From Our Mailbox - 2012
May 16, 2012
Terri,
Thank you for providing a valuable tool to our community, The Castle Pines Connection. Each month I look forward to the interesting articles, relative advertising, and insight as to the "happenings" in our neighborhoods.
Most recently, I was following the story related to the lawsuit filed by The City of Castle Pines against the Castle Pines Metro District. I did see where the City decided to withdraw the lawsuit; however, I have not seen any information as to the cost associated with the lawsuit for both the City and Metro District (same tax base footing the bill for both sides of the lawsuit). Are you able to provide a follow-up story detailing the cost for each entity and what benefits residents received for these expenditures?
Mark Massey
Castle Pines Resident
Mr. Massey,
Thank your or your e-mail inquiry and also for the time you spent with me on the phone discussing this issue. Per your suggestion, I have a writer looking into the "final tally" of the dissolution petition between the City of Castle Pines and the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District. I hope to include something in the upcoming June or July issue of The Castle Pines Conenction, depending upon the amount of research required and the turn around time on legal and financial documents.
I appreciate your interest in the paper and especially your taking the time to write in and offer feedback and a great story idea.
Thanks for your continued interest and support,
Terri Wiebold, editor
May 14, 2012
Terri,
I am happy to inform you that [advertising in] The Castle Pines Connection has been the best marketing tool for Tru-Blue Construction all year! I am very pleased with the customer service, and the calls we have received.
Sincerely,
Lynn Pender
Lynn,
Thank you for your e-mail. I was also pleased to receive your husband's call reporting great response he was reveiving to the True Blue ad. It is reassuring to know that your marketing efforts are paying off for you and that you have experienced success with your ad in The Castle Pines Conenction. We take pride in featuring local businesses and especially residents in the community.
Thanks for taking the time to write in,
Terri Wiebold, editor
May 7, 2012
Hi Liz,
I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the Castle Pines Connection and you Liz for your honest reporting of the [Castle Pines Village] roundabouts and continuing to report throughout the project to the public what this project was all about from the start to finish.
Paul Dannels,
Castle Pines Metropolitan District Manager
April.2012
Dear Editor,
I was reading the article on the new Castle Pines Town Center Developing and thought that this would probably be a great idea. It would attract more people to Castle Pines not only because of the new houses but it would also provide a place for residents to go have a picnic or play in the park with their kids. Imagine being able to ride your bike through open space without having to go that far away from home. I know I would like that.
The European Style pedestrian zone is a great idea having restaurants and business there would give people a place to meet with friends or go shopping while still supporting the Castle Pines community. mean currently there are a few places to eat and like five stores. That's not much of a shopping center. But with 700,000 square feet of businesses you really have a shopping center.
The only bad things are that we would get a lot more traffic past neighborhoods that used to have quiet homes and wildlife would lose their homes where we are building. But other than that everything else would be nice. Now we just wait for the building to start.
Marshall Thomas
7535 Yorkshire Dr.
Castle Pines Co 80108
Neighborhood next to the Visitor Center
303-688-8879
mwtinco@yahoo.com
April 24, 2012
Hello Editor,
I look forward to your monthly newspaper and email updates. It's informative and diverse in its content.
Unfortunately, I want to bring to your attention the lack of adequate information in the last two issues of The Castle Pines Connection regarding the Castle Pines Town Center.
Neither the March article "Castle Pines Town Center gets green light from planning commission" nor the April article, "Castle Pines Town Center gains City Council approval," included any public comment regarding this controversial annexation and development. I would state that the majority of those who spoke at both public hearings were objecting to various issues, regarding the magnitude of the project and its impacts on surrounding property owners.
It's unfortunate that the writer decided to copy and paste a couple of paragraphs instead of highlighting some public comment.
Thanks,
Leslie H. Lilly
President
Happy Canyon Homeowners' Association
Mr. Lilly,
Thank you for taking the time to send in you comments regarding The Castle Pines Connection's ongoing coverage of the Castle Pines Town Center.
Certainly, development in the area impacts not only Castle Pines, but surrounding neighbors as well. Our coverage of the project (dating back to January 2009) has been focused on educating the public about the project plans, encouraging attendance at scheduled meetings, and reporting on the development status.
We anticipate that members of the community who have interst in the project will attend the meetings and see for themselves the specifics of the project and share their opinions with those making the decisions and voting on the project plans - much like it sounds you and your neighbors have.
"Castle Pines Town Center gets green light from planning commission" and "Castle Pines Town Center gains City Council approval" both convey the end result of the meeting, which is what we were hoping to accomplish.
I will take into consideration your desire to have more extensive coverage of the public opinions expressed at the meetings for future stories.
Terri Wiebold, editor
Response submitted by Mr. Lilly 4/26/12 -
Thanks for the reply Terri...it's always a pleasure "chatting" with you and I know that the residents of Happy Canyon enjoy your efforts to provide and deliver your paper at no charge. Additionally, I know of residents (myself included) that enjoy patronizing numerous businesses in The City of Castle Pines too.
Thanks again,
Les
April 14, 2012
To: Castle Pines Connection
In the last issue of The Connection, I noted with interest the ads for the candidates for the Metro District Board. It was good to have some information available to decide how to vote. I appreciate the Connection providing that info.
