Read the stories from the latest issue:
by Lisa Crockett The Ridge Golf Course is teaming up with Sedalia Nursery to offer Christmas Trees to the Castle Pines community. Trees sales will begin on Saturday, November 28, at The Ridge and run through Christmas Eve. “In addition to conventionally-cut trees, we’re offering live Christmas trees which can be re-planted after the holiday,”…
by Lisa Crockett Gone are the days of chalk and erasers – or even markers and sponges. In a development that mirrors most other areas of daily life, students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) now spend their time in classrooms with chalkboards that are “smart.” These so-called “SMARTboards” are interactive whiteboards that allow teachers to…
by Joe Gschwendtner Fire up your snail mail. Anyone can twitter, text, and telephone; it’s cheap and spontaneous. But what about a letter? With stationery? Here’s an art form that stokes its own anticipation and adventure, making sentiments soar. When’s the last time you made the time to write something special? Let’s start with the…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office New law prohibits use of cell phones while driving House Bill 1094, which goes into effect December 1, 2009. prohibits drivers under the age of eighteen years from using wireless telephone for talking, listening, or texting while driving a motor vehicle. The new law also prohibits drivers eighteen…
Submitted by Officer Joe Stafford, Douglas County Animal Services Field Services Mgr. & Officer Lisa Massie Animal Services, Field Services Supervisor As winter rolls in, Douglas County Animal Services asks that you pause to consider the seasonal needs of your pets. The most important winter safety tip to remember is to not leave your pets…
In Castle Pines, there is a simple way to get into the holiday spirit and give back to the community, it’s called contributing to our Mitten Tree The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invites members of the neighborhood to assist them in decorating the Mitten Tree by donating warm fuzzy mittens, gloves, hats, scarves or…
by Anthonette Klinkerman The weather outside was indeed scary, arriving just in time for the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Trick-or-Treat Street event. A two-day snowstorm that buried the town delayed the event scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, but organizers were quick to reschedule for the morning of Halloween. Parents of the tiniest costumed…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver would like to remind citizens of some basic safety tips that will help make the holiday season a safer one. Many criminals target busy shoppers for purse snatching and other forms of robbery. They tend to hang out at malls and other…
by Scott Lasher Everyone who has ever swung a golf club has known the frustration – some go straight, most don’t. Well, almost everyone has known the frustration. If you play on the Rock Canyon High School Boys Golf team, you might not have this season. All four players on the varsity team qualified for…
by Elizabeth Wood West People in Douglas County and Castle Pines North (CPN) may know Mark Shively because of his extensive water knowledge and experience with the Douglas County Water Resource Authority (past president and current executive director), or because of his community service with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (past treasurer and president)…
New leadership for Castle Pines North includes mayor-elect Jeff Huff, seen here being congratulated by friends and family at an after-election party on November 3. Also pictured are city council members, from left to right: Jennifer Havercroft, Shelley Hamilton-Bruer, Kim Hoffman, John Ewing, Darwin Horan, Doug Gilbert, and city treasurer, Mark Shively. Castle Pines North…
Eagle Scout Candidate Lucas West stands with Open Space Specialist Jackie Sanderson next to the new dog agility obstacles at the Glendale Farm Open Space Dog Park. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West It is hard to tell who is having the most fun with the new dog agility obstacles – dogs or their…
Pat and Emi Kanan in their gallery. Photograph of Pitigliano, Tuscany to the right Article and photograph by Joe Gschwendtner Meet Castle Pines Village residents Emi and Pat Kanan, acclaimed photographers who capture the beauty of European landscapes through their lenses. Their talent is displayed in living rooms and boardrooms throughout the country. But this…
by Sally Uhrich The Pet Stuff Place, owned by area residents Sharon and Dick Adams moved in November. The store was formerly located in the Safeway Center in Castle Pines North. “We’ve been in business for six years thanks to the patronage of area residents and we look forward to staying in the area to…
Your Christmas tree can serve another useful purpose as mulch for trees and shrubs in your backyard and neighborhood. South Suburban Parks and Recreation will recycle Christmas trees from December 26 through January 10. Residents can dispose of Christmas trees at the Willow Spring Service Center, 7100 South Holly Street, Centennial. Trees will also be…
by Tracy Dudley Brian Givens and his family have lived in Castle Pines North for more than 12 years. However, Givens is not your average CPN resident; he spent 15 years playing professional baseball. Although he grew up in Colorado, Givens was drafted by the New York Mets in 1984, then moved on to pitch…
Congratulations to Donna Nelson (pictured above) for signing up on The Castle Pines Connection e-mail list and winning the drawing for a $50 Vino100 gift card. You could be next – e-mail and request to be added to our distribution list.
