Important Forest Fire Info For Franktown!

Hey All Franktown residents,

This letter is to homeowners in Pinewood Knolls, which is just southeast of Deerfield, but all of us living in forested areas need to know this information and to take action. Although this year has been much wetter than normal, our falls and future seasons can be very dry. And, as this spring season has shown us, we can have incredible lighting storms. Please read the info below, maybe we need to set up some community meetings for Franktown HOAs.

06/10/2009

Pinewood Knolls Homeowners

This letter is a follow up to my site visit/assessment in the Pinewood Knolls Subdivision on June 5th, 2009. Following is a summary of my forest health (insect and disease and fuels) assessment for the Pinewood Knolls Subdivision:

1.) Insect and Disease:

  1. There is low to severe levels of Ponderosa Pine Needleminer throughout the subdivision area. This insect will not kill the tree however it will make the tree’s mature needles to die off starting at the tip to about midway down on the needle itself and then eventually kill of the entire needle—thus the name “Needleminer”. The small larvae mine out the mature needles and then emerge from the needle and turn into moths. Again this will not kill the tree but it will take a year or more for your tree to recover and shed the dead needles (depends on the severity). We found this insect spiked in activity throughout the Front Range in the spring of 2008 and suspect that what we are seeing this spring, is the signs and symptoms of last year’s infestation.  At this point just make sure your tree’s are vigorous and healthy and let the tree’s recover from this pest.

IPs Bark Beetle: There were several isolated trees and pockets of trees that have been or were recently infested by the IPs Bark Beetle. The IPs beetle is in the same family as the Mountain Pine Beetle that is ravaging the central and northern Rockies however, the IPs beetle is not at all as aggressive as MPB. They are natural in the environment (as well as MPB) and are considered to be nature’s forest sanitizer. They generally attack newly transplanted trees or stressed, sick or damaged mature trees. They typically kill 1-5 trees in an area. It’s rare they kill large patches of trees-however it’s not unheard of-however it’s usually in areas of very high concentrations of MPB and IPs.

**** I recommend that trees that have recently been attacked, if possible, to be removed ASAP (IPs flight begins around Mid-May). If you have them cut down make sure all of the slash is removed and disposed of or chipped on site. Do not leave piles sitting around too long b/c that will attract the beetle. Also make sure the tree itself is removed entirely. If you can’t remove the tree immediately have it bucked up into manageable lengths (4-6ft.) and stack a couple feet high and cover entirely with clear plastic, preferably in an open sunny area. OR buck up and split into firewood and cover with clear plastic. I would keep the wood covered until the end of September. OR remove it from the area.

The beetle can still fly out of the tree/logs even after it has been cut down. Also, freshly cut logs attract the beetle to the area and they can infest healthy trees nearby or re-infect the downed tree/logs.

***** Treat trees near and in close proximity of infested pockets and or “high-value” trees with Preventive Spraying Treatments. I recommend this done by a professional spray company. Spray with Carbaryl or Astro (premethrin) once a year, preferably before May. Trees that are already infested should NOT be sprayed once the tree is hit the spray will not be effective. Be sure to inspect trees that you wanted sprayed PRIOR to the spraying. The CSFS can assist you with this if you decide the community can/wants to go this route.

2.) Fire Mitigation:

  1. The Pinewood Knolls subdivision is a beautiful area. However, the forested areas within the subdivision are in dire need of attention. The forested areas are over-grown many trees are poor formed and showing signs of low vigor. The stands are considered to be overgrown and so dense that they replicate a “Dog-Hair” lodgepole pine forest rather than a “Park Like” ponderosa pine forest.

The current forest conditions can be classified as High Hazard fire conditions within the majority of the community. The fire potential for this area is considered to be severe. One dry lightning strike and dry windy weather conditions would be all that it takes to have a severe wildland fire (even out east) destroy your forested area and threaten homes and structures.

I highly recommend that the community and individual homeowners/landowners take responsibility for fuels mitigation. Removing ladder fuels, thinning the understory and creating defensible space are among the few things folks can do.

Taking the responsibility and actively managing your forests, will not only protect you, your loved ones and your homes; it will also promote forest health, decrease the competition for water, nutrients, sun and space so that trees can become vigorous, grow to be large and healthy and help to defend themselves against insect and disease.

The Colorado State Forest Service can assist the community or Individual homeowners in assessing and recommending forest management for their forested areas on their property and throughout the community. We can also explore the possibility of Landowner Assistance Programs to seek possible funding for mitigation projects for the community and individual homeowners. I also suggest you read the material that I have attached in regards to getting your community involved in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). This is a plan that helps communities become fire wise and opens up many more doors to becoming qualified for Fuels Mitigation grant dollars.