However, upon closer inspection, I noted a logo down in the lower right corner of Lichtenheld/Lucas/Bruer’s ad. It was the Republican party logo. There was no such logo on the other candidates’ ad.
I must tell you I am new to this area, having moved here in December from out of state. I was quite turned off by the logo. It cost those three my vote.
It is not that I am for or opposed to Republican candidates. It is because this is and should be a non-partisan office. We have enough problems with legislative deadlock elsewhere. We don’t need that kind of partisanship brought home to the Metro District Board. The presence of the logo on a coordinated advertisement suggests a ‘block’ mentality. It is this kind of mentality that results in party being valued higher than the good of the community. They should be running to support our community not to hoist a political banner over its business nor to further an agenda.
Paul Mauro
Castle Pines, CO
April 8, 2012
Amy,
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for supporting Project Easter Basket this year. From rounding up neighborhood support to your generous donations to the wonderful article, you really went above and beyond.
We were able to put together 425 baskets this year with the help of Castle Pines Village and residents of Castle Pines North (thanks to your article in The Castle Pines Conenction)...
I could not have done it without you this year.
Stacy Gaines
March 8, 2012
Hi Terri,
The notice about the directory project is usually carried via the mail... In Castle Pines, there exists a way to insure that everyone has seen it! The Castle Pines Connection is so well regarded and widely read that my notification to the residents was in much "safer hands" by entrusting it to you than to the mail.
The response to the notice has been fantastic so far AND keeps coming. It is obvious to me that people hang on to the paper! I'm also noting that the reply form is being copied and faxed or scanned and emailed rather than being cut out and mailed.
On another, and related note, I often field calls from residents of Castle Pines who are seeking guidance on which of the many entities in this community (individual HOA, Master Association, Parks Authority, Metro District and City) is charged with this or that. I've been referring those calls to your website on which residents have an attractive, navigable and easy to use resource which connects to each of these entities and everything related to Castle Pines. What a terrific job you've done building this community hub!
Congratulations on building terrific, multi-platform resource that lives up to the promise of its name! And thanks again for your help!
Patricia KC Anthone, Publisher
Our Neighborhood Directory
by Sponsored Publications
March 2, 2012
Terri and Kathy,
Thank you both for publishing an article in The Castle Pines Connection for Cat Care Society. I really appreciate you taking the time to write about a really nice cat shelter that does an honorable job in sheltering cats. By letting the public know that sheltering can be done more effectively, be more fair, and be enjoyable to adopt a cat, you promote humanity for homeless cats.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Kyle Herbertson
February 19, 2012
Editor,
The Castle Pines Connection has run several articles over the years highlighting the success of Warren Village. The Connection has been generous to give coverage on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and good old fashioned news coverage. I absolutely adore the Castle Pines Connection because of their desire and their ability to connect the citizens of Castle Pines North.
Thanks,
Tammy Abramovitz
February 9, 2012
Dear Editor,
Thank you for writing the column "Made in the USA Matters." I too have read the statistics that you quoted and find it hard to believe that we as Americans can't quite figure out how to "help ourselves." In any event, I am a art consultants (generally dealing with churches) and have many artists that I solely represent in Colorado as well as others that I can call upon depending upon the desired medium fort he art. I also have designed and sell jewelry and pendants that are 100% made in America...hoping to keep some of our artists and foundries employed.
Thanks,
Bill Sarge, resident
January 18, 2012
I've lived in Castle Pines since 1999 and have not ever seen any articles written about "cats". Is there any possibility that the Connection would be willing to publish an article to bring awareness about cats in shelters prior to April? Spring will arrive in about three months and kitten season will begin late March. It is best to spay and neuter all breeding cats prior to this time to reduce the numbers of kittens born. More dogs are adopted than cats. Because cats are not microchipped as frequently as dogs the percentage of those returned to homes is much lower. Think about how difficult it would be to identify a short haired black cat if the cat is not microchipped. This was a huge issue after Hurricane Katrina, returning cats to their rightful owners when so many of them look alike.
I have been a volunteer at Cat Care Society for 10 years and not enough is done to talk about the challenges cats face in shelters year after year.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ms. Kyle Herbertson
Castle Pines Resident
Ms. Kyle Herbertson,
Thank you for your interest and participation; your event has been posted to the Castle Pines Connection website- http://www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/events/event/2012/qtr1/ccs.html.
We are curently in production on the February issue of the paper, but I will discuss this topic at our staff meeting and will have a writer follow up with you mid-February for a March story. I will also try to get your event included in the February issue.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write in.
Sincerely,
Terri
January 10
Terri,
I can’t tell you how grateful we are at the library for all the support, stories, and mentions you give us every issue. The CP Connection is a powerful tool in the community, we are honored to be able to be part of it!
Amy Long,
Patron Services Department Head
Castle Pines Library
January 9, 2012
Hey Amy,
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to be in the paper. One of my students brought me a copy (I don't think I've received one in the mail yet), and it was such a great article.
I have gotten more phone calls from people who read that single article than from all of the ads I've put in the neighborhood newsletters and things. You really expressed what we are all about and I couldn't be happier.
Thank you so much!
Laura Hinton, owner
Boutique Dance Academy
