Thank you SO much to all who testified at the Boulder County Planning Commission Public Hearing on Jan 18th. Your testimony was stirring, powerful and inspiring- we could tell the Planning Commissioners were deeply moved and are giving serious consideration to creating the Twin Lakes Great Horned Owl Preserve and Open Space. Much gratitude to all who took time to speak or write the Commission or sign the change.org Owl petition! Boulder Country has put tremendous pressure on the planners to green light the construction of 300 apartments on the Owl Hunting Meadow at Twin Lakes - it is only your tremendous stand for Colorado's most famous Owls that is allowing the Boulder County Planning Commission the opportunity to approve the Owl Preserve and Open Space at next week's Feb15th vote- we are cautiously hopeful of a positive decision to create a wonderful place for people and Owls. Next Steps 1) To support next week's Boulder County Planning Commission vote, the day before the vote, on Feb14th at 5:45 pm an event called "Owl Valentine's Day", supporters of the Owl Preserve will appear at the Boulder Valley School District public board meeting to ask BVSD to donate their half of the Great Horned Owl Hunting Meadow to become the Owl Education Center. If you love Great Horned Owls, we would be so grateful if you could join adults and students in speaking for 30 seconds to 2 minutes to ask the School Board to help create the Owl Preserve and Open Space. Details on how to attend this public hearing are at: https://www.meetup.com/BoulderOwlPreserve/events/237516123/ and you can RSVP for the meeting at this link as well. 2) Join the Board of the Twin Lakes Owl Preserve and Open Space. Would you like to play a key role in helping to create the Twin Lakes Owl Preserve and Open Space? We are looking for 7 passionate board members who love Great Horned Owls and want to create an incredible new Open Space that will be treasured for generations to come! Starting March 1, 2017 we will begin working with ecologists and hundreds of volunteers including Boulder Valley school children to restore the Owl Hunting Meadow to a wonderful mix of native short grass prairie and beautiful wildflowers. We will also create nature trails with wonderful interpretive signs explaining the life-cycle of the Owls from January mating season to April first Baby Owl flights. The signs will also reveal the remarkable ecology of the Owl Hunting Meadow. Previous board experience or passion for Owls will be helpful. To apply please email info@BoulderOwlPreserve.org (or call us at the number below) in the next 24 hours (by 5pm Weds Feb 8th) with a quick note indicating your interest in becoming an Owl Preserve Board Member. We are looking forward to hearing from you! Many thanks and best regards, Ken Ken J. Beitel Chair of Wilderness Conversation Twin Lakes Great Horned Owl Preserve and Open Space www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org email: info@BoulderOwlPreserve.org m 720 436 2465