Read the stories from the latest issue:
Spring Gala – “A Night on Treasure Island” – Saturday, April 21 The American Academy Spring Gala will be held at the Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows on Saturday, April 21. The silent auction, live auction, dinner and dancing event will help raise money for Math, Science and Technology programs, the library, teacher funds,…
by Lane Roberts The first, and oldest, park in Castle Pines North (CPN) is set to receive a face lift. The Castle Pines North Metro District Board of Directors recently approved an upgrade to The Retreat Park. The park, located off Tangleoak Lane in The Retreat neighborhood, was built in the late 1980s. Metro District…
by David Lichtenstein, Castle Pines North Metro District In less than half an hour any resident can learn how to transform a yard into a beautiful landscape that works with our Colorado environment. A free DVD, funded by a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), makes this possible. The DVD, planned for distribution…
South Metro Fire Rescue Meeting Dates and Times: The South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. The meeting location is 9195 E. Mineral Avenue (north of Park Meadows off Chester Boulevard between County Line Road and Dry Creek Road.) Castle Pines North residents are welcome…
The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) welcomed Jack Hilbert in November 2006, upon the departure of nine-year Commissioner, Mike Maxwell. The three-member board serves as the legislative, policy-making and administrative body governing the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. It acts to adopt ordinances in those limited areas for which specific authority has been given by…
By Elean Gersack The Douglas County School District (DCSD) Early Childhood Education Center will hold a lottery for the 2007-08 preschool year beginning Monday, March 12 and ending Friday, March 16, at 4 p.m. The DCSD preschool program is designed for both typical and special needs three and four year old children. Generally, classrooms consist…
By Lisa Crockett A Castle Pines North church is celebrating its third year. To observe this important milestone, Solid Life Christian Center (SLCC), will kick off a new Sunday School program in March. The program will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings and will offer classes for all ages. SLCC also offers a variety…
Lisa Towne, Little Italy Pizza in Castle Pines North Parker resident Skip Guarini with his dog “Vinny” By Lisa Crockett What is for supper tonight? How about an authentic Italian pizza, one with roasted red and yellow peppers, sausage and Calamata olives? Order this pie at Little Italy Pizza in Castle Pines North, called the…
By Celine Hundt Wondering where to take that special someone for Valentine’s Day? The Celtic Crossing puts together a unique menu in February to celebrate this special holiday. To view the complete Valentine’s menu, visit www.celticcrossingpub.com or call 303-663-6644 for more information. If a romantic evening at home is more what you had in mind,…
By Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District has completed the necessary concrete work on the new crosswalks on Hidden Point Boulevard and on Monarch near Serena. Douglas County Public Works was scheduled to install the signage and markings at the two locations, but recent weather has caused delays. According to Douglas County…
By Lisa Crockett Progress is slow but sure on the future Walgreens development at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road. The developer, Minnesota-based Anxon, Inc., had hoped to break ground before the end of 2006, but now plans to begin sometime in April. Representatives from the developer hosted a second presentation with…
By Celine Hundt What do Bristlecone Single, Stonecroft, Briarcliff, GreenBriar, WinterBerry, Bramble Ridge and BristleCone all have in common? All seven are communities that are serviced by the CPNII HOA, and were built by Village Homes. With a total of 682 homes, the CPNII HOA is the second largest homeowner’s association (HOA) in Castle Pines…
By Terri Wiebold With a belief that strong businesses contribute to the stability and the well-being of a community, the Castle Pines North Master Association has been working to form a business association in Castle Pines North (CPN). With recent announcements of incorporation efforts, promoting an environment of communication, cooperation and support for local businesses…
Noel Coyne of Celtic Crossing and Paul Arvidson of Castle Rock Bank by Elean Gersack On Tuesday, January 16, local business owners had the opportunity to learn more about, and to sign-up for, Business in the Pines memberships. Carla Kenny and Sharon Kollmar, co-directors of Business in the Pines, spoke about member benefits and initial…
Pilates in the Pines is offering a Valentine’s Day Special to new members. From now until the end of February residents can try an introductory lesson for 50 percent off the regular price. Just mention that you saw this offer in The Connection. Pilates in the Pines is located at 7280 Lagae Road, Suite J,…
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…
Buffalo Ridge Brownie Troop 628 fills pillowcases for The Women’s Crisis and Outreach Center (photo courtesy of the Harper family.) Buffalo Ridge Gold Rush: Staking Our Claim for the Future! Save the date for the Buffalo Ridge Silent Auction on April 21, 2007. The event will be held at The Sanctuary and will benefit the…
By Terri Wiebold The recent blizzards in Colorado have reminded residents of the importance of being prepared in any type of emergency. For those who received a copy of the 2007 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Preparedness Guide, planning for the recent snow storms may have been a bit easier. The guide has an abundance…
New to the Master Association Board are Jennifer Havercroft and Patrick Brierley, both of whom bring a wealth of knowledge from their service to Daniel’s Gate. Havercroft has been president of the North Lynx HOA and Brierley has served as the vice president of the Romar HOA. Both have served as delegates to the Master…
