The Connection

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…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The city recently implemented several measures designed to address traffic congestion and safety issues at the southern end of Monarch Boulevard. Citizens in HOA 1, HOA 2 and Noble Ridge have expressed concerns about the dead-end area, which serves as a drop off and pickup location…

By Tracy Dudley Every year, excited DCS Montessori students get moving for the Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH) program. Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), fundraising from JRFH supports the AHA mission of reducing disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. In fact, the AHA recently stated their impact goal is to reduce…

Lois Autterson (front left) went to Haiti with one other lady from God’s Grace Community Church in 2009. The kids in this picture were trying to teach Lois Haitian Creole. They are from a center called Tetkole (means “heads together” ) based in Jacmel. Tetkole is run by Verbo Jean Julien, a Haitian lawyer who…

Dear residents and fellow neighbors, It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your city council representative for Ward 1 these past few months. I appreciate you placing your trust in me, and it is with great regret that I must now resign my position. The very reasons you elected me to…

By Sally Uhrich Thinking of acquiring a dog? If you are like most potential pet owners, you dream of leisurely walks, time spent playing fetch, cuddling and caressing your most loving, loyal and of course, obedient, canine companion. Unfortunately for some pet owners, the dream becomes more of a nightmare. Although most puppies will initially…

Girl Scout Troop 628 from Buffalo Ridge Elementary School collected $2,449.29 for the Haiti Relief Fund. Article by Elean Gesack and photo provided by Annette Loomis Haiti… it’s a battleground of disaster. Just days after the devastating earthquake took place, Girl Scout Troop 628 from Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) took action. The fourth graders knew…

Five year old Chelbi has Ewing’s sarcoma and wishes to go to Disney World. Article by Kathy Dunker and photo courtesy of Melissa Hawken Morris This year, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado was chosen to be one of the fourteen nonprofit organizations in Checkoff Colorado. This innovative program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to…

David Klinkerman Article and photo by Anthonette Klinkerman Each year, the Douglas County Educational Foundation bestows an Apple Award to a teacher from the Douglas County School District. One teacher is nominated from each school, and in a celebration akin to the Academy Awards, nominees will find out the Apple Award winner in March. Local…

by Anthonette Klinkerman I’m so green it hurts. Okay, I’m not, but that would be funny on a t-shirt. I have recycle bins, incandescent bulbs, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, and a rescued cat. I chase down the plastic bread things for recycling, use stainless steel water bottles, and I do a lot of consignment store…

The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) will be moving its offices which are currently located at 7437 Village Square Lane, to 7501 Village Square Lane, Suite 100. City Manager Alan Lanning said the new office location should be open and ready to serve the public around March 1. In December, city council approved a…

Owners Doug Heckenkamp of Advanced Physical & Sports Therapy and and Cassie Heckenkamp of Mile High Medical Gardens, along with employee Andrew Foresman (pictured in the center, back.) By Elizabeth Wood West and photo by Tim Gamble Husband Doug Heckenkamp has expanded his successful physical therapy clinic, Advanced Physical & Sports Therapy, to include wife…

Forest Park HOA (and a couple of nearby communities) participated in a food drive for the Douglas County Task Force during the holidays, and will host another food drive later this year. The Forest Park HOA received this note from the volunteer director at Douglas County Task Force for its efforts in the food drive:…

The history of Mardi Gras in the United States By Chris Bonham Lupercalia, Fastnachtkuchen, Karneval; are these names ringing any bells? No, probably not. What about Fat Tuesday? Mardi Gras? Aha! All of these names are variations of the label given to the season directly before the Catholic celebration of Lent. In places such as…

Sarah Tierney founded Mosaic Admissions in 1999. She has over 20 years of experience in college admissions and higher education marketing. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard With many state colleges seeing a surge in applicants, it is safe to say that landing a spot in the incoming freshman class of a desired school…

Susan Sanders has been honing her hammering skills while working with Habitat For Humanity of Metro Denver. Sanders’ goal is to get the nail into the wood with the fewest amounts of hits. Her record to date is four. (Photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard) Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard Susan Sanders, a Castle Pines North…

Frustrated fathers Brad Wann (pictured top right) and David DiCarlo (bottom left) have started a grass roots effort to change the way education is funded in Colorado. The “Wickerdale Walkers,” as they call themselves, have established “Crayons 4 Education”- a program whereby residents mail a red crayon to the state capital to rally support for…

