Category Archives: Local News

Falling back: Daylight Saving Time comes to an end Sunday, November 3

The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.
The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this weekend, providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘fall back’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we return to Standard Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  Others actually like the return to standard time as they get to enjoy an extra hour of sleep.

The time change definitely has big effects on the dawning of daylight and how early it gets dark in the evening.

Sunrise on Saturday occurs at 7:29am but on Sunday it will be at 6:30am. Similarly, sunset will occur at 5:56pm on Saturday but on Sunday the sun will disappear over the horizon at 4:55pm.

For many this means that when they get home from work it will now be dark and outdoor activities will be significantly curtailed as a result.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time and remain on Standard Time year round.    The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands also do not observe the event.

It won’t be all that long though before Daylight Saving Time returns.  On March 8, 2020 we will ‘spring forward.’

Daylight Saving Time Schedule

The mandated beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time has changed in the United States over the years.

The most recent schedule was set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and took effect in 2007.  We now ‘spring forward’ to begin Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March and ‘fall back’ with the return to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November.

Daylight Savings Time Dates

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2019 10 March 2019 3 November 2019
2020 8 March 2020 1 November 2020
2021 14 March 2021 7 November 2021
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022
2023 12 March 2023 5 November 2023
2024 10 March 2024 3 November 2024
2025 9 March 2025 2 November 2025

Springing forward: Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 10th

The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday, March 10, 2019.
The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday, March 10, 2019.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this Saturday night providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘spring forward’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we begin Daylight Savings Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  The start of Daylight Saving Time can be particularly problematic given the one hour less sleep people receive on the night of the change.

However, longer days as we head into the milder months are a very real benefit and for many worth the inconvenience of a lost hour of sleep.  The time change definitely has big effects on how much daylight we enjoy during our normal waking hours.

On Saturday, prior to the change, sunset will occur at 6:00pm but on Sunday the sun won’t disappear over the horizon until 7:01pm.  This affords folks more time in the evening to get started on those spring-time chores and allows us to get outside and enjoy the warming weather.

The March Equinox is also on the horizon.  Spring officially begins at 3:58pm on Wednesday, March 20.

This year Daylight Savings Time will come to an end on November 3.

Some of the recent history of Daylight Savings Time (from Wikipedia):

Daylight saving time in the United States was first observed in 1918. Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, with the exceptions being the states of Arizona and Hawaii along with the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

From 1987 to 2006, daylight saving time in the United States began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The time was adjusted at 2:00 AM (0200) local time (as it still is done now).

Since 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, with all time changes taking place at 2:00 AM (0200) local time.

Daylight Savings Time Schedule

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2019 10 March 2019 3 November 2019
2020 8 March 2020 1 November 2020
2021 14 March 2021 7 November 2021
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022
2023 12 March 2023 5 November 2023
2024 10 March 2024 3 November 2024
2025 9 March 2025 2 November 2025

Daylight Saving Time to end as we ‘fall back’ on Sunday, November 4

The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.
The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this weekend, providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘fall back’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we return to Standard Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  Others actually like the return to standard time as they get to enjoy an extra hour of sleep.

The time change definitely has big effects on the dawning of daylight and how early it gets dark in the evening.

Sunrise on Saturday occurs at 7:30am but on Sunday it will be at 6:32am. Similarly, sunset will occur at 5:55pm on Saturday but on Sunday the sun will disappear over the horizon at 4:54pm.

For many this means that when they get home from work it will now be dark and outdoor activities will be significantly curtailed as a result.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time and remain on Standard Time year round.    The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands also do not observe the event.

It won’t be all that long though before Daylight Saving Time returns.  On March 11, 2018 we will ‘spring forward.’

Daylight Saving Time Schedule

The mandated beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time has changed in the United States over the years.

The most recent schedule was set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and took effect in 2007.  We now ‘spring forward’ to begin Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March and ‘fall back’ with the return to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November.
Daylight Savings Time Schedule

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2018 11 March 2018 4 November 2018
2019 10 March 2019 3 November 2019
2020 8 March 2020 1 November 2020
2021 14 March 2021 7 November 2021
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022
2023 12 March 2023 5 November 2023
2024 10 March 2024 3 November 2024
2025 9 March 2025 2 November 2025

Thornton PD posts their entry for the lip sync challenge

The silence from the Thornton PD has been deafening. As other Denver metro area police departments posted their lip sync challenge entry, we heard nothing from the local men and women in blue. That changed today.

Set to the song “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins and made famous in the movie Top Gun, the Thornton Police Department brings it all from cars to motorcycles to yes, even planes.

