Snapshots of Our Community

Celebrating Marie West’s 100th
Lewis-Palmer D-38 combined band concert, Jan. 31
“Grandmother” Tree at Fox Run Park
Scout seeks to honor WWII vets
Tri-Lakes Cruisers installs officers
Friends of Fox Run Park fundraiser
Wildfire mitigation
Ice fishing on Palmer Lake
Mardi Gras at the Senior Center
CPR/AED/First Aid classes
Wildfire Neighborhood Ambassadors
Black Forest Boy Scout Chili Supper
Palmer Lake Valentine’s Dinner
Bearbotics at State Champships
Wildfire fuels reduction Phase II
Kiwanis talent show auditions

Celebrating Marie West’s 100^th

**Above:** Longtime Monument resident Marie West celebrated her 100th birthday on Feb.18 with a party at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she’s known as Grandma because of all the kids she’s taken care of. About 300 friends and relatives attended the party including her three daughters, all eight of her grandchildren and four of her 14 great-grandchildren. Her two great-great grandchildren were unable to attend. West told *Our Community News* she’s “flabbergasted” that she’s now a centenarian. Her advice to those who want to reach that age? “Just keep busy.” Since retiring and moving to Monument in 1991, she kept busy by helping with home daycare until she was 95. Though not a smoker, West admits to enjoying the occasional margarita. She grew up on a farm in Iowa, and after high school she worked at a munitions factory. When she was old enough to enlist, she joined the WAVES branch of the Navy where she was part of the blimp ground crew handling ropes during takeoffs and landings. Among her jobs after the war was working with the first computers, including UNIVAC. *Photos by Michael Wei*nfeld.

Lewis-Palmer D-38 combined band concert, Jan. 31

**Above:** The Lewis-Palmer School District presented its combined concert on Jan. 31 in the Lewis-Palmer High School auditorium. The Monument Academy Festival Band, conducted by John Patterson; the Lewis-Palmer Middle School Symphonic Band, conducted by Sarah Loyer; the Palmer Ridge High School Wind Ensemble, conducted by Raleigh E. Eversole IV; and the Lewis-Palmer High School Wind Symphony, conducted by Tom Chapman, performed separately. Then the combined band of over 100 musicians, conducted by Eversole, performed two additional pieces. The logistics in transitioning from each band to the next were impressive and involved rearranging chairs and music stands and prioritizing the sequence of band sections to leave their seats in the auditorium to move onto the stage. Highlights included presentations by Patterson and Eversole about the history and evolution of music programs. Eversole began the music program at LPHS before transitioning to Palmer Ridge. Photo by Steve Pate.

“Grandmother” Tree at Fox Run Park

**Above:** The beloved tree in Fox Run Regional Park known to our Ute predecessors as “Grandmother” appears to open wide her arms to welcome her grandchildren back to the Ute summer home in the Fox Run Park area from the New Mexico gentle winter lands. There is a resting bench near the tree in honor of a contemporary family’s grandmother. It seems many families enjoy the bench on a walk through the park. Grandmother tree seems to enjoy them, too. Do you have fond memories of Fox Run Park? When did you first go to Fox Run Park? Did you bring your children there? Did you take hikes there or play soccer or play on the playground? Friends of Fox Run Park would like your stories and anecdotes about the park. Do you have a fun story or memory you’d like to share with others? Contact the Friends of Fox Run Park at FriendsofFoxRunPark@gmail.com. Photo by Janet Sellers.

Scout seeks to honor WWII vets

**Above:** A Monument Boy Scout from Troop 17 is raising money to have a sculpture honoring World War II veterans installed at the Town Hall. Colin Saber, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Monument Academy, wants to move artist Robert Henderson’s sculpture of a P-51 Mustang aircraft from Fort Collins to Monument as part of his Eagle Scout project. Saber says his project was inspired by the recent death of Monument resident Col. Earl Depner (inset), who flew 100 missions in the plane as an Army Air Corps pilot during WWII. Saber wants to honor Depner and other veterans. Saber’s fundraising goal of $55,000 would pay for moving the artwork, installing it at the Town Hall, and other things. You can donate at this website: https://p51monument.com. Photos provided by Colin Saber.

