The Connection

Leading Edge Physical Therapy, LLC opened for business on January 13 and offers the latest technology and treatment in physical therapy. Pictured above are Sharon Wheeler, Operations Manager (left) and Sara Tibby, Physical Therapist (right). In addition to offering physical therapy treatments, Leading Edge will also hold health related seminars. Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard…

More than one hundred Solid Life Christian Center church members join hearts and effort to stuff more than 15,000 eggs for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt for CPN. This is the third year that Solid Life has sponsored this community event in its entirety in hopes to continue to bring the community together for this…

April 25 The 28th Annual Cherry Creek Sneak is currently taking registrations for the annual walk or run event. Join more than 10,000 participants in welcoming spring and kicking off the racing season in what has become a Denver area tradition. The race takes participants through the streets of Cherry Creek North on April 25.…

by Elizabeth Wood West “Whiskey is for drinking, but water is for fighting,” is an old west saying that could ring true today. Ask any water expert familiar with the Denver Basin and they will tell you that its long-term ability to provide water is limited. Many large water providers, including Castle Pines North Metro…

Swimmers with the Castle Crocs warm-up and dream of summer while parents register for the upcoming season. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Snow was falling but that didn’t stop the members from Castle Pines North (CPN) from lining up out the door of Dazbog to register for the upcoming swim season for the Castle Crocs. In…

Information provided by SMFR with photo by Timothy Toole South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFR) firefighters rescued a dog from a pond in Castle Pines Village at 4300 Prospect, February 27 at 10:45 a.m. The owner reported that the dog had gone out onto the ice and then went into the open water. It then…

Fuller Sotheby’s broker associates Linda Houston (left) and Chris Haught (right) welcome guests at the Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty office grand opening. by Terri Wiebold with information provided by Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Castle Pines Village…

Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue When you are driving and you hear sirens behind you, do you know what to do? You should pull to the right as far as you can and stop to allow emergency vehicles to pass. Somewhere every day, emergency responses are delayed, or worse, emergency vehicles are involved…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard In February the Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) along with Joe Eidel from the Grizzly Rose put on a Family Fun Night that had Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) families tapping their boots and having some fun. The gym at BRE was swinging with around 50 people, both parents and kids, learning…

Information provided by Jennifer K. Pingrey, Village Homes Construction in CPN resumes Village Homes is building and selling new homes again in The Crossings at Castle Pines North with the help of two real estate powerhouses, Homebuilder Capital Solutions and Lowe Enterprises. In December 2009, Homebuilder Capital Solutions, an affiliate of Colorado & Santa Fe…

by Scott Lasher The largest crowd ever to participate in the annual Castle Pines North Easter Egg Hunt filled their colorful baskets to the brim with eggs and prizes at Coyote Ridge Park on April 3. The event was sponsored by Solid Life Christian Center. Over 15,000 candy-filled eggs and 1,000 other prizes blanketed the…

DCS Montessori students enjoy a live demonstration during the school’s annual science fair in March.

The United States Postal Service has provided further clarification on its preferred and acceptable city uses for the 80108 zip code. According to the acting manager of consumer affairs for the Colorado/Wyoming district, Alex Turner, “Castle Rock” is the proper city for uses in Castle Pines Village, the City of Castle Pines North, and unincorporated…

You may have heard recent rumors about a drastically increased enrollment and an additional fourth floor at American Academy (AA). However, they are exactly that; rumors. Expected enrollment at AA for 2010-2011 is 875, a seven percent increase from this year’s enrollment total of 820. This is neither a large nor a significant increase for…

by Terri Wiebold For more than 25 years, Colorado’s largest non-profit, volunteer-driven health fair program has been promoting health awareness and encouraging individuals to assume responsibility for their own health by offering free and low-cost health and educational screenings. Take time to get checked out. A complete blood chemistry analysis – including heart, kidney, muscle…

Information provided by Castle Pines Academy Castle Pines Academy, the first locally owned and operated child care center, is now open for business. The school offers programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pre-kindergartners, kindergartners, and school age children. The management team of Castle Pines Academy emphasizes that the goal is to provide high quality services to…

by Anthonette Klinkerman During the month of March, area schools were silent for periods of time as students took the annual CSAP exams. The Colorado Student Assessment Program tests begin for students in third grade, and continue through tenth grade, measuring student performance in reading, math, writing and science. As in years past, Castle Pines…

