PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The 16th Space Control Squadron, a unit with the 21st Operations Group on Peterson AFB, will break ground for its newest facility designed to house an upgraded weapon system, the Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System Block-10. The ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 17 here.

RAIDRS consists of a central operating location and five suites of transportable antennas deployed around the world to detect, characterize, geolocate and report sources of radio frequency interference on U.S. military and commercial satellites in direct support of combatant commanders.

The 16th SPCS is Air Force Space Command's first defensive counterspace unit, and already operates RAIDRS space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and U.S. Strategic Command’s space superiority mission.

Airmen from the 16th SPCS, along with its reserve associate unit the 380 SPCS, have provided the majority of the required manpower since 2007 for Operation Silent Sentry, the original RAIDRS Deployable Ground Segment that has been continually deployed since 2005.

The new RAIDRS Block-10, the follow-on to RDGS-0, is expected to achieve initial operational capability in September and full operational capability in September 2013.

The Schriever Air Force Base Annual Awards Ceremony scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. is postponed. A new date and time is yet to be determined.

Colorado Springs, CO (January 17, 2012) – Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) recently donated just over $30,000 of office furniture to Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs, for use in Goodwill's new administrative office.

In December, nearly 350 items were donated to the organization, including custom private cubical offices, cubical panels, desks, chairs, tables, chair mats, credenzas, file cabinets, book cases with shelves, cork boards, coat racks, and office décor.

"The donation will assist us [Goodwill Industries] in accomplishing our mission of helping individuals with disabling and disadvantaged conditions achieve their fullest potential," said Armand La Voie, Special Services Coordinator for Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs, CO (January 12, 2012) – Seven Colorado credit union’s joined forces over the 2011 holiday season to raise money for their local food bank - Care and Share. The participating credit unions were:

• Air Academy Federal Credit Union
• 113 Federal Credit Union
• Aventa Credit Union
• Harrison District 2 Federal Credit Union
• Pikes Peak Credit Union
• School District 3 Federal Credit Union
• Ent Federal Credit Union

Combined these credit unions raised over $14,300 in donations, which equates to nearly 100,100 meals that Care and Share will be able to provide to their member agencies.

All School District 12 activities scheduled for February 3, 2012 will be held as scheduled.

The District 11 dress code policy will be the topic for discussion at the Board of Education Community Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Sabin Middle School, 3605 N. Carefree Circle. To view the current dress code policy, please go to http://www.d11.org/BOE/Policies/SectionJ/JICA.pdf. Anyone interested in being a part of the discussion regarding District 11’s dress code policy is encouraged to attend.

Wasson High School is currently involved in a project through the Pikes Peak Model A Club in which they are rebuilding (from the ground up) a Model A Ford. This is an ongoing project and is being documented through pictures, video, and written documentation. Dr. and Mrs. Duncan Sellers are donating to Wasson a 1930 Model A Ford, along with a large number of parts, for use by the Wasson Auto Program.

The official transfer of title from Dr. and Mrs. Sellers to Dr. Bonds for Wasson will take place on Monday, January 30, 9 a.m., at Wasson High School, 2115 Afton Way. Lowell Bell, Pikes Peak Ford Model A Club, will be in attendance, and the media is invited to attend.

The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education will have a board meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 6:30 p.m. The consent/action items on this agenda include:
• Policy JICF: Gang Activity
• FY11-12 Mid-Year Budget Modifications
• STAR Academy Application Renewal Request
The agenda is posted at http://www.d11.org/boe, click on meetings; click on 2011-2012 meetings; go down to January 25, and click on agenda and minutes.

School District 11 Community Education is currently accepting registrations for its upcoming Winter 2012 program. Classes being offered include beginning Italian, French, Spanish; computer instruction, Adobe Photoshop, knitting, Zumba, tai chi, line dance, theater, guitar, sign language, and more. Please call 520-2384 for details or visit the Web site at www.d11.org/communityed.

Colorado Springs School District 11 will hold an alternative education forum on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 8-11 a.m., at the Irving Educational Center Auditorium, 1702 N. Murray Blvd. The alternative education forum provides information about alternative education programs. These programs support students who may need different types of support than what is typically offered in a traditional educational setting. This forum is free and open to the public.

The Doherty Jazz Flight Band will be hosting a "Swingin’ with the Spartans" dance and dessert fundraising event on February 3, 2012, 7-9 p.m., in the Doherty cafeteria, 4515 Barnes Rd. Dance instruction will be available 6-6:45 p.m. A limited number of tickets are available, so be sure to reserve your spot now! To make a reservation, contact Susan Heine at 330-3120, or email her at heinese@d11.org. When making your reservation, please specify your name and the quantity of tickets needed. The cost is: adults $5.00, students and seniors $3.00. Payment may be made in the form of cash or check made payable to Doherty High School.

