Read the stories from the latest issue:
by Terri Wiebold This summer, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners placed fire restrictions in effect for the County, including unincorporated areas of Douglas County such as Castle Pines North, based on changes in the extreme risk of fire danger. Future weather forecasts and lack of precipitation levels create a significant threat of fire…
By Terri Wiebold Readers of The Connection may have noticed some subtle changes in the past several issues with the way the newsletter has been published. The Master Association Board of Directors’ vision of this publication is for it to be a community newsletter. With that in mind, coverage of area news has been limited…
Residents Continue to Report Mountain Lion Sightings in CPN. During June and July, residents continued to report numerous sightings of mountain lions throughout Castle Pines North (CPN). Witnesses have reported spotting mountain lions in Stonecroft, Greenbriar, Hidden Pointe, Glen Oaks, and near Daniels Park. Most sightings have been in the evening, but some have been…
by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North resident, Jerry Parker, feels very strongly about the use of fireworks in residential areas and near open spaces – and for good reason. In 1985, Parker’s house (not in CPN) was nearly burned down by a fire that spread as the result of illegal fireworks. Parker had to evacuate…
One of the greatest assets of Castle Pines North (CPN) is the thousands of acres of open space that surround the community. With this open space comes the animals that call it home. There are herds of elk and deer, as well as other prey of mountain lions that inhabit the landscape surrounding CPN. Residents…
By Carin Kirkegaard Castle Pines North (CPN) residents attended a meeting with Xcel Energy held at the Community Center on June 22. The intent of the meeting was to provide information and answer the community’s questions regarding the upcoming expansion of the Daniel’s Gate Substation. The substation site was built in 1965, nearly 24 years…
by Terri Wiebold Fire Station 36 on Castle Pines Parkway did a fantastic job distributing over 200 replacement smoke detectors to residents whose homes had faulty smoke detectors installed in them. Unfortunately, its supply has run out. Special thanks to South Metro Fire Rescue and Station 36 for its efforts in supplying these replacement detectors.…
by Lane Roberts More than 240-acres of the northern portion of the Lagae Ranch was set to be purchased by HF Holdings, LLC, as of press time. The parcel, located behind King Soopers and adjacen to HOA1, was previously owned by A & A Investments, LLC. Darwin Horan and Chris Fellows, principles of HF Holdings,…
by Terri Wiebold Every spring and summer, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents are encouraged to participate in Douglas County’s Slash and Mulch Program, beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing on through Labor Day weekend. The program is part of Douglas County’s wildfire mitigation plan, and it allows residents to take an active role in fire…
Brandon S., 14 months, enjoys his first Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. Brandon was the winner of the CPNMaster Association’s Easter Egg Hunt Photo Contest. by Elean Gersack Congratulations to Christine S. for taking the winning photograph at the Master Association’s Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. The Master Association received many wonderful photos…
by Carin Kirkegaard The new Metro District Board was seated on May 22 and welcomed three new members: Jonette Brown Eyes, Ted Lohr and Bruce Thompson. Each new member is dedicated and focused on serving Castle Pines North (CPN) with a fiscally-responsible approach, while looking to secure future water supplies for the community. Brown Eyes…
by Belinda Paredes The Canyons development, proposed for the area southeast of I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway, has a new website available. To view plans, new developments, and upcoming events, visit www.thecanyonsliving.com. According to the area developer, The Alpert Company, no open houses have been scheduled yet. They are still awaiting comments on sketch plans…
