Read the stories from the latest issue:
This greenfield space of The Canyons property was annexed into the City of Castle Pines North in October 2009, and is one area city council is considering in a “blight” study for the city. The blight study is a requirement for the city to be able to establish an Urban Renewal Authority (URA). If established,…
Pictured above, students from Mrs. Shaffner’s first grade class e-mail their EPals from Saudi Arabia. The EPals Classroom Exchange is a program that connects students from BRE with students from all over the world. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Technology has made the world a smaller place. The Internet, handheld video cameras, iPods,…
Since last month’s article, Joe Gschwendtner moved forward on his race to become Governor. Due to his late entry into the race, he is petitioning in all congressional districts, and will be on the primary ballot on August 10th.
by Anthonette Klinkerman Let’s face it – Mother’s Day is a complete misnomer. Ask any mom out there if she gets an entire day to herself without someone needing something, or some domestic chore that needs doing, and she’ll probably laugh in your face. I propose renaming the day to more accurately portray what happens…
Information submitted by Dennis Murray Free golf, free clubs for kids As the US Kids Golf Foundation’s Denver local tour director, and director of instruction for Troon Golf and The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Dennis Murray and his staff are continuing their ongoing efforts to grow the game of golf through youngsters and their…
Article by Anthonette Klinkerman As the snow fell outside the day before spring break, inside Buffalo Ridge Elementary students were using magic words, saluting, and shouting out, “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” as “Colonel Klinkerman” put them through their etiquette paces. “There’s no giggling in Courtesy Bootcamp!” she cried, causing the students to erupt in laughter. “I…
Braving near-blizzard conditions in March, Maureen Shul (pictured above right) was sworn in by Castle Pines North City Clerk Sharon DeRouen (pictured above left) to represent Ward 1 on city council. This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North City Council appointed Maureen Shul as a Ward 1 council member at…
Bria Pellandini (left) and Guillermo Arribas Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A group of high school seniors who have spent the last four years on the stage at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) is preparing their grand finale – their last play before graduation. The play, “Beyond a Joke,” will run at the school…
Information provided by American Academy American Academy (AA) is offering a new extracurricular activity that teaches real-life skills to teens to better prepare them for interacting with peers and adults. Led by AA parent Kara Good, the Leadership Program for Teens is a highly interactive three-week program developed for sixth through eighth grade students who…
by Elizabeth Wood West Rolling Thunder Comes to Castle Rock The national non-profit veterans’ motorcycle club Rolling Thunder will be hosting “Salute to America’s POWs” in honor of POWs from past and present wars. The event will be held on Saturday, May 15 at noon, at Festival Park (2nd Street between Wilcox and Perry) in…
By Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock (Town) council members unanimously voted Refined Alternative 6 Castlegate Drive as the preferred alignment for the North Meadows Extension project at their April 8 special council meeting. The project is being planned to provide a second access between The Meadows development and U.S. Highway 85 and…
Information provided by Carin R. Kirkegaard and photo by Vivian Jenner Pictured above, Marielle Renehen competes in the breaststroke at USA Swimming Sectionals held in Federal Way, Washington located just outside of Seattle. Renehen competed along with anywhere from 70 to 130 swimmers in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke and in the 100 and…
This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North The City of Castle Pines North is on strong financial footing. The latest fiscal update includes: January and February revenues exceeded expenditures by more than 10% each month (more than $60,000 per month) As of February 28, 2010, the City was at a…
Information provided by Renee Palmer, Broker Associate Renee Palmer, Broker Associate with Your Castle Real Estate, has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales. At a time when millions of homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the…
The Wildlife Experience is pleased to announce it will participate in the Blue Star Museums program providing free admission to active military and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day of this year. The Blue Star Museums program was created by The National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families. Blue Star Families…
Photos by Angela Carlson The Robinson family pictured above waits for their dinner at Angie’s Restaurant during Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) night. Held in April, the McCaffrey family, owners of Angie’s Restaurant and residents of Castle Pines North, partnered with BRE to sponsor a fun family evening. The restaurant donated 10 percent of all proceeds…
Bidders consider items for auction at Timber Trail Elementary’s year-end fundraiser. The event, held at Cielo at Castle Pines, featured an online auction, a silent auction and a live auction, raising which raised $35,000 to offset budget cuts at the school next year. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett About 200 parents, teachers, administrators and…
