Article Contributed on: 2/17/2009 4:29:57 PM
Like a lot of people in Colorado,
Debbie Phillips has lived in different places, but ended up making her home in Arvada, where she grew up.
"What I love about Arvada is the community, the people and open space. We tend to lean toward what's familiar to us," Phillips said.
That familiarity goes back to Peck Elementary School, where
Dudley Weiland was her sixth-grade teacher. Weiland was still there when Phillips's son
Josh was in sixth grade.
"My dad lives around the corner. It's those little connections," she said.
Phillips is a self employed Reiki therapist and is working on a certificate for reflexology. She applies her Reiki skills to residents of care centers as well as to horses at Golden Gate Canyon.
She also is co owner of Ponder Creations, which is a custom greeting card and gift company.
The family household includes her husband
Rob, his daughter and her son. A menagerie includes two dogs, three parakeets, fish and six rescue turtles. For awhile there were even a few snakes in the mix.
She joked that she has so many interests that the stairwell she's been refinishing for such a long time has become a neighborhood joke. But that's what she likes about living here.
"The neighborhood feels like like family," she said.
Although Phillips admits no two days are the same, the hat she has worn as an West Arvada Dog Park advocate may be the one her neighbors recognize best.
"I think what people don't realize about the dog park is that it is considered a special use park. It is on city land and we follow city rules and the city helps with trash removal, but basically all the work is done by volunteers and through donations."
She said since 2005 when the dog park opened, the volunteer group has raised $15,000.
"We have a master plan and want to close down the Phase I section so it will have time to rejuvenate."
Phillips said the group needs another $5,000 to $6,000 to open Phase II a 6-acre area within the 20-acre site.
She described an ongoing fundraiser so people can donate by buying pavers. She said one of her favorite connections from the dog park was the Eagle Scouts who completed their projects at the dog park by setting the pavers.
Clean up days involve volunteers who are willing to bring their shovels and wheelbarrows.
She admitted her yard at home was landscaped with dog park rocks. She said she has been at the park when the temperature was as low as 10 degrees and seen people and their dogs using the space. She said her goal is to get more people involved.
"I don't think the dog park needs a baby sitter, but you can tell when it hasn't been cared for."
At the last meeting she said she was encouraged by the number of people who showed up. She hopes for an even greater turnout and more volunteers on March 12 at 7 p.m. at the city of Arvada offices in the Anne Campbell Room. For more information, e-mail wadp@comcast.net.