by Elean Gersack Residents from throughout Castle Pines North (CPN) enjoyed the Master Association’s Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, April 8. Over 10,000 eggs and the Easter Bunny were on hand for this fun CPN tradition! Little ones, some with help from their parents, raced for eggs that were divided by…
With only a six percent voter turnout on May 2, the Metro District Board election proved to have one of the lowest numbers of participants in CPN’s history. Out of a total of 5,644 residents eligible to vote, only 309 found the time to make it to the polls to elect new board members. Thirty-nine…
by Carin Kirkegaard A proposal to develop a 12.23-acre parcel of commercially-zoned land in Castle Pines North (CPN) has been filed with the Douglas County Planning Division. The site lies directly north of the intersection of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road, between the Douglas County Montessori School to the east, and the Xcel power…
by Elean Gersack June is adopt-a-cat month and The Buddy Center is gearing up to find homes for many of its kittens and cats during Kitty Karnival on Saturday, June 24. The Karnival will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with crafts, games and small prizes on hand for children. “Our goal is…
By Carin Kirkegaard In the mail ballot election for the South Metro Fire Rescuse (SMFR) Board of Directors, Castle Pines North (CPN) resident William (Bill) P. Schaeffer was one of the three incumbent candidates selected to serve another four-year term. Raymond A. Bullock and Peter Webb were also re-elected. With the entire group returning to…
by Terri Wiebold South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) recently joined a select group of fire agencies around the world that have gained accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). SMFR Chief, Robert Rinne, spoke at the Castle Pines North Master Association Board of Director’s meeting on April 20 about his Department’s accomplishments. “It…
by Belinda Paredes The International at Castle Pines Golf Club will be held this year from August 7-13. Residents of CPN may feel an impact from the tournament in a number of ways, notably increased traffic and busier restaurants, stores, and gas stations. Residents who drive Daniel’s Park Road to Highway 85 will be especially…
by Elean Gersack Remember to save the dates for these great Master Association-sponsored community events at Coyote Ridge Park: Summer Movie in the Park – Napoleon Dynamite June 24: Festivities at 6:30 p.m. and movie begins at dusk. Summer Concert in the Park – Reckless Abandon August 6: Festivities at 4:30 p.m. and concert at…
Castle Pines North resident, Dave Grewe by Terri Wiebold When Castle Pines North resident, Dave Grewe, moved into his new house in the spring of 2000, he could have never imagined the five-year journey he would take chasing down a problem with the faulty smoke detectors in his home. Within the first six months of…
by Elean Gersack Buyers and sellers alike enjoyed the crowds at the Master Association’s Community Garage Sale on May 19 and 20. Hundreds of Castle Pines North (CPN) residents registered sale items on the website and attracted buyers from throughout the greater Denver area. “I received great feedback from residents regarding the sale,” said Carla…
by Belinda Paredes Douglas County voters will experience some changes this year when going to the polls. In order to increase convenience and ease for voters, the Douglas County Election Commission has implemented two major changes to the voting process. The first change is new voting centers throughout the County. These will replace the old…
Dates and hours of operation: Every Saturday, May 27 – September 2 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Plum Creek Wastewater Authority 1400 Caprice Drive Castle Rock, CO 80104 Sponsored by: Douglas County Government Town of Castle Rock Plum Creek Wastewater Authority Questions: Douglas County Operations at 303-660-7480 or visit: www.douglas.co.us/publicworks/publicworks/operations/Slash_and_Mulch.html.