Members of RCHS Student Council surround Harley during an assembly to present her with the Make-A-Wish gifts. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Kim Rauh The Make-A-Wish Foundation recently recognized Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) for its generous and record breaking donation to fulfill the once-in-a lifetime wishes for three kids, Harley, Landin,…

Pictured above are members of the BRE Brainstormers and the team coaches: Front row from left to right are Megan O’Donnell, Molly Steavpack, Katie Shanahan, Katie Carlson, Logan Jacobs and Samuel Hilgendorf. Back row from left to right are Christine O’Donnell and Laurie Jacobs. By Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) sent a team…

Dr. Clint Dickason, D.C. Information provided by Clint Dickason Dr. Clint Dickason, D.C., Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce member and founder of Dickason Chiropractic in Castle Rock has been selected as the official chiropractor for the Rocky Mountain Renegade – the new Castle Rock adult amateur football team in the Western Conference of the North…

By Terri Wiebold with contributions from Elizabeth Wood West, Happy Canyon HOA resident and board member The City of Castle Pines North Council voted five to one this week to establish the Castle Pines Urban Redevelopment Authority at its regular city council meeting, which was designated as a public hearing on the matter. The council…

Information provided by Douglas County Animal Services The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lab confirmed a rabies infection in Douglas County on March 16. This marks the arrival of the rabies in Douglas County. Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals resulting in a fatal disease.…

by Tracy Dudley The cycling season in Colorado is just around the corner, and cyclists in the Castle Pines community can look forward to a wide variety of trails, paths, and organized riding events to enjoy all summer. For road cyclists, Castle Pines offers easy access to a variety of paved trail systems, as well…

Audrey, Ashlyn and Gabrielle with their American Girl dolls Article and photos by Elean Gersack American Girl® began as a catalog retailer in 1986 with the purpose of celebrating girls. Twenty-four years later, it has grown into a mega icon that now includes eight stores, a vast collection of dolls, books, clothing, accessories and more.…

Mywedding.com staff (back row, left to right) Damien Hutchins, President and CEO Woody Pastorius, (center row) Sara Bunke, Katie Lenchuk, (front row) Kelsey Beytien, Brittany Leedahl. By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Tim Gamble One of the largest online wedding resources in the country, Mywedding.com, opened a new office in March and is now…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is seeking sponsors for the Second Annual Buffalo Stampede, the school’s annual fall carnival. The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA), the school’s parent teacher organization, is currently offering sponsorships to help offset costs of the carnival, including inflatable structures, dunk tank, carnival games, face painting, refreshments and…

Steve Labossiere by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Steve Labossiere Former Master Association Board member – now mayor, Jeff Huff, was replaced recently by an intriguing member of the Castle Pines North (CPN) community. Steve Labossiere (pictured left), a six-year resident of Forest Park, has stepped up to serve as the newest Master Association…

Press release provided by Kristin Zagurski, Town of Castle Rock The Environmental Assessment of the benefits and impacts the North Meadows Extension project could have on the surrounding area has been completed. An open house to provide information and get feedback on the assessment and the alternatives being considered will be held from 5 p.m.…

Drew Webster (4) shaves his head for the second time in support of the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser and his sister Bella (3) who is is remission from leukemia. by Patte Smith with photos submitted by Jennifer Havercroft Playing with big brother Drew is one of Bella Webster’s favorite activities, along with dance class, art, and…

Supporters gather at the tenth annual Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center of Douglas County. by Tracy Dudley On March 5, the Douglas County Events Center hosted the Tenth Annual Empty Bowl, where nearly 1,000 supporters – including many Castle Pines North residents – came out to help raise funds…

By Kathy Dunker Child Find is a wonderful service provided by Douglas County. Part of the Early Childhood Education Program, Child Find’s goal is to identify any delays in children age birth to five years old. If delays are found, Child Find provides support to the child through any needed therapy. These services including the…

Since February 2005, James McGrady has led the Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District on quite a journey. McGrady announced his retirement from the district last month. Much has been accomplished during the five years with McGrady at the helm as district manager. Working from the Ground Up When McGrady signed on as manager in…

Bobby Lewis with Wellstone, Barb Dolan and Chugs tie for first place, Buena Vista Gold Rush Days. Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Ed Kosmicki Since 1949 pack burro races have been run throughout Colorado, mostly in mountain towns like Fair Play and Leadville, but Morrison holds bragging rights for the race to…

By Elean Gersack Fetch your sneakers, grab a leash and bring your furry friends to the 2010 Furry Scurry. This marks the 100th year of The Dumb Friends League (DFL) helping pets and people and has inspired a centennial goal of raising $1 million in donations. The two-mile fun walk/run is planned for 9 a.m.…

The Governor has ordered the flags on all public buildings lowered to half staff for today, April 19, 2010, at the request of the President, for victims and survivors of terrorism.

