B u i l d i n g a l i f e s t y l e t h a t y o u w a n t t o l i v e 1

30th Anniversary

“BACKYARD TO TABLE”

Join us for this one-day workshop

for homeowners on how to grow

and harvest backyard bounty and

turn your efforts into a delicious and

healthy meal. Select from class topics

such as: vegetable gardening, pest

management, composting, backyard

fruit trees, cooking from the garden,

and preserving fruits and vegetable.

The workshop also includes a series

of lessons for children ages 5-13

while parents attend classes. Children

will enjoy hands-on lessons and

projects including: shooting sports,

gardening, insects, cooking, and the

science of seeds and grains.

Saturday, March 5, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00

p.m. at Southridge. Workshop fee of

$11 per adult or child includes class

materials. Registration deadline:

February 28. For more information,

call 303-730-1920.

e l e c t i o n o f d i r e c t o r s & d e l e g at e s

M a r c h 2 0 1 1

M a r c h 2 011

Hrca|newsEnhancing property values and creating quality of life through recreation, community events and leadership

A N N I V E R S A R Y

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES (Election of Directors) - The Annual Meeting of

Delegates will be held March 15 to elect two candidates to the HRCA Board of Directors.

There are five candidates running for the two Director positions. The candidates are:

Christina Caputo, David Gundersen, Nancy McDonald, Brock Norris, and Jeff Suntken.

For more information about the Director election process or to review the Candidates’

bios please visit the web site.

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS - In odd-numbered years members (property

owners) within odd-numbered districts or vacant districts elect their District Delegate.

2011 elections will take place at the Annual Meeting of Members on April 26, 5:30 p.m. at

Eastridge, Community Room. For more information about Delegate elections or to locate

your delegate district, please visit www.hrcaonline.org/Leadership. If you are interested

in running for a Delegate position, please call the HRCA Administrative Office at 303-471-

8958. Last date for known Delegate Candidates to be printed on the Notice mailed to

members is March 16. Write-in Candidates will still be accepted and valid.

b a c k c o u n t ry t r a i l s t o r e - o p e n The Wildcat Mountain Trails re-open on Saturday, March 26. The trails have been

closed for the winter to allow the elk, deer, and other wildlife to get through the winter

with minimal human disturbance. The Wildcat Mountain Trails are over five miles of

natural surface trails for Highlands Ranch residents. The trails are perfect for wildlife

watching, mountain biking, and trail running. The HRCA’s Highlands Point Trail System,

along with the Douglas County East/West Trail that crosses through the Backcountry

are open year around. For trail maps and more information visit www.HRCAonline.org,

call 303-471-8885 or email mgiebel@hrcaonline.org.

workshopbackyard to table

2 M a r c h 2 0 1 1

GARY DEBUS COMMUNITY MANAGERHrca|news

is published monthly by the

Highlands ranch community

association, inc.

Hrca|event weather line303-471-8888

BOARD OF DIRECTORSlaura Hopkins 303-478-9103todd landgrave 303-470-8765scott lemmon 303-346-1412nick robinson 303-791-0840 Gregory terry 303-329-6199 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

9568 university Blvd.

303-791-8958

RECREATION FACILITIES

303-791-2500

recreation center at northridge

8801 Broadway

facility Hours: M-f 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

sa. & su: 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

recreation center at eastridge

9568 university Blvd.

facility Hours: M-f 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

sa: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

su: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

recreation center at Westridge

9650 foothills canyon Blvd.

facility Hours: M-f 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

sa: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

su: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

recreation center at southridge

4800 Mcarthur ranch rd.

facility Hours: M-f 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

sa: 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

su: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

copyright © 2011 Highlands ranch community association, inc. all rights reserved.Permission is required to redistribute, reproduce, modify or republish information from Highlands ranch community association, inc, in print or electronically.

WWW.HRCAONLINE.ORG The HRCA web site is one of your best resources for information about not only the hrca, but Highlands Ranch. Our community has a very unique governance model with the hrca serving as the central hub for our citizens.

THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERS – 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIGHLANDS RANCH In our 30th Anniversary year, we want you to help us thank the volunteers that have helped make Highlands Ranch what it is today; one of the best places to live in the United States. We have a vibrant and celebrated community because of committee members, District Delegates, and Directors. These volunteers serve in capacities that are defined in our governing documents and their direction provides the foundation for our master planned and award winning community. celebrate our 30th anniversary with us, and as you see the volunteers and staff that put so much into making Highlands Ranch a great place, let them know you appreciate it. This year there will be a host of events to celebrate the 30th Anniversary. One such highlight will be the 4th of July Parade, Celebration, and one of the best fireworks shows around in the Town Center. Plan now to be there. Highlands Ranch, the Pride of Colorado!

MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH If you haven’t signed up for the Meanwhile Back at the Ranch e-blasts, you are missing out on another communication tool that we use to keep you in the know about your community. Events and special notices are featured. Unlike some of the email subscriptions you may receive, we try to do this once per month unless there is a special topic that just can’t wait. Go to www.hrcaonline.org and click on the red e-Me button about halfway down the home page on the left side. You can always unsubscribe if you decide later that you don’t want to receive the “Meanwhile Back at the ranch”.

ARE YOU TIRED OF GETTING PHONE BOOKS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME? I am. That’s one reason the HRCA has a Highlands Ranch Yellow Pages. How do you find a local garage door repairman, painters, landscaper or lawn sprinkler service for that job that is a little more than a do it yourselfer? Perhaps you are a handyman and want to reach more potential customers. Again, your best resource is the HRCA’s web site. Click on the Yellow button “Business is just a click away” and look for the services you need.

SNOW REMOVAL I must have jinxed it. Last month I mentioned that sooner or later we would get some snow. Traditionally March and April are the snowiest months of the year in Highlands Ranch. Don’t forget, there is a Douglas County Ordinance that requires homeowners to remove snow from their sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. Our office receives quite a few calls when snow isn’t removed, and Douglas County can give a homeowner a citation for not removing the snow from your sidewalk. Please be considerate of your neighbors, kids walking to school, the post office workers and remove that snow as soon as possible.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

FYi | QUARTERLY ASSESSMENTSAssessment invoices will be mailed this month. The 2nd quarter assessment payment of $127 is due April 1. HRCA encourages homeowners to use the direct debit payment program which is a convenient way to save time, postage costs and the assurance that your payment is never late. Please visit our web site for more information. For any questions regarding your account, call 303-791-8958.

board motionsAt the February 15, 2011 Board of Directors meeting, the Board took the following actions:

approved the Minutes of action from the January 18, 2011 Board of Directors meeting

adopted the following motions as recommended by the architectural Committee:

1 property for failure to remove unsightly material

1 property for failure to comply with landscaping guidelines

2 properties for failure to remove inoperable vehicle

1 property for failure to comply with trash pickup guidelines

1 property for failure to remove a commercial vehicle/trailer

1 property for failure to maintain fencing

1 property for failure to maintain property

accepted the comments from the February 2, 2011 Development Review committee meeting

Approved the Statement of Opposition To Proposed New Douglas County Landfill subject to slight wording changes made after the meeting and communicated to the Board via email

authorized the community Manager to execute the standard Property Management Agreement with Spaces at the ranch

BOARD cORNERBy Todd Landgrave, Board of Directors

In early January, I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with

Terry Nolan of the Highlands Ranch Metro District to represent

Highlands Ranch at Government Day at the Leadership Douglas

County program. We were asked to make a presentation

about the unique public/private governance model that exists to serve the Highlands

Ranch community. This model has allowed Highlands Ranch to remain an unincorporated

community without the added tax burden that comes with a city government.

although highlands ranch is one of the largest communities in colorado (with roughly the

same population as Boulder) we are the only one of such size that does not have a city

government. I am occasionally asked why we haven’t become a city. The short answer is

that the model we have is working well, so why should we disrupt it? Circumstances and

needs may change at some point in the future, but for our first 30 years, the joint approach

between the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA), the Highlands Ranch Metro

District (HRMD), and the Douglas County government and sheriff has served us well.

Many unincorporated communities are governed by county governments and local metro

districts. The distinguishing feature in Highlands Ranch is that we also have the HRCA.

The HRCA provides first class recreation centers, sports programming, various classes,

cultural events, parades, backcountry trails, an annual race series, a scholarship program,

outdoor concerts, an arts festival, a rodeo, a circus, an Easter egg hunt, and other activities

too numerous to fully list. In addition, the HRCA helps maintain our property values with

covenant control and Douglas County looks to our Design Review Committee to provide

input on every residential and commercial development project.

Certainly the 800 dedicated HRCA employees are critical to making all this happen. But

one of the other unique aspects of Highlands Ranch is the vast number of volunteers that

make the HRCA successful. Every committee is staffed with residents willing to share of their

time and talents. We also have an elected group of delegates that represent each specific

neighborhood in the Ranch. I know of no other community that has a similar system where

democratic representatives are so closely tied to their residents. Delegates are elected

by residents for two year terms each april and all residents are eligible to run for these

positions.

