OCN

Volunteers reporting on community issues in Monument, Palmer Lake, and the surrounding Tri-Lakes area

OCN > column > Page 16

column

Snapshots of Our Community

Monument Play Park plans, Mar. 10

Above: Thirty people attended a public meeting March 10 to give feedback and get more information on the proposed Heart of Monument Play Park. The park will be next to the Monument Community Presbyterian Church, which is donating the land. It’ll be for people of all ages and those with physical and emotional disabilities. NES Inc. will use the input from the meeting attendants as well as comments gathered by Monument Hill Kiwanis Club and the Heart of Monument Steering Committee to finalize the design of the park. NES says the design could be ready by June. It’s hoped the park will be open this summer or fall. From left, Roberta Ross, Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind, and Tri-Lakes Cares Executive Director Haley Chapin look at the project plans. Photo by Bob Harrigan.

TLC thanks Kiwanis, Mar. 30

Above: Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) has thanked Monument Hill Kiwanis Club for its contributions to TLC. Kiwanis President Scott Ross was given a certificate of appreciation on March 30. Kiwanis raises money for TLC with Empty Bowls, D38’s Harvest of Love, the Giving Tree, the North Pole Craft Fair, and food distribution during the holidays. From left are TLC Director of Operations Julie Keim, Executive Director Haley Chapin, Development Specialist Christine Bucher, and Ross. Photo by Warren Gerig.

Tri-Lakes Chamber awards, Apr. 12

Below: The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce gave out its annual awards on April 12. Sheri Miller of Mountain Wings Management was named Volunteer of the Year. Amber Jack of Edward Jones was awarded Ambassador of the Year. The honor of Businesspersons of the Year went to Shannon and Rich Schur of the Schur Success Group. The top Non-Profit award was given to Owen Schoolsky of Tri-Lakes Dynamic Rotary Club while Julie and Steven Hart of Geneva Technologies went home with the Economic Development Business award. Photos by Hannah Yeomans.

100+ Women Who Care, Apr. 17

Above: On April 17, 100+ Women Who Care Tri-Lakes gathered at the Woodmoor Barn to hear from two nominees for its bi-annual grant. The nominees included Trinity Community Park, an accessible park on the east side of I-25, and Heart of Monument Park, an all-ages, universally accessible park in the works through a partnership of the Town of Monument and the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club. The group selected Trinity Community Park for its award. Trinity Community Park is Monument’s first Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant community park. It is a playground for everyone at every stage of life, with equipment for all abilities and every body type. For more information, see https://trinitymonument.org/trinity-community-park. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Earth Day tree planting, Apr. 21

Above: Volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church and the surrounding community planted 50 Douglas fir saplings at Trinity Community Park on a cold, foggy Earth Day April 21. The saplings were donated by Neighborhood Forest, a national group that gives free trees to kids to plant every Earth Day. This year, it gave away 67,000 trees. Pictured (L to R): Tamara Schwarz, Aida Richardson, Don Richardson, 101-year-old WWII vet Marie West, Patsy Janeba, and John Janeba. Photo by Tamara Schwarz.

TLWC helps charity, Apr. 15

Above: Members of the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club (TLWC) sorted children’s clothing by size and gender on April 15 so it can be donated to needy families. The donations will be handled by Catholic Charities Social Services. From left are TLWC members Cindy Beley, Sandy Mangiarelli, and Sandra Sciadini. Photo by Maureen Morgan.

Chamber After Hours, Apr. 16

Above: The monthly Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event was held April 16 at Lolley’s Tasting Room. The room at 174 Washington St. is an annex to Lolley’s Ice Cream on Second Street. It can be reserved for any kind of party or get-together and holds about 75 people. The event space was packed with networking Chamber members and their guests eating food and sampling Lolley’s ice cream. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.

