Historic Douglas County
Healthy Living Expo …a BIG Success!
The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Healthy Living Expo 2012 was a big success. Even the 300 hardy souls that ran the 3 kilometers laid-out for the ”Freeze Your Butt Off” Marathon found the run invigorating, even in the bone-chilling temperatures just busting the 20 degree mark! 
Oh yes, Historic Douglas County, Inc. and Douglas County’s Division of Open Space and Natural Resources were there as well …not running the marathon but tucked nicely away in the Events Center at the DC Fairgrounds, advertising about all the great, healthy hiking, riding, fishing, visiting historical venues and the Open Space areas for having fun that are available to the public in beautiful Douglas County. In addition to HDC and Open Space, 71 vendor booths of all types of healthy living products from water treatment to various foodstuffs and exercising merchandise to help not only live a healthy lifestyle but get you back in shape if, like most of us, you’ve strayed a bit into a few unhealthier eating sides of living …and, your personal exercise program needs a bit of tweeking! 
There were seminars and demonstrations during this Expo …again, everything geared to a healthy, safe lifestyle, from functional fitness demonstrations, senior health, fire safety, personal exercising to gun safety at home. Talk about having in all! 
And, when you backed-up to take a look at the combined HDC-Open Space booth, you were struck by a cornucopia of great things to do across the County …all of these “To Do” items emanating around the center of ”Join Us at Prairie Canyon Ranch on June 16, 2012 for OPEN SPACE DAY” which HDC and Douglas County Open Space is co-sponsoring this year. Yes, hats off to the Chamber of Commerce for this Healthy Living event which was very much a success and, seemingly, very much appreciated by all of the 2,000 folks in attendance. Again, thank you, Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce.
HISTORY and HEROES …the Elkhorn Lodge and Guest Ranch
During Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Saving Places 2012, I came across a history and patriotic organization that is truly remarkable and absolutely dedicated to their cause. The organization is the Elkhorn Historic Preservation Society at Estes Park and their cause is preserving the Elkhorn Lodge & Guest Ranch. Not only is the organization dedicated to preserving an extremely rich slice of Colorado history but they are using the lodge and guest ranch as a retreat for wounded warriors and their families. The Society calls their incredible mission HISTORY and HEROES. 
It is my opinion that this historic, patriot effort is truly a great public program to aid wounded warriors and other veterans while restoring and preserving the Elkhorn Property …one of the real historic treasures of Colorado!
As with just about every great cause, HISTORY and HEROES is not without its Darth Vader nemesis. In the case of HISTORY and HEROES, Darth Vader comes with the rather innocuous name of the Elkhorn Project. At first brush, the Elkhorn Project seems like a good project since it is being sold as having a great public cause, bringing tourism to Colorado and adding modern day ski activities to Estes Park. Played down, and in most cases not even mentioned in the benefits for the Elkhorn Project, is what the project will do for the developers bank accounts and the destruction it will wrought to both rich Colorado history and the strong support for our deserving veterans.
Take some time to learn about and support HISTORY and HEROES.
Go to the Society’s Facebook page to learn and see more. Click on Elkhorn Lodge or HISTORY and HEROES (Facebook).
Saving Places 2012 Conference
Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s (CPI) Saving Places 2012 Conference, The Power of Heritage and Place was a big success! Every year Saving Places seems to grow in scope, preservation focus and attendance. This year, February 1 through 3, Saving Places really excelled …regardless of the fickleness of timing of a Colorado snowstorm on the last day of the conference. Saving Places has truly become the annual event to attend to learn everything from soup to nuts about historic preservation and the education about the processes used to achieve proper historic preservation and structural restoration.
In this brief “Thank you” to CPI, CPI’s staff and all the CPI volunteers and worker-bees, it is simply not practical to provide a précis of each of the educational sessions, workshops, forums and tours that were amassed to strengthen attendee knowledge about historic preservation. The programs were well designed to help just about everyone who is driving to preserve a place of our rich heritage and history in Colorado. If you missed Saving Places this year, be sure to make yourself a note in Big RED Letters and tape it to your refrigerator for February 2013, DON’T MISS SAVING PLACES 2013!
