The Connection

by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines North city council voted unanimously in December to renew public safety and animal control services with the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners through Dec. 31, 2010. “The city of Castle Pines North is very pleased to continue our strong partnership with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,” said former…

Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver was pleased to hear that he was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for County Sheriffs of Colorado. Sheriff Weaver is one of five sheriffs who was elected as at-large board members to County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC) Board of…

Information submitted by Doug Hutchins, Castle Pines Real Estate Specialist Broker Associate – The Kentwood Company The most common question being asked about the local real estate market is whether or not home prices have stabilized in the Castle Pines community. It is easy to find predictions about the real estate market, but generally these…

Judy Brand (center) Chairman of the Mt. Rosa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, presents a Community Service Award to Castle Pines North residents Vicky and Frank Kellen. The Kellens were honored in January for their contributions in support of the Castle Pines Library. Courtesy of the DAR, Mount Rosa Chapter In January,…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver would like to remind the community that the United States Census Bureau employees may be back in your neighborhood in the next few months working on the next phase of the 2010 Census. The Census data can be used…

Municipal Judge Lewis Gresh congratulates Jeff Huff after taking the oath as the new mayor of the City of Castle Pines North. Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North, photos by Tim Gamble Municipal Judge Lewis Gresh officially swore in six new Castle Pines North (CPN) city officials in January at the Castle…

Information provided by Douglas County The Douglas County Treasurer’s Office reminds property owners that payments to their property tax statements – mailed in January 2010 – can be paid: in person; by mail; at three different drop box locations; toll-free by automated telephone with credit card or electronic check/savings withdrawal; with credit card by telephone;…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Valentine’s Day is this month, in case you haven’t noticed. You didn’t make dinner reservations back in 2009? Or pick out heart-felt cards by the fourth day of January? Or order roses, select chocolates, or purchase a spa gift certificate for your sweetheart? Valentine’s Day has taken on tones of America’s favorite…

Left to right: Isaac, Brad and Mitchell, third graders from Mrs. Brester’s class, get ready to serve up hot cocoa and chocolate during the production of The Polar Express on December 15. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Ah… the magic. The Polar Express is for those who truly believe. This holiday season, third graders…

Carol Langley-Finnegan Information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North. The City Safety Task Force (STF) would like to thank Carol Langley-Finnegan for serving as the chair of the STF. According to City Council, Langley-Finnegan has put in countless volunteer hours and her efforts have made Castle Pines North a stronger and…

Information and photo submitted by Canyon Ridge Chiropractic Dr. Bryan Rudiak, owner of Canyon Ridge Chiropractic in Castle Pines North, extends a very big “Thank You” to all his patients who did an awesome job of donating non-perishable food items. The office held a food drive over the Thanksgiving holiday and was able to raise…

The Buffalo Ridge spellers from left to right: Brandon Oehm, Cameron Sanders, Karlee Shaffner, J.T. Snowden, Skylar Motlong, SydneyDozois, Charlie Keely, Truman Westberg, Rebecca Teeter, Jaiden Boyle, and Olivia Voss. Not pictured are Caroline Kampschroeder, Keara Werth, Kayte Mundwiller, Peter VanBenthuysen, Josh Martelon, and Sydney Emerson. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard During January,…

Submitted by Celeste Siade VP of Forest Park HOA Once again, on the first Friday of December, Cindy Hamilton hosted her Annual Ladies Luncheon at her home in Forest Park. What started out six years ago as a social event- for friends to exchange unique gift ideas in order to help each other out with…

Submitted by Suzanne Greene There is cause for much celebration at 404 Jerry Street because the Douglas/Elbert Task Force has found a suitable building for their operations and is finally moving out of the cramped quarters it has occupied for many years. It is a timely move for them because their client base is growing…

Information submitted by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics, a local recreational youth sports program, has announced dates for the 2010 spring and summer season. All practices and games are held at the three neighborhood parks located in the City of Castle Pines North (CPN.) Spring Soccer – The co-ed spring soccer program…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Pilates in the Pines relocated to the Village at Castle Pines, found just off Happy Canyon Road and Sante Fe (Highway 85), in January. With the move, the studio will keep the current class schedule and plans to add more classes. “This is an exciting occasion for the studio,” said Alana…

