By Thad Jacobs

"Do you know who your State Senator is?  In Green Valley Ranch and across northeast Denver, it’s Mike Johnston.  Do you know what bills he is proposing in the upcoming legislative session?  Or how he plans to vote on key issues and why?  Mike believes you deserve to know the answer to all these questions. For that reason – to help keep every citizen involved in the key issues that affect our lives at the state capitol – Mike and his staff are creating Neighborhood Outreach Committees (NOCs) across Senate District 33.

By Michael B. Hancock

As 2010 makes its entrance we can all be optimistic that it seems the worst economic downturn in the last 70-plus years has finally peaked and there are signs of recovery everywhere. Certainly we are not out of the woods and no one will really breathe better until employers begin hiring.

By Thad Jacobs, GVR Citizens Advisory Board Education Committee Chair

We face a challenging time right now with how well the schools in Far Northeast Denver are performing academically, from the elementary to the high school levels. The academic performance and stability of all of our schools are important, but probably none are more important than Montbello High School.

Planning has begun for the Green Valley Ranch Earth Day Celebration on April 17, 2010. Last year we had more than 20 businesses, schools, and volunteer groups participate in the festival; electronics recyclers to local service/ action groups were in attendance. Boy Scouts cleaned trash and debris from around the GVR Rec. Center and Florida Pitt Waller students prepared the holes for a tree planting that took place in conjunction with the Celebration. Sponsors also played a big part; we were able to pass out lots of great prizes and freebies for event-goers.

By Officer Vanita Warren

You can help to prevent a Crime of Opportunity from happening to you. A crime
consists of three elements: opportunity, desire and ability. When either of these
elements is missing, the crime cannot occur. In crimes of opportunity, property is
easily accessible to a would-be thief. While you cannot always prevent one’s desire
or ability; you can prevent, or at least reduce, their opportunity.

By Chris Sautter

“There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re doing something good,” says Charlie
Atkins, a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for nearly 20 years. “And
with a growing Green Valley Ranch community, we need more guys from Green
Valley Ranch stepping up to spend some time with boys in the area.”

Join one of Colorado’s Most Successful and Celebrated Public Schools!

DSST Public Schools seeks highly effective teachers and administrators to join an outstanding team for the 2010-2011 school year at its flagship campus in Stapleton, at its new campus in Green Valley Ranch, and at the Charter Management Organization level.