The culminating highlight of the conference at the Colorado Event Center was the National Film Premier Friday evening, February 3, of Centennial Statehouse, Colorado’s Greatest Treasure. The feature was definitely the icing on the cake for the Conference. Thanks, again CPI. We cannot wait until the Saving Places 2013 Conference arrives next February!
Castle Rock History Museum on Fire!
The Castle Rock History Museum is opening a great exhibit with 
pictures, documents and artifacts connected with fire fighting in Castle Rock. From 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, February 11, 2012, you’ll also have a chance to visit with Fire Chief Art Morales and see a Castle Rock Fire Department truck and crew on site at the Museum. There will be light refreshments as well; so, bring your family, friends and neighbors to view this new exhibit …it is really special and will give you a chance to meet and visit with some of the brave folks who keep Castle Rock protected. The Castle Rock History Museum is open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on February 11.
INTERESTED IN THE DOUGLAS COUNTY VETERANS’ MEMORIAL?
The Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation is soliciting for two Board of Director positions, Event Planner and Fundraising Associate. If you are interested in one of these positions or, might know of someone that is, please don’t hesitate to drop Todd DeVoe an email. Both of the important positions are volunteer positions. Even if you are only interested in helping out temporarily, contact Todd. The Veterans Monument Foundation is in need for immediate assistance with event planning until the permanent position is filled. This is a great chance to not only help out our fantastic military veterans but our community as well. Email Todd DeVoe or visit DC Veterans Monument Foundation.
Saving Places 2012 Conference
If Colorado history and historical preservation is your interest or over-ruling passion, then block out February 1,2 and 3 for Colorado Preservation, Inc’s (CPI’s) Saving Places Conference, The Power of Heritage and Place. This is the 15th annual CPI Saving Places Conference which has become THE historic preservation conference of the Rocky Mountain area. The Conference, held this year in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center. This Conference is packed with great items for 2012 …forums, workshops, tours, educational sessions, general sessions and, best of all, you meet a lot of great people, just as yourself, interested in history and preservation. Check out all that this conference offers at Saving Places.
Larkspur Historical Society Celebrates…
Twenty-one members of the Larkspur Historical Society (LHS) gathered in the Sundance Room of the MoZaic Restaurant, The Inn at Palmer Lake, for a festive afternoon of Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 17, 2011. 
It was a fun occasion with lots of humor and camaraderie. Chief Whappabobett, the first Fire-Chief of the mythical Texaco tribe was there to hand out all the annual society awards …some very deserved, others simply found the award winner in the wrong place at the wrong time! Danna Hamling, president of LHS, presented Penny Burdick with a photograph of the memorial tree that LHS purchased and planted in the new Larkspur Park complex. The memorial tree is in recognition of Penny’s unselfish work and dedication in preserving the history of the Larkspur area.
Starlighting 2011…
On November 19, 2011, Historic Douglas County, Inc. (HDC) participated in Castle Rock’s magnificent StarLighting. Literally, thousands attended this well managed event with 
worlds of booths, singing, horse carriages, food, lights, fireworks and, of course, Santa. The weather was classic for this festivity, not too cold, mostly sunny and a little breezy but not anywhere like the almost hurricane-winds of the previous two days. HDC gave free cookies to seemingly just about everybody, “Chocolate chip or sugar cookie?” 
And, HDC-er Janet Weglarz rode Douglas around the festivities, announcing “Free Cookies” and leading folks to the HDC booth to sample the cookie fare of the season. “Douglas,” the HDC creation of seamstress Janet Weglarz, has become something of a mascot of HDC and is seen working-the-audience at most events in which HDC participates. As dusk encroached upon the scene, the throngs of folks 
migrated toward the big switch on the Courthouse steps which was thrown at 5:30 PM to erupt the firework-comets on top of Castle Rock and bursting the Star to light and welcome the season to all of Douglas County. It was a glorious way to welcome in the season. If you missed the festivities this year, make sure to take in the event in 2012. The event encompassed Third through Fifth Street and Wilcox and Perry. You can see a panorama of the Third Street event set-up as well as a collage of various photographs taking during the festivities on this website’s “GalleriesStarLighting 2011.