Information and photo provided by South Metro Fire Rescue No, let’s not sing Kumbaya around this campfire. This photo is taken of a dried out Christmas tree that went up in flames and literally burned in seconds. Live trees and wreaths, especially in Colorado’s dry climate, need to be well-watered when displayed in homes during…
Rock Canyon High School Cross Country Junior Varsity Boys take 1st place at Arvada West meet. Rock Canyon High School Cross Country Varsity Girls take 1st place at Arvada West meet. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Rock Canyon High School cross country team Head Coach Dan Davies, Assistant Coach Alan Lind, and Co-Head…
This information has been provided by and space paid for by the Castle Pines North Metro District. Renewable water solutions how far we have come and where we have to go As public awareness has increased about declining aquifer levels, residents have adopted water saving methods to reduce the demand for water. While these efforts…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Each year as summer turns to fall, leaves start dropping from the trees, and sometimes snowflakes even fly, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) puts out boxes to collect hats and mittens to deliver to Stevens Elementary located in Wheat Ridge. For the past several year’s BRE has conducted both a school supply…
Congratulations to Suzanne Bac (pictured here with her son, Brenden) for signing up on The Castle Pines Connection e-mail list and winning the drawing for a $50 Hapa Sushi gift card. You could be next – e-mail and request to be added to our distribution list.
Front row kneeling (left to right): Lea McCaffrey, Ashley Owens, Maria Pangalos, Lizzie Brankin. Back row standing (left to right): Avery Tisdale, Elizabeth Curtright, Hannah Repka, Megan Baer, Kaity Rimer, Julia Loomis, Megan Criley, Gabrielle Garcia, Rebecca Teeter, Jackie Fisch. Not pictured, Chelsea Gause. Article and photos submitted by Shawn Hulsier In an effort to…
Castle Pines Athletics is currently registering for co-ed spring soccer for ages 4 up to fourth grade through March 1, 2010. The season will run from March 29 until May 15. Cost for the season is $75 for Castle Pines North residents and $95 for non-residents. All practices and games will be held in the…
by Terri Wiebold with contributions from Kent Paul (Kent Paul, fmr. Mr. Colorado – Personal Fitness Trainer – Village Fitness Center – Castle Pines – www.KPaulFit.com) Remember the “Freshman Fifteen”? Did you know that many Americans actually gain in the area of 15 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years alone? Kent Paul, former Mr. Colorado…
Castle Pines Athletics hosted a camp to welcome new families to CPN. The American Academy Kids Camp at Castle Pines raised $2,000 for the newly opened school. Pictured above the new Kindergartners take a break at camp with Coach Emily Bishop and parent volunteer Paige Brandon. (photo by Lane Roberts.) by Carin R. Kirkegaard In…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The holidays are typically a time where families come together to celebrate through tradition, whether its reading a favorite story, cooking a recipe that has been passed down through generations, or driving up to the mountains to find the perfect Christmas tree. The Rocky Mountain Region of the United States Forest…
Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Debbie Boyle-Grimwood Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver was very pleased to hear that one of his employees was recognized for her work, at the annual conference for victim advocates. Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Debbie Boyle-Grimwood was presented with the Wendy…
An Old Fashioned Holiday Christmas Boutique will be held Thursday through Saturday, November 19, 20 and 21, at the Castle Pines North Community Center. The upscale boutique event celebrates fourteen years and is a local holiday favorite for Castle Pines residents. Crafters from years past, as well as new crafters, will be on hand with…
In recognition of all who gave of their time, talents and money, the Castle Pines Connection presented a framed list of contributors to the Douglas County Library District at the September 19 library ribbon cutting ceremony. The list will hang in the new library, as well as be included in the Oct/Nov issue of the…
