am to 3pm

Come start your holiday shopping early and don’t fight the crowds! We will have many beautiful and fun items.

Many vendors accept credit cards! Cash and Carry options!

Stop by, bring a friend, do some shopping and register for our Gift Basket worth over $50!!

Vendors include:

Creative Memories (traditional and digital scrapbooking and photo gifts)
Mary Kay Cosmetics (skincare and makeup)
Tastefully Simple (food mixes)
Pampered Chef (food preparation)
Salt City Candles
Cookie Lee Designs (jewelry)
The Coffee Ladies (handmade coffee sleeves)
Pooch Pastry Shop (gourmet dog treats)

The best place to get pumpkins at your local farmers market.

There are several Farmers Markets still going for a few more weeks in douglas county.

Downtown Castle Rock, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through Oct. 10.  Find the best in fresh fruits, vegetables and other homegrown goodies. Located at Second Street  between Wilcox and Perry. The event is coordinated by the CSU Cooperative Extension Service-Douglas County.

Call 720-733-6930 for information.

Lone Tree Farmer’s Market Saturdays from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. through September. Located in the Lonetree Entertainment District in front of the Rio Grand Restaurant at Yosemite and Park Meadows Drive.

Highlands Ranch Farmers’ Market to  November 1  Sundays from 10am until 2 pm
Located at Highlands Ranch Town Center Square 9288 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Parker Farmer’s Market Every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through October Located at the North West corner of Parker and Main Street in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Over 70 vendors with loads of fresh picked produce, juicy fruit, gourmet foods, plants, flowers, wine, handmade sausage, on site cooking and more.
Southlands Farmer’s Markets Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through October and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  through September. Located at E-470 and Smoky Hill Road in the Southlands Shopping Center.

You can follow Parker Farmers Market on Twitter here.

The Town of Castle Rock has partnered with DMA (Downtown Merchants Assn)  to expand this traditional merchant Trick or Treating program to include a kid’s costume contest and pumpkin decoration in Festival Part. As Halloween falls on Saturday in 2009, Trick or Treat Street will be held on Friday.

Trick or Treat Street, held in cooperation with the Town of Castle Rock, will again feature a costume contest as well as music and pumpkin decorating. The fun will radiate from Festival Park, Second and Perry streets, but Downtown merchants also will have their doors open for trick-or-treaters. The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m.  A full schedule for the costume contest is below.

This year’s costume contest isn’t just for kids, with 11 and up and group costume categories added to the age group divisions from previous years.

Preregistration for the costume contest is encouraged and must be completed by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, by contacting Karen McGrath, 303-660-1365 or kmcgrath@CRgov.com. You’ll need to provide your child’s name and age and the parent’s contact information.

Costume contest schedule

Under 2 years
Sign in by 2:15 p.m.; contest begins at 2:30 p.m.
Winners announced at 3:15 p.m.

2-4 years
Sign in by 2:30 p.m.; contest begins at 2:45 p.m.
Winners announced at 3:30 p.m.

5-7 years
Sign in by 3:45 p.m.; contest begins at 4 p.m.
Winners announced at 4:15 p.m.

8-10 years
Sign in by 4 p.m.; contest begins at 4:15 p.m.
Winners announced at 4:45 p.m.

11 years and up
Sign in by 4:15 p.m.; contest begins at 4:30 p.m.
Winners announced at 5 p.m.

Group costume contest
Sign in by 4:30 p.m.; contest begins at 4:45 p.m.
Winners announced between 5 and 5:15 p.m.

For general information on the event, call the Downtown Merchants Association at 303-688-7488 or e-mail Angela@downtowncastlerock.com. For information on the costume contest, contact Karen McGrath at 303-660-1365 or kmcgrath@CRgov.com.