The Connection

Before heading to the garden to plant a new flowerbed, add Xeriscape, or a crop of tomatoes, take the time to call the Utility Notification Center of Colorado. Locators are allowed two business days to respond to accurately mark the underground lines in an excavation area. Even a small garden job can be potentially hazardous,…

  Jim Varner of Edit Bay Communications (www.editbay.com) and his wife Laurie Anderson-Varner of Anderson & Associates Public Relations, Inc. (www.prexperts.com), will be exhibiting at EarthWorks Expo to showcase their web development and other marketing tools. In addition, Anderson & Associates Public Relations has been selected by EarthWorks Expo to provide public relations and marketing…

City Clerk Carl Kollmar has not been officially sworn in yet. He is currently on a medical leave of absence. Treasurer Doug Gilbert is currently serving as “interim clerk” until Kollmar returns. “We extend our best wishes to Carl for a speedy recovery and look forward to working with him soon,” said Mayor Shul.

by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Karen Schlidt is passionate about recycling. Every day, she looks for ways to reduce her garbage waste. “The more aware I am about this issue, the more I look for ways I can recycle everything I use,” she said. Something of a phenomenon in her HOA2 neighborhood,…

by Lisa Crockett Village Homes, the owner of the parcel of land being developed at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard, is still hoping a library will come to Castle Pines North (CPN) to serve as the anchor tenant for the development. “Because of delays in construction, we still have a chance…

by Terri Wiebold In late February, officials with Douglas County and the City and County of Denver finalized a cooperative agreement for implementation of the Master Plan for Daniel’s Park. The 1000-acre historic park borders the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) to the west and is slated for renovations during the next 10 years.…

by Terri Wiebold At precisely 3:07 p.m. on Monday, March 10, the wheels of democracy started turning for the new City of Castle Pines North. Following a swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day and a preliminary study session, the mayor, treasurer, and six newly-elected council members sat down and began the business of the new…

Two South Metro Fire Rescue Candidate Forums Scheduled for April The Castle Pines North Master Association will host two “Candidate Forums” for all candidates running for the South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors. Mark the calendar and make sure to attend one of these two events: Friday, April 18, 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 29,…

CPN Resident Maureen Brown, right, co-hosts “Mom’s the Word” an internet-radio show on parenting. Brown’s friend, Maura Ridder, left, is the creator of the show. (photo by Tracey McFadden) by Lisa Crockett With five children ranging in age from four to twelve, Castle Pines North resident Maureen Brown has learned a thing or two about…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Teenagers should have a voice in the goings-on of the new city of Castle Pines North, and Mayor Shul is putting out a second call for a Youth Advisory Commission. As the new city grows, the mayor feels it is important that all residents “have a seat at the table,” and make…

Office of Mayor Maureen Shul 2368 Office of City Clerk Carl Kollmar 2362 Office of Treasurer Douglas Gilbert 1394 Vivian Hallberg 270 Paul Oehm 937 Office of Member of City Council Ward 1 Howard Cohen 203 Chris Dooley 365 Jennifer Havercroft 503 Mark Massa 123 William Porter 148 Office of Member of City Council Ward…

The Castle Pines North Election Commission has developed the following “Code of Civility” pledge for candidates running for the nine positions in the first election for the new City of Castle Pines North. This code was developed specifically for CPN using the Code of Civility Pledge that was created by the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado.…

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…

by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North (CPN) has lost one of its most dedicated volunteers. Rod Ellerbusch, a founding member of the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines, was instrumental in bringing the service club to CPN and in bringing its vision to life. Founded in 2004, the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines sponsors an annual…

by Lane Roberts The cold and snowy weather did not stop Ward 2 residents from attending the second candidate forum for city government candidates held on Wednesday, January 30, at the Community Center. The forum was presented by Business in the Pines (BIP), a coalition of businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN) and surrounding areas.…

by Carin Kirkeggard The pools in Castle Pines North (CPN) are still buried under the most recent snow and temperatures are dipping below the freezing mark, but before long, kids will be counting down to the last day of school and the CPN swim team, the Castle Crocs, will begin their third season. The winter…

by Terri Wiebold While CPN residents may have heard of local “Neighborhood Watch” programs, many are not aware of a valuable program provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) called the “Watch Dog 1.0 Douglas County House Watch.” The house watch program is a service provided by the DCSO for residents who will be…

by Lisa Crockett Have you ever wondered how certain businesses, homes or civic amenities came to be in Douglas County? Douglas County is in the midst of a full-scale effort to revise its plans for the future; work sessions and hearings on the matter are open to the public. Meetings for the so-called 2030 Comprehensive…