Family owned and operated Blue Spruce Assisted Living Facility opened for business in March in Castle Pines North. The 3,400 square-foot facility has six residential bedrooms and facilities for caregivers. by Sally Uhrich Adele and Morris Barbera opened Blue Spruce Assisted Living Facility in Castle Pines North in March. The residential home is located at…

Award-winning DC Dolphins first-time cheerleaders with head coach Stephanie Collins and assistant coach Jen Walters by Tracy Dudley Among a wide variety of other sports, the Douglas County Dolphins youth athletic club offers competitive cheerleading. However, Castle Pines North resident Stephanie Collins felt there should be a more recreational option for those who wanted to…

Paul J Miller Public Information Officer Douglas County Search and Rescue Douglas County Search and Rescue successfully passed their Mountain Rescue Association Re-Accreditation tests on April 24th and 25th. The testing process was conducted at Castlewood Canyon State Park on Saturday with three different scenarios. Two winter scenarios were performed at Berthoud Pass on Sunday.…

by Tracy Dudley Since Kevin Brown moved to Castle Pines North in 1998, he has coached local baseball from t-ball to competitive teams at Rock Canyon High School. However, this will be his first year without coaching, as he is now focusing on helping student athletes with their college recruiting by way of highlight video…

Our Role in the CPN Community The primary function of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District outlined in 1984 when the District was established, was to provide the residents of Castle Pines North with water, wastewater, and storm water services, and to maintain District owned parks, trails and open space. Of equal importance, CPNMD has…

Andy Rhodes Dwight Zemp Information provided by the CPNMD The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) board of directors voted in February to elect new officers. The board elected Andy Rhodes as president and Dwight Zemp as vice president. Rhodes has been a resident of Castle Pines North since 2003, and was elected to the…

Castle Pines Village resident and local businessman Joe Gschwendtner announced his exploratory campaign for governor of Colorado. The self-described “anti-politician” made the decision to run following caucuses, and he is looking to expand the current field of candidates. Gschwendtner will now focus on fundraising efforts and gathering signatures on a petition for the primary ballot.…

Sunday June 6 Cyclists get your chains lubed and tires pumped because the Subaru Elephant Rock Cycling Festival is the unofficial start of the Colorado cycling season. The 23rd annual ride takes place on Sunday June 6 at the Douglas County Fair Grounds in Castle Rock and is currently accepting registration of riders of all…

by Sally Uhrich Owning a pet can be a wonderful, rewarding experience for you and your family. However, pets can transmit diseases that may be harmful to humans-especially young children and people with certain medical conditions. These are called zoonotic diseases. There are two types of zoonotic diseases that concern pet owners; illnesses that can…

Sharon DeRouen Press release provided by Sara Edwards, City of Castle Pines North Sharon DeRouen officially took office as city clerk March 9, when she was sworn in at the Castle Pines North city council meeting. DeRouen replaces the former city clerk, Janie Berry, who did not run for reelection. No candidates qualified to run…

Public works includes street maintenance and lighting, traffic signals and signage, permit processing and related services that help keep the city running smoothly. As you are no doubt aware, some areas of the community have deteriorating roads, which is due to age and inferior structural pavement design. City Council has already increased resources targeted to…

The Governor’s Energy Office announced NEW consumer rebates under federal Stimulus funding. These rebates are aimed at energy efficiency, but include incentives such as an extra $75 off on a energy efficient clothes washing machines. The program kicks off April 19th with a website and call center. It’s estimated there is enough funding to create…

Article by Kathy Dunker A day at American Academy (AA) is a day of exploration. AA places a special emphasis on teaching their students science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). To support that part of its mission, AA treats science class as an essential rather than an elective. From the smallest kindergartner to the tallest…

Information submitted by Susan Seamark, CPMD This is a regular election to be held on May 4 that will be conducted by mail ballot. Registered voters in approximately 1,525 homes may participate. There are six candidates for three open positions on the Castle Pines Metropolitan District Board of Directors. Elected directors will serve four year…

