by Wendy Frenzel
Do you have some hazardous materials at your home in Douglas County and would like to dispose of them safely? If so, take heart as Douglas County has listed the dates for their Household Chemical Roundup in 2008.
Locations
- In Parker - April 26, 2008, at 17801 East Plaza Drive
- In Highlands Ranch - July 26, 2008, at 3270 Redstone Park Circle
- In Castle Rock - September 20, 2008, at 175 Kellogg Court
Some Interesting Facts about the 2007 Roundup
- 3,064 households participated
- 135 tons of hazardous materials were disposed of
- 12,600 pounds of pesticides
- 230 pounds of mercury-containing devices
- 8269 gallons of hazardous liquids
- 95 tons of paint
Interested in learning more, you can download the Roundup fliers here.
Filed under: Castle Rock, Douglas County, Highlands Ranch, Parker
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by Wendy Frenzel
Curious about when construction at the new park will begin in the Meadows?
How about when the EGGstravaganza will be held in Butterfield Park?
Or what the name of the newest elementary school in the Meadows will be called?
Or what activities are planned during the month of March for your family?
Your wait is over. The March 2008 edition of Meadows Living is now available. If you didn’t get your copy or have misplaced it, you can read it online here.
Filed under: Castle Rock, Douglas County
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by Wendy Frenzel
In 2003, the National Do Not Call Registry came into being. Congress has forwarded to President Bush to sign a bill which will make the National Do Not Call Registry permanent (S.781). They also sent a bill to President Bush making the list permanent so people do not have to reregister their phone numbers every 5 years (H.R. 3541).
Currently when phone numbers are disconnected or reassigned to a new customer, the phone number comes off the list.
The plan is to continue this registry as a free service to individuals that are registrying their phone numbers. Telemarketers pay annual fees to access the registry so they can update their list each month. These fees for telemarketers can be up to $17,050 per year, with the expectations that it will raise $107 million over the next 5 years.
For violating the Do Not Call Registry, civil penalties can be up to $11,000 per violation. Since 2003, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has collected $25 million in civil penalties. Charitable, political, survey work, and companies with a business relationship with a customer are exempt from the restrictions of the Do Not Call Registry.
Filed under: Federal Laws
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by Wendy Frenzel
The Town of Castle Rock is discussing 2 items at their next Board Meeting on February 12, 2008, beginning at 6:00 P.M.: water rate increases and water budgets. There is still time for action. On February 05, 2008, AVP received a phone message indicating that the Town of Castle Rock has still not established either the water budget numbers or the water rates for the commercial properties, which includes Associations (HOAs). Commercial properties, however, will be subject to these changes when the irrigation systems are activated this spring, in about 60 days. This initiative will increase the cost of irrigating greenbelts - for one community that AVP works with it will be by 64%, or $11,597.63 annually (as long the information provided by Rick Schultz of the Castle Rock Water Department remains as proposed and the community uses the same volume of water as it did in 2007). Because these changes are being done after most associations and other commercial entities have already set their budgets, this can be detrimental to Castle Rock as a whole. The Town of Castle Rock likes to plan for the future as they have 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, and longer plans, shouldn’t they allow others to do so as well with at least a one year advanced notice of all the numbers to allow those effected to make educated decisions?
Now that you have a better idea of what these changes may mean to the Association that you live in, it’s time to involve yourself in the discussions the Town is having next Tuesday evening, February 12, 2008. It is at this meeting that the water department anticipates the Town will set the water budget and rates for your community and the rest of Castle Rock’s commercial water accounts. Please attend this meeting if you’re interested in sharing your views with your elected officials. The meeting will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at the Town Hall Chambers, 100 North Wilcox Street.
Filed under: Castle Rock
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by Wendy Frenzel
The Songwriters Association of Canada has a $5-a-month proposal for all of the internet users in Canada. For this small monthly addition, internet users would have unlimited access to all recorded music.