Fox Run Nature Center meeting

Above: Close to one hundred people met with executives of the El Paso County Parks and Community Services Department at Pikes Peak Brewery April 18, a rescheduled date from March 14 due to weather. Many people went to learn about the details of the proposed Fox Run Nature Center. There have been discussions about dropping the number of parking places from 60 to 30 and downsizing the canopy walk. Engineering has mapped most of the trees in the park and has looked for the least vulnerable spot for trees, plant life and wildlife, where the nature center will be built. For more information about the nature center, go to www.communityservices.elpasoco.com/nature-centers/fox-run-nature-center/. Caption by Marlene Brown. Photo by Mike Thomas.

Students win PLAG scholarships

Above: Palmer Ridge High School student Cavan Porter (left) has been awarded the top scholarship of $1,500 from the Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG). The second-place scholarship of $1,000 went to Palmer Ridge student Marian Griffiths (right). Lewis-Palmer High School student Ella Davis was awarded a $500 scholarship. Since 1977, PLAG has awarded about $87,000 in scholarships to graduating D38 seniors planning to continue their study of the arts. A small number of artists formed the group in 1965. It now has members throughout the Pikes Peak region. Photos courtesy of PLAG.

Arbor Day in Monument, Apr. 26

Above: On April 26, people gathered near the Third Street Santa Fe Trail trailhead to celebrate Arbor Day and learn about tips for successful planting of trees in our high desert mountain clime. Town Gardener Cassie Olgren led a talk about proper planting and after-care tasks. Then visitors were given free plants to take home and put in their gardens. Photo by Janet Sellers.

Tim Watkins Trail sign reinstalled

Above: Last year, before the National Forest Service wildfire mitigation work in the Monument Preserve north of Mount Herman Road, Brian Mullin, president of Friends of Monument Preserve (FOMP), removed and stored the sign which marked the Tim Watkins Memorial Trail. The sign has been reinstalled about three-fourths mile in from the Red Rocks Road parking lot. FOMP built and maintains this trail as it does for many trails through the preserve. Watkins, a well-known part of the Tri-Lakes mountain-biking community, was killed while riding in the Mount Herman area in 2017, and his killer has not been identified. If you have any information regarding this unsolved murder, please contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. FOMP “trail nights” to maintain trails in the preserve are scheduled the second Thursday of May through October at 5 p.m. Meet at the Red Rocks Road parking lot just north of Mount Herman Road if you can help. Photo by Brian Mullin

Other Snapshot sections

March Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

March this year had its usual swings between winter and spring and was of course punctuated by a major snowstorm during the middle of the month. Temperatures were a little below average overall, but there were no real cold or warm periods. Precipitation and snowfall were above average again, which is good news because moisture during this time of the year is critical for the start of the growing season. After a slow start to the snowfall this season, we have managed to put three months in a row of above normal snowfall, bringing our seasonal total to above average and we still have another month or so of good snowfall potential.

The month started off mild, with highs reaching the upper 50s to low 60s, about 15-20 degrees warmer than normal for the start of March. This was interrupted by a quick-moving cold front that brought a dusting of snow and cooler temperatures on the 3rd and 4th. After a couple of dry days, another cold front moved in bringing a couple days of unsettled conditions. This produced a couple inches of snowfall along with a few rumbles of thunder on the 8th. This was our first sign of the changing seasons as we begin to see more convective activity in the atmosphere.

Quiet and mild conditions then moved back in over the next several days as the atmosphere began to build up moisture and energy ahead of an anomalously strong and unsettled pattern that would bring significant impacts to the region during the second week of the month.

This next storm was a combination of several unusual factors that normally don’t all come together at once over our region. First was a cold upper-level area of low pressure moving out of the Pacific Northwest and dropping south along the Intermountain West. At the same time, low-level wind fields began to draw in moisture from the southeast out of the Gulf of Mexico. And finally, a cold front began to slide down the Front Range of the Rockies. This combination of factors set the stage for a widespread, heavy snow event across the region.