by Terri Wiebold Two Castle Pines North (CPN) residents, Carol Langley-Finnegan of The Retreat and Walt Wohlgemuth of Forest Park, (pictured above) were selected to attend the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Community Safety Volunteer Program. The 10-week citizen’s academy began April 4, 2006, and sixteen other participants from Douglas County are attending the training as…
by Elean Gersack The Master Association will host a second Movie in the Park this summer. Shrek will play on the big screen at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, August 26. “The Movie in the Park has been such a great event, we decided to show another one this summer,” said Carla Kenny, Social Event…
by Terri Wiebold After months of planning and preparation, T-Mobile has begun construction of a new cellular tower at the Castle Pines North Community Center, located at the corner of Yorkshire Drive and Castle Pines Parkway. “We finally have everything approved and I am pleased we were able go forward with the flag pole design…
by Belinda Paredes Water Parks – Pirate’s Cove – www.englewoodgov.org, 1225 W. Belleview Ave., Englewood, 303-762-COVE. O’Brien Park – www.parkeronline.org/recreation/h2obrienpool.aspx, 10795 Victorian Drive, Parker 720-851-5873 Water World – www.waterworldcolorado.com, 1800 W. 89th Avenue, Federal Heights, 303-427-SURF. Island Kingdom @ Six Flags – see Elitch Gardens information below. Amusement Parks – Six Flags Elitch Gardens –…
by Elean Gersack The Master Association’s Summer Movie in the Park is planned for Saturday, June 24, at Coyote Ridge Park. This year’s movie, Napoleon Dynamite, is a PG-rated film about a high school boy helping his friend to win the class presidency. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. with a Napoleon Dynamite parade, air…
Photos courtesy of Sarah Byrne by Elean Gersack On Saturday, April 22, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) juniors dressed up, posed for pictures and took the town in celebration of the school’s first prom. The dance was held at Hudson Gardens in Littleton and was themed “Midnight in Manhattan.” Students danced beneath the lights and…
The Porter family from the left Jake, Jeff, Abby, Anna, and Kari by Lane Roberts Many families are often faced with the difficult task of caring for a child with special needs. For Jeff and Kari Porter, they’ve met the challenge head-on. Residents of Castle Pines North (CPN) since 2001, the Porter’s daughter, Abby, was…
by Elean Gersack Reckless Abandon will be back again this year to perform on Sunday, August 6, at Coyote Ridge Park. Festivities, including concessions and air castles, will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. Castle Pines North Boy Scout Troop 316 will be on hand to barbeque hot dogs…
by Elean Gersack For more than 65 years, the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo has attracted folks from far and wide to the Douglas County Fair Grounds. Rodeos, parades, carnival rides, and a home-town county feeling are sure to please the young and the young at heart. Enjoy free admission to a variety of events,…
by Carin Kirkegaard Water is an important commodity in Colorado’s semi-arid climate, and it is important to conserve whenever possible. Since 2003, the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) has provided the community with a mandatory watering schedule. Residents should have received a schedule by mail in late April. The circle, diamond, square third day…
CPN resident Chad Spath (#24) of the Rock Canyon Jaguars battles a Mountain Vista player during the March 18 game. CPN resident Andrew Paredes is assistant coach of the Mountain Vista team. by Belinda Paredes The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) boy’s lacrosse team finished its season with only one loss and an opportunity to…
by Carin Kirkegaard Teamwork along with a sense of community pride can accomplish a lot when a group works together. In Romar West, located in the Daniel’s Gate area, it could not be more evident. As one of Castle Pines North (CPN) newest developments, the Romar West Neighborhood Association has more than 275 homes and…
Photo courtesy of Nanci Simmons of Tri-County Farmers Markets by Elean Gersack Summertime is here and that means fresh produce from Colorado farmers. Shop the open air markets and enjoy mouth-watering, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Colorado farmers offer the highest quality produce at reasonable prices. Fresh fruits and vegetables are important for good health,…
By Terri Wiebold Replacement smoke detector units are still available at Station 36 for residents who have confirmed affected units, and who have experienced a problem (intermittent chirping, unexplained alarms, and/or exploding batteries) with the units. In order to be eligible to receive these free replacement units, residents must have filed a report with South…
Vice President of Planning for Village Homes, Ron Skarka presented ideas for CC-20 to residents on April 19. By Lane Roberts If you build it they will come. That was the key message from Village Homes, owner of the land located on the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard known as CC-20.…
