The Connection

Help Colorado’s less fortunate by donating winter clothing at this year’s Treads for Threads. Bring in your coats, boots, hats, gloves and sweaters to Big O Tires and receive a $5 off coupon, now through January 18th. Big O Tires is located at 508 E. Castle Pines Parkway.

There may be a new pride of cougars in wildcat country if considerations to sell a portion of land in the Highlands Ranch “backcountry” wildnerness area come to fruition. Colorado Christian University has expressed interest in the property, located just west of Monarch Boulevard south of Rocky Heights Middle School, as well as exploring other…

by Scott Lasher The word “rotate” is used quite often in the sports world, particularly in the game of basketball. “Rotate to the weak side!” a coach might yell to one of his defenders. “Rotate to the basket!” a coach might yell on a pick-and-roll play. The Rocky Heights Middle School eighth grade boy’s basketball…

by Kathy Dunker The recent Master Association annual meeting included an interesting announcement from HOA1 Board member, Dick Lichtenheld. The Board of HOA1 would like to separate from the Castle Pines North Master Association. According to Lichtenheld, the withdrawal would result in an 18 percent reduction in HOA dues for the residents without any reduction…

by Elizabeth Wood West One Castle Pines Village petitioner is oblivious to it, having tuned it out completely, like you would a ticking clock: “I live in Castle Pointe, the nearest community to the trains. The train whistle noise is NOT an issue. One can barely hear the noise, even at night. The whistle is…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County residents can now take their neighborhood crime map with them wherever they go. The new iPhone application will provide citizens with local crime mapping and national sex offender data. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office already publishes their crime data on the…

Information provided by God’s Grace Community Church God’s Grace Community Church (GGCC) had the joy of once again helping to host the Annual Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives Christmas Party for inner city kids on December 19. More than 200 families from Five Points in Denver attended the event. Festivities included cookie and card decorating,…

Reprinted from an e-mail correspondence dated January 22, 2010 Michele Radke, TTE Principal Molly Gnaegy, TTE Assistant Principal Douglas County School District has reviewed its calendar assignments for next school year and has determined that Timber Trail Elementary will depart from the year round calendar beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Recent developments have resulted…

Submitted by Kristin Zagurski Town Council will be asked to decide Tuesday in which direction the North Meadows Extension project should proceed. The project would provide a second access between The Meadows and U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25, relieving congestion on Meadows Parkway and improving traffic flow on I-25. Three alternatives for the road…

Information submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue with contributions from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Everyone knows the number, but do you know how it works? When you call 9-1-1 from either a land line or a cell phone, your call will most likely go to a law enforcement agency dispatch center. In the Castle…

Ten-year-old Ashley M. with Timber Trail Elementary art teacher Peggy Jensen. Ashley participated in a fall art show at TTE which was held in conjunction with the school’s book fair fund raiser. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Inspiration is nearly everywhere, especially for budding artists at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). In November, the school…

Local disc jockey Dom Testa gives an inspirational presentation to American Academy students. by Kathy Dunker Excitement was in the air at American Academy for a December assembly led by local disc jockey, Dom Testa, from the Dom & Jane morning show on Mix 100 (FM100.3). Testa, an award winning writer for young adults, spoke…

Local land developers Darwin Horan and Chris Fellows of HF Holdings, LLC partnered with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to bring holiday joy to more than fifty families and more than seventy-five children in need in Douglas County. In addition to gift certificates and toys, Horan and…

A community knows how valuable volunteers are in day to day operations. Parents regularly flood schools to help out classroom teachers, and in libraries volunteers reshelf books or assist in reading programs. In Douglas County, high school students are required to have 20 community service hours in order to graduate. A Castle Pines North parent…

Photo provided by Paige Newman, RCHS For the second consecutive year, the girls POMS team has captured the State Title. Championship Team: Ivy Deibel, Paige Hesen (Capt.), Kelsey Hofstetter, Bri Johnson, Cody Ann LaCouture, Lauren Packer, Amanda Ross, Charity Sammons, Amy Taylor, Lizzy Van Dyke, Brittney Webber (co-Capt.), and Hannah Wilson. Not pictured are Jordan…

All I wanted for Christmas… …was what every child ages four to twelve wants, and that is to play sports locally with friends and classmates this spring. The spring soccer registration deadline for Castle Pines Athletics is MARCH 1, 2010. Teams are first come, first serve, so make sure to enroll today to reserve your…

Calling all book lovers, local business owners and those who simply love a lively discussion. The first meeting of the Castle Pines Business Book Club will be held at the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, January 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first meeting. Not much of a…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County School District (DCSD) family fun run and fund raiser for local schools in the Rock Canyon High School area was cancelled this year. The Rock Slide had originally been scheduled for November 14, but due to inclement weather the race was postponed until December 12. In an e-mail…

Fifth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School gathered at Young AmeriTowne to apply concepts they learned by working together to operate a 17-business town. For weeks prior, the students learned lessons and did activities that introduced them to concepts such as supply and demand, job skills and work habits, banking procedures, democratic process, civic consciousness,…

Castle Pines Jewelers owner Jeffrey Rein works on a piece of custom jewelry for a customer in is store in the Village at Castle Pines. By Anthonette Klinkerman It is said that opportunity knocks all the time, but people often do not recognize the sound. Jeffrey Rein is a person who has become more than…

by Kathy Dunker This year the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) eighth grade classes worked on team service projects to help people in need both inside and outside of the Douglas County school community. Some 422 students participated in the “Penny Wars.” In this competition, pennies earned the classes positive points, while silver and paper…