The area of upper-level low pressure cut off from the main flows sat over northern Arizona/Southern Utah for several days, sending several waves of energy over the region to help enhance lift. This made very efficient work of the moisture that moved in from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold air ensured snow for the Palmer Divide. The first signs of the storm began during the late afternoon of the 13th, with scattered snow showers. Snow began to fall heavily later that evening, with several inches accumulating before midnight. Temperatures continued to cool as well, and winds kicked in. This produced heavy snow and strong winds, with blizzard conditions through the night and into to the next morning. Snowfall accumulated at rates of 2-3 inches per hour at times, with over a foot by the time the sun came up on the 14th.

Snow continued through the day and into the night, with another 8-12 inches accumulating before midnight. The storm finally began to wind down the next morning, leaving behind a winter wonderland. Around the Palmer Divide, anywhere from 20-30 inches of snow accumulated, causing travel issues and some fallen trees. But we didn’t get the worst of it. In the foothills, 40-60 inches accumulated, making this the largest snowfall since our infamous March 2003 storm. See the photo on page 24.

Of course, the good news with this storm was the beneficial moisture that it left behind, with 2-3 inches of liquid equivalent that slowly melted into the soil over the next couple weeks.

Mostly sunny conditions and quiet weather moved back in from the 16th through the 23rd, and the strong March sun angle began the process of melting the snow a few inches each day. By the time the last storm of the month moved in on the 24th, most of the snowfall from the previous event had melted away. The exceptions were the large drifts and piles in the shaded and forested regions. This final storm was colder than previous storms and produced more wind and blowing snow, but because it was colder it did not have as much moisture to work with. Therefore, only 2-6 inches of new snow fell throughout the region on the 24th and 25th.

Once again, the springtime atmosphere was unstable as well, producing some thundersnow and graupel during the afternoon of the 24th. This was further evidenced by the convective snow showers that developed during the afternoon of the 26th behind the departing storm, very reminiscent of summer thunderstorms developing over the mountains and moving off the Front Range and over the Palmer Divide, only this time of the year they produce snow instead of rain.

After this last storm departed, mild air and quiet conditions again returned. The month ended with temperatures moving from the 40s to the upper 50s and low 60s along with gusty winds at times.

A look ahead

April is known for a wide range of weather conditions in the region and is on average our snowiest month of the year. We can see 70° temperatures one afternoon and blizzard conditions the next. Several recent years have seen over 50 inches of snow accumulate during the month. Of course, it also melts very quickly, often adding beneficial moisture to the soil and helping the vegetation, which is just getting started.

March 2024 Weather Statistics

Average High 47.6° (-4.4°)

100-year return frequency value max 57.9° min 38.0°

Average Low 23.0° (+1.4°)

100-year return frequency value max 27.0° min 12.0°

Highest Temperature 60° on the 2nd

Lowest Temperature 8° on the 28th

Monthly Precipitation 2.35” (+0.75”, 32% above normal)

100-year return frequency value max 4.29” min 0.22”

Monthly Snowfall 37.9” (+17.6”, 47% above normal)
Season to Date Snow 127.4” (+36.6”, 29% above normal)
(the snow season is from July 1 to June 30)

Season to Date Precip. 5.39” (+2.15”, 40% above normal)
(the precip season is from Oct 1 to Sept 30)

Heating Degree Days 922(+9)

Cooling Degree Days 0

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappell@ocn.me.

Other weather articles

Letters to Our Community – Protect Fox Run Park from development

The El Paso County Parks and Recreation Department’s decision to construct a multi-million-dollar nature center facility in a remote section of Fox Run Park, with a tower and canopy walk, event room, and a 60-car parking area, will destroy the very qualities that make this small, forested park so special. A news release on the website even says the structure is envisioned as a hub for tourism. The county claims to have done public outreach but made zero effort to include locals who are most directly impacted. If you study the reports on its website, it is obvious that it began with this goal and worked backward to justify it; all decisions were made privately by park and nature center staff/volunteers and its hired design/architecture team.