Maureen Shul submitted by Maureen Shul, CP EDC The Castle Pines Economic Development Council (CP EDC) unanimously elected Maureen Shul as its new president in February. Shul replaced David Verebely, who was instrumental in the formation of the organization. The CP EDC is a nonprofit organization that works in tandem with neighboring municipalities, Chambers of…

Charter members of the newly-formed Rotary Club of Castle Pines Article and photo by Kathy Dunker Rotary International is excited about its expansion in Douglas County with the formation of The Rotary Club of Castle Pines. Current Rotary Club membership in Castle Rock, Parker, and Highlands Ranch represents a cross-section of more than two hundred…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Big O Tires, located just south of Castle Pines Parkway near the Safeway shopping plaza, is collecting necessary toiletry items and comforts from home for military troops serving overseas. Robyn McElroy, owner and mother of a recent Marine boot camp graduate (to learn more see the article on page 12) discovered…

by Lisa Crockett Students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) in Castle Pines North will no longer head back to school in early July. Budget cuts at the state level and the school district level mean increased class sizes and decreased ability to run buses and other school services year-round. “I have mixed feelings about the…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North City staff presented the city council with two draft plans addressing coyote management in Castle Pines North on February 9, both of which provide for community education, hazing and lethal control. Council will now consider the plans, one patterned after the City of Centennial’s and Town…

by Sally Uhrich The practice of eating corned beef and cabbage as a St. Patrick’s Day holiday meal is actually more Irish-American than Irish-Isle. Although corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish meal, it was the Irish-American immigrants who turned it into a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, not the residents of the Emerald Isle.…

BRE teachers from the 2009 Spelling Challenge kick-off assembly take a bow after a fun-loving and inspiring performance. By Carin R. Kirkegaard In April, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) will once again celebrate an entire month devoted to promoting literacy throughout the school. On April 2, the students at BRE will be inspired to become great…

Photos submitted by Buffalo Ridge Elementary In December, students from BRE created cards and composed letters to be sent to the United States military serving overseas during the holidays. To show the sincere appreciation for the kind words and thoughtful cards, pictures were sent back to the students. Pictured here are soldiers as they open…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The City of Castle Pines North filed an application for dissolution with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District on February 5. The city council had the authority to take the first step to initiate dissolution proceedings because the district is located entirely within the city limits.…

By Tracy Dudley According to David Callan, Douglas County School District’s director of athletics, it is important for women to participate in sports. “Women involved in sports are 41 percent more likely to graduate from college in five years, have higher grade-point averages, and are more responsible and productive citizens,” said Callan. “Participation in sports…

By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) library will be holding its annual spring book fair to raise funds to purchase new books. The Book Fair Diner All You Can Read will be held in the BRE library from April 12 through April 15. The fair will open each morning at 8:30 a.m.…

Board position vacant The Castle Pines Homes Association’s (CPHA) annual meeting of the members will be held on Monday, March 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cielo at Castle Pines, located at 485 West Happy Canyon Road. This will be a great time to meet new neighbors, visit with old acquaintances, become more…

Dawn Lang poses with her class. This school year, Lang was the proud recipient of a grant for a SMARTboard, which she uses daily to help her second graders learn. The “Apple” of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School’s eye – Dawn Lang named finalist By Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is proud to have…

Dr. Kristine Turner hit the airwaves in Castle Rock in January with her talk show “New Beginnings, Life After Divorce.” Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Kristine Turner Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Kristine Turner, also known as the “divorce doctor”, specializes in helping families cope with divorce and has done so for…

Article by Lisa Crockett with photo by Tim Gamble The Douglas County Planning Commission has approved a proposal by Xcel Energy to upgrade transmission lines from the Daniels Park substation heading west, skimming the northern border of Castle Pines North (CPN) and extending roughly nine miles to the Waterton Substation on Rampart Range Road. The…

Submitted by Heather Halpape CDOT CSP PIO Don’t Be Fooled By Darkness. Nighttime Click It or Ticket Begins April 1st Law enforcement in 11 counties buckle down on those not buckled up. DENVER — The Colorado State Patrol and 48 law enforcement agencies are not fooling this week when they step up enforcement of the…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is proud to announce its first Apple Award finalist in the school’s five year history. Mike Stroman, the band, orchestra and jazz band teacher for sixth through eighth grades at RHMS, is in his thirtieth year of teaching and is…