Sheriff Dave Weaver (third frrom the left) and Deputies in the DCSO Community Resources Division meet with community advocates to discuss the new proposed alarm ordinance. (photo by Terri Wiebold) by Terri Wiebold Residents and businesses in Castle Pines North and throughout Douglas County who contract with a private security company may be paying more…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Now it matters more than ever where Castle Pines North residents shop. Incorporation efforts all began over which community, Castle Pines North or Castle Pines Village, was going to benefit from the sales tax revenue generated by the CPN business district. Seventy-seven percent of CPN’s residents voted to support incorporation in order…

by Lisa Crockett A traffic meter has been installed at the Castle Pines Parkway/I-25 Interchange. The Colorado Department of Transportation (C-DOT) is conducting the study to determine whether or not a metering light is needed at the location to ease traffic congestion. “We will be gathering data for the next few months, then looking at…

Mayor City Council Treasurer City Clerk JOB DESCRIPTION MAYOR CITY OF CASTLE PINES NORTH, COLORADO The following are the duties for the position of Mayor, City of Castle Pines North, Colorado in accordance with statutory requirements. (1) The mayor shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for that office at the regular…

The 180-foot crossover power pole recently installed by Xcel north of Coyote Ridge Park has created a stir among residents. Views from homes miles from the power line corridor have been impacted by this new pole. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lane Roberts The newly installed 180-foot pole north of Coyote Ridge Park has created…

by Terri Wiebold “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) is a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office program designed to aid law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel in locating necessary contact information about an individual in an emergency situation. The program uses an individual’s cell phone address book as a resource for emergency contact information. If a cell…

by Lisa Crockett Construction on the new RidgeGate freeway interchange, on I-25 south of Lincoln Avenue, will soon add a new component to its construction schedule. A frontage road, intended to allow for additional emergency access and also to handle traffic overflow, is scheduled to begin sometime this summer. The project is a joint venture…

by Lisa Crockett It was a full house at the Community Center for the first of three community forums for city government candidates held Tuesday night. The forum was hosted by Business in the Pines (BIP), a coalition of businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN) and surrounding areas. The forum was moderated by Paul Arvidson,…

by Terri Wiebold and Lane Roberts For the fourth consecutive year, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District Board of Directors voted to increase water rates and capital improvement fees. The Board made the decision at a public meeting held on December 10. The Board also reviewed its proposed 2008 budget during the meeting. More…

John Van Epps Karl Johnson by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District recently honored two of its employees with an “Employee of the Year” award. District Manager Jim McGrady publicly recognized and at the District’s annual holiday party in December. “We strongly believe that the time has come to award performance and…

by Lisa Crockett Grading, infrastructure and road construction are underway at the site of a future Walgreens drug store on the north side of Castle Pines Parkway at Lagae Road. The project, which experienced several delays, is expected to continue for much of the coming year. “Some of our progress will be dependent on the…

The February 12 Mail Ballot Election has 21 candidates running for mayor, clerk, treasurer and six city council positions. On January 14, each candidate was asked to submit a photograph and provide a 200-word answer to the following: What have been your contributions to the CPN community and what qualifications would you bring to this…

The election to determine the first leaders of the new city of Castle Pines North (CPN) is just around the corner. CPN officially becomes a city at the first meeting of the newly elected city council. Since the November election, manyquestions have evolved. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Douglas County’s newest…

by Lane Roberts The ballots have officially been mailed. On January 25, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, Jack Arrowsmith mailed ballots to 4,883 active registered voters in the new City of Castle Pines North (CPN). On February 12, residents of the new city of CPN will elect the first nine city officials which will include…