Santa visits with HOA#2 children on December 2nd Article and photos by Elean Gersack During the month of December, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents found the makings for holiday spirit close to home. Children from HOA2 enjoyed a visit with Santa while collecting books for Rock Canyon High School’s FBLA book drive benefiting Wheeling Elementary…
Cynthia Martin of BristleCone captured these amazing photos on January 5. The herd of elk travelled through the number one fairway of The Ridge golf course behind Martin’s home. According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, elk move down from the mountains to places where they can still find grass and other plants to eat…
Photo by Terri Wiebold By Terri Wiebold On December 5, 2006, the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) Board of Directors held a public meeting with Douglas County representatives and the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to discuss the District’s need to include the Lagae Ranch property in its service boundaries for revenue purposes. At…
Preservation Committee Volunteers sign up for six teams that will help with the incorporation election process. By Lane Roberts More than 40 volunteers from Castle Pines North (CPN) attended the Citizens for the Preservation of Castle Pines North work session on Wednesday, January 17, at the Community Center. During the meeting, CPN Master Association President…
by Lane Roberts By now, most residents have heard the news. Castle Pines North (CPN) filed a petition to incorporate as the “City of Castle Pines North” on December 5, 2006. Three minutes later, Castle Pines Village (VILLAGE) also filed a petition to incorporate as the “City of Castle Pines.” Both communities have the business…
by Lisa Crockett The World Book Encyclopedia was what brought Eva Mitchell to Colorado. A native of Germany, Mitchell came to the United States in the mid-1950s. In need of a job, she obtained employment selling sets of World Book Encyclopedias. “I didn’t really enjoy the job,” said Mitchell. “But the company held a contest…
by Elean Gersack Congratulations to three Castle Pines North (CPN) resident boys who skated to State Title for Rocky Heights Nighthawks Inline Hockey Club: Mark Hernandez, JT Kiefer and Max McDade. The Nighthawks were undefeated this year and won the state title against Horizon Middle School, with a score of 6-3, on December 3, 2006.…
by Terri Wiebold and Elean Gersack Businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN) have created a new business association, Business in the Pines. This newly-formed organization brings businesses and merchants, located at I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway, together for the future. “The existence of a successful and vibrant business community is important to the future of…
by Elean Gersack Business in the Pines, a newly formed business association in Castle Pines North (CPN) announces Market in the Pines. Market in the Pines is planned from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month from June through September, 2007. This outdoor, open-air market will include antiques, eclectic home…
The date for the second CC-20 public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners has been changed. The hearing will now be held on Wednesday,January 10, at 9 a.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock; the hearing was scheduled for December 20, but was rescheduled because of the blizzard. Zoned for commercial development, CC-20…
Children’s activity center inside the Parker genUrations store. Photo by Terri Wiebold. by Terri Wiebold “Forget everything you knew about picture framing,” says genUrations Frame Shop Owner, Zachary Pietlock. “We broke the mold, examined the pieces, threw some out, added some in, and the next generation in picture framing was born.” The new frame shop…
By Lane Roberts Watch the mailbox during the next few weeks for a brochure from the Metro District entitled “Replenishing Our Water Supply.” The brochure explains the results of the Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP). For the past year, the Metro District has been working with Camp, Dresser and McKee (CDM) to develop a plan…
by Elean Gersack 2007-2008 School Year Applications and Tours DCS Montessori will accept 2007-2008 applications for three – year – old preschool through sixth grade now through February 15, 2007. DCS Montessori utilizes a waitlist and lottery to fill open spots within the school. To download an application form, visit www.dcsmontessori.org, and click on “enrollment.”…
by Lisa Crockett In a scene reminiscent of an old-fashioned town hall, Castle Pines North (CPN) hosted several candidates for public office at its first-ever “Meet the Candidates” forum. The event was held at the CPN Community Center and boasted an attendance of roughly 85 people from all over Douglas County. Residents were allowed to…
by Lisa Crockett For many moms, having a baby marks the beginning of the end of a physically-fit lifestyle. One Castle Pines North (CPN) mom is working to reverse that trend. “Fit Mamas is a group designed to allow moms who stay home with their kids to get up and get moving–without having to hire…
From the left: American Academy Board members Jackie Santos, Erin Kane, Lt. Governor Jane Norton, and CAO Roberta Harrell tour the school. by Elean Gersack Parent Volunteers Needed for Lunch Recess Volunteers are needed to help with recess for first through eighth grades. To sign up, e-mail Cindy Reagor at cindysuereagor@hotmail.com. Times and grades are…
by Elean Gersack According to a local group of residents, now is the time to bring a recreation center to Castle Pines North (CPN). With the community virtually at build out, land options are narrowing and a plot for civic use may become available on the Lagae Ranch property, located behind King Soopers. Civic amenities,…
December 8 What: Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra Concert When: Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lone Tree A holiday concert will take place at the Cornerstone Baptist Church at 9941 Lone Tree Parkway in Lone Tree. For more information, visit www.lonetreesymphony.org.