It has been my great honor to serve the last six years as a neighborhood delegate, Board

Treasurer, and as the HRCA Board President. I will be stepping down at the end of my term

in March and elections will be held for new directors. I am grateful for the opportunity in the

last six years to represent Highlands Ranch, to be involved in the decision making process,

and to further expand the influence of the HRCA in our county.

I hope we all recognize just how lucky we are to live in such a great community. Let’s all do

our part to keep it that way.

H r c a o n l i n e . o r g 3

senD us your Hrca MeMoriesAre you a long-time resident of

Highlands Ranch? As we celebrate

our 30th anniversary, we invite you

to send us your early photos and

memories of living in the ranch.

Visit our web site to submit your

recollections and to see memories from other residents,

including the very first edition of the HRCA News from 1986.

HelPful HoMeoWner t iPsVisit our web site at www.

hrcaonline.org/tips for a variety of

informative articles for homeowners.

also, save money and get free

recycling when you sign up with Pro

Disposal, HRCA’s preferred provider.

Call 303-791-3827.

4 M a r c h 2 0 1 1

Hrca Volunteer of tHe MontH

Wayne Shreves – Wayne

has been a volunteer for the

hrca for ten years as a youth

basketball coach. Wayne says,

“I love working with kids and

helping them improve their

skills, sportsmanship, and

teamwork. One of the main

goals for every kid I have coached is to make sure they are

not afraid to make mistakes and that they realize failure is

a huge life lesson they can learn from youth sports.” Thank

you, Wayne, for your valuable contribution in the lives of

our youth!

VOLUNTEERIshowcaseDeleGate of tHe MontH

Kimberle Rupert – Kimberle

has been a volunteer for the

HRCA for one year. Kimberle

serves as a Delegate for

District #82. She volunteers

because she believes in our

community and enjoys the

great opportunity to give

back. Kimberle’s favorite place in Highlands Ranch is the

Backcountry Wilderness Area and her own neighborhood!

Thank you, Kimberle, for your dedicated service to the

community of highlands ranch!

Hrca tennisThe HRCA tennis program ranked first

again in 2010 according to the Colorado

Tennis Association. With four tennis

league sites and a 9.5% increase in

participants over 2009, hrca came out

on top. While tennis has always been

a popular sport for highlands ranch residents with hundreds of

programs available all year long, significant growth occurred in the

Super Senior (60 years and older) League. If you’ve never played

tennis, sign up for one of our classes in 2011. HRCA has beginner

through advanced programs.

“cl icK it”Click it to get it. Check out the new

HRCA Online Yellow Pages for great

businesses and services for highlands

Ranch. Visit www. HRCAonline.org/

yellowpages.

UPCOMINGIevents

Please check the web site for the most current event information and prices.

• HRCA St. Patrick’s Day 5K – Saturday, March 12, 9:00 a.m. Highlands Ranch Town Center. Get the whole family out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by participating in this 5K run and walk. A post-race St. Patty’s festival will follow with fun activities for all. Go to www.highlandsranchraceseries.com for details.

• Lebsack Tennis Center Season Opening Day – Saturday, March 12, 9:30 a.m. – Noon. This fun-packed free event is always one of the highlights of the Lebsack tennis season.

• Fishing on the Fly - Classes start Saturday, March 26, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., $20 Members/$25 Guests. Parents attend for free with paying child, ages 11-14, in this introduction to Fly Fishing taught by Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Four classroom sessions are followed by half-day field trip to a local lake. Classes are March 26, April 2, 9, & 16 with field trip on April 30. All materials and equipment are provided.

M u r D e r M y s t e r yJoin us for Denver’s only 1920’s Gangster/Flapper Mystery,

“Murder at the Speakeasy!” Set in “Big Al’s” Speakeasy &

cabaret where you will meet an assortment of colorful and

unsavory characters! Big Al, himself, the head of the whole

bootlegging operation; Mae Weist, the “Greatest Cabaret

Singer in the World”; Fast Eddie, the gunman; Trixie LaRue,

cigarette girl and poet laureate; and don’t forget Cookie! Keep your eyes open, they

may be up to no good! Dress like a Mobster or Flapper and join in the “Walk of Fame”

costume parade! Enjoy a catered dinner and a cash bar while talking with characters

who give hidden clues as to who could have committed the crime. Later join with

other detectives and try to discover the culprit.