Castle Pines North, Col., (Jan. 14, 2008) — Business in the Pines will host community forums to introduce candidates running for positions with the new City of Castle Pines North (CPN). Voters will elect the city’s first nine officials in a February 12 mail ballot election coordinated by Douglas County. During the forums, CPN residents…

On January 15, helicopters began running lines on the newest power poles located in Xcel’s transmission corridor that runs east-west through CPN. The helicopter drew quite an audience during its aerial feat. (photo by Tim Gamble)

Article and photo by Terri Wiebold After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, rejuvenate, refresh and revitalize at Castle Pines North’s very own Sanctuary Day Spa, formerly Agave Massage Spa, nestled in the heart of downtown Castle Pines North. “I am excited to let the community know how passionate I am about the transition…

The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association welcomes Carol Langley-Finnegan as its new safety committee chairperson. by Terri Wiebold Langley-Finnegan is the staff liaison for public safety issues for the CPN Master Association and tracks the weekly crime statistics for all CPN residents from the DCSO, in addition to being a member of the CPN…

Business in the Pines will present the second annual EasterFest on Thursday, March 13 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Last year, snow drove the event indoors, but 300 people still turned out to enjoy the festivities in the Castle Pines North (CPN) Community Center. This year promises to be bigger and better. Held in…

by Lane Roberts There are NO polling places for the February 12 election. Ballots may be returned via U.S. mail or dropped off at either of the following locations: Castle Rock Bank – 506 Castle Pines Parkway, Castle Pines North, CO Beginning Monday, January 28 until Monday, February 11 ballots can be dropped off weekdays…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Nutrition studies at school have spilled from the health and Home Economics classes into the cafeteria. Douglas County School District hired Brent Craig as the new nutrition services director last summer. His goal is to wean the schools from previous food service contracts by June 30, 2008. Instead of the prepackaged selections…

Gary Worth on his visit to the African Orphanage he and his wife, Cathy Fox, have worked for years to build. The compound, called Vukarhani, is in Mozambique and is currently home to 14 children. by Lisa Crockett Meet Gary Worth and Cathy Fox By American standards, the building that has taken years of work…

The Castle Pines North Metro District recently welcomed Dan Schmick, formerly of Clifton Gunderson LLP, on board to assume many of the financial duties of the District. During the past to years with Clifton Gunderson, Schmick assisted with the compilation of many of the District’s financial statements, which were outsourced to the firm at the…

Share questions, ideas, comments or opinions with The Connection. E-mail questions to Contact by email . I know that Castle Pines North (CPN) will levy a sales tax now that it is a city. When does the new sales tax take effect? A sales tax of 2.75 percent was approved by CPN voters in the…

Ballots for the Feb. 12 election have been mailed to 4,883 active registered voters in CPN. There are NO polling places for the February 12 election. Ballots must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m., February 12. Two ballot drop-off locations will be available including: Wilcox Administration Building 301 N. Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO…

by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association is the community-wide HOA that unifies and represents all the individual neighborhoods within the community, while enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. The Master Association communicates important information to the community via newpaper (The Connection), website (www.cpnhoa.org) and through community e-mail alerts. Residents…

by Lisa Crockett Voters in Castle Rock and Lone Tree have decided the fate of the library in Castle Pines North (CPN) – for now, at least. A razor-thin margin of voters – less than a half a percent – voted down a measure to increase funding to the Douglas County Library District, funding that…

God’s Grace Community Church held Christmas Eve services at the CPN Community Center and plans to hold Easter services there as well. The church is working to build a permanent facility on the Lagae Ranch development in CPN. (photo provided by Claudia Larson) by Lisa Crockett One word is all you need to define what…

Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) 7075 N. Shoreham Drive Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-387-5575 Grades K-5 Calendar: Traditional www.1dcsdk12.org/elementary/bre by Elean Gersack In late fall, Cheryl Wedge’s second graders participated in a reading program called Catch the Reading Wave. The fluency results, coupled with true reading enjoyment by students, have caused this program to be slated…

Santa visits with a little friend on December 22 during the annual HOA2 Children’s Christmas Party. (photo courtesy of Kristi Pacheco) The HOA2 annual Christmas party included a gingerbread house decorating contest. (photo courtesy of Michael Gersack)

 Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Husband and wife team Jeffrey Rubach and Allison Prescott recently celebrated a year of cooking in Castle Pines North. November 2008 marked the one-year anniversary of Plum Creek Catering’s unique arrangement of leasing space in Castle Cones, located at the Shoppes at Village Square. “This spot is ideal for…

Look for this Poster & Register to win a Valentines Day Basket of Goodies at any of the participating locations. by Elean Gersack No need to venture far to celebrate the holiday of love. Check out local businesses for gifts, dinner, flowers and more. The Bundt Shoppe Those who have not yet tried a cake…

by Lisa Crockett It is a presidential election year, and Colorado voters who wish to help decide what November’s presidential election ballot will look like should mark their calendars for Tuesday, February 5 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Colorado utilizes a caucus procedure to determine who receives the nomination. Caucuses are party-specific; only voters…

Sandy Gamble – HOA#1 Jordan Colling – HOA#1 by Terri Wiebold The past few months have brought many changes to Castle Pines North, including a welcome change in seasons. This winter CPN residents have seen blankets upon blankets of white snow. Many have asked what impact, if any, becoming a city will have on snow…

Douglas County is working closely with CPN community leadership to help ensure a smooth transition of services and governance for the citizens of CPN. Leadership Members of the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association and the CPN Preservation Committee have agreed to help the community with key issues during this interim period. CPN is working…

  Have a live tree (or trees) at your house? Then be aware that cut Christmas trees become explosively flammable when they dry out. Keep them watered and away from heat sources like furnace vents and fireplaces. Make an early resolution to get them out of the house right after the holidays.

Maureen Shul, President Castle Pines North Master Association by Lisa Crockett The rewards of climbing one of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners” (a peak above 14,000 feet elevation) are great: spectacular vistas and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Just ask Maureen Shul, a Castle Pines North resident who is currently serving as the President of CPN’s Master Association…

by Lisa Crockett It is now a firmly-entrenched tradition. Castle Pines North (CPN) runners turn out in droves each November to show their school spirit, raise money and have a great time. This year’s Rock Slide raised funds for local schools with more than 1,177 partipants. (Final fundraising totals were not available as of press…

Jennifer Havercroft, Vice-President North Lynx Homeowners Association by Lisa Crockett When residents of the North Lynx Homeowners Association (HOA), comprised of the Serena and Tapadero subdivisions, pay their trash collection fee they also pay for recycling. Many residents, however, were not taking advantage of that service. “As I would be out walking the neighborhood on…

CPNII HOA President Shirley Beer Powell (right) cheers as the results of the vote for incorporation are announced on November 6 at The Ridge in CPN. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) voters have chosen to become Douglas County’s fifth municipality. Voters approved the incorporation issue by nearly a four-to-one…

by Elean Gersack On a perfect fall day, families hit the streets in Castle Pines North (CPN) for Octoberfest on Saturday, October 13. Hayrides ushered guests to and from the fun in the Safeway and Village Square shopping areas, located near I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway. Artisan vendors and local business owners transformed parking areas…

by Lisa Crockett It wasn’t a long ballot, but the few short items in this year’s election generated intense interest in Castle Pines North and surrounding Douglas County. Incorporation passed by a wide margin, with more than seventy-eight percent of voters casting a “yes” ballot on the incorporation question. The other three measures regarding funding…

by Lisa Crockett Voters in Douglas County opted not to increase funding to the Douglas County Library District. On the November 6 mail ballot, issue 5A, which would have imposed a property tax increase of 1.25 mills, was defeated by a margin of less than one percent. A mere 208 ballots separated the “yes” votes…

Entrée Vous celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 18. Entrée Vous is located in Village Square Shopping Center in CPN. (photo by Jeremy Gamble) by Elean Gersack Business in the Pines knows how many helpful people there are in Castle Pines North (CPN). As a community leader, Business in the…

Each issue of The Connection features current events, sports information, school awards, fundraisers and other important items about each of the six neighborhood schools in Castle Pines North. To share school information, please contact by email, or call 303-482-3078. by Elean Gersack Fifth Graders Ski Free Being in the fifth grade has benefits – like…