by Elean Gersack “Under the Sea” Book Fair Raises Thousands The Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Book Fair, held in October, raised over $4,000 for the school. Money raised from this event will be used for technology updates, character programs, additional playground fencing, and science curriculum. The “Under the Sea” Reading Adventure theme featured a “Sensational…
by Lisa Crockett After years of negotiations involving Castle Pines North (CPN), Xcel Energy and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), plans are now complete for the final expansion of the power lines that travel diagonally through the eastern part of CPN. Continued efforts by CPN Master Association Vice President, Bruce Thompson, and Charter Oaks residents…
By Lisa Crockett Do-it-yourselfers in Castle Pines North will have to wait a bit longer than originally expected for a new Lowe’s store to open in Castle Rock. The store, which will be built at the corner of Meadows Parkway and Santa Fe (near The Outlets at Castle Rock), was announced in July and was…
by Elean Gersack Congratulations Rockslide Participants Congratulations to all TTE Rockslide participants! The Timber Trail Educational Alliance (TTEA) will use the funds raised for the school’s science and reading programs as well as technology improvements. The TTEA is hoping to raise $44,000 during this school year to be used for these great programs. Prior to…
Developer Chris Fellows (left) walks the Lagae Ranch property while talking with HOA1 residents. (Photo by Lane Roberts) by Lane Roberts For years, residents in HOA1 have enjoyed hundreds of acres of open space – right in their back yards. HOA1, which consists of the 424 homes in Royal Hill, Knights Bridge and Noble Ridge,…
by Terri Wiebold The recent opening of FirstBank inside the Safeway grocery store has provided added convenience to many Castle Pine North (CPN) residents. As Colorado’s largest locally-owned banking organization, FirstBank has been providing full-service banking for more than 40 years. Headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, FirstBank is well established in the marketplace as a premier…
Castle Pines North Resident Carol Langley-Finnegan In June, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents Carol Langley-Finnegan and Walt Wohlgemuth graduated from a 10-week citizen’s academy sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and officially became Community Safety Volunteers. The program provided specialized training to Langley-Finnegan and Wohlgemuth in the areas of self defense, conflict resolution, defensive…
Citizens for the Preservation of Castle Pines North by Lane Roberts It started with a proposal for a new road near neighbors to the south of Castle Pines North (CPN). Now, Castle Pines Village (Village) is on the fast track to become the “City of Castle Pines.” A proposed road connecting from The Meadows subdivision…
by Elean Gersack Douglas County 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. As of December 1, open enrollment forms can be downloaded from the district website at www.dcsdk12.org and parents can view a list of the…
by Elean Gersack Get set to cheer for your favorite teachers and staff members. The fourth annual Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) versus Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Teacher Kickball Game has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rock Canyon High School gymnasium. This event always brings big crowds and lots of…
by Elean Gersack Make plans now for the 2008 Holiday Carriage Rides, brought to you by the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association. The rides are planned for Monday through Wednesday, December 1-3 and Monday though Wednesday, December 8-10 in the beautiful HOA2 neighborhood. Rides will run every half hour from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30…
by Elean Gersack SafeSplash swim school opened for swim lessons on Monday, November 27, at a brand new facility located next to The Wildlife Experience. This dedicated warm water pool is just what kids need to feel comfortable and gain confidence in the water. SafeSplash boasts instructors that are highly experienced and teach at very…
Rapper Hunter Brown known as “Busta Brown” to his fans by Lisa Crockett Ask the average person what they think about rap music, and you would be likely to find that rap is often linked with less-than-desirable behavior. A 16-year-old in Castle Pines North is on a mission to change that stereotype. “Rap is usually…
by Lane Roberts As the holidays rapidly approach, now is a great time to become re-acquainted with the many businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN). The local shops and restaurants in CPN are an integral part of everyday life and greatly enhance the community. “We have such a wide variety of unique businesses and services…
by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) residents have seen a change in the speed limit signs on Castle Pines Parkway between Buffalo Trail and I-25. This change was implemented as a result of the findings of an engineering study conducted by Douglas County and a resolution signed by the Board of County Commissioners in…
Master Association Board President Maureen Shul By Lane Roberts On Friday, November 17, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association hosted a meeting of all the local businesses within CPN. Dozens of business owners attended the meeting to learn more about how plans for the possible incorporation of Castle Pines Village could directly impact them.…