Friday, March 11 • 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. • Southridge • $35 Member, $40 Guest

• 21+ ID’s will be checked

H r c a o n l i n e . o r g 5

s P r i n G B a Z a a rThink Spring! This show has something for everyone: gifts

for Easter, graduation, Mother’s Day, birthdays, bridal and

baby showers. Unique offerings include gourmet food and

cookbooks, fine linens, designer clothing, toys, fine crafts and

artwork, decorative home accessories, and jewelry to name

a few. The Spring Bazaar is a distinctive shopping experience.

Saturday, March 26 • 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Eastridge • Free

“ I N T H E P I N K ” FA S H I O N S H OW & L U N C H E O N

Enjoy a decadent catered lunch with

pink sparkling wine while you enjoy

the latest in women’s fashion and

lingerie. Each attendee will receive a

complimentary gift bag and two tickets

for wine.

The live auction returns with several

beautiful Pampered Passions’ gowns

featured. Purchase a $5 auction paddle

and join in the fun! Spa4ThePink will

sell $25 grab bags, valued at $25, with

the opportunity to win a prize of an

even higher-valued item.

All proceeds benefit Spa4thePink which

supports breast cancer patients by

attending to their emotion and physical

well-being with complimentary skin and

body treatments, education, skin care

products and more.

Call 303-471-8859 or visit any HRCA

recreation facility to purchase tickets.

Saturday, April 9 • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00

p.m. • Southridge, Wildcat Mountain

Auditorium • $37 Member, $40 Guest

• Tickets must be purchased by 7:00

p.m. on April 5 and will not be available

the day of the event. • Must be 21+.

ID’s may be checked.

S U M M E R S W i M T E A M R E G i S T R AT i O NThe HRCA is proud to offer two quality summer swim programs: the competitive

Mountain High Swim League and the recreational CARA swim team. Mark these

upcoming dates on your calendar.

• Parent Information Meeting: March 3, 6:30 p.m., Eastridge.

• Returning Swimmer Registration: Sat, April 2, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., Northridge

For swimmers previously on the Seahawks Summer Swim Team or who have

participated in Seahawks Drill Academy, Conditioning Camp, or Elite.

• New Swimmer Tryouts and Registration: Sat, April 16, 7:00 - 10:00 a.m., Northridge

For swimmers new to the Seahawks Summer Swim Team who have not participated

in any of the Coached Aquatics programs. Visit www.HRCAonline.org for details.

Also this summer, the HRCA will offer a Seahawks Drill Academy program for daytime

and evening participants. For information, contact 303-471-8942 or kcornelison@

hrcaonline.org or visit www. hrcaonline.org/swimteam.

S p R i N G B R E A k FA l c O N S S p O RT S cA M pThis camp offers the perfect opportunity for kids ages 7-12 to explore a wide variety of

outdoor sports and other fun “school yard” games on the turf field at Westridge. Camp

is offered March 21 - 25 and March 28 - April 1.

S p R i N G B R E A k B A S k E T B A l l cA M p

Kids ages 8 - 14 will learn and develop basic fundamentals through teaching

progressions, drills, contests, and games. This is a great way to play basketball and

stay active during spring break. Camp is offered March 21-25 and March 28-April 1 at

Eastridge.

A D U lT B A S k E T B A l l & VO l l E Y B A l lLeagues include eight regular season games plus playoffs. Leagues for adult basketball

and volleyball begin the week of April 11.

H RcA YO U T H T U R F F l AG F O O T B A l lThe HRCA Youth 5v5 Indoor Flag Football Leagues are for

ages 5-12 and begin the 1st week of March. Leagues include

six regular season games plus playoffs. Games are played on

Sundays at Westridge. Teams have one practice per week

throughout the season. registration is open for all leagues.

6 M a r c h 2 0 1 1

Z u M B a - t H o n : P a r t y

H e a r t y f o r t H e

a M e r i c a n H e a r t

a s s o c i a t i o n

March is Heart Health month so

mark your calendar for March 12 and

head to northridge, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00

p.m. to Zumba for a great cause! Join

Zumba instructors and make a $10

donation (optional) with 100% of the

profits going to the american Heart

association. special guest speakers

and guest Zumba instructors will be

in attendance, along with food, prizes,

and more. for more information

about other Zumba events like this

around the state and the country,

please visit partyhearty.org.

M a r c H n u t r i t i o n

s e M i n a r

Join Max Muscle nutrition as March’s

seminar topic will cover the Basics

of nutrition. class will be held at

Westridge in the Barn owl room

from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. Pre-registration

and payment of $15 is required prior

to attending.

for more information, call

303-471-7048.