Tri-Lakes Cruisers installs officers

**Above:** The Tri-Lakes Cruisers Car Club has installed its 2023 officers. They are (from left) Steve Gutman, Secretary; Don Ostrander, Vice President; David Whitlock, President; and Epifanio Maestas, Treasurer. They’re preparing for the club’s 20th Annual Benefit Car Show that will be held Aug. 27. For info on the club visit www.trilakescruisers.com. *Photo by Lon Wartman.*

Friends of Fox Run Park fundraiser

Above and below: The Friends of Fox Run Park joined Friends of El Paso County Nature Centers in a fundraiser for the new Fox Run Park Nature Center on Feb. 4. Nearly 500 people attended, and with the beautiful weather, they were able to roast hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire bowl at the gazebo. Games, a dog costume contest, and a parade were featured. The wagon-drawn hayrides through the park were a big hit. For more information on the nature center and how to donate, contact maryjolewis@elpasoco.com. For more information regarding volunteer projects in Fox Run Park, contact friendsoffoxrunpark@gmail.com. Photos by Marlene Brown.

Wildfire mitigation

Above: During the first weekend of February, Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response group, conducted training and mitigation operations in northern El Paso County. Using the Monument Meeting House as a classroom, they trained 19 new chainsaw operators and then put them in the field for two days with 12 more experienced chainsaw operators to get practical experience with fire mitigation operations. Over two days, these volunteers removed a dozen dying trees and chipped several thousand cubic feet of scrub oak from a 4-acre lot in the wildland-urban interface. By creating a defensible space around properties, their volunteer efforts greatly reduced the wildfire threat to the entire neighborhood. In the photo, Dave LaRivee and Jack Hughes of Team Rubicon instruct some of their students in how to safely use a pole saw to remove dead branches from ponderosa pines. Caption by David LaRivee. Photo by Sharon Williams.

Ice fishing on Palmer Lake

**Above:** The town of Palmer Lake was a popular spot for ice fishing on Sunday, Feb. 5. In the background, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe engine can be seen travelling south with coal-filled freight cars. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.

Mardi Gras at the Senior Center

Above: Silver Key at Tri-Lakes Senior Center hosted a Mardi Gras celebration Feb. 21 at the Grace Best location, 66 Jefferson St., Monument. Sue Walker, center director, provided games to entertain guests, and participants brought food, including shrimp creole, beignets, king’s cake, and other delicacies associated with Mardi Gras. Line dancing and other activities followed at the center. To learn about future events at the senior center, please visit https://www.silverkey.org/tri-lakes-events/. Photo by Mack Sharp. Caption by Steve Pate.

CPR/AED/First Aid classes

**Above:** What will you do if someone collapses in front of you? Or if someone is injured in an accident or an attack? At a Heartsaver CPR/AED/First Aid class, instructor Carley Lehman had students practice when and how to perform basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR compressions and breathing. Then they learned how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) which can help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. First aid for bleeding and other trauma followed. Finally, the class practiced real-life scenarios as Lehman kept adding twists and interesting variables. Three more classes will be offered in 2023 at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church (TLUMC): April 8, July 8, and Oct. 14. We hope you will sign up and practice to be ready to help when emergency strikes. Write to André Mouton, leader of the TLUMC Emergency Preparedness Group, at epg@tlumc.org. Pictured: In a practice scenario in the church sanctuary, “a member of the audience at a choir concert” passed out and required emergency assistance. Some CPR class members “treated” the patient while others called 911, got the AED and first aid kit, helped the “distraught friend” of the victim, and shepherded audience members out of the way if they were not trained in first aid and could not help. Photo by Lisa Hatfield.