by Elean Gersack Although summer is here, planning is already underway for the fall. Here is the scoop about a variety of nearby organizations offering fall sports leagues and activities. Check them out soon as fall sign-up deadlines are fast approaching: Castle Rock Recreation Some of the fall leagues being offered at the Castle Rock…
By Terri Weibold Due to a significant increase in the risk of fire danger, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution restricting open fires and open burning in unincorporated areas of Douglas County, including Castle Pines North. The ban, effective June 15, escalated the existing Stage One restrictions to Stage Two, prohibiting all…
by Elean Gersack On Sunday, August 6, women from around Denver will swim, bike and run to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. Tri for the Cure will be held at Cherry Creek State Park (near Belleview and I-25) and all fundraising proceeds will support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Many…
John Ewing by Terri Wiebold (CPN) Metro District Board of Directors, John Ewing is leaving the Board to pursue other interests. “There is still very important work to be done on the Board,” said Ewing. “But, I am term-limited and my time is up.” Ewing lists among the high-points of his tenure on the board…
Cherokee Ranch Fire October 2003 as seen from Berganot Trail in Castle Pines North by Terri Wiebold One of the features about Castle Pines North (CPN) that attracts residents to live in this community is its abundance of open space and natural surroundings. With that beauty often comes hazardous conditions, such as the potential for…
Watch for school buses in the Castle Pines North community in early July. Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) has officially switched to a four-track calendar and students will be heading back to school this year in July. TTE has projected more than 600 students for the 2006-2007 school year and will have four tracks this year.…
by Belinda Paredes The Castle Rock Recreation Center held grand opening celebrations for the new leisure pool on May 19 and 20, offering free swimming, prize drawings, games, and entertainment. The new facility boasts a multi-use leisure pool, lazy river, exterior water slides, splash down area, zero-depth entry, and interactive water features. There is also…
How Dry is 2006? Galen Crowder, CPN resident and former Metro District Board member, is one of many homeowners in the area that tracks moisture statistics in the community. Just how dry is 2006? Take a look at these numbers provided by Crowder: January 1, 2006 – May 4, 2006 3.75 inches January 1, 2005…
Remember to vote in the August Primaries to determine which candidates will represent the Democratic and Republican parties in the November 7 election. Contact respective political parties for more information. To contact the Douglas County Democrats, visit www.douglasdemocrats.org, or call 303-539-9048. To contact the Douglas County Republicans, visit www.dcgop.org, or call 303-730-0100.
By Carin Kirkegaard Summer is here and along with the long hot days come solicitors canvassing the neighborhood. Residents in Castle Pines North can avoid unwelcome solicitors by simply purchasing a “no solicitation” sign and placing it near the doorbell. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), any person engaged in door-to-door selling of…
by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) continues to have a low crime rate which can often lead to complacency, especially during the summer months. Last summer, there was a brief rash of vehicle break-ins throughout CPN, and several residents lost wallets, purses, computers, and other valuable items. To help keep the community safe, please…
Share questions, comments or opinions with The Connection. E-mail questions to editor@cpnhoa.org. I am all for cyclists riding along Monarch, but are you aware of the frequency in which they cross the white line and cross into traffic? Someone is going to get hurt and it will be a tragedy. – Joe Musso, Hidden Pointe…
by Elean Gersack In Colorado, gardens can sometimes be hard to maintain with warm summer days, cool summer nights and plenty of dryness. Fortunately, there is a local resource available to help even the most novice gardener create a wonderfully landscaped yard. PlantTalk Colorado is a web based resource which provides answers to commonly asked…
Project Lifesaver wristband and battery used by participants. by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Maureen Shul, a resident of Bramble Ridge and Master Association Board President, along with Victor and Amy Mitchell of Castle Pines, are among the volunteers who have worked to make Project Lifesaver a reality in Douglas County. Project Lifesaver…
by Elean Gersack On July 4, this nation will celebrate its 230th birthday. Celebrate this magnificent day with stars and stripes, music, parades, and fireworks displays. Here are just a few ideas to help plan the celebration: The Liberty Festival will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on July 4. The Air Force Color…
By Lane Roberts On Saturday, May 6, Castle Pines North (CPN) celebrated the official grand opening of the new skateboard park at Coytote Ridge Park, presented by the CPN Master Association and CPN Metro District. Adults and children of all ages enjoyed live music by Solid Life U-Turn Youth Band, ice cream donated by Sinton…