Submitted by CPN Resident Keri Brehm What is Caucus? Caucus is a process in which you and your neighbors meet together to elect two leaders for your precinct (known as “precinct committee people”) and to elect two or more delegates and alternates to the County Assembly. The two precinct committee people represent the precinct at…

Class facilitator and Castle Pines Village resident Ted Atkinson leading a class in Roman architecture at the OLLI South campus. Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Tim Gamble Tom Carter, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Curriculum Chair, has a passion for learning and a talent to ferret out people with a story…

Eight-year-old Avalon plays it safe and buckles up in her booster seat each time she rides in a car. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Children get older, get bigger and grow out of conventional car seats. For many parents this is a time to celebrate the end of an era. Carting around clunky seats…

Information submitted by Rey Cinocco, Edward Jones In January, Rey Cinocco of Edward Jones’ Castle Pines North office hosted a seminar at the Courtyard at Sienna in Castle Rock on the benefits of estate planning, what to consider when creating a will, how to help reduce taxes on one’s estate, and how insurance can help…

Information provided by the bride and groom Rachel Adrian and Bryan Spellman were married on Sunday, February 21. Fathers Bob Adrian and Skip Spellman officiated at a private location in Breckenridge. The bride, 27, is a real estate executive in Denver who covers residential and custom real estate for Colorado Homes and Estates. She studied…

Article by Terri Wiebold and photo by Tim Gamble Open for business February 2, the Castle Pines Postal Center (CPPC) provides postal convenience for those looking to mail a letter or package, purchase stamps, or perform any of the functions found at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Although the CPPC is a privately-owned independent…

Sheriff Dave Weaver and Interim School Superintendent Steve Herzog, standing next to one of the buses Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer Douglas County Sherifff’s Office Whei Wong, Douglas County Educational Foundation Sheriff Weaver Partners with the Educational Foundation on Getting the Word Out Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver is excited about…

More than 140 Girl Scouts, including many from Castle Pines, attended Power Up on February 6 at the Castle Rock Recreation Center. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Bullying, teasing, gossiping, being left out — no way, no more! On Saturday, February 6, fourteen area Girl Scout Troops with girls ranging from third to sixth…

Troop 316 new Eagle Scouts (from left to right) Michael Phillip Elmore, Connor Scott Smith, Lucas Wood West, Samuel Ryan Classen, Emerson Paul Steinberg, and Jacob Bailey Dysart. Article by Elizabeth Wood West It is rare to see a bald eagle. It is also rare to have six young men from the same Boy Scout…

Officer Joe Stafford Douglas County Animal Services Field Services Manager Officer Lisa Massie Douglas County Animal Services, Field Services Supervisor On March 15, 2010 Douglas County Animal Services (DCAS) was contacted regarding a skunk that exhibited uncoordinated and aggressive behavior east of Parker, CO. The skunk was collected and submitted for rabies testing. The Colorado…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North Castle Pines North Municipal Court held its first session 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 24 with Judge Louis Gresh presiding. Court takes place on the fourth Wednesday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The Ausmus law firm is providing prosecution services. The…

Kevin Hyland, an agent with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Identity Theft and Financial Crimes Unit will be presenting facts and tips to prevent identity theft on Wednesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. in the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce office. A light meal will be provided. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to…

Castle Pines North resident and Stantec engineer Dan Baxter Information and photo provided by Danny Craig via press release, Stantec media relations The Freeway Operations Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), in conjunction with Attica Tollway bestowed its special leadership award on Glen Oaks resident Dan Baxter, a principal in the transportation practice of…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Deputies are investigating a traffic crash that involved a stolen vehicle that had been warming up in a driveway this morning. At around 6:30 am, deputies received a call that a vehicle had just been stolen from the driveway of a…

By Patte Smith When first driving through the community of Surrey Ridge, it’s surprising to see the residents, whether in a car or on foot, waving at everyone. This is common in the 120-plus-home equestrian neighborhood that was started in the late ’60s. Residents love the area for the open space, the equestrian property, the…

Information provided by Douglas County Residents of Douglas County have until March 31 to take advantage of Insulate Colorado rebates, available to homeowners for insulation installation. Homeowners may apply for a rebate of 20 percent off the cost of installation of either attic or exterior wall insulation and basic recommended air sealing measures, or $300…

CASTLE PINES NORTH, Colo., March 17, 2010—Castle Pines North City Council and Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Board held a joint meeting, open to the public, March 16 to discuss potential cooperative integration options. This was the first of a series of joint meetings on this topic. The public will be made aware of additional…

