The photos are arranged in the order they appeared in our January 3, 2026 issue. Click or tap on a thumbnail to view a larger version.
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Anyone driving south on I-25 recently might have been surprised to see a herd of dinosaurs congregating on the west side between the highway and Old Denver Road. They’re the first of what will be many such creatures that will populate the Lost Island II Adventure Park including a T-Rex. The park will include four 18-hole miniature golf courses, a 40,000-square-foot indoor multi-level playground and trampoline park, as well as a full-service restaurant and tiki bar. The project was approved by the Monument Town Council in July of last year. Director of Planning Dan Ungerleider says it’s scheduled to open in the spring of 2027. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.
Anyone driving south on I-25 recently might have been surprised to see a herd of dinosaurs congregating on the west side between the highway and Old Denver Road. They’re the first of what will be many such creatures that will populate the Lost Island II Adventure Park including a T-Rex as shown at the right. The park will include four 18-hole miniature golf courses, a 40,000-square-foot indoor multi-level playground and trampoline park, as well as a full-service restaurant and tiki bar. The project was approved by the Monument Town Council in July of last year. Director of Planning Dan Ungerleider says it’s scheduled to open in the spring of 2027. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
At the Dec. 11 meeting of the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees, Mayor Dennis Stern and Trustee Mike Boyett turn their backs on Trustee Roger Moseley as Moseley responds to Town Attorney Scott Krob’s defense of his legal guidance to the town regarding the proposed Buc-ee’s travel center. Boyett resigned from the board the next day; in his letter of resignation, he said, “I exhibited behavior that was unbecoming for a trustee by turning my back to a sitting trustee when he spoke at the lectern against our town attorney.” Screen capture from the video provided by the town.
The D38 board members were sworn-in at their Dec. 2 meeting. From left, Todd Brown, treasurer; Patti Shank, vice president; Tim Bennett, director; Ginger Schaaf, secretary; and Ron Schwarz, president. Photo courtesy D38.
At the Dec. 15 D38 board meeting, students who made the All State Choir were recognized. From left are board President Ron Schwarz, students who made All State Choir, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo courtesy D38.
At the D38 board meeting Dec. 15, Industrial Technology instructor Andy Vrieze of Lewis-Palmer High School was recognized for winning a $10,000 grant from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. Pictured from left to right: Ginger Schaaf, board secretary, Vrieze, and. Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo courtesy D38.
At the D38 board meeting Dec. 15, Lewis-Palmer High School physical education instructor Jaci Schatz was recognized for her receipt of the SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Education of Colorado) APE (Adaptive Physical Education) Teacher of the Year. Three students, Chloe Jarrett, Molly Schatz, and Chase Gavin, also received awards from the organization.Pictured left to right: Patti Shank, VP of the board, student Chloe Jarrell, Jaci Schatz, student Molly Shatz, and Superintendent Amber Whetstine. Photo courtesy D38.
At its Dec. 13 meeting, board Vice President Lindsay Clinton recognized the high school students who helped to found MA’s Turning Point US Club America after-school club. The club, which includes eighth through 12th grades, educates young people about the importance of limited governments, free markets, and freedom, and encourages students to become leaders in their communities, she said. From left are Serena Krell, board President Ryan Graham, Grace Dunston, board member Matt Ross, Aneliese Verones, Kainoa Smith, Joshua Deniston, Clinton, and board member Craig Carle. Photo by Jackie Burhans.
On Dec. 6, the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club held its 19th Annual North Pole at Tri-Lakes Arts & Crafts Fair at Bear Creek Elementary. It featured live music, over 50 booths, baked goods, arts and crafts, and Santa Claus. Admission was free with donations of food, money, and games, all going to Tri-Lakes Cares for sporting equipment that was donated by 4KidzSports. For more information regarding this and other community events put on by the local Kiwanis Club, go to monumenthillkiwanis.org. Photo by Marlene Brown
Big thanks to our community of warm hearts—and happy hands—who rallied to the cheerful cause and brought in holiday gifts to the Holiday Gift Opportunity. Friends of the Native American Sacred Trees and Places (NASTaP) held a gift reception and wrapping event at Serranos Coffee Co. on Dec. 6. Nearly 200 gifts for children, teens, and seniors arrived just in time for gift wrapping, ready for their trip to the Ute Mountain Ute reservation holiday powwow in southwestern Colorado. Our Tri-Lakes area is ancestral land of the Ute Nation amid our forests and mountains. NASTaP shares its local and regional education and tours in our area and throughout the Southwest. Photo by Janet Sellers.
Limbach Park was packed on Dec. 6 for the Monument Tree Lighting celebration. The crowd turned out despite a wind and snow squall that passed through just as the various booths were being set up. A choir of D38 students from Lewis-Palmer High School and Middle School and Palmer Ridge High School serenaded families as they got their pictures taken in front of seasonal backdrops. Kids decorated cookies and ornaments as they waited for Santa and Mrs. Claus to arrive.
The legendary couple showed up as usual by hitching a ride on a fire truck. After counting down to the tree lighting, the Clauses spent a long time listening to requests from children.
Kalen van Zoeren eats a cookie he decorated at the Club Pilates booth. Photos by Michael Weinfeld.
The Lewis-Palmer and Palmer Ridge High School choirs performed a combined concert in the Lewis-Palmer auditorium on Dec. 10. Lewis-Palmer’s two Mixed Choirs and a Treble Voices choir, and Palmer Ridge’s two groups of Chamber Singers and a Women’s Ensemble presented holiday pieces, and some of these performances were done in the language written by the composers. Both high school choirs are directed by Madeline Douthit. The final pieces included all choir students and an audience sing-along. Photo by Steve Pate.
