Above and Below: As detailed in the photo caption on the front page, the Lake of the Rockies community fire mitigation project was necessary because three acres of dense stands of scrub oak and ponderosa pines behind the community and south of the Monument Lake dam were considered a “high hazard area.” A powerful machine called a “masticator” (pictured below) was used to chew up small trees, oak brush, and debris on the floor of the forest to open up space beneath the pines. Now that the project has been completed, it will be less likely a fire could spread to houses (visible in the background in the photo). The project cost nearly $11,000 and was paid for with a grant from the Pikes Peak Regional Council of Governments. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
PRHS football signing, Feb. 5
Above: In a formal ceremony held in the Palmer Ridge High School (PRHS) auditorium on Feb. 5, three graduating student athletes signed commitments to attend college and continue their football experiences. Coach Earl Carlton expressed his appreciation for the contributions made by these young men and wished them well in their coming adventures. Seated during the signings are, from left, Aiden Cohen to play football at Colorado Mesa University, David Brodeur, Ave Maria University, and Isaac Burks, Saint Ambrose University. Photo by Steve Pate.
Arndt wins PLAG show blue ribbon
Above: Donna Arndt was the blue ribbon winner of the Palmer Lake Art Group’s annual winter show with her Garden of the Gods, After the Storm, 2025, acrylic palette knife painting, 16” x 16”, created in 2025. This year the exhibition was held at the Garden of the Gods visitor center all month in February. Arndt, a local artist of several mediums, is also the sculptor for the statue, Come, Dizzy! in Palmer Lake at the Town Hall. Dizzy was the construction helper for the Palmer Lake star, fetching tools up and down the mountain. Dizzy fetched such things as hammers, nails, wires, light bulbs and more for the workers upon the mountain when the star was being built nearly a hundred years ago. Photo by Janet Sellers.
Bella Art has new owners
Above: On Feb. 16, the new owners of Bella Art and Frame gallery invited their gallery artists and clients for a meet-and-greet gathering. From left are Joseph Jesse, gallery artist Bonnie Sands, and Micaela Cimino. Jesse and Cimino are the new owners who said they will continue to offer art, art events and picture framing at Bella Art and Frame Gallery. New for the venue will be art and artist events, planned for Saturdays starting in March, including open studio hours with art instruction available. The various events will be open to the community. Cimino was a Palmer Lake Art Group high school scholarship award winner and went on to study at Pratt Institute in New York. After working in New York as an illustrator for many years, she has returned home to the Monument area with her family to continue her support of the arts locally. Photo by Janet Sellers
Stone wins Stars and Stripes Award
Above: On Feb. 16, Isabelle Stone of Monument was presented with the Stars and Stripes Award, the highest honor given by American Heritage Girls. Friends, family, and supporters attended the ceremony at the Ascent Church in Monument. Isabelle earned the award by partnering with the nonprofit group Sarah’s Home to remodel a storage room for books used in the group’s curriculum. The room had been in disarray (left photo). Sarah’s Home provides a sanctuary for teenage girls who are survivors of sex trafficking. Over the last 13 years, Isabelle has earned 97 badges and performed 1,295 hours of community service with American Heritage Girls, a group that teaches girls 5-18 years old perseverance, self-reliance, and leadership. She’s been a member of three different troops across the country since she was 5. She currently attends weekly meetings of Troop CO2017 at the Ascent Church. Caption by Lilyan Gardner. Photos by Rebecca Stone.
Stars of Tomorrow auditions, Feb. 22
There was music, comedy, poetry, magic—even a ballet dancer who played the drums. More than three dozen area students tried out for the Monument Hill Kiwanis Stars of Tomorrow talent show on Feb. 22. The students are competing for cash prizes. The elementary school winner will take home $500, and the middle school winner will earn $750. There will be three high school winners. The top prize will be $2,000, second prize will be worth $1,000, and third prize $500. Students who pass their auditions will compete in the talent show on March 16. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.
Above: Claire Baldwin, a 6-year-old first-grader from LPES sang a song.
Above: Julianna Ward, a 16-year-old PRHS student, sang a Broadway tune.
Above: Carmen Claudio, a 13-year-old LPMS student, dressed like Little Red Riding Hood and came equipped with trees and a basket to sing a song from Into the Woods.
Above: Ruby Taylor, a PRHS student, sang a song.
Above: Miriam Beasley, a LPMS student, sang a song while doing sign language.
Above: Winn Sienkowski, a 17-year-old PRHS student, sang a song.
Above and Below: Aubrey Davis, an 11-year-old sixth-grader at LPMS, played the drums after dancing a ballet.
Above: Lila Knapp (left), a 13-year-old Lewis-Palmer student, played clarinet and Brooke Tuck, a 14-year-old Lewis Palmer Student, played French horn.
Above: Penelope Hall, a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Lewis-Palmer Middle School, did a comedy routine.
Above: Lewis-Palmer student Thomas Carter played the piano.