By Elizabeth Wood West After three hours of presentations, questions, answers, rebuttals, and public testimony, Castle Pines North City Council members voted five to one to approve the city’s proposed urban renewal plan (URP). The council’s adoption of the URP is the final step in a process that began a few short months ago with…
Castle Pines North Ward 1 Council Member Jennifer Havercroft Information provided by City of Castle Pines North Castle Pines North Ward 1 Council Member Jennifer Havercroft has resigned her position effective April 14 due to a family move. Havercroft submitted a letter of resignation to the city council at its April 13 meeting. The council…
On May 17 at 7 p.m. the Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program will perform the final concert of the 2009-2010 school year. The concert will be held at Rocky Heights Middle School. The young musicians will have the opportunity to perform alongside members from the Colorado Chamber Orchestra. RCEIM is a before and…
This information has been provided by Castle Pines North Metro District. On January 26, 2010, the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) filed a petition in District Court to dissolve the Castle Pines North Metro District. The Metro District exists primarily to deliver drinking water, wastewater and storm water services, and parks and open space…
Submitted by Dep. 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 Memorial Day Holiday weekend which takes place the weekend of May 28th. Deputies will be providing extra enforcement from Friday, May 28 at 6:00 pm through…
by Lisa Crockett Coupons can be a great money saver, but a group of Castle Pines-area entrepreneurs know they can also be a real hassle to manage and they decided to do something about it. To help consumers better take advantage of available offers – and allow businesses to reach a more targeted audience –…
Wines of the Pines and the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce wish to say thank you for making the first charity event, The French Wine Tour, such a great success. It is a privilege to be able to support and promote such charities as the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center, Douglas County Veteran’s Monument,…
This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North City Council recently adopted a coyote management plan, providing guidelines for responses to conflicts with coyotes while maintaining public safety as its primary emphasis. The plan seeks to identify and achieve a balance between the importance of human safety and the native ecology…
Article and illustration submitted by Mark Shively, Douglas County Water Resource Authority As spring weather returns and summertime is just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about firing up the sprinkler system again. Turning on your system may reveal some things have changed since the last time you watered the lawn. That…
Brownie Troop 646 had a career try-it with Angie’s restaurant, located in Castle Rock. The girls had the opportunity to learn about being self-employed as well as how to juggle being a working mom from April McCaffrey, owner of Angie’s and resident of Castle Pines North. Mike McCaffrey showed the girls the kitchen and they…
Castle Pines Athletics is hosting a variety of fun summer camps again this summer in Castle Pines North (CPN.) Camp Castle Pines, for children ages 6 to 12, will feature a host of exciting activities. Castle Pines All Stars is back again this year for the little campers ages 4 to 7. And, girls ages…
Photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fifth graders sang, danced, hula hooped and balanced on balls all to entertain the BRE community. Two performances were held Thursday, April 15, one as an all-school assembly and another that evening for BRE families. The school’s specials teachers produced the show and art walk. The…
To assist its residents with the high cost of prescription drugs, Douglas County is participating in the free prescription drug discount card program sponsored through the National Association of Counties (NACo). This free prescription drug discount card helps to reduce the cost of prescriptions not covered by insurance and has resulted in $250 million in…
KeyBank construction is underway. The bank will open its doors May 25 and host a grand opening celebration on June 5. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett The final nails are being hammered, paint touched up, and surfaces shined and cleaned for the opening of the newest business in the Castle Pines community. KeyBank, which…
Information submitted by Castle Pines Community Church After meeting at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School for the last 12 years, we are excited to announce that we have moved to our new location at 7280 Lagae Road in the King Soopers Plaza in Castle Pines North. We are thankful for our new church home and are…
Douglas County Commissioner Steven A. Boand Information provided by Wendy Holmes; photo by Terri Wiebold Committed to representing the interests of local government in Colorado’s emergency planning, Douglas County Commissioner Steven A. Boand has been appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., to serve on the Colorado Emergency Planning Commission (CEPC). Chair of the Board…
by Elizabeth Wood West In its ongoing efforts to address the unwanted train horn noise in the Castle Pines Village and Sedalia area, Douglas County is planning to conduct a railroad quiet zone study. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved $100,000 to fund the U.S. Highway 85/Happy Canyon Road Quiet Zone Study. The comprehensive…