Wildfire Neighborhood Ambassadors

**Above**: Residents of Black Forest Park, east of Roller Coaster Road in El Paso County, earned a free chipping day in 2022 when one of their neighbors, Steve Jeroslow, attended the Wildfire Neighborhood Ambassadors class, communicated with his neighbors, and organized the effort. The 2023 class kicked off Feb. 21, and you can still sign up and catch up. This is the third annual presentation of the series, which has trained 60 personnel in 30 neighborhoods in 10 different localities in Colorado, Montana, and Oregon. Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church Emergency Preparedness Group (TLUMC EPG) is a 2020 national award winner in the wildfire mitigation arena and has conducted numerous wildland fire risk reduction projects. EPG wants you to do your homework in your yard and home before a wildfire comes here again! Write to André Mouton, leader of TLUMC EPG, at epg@tlumc.org. Photo by Lisa Hatfield.

Black Forest Boy Scout Chili Supper

**Above**: Bridger Nelson served chili when the Black Forest Boy Scout Troop 70 held its annual chili dinner on Sat., Feb. 25, at the Black Forest community center. In addition to the delicious chili and accompanying dishes, a silent auction also helped raise funds for the scouts and their community. Photo by Creighton Smith.

Palmer Lake Valentine’s Dinner

**Above**: On Feb. 11, Palmer Lake hosted a Valentine’s dinner and dance event called “All You Need is Love” at the Town Hall. The Palmer Lake Fun Raisers!, an Awake Palmer Lake committee, hosted the event to raise funds to build concrete steps on the east side of the pedestrian bridge at Palmer Lake. The committee includes Laurie Caves, Cathy Wilcox, Tish Torweihe, Nikki McDonald, and Cindy Graff. Awake Palmer Lake is a 501(3)c organization that fundraises via various events to keep the lake and surrounding areas beautiful. The event featured a dinner donated by former Mayor Nikki McDonald’s company Catering by Nikky along with dance lessons. Attendees could purchase tickets for the dance only or for the full event. In the photo, Caves greets attendees at the front door. For information on upcoming events, see http://awakepalmerlake.org. Photo by Jackie Burhans

Bearbotics at State Champships

**Above**: Three Monument Bearbotics teams placed in the Colorado FIRST’s State Championship in Fort Collins on Feb. 18. Bearbotics FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team Beta got the second-place Innovate Award. Team Sigma earned the third-place Control Award, and Team Alpha scored the third-place Design Award. The high school students had to skillfully maneuver their robots through an electrical power substation game field to perform precision technical tasks using autonomous functions, computer vision, advanced software controls, and other techniques while avoiding collisions with the other three robots on the field. Each of the advanced robots was designed and built entirely by students, including the software. Bearbotics coach Jeanette Breton, in photo, was awarded a special Compass Award for giving outstanding guidance and mentorship to the teams throughout the year. Photo by Mike Hinkle.

Wildfire fuels reduction Phase II

**Above**: BARKO 930B excavators clear large swaths of dense Gambel oak, undergrowth, and some pine trees in the trail areas northwest of the memorial grove and south of Monument Fire Center in the Monument Preserve on Feb. 18-19. The second year of the U.S. Forest Service three-year project is well underway, with large areas already cleared. The project is part of an ongoing effort to reduce fuels that put the area at risk for high-intensity, potentially catastrophic wildfires for the residents living in the wildland urban interface. During Phase 2, trail users are advised to stay at least 300 feet from the areas being cleared because the excavators have been known to throw debris long range. The third phase is planned for winter 2024. For more information, contact the Pikes Peak Ranger District office at 719-636-1602 or visit www.fs.usda.gov. Photo by Natalie Barszcz.

Kiwanis talent show auditions

Dozens of School District 38 students auditioned from Feb. 23-25 for the chance to compete in the Kiwanis Club of Monument Hill’s first Stars of Tomorrow talent show March 19, 2 pm at Palmer Ridge High School. They danced, sang, played musical instruments, and acted at Monument Community Presbyterian Church. Winners of the talent show on March 19 will be split according to school grade. The elementary school winner will earn $500 and the middle school champion will go home with $750. There will be scholarships worth $1,000 and $2,000 awarded to the high school winners.