Fifth grade Dream Team members and their leaders, Jennifer Jacoway (back left) and Jolie Pinke (back right) load up packages to deliver to kids at Children’s Hospital for the holidays. Article and photo by Elean Gersack The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Dream Team put their heads together and opened their hearts for sick kids at…

Submitted by Deputy Robert Rotherham, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up their efforts to apprehend intoxicated and impaired drivers during the up-coming Super Bowl weekend which takes place the weekend of February 6th. Deputies will be providing extra enforcement from Saturday, February 6th at 6:00 pm through Monday,…

The first Castle Pines Library Mother/Daughter Book Club met on Monday, January 11. Article by Elean Gersack and photo by Tim Gamble Get your library cards ready and check-out some great books. The Castle Pines Library is bustling with activities and touting longer hours to start off the New Year. Browse the shelves on Mondays…

2010 Budget Highlights The 2010 budget for the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) was approved by the CPNMD Board at their December 7, 2009, meeting. Board President, Bill Santos, highlighted the primary goals for the coming year aimed at reducing Metro District expenses to continue pursuing renewable water solutions. Stabilize Costs One of the…

Pictured from left to right: Joe Franklin, Don Hansen, Sr., Dave Brewer, Don Hansen, Jr. Article by Tracy Dudley and photo provided by Joe Franklin Castle Pines North has its own group of table tennis fanatics. The Castle Pines Table Tennis Club (CPTTL) is a group of local residents who have been gathering together regularly…

Information submitted by CPN resident/ former City Council mayor pro-tem and Valor High School lacrosse coach, David Neely The Valor Youth Lacrosse program grew out of the huge success that Valor Christian High School lacrosse experienced last year. It was the first varsity season and the team ended up 11- 4, in just the second…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Even though Douglas County is a very mobile community, we do have a certain special population of citizens with disabilities and mobility problems. There are several programs and plans available to this special population that can help them prepare for an emergency or disaster. Special Needs Registry:…

Kim Hoffman (left) welcomes Shelley Hamilton-Bruer. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold After more than five years of dedicated volunteer service on the Parks Authority, city representative Kim Hoffman steps off the Board and welcomes newly-elected city council member Shelley Hamilton-Bruer to fill the city’s seat at the table. “I would like to express my…

Oak Hills resident Roxy Fredrickson leads a drum circle of children of National Guard troops preparing for deployment. The circle teaches participants life concepts including respect, belonging and generosity. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Oak Hills resident Roxy Fredrickson (pictured above) is not a trained music teacher, psychologist or social worker, but she knows…

by Elizabeth Wood West There will be no medical marijuana dispensaries within the city limits of Castle Pines North (CPN) at least until August 30, 2010. At the January 14 city council meeting, council unanimously passed emergency Ordinance 09-25 which immediately suspended the acceptance or review of any applications pertaining to medical marijuana dispensaries. The…

Article by Lisa Crockett Photos courtesy of Castle Pines Community Church After many years of renting space at a local elementary school, Castle Pines Community Church (CPCC) is moving to a home of its own in the Shoppes at Castle Pines Shopping Center on Lagae Road (in the same shopping center as King Soopers.) While…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) spring term begins March 29 and is currently enrolling life long learners in a variety of classes. Spring classes will run through May 20. (To learn more about OLLI South, visit www.universitycollege.du.edu/olli/. Spring 2010 Classes America and the New Global Economy The Birth of the…

Douglas County Libraries has a new newsletter and blog just for parents! Geared for families with children from birth to 12 years of age, parents will find lots of fun ideas each month. Topics will include book and website recommendations and local places of interest. Keep an eye out for Healthy Snack recipes for kids…

by Paige Newman Rock Canyon High School Intern Writer Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about love. Whether you are celebrating your love for that special someone, your family, or your closest friends, it is supposed to be meaningful. So why is it that in high school, Valentine’s Day is simply about who gets the…

In an effort to provide speed reduction and traffic calming along Happy Canyon Road, the Castle Pines Metropolitan District presented the Douglas County Board of Commissioners with a proposal to install two roundabouts along Happy Canyon Road. The road serves as access to the Castle Pines Village community, as well as an east-west connector from…