Nurse Ray Levesque (right) and a would-be traveler go over immunization information at the Tri-County Health Department office in Lone Tree. Article by Tracy Dudley with photo by Tim Gamble Traveling outside of the United States presents increased risk for infectious diseases, no matter how carefully you plan your accommodations. Fortunately, there is an international…

by Elizabeth Wood West In spite of several attempts made over the past year, the Town of Castle Rock and Union Pacific Railroad have been unable to come to agreement on the possibility of the railroad relocating approximately one mile of its existing tracks. The relocation of the railroad tracks would have allowed construction of…

Information provided by Jim Steavpack, CPN resident The Fourth Annual Castle Rock Recreation HOOPLA Basketball Event was held February 12-13. The fun-filled weekend encouraged kids in fourth through eighth grades to show off their basketball abilities in individual skills challenges, a three-on-three tournament, and a league all-star game. The individual skills challenges tested participants in…

Jack Arrowsmith Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Information provided by Douglas County Seeking public input on the distribution of tax dollars for services provided by the office of the clerk and recorder, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith has scheduled a series of community meetings in which he hopes to engage county residents in…

Mothers and sons pose for a photo after graduation from Marine Corps Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton, CA. Pictured left to right: Robyn and Jake McElroy and Joey Riplinger and Kelly Wirkus. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard In January, Jake McElroy and Joey Riplinger, both Castle Pines North (CPN) residents and graduates from…

Article courtesy of Trish Cummings American Academy Charter School American Academy recently participated in a service program to help Colorado National Guard troops (Colorado Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery) currently deployed to Iraq. After being contacted by a National Guard parent at the school in October, American Academy parent and teacher, Wendy…

by Lisa Crockett A soldier who comes to the U.S. Military Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany is likely to need a lot of things – chiefly, medical attention. It is also distinctly possible that he or she will need other, more mundane things. A soldier evacuated from Iraq or Afghanistan will often arrive without a single…

Troop leader Paige Taylor Co-leader Jen Meinert-Larson and Daisies sing “Make new friends” at the closing of the meeting. by Anthonette Klinkerman At Buffalo Ridge Elementary, every other Wednesday afternoon, thirty-five girls in blue vests and smocks perch on the art room stools, having a snack before instruction. These Kindergarten and First Grade girls are…

Douglas County School District is offering a new way to provide adult education courses that serve community interests and needs. Formerly known as The Parent University, The Community University is expanding its course offerings. In addition to the popular parenting courses that have been offered since 1997, there will be new courses in response to…

Information and photos submitted by Claudia Larson There are few resources for women and children who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. God’s Grace Community Church (GGCC) is pleased to partner with Denver’s only day shelter, The Gathering Place (TGP). GGCC hosts a monthly Bingo game to spend time with the women, offer a little fun…

by Elizabeth Wood West What do President Gerald Ford, movie director Steven Spielberg, and Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton have in common? They were all Eagle Scouts. Eagle Scout is the highest rank in Boy Scouts of America. This organization has millions of members, but fewer than five percent of all Boy Scouts earn the rank…

Coach Erik Goodrich Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Lisa Kochevar Although it may seem like a long way off with the current cold temperatures and icy roads, Castle Pines North’s newest summer swim team, Castle Pines Storm, is gearing up for their second season. Storm got off to a great start in 2009…

CPN elected officials pictured left to right: Kim Hoffman (ward 2), John Ewing (ward 3), Mark Shively (treasurer), Jeff Huff (mayor), Darwin Horan (ward 1), Jennifer Havercroft (ward 1), Doug Gilbert (ward 3), and Shelley Hamilton-Bruer (ward 2).  

by Sally Uhrich Looking for a dessert to serve your loved ones this Valentine’s Day? Consider making beet cake, a healthier alternative to the more commonly served, red velvet cake. Beet cake derives its reddish/maroon color from beets, not food coloring. Beets have long been know for their amazing health benefits for almost every part…

by Anthonette Klinkerman The majority of people diet after the New Year, but one Castle Pines North (CPN) resident got a jump on a healthier lifestyle before the holidays. Tim Gamble, who is also The Castle Pines Connection photographer and webmaster, joined “The Biggest Loser” competition hosted by Village Fitness. He came away 32 pounds…

  by Anthonette Klinkerman Several residents of Castle Pines North have lost beloved pets to coyotes. A pack of coyotes in the vicinity has made the press before, but two particularly bold coyotes have snatched small dogs during daylight hours while helpless owners stood nearby. “We were shocked as it happened so quickly,” said Chris…