Submitted by Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty The brokerage firm representing Colorado’s most celebrated golf community, Castle Pines Village Properties, is joining forces with the area’s most prestigious real estate firm, Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty to provide a new level of service to prospective clients in the luxury home market in Colorado. The new…
by Lisa Crockett With leaves falling and a hint of cool in the air, snow season will soon come to the Castle Pines community. What can you expect when the flakes start to fall? All communities follow similar protocols when prioritizing the order in which streets are plowed: main arterial roads first, then collector roads…
Submitted by Terri Wiebold, Owner As you read this, the fifth issue of The Castle Pines Connection community newspaper, plans are already underway for our transition to a monthly publication. Beginning in January 2010, The Castle Pines Connection will be delivered to homes and businesses in the Castle Pines community every month! Thank you to…
The editorial page of a newspaper is not about news. It is about personal views and the freedom to share them responsibly. Letters printed in The Castle Pines Connection do not reflect in any way the personal views and/or opinions of The Castle Pines Connection, LLC, its newspaper editor/publisher, or its staff. Thus far, process…
submitted by the City of Castle Pines North As mayor of the City of Castle Pines North, it is a privilege to serve you and an even greater honor to inform citizens that the state of our city is strong and growing stronger. Because your elected officials have put a responsible and coherent financial plan…
Information provided by the ASPCA The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides the following information and tips to help ensure your pet’s safety this Halloween: 1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. * Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking…
submitted by the City of Castle Pines North Thursday October 29th 2009 marks the six-year anniversary of the Cherokee Ranch Fire. Do you remember that day? The entire community of CPN was evacuated as flames came dangerously close to several houses and neighborhoods. Yes, CPN is part of the Wildland Urban Interface, where residences are…
by Lisa Crockett A months-long process of negotiating the height of towers installed along the Xcel Corridor in Castle Pines North (CPN) has finally come to its conclusion. Citizens in the area did not respond favorably when Xcel erected a 180 foot tower at the top of the ridge line above Coyote Ridge Park and…
Thomas Carter by Sally Uhrich The Board of Directors of the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) named Castle Pines Village resident Thomas Carter as Executive Director. DCCF creates permanent charitable funds, primarily from local businesses, families and individuals, which the Foundation then invests and administers in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations. The Foundation…
Submitted by Jim Christensen, Douglas County School Superintendent* The beginning of August for school districts in Colorado is a time we begin our focus on the year ahead and the next phase of educating our students. It is also the time we have an opportunity to reflect on how our kids in each school and…
by Lisa Crockett Douglas County has begun the first step in what will be a years-long process in connecting Castle Pines North (CPN) and the Town of Parker. Hess Road, which at the current time terminates at Chambers Road in Parker, will eventually be extended to end at the Castle Pines Parkway interchange on I-25.…
by Terri Wiebold The City of Castle Pines North has postponed increasing the speed limit on Yorkshire Drive from 25 mph to 30 mph following calls from concerned citizens. According to the City Director of Public Works Eric Guth, the city received a few calls from concerned residents about the increase. Guth stated, “It was…
Ebenezer Norman, a Liberian who has dreams of opening the first public library in his home country, picks up remaining books from the Castle Pines North library fundraiser. by Carin R. Kirkegaard In August, the Douglas County Libraries Foundation, in conjunction with fundraising efforts in the Castle Pines community, held a used book sale at…
Bubble Goddess owner, Jennifer Leete, sharing the benefits of her natural products with a resident during a Castle Pines community event. by Anthonette Klinkerman “A woman on a mission” is a perfect phrase to describe Jennifer Leete. In September, Leete was the guest speaker at the Denver Tech Center Business and Professional Women’s Network monthly…