by Sally Uhrich Winter’s demise leads us into two of the most anticipated seasons of all; spring and summer. Warmer weather lends itself to outdoor entertaining for such events as graduation parties and bridal showers. If you are hosting a social gathering and are in need of a light, but tasty appetizer, consider, “Rosemary and…
May 8 and May 15 Douglas County invites residents to free mulch on Saturday, May 8 and on Saturday May 15, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Castle Rock Water Treatment Plant, 1400 Caprice Dr. in Castle Rock. The county will provide a front-end loader to help load mulch into pickups and…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best known crime prevention concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) responded, creating the…
Article by Anthonette Klinkerman with photo by Carla Kenny David Avrin resides in Castle Pines Village when he is not on a global speaking tour. Better known as The Visibility Coach, Avrin recently published a book titled, “It’s Not Who You Know It’s Who Knows You.” The premise of the book is that for a…
Information provided by American Academy Thanks to our illustrious librarian, Juliann Brant, the American Academy (AA) library just received the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) We the People “More Perfect Union” Bookshelf grant. As a result, the AA library will be receiving a “bookshelf” of books and other materials pertaining to this year’s NEH…
by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer As Independence Day draws near, people all across the country will be celebrating and reflecting on the liberties that we have as American citizens. However, to really appreciate these liberties, it is important to gain a working knowledge regarding the document that ensures those freedoms. In light of this, we…
by Elean Gersack Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9. Plan ahead and delight the special moms in your life with treats from the locals. From flowers and goodies to massages and brunch, everything you need for a wonderful Mother’s Day can be in Castle Pines. Read on to learn about the many great Mother’s Day…
by Anthonette Klinkerman There is a book club for everyone, and now there is one for business people in Castle Pines. The Castle Pines Business Book Club is only two meetings old, but has already read two business-themed books and is starting on its third. Douglas County Libraries determined a need for such a group…
by Lisa Crockett A new nail salon in Castle Pines North (CPN) is now welcoming customers for manicures, pedicures and waxing services. Classy Nails is located at 556 Village Square Lane, Suite 300, in the Green Earth Cleaners building. “We were attracted to Castle Pines North because my mom used to work here at a…
Join Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) first grade teachers, Mrs. Shaffner and Mrs. Jacoway, for another fun-filled night of ice cream scooping. On Monday, May 3 the teachers will be serving up 31 flavors all for cause of raising money for BRE. In March the teachers, along with third grade teacher, Ms. Carter raised over $300…
Solid Life Christian Center welcomed the largest crowd ever to participate in the annual Castle Pines North Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Ridge Park on April 3. To read the story and view a complete slide show of the event, go to www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/photo/2010/album10.html.
Paul J Miller Public Information Officer Douglas County Search and Rescue National Association for Search and Rescue’s Valor Award The National Association for Search and Rescue’s Valor Award was presented to Douglas County Search & Rescue and four other Colorado search and rescue teams at the association’s national conference in Tunica, Mississippi, on May 13,…
Welcome first quarter new members: Red Umbrella Deli Catering Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty – Terry Kelly Southside Senior Care JRG Design The Denver Post Cherry Creek Mortgage Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Living American Pacific Mortgage Retirement Strategies and Investments Ameriprise Financial Money4Metals, LLC Shoppes at Castle Pines Cielo at Castle Pines The Visibility…
Information submitted by Keith Reeves, Columbine Printing Columbine Printing & Copy Center in Castle Rock’s owner, Keith Reeves, was honored for his company’s sales growth by CPrint® International. According to Todd Nuckols, CPrint® president, Columbine Printing & Copy Center is among an elite group of companies who are seeing sales increases in the slow economy.…
Eighteen RCHS seniors participated in Signing Day. Not pictured: Ty Henry, Fort Lewis College; Steffani Meusburger, White Water College. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of RCHS National Signing Day is a big day for many high school seniors. It is the first day these seniors can sign a binding national letter of intent…
April 25 The 28th Annual Cherry Creek Sneak is currently taking registrations for the annual walk or run event. Join more than 10,000 participants in welcoming spring and kicking off the racing season in what has become a Denver area tradition. The race takes participants through the streets of Cherry Creek North on April 25.…
Information provided by the Dumb Friends League Who would have guessed that a kitten named Queenie would be the first of more than 2 million animals helped by the Dumb Friends League? One hundred years ago (700 dog years), Queenie was found in a basket at the home of Margaret Bradey, one of the women…
The Honorable Jeff Huff, Mayor City of Castle Pines North This year, citizens will see the initial results of the cost-saving efforts of various community organizations. Homeowner association fees have declined along with property taxes, and the City Council and the CPN Metro District are diligently working to create efficiencies in operations. However, we need…