RECREATIONIsports & fitness

H r c a o n l i n e . o r g 7

l o v e y o u r p e t s a n d k e e p t h e m h e a lt h y Your pet depends on you for his or

her well-being! In addition to providing

daily care, love, and affection, your

furry friend depends on you in an

emergency or in the event of an

accident. Whether your pet becomes

ill, injured, or needs help in a disaster, the Red Cross can help. Our

Pet First Aid course teaches you emergency care procedures for

cats and dogs and provides tips for keeping your pet happy and

healthy too. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday, March 29 and 31,

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. or Sunday, April 10 , noon – 4:00 p.m. For more

information, call 303-471-8818.

This month ushers in a change of

seasons. With spring break on the

horizon, now is the time to start

thinking about your plans for the kids

in your family! If your children have

an artistic interest, try enrolling them

in the Spring Break Art Camp. Kids

get messy with creative projects like, tie-dying, painting, ceramics

and collage. If your child likes to help out in the kitchen, enroll in

the Spring Break Chef’s Camp. Kids learn how to make delicious

snacks, healthy lunches, and desserts to share with family. Perhaps

your children like to move around a lot! Then get them into our

Spring Break Dance Camp or Tumbling Camp! In the Spring

Break Dance Camp for 6-8 year olds, children will not only get a

range of dance instruction, they get to participate in crafts, games,

songs, and more. In our Tumble Into Spring Camp, 3-7 year olds

get to play on our new tumbling equipment and participate in

some fun crafts and games. For children interested in engineering,

you don’t want them to miss the ever-popular Engineering

FUNdamentals with LEGO®! This wonderful class for 7-11 year

olds gets kids using their hands and minds to create architectural

masterpieces and it fills quickly. Perhaps you are looking for

something to give your child a leg up in school during this break!

consider registering your child for our Handwriting Series for

3-7 years olds. Don’t forget our Horseback Riding Camps held at

Stockton Stables. These fun classes give your child the opportunity

to learn everything from communication to grooming. Of course,

Day Camp will be running full days from 6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at

Southridge, for children ages 5-12. For more information on these

fun and popular spring break camps, call 303-471-8928.

s p r i n g f o rwa r d w i t h s p r i n g b r e a k c a m p s

Kidproof is the number one provider of proactive, preventative

child safety education in North america. as a leader in safety

education for families and parents, Kidproof helps provide

important information on guiding children to make safe choices.

Not only do these classes help keep kids safe, they increase

parent-child communication, increase self confidence, and build

self awareness. The HRCA has partnered with Kidproof to bring

these classes to you to help protect your family, from Safety in

Motion, which teaches children about walking and stranger smarts,

to At Home Alone, a workshop designed to teach kids how to

make smart choices while at home

without mom or dad. Safety Smarts

teaches children what to do if they

become lost from their caregiver and

Kidproof ’s seminar on Protecting

Kid’s Online for parents helps highlight

important topics like cyber bullying,

online predators, and how to protect your child from unsafe web

material. For more information on these classes, call 303-471-8818.

k e e p i n g y o u r k i d s s a f e w i t h k i d p r o o f

EDUCATIONIyouth & adult

9568 University BoulevardHighlands Ranch, CO 80126303-791-2500

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

US POSTAGE PAIDHIGHLANDS RANCH CO

PERMIT#170

facility closures

March 25 – eastridge Basketball courts & track closed at 7:00 a.m.

March 26 – eastridge Basketball courts & track closed all day

March 5 Backyard-to-table Workshop

March 7 Board Working session* 6:00 p.m.

March 11 Murder Mystery theater - Murder at the Speakeasy

March 12 Hrca st. Patrick’s Day 5K

March 12 lebsack tennis center season opening Day

March 15 RAC & Board Meeting* 6:30 p.m. (Recreation Advisory Committee - monthly Meeting of Delegates)

March 26 fishing on the fly

March 26 spring Bazaar

* These meetings are at Eastridge and open to our members.

The HRCA’s ability to bring events to Highlands Ranch is made possible in part by our Community Partners, the Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association (CAA), and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

community partnersMarch|events For event details, see page 5 or visit HRCAonline.org

Hrca toP PicKs of tHe MontHWith thousands of programs and activities, we want you to be aware of the variety of services. celebrate our 30th anniversary by trying something new!• Crafty Kid’s Weekend Workshops• For the Love of Cilantro Cooking Class• Youth Backcountry Wilderness Adventure Camp• Backcountry Wilderness Survival Series• St. Patrick’s Day 5K• Free Drop-In Fitness Day