Aerial photography by Bob Wiebold and Jeff Lewis By Terri Wiebold For the past eight years, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents have been digging into their wallets and contributing $151.20* per household, per year to the Master Association to fund the Castle Pines Parks Authority and to bring a new park to CPN. That digging…
Tired of taking that family vacation and leaving part of your family at home? Pet Airways, the pet-only airline, has now been unleashed in Denver. Canine and feline companions can now experience true creature comforts, while flying the friendly skies. The airline is located at the Rocky Mountain Airport in Broomfield. Travel destinations include New…
Angela Walker and Marcy Stone By Terri Wiebold Sassy Sisters is a trendy, hip, chic, and sassy clothing company created by Castle Pines Village resident Angela Walker and Marcy Stone. Not really biological sisters, Walker and Stone met on line, and the connection between these two entrepreneurial women could not have been more natural, nor…
by Tracy Dudley In 2007, the Castle Pines Homes Association (CPHA) reorganized and established an over arching goal of educating new and existing residents about wildlife in the Village and addressing issues concerning increased wildlife encounters. As an active volunteer in several wildlife organizations, Wildlife Committee member and Village resident Gina Gerken came up with…
Water Distribution/Wastewater Collection Supervisor Dwayne Davis submitted by The Castle Pines North Metro District 485 fire hydrants serviced All fire hydrants in Castle Pines North have been inspected and serviced by the utilities staff of CPNMD. Each hydrant was pressure tested and painted. Homeowners can help both the Metro District and the fire department by…
By Tracy Dudley Users of the East-West regional trail, located near the restricted Highlands Ranch trail in Daniel’s Gate may have noticed some recent changes. A large 12-mile extension of the East-West trail that will connect Red Stone Park on the west to Bluffs Regional Park on the east is near completion. In fact, from…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Local gymnast chases dreams to Iowa – Attends world-renowned gym of Olympic gold medalist Skylar Killough-Wilhelm may only be seven, but she is already driven to succeed. At the tender age of four, Skylar’s mother Jan decided to have her little girl give gymnastics a whirl and enrolled her in Omega…
Submitted by Andy Lyon, South Metro Fires Rescue Authority Because of numerous on-going problems with the recycle dumpsters at neighborhood fire stations, the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority has ended the recycling program at Station 36 in Castle Pines North and also at Station 33 in Centennial. “We would like to be supportive of our…
Information submitted by the American Academy PTO Finally, after four years of dreaming, planning, fundraising and an incredible two day community build, the American Academy parent teacher organization (PTO) is thrilled to reveal our new playgrounds. In late August, more than 250 parent, staff and community volunteers worked more than 1,100 combined hours to build…
007 Enchiladas by Lisa Crockett Summer’s warm days are a fading memory, but a warm welcome is available year round at one of Castle Pines’ newest additions to the local dining scene. A Taste of Mexico is located in the Village at Castle Pines Shopping Center. “I think that one of the things that really…
by Tracy Dudley Back in March, kindergartner Samantha (Sami) Choe shared a story with Ms. Leigh Lasik’s DCS Montessori class about her father’s recent trip to Cambodia. Dr. William Choe is a cardiologist who is part of a group called Jeramiah’s Hope, a medical missionary organization based here in Denver (www.cmmcjh.com). Upon returning home, Choe…
Bella Webster (center), who has been battling Leukemia since she was 20 months old, chooses winners in a drawing held at My Gym in the Village at Castle Pines shopping center. The drawing was part of a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital, which was held in Bella’s honor. Bella’s four-year-old brother Drew (left), helped draw…
The Bundt Shoppe would like to recognize and honor our local United States Armed Forces service members, veterans, and their families this fall. On Saturday, October 3, stop by the Bundt Shoppe during the Castle Pines OctoberFest and make a contribution to provide a cake for a military service member or veteran. With only a…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Castle Pines Athletics hosted a three-day cheerleading camp in August at The Retreat Park in Castle Pines North. Girls, ages 4 to 11 learned the latest moves from UNC cheerleader Kristen Weatherly and former Rock Canyon High School cheerleader Kaitlin Clure. The girls learned basic cheer moves and also a dance…