What a great way to help the music industry which has been seeing a decline in sales. I know that if this was something offered in the U.S., I would be happy to pay the $5 to have access to music. I also believe that once the “novelty” has worn off, many people would pay for the service without using it to its full potential.
So what are your thoughts on this possibility? Would you pay an additional $5 a month on your internet bill to have unlimited access to recorded music?
Filed under: Other Information
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by Wendy Frenzel
One of the topics that is discussed often in Colorado is water. Is there enough water? How much snow pack do we have? How low or high are the reserviors? And many other questions and discussions.
Believe it or not, these discussions are not just held in Colorado. They have been held in Atlanta where they only had a few days of water in their reservior last summer and where they are discussing the closing of water rides at Six Flags. They are being held in California where some businesses are being told they can’t build there as the towns can’t supply water to them.
Six Flags Over Georgia may have to close Skull Island, Slashwater Falls, and Thunder River due to the drought in Georgia. In September of 2007, 61 Northern Georgia counties were placed under drought restrictions. Not only are discussions being held in regards to water rides, many activities held in Atlanta City Parks have been cancelled due to the time that it would take for the grass to recover without having a lot of water “dumped” on them. To read more abut Georgia’s water concerns, visit the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s article entitled Six Flags may have to close 3 rides or Plan in the works to allow some outdoor watering.
In parts of California they are discussing what towns or cities are allowed to have water and how much water. To read more about the water woes in California, visit the LA Times article Drought plan opens rifts over fairness.
Filed under: Douglas County, State of Colorado
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by Wendy Frenzel
Did you live in a home served by Aquila for gas between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007? If so, look for a refund from Aquila in Februaury per an $8.85 million settlement reached with Colorado regulators for Colorado customers. The settlement stemmed from an over collection of gas costs during the above referenced dates. The one time refund will be based on customers billed usage plus interest.
Filed under: Castle Rock, Douglas County, Franktown, State of Colorado
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by Wendy Frenzel
It appears to be another busy year for the Colorado Lawmakers.
To watch what is going on on the House floor and you are a Comcast subscriber, tune to channel 165. If you don’t have Comcast but have access to a computer with high speed internet to watch streamed video visit, www.ColoradoChannel.net. If you would rather listen to the happenings, you can go online and listen to live House and Senate floor action as well as what is happening in the committee deliberations.
If you are one that would rather look at the paper of the bills go online to the Colorado General Assembly’s web site.
Be an informed Resident of Colorado as what is happening within the State Legislature does effect You, Your Property, Your Family, and Your Rights.
Filed under: State of Colorado
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by Wendy Frenzel
With the new year, people begin to think about remodeling their home or moving. Many people think of using a truck and renting storage or a “Pod”. There is another option for the front range and it is called Smart Box Portable Storage. Like “Pods” they will bring the Storage Unit to you - They Deliver, You Pack, They Pick Up, and They can Store.
If you plan on using the Smart Box Portable Storage, do check with your HOA. Some HOA’s will not allow for storage of these type of units at your property. While others, because space is limited, do not allow these to be set and left for anyting other than a few hours so as not to block others.
For more information, call 877-627-8269 (87-SMARTBOX) or online at www.SmartBoxCO.com With the promotion code DNRPM110 you can save 25% off the delivery fee (Colorado front range) on Portable Storage.
Filed under: State of Colorado
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by Wendy Frenzel
According to a recent survey by Building Green TV and Robert Charles Lesser & Co., health is the reason why they choose a “green” home.
- 42% purchase a green home for health benefits
- 17% for energy savings
- 12% for the environment
Seventy five percent of the 30,000 homes registered with the BuiltGreen Colorado program are within the Denver metro area. It is expected that 5,000 homes will be added to this number each year.
Why would you purchase a “green” home? My reason - to reduce my carbon foot print. Tell me yours.
For more information visit the Real Estate Notes section of the August 5, 2007 Denver Post.
Filed under: Housing Items
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