by Celine Hundt The NorthLynx HOA serves 221 homes in the Serena and Tapedero neighborhoods in the Daniel’s Gate subdivision in Castle Pines North (CPN). According to Jennifer Havercroft, president of the NorthLynx HOA, one of the first action items of the current Board was to modify the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines. A new…
Cherokee Ranch: Colorado Symphony Orchestra Sunday, December 10, 5:30 p.m. Listen to holiday music from the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at the exquisite Cherokee Ranch Castle. For more information, visit www.cherokeeranch.org. Cherokee Ranch: Winter Holiday Tea Various dates and times November 21 – December 21 Holiday teas at the enchanting Cherokee Ranch are very popular. The…
Douglas County traffic worker prepares Monarch Boulevard for a new pedestrian crosswalk in Daniel’s Gate. Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Two new pedestrian crosswalk projects have been cooperatively undertaken by the Metro District and the County that would not have come to fruition were it not for the input of local Castle Pines North…
by Elean Gersack With overcast skies and crisp air, it was the perfect morning for a little outdoor exercise. On November 11, just fewer than 1,400 runners and walkers hit the pavement at Rock Canyon High School to raise money for local schools during the 2006 Rockslide. Students, teachers, families, and friends from American Academy…
By Elean Gersack With falling leaves and overcast skies, local residents and visitors enjoyed a beautiful fall day in Castle Pines North (CPN) during OctoberFest on Saturday, October 14. This annual event, sponsored by local CPN businesses, has become a fall favorite for those who live in and around the area. Families strolled through The…
by Elean Gersack The holidays are upon us so take some time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. Whether you prefer the ballet, the symphony, or children’s entertainment, there are numerous happenings for adults and families alike. Some are close to home and others require a bit of a drive, but they…
by Lane Roberts Public hearing notices were placed on the CC-20 parcel on November 14. Plans for the parcel, located on the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard, are moving forward and new changes have been introduced. As of press time, a public hearing was scheduled for November 27 with the Douglas…
by Lane Roberts On Sunday, November 12, members of the Daniel’s Gate community hosted a “Holiday Decorating Party” to prepare for the Castle Pines North Holiday Carriage Rides set for December. Hot cider, snacks, stacks of lights, and extension cords were handed out to volunteers at the Daniel’s Gate Club House. Residents braved the cold…
By Lisa Crockett To make holiday shipping easier, below is a list of CPN’s closest post office locations: Castle Rock, 80108 – Wrinkles Newsstand – Happy Canyon Road & Hwy 85 Highlands Ranch, 80130 – 9609 S University Blvd. Castle Rock, 80104 – 300 E Miller Court Louviers, 80131 – 7895 Louviers Blvd. Sedalia, 80135…
Mike Adams, school resource office for Rock Canyon High School by Terri Wiebold Students at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) are used to seeing an armed police officer on campus every day. Since the school opened four years ago, a uniformed deputy from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has been assigned to the school as…
by Terri Wiebold Although the interior is still decorated as an old-world Irish pub, the dining room area of Celtic Crossing has been converted to an authentic Mexican restaurant. La Carreta, or “the chuck wagon,” features a full menu of Mexican appetizers, salads, specialties, and traditional Mexican entrees. The restaurant’s chef was born and raised…
Castle Pines North Resident Galen Crowder by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Galen Crowder monitors rain and snow totals from his home on Huntley Court in HOA1. According to Crowder, from October, 2005, to October, 2006, CPN received 84.9 inches of snowfall. While almost 85 inches of snow in a year sounds like…
by Elean Gersack It may be snowy and cold now, but in a few short months the air will warm and children will be kicking and hitting balls on fields everywhere. Now is the time to register for those spring sports leagues. To help save a few steps, check out the organizations listed below to…
By Terri Wiebold The October issue of The Connection reported that a new trail, extending north from Coyote Ridge Park to Rocky Heights Middle School in Highlands Ranch, would be opening in the Castle Pines North community by Thanksgiving. Plans for completion of the trail have recently been delayed. According to Douglas County Parks and…
Janet Conner of BristleCone Jennifer Havercroft of NorthLynx By Terri Wiebold Seventeen delegates from individual homeowner’s associations and residents gathered at the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association annual meeting last month to elect two members to the board of directors, to listen to guest speakers from South Metro Fire Rescue discuss the proposed new…
by Elean Gersack The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is pushing forward to bring healthier foods and wellness into local schools. According to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, all school districts were mandated to adopt a school Student Wellness Policy by July 1, 2006. The DCSD Board of Directors approved such…
by Lane Roberts The date for the second CC-20 public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners has been changed. The hearing, originally set for December 13, will now be held on Wednesday, December 20, at 9 a.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. Zoned for commercial development, CC-20 is the 15.7-acre parcel located…