A veteran herself, she took students to the cemetery for Veterans Day in 2017, placing small American flags on about 450 graves where - based on research by herself and others - people who served in the military have been buried.
Writing about the school effort, Smith said that it “has had a tremendous impact on the students at North [in helping] veterans' sacrifices to be remembered.”
She is continuing the honoring mission this year. North eighth-graders will again be placing flags on Veterans Day and participating in a cemetery cleanup in March, according to Smith.
A current, related project is called Wreaths Across America. Her goal is to place wreaths on Fairview's military graves in mid-December. Fundraising is under way - the cost for one wreath is $15 - and the deadline is Dec. 1.
Volunteers are also needed to help place the wreaths, Smith said.
For more information, she can be reached at North at 328-2459.
In other support for the military, the West Elementary and Middle Schools will hold their annual Veterans Day ceremony Friday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m.
The joint assembly in the schools' shared gym will feature guest speaker Sergeant Major Tony J. Liles of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson.
Also participating will be the American Legion Centennial Post 209 Honor Guard.
The public is welcome to attend, but advance RSVP is requested at 328-3900.
 The foundation of a David Weekley home site is seen during construction along Solitaire Street in the Gold Hill Mesa development this fall. In the background are homes along South Raven Mine Drive, the iconic smokestack and Pikes Peak. Westside Pioneer photo
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Gold Hill Mesa adds homebuilder
Houston-based David Weekley Homes, founded in 1976, recently signed on as one of three home builders at Gold Hill Mesa.
According to a press release, the company “is now selling its newest phase of 37 homesites” in the residential development east of 21st Street and south of Lower Gold Camp Road.
“We feel fortunate to have them,” said Stephanie Edwards, Gold Hill's lead officer on site, pointing out how Weekley has adapted its designs to fit the development's traditional neighborhood homes format.
Several of the lots Weekley has purchased are in Filings 9 and 10 of Gold Hill Mesa. It's in an area known as “the rim,” because it's at the top of what had been the tailings dam for the Golden Cycle gold mill 70-some years ago. Now the home sites there are known for their views.
Construction started at Gold Hill Mesa in 2006, and the 210-acre property now has more than 400 occupied homes.
The other builders at Gold Hill Mesa are Hi-Point Home Builders and JM Weston Homes, and all three are staying busy. “Construction is moving more rapidly than it ever has,” Edwards said.
Overall, the Gold Hill ownership foresees about 650 units at build-out.
$116K to charities from Osborne Trust
Annual awards from the William and Betty Osborne Trust provided $116,500 to a total of 29 charities in 2018.
These included two on the Colorado Springs Westside:
Westside CARES, a church-supported entity that provides rent assistance, food for six pantries, a nurse program and emergency support programs ($28,000).
Alzheimer's Association: Colorado Chapter, six programs to help those with Alzheimer's ($2,000).
The grants will be formally awarded at a luncheon this fall.
The fund was established in the will of former Old Colorado City pharmacist and Rotarian Bill Osborne, who died a short time after his wife Betty in 1985. The will stipulated that a portion of the fund's interest go to entities helping the needy in an area encompassing the older Westside, Manitou Springs and most of Teller County.
Osborne was a former president of the Garden of the Gods Rotary.
The fund's trustees consist of past presidents of the club, each serving in that role for 10 years.
Holmes planning to fete 50th year
Plans are taking shape to celebrate Holmes Middle School's 50th anniversary in April 2019 (date TBD).
Desiree Leonard, a member of the planning committee, said that a goal at this time is to reach past alumni.
Memorabilia would also be welcome, as she said the school does not have very much in its files.
The school at 2455 Mesa Road opened in 1968 - three years before Coronado High, for which Holmes is a feeder.
“I'm thinking it's a really neat thing to get to 50,” Leonard said.
She can be e-mailed at angelicpresents13@gmail.com.
Westside Pioneer/press releases