by Carin Kirkegaard The Douglas County Garden Club is sponsoring the “Woodsy Owls” at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) as part of its philanthropic work in Douglas County. During the program, the Daisy troop that meets at BRE, learned about the environment and how to keep it clean and preserved. “We measured trees and planted salad…
New residents of Castle Pines North are invited to attend the next welcome coffee set for Tuesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. Held quarterly, the welcome coffees are designed to communicate important facts and information to new residents and to welcome them to the community. For…
by Terri Wiebold In the month of May, there were at least three confirmed vehicle thefts in Castle Pines North. This trend has a tendency to occur around the same time every year – generally coinciding with the weather turning warmer. The thefts generally occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The…
South Metro Fire Rescue 9195 E. Mineral Ave Centennial, CO 80112 720-488-7164 by Carin Kirkegaard BRK Smoke Alarm Issue Updated 5/2/06 STEP 1 – Identification Confirm you have affected models: (all must apply) BRK Brands, Inc. hard-wired smoke alarms Model: 4120B or 4120SB Date: 1998 – October 2000 STEP 2 – Prevention Manufacturer recommends Eveready…
Summertime brings out bikes, skateboards, scooters and motorized toy vehicles. Motorized scooters, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles all fall under the category of “toy” vehicles, and all are prohibited from public roadways and sidewalks. Owners of these “toys” are only permitted to operate the vehicles on private property with the permission of the property owners.…
By Terri Weibold The Castle Pines North Mater Association and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have received several complaints regarding simulated “war games” in the open spaces and recreational parks within Castle Pines North. The complaints originated from various neighborhoods and included issues such as: The safety of residents (one woman was hit by a…
CONTACT #1: Public Information Officer, Deputy Cocha Heyden, 303-814-7096, pgr 303-826-7822 CONTACT #2: RELEASE DATE: 05/08/06 RELEASE TIME: 9:00 am CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver Says, “Lock It or Lose It” About Recent Car Break-Ins NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO Due to recent car break-ins in the area, the Sheriff would like to…
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous notifications from consumers of an e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC. The “From” line of the e-mail displays the name “Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation” and the subject includes the phrase “IMPORTANT: Notification of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.” The e-mail states that…
by Carin Kirkegaard The ballots are in and the votes are tallied in the 2006 Special District Election for the CPNMD. With only a six percent voter turnout, the election proved to have one of the lowest numbers of participants in CPN’s history. Out of a total of 5,644 residents eligible to vote, only 309…
by Elean Gersack Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20, traffic on local streets will be bustling as folks from far and wide visit Castle Pines North (CPN) in hopes of finding some good deals. The Master Association will advertise this huge garage sale within Denver and Douglas County newspapers and the CPN website will…
By Carin Kirkegaard Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching and with the extended weekend comes the beginning of summer. May 26 is the official last day of school for Douglas County, and other local schools will soon follow. With longer, warmer days ahead, Castle Pines North (CPN) children will be out playing ball, riding bikes…
by Carin Kirkegaard In the past week a resident that lives on High Ridge Court in the Hidden Pointe neighborhood reported a mountain lion which ran through the resident’s backyard around 9 p.m. This sighting is the most recent occurrence of seeing wildlife within a residential area. In recent months, there have been two reported…
CPN resident Sally Wagner races toward the finish line at Tri for the Cure (Photo courtesy of The Wagner family) by Elean Gersack Ask any woman, and chances are she or someone she knows has been affected in some way by breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, over 212,000 women will be…
VOTE Vote for the CPN Metro District Board – May 2, at the CPN Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote for South Metro Fire Rescue Board -ballots will arrive via U.S. mail by April 17 andmust be received by May 2. CANDIDATES PROFILESGalen R. Crowder Jonette Brown Eyes Bruce…
by Carin Kirkegaard In an area that is quickly becoming urbanized, Douglas County is fortunate to have the Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources protecting wildlife habitat, natural resources, historic sites, scenic views, and Douglas County’s rural heritage. In an effort to make some of the natural treasures of Douglas County more…