I have also attached some fire wise information for the homeowners.

I can schedule site visits/assessments. The CSFS does charge a fee of $50 per visit and can contact me at the number listed below.

Please call me with any questions or concerns.

Thank You,

Meg Halford

Assistant District Forester

Franktown District

Colorado State Forest Service

(303) 660-9625

mhalford@lamar.colostate.edu

DougCO Fire Burn Near Bayou Gulch Oct 15

DOUGLAS COUNTY: Douglas County Parks, along with numerous fire departments, will conduct a prescribed (controlled) burn on a portion of the Bayou Gulch Park east of Ponderosa High School.  This controlled burn will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2009, starting in mid-morning.

The controlled burn will promote bio-diversity among the plant species as well as improving the native grass species.  Habitat improvement along with the elimination of non-native and noxious plant species is a desired outcome as well.  The general purpose of the project is to introduce prescribed fire as a management tool.  It will increase bio-diversity and enhance existing vegetation.  There is some potential risk, however given the location and prior planning the risk is relatively low.  The smoke will be managed in accordance with Colorado Air Pollution Control Division regulations.  There is some potential for the smoke to drift to the north of the burn area and affect subdivisions and schools adjacent to the park.  The Fire Management Team will determine the most appropriate measures needed to mitigate the impact of smoke to include the cessation of fire operations.

Downtown Denver Condos-Wow!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of touring several condominium complexes in the Denver Downtown area. This is an exciting lifestyle that appeals to a variety of people, from singles to families, from young to retiring. Several of the buildings offered great amenities such as exercise rooms, community rooms, business centers, parking garages and swimming pools. A couple of my favorites were just minutes away from the Denver Center of Performing Arts and all the other fantastic entertainment offered nearby. Prices ranged from $180,000 for a two bedroom, uptown complex, to over $2.5 million for a 3 bedroom, right near the entertainment district. HOA dues run from $300-$1,000 depending on the size of the unit, etc. If you have the desire to get more information, or would schedule an appointment to visit this exciting lifestyle, call or email me, and let’s have some fun!

Amy Maier, Amy@AmySellsHomes.net, 303 660-8600

ABOUT 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINATION

September 2, 2009:  READ “ASK THE EXPERTS” Q&As ABOUT 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA   VACCINATION

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Q: When will vaccine for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus be
available?

A: CDC estimates that approximately 45 million doses of H1N1
influenza vaccine will be available in mid-October. CDC
anticipates that approximately 20 million additional doses
will be released in each subsequent week. Keep in mind that
vaccine availability is driven by a number of variables in
the manufacturing process. Once vaccine is available,
vaccination should begin immediately.

Q: Is the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine experimental?

A: No. H1N1 influenza vaccine will be available in an
inactivated, injectable formulation and a nasal-spray, live
attenuated formulation. Neither is an experimental vaccine.
The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines are made employing the same
methods and facilities used annually to produce seasonal
influenza vaccine. The vaccines are undergoing additional
clinical trials at this time to determine the size of the
dose and the number of doses that will be needed for
protection.

Q: Once a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine becomes available, who
will be targeted to receive the vaccine?

A: On August 28, 2009, CDC issued recommendations for the
use of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. The recommendations
identify 5 initial target groups for H1N1 influenza
vaccination. They are (1) pregnant women; (2) people who
live with or provide care for infants younger than age 6
months (e.g., parents, siblings, day care providers); (3)
healthcare and emergency medical services personnel; (4)
children and young adults ages 6 months through 24 years;
and (5) people ages 25 through 64 years who have medical
conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-
related complications. You can access the complete
recommendations at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5810.pdf

Q: Why are pregnant women prioritized for vaccination?

A: Data from early 2009 H1N1 influenza cases in the United
States show that pregnant women account for a
disproportionate number of deaths, making them a high-
priority group for vaccination (see
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61304-0/abstract).
Also, guidance has been issued for clinicians to promptly
treat pregnant women who become infected with the 2009 H1N1
virus with antiviral drugs
(see http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm).

Q: Why aren’t adults age 65 years and older included as a
priority group for the 2009 H1N1 vaccination as they are for
seasonal influenza, where they are included as part of the
age-50-and-older priority group?

A: Current studies indicate that the risk of infection,
hospitalization, and death from the 2009 H1N1 influenza
virus among persons age 65 years and older is less than is
the risk for younger age groups. Studies suggest that there
is some degree of preexisting immunity to the 2009 H1N1
strains, especially among adults older than age 60 years.
One possible explanation is that some adults in this age
group have had previous exposure, either through infection
or vaccination, to an influenza A (H1N1) virus. People age
65 years and older are included as a priority group if they
live with or care for infants younger than age 6 months or
are a healthcare or emergency services provider.