by Terri Wiebold with photo submitted by Bob Sims Castle Pines North resident, Bob Sims, won the National Senior Games 60-64 age group championship Gold Medal at the Stanford University Golf Course in Palo Alto, California in August. The competitors played the Black Tees at 6212 yards, rated at 70.6/131. Thirty-five golfers from all over…
Friends gathered for the unveiling of the Earl Millspaugh memorial bench, located in the new Xeriscape area on the east side of Monarch Boulevard just north of Castle Pines Parkway. The memorial bench was made possible by donations from friends, family and the Castle Pines North Master Association. “Chad [our son] and I are much…
Justin Matott by Anthonette Klinkerman The first assembly of the school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary illustrated why students love assemblies. Author Justin Matott was invited by the Buffalo Ridge Educational Alliance (BREA) assembly organizer Christina McDonald to come to the school in September and address the character education topic of bullying. Matott, a former…
DCS Montessori student Koby D. enjoys an afternoon in the school’s outdoor classroom. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley According to traditional Montessori philosophy, children should learn in real environments, outside of the classroom. As such, students best learn about nature, geology, ecology, and biology by going outdoors and experiencing real-life examples. In line with…
by Terri Wiebold On August 28, 2009 Castle Pines Village Homes Association filed a Motion to Withdraw Petition for Incorporation of the City of Castle Pines, which was granted by the judge. Judge Nancy A. Hopf stated that, “The petition for incorporation [case number 2008cv251] shall hereby be withdrawn and this case closed.” Village Homes…
Carol Barbeito by Lisa Crockett CP Green has a new leader at its helm. Carol Barbeito, a Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, has assumed leadership of the community group, which aims to help the Castle Pines community find ways to live in a more environmentally friendly way. Barbeito takes the place of former leader Ryan…
Want some additional holiday fun for your little trick-or-treaters? Here is a list of fun Halloween activities going on in Castle Pines North and the surrounding areas. Trick or Treat Street Castle Pines North Business District 562 Castle Pines Parkway Wednesday, October 28 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring your ghosts and goblins to the…
Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Elizabeth Mowry, a renowned pastel painter moved to Castle Pines Village nearly three years ago from a pre-Revolutionary War stone house in the Hudson Bay area of New York State. Caring for a 35-acre agricultural home required a lot of time and hard labor. There were days when…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The date is set and registration is underway for the Douglas County Rock Slide. Mark the calendar for November 14 and plan to be at Rock Canyon High School with running shoes laced and ready to go. The Rock Slide is a one-mile fun run and 5K race that was designed…
Timber Trail boys compete in the inaugural mother-son kickball tournament at Coyote Ridge Park in August. Submitted By Jenny Hanna and Kathy Werbick Timber Trail Elementary hosted its first ever Mother and Son Kickball tournament on August 21 at Coyote Ridge Park. The idea sprung from the Father/Daughter Snowball Dance. They wanted to have an…
Four seats on the Douglas County School Board are up for election this November 3. District B: John Carson, www.JohnCarsonforSchoolBoard.com Sue Catterall, www.suecatterall.com District D: Dan Gerken, www.dangerken.com Kevin Leung, www.kevinyleung.com District E: Doug Benevento, www.doug4douglas.com Kristine Turner, www.turner4schools.com District G: Emily Hansen, www.emily4schools.com Meghann Silverthornm, www.meghannsilverthorn.com Registered voters in Douglas County will receive a…
The fall season offers us a variety of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables, such as fuji apples and butternut squash. They are not only pleasing to the palate, but are excellent, nutritional choices. Fuji apples provide us with vitamins A and C, along with some calcium, iron and fiber. They are just as important…