The feasibility study doesn’t even consider any environmental or wildlife impacts, and the traffic study incredibly claims that there will be no impact on surrounding neighborhoods. All its “public meetings” are just fundraisers, like the one in March at a brewery; a meeting was hurriedly called in February because of local residents’ complaints at having this sprung on us with zero notice or input, but it was clear they had no interest in actually addressing any of our concerns and intended to proceed with this project. Once again, the county commissioners and agencies refuse to listen to citizens who disagree with their zeal to develop all of our increasingly scarce natural resources. If you agree that funding would be better spent on fixing the ponds/gazebo area and existing trails, and that this park should be protected, not developed, please let the county know about your concerns by contacting your county commissioner and parks@elpasoco.com.

Michelle Satterlee

Click here for Guidelines for Letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – Environmental disaster looming at Colorado Pumpkin Patch?

An estimated 500 cubic yards of finely ground asphalt millings from the surface of public roads are piled up at the Colorado Pumpkin Patch LLC property on 40 acres of residential-zoned land next to Highway 105 west of Highway 83. These asphalt granules contain cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and likely heavy metals as well as accumulated tire and vehicle brake wear residue and engine exhaust artifacts from years of road use. The asphalt paving industry recycles almost all asphalt millings into new hot rolled asphalt which seals in the contaminants. Unbound (loose) asphalt millings have an incredibly high total surface area through which rain and snow melt percolates, leaching contaminants into the aquifer below. The Pumpkin Patch is surrounded by residences which obtain drinking water from their private wells.

Asphalt piles on residential property
Above: Graphic provided by Dave Ellis.

El Paso County stipulated these asphalt millings are to be spread over acres of virgin pastureland on which hundreds of Pumpkin Patch client vehicles park as well as over one mile of the Patch’s interior dirt roads. This spreading of the asphalt millings, which the county specifies must be done by April 15, 2024, will only accelerate the leaching of contaminants which are ground down to dust size particles by vehicle traffic.

Enlightened jurisdictions strictly prohibit the use of loose asphalt millings as a roadway surface due to its recognized hazards to human health and the environment. Without a paved top surface, its small particles will leach contaminants as well as migrate through the actions of water, wind, and physical displacement. The El Paso County Environmental Health office, in its apparent environmental ignorance, incredibly responded to my complaints in this matter by saying, “No disturbance of the land is taking place.”

Dave Ellis

Click here for Guidelines for Letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer.

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – Little Log Church celebrates 100 years

For 100 years, the Little Log Church has stood in Palmer Lake. It is a humble, log structure that has survived various congregations and generations. It has been embraced and loved by many, ig- nored by some, and disliked by others. Regardless of the community’s feelings about the church, it continues to stand firmly here.

What purpose does Little Log Church have? Well, its purpose is to show God’s faithfulness to all who live here—to assure broken, weary, sinful, defeated, seekers of God that God has a presence here. God’s glory is clearly displayed in the beautiful surround- ings, but He is also in the people who seek Him here. We are grateful for the community of people at Little Log Church and for those in our wider com- munity of churches who acknowledge that God has a future and hope for us.

Little Log Church is more than just a historical site celebrating its longevity. It is evidence that God continues to show His mercy and protection in Palmer Lake. The people of Little Log Church are not perfect in carrying out God’s purpose. We are simply a group of broken and sinful pilgrims who seek God’s truth, mercy, and guidance for our own journey, for this town, and for this world. We are evidence that God doesn’t leave us to our own under- standing but is faithfully here for generations to light our way and guide us through every season. We love and pray for the people of this town and welcome anyone to seek God’s truth and way alongside us. We are grateful to be a part of Palmer Lake.

Delinda Story

Click here for Guidelines for Letters

Disclaimer: The information and opinions expressed in Letters to Our Community are the responsibility of the letter writers and should not be interpreted as the views of OCN even if the letter writer is an OCN volunteer.

Other Letters to Our Community