Monument’s high school robotics team, the Bionic Sharks, is heading to the Colorado FTC State Championship. The team earned the First Place Control Award at the Metro Qualifier on Dec. 13 in Littleton. They’re now preparing for their next competition in Manitou Springs on Jan. 24. Then, they head to the Colorado School of Mines in Golden to compete in the state championship. In the photo from left are Anushka Nandwalkar, Alexandra Gonzalez, Pranav Balaji, Corey Cinalli, and Brandon Johnson.
Monument’s high school robotics team, the Bionic Sharks, is heading to the Colorado FTC State Championship. The team earned the First Place Control Award at the Metro Qualifier on Dec. 13 in Littleton. They’re now preparing for their next competition in Manitou Springs on Jan. 24. Then, they head to the Colorado School of Mines in Golden to compete in the state championship. In the photo from left are Anushka Nandwalkar, Alexandra Gonzalez, Pranav Balaji, Corey Cinalli, and Brandon Johnson. Right (L to R): Nandwalkar and Gonzalez work on a robot. Photo by Mike Hinkle.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. Wreaths Across America and members of the community laid wreaths at the headstones of the veterans at the Monument Cemetery. At the same time, more than 5,600 locations across the United States and abroad were laying wreaths. They honored the veterans and their families for service to our country. For more information on how to get involved, either as a volunteer or to sponsor a wreath, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Pictured: Maddie Mills and sons Mason, 9 years old, and Myles, 5 years old, Fisher lay a wreath on Paul Ducommun’s grave. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. Wreaths Across America and members of the community laid wreaths at the headstones of the veterans at the Monument Cemetery. At the same time, more than 5,600 locations across the United States and abroad were laying wreaths. They honored the veterans and their families for service to our country. For more information on how to get involved, either as a volunteer or to sponsor a wreath, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Pictured (L to R): Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind (U.S. Army and Navy veteran) and Councilman Kenneth Kimple (retired U.S. Navy master chief petty officer) participated in the Wreaths Across America ceremony. Photo by Marlene Brown.
Kids got to pet and feed a real reindeer in Monument on Dec. 14. Jingles the reindeer made an appearance at the Front Street Square parking lot. He was brought to town by the Hilltop Reindeer Ranch in Peyton. The event was part of the special activities scheduled in Monument leading up to Christmas. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
This year was the 92nd Annual Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt. Children and adults ran up Sundance Mountain on a snowy day, Dec. 14, above Palmer Lake. Within 15 minutes, three boys could be heard shouting “over here” as they stood over the 8-foot-long pine that had been notched and tied with a ribbon. This year the Yule Log was found by Jude Karas. The hunters then tied long ropes to the log, and the winners and friends straddled the Yule Log for their ride back into town. The tradition is that the same two-man saw used to cut the town’s first Yule Log in 1933 is still in use today. Hunters sawed the log in two and saved half to start the following year’s ceremonial fire. The other half was carried into Town Hall and set ablaze in the stone fireplace built by Palmer Lake’s volunteer firemen in 1936 strictly for the annual celebration. For more information, see palmerdividehistory.org. Photos provided by the Palmer Lake Historical Society and the Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt.
This year was the 92nd Annual Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt. Children and adults ran up Sundance Mountain on a snowy day, Dec. 14, above Palmer Lake. Within 15 minutes, three boys could be heard shouting “over here” as they stood over the 8-foot-long pine that had been notched and tied with a ribbon. This year the Yule Log was found by Jude Karas. The hunters then tied long ropes to the log, and the winners and friends straddled the Yule Log for their ride back into town. The tradition is that the same two-man saw used to cut the town’s first Yule Log in 1933 is still in use today. Hunters sawed the log in two and saved half to start the following year’s ceremonial fire. The other half was carried into Town Hall and set ablaze in the stone fireplace built by Palmer Lake’s volunteer firemen in 1936 strictly for the annual celebration. For more information, see palmerdividehistory.org. Photos provided by the Palmer Lake Historical Society and the Palmer Lake Yule Log Hunt.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, as Monument was decked out with flashing lights and wailing sirens, Santa cruised through town riding alongside the Monument Fire Department, Palmer Lake Fire Department, Palmer Lake Police, and Monument Police as part of the annual Santa on Patrol event. This festive convoy isn’t just about the noise and excitement—it’s all about spreading joy. With Toys for Tots loaded up, Santa and the first responders deliver gifts to kids around the community, lighting up faces with smiles and holiday cheer. It’s a fun, lively way to celebrate the season, bringing together the whole town with lights, sirens, and the spirit of giving. Pictured: Community member Harlee DeLong jams out with Soul Santa.
The Grinch causes his usual Christmas chaos while tormenting Palmer Lake Police Department Officer Bobby Perry as Sgt. Gene Ramirez enjoys the show. Photo by Erica Burt.
Residents at the Village at Monument community got a treat the evening of Dec. 6. A group of eight people serenaded them with Christmas carols. Most of the carolers wore Santa hats, and some were dressed in Victorian outfits. They went door to door, entertaining anyone who was home. The event was organized by Village of Monument HOA Social Director Joanna Anaradian. From left are Jill Steinke, June Zelkin, Mary Beth Pryde, Anaradian, Angela Curtis, Matt Steinke, Laura Kronick, and Amy Adams. Photo by Michael Weinfeld.
Recent photo collections
- Vol. 25 No. 12 – December 6, 2025 – Photos (12/4/2025)
- Vol. 25 No. 11 – November 1, 2025 – Photos (10/31/2025)
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