The District 11 Board of Education wants to hear from you regarding boundaries—what's working, what's not—and the District 11 budget process—what are your thoughts? These are two hot topics that the community has asked the District to address. The District 11 Board of Education is listening to you, and now they want your input during an informal community engagement meeting on Tuesday, January 10, at Holmes Middle School, 2455 Mesa Road 80904, 6:30-8:30 p.m. If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to participate, you may send your question/comments to communityengagement@d11.org.

Keith Owen, Associate Commissioner for the Colorado Department of Education will be at Soaring Eagles Elementary School on January 19 at 10 am to present a check for $10K and the award for the 2011 National Distinguished Title I School for high student achievement. Because of Soaring Eagles' high student performance achievement results, they will be one of two schools in the state of Colorado receiving this award. The award consists of a $10K check, a trip for two to the 2012 National Title I conference, and a plaque and banner to display at the school.

DATE: January 30, 2012
For Release: Upon Receipt
Contact: Kevin Reel
Head of School
(719) 434-3522, kreel@css.org
(719) 475-9747 – Main Line

Colorado Springs, Colo. - In a historic decision, The Colorado Springs School has purchased 115 kW of solar energy through the SunShare leasing program, recently constructed at Venetucci Farm. This project provides a quarter of CSS’s electrical energy needs. It also represents one of the largest commitments to solar energy among Colorado schools.

"The combination of rebates, low panel costs, and efficiencies of scale make this a timely and responsible financial decision," states Head of School, Kevin Reel. "It demonstrates the school’s commitment to making innovative decisions with the well-being of the community and future generations in mind."

The contribution of solar energy at CSS is further maximized by the fact that the school has recently undergone a careful energy-saving program as part of the "Green Cup Challenge" sponsored by the Green Schools Alliance, a nation-wide collaboration among independent schools to save energy.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with The Colorado Springs School. The board, faculty, and students have shown time and time again their dedication to the future and excitement for cutting-edge educational opportunities," said SunShare CEO and founder, David Amster-Olszewski. After CSS bought the final solar panels in the Venetucci Farm solar garden, SunShare is moving forward with development of its second solar garden in Colorado Springs, expected to be operational this spring.

The federal government supplies a 30% rebate on production costs for renewable energy systems, such as the community solar garden at Venetucci Farm. Up to December 20, 2011, Colorado Springs Utilities also provided a 30% rebate on renewable energy costs.

Colorado House Bill 10-1342 created the possibility for renewable energy to be produced in one location and credited to another location. Because this mechanism is analogous to raising food in a community garden, the bill is called the "Community Solar Gardens Act."

About Community Solar Gardens Act and Federal Renewable Energy Grants
Additional information about the Community Solar Gardens Act can be found at http://www.solargardens.org/solar-gardens-press-releases

Additional information about the federal renewable energy grants can be found at http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US53F

About SunShare
Additional information about SunShare can be found at http://www.mysunshare.com/inthemedia

About The Colorado Springs School (CSS)
CSS offers an experiential educational curriculum for age 3 – grade 12 students. Through superior academics and mentoring, The Colorado Springs School prepares students to think independently and to meet the needs of a dynamic world with leadership, ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and personal integrity. For more information, visit www.css.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheColoradoSpringsSchool
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Attached Media Files: 2012-01/700/51280/CSS_SunShareSolarEnergyAnnouncement.pdf

January 19, 2012, Colorado Springs, CO – Every week, Monday through Friday, the vans and buses of Silver Key Senior Services hit the road at 7:45 a.m. for their first pick up of the day. They are on their way to take seniors to doctors’ appointments, the grocery store, social outings, and work. On any given day, roughly 175 - 200 seniors are driven around town to these vital appointments. Unfortunately, the daily need for rides is closer to 250 seniors. That means that every day, 50 to 75 seniors are not able to leave their homes because we simply do not have the drivers to get them where they need to go. We must ask the seniors to reschedule their appointments, or make plans for a different day.

Here is where you come in, if you like to drive, want to meet new people, and have a few free hours each week, Silver Key Senior Services has a volunteer job for you. Transportation drivers use our vans and small buses to take our clients to medical appointments, the grocery store, and recreational outings. Drivers typically work one four-hour shift a week and may choose the days that work best for them. We are a door-through-door service and for the majority of our clients, we are their only mode of transportation. Seniors all over the greater Colorado Springs area are waiting for your call.

For more information about volunteering as a Driver, please contact Lisa Waltman at 719 884-2319 or email her at lwaltman@silverkey.org. For more information about Silver Key Senior Services please contact Lorri Orwig at lorwig@silverkey.org or 719 884-2313.