Jennifer Green, Castle Rock mayor
What was Castle Rock's biggest accomplishment in 2017?
2017 was full of a number of accomplishments in Castle Rock. The reopening of Festival Park in downtown ranks as a wonderful achievement and provides a great place for the community to gather for years to come. The town adopted a new comprehensive plan, a new transportation master plan and new water enterprise master plans — all of these plans seek to ensure a vibrant future for our town. We also continued the investment in the safety of the community, with additional police officers and the start of construction of a new fire station on Crystal Valley Parkway.
What opportunity for the town are you most looking forward to in 2018?
The successful completion of the WISE project in 2018 will provide a new source of renewable drinking water for Castle Rock from our water partnerships in the metro area. We anticipate the start of construction for the initial phase of the Collaboration Campus in 2018 — this innovative effort with Arapahoe Community College, Colorado State University and Douglas County School District will bring a greater variety of higher education opportunities to Castle Rock. We also have transportation improvements coming along Founders Parkway, at Allen Way and Crowfoot Valley Road, and at Wolfensberger and Coachline roads.
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Nanci Almquist, Larkspur, real estate agent
What was most memorable for you in 2017?
We have moved a lot in the last year and a half, so moving back to Larkspur into our house that my husband built was kind of like going home again. And, my mother was in a horrible accident about a year and a half ago and just getting her well enough to be able to live back on her own again, that's probably most memorable for me.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
Just looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me in 2018. Am I going to volunteer more? Who's he going to bring into my life? What am I going to be doing? Just looking forward to that.
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Sharon Vandel, Castle Rock
What was most memorable for you in 2017?
I would say our Mediterranean cruise was definitely memorable because I won't forget it. Just the places that we went. We went with my entire husband's family, from grandparents all the way down to grandchildren. I would call it organized chaos. Also, getting a part-time job that's very flexible. I'm just going to be an assistant in an office for Northwestern Mutual, and I can work out of my home.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
I'm most looking forward to this year of media blitzes and confusion and chaos to end and to start fresh in 2018 with a job. Just focusing on something more positive.
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Leah Christians, Castle Rock, Douglas County High student
What was your most memorable moment of 2017?
My most memorable moment of 2017 was when I went to a Junior Olympic cross-country race, and I placed 16th out of 200 competitors. We competed in Tallahassee, so we got to travel to Florida.
What are you most looking forward to in 2018?
In 2018 I'm most looking forward to having a fresh start, to make new goals for myself. I want to take my mile time down to 5.25, and look forward to running for Douglas County High School.