Family owned and operated Blue Spruce Assisted Living Facility opened for business in March in Castle Pines North. The 3,400 square-foot facility has six residential bedrooms and facilities for caregivers. by Sally Uhrich Adele and Morris Barbera opened Blue Spruce Assisted Living Facility in Castle Pines North in March. The residential home is located at…
Press release provided by Kristin Zagurski, Town of Castle Rock The Environmental Assessment of the benefits and impacts the North Meadows Extension project could have on the surrounding area has been completed. An open house to provide information and get feedback on the assessment and the alternatives being considered will be held from 5 p.m.…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard In February the Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) along with Joe Eidel from the Grizzly Rose put on a Family Fun Night that had Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) families tapping their boots and having some fun. The gym at BRE was swinging with around 50 people, both parents and kids, learning…
by Elizabeth Wood West “Whiskey is for drinking, but water is for fighting,” is an old west saying that could ring true today. Ask any water expert familiar with the Denver Basin and they will tell you that its long-term ability to provide water is limited. Many large water providers, including Castle Pines North Metro…
Our Role in the CPN Community The primary function of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District outlined in 1984 when the District was established, was to provide the residents of Castle Pines North with water, wastewater, and storm water services, and to maintain District owned parks, trails and open space. Of equal importance, CPNMD has…
Andy Rhodes Dwight Zemp Information provided by the CPNMD The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) board of directors voted in February to elect new officers. The board elected Andy Rhodes as president and Dwight Zemp as vice president. Rhodes has been a resident of Castle Pines North since 2003, and was elected to the…
You may have heard recent rumors about a drastically increased enrollment and an additional fourth floor at American Academy (AA). However, they are exactly that; rumors. Expected enrollment at AA for 2010-2011 is 875, a seven percent increase from this year’s enrollment total of 820. This is neither a large nor a significant increase for…
Pam Anderson prepares to give away a door prize at the February meeting of the Douglas County Divas. Article and photos by Anthonette Klinkerman Women are born networkers. They tell each other where the sales are, what shops to patronize, and which restaurants to avoid if such is the case. So it makes sense that…
Information provided by Jennifer K. Pingrey, Village Homes Construction in CPN resumes Village Homes is building and selling new homes again in The Crossings at Castle Pines North with the help of two real estate powerhouses, Homebuilder Capital Solutions and Lowe Enterprises. In December 2009, Homebuilder Capital Solutions, an affiliate of Colorado & Santa Fe…
by Joe Gschwendtner Ah, the ironies of life. Take the contrast between age and youth. When young, we think we know it all and would fly to the moon if we could. When we get older, genuine wisdom has settled in—but we lack the energy of youth. If only youth could have our understanding. Mere…
Sharon DeRouen Press release provided by Sara Edwards, City of Castle Pines North Sharon DeRouen officially took office as city clerk March 9, when she was sworn in at the Castle Pines North city council meeting. DeRouen replaces the former city clerk, Janie Berry, who did not run for reelection. No candidates qualified to run…
Pictured above are members of the BRE Brainstormers and the team coaches: Front row from left to right are Megan O’Donnell, Molly Steavpack, Katie Shanahan, Katie Carlson, Logan Jacobs and Samuel Hilgendorf. Back row from left to right are Christine O’Donnell and Laurie Jacobs. By Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) sent a team…
Information provided by Jon Gray, CPMD The Castle Pines Metro District (CPMD), in cooperation with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, has engaged Fox-Higgins Transportation Group and P B S & J Incorporated to design two traffic roundabouts along Happy Canyon Road at Gates 1-2 and Gates 3-4. This project is a direct response by…
Supporters gather at the tenth annual Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center of Douglas County. by Tracy Dudley On March 5, the Douglas County Events Center hosted the Tenth Annual Empty Bowl, where nearly 1,000 supporters – including many Castle Pines North residents – came out to help raise funds…
by Sally Uhrich Baking from scratch in Colorado can be especially challenging, particularly for those of us living in higher altitudes. This is due to the decreased atmospheric pressure which can cause cakes to fall flat. The frustration is enough to make even the most “seasoned” cook resort to using store bought mixes. Although most…
Maureen Shul submitted by Maureen Shul, CP EDC The Castle Pines Economic Development Council (CP EDC) unanimously elected Maureen Shul as its new president in February. Shul replaced David Verebely, who was instrumental in the formation of the organization. The CP EDC is a nonprofit organization that works in tandem with neighboring municipalities, Chambers of…
The Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. In the photo above, CPN resident Chad Sanders poses with a group of children from one of the Denver clubs. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Chad Sanders, Castle…