By Chris Bonham, Intern Writer February. A simple mentioning of the month conjures up images of hearts, love, and having a great time with friends. We think of Valentine’s Day, and the joy and happiness that it brings. Okay, so maybe a few people won’t be feeling so romantic when this second month in the…

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…

The Division of Wildlife is coming to Castle Pines North to discuss the recent reported coyote sightings, encounters and attacks in the Castle Pines area and how to handle these types of situations. Please plan to attend; there will be important information available. The meeting is scheduled for January 5th, 6pm, at the CPN Community…

Recent legislation enables the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder to conduct the Primary Election by mail ballot only. A public hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2010 to discuss how this might impact Douglas County voters and the County budget. For additional information call 303-660-7444 or go to www.douglas.co.us.

Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard Photos by Sandy Keorner Cub Scouts from Pack 826 and Boy Scouts from Pack 637 brought more than 100 pounds of food to donate to the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force. While dropping off the food, scouts were given a tour of the facility and learned about how the food bank…

Castle Pines North Mayor Maureen Shul speaks at the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce luncheon at The Ridge. The Chamber celebrated its second successful year. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit its new “Elite” Referral Group. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8 a.m.…

Brownies Molly and Rachel get a hug from Valley House resident, Betsy, during Troop 881’s outreach visit. Article and photos by Elean Gersack On Monday, November 23, Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Brownie Troop 881 made a special visit to Valley House Elderly Assisted Living in Castle Rock. Two weeks prior, the third graders met with…

Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg during renovation and reorganization of Douglas County High School’s theater. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg, 18, has been very involved in the theater program at Douglas County High School (DCHS) since the ninth grade. Steinberg recently found a way to give back to…

If you’re looking for a great pet bakery fairly close in proximity to Castle Pines consider the For Paws Bakery and Pet Spa, located at 19565 E. Main Street in Parker. There is a vast array of treats, named after the owner’s pets such as Maggie’s gourmet cookies or Mia’s munchies. The canine confections use…

by Elean Gersack Planning a team practice or party during the next few months? There are currently three parks in Castle Pines North (CPN) available by reservation: Coyote Ridge Park, Daniel’s Gate Park and The Retreat Park. Soccer fields are available at all three parks and baseball fields are available at Coyote Ridge Park and…

Former Master association president Jim Steavpack discussing policy at the annual meeting held in November. Article by Kathy Dunker and photos by Tim Gamble At the November 19 Master Association annual meeting, Jack Zelkin and Larry Cook were elected to the Board of Directors. The Board also thanked Rex Lucas and Shelley Hamilton-Bruer for their…

Information provided by Douglas County Centennial Airport recently completed a Part 150 Study, which included 12 recommendations for noise mitigation. One of the recommendations was the formation of a community roundtable to address the noise impact of Centennial Airport traffic on communities surrounding the airport. The roundtable has the charge to discover possible noise mitigation…

Article by Anthonette Klinkerman and photo provided by Serena resident Tyson Jones Where the buffalo – no, make that elk – roam… If there is one thing Castle Pines North (CPN) does not have a shortage of, it is wildlife. From deer to red fox, wild birds, the occasional mountain lion and coyotes, CPN residents…

The Ridgeline staff, composed of fourth and fifth grade students, meets every Wednesday after school. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard With the start of the new school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE), 37 fourth and fifth graders grabbed their press passes, cameras, notebooks and pencils to start reporting the news as it…

Information provided by Douglas County Partners Impact two lives. Be a mentor. There are boys in Douglas County who need, and want, an adult male to be their mentor. Recruiting men to be volunteer mentors is an ongoing challenge, so Douglas County Partners is asking YOU to step up and change a child’s future. Only…

Pictured left to right: City Council member Kim Hoffman, Einar Jensen (SMFR), Don Van Putten (Pine Ridge HOA), SMFRA Chief Mike Dell’Orfano, and SMFR Captain Ted Christopoulos recognize Pines Ridge as a Firewise community and present the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan to CPN residents. by Terri Wiebold A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is…

Students at BRE practice for the upcoming Winter Concert being held at Wildcat Elementary on January 14   Rock Canyon’s Elementary Instrumental Music Program holds winter concert The Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program will hold a winter concert on January 14 at Wildcat Mountain Elementary School, located at 6585 Lionshead Parkway in Littleton.…