Sheriff David A. Weaver submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Whei Wong Douglas County Educational Foundation At the January 28th board meeting of the Douglas County Educational Foundation, Sheriff David A. Weaver was unanimously approved to serve on the Board as one of the Trustee Members. “Our School District…

A local grass roots movement is rethinking and exploring how Colorado funds education “The Wickerdale Walkers” are encouraging elected officials to do the same, and they welcome your participation. Simply send a RED crayon in an envelope with a note that says “Crayons 4 Education” to: Govenor Bill Ritter 136 State Capitol Denver, CO, 80203-1792…

Mother-daughter team and friend wearing their wares. Left Brooke Jacobsen, middle Dawn Jacobsen, right Michelle Dunker Article and photo by Kathy Dunker A very fun and funky new mother-daughter boutique is opening out of Daniels Gate called the Royal Chic Boutique. Inspired by her ten year old daughter, Brooke’s, desire to open her own boutique,…

Local businessman and Castle Pines North resident Dan Cook (pictured above with scissors) cuts the ribbon at his new office opening in Lone Tree. Cook Financial Associates was previously located off Happy Canyon Road in The Village at Castle Pines.

By Elean Gersack Spring break will be here before we know it. Plan ahead and enjoy some memorable family activities right here in Colorado. From state parks to museums, there is much to do and see close to home. Outdoor Recreation Castlewood Canyon State Park 2989 South State Highway 83, Franktown 303-688-5242 This beautiful retreat…

by Lisa Crockett Generous Castle Pines-area donors and members of the Castle Pines business community wanted to make sure that veterans in the area felt honored for Veteran’s Day this past November. The Bundt Shoppe, a specialty cake bakery on Village Square Drive, sold special edition chocolate, chocolate-chip cakes for just $10 as part of…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North It is the City’s expectation that all public streets shall be plowed; however, crews will continue to plow these streets on a priority basis such that primary streets will be the highest priority, then residential streets. The City deploys three plow trucks all equipped with sanding…

Information and photo submitted by Linda Clure Linda Clure is proud to announce that she is now a senior real estate specialist (SRES). There are only 15,000 realtors in the country who have been awarded this prestigious designation. The SRES designation focuses on serving real estate buyers and sellers who are aged fifty-five and older,…

Article by Sally Uhrich and photo by Terri Wiebold It’s good news for pet owners. Dr. John Vickers of the Castle Pines Veterinary Clinic is offering a 10 percent discount on pet dental cleanings during the month of February. As pet owners, we should be aware that cats and smaller dogs are known to have…

South Metro Fire Rescue Authority personnel practiced ice rescue techniques in January at a frozen pond on the Meridian golf course. Information and photos submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue Icy ponds and lakes are attractions that lead to life-threatening situations almost every winter. If someone falls through the ice, they can succumb to the…

by Lisa Crockett In December, the city council of Castle Pines North (CPN) approved Resolution 09-91, declaring the property known as Lagae South eligible for annexation into the city of Castle Pines North. Lagae South – currently in unincorporated Douglas County – is an area of approximately 354 acres, located west of Interstate 25, north…

The Castle Cappellas, a volunteer ladies chorus is seeking Soprano I, II and Alto I, II voices. We have sung at a few political events, local churches, The Wildlife Experience Christmas Lights event and at the Denver Tea Party. We also sang at the city of Castle Pines July 4th celebration and the recent mayoral…

Article by Sally Uhrich with photos by Jeremy Gamble “An Evening of Inspiration,” was the theme for the very first fundraising event for Wellspring Community, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower adults with special needs to live full and productive lives. More than 250 guests gathered at Cielo at Castle Pines, including Carole Murray,…

The Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program held a winter concert at Wildcat Elementary School. Band and orchestra members from Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Timber Trail Elementary performed a variety of musical numbers designed around a humorous skit as well as four other individual songs. Sage Kemp, Brad Zakrzewski, Kathryn Pietra, John Koerner, Connor…

Information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North. As the newly-seated Castle Pines North City Council begins 2010, the City Council is continuing its efforts from the previous two years to integrate operations of the Castle Pines North Metro District (Metro District) and the City of Castle Pines North. The City Council’s…

RHMS Robotics Club, team #2. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Amy Shanahan Robots are not just part of science fiction anymore. Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) offers a Robotics Club to its students for the third consecutive year. Under the leadership of seventh grade Social Studies teacher, Cameron Randolph, the club continues…