Veterans’ Day at the Plaza…
They came from all corners of Castle Rock and beyond, veterans, families, friends and those who understand that words such as Duty, Honor …Pride are not just words but a commitment …a commitment and dedication so strong that only those currently serving and those that have served truly understand how the commitment buries itself in a person’s heart and soul forever. The event was Veterans’ Day at the Plaza, on the corner of Fourth and Wilcox in Castle Rock, where some 350 people gathered for a couple of hours of the raising of the flags and ribbon cutting ceremonies on Veterans’ Day morning. The center piece display for the Plaza will be the future Douglas County Veterans Monument,. 
All of the speakers shared a common theme; they spoke of the love, closeness and the deep feelings which they hold for their buddies who never returned from battle, recognizing their fallen comrades for paying the ultimate price for the reward of freedom we in this beloved country enjoy today.
Todd DeVoe did a superlative job as master of ceremonies, speaking and announcing each speaker. Todd also provided background of the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation that unselfishly works toward the goal of $120,000 to complete this hallowed shrine. At 10:30 AM when the Veterans’ Day ceremonies got underway, the progress toward the goal was $40,000. Todd introduced announced Henry Bohne who spoke for a few minutes and quickly captured his audience, again focusing on those who have paid the ultimate price. The audience quickly identified Henry as the conscience and pulse of the Veterans’ Monument Foundation. Then, Brigadier General David Warner, USAF (Ret.) addressed the large audience, causing a tingling of the spine with his words paralleling the Airman’s Creed with those who served from Douglas County …”I am an American Airman, Soldier, Warrior …answering my Nation’s call…”, 
If your patriotic soul did not stir after Gen. Warner’s description of his “…commitment” speech, then the chilling, gut-wrenching melancholy playing of taps at the close of the ceremonies certainly tested your emotional metal as an American for remaining tearless.
If patriotic ceremonies are classified on a numeric level of success from 1-to-10, this Veterans’ Day at the Plaza was a 10. No, it did not make the evening news on channels 4, 7 or 9; however, it should have. The national media’s enthrallment with public entertainment, regurgitating “human interest tales of the scandal smothering Penn State, overshadowing the true, somber meaning of Veterans’ Day, may well be a knoll of what this Country, with the sensationalistic views, may have become. The willingness to die for our freedom in this Country and our cultural belief in what is Right is paramount to our very existence and truly the pulse of the foundation on which America is built
If you are moved by the patriotic action of the Douglas County Foundation Veterans’ Monument Foundation and their quest to build the hallowed monument honoring our National Services, please consider a donation to the cause. Check out their website at Douglas County Veterans’ Monument Foundation,and give a donation for the lasting recognition of those who have paid the ultimate price and those who continue to fight for our freedom.
History Education Helping Hand…
Dateline November 9: Larkspur Historical Society (LHS) always spends a day annually dedicated to teaching Larkspur Elementary second graders about local history. For the last few years, LHS has provided tours and on-site educational history sessions for students at historical venues within the Society’s area. Wednesday, November 9, was different. Larkspur Elementary second graders and their teachers were treated to a classroom program by LHS members, “ Meeting the Early Builders who Shaped our Present.” Huntsville and Larkspur came-alive for the children with pioneers and past celebrities in period dress, telling their stories of how they and actions of their time created and forever impacted the Larkspur community. Miss Eleanor Watson (portrayed by Julie Gallick) was the “School Marm” who went against her family’s wishes, came West and became a teacher, teaching the three Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) and advancing the cause of discipline in the classroom. Grandma Noe (Ida May Noe played herself) went through her traveling suitcase with all of its objects, doing a history lesson in an object-association scenario with the children. Sarah Coberly (Penny Burdick) and Daniel C. Oakes (Larry Schlupp) relived the birth, life and demise of Huntsville leading to the creation of Larkspur. And, colorful James Abbe (Jim Weglarz) spoke about his celebrity, world fame and living in Perry Park …along with the story of his three children, Patience, Richard and John, writing the book,