Q: Will H1N1 influenza vaccine be available for healthy
people age 25 years and older (who are not in targeted
groups)?

A: Once public health authorities at the local level
determine that the H1N1 influenza vaccine demand for the 5
target groups has been met, providers will be notified that
they can administer the vaccine to healthy people ages 25
through 64 years. Once demand for H1N1 influenza vaccine
among younger age groups is met, vaccination should be
expanded to all people age 65 and older.

Q: Once H1N1 influenza vaccine becomes available, should we
stop administering seasonal influenza vaccine?

A: No. Providers should start administering seasonal
influenza vaccine as soon as it is available and continue to
administer it throughout influenza season, including during
the winter and spring months.

Q: If a patient has received the seasonal influenza vaccine,
do they need to receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine?

A: If a patient is in a risk group to receive H1N1 influenza
vaccine, they should be vaccinated. Studies suggest that
vaccination with season influenza vaccine will not provide
protection against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Q: Will we be able to administer both the seasonal and H1N1
influenza vaccines at the same visit?

A: You can in most cases. See the points below.

* You can administer both the inactivated seasonal and the
inactivated H1N1 influenza vaccines at the same visit (using
separate syringes and sites) or at any time before or after
each other.

* You can administer the inactivated seasonal and live
H1N1 influenza vaccines together or at any time before or
after each other.

* You can administer the live seasonal and inactivated
H1N1 influenza vaccines together or at any time before or
after each other.

* Administering both the live attenuated seasonal and the
live attenuated H1N1 influenza vaccines at the same visit
is NOT recommended because of concerns about competition
between the two vaccine viruses. If you have only live
vaccines for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza available, you
should separate the doses of the two live vaccines by at
least 4 weeks.

Q: Will there be a new Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
for the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine or can we use the same
influenza VISs that have been issued from CDC for seasonal
influenza vaccine?

A: A new VIS will be developed that pertains only to the
2009 H1N1 vaccine. You will find it posted at
http://www.immunize.org/vis when it is available.

Q: In anticipation of H1N1 monovalent vaccine arriving later
this fall, CDC recommends that we begin vaccinating with
seasonal influenza vaccine now. Does protection from
seasonal influenza vaccine decline or wane within 3 or 4
months of vaccination? Should I wait until October or
November to vaccinate my elderly or medically frail
patients?

A: CDC recommends that seasonal influenza vaccine be
administered to all age groups as soon as it becomes
available. Antibody to seasonal inactivated influenza
vaccine declines in the months following vaccination.
However, antibody level at a point several months after
vaccination does not necessarily correlate with clinical
vaccine effectiveness. There are no studies that compare
vaccine effectiveness according to the month when the
vaccination was given. The authors of a recent review on
antibody declines among the elderly after vaccination
reported, “In conclusion, we found no compelling evidence
for more rapid decline of the influenza vaccine-induced
antibody response in the elderly, compared with young
adults, or evidence that seroprotection is lost at 4 months
if it has been initially achieved after immunization.” (see
Skowronski et al., Rapid Decline of Influenza Vaccine-
Induced Antibody in the Elderly: Is It Real, or Is It
Relevant? Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;197:490-502).
In addition, there is a lack of evidence for late season
outbreaks among vaccinated persons that can be attributed to
waning immunity.

**************************
ABBREVIATIONS: AAFP, American Academy of Family Physicians;
AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; ACIP, Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices; AMA, American Medical
Association; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; IAC,
Immunization Action Coalition; MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report; NCIRD, National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases; NIVS, National Influenza Vaccine
Summit; VIS, Vaccine Information Statement; VPD, vaccine-
preventable disease; WHO, World Health Organization.

We Need ATT Cell Towers!

Hi all,

I received this email from Deb, and I too, am frustrated that I keep losing calls coming up Hwy 86 around Tanglewood Road. Let’s all call them!

If you have AT&T cell service and live south of Parker, east of Castle Rock…Franktown area….call ATT customer service and complain that we need another tower out here!!! I talked to them and they said the more people that call and complain the better!

Pass the word to anyone you know with ATT cell service”

Thanks Deb and let’s call them!

Yea! Franktown student wins scholarship

Hope, Strength and Courage Bring About College Scholarships for Young Cancer Survivors

Denver — The cost of college just got lighter for four young Colorado cancer survivors. The Limb Preservation Foundation’s college scholarship program extended grants of $2,500 to each of the extremity (tumor, trauma or infection) patients in support of their education. This year’s winners include Chesley Heffron of Franktown, Catherine “Katie” Adamson of Littleton, Parker Simpson of Aurora, and Ethan Orth of Peyton.