All in all, we have to say the video is worth the wait and probably the best we have seen from any local agency.  Of course we are residents of Thornton and Navy veterans so we might be biased.  😉

If you can’t see the video below, click here to view it at its source.

Weather forces cancellation of Thorntonfest for second year in a row

Mother Nature seems to have a grudge against the City of Thornton’s annual spring festival.  With thunderstorms arriving tonight and heavy rain expected through Saturday, most of the events have been cancelled.

The city made the announcement on their Festivals and Events Facebook page this morning.

This is the third time in the 22 year history of the event it has been cancelled due top weather. In 2011, two days prior to the event, heavy rain and hail flooded the multi-purpose fields. Last year, heavy rains leading up to the event soaked the fields and the city couldn’t risk the damage.

Spring forward with Daylight Saving Time on Sunday

The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday, March 12, 2017.
The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday, March 12, 2017.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this Saturday night providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘spring forward’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we begin Daylight Savings Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  The start of Daylight Saving Time can be particularly problematic given the one hour less sleep people receive on the night of the change.

However, longer days as we head into the milder months are a very real benefit and for many worth the inconvenience of a lost hour of sleep.  The time change definitely has big effects on how much daylight we enjoy during our normal waking hours.

On Saturday, prior to the change, sunset will occur at 6:01pm but on Sunday the sun won’t disappear over the horizon until 7:02pm.  This affords folks more time in the evening to get started on those spring-time chores and allows us to get outside and enjoy the warming weather.

The March Equinox is also on the horizon.  Spring officially begins at 10:15am on Tuesday, March 20.

This year Daylight Savings Time will come to an end on November 4.

Some of the recent history of Daylight Savings Time (from Wikipedia):

Daylight saving time in the United States was first observed in 1918. Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, with the exceptions being the states of Arizona and Hawaii along with the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

From 1987 to 2006, daylight saving time in the United States began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The time was adjusted at 2:00 AM (0200) local time (as it still is done now).

Since 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, with all time changes taking place at 2:00 AM (0200) local time.

Daylight Savings Time Schedule

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2018 11 March 2018 4 November 2018
2019 10 March 2019 3 November 2019
2020 8 March 2020 1 November 2020
2021 14 March 2021 7 November 2021
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022
2023 12 March 2023 5 November 2023
2024 10 March 2024 3 November 2024
2025 9 March 2025 2 November 2025

Paleontologists: Thornton’s dinosaur is in fact a torosaurus, not a triceratops

The dinosaur fossil recently found in Thornton is in fact this creature - a torosaurus, not a triceratops as originally thought. (By Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) (Own work) CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)
The dinosaur fossil recently found in Thornton is in fact this creature – a torosaurus, not a triceratops as originally thought. (By Nobu Tamura (http://spinops.blogspot.com) (Own work) CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Thornton’s now famous dinosaur bones that were discovered at a construction site have been identified as a different prehistoric creature than originally thought.

Scientists with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science told CBS4 that they are actually remnants of a torosaurus, not a triceratops.

Dr. Joe Sertich, Curator of Dinosaurs at the museum, told the news station that the key in figuring out what it was came in the frill.

Sertich said, “I came in here and the preparators had cleaned off this part of the shield, the frill behind the head and I don’t think the preparators realized what this part was. This was a complete window opening in the frill.”

Sertich noted that the fact it is a torosaurus is in some ways even more exciting due to the rarity of that creature. This is in fact the only example of the torosaurus found in North America.

“This adds a really important single individual to a really rare dinosaur,” Sertich explained. “This is probably the most complete skull of a torosaurus.”

Watch the video of the report below.

Daylight Saving Time to come to an end on Sunday, November 5, 2017

The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.
The United States returns to Standard Time at 2:00am Sunday as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs tonight providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘fall back’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we return to Standard Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  Others actually like the return to standard time as they get to enjoy an extra hour of sleep.

The time change definitely has big effects on the dawning of daylight and how early it gets dark in the evening.

Sunrise on Saturday occurs at 7:32am but on Sunday it will be at 6:33am. Similarly, sunset will occur at 5:54pm on Saturday but on Sunday the sun will disappear over the horizon at 4:53pm.

For many this means that when they get home from work it will now be dark and outdoor activities will be significantly curtailed as a result.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time and remain on Standard Time year round.    The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands also do not observe the event.

It won’t be all that long though before Daylight Saving Time returns.  On March 11, 2018 we will ‘spring forward.’

Daylight Saving Time Schedule

The mandated beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time has changed in the United States over the years.

