The Castle Pines Connection

Owners Doug Heckenkamp of Advanced Physical & Sports Therapy and and Cassie Heckenkamp of Mile High Medical Gardens, along with employee Andrew Foresman (pictured in the center, back.) By Elizabeth Wood West and photo by Tim Gamble Husband Doug Heckenkamp has expanded his successful physical therapy clinic, Advanced Physical & Sports Therapy, to include wife…

By Tracy Dudley According to David Callan, Douglas County School District’s director of athletics, it is important for women to participate in sports. “Women involved in sports are 41 percent more likely to graduate from college in five years, have higher grade-point averages, and are more responsible and productive citizens,” said Callan. “Participation in sports…

Information provided by Jim Steavpack, CPN resident The Fourth Annual Castle Rock Recreation HOOPLA Basketball Event was held February 12-13. The fun-filled weekend encouraged kids in fourth through eighth grades to show off their basketball abilities in individual skills challenges, a three-on-three tournament, and a league all-star game. The individual skills challenges tested participants in…

Submitted by Heather Halpape CDOT CSP PIO Don’t Be Fooled By Darkness. Nighttime Click It or Ticket Begins April 1st Law enforcement in 11 counties buckle down on those not buckled up. DENVER — The Colorado State Patrol and 48 law enforcement agencies are not fooling this week when they step up enforcement of the…

Sarah Tierney founded Mosaic Admissions in 1999. She has over 20 years of experience in college admissions and higher education marketing. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard With many state colleges seeing a surge in applicants, it is safe to say that landing a spot in the incoming freshman class of a desired school…

Dawn Lang poses with her class. This school year, Lang was the proud recipient of a grant for a SMARTboard, which she uses daily to help her second graders learn. The “Apple” of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School’s eye – Dawn Lang named finalist By Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is proud to have…

by Anthonette Klinkerman I’m so green it hurts. Okay, I’m not, but that would be funny on a t-shirt. I have recycle bins, incandescent bulbs, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, and a rescued cat. I chase down the plastic bread things for recycling, use stainless steel water bottles, and I do a lot of consignment store…

Jack Arrowsmith Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Information provided by Douglas County Seeking public input on the distribution of tax dollars for services provided by the office of the clerk and recorder, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith has scheduled a series of community meetings in which he hopes to engage county residents in…

By Tracy Dudley Every year, excited DCS Montessori students get moving for the Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH) program. Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), fundraising from JRFH supports the AHA mission of reducing disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. In fact, the AHA recently stated their impact goal is to reduce…

Class facilitator and Castle Pines Village resident Ted Atkinson leading a class in Roman architecture at the OLLI South campus. Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Tim Gamble Tom Carter, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Curriculum Chair, has a passion for learning and a talent to ferret out people with a story…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is proud to announce its first Apple Award finalist in the school’s five year history. Mike Stroman, the band, orchestra and jazz band teacher for sixth through eighth grades at RHMS, is in his thirtieth year of teaching and is…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Chris Cooke It’s 7:15 a.m. on a school day, and the technology lab at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is buzzing with activity! Seventh and eighth graders make their way in to prepare to deliver the Nighthawk News to their fellow classmates. The Nighthawk News is a daily…

Five year old Chelbi has Ewing’s sarcoma and wishes to go to Disney World. Article by Kathy Dunker and photo courtesy of Melissa Hawken Morris This year, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado was chosen to be one of the fourteen nonprofit organizations in Checkoff Colorado. This innovative program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to…

By Sally Uhrich Thinking of acquiring a dog? If you are like most potential pet owners, you dream of leisurely walks, time spent playing fetch, cuddling and caressing your most loving, loyal and of course, obedient, canine companion. Unfortunately for some pet owners, the dream becomes more of a nightmare. Although most puppies will initially…

Article by Terri Wiebold and photo by Tim Gamble Open for business February 2, the Castle Pines Postal Center (CPPC) provides postal convenience for those looking to mail a letter or package, purchase stamps, or perform any of the functions found at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Although the CPPC is a privately-owned independent…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Deputies are investigating a traffic crash that involved a stolen vehicle that had been warming up in a driveway this morning. At around 6:30 am, deputies received a call that a vehicle had just been stolen from the driveway of a…

Forest Park HOA (and a couple of nearby communities) participated in a food drive for the Douglas County Task Force during the holidays, and will host another food drive later this year. The Forest Park HOA received this note from the volunteer director at Douglas County Task Force for its efforts in the food drive:…

by Lisa Crockett Students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) in Castle Pines North will no longer head back to school in early July. Budget cuts at the state level and the school district level mean increased class sizes and decreased ability to run buses and other school services year-round. “I have mixed feelings about the…

The history of Mardi Gras in the United States By Chris Bonham Lupercalia, Fastnachtkuchen, Karneval; are these names ringing any bells? No, probably not. What about Fat Tuesday? Mardi Gras? Aha! All of these names are variations of the label given to the season directly before the Catholic celebration of Lent. In places such as…

David Klinkerman Article and photo by Anthonette Klinkerman Each year, the Douglas County Educational Foundation bestows an Apple Award to a teacher from the Douglas County School District. One teacher is nominated from each school, and in a celebration akin to the Academy Awards, nominees will find out the Apple Award winner in March. Local…