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.…

Submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue Roasting, baking, candy-making?  Here are safety steps worth taking! Cooking is a holiday tradition…and a leading cause of residential fires in the United States. In fact, hundreds of thousands of them each year. Cooking is also a major cause of burn injuries to children. Many of those fires and…

The importance of physical exercise should never be underestimated, when it comes to our pets. Benefits include increased physical and mental health well-being. Many behavior problems can be helped if not eliminated simply by increasing your dog’s exercise time. For those outdoor enthusiasts who wish to venture from walking paths, Douglas County offers three fenced-in-off-leash…

by Lisa Crockett As the holidays approach, many, if not most residents in the Castle Pines community will send and receive more mail than usual. As a result, mail delivery times will fluctuate. According to a statement submitted by the United States Postal Service (USPS), this fluctuation is a part of normal delivery service, not…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard With heavy snow threatening to blanket the racecourse, the Rock Slide, Douglas County Schools 5K fun-run fundraiser, was rescheduled for Saturday, December 12. The 5K run will begin at 9 a.m. with the 1-mile run/walk to begin following the finish – and don’t forget the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast after the…

The Castle Pines Parks Authority (PA) is applying for a state lottery grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to help pay for development of “spade ready” parks in the state. The park at Lagae Ranch (recently named Elk Ridge Park) could earn up to $750,000 toward construction of the new park. The PA is requesting…

Front Row (left to right): Jennie Schaaf, Heather Griffin, Theresa McDowell, Jill Johnson, Linda Day. Back Row (left to right): Sheila Fuselier, Abigail Fuselier, Amy Hogsett, April McCaffrey, Beth England, Julie Lamb, Nicole Wight, Michelle Perovich. by Carin R. Kirkegaard and photos provided by Linda Day Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.…

Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photos provided by Kathy Werbick Late last summer, up on Copper Mountain, in a local pub, a test was held to see who of three winning contestants could drive a nail into a log first and then win in a rousing bout of Rochambeau. Castle Pines North resident Kathy…

Submitted by April Parcels, HOA1 Daybreak Meadows, also known as the Dead Zone, is a triangle shaped parcel of land of slightly more than 10 acres on the easterly side of HOA1. The story of the tracts begins with the original intent of the developer of the subdivision, Writer Corporation, to build homes on the…

Kathi Mercer (left) and Saralyn Crock (right) show-off some of the great finds at the Fall Clothing Exchange on November 5.Cloth Article and photo by Elean Gersack It does not take long for good ideas to fly rampant when moms start talking. But, actually doing something about them can be another story. Not so for…

by Lisa Crockett Open Enrollment: Parents wishing to enroll children in a Douglas County School District school, other than a designated neighborhood school, must complete an open enrollment form. Open enrollment forms can be downloaded from the district website at www.dcsdk12.org and parents can view a list of the schools available for open enrollment for…

Article by Lisa Crockett with photo provided by C. Hubbs Charlotte Hubbs heads Colorado’s State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). It’s a group with chapters nationwide comprised entirely of descendants of the revolutionary patriots who helped the United States achieve independence. In July, Hubbs, who lives in Castle Pines North, was…

Pictured above are members from the Castle Pines Community who made it out for the event. Front Row (from left to right): Tisa Meisel, Sally Wagner, Kelly Durie, Linda Day and Eileen White Back Row (from left to right); June Uralli, Terra Shaffner, Jen Jacoway, Mary Williams, Tammy Abramovitz. Article and photo by Carin R.…

by Elean Gersack Now more than ever, families are struggling financially. This holiday season will prove especially difficult for many within the community. To help ease the burden, The Douglas/Elbert Task Force is seeking individuals, families, and groups to support Santa’s Sharing sponsorship program. There are several ways to donate, and every little bit helps.…

by Lisa Crockett ‘Tis the season to send packages around the country. Here are some ways you can make this item on your holiday “to-do” list a little easier: Post office locations in or near the Castle Pines community : Castle Pines Village, (Castle Pines Postal Center), 80108 – 862 West Happy Canyon Road, Suite…

Laurie W. Anderson, President, Anderson & Associates Submitted by Laurie W. Anderson Anderson & Associates, a local public relations and marketing communications firm, marked 20 years in business in October, according to President Laurie W. Anderson (pictured right). Anderson started her firm in 1989.  She then partnered with Fred Hobbs from 1994 to 1999 when…

by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer Presents. Shopping. Singing carols at a family get-together with hot drinks near at hand. Nearly everyone in the United States can immediately recognize the sights, smells, and sounds of the holiday season. It is a time to laugh, love, and focus on what is important. It is a time of…

Daniel V. recites the life of a mystery figure from the Dark Ages Article and photo by Tracy Dudley Since the induction of Mystery History in 2001, once a year DCS Montessori students dress up as famous personalities from the distant past. As part of this event, students choose historical figures from a given time…

by Tracy Dudley From music and theater to nature and children’s events, there are numerous happenings around town for little ones, adults and families to take time to slow down and enjoy the upcoming holiday season. Holiday Concerts at the Castle December 6, 12, 18 and 20 The Cherokee Ranch & Castle will host several…

Article by Anthonette Klinkerman with photo by Tim Gamble Sue Lee, a Castle Pines Village resident, recognized the opportunity for a new kind of education when she left the elementary classroom and began teaching adults life management skills. “I was teaching little boys and girls in grown-up bodies,” she said, and identified a need for…

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.