“It’s an honor to be associated with people of such strong character,” said Melissa Francis, executive director of the Limb Preservation Foundation. “They prove to us that young people—even the most fit and active—are not immune to disease. Because that’s the case, we need to work together to prevent loss of life and limbs.”

Each student crafted an essay describing his or her journey through trauma. Common themes included chemotherapy, surgery and targeted determination to succeed in their chosen fields.

In every case, the diagnosis was a surprise. Chelsea Heffron, currently a student at the University of Colorado at Denver, played volleyball since the 5th grade. During her junior year in high school she dismissed pain in her shoulder as the result of serving up many powerful shots on the court. When the pain refused to go she sought medical attention. She was shocked to hear a diagnosis of high grade osteogenic sarcoma, the most common type of malignant bone cancer, accounting for 35% of primary bone malignancies. Next steps: intensive chemotherapy and shoulder surgery. She now takes her experience public as a speaker promoting cancer awareness, especially in young people, and the need for tissue donation. She has been honored with the Metropolitan Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awa rd and was the assistant volleyball coach to girls in grade school for two years.  “My message is about reminding people to never give up hope and that this is just one stepping stone in the rest of your life,” said Heffron. “Survivors have probably done more in their lives than most people do in a lifetime.”

Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $1 million has been raised to support treatment, research, and educational programs regarding limb preservation. Of that total, much has been allocated to provide limb-sparing medical treatment such as chemotherapy and antibiotics, that under- or non-insured individuals would have not had access without the Patient Assistance Program. Patients range in age from 6 to 64 years old. All patients have experienced limb threatening conditions, such as20bone or soft tissue tumors, severe extremity infections or trauma including amputation, gunshot wounds and non-healing fractures. The Limb Preservation Foundation has also allocated money for clinical and laboratory research regarding limb preservation including the treatment of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and non-healing fractures, chemotherapy and disease transmission during bone and tissue transplants.

For more information about the Limb Preservation Foundation visit www.limbpreservation.org.

Property Tax Protestors-not too successful

Today, I went to a meeting with DougCo Tax assessor, Teri Cox, who said about 9,000 people protested their property taxes valuation assessment this year, and about 4,000 people were successful. Less than 50%-ugh.

Wow! Free Drug Discount Cards from DougCO!

This is amazing, and could include pet meds, who knew??

* 2009 Prescription drug discount card offered to Douglas County residents September 10th, 2009

To assist its residents with the high cost of prescription drugs, Douglas County is participating in the free prescription drug discount card program sponsored through the National Association of Counties (NACo). Prescription drug discount cards help to reduce the cost of prescriptions not covered by insurance. The cards are available to all County residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage and can be used at 42 participating pharmacy locations in Douglas County. There is no enrollment form, no membership fee and there are no restrictions or limits on frequency of use. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance. Residents are saving an average of 24% on prescription drugs by using the card and up to 50% on mail order prescriptions. Pet medication discounts are available at certain pharmacies. For more information about the program, participating pharmacies or to inquire how to obtain a prescription drug discount card, visit http://www.douglas.co.us/humanresources/discountcard/.

DougCO Bus Routes-Give Your Feedback Now!

I received this email from Meredith, and have heard from many other people very concerned about the safety of their children and the new bus routes. If you have concerns, give DougCO your feedback!

“Well, after a week, I couldn’t help myself.  I sent the item below to the Transportation office at Douglas County School District.  It seems that, with the opening of the new transportation design a week ago, they got a lot of negative press, and may actually be considering additional suggestions for changes.  Anyway, if you feel you’d like to add your thoughts, please do so!  Also, as a “spend-the-night-mostly-only-work-far-away-from-home-each-day” person, I only know a handful of my neighbors after 15 years – so please pass this on to others who may also wish to voice concerns and suggestions for changes!  More voices means more chance they might listen to some of it!
 
              — Meredith
 
==========================
 
Here’s where to find the info on the bus routes:  www.dcsdk12.org – on the left menu, under Parents/Students select the link for “Bus Route Info.”  There, you can select the school, and it will bring up the whole list of routes/stops for that school.  Below the listing, there is a discussion of the new policy and the criteria used to come up with the original “Transportation Redesign.”
 
How to provide your thoughts:  From the same www.dcsdk12.org home page – this time, scroll down the right hand side and look for the link to “Feedback Central” – that will take you to a page with the various topics to choose from, so that your feedback form will be delivered to the correct department – scroll down to “Transportation” and select the link there to get to the online feedback form.”

DougCo Fair Happening Now Aug 1-9!

Hey all,

Don’t forget the Douglas County Fair is going on this week, Aug 1-9, with lots of events for everyone! The rodeos are happening 7-9, but there is a carnival, 4-H events and lots of stuff.  Have fun, email me some photos and I’ll post them.

Amy@AmySellsHomes.net