Officer Joe Stafford Douglas County Animal Services Field Services Manager Officer Lisa Massie Douglas County Animal Services, Field Services Supervisor On March 15, 2010 Douglas County Animal Services (DCAS) was contacted regarding a skunk that exhibited uncoordinated and aggressive behavior east of Parker, CO. The skunk was collected and submitted for rabies testing. The Colorado…

Dr. Kristine Turner hit the airwaves in Castle Rock in January with her talk show “New Beginnings, Life After Divorce.” Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Kristine Turner Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Kristine Turner, also known as the “divorce doctor”, specializes in helping families cope with divorce and has done so for…

Frustrated fathers Brad Wann (pictured top right) and David DiCarlo (bottom left) have started a grass roots effort to change the way education is funded in Colorado. The “Wickerdale Walkers,” as they call themselves, have established “Crayons 4 Education”- a program whereby residents mail a red crayon to the state capital to rally support for…

Photos submitted by Buffalo Ridge Elementary In December, students from BRE created cards and composed letters to be sent to the United States military serving overseas during the holidays. To show the sincere appreciation for the kind words and thoughtful cards, pictures were sent back to the students. Pictured here are soldiers as they open…

Submitted by CPN Resident Keri Brehm What is Caucus? Caucus is a process in which you and your neighbors meet together to elect two leaders for your precinct (known as “precinct committee people”) and to elect two or more delegates and alternates to the County Assembly. The two precinct committee people represent the precinct at…

Board position vacant The Castle Pines Homes Association’s (CPHA) annual meeting of the members will be held on Monday, March 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cielo at Castle Pines, located at 485 West Happy Canyon Road. This will be a great time to meet new neighbors, visit with old acquaintances, become more…

Information provided by the bride and groom Rachel Adrian and Bryan Spellman were married on Sunday, February 21. Fathers Bob Adrian and Skip Spellman officiated at a private location in Breckenridge. The bride, 27, is a real estate executive in Denver who covers residential and custom real estate for Colorado Homes and Estates. She studied…

Information submitted by Rey Cinocco, Edward Jones In January, Rey Cinocco of Edward Jones’ Castle Pines North office hosted a seminar at the Courtyard at Sienna in Castle Rock on the benefits of estate planning, what to consider when creating a will, how to help reduce taxes on one’s estate, and how insurance can help…

Article by Lisa Crockett with photo by Tim Gamble The Douglas County Planning Commission has approved a proposal by Xcel Energy to upgrade transmission lines from the Daniels Park substation heading west, skimming the northern border of Castle Pines North (CPN) and extending roughly nine miles to the Waterton Substation on Rampart Range Road. The…

Troop 316 new Eagle Scouts (from left to right) Michael Phillip Elmore, Connor Scott Smith, Lucas Wood West, Samuel Ryan Classen, Emerson Paul Steinberg, and Jacob Bailey Dysart. Article by Elizabeth Wood West It is rare to see a bald eagle. It is also rare to have six young men from the same Boy Scout…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The city recently implemented several measures designed to address traffic congestion and safety issues at the southern end of Monarch Boulevard. Citizens in HOA 1, HOA 2 and Noble Ridge have expressed concerns about the dead-end area, which serves as a drop off and pickup location…

Dear residents and fellow neighbors, It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your city council representative for Ward 1 these past few months. I appreciate you placing your trust in me, and it is with great regret that I must now resign my position. The very reasons you elected me to…

Castle Pines North resident and Stantec engineer Dan Baxter Information and photo provided by Danny Craig via press release, Stantec media relations The Freeway Operations Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), in conjunction with Attica Tollway bestowed its special leadership award on Glen Oaks resident Dan Baxter, a principal in the transportation practice of…

CASTLE PINES NORTH, Colo., March 17, 2010—Castle Pines North City Council and Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Board held a joint meeting, open to the public, March 16 to discuss potential cooperative integration options. This was the first of a series of joint meetings on this topic. The public will be made aware of additional…

Tyler Joy Tankersley delivers medical supplies for Project Cure and the Mile High Haiti Project on February 6. Article by Elean Gersack and photo by the Tankersley family One doesn’t have to be very old to understand when others are in need. Tyler Joy Tankersley, a seven-year-old from Noble Ridge, got inspired to help victims…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Big O Tires, located just south of Castle Pines Parkway near the Safeway shopping plaza, is collecting necessary toiletry items and comforts from home for military troops serving overseas. Robyn McElroy, owner and mother of a recent Marine boot camp graduate (to learn more see the article on page 12) discovered…

Eight-year-old Avalon plays it safe and buckles up in her booster seat each time she rides in a car. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Children get older, get bigger and grow out of conventional car seats. For many parents this is a time to celebrate the end of an era. Carting around clunky seats…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North Castle Pines North Municipal Court held its first session 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 24 with Judge Louis Gresh presiding. Court takes place on the fourth Wednesday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The Ausmus law firm is providing prosecution services. The…

By Patte Smith When first driving through the community of Surrey Ridge, it’s surprising to see the residents, whether in a car or on foot, waving at everyone. This is common in the 120-plus-home equestrian neighborhood that was started in the late ’60s. Residents love the area for the open space, the equestrian property, the