The most recent schedule was set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and took effect in 2007.  We now ‘spring forward’ to begin Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March and ‘fall back’ with the return to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November.

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2017 12 March 2017 5 November 2017
2018 11 March 2018 4 November 2018
2019 10 March 2019 3 November 2019
2020 8 March 2020 1 November 2020
2021 14 March 2021 7 November 2021
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022

Construction uncovers 66-million-year-old triceratops in Thornton

Experts from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science work to uncover a dinosaur fossil found in Thornton. (City of Thornton)
Experts from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science work to uncover a dinosaur fossil found in Thornton. (City of Thornton)

Crews working to build the City of Thornton’s new fire and police substation in the north part of town have unearthed the remains of a dinosaur.

The finding of the 66-million-year-old triceratops includes the skull and other bones.  Dr. Joe Sertich, Curator of Dinosaurs, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, spoke to the rarity of the find saying, “This is probably one of only three skulls of triceratops found along the front range area.”

The full press release from the City of Thornton:

Rare dinosaur fossil uncovered in Thornton
“This dinosaur has been laying here for at least 66-million years.”

THORNTON, CO… Scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) are working at the site of a fossil discovery in Thornton. On Friday, August 25, construction crews working on Thornton’s new Public Safety Facility at 132nd Avenue and Quebec Street uncovered the fossil, and scientists at DMNS were on-site on Monday, August 28, to confirm it is a fossil. “My heart was racing,” says DMNS Curator of Dinosaurs Joe Sertich. “I realized it was a pretty important dinosaur find.”

After initially clearing away some of the dirt at the site, Sertich says it appears to be a triceratops skeleton and skull. “This is probably one of only three skulls of triceratops found along the Front Range area,” says Sertich. According to Sertich, most fossil finds along the Front Range are from the Ice Age, just 10 to 12-thousand years old, but this fossil is much older, and much rarer. “This dinosaur has been laying here for at least 66-million years,” says Sertich. “I’m over the moon right now about this dinosaur fossil.”

A look at the triceratops fossil found in the city of Thornton. (City of Thornton)
A look at the triceratops fossil found in the city of Thornton. (City of Thornton)
Construction crews have stopped work in the area of the fossil. The DMNS scientists will stabilize the area, carefully expose the fossil, look for any other bones that remain uncovered, and safely extract them. “A lot of times these will be plowed up and they won’t be recognized,” says Sertich. “We’re really lucky in this case that it was recognized as fossils and we got the call.” Scientists hope to eventually house the fossil at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The city of Thornton is providing security at the fossil site to ensure the items make it safely to its new home. The fossil site is not visible from the street, and because this is an active construction site, only museum personnel, city of Thornton crews and construction personnel are permitted on the site. Thornton is making the following media resources available for covering the story: video of site (broadcast quality), video interviews, still photos. These resources can be found at www.gocot.net/dinosaur. Again, no access to the construction site will be permitted for safety reasons. Interviews may be facilitated upon request. For more information go to cityofthornton.net.

Photos and video courtesy the City of Thornton.

Weather forces cancellation of most Thorntonest events

City of Thornton's ThorntonfestThe soaking, wet weather that began yesterday evening and is expected to run well into tomorrow has caused numerous event cancellations. Now it has claimed another victim – the City of Thornton’s annual Thorntonfest.

Having already received nearly 2 inches of rain in the past twelve hours the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center fields are absolutely drenched.  Much more precipitation is on the way with no time for the fields to dry before Thorntonfest’s events were to start Saturday morning.

Mayor Heidi Williams announced on Facebook:

Unfortunately the weather has not cooperated with us and for the second time in 22 years, we are forced to cancel MOST of Thorntonfest due to saturated fields. There are 3 (possibly 4) components of the event that we are planning to move forward with:

  • The Cottonwood Classic 5K will go ahead as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Thorncreek Crossing Shopping Center.
  • The Rocky Mountain Dock Dogs competition will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday/Sunday, May 20 & 21. It will be moved into the parking lot south of the Carpenter Park multipurpose fields.
  • The Battle of the Bands Competition will go ahead as scheduled in the Carpenter Park Amphitheater, with the bands performing from 10:20 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The Canine Frisbee Competition hopes to go forward, as it is a regional competition and people are coming from out-of-state to participate. We are hoping to move them to Woodglen Park because it drains well. However, because the weather is supposed to continue through tomorrow, this decision won’t be made until Saturday morning.

The website will be updated with all of these changes, so the public will be advised to check the website if interested in any of these venues.