Pictured left to right: David Bowman – director of the childcare program at BRE, Ally Berggren – principal and Russ Jenson – assistant principal dressed in chicken suits and danced “The Chicken Dance” at an assembly held in the BRE gymnasium. The assembly was the reward for BRE students reading more than 7,500 hours during…

This information has been provided the Castle Pines North Metro District. One of the most common and costly wastes of money is a leaky toilet. A toilet may leak a gallon of water per minute and over a one week period that can add up to a loss of 10,080 gallons of water. Often the…

Artist’s rendering of Castle Pines Academy, a day care facility slated to open in February in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center in CPN. Article by Lisa Crockett Conceptual rendering provided by Studio DH Architecture A new childcare center and preschool will soon be open in Castle Pines North (CPN) in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center on Castle…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff to Break Ground on New Substation in Highlands Ranch Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver is very excited to break ground on the new Sheriff’s Office Substation, which will bring many government services to the citizens of Highlands Ranch. The…

Middle School students performing the classic “A Chorus Line.” Article and photos by Kathy Dunker American Academy students dazzled audiences in December with their delightful Broadway Revue: Let’s Make a Scene! Performed in the school gym and led by kindergarten through fifth grade music teacher Mark Middlebrooks and middle school music teacher Reece Livingstone, it…

Home builder Woody Howarth (left) stands with homeowners Jean and Nick Domico in their new, custom designed kitchen. Home in Castle Pines Village experiences “extreme makeover” Local builder quickly rebuilds a home lost to fire By Scott Lasher There wasn’t a huge bus. There was no Ty Pennington. There was no trip to Disneyworld while…

Students warm up with a “G” Scale at orchestra practice at Timber Trail Elementary. Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music program offers before and after music instruction in local schools Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Budding cellists, drummers, clarinetists, and horn players from Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) have been…

by Scott Lasher In the movie “The Perfect Storm” starring George Clooney, the perfect storm that the movie references is capped by an unbelievable tidal wave that crashes down over the ship Clooney pilots. For the Rock Canyon Girls Swim Team last year, their opponents were the ship and they were the tidal wave in…

Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard, photos provided by Steve & Jody Robinson A group of families from Castle Pines North (CPN), two CPN Girl Scout troops, a CPN Brownie troop, as well as a group of families from Founders Village in Castle Rock formed “Operation Bright Star” to help gather food and create a Thanksgiving…

Home builder Woody Howarth (left) stands with homeowners Jean and Nick Domico in their new, custom designed kitchen. By Scott Lasher There wasn’t a huge bus. There was no Ty Pennington. There was no trip to Disneyworld while they waited for their home to be rebuilt. Nonetheless, an extreme makeover of sorts took place in…

Head of School Jeromy Johnson showed his school spirit with students by dressing as a clown after the students broke school records for book sales at the annual book fair. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley Although DCS Montessori has never sold more than $10,000 at its annual book fair, this year administration set a…

Don’t delay … now is the perfect time to register for spring sports and activities. Here is a quick reference guide to some of the most popular leagues and recreational activities around. Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics is dedicated to Castle Pines North (CPN) youth. Practices and games are all played in CPN. Register…

Mrs. Wedge’s second grade class with packages they purchased and wrapped to help an adopted family at Buffalo Ridge. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard During the holiday season, the spirit of giving burst from many classrooms at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE). “Buffalo Ridge has been adopting families for 10 years now during the…

Information provided by DCSD A community survey is currently underway and is open to the public – and TOMORROW is the last day to provide your input. This survey is intended to collect valuable community feedback that will be used by the Douglas County School Board of Education, the District Advisory Council, and the Douglas…

The Castle Pines Connection staff joins at Sienna at the Courtyard in Castle Rock to celebrate the holidays and also the one-year anniversary of its inception. Pictured above back row left to right: Elean Gersack (writer), Lisa Crockett (writer), Tracy Dudley (writer), John Kenny (proofreader), and Tom Ballantine (ad sales). Front row left to right:…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Here we are, ten years into the millennium. It doesn’t feel much different, really. Food is still in food-form, and no one is flying around Jetsons-style. And most likely, humanoids all over the planet are partaking in the traditional ritual of making New Year’s resolutions. Especially since food is not in pill…