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This was sent to me by some great clients recently, and I wanted to share it with our readers.

The premise is to that by each of us doing a very small thing the overall impact could be huge.

Image via Wikipedia

When doing your Christmas cards this year, consider sending one to our troops. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.  Here’s the website: http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Please pass this along!  If you don’t send Holiday cards, just send a thank you card during this time of the year to thank these fine men and women who have sacrificed so much for you and I.

Wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  Make it a great holiday!

The Parker Road Corridor study extends along the eight mile stretch of Parker Rd. from Hampden on the North, to E-470 on the South.  Currently Traffic volumes range from 40,000 vehicles per day north of E-470 to over 80,000 per day just south of Hampden.  Forecasts for the year 2035 estimate 95,000 and 145,000 respectively.

Now that we have the facts, and assumptions how will this get fixed? This stretch of road is already congested and handling double the traffic is going to be quite a challenge.  I’ve alread discussed the Parker Rd. / Arapahoe Rd interchange, in my opinion, the worst of the problems.

The Corridor Project objectives are as follows.

• Collaborating with local jurisdictions to find creative solutions.
• Providing roadway and intersection improvements.
• Expanding the the opportunities for mass transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Project website: ParkerRoadCorridor.com
Bryan Weimer
Project Manager
bweimer@co.arapahoe.co.us

• Accomodating and supporting previous transportation and infrastructure improvements.
• Enhancing the image and design character.
• Minimize the community and environmental impacts of the improvements.

Other Area Improvements

• Hampden & Buckley: Construction of additional turn lane
• Parker & Orchard Rd.: Improve lanes
• Broncos Pkwy & Peoria St.: Improve alignment of lanes and install traffic signal.
• Smoky Hill Rd.: Widening of Smoky Hill from 4 to 6 lanes from Buckley Rd. to E-470
• Arapahoe Rd.: Widening of Arapahoe from 2 to 6 lanes from Waco to Himalaya.  Conceptual design is underway but Funding is currently not available)

Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday and will start up again on March 8th, 2009.  Don’t forget to set you clocks back one hour Saturday night before you go to bed!

For the record, I hate it getting dark at 5pm!

For more information on Daylight Savings Time you can check out these sites.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

On a 75 degree day at the end of October, my mind started to wander about the wonderful weather we have in Denver.  I often get questioned about the climate of the area.  In Denver, we have it pretty darn good!

• I’ve golfed every month of the year.  Not every year, but many times
• Last year I shoveled my driveway 6 times.  That was more than the previous couple of years combined.  Most snow showers in Denver drop only a few inches, and it will melt off within a day or two!
• The Average precipitation for the Denver area is less than 12 inches per year
• The climate is very dry, and not as harsh as the humidity filled mid-west, and east coast.

The Rocky Mountains, and world class skiing are less that 2 hours away.  The mountains act as a barrier for the weather fronts.  Most storms hit the mountains, drop their snow, bounce over the Denver area, and pummel the mid-west!

I’ve posted a few great photos of the Mountains in the winter.  It is truly one of the most beautiful sights in the world!  Take a look by clicking the “Denver Photos link” at the top of this page!

If you haven’t already, you may want to subscribe via RSS or Email to make sure you don’t miss any of the great photos in the future!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Anyone using Arapahoe Rd. that must cross the Parker Rd. intersection knows what a nightmare this traffic fiasco can be. During the extended “Rush Hours” traffic can back up for miles for those trying to cross Parker Road.

The good news is there is a plan in place to fix the problem! The Arapahoe Road - Parker Road interchange is scheduled for the following improvements.

• Parker Road will pass over Arapahe Road
• Loop Ramp to serve Eastbound Arapahoe Road to Northbound Parker Road
• Two-way “Ring” Road in the southeast quadrant of the interchange
• Already completed North portion of “Ring” Road
• Soundwall along Parker Road

The Soundwall is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.  The remainder of the “Ring” Road is scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2009.

Currently, $29.7 million in funding is earmarked for the interchange project.  This will allow for all the design, phased improvements, and right of way acquisition.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the construction will only occur when funding is available.

This means the fly-over piece is in need of funds! I will continue to follow this project and update the blog when new details are available.

This project is key for those living on the east side of Parker Road.  The increased  traffic flow will certainly raise the desirability of the 1000’s of homes in this area.  Additionally, this improvement of will certainly have a positive impact on the housing values.

The Parker Road Corridor Project features many other improvements.  I will will write about these later this week, so stay tuned!  You may want to subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss any updates!

This years election is quickly coming up, and voters are urged to participate in early voting and mail-in ballots.  A record turnout is expected on election day and this years ballot is the longest since 1912!

Local county clerks and recorders across the state are prepping for long lines in anticipation of the combination of lots of voters and lots of ballot issues.  Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Hillary Hall says reading the guide ahead of time is Key.

It’s really important for voters to be prepared to vote because of how long the ballot is.  This is a record year, since 1912 we haven’t had a ballot this long

If you don’t vote early do your homework.  Otherwise the lines will probably be moving very slow.  I know I’m sending in my mail-in ballot, and not standing in line for hours on election day.

You can read the Colorado’s Voter Guide here.

Early voting takes place October 20-31.  Contact your county clerk and recorder for times and locations!

For more info, you can visit www.GoVoteColorado.com

photo credit: The Labour Party

September 5, 6, & 7, 2008 will be the dates for the 2nd Annual Greenwood Village Arts Festival.

Enjoy the atmosphere of a street fair with local merchants.  Featuring Antiques, Food, Local Retailers, Salons, and Local Artists!

This years Greenwood Village Arts Festival is in a NEW LOCATION.

Cherry Hills Marketplace

5910 S. University Blvd.

Greenwood Village, CO 80121

View Larger Map

• Friday the 5th: Noon-6PM
• Saturday the 6th: 10AM-6PM
• Sunday the 7th: 1PM-6PM

So if you are looking for something to do this weekend, Have at it!

Colorado maintained its slot as the 3rd leading state for it’s ability to sustain high-tech industry. According to Milken Institute’s 2008 State Technology and Science Index, Colorado maintained it’s spot at number 3 in the country.  Massachusetts and Maryland ranked 1 & 2, while California dropped to number 4.

The index utilizes 77 indicators categorized into 5 components:

• Tech Strength in research and development
• Entrepreneurial Activity
• Education
• Concentration of Scientists and Engineers
• Prominence of the Tech Sector in the overall community

Colorado ranked in the Top 5 states in ALL 5 categories!

The strength of Colorado in the Tech Sector has helped diversify our economy from an Energy only powerhouse.  This diversity will help the State avoid the wild ups and downs in the housing market that have been prevelant over the past 40 years.

Just another reason that the Denver area is a great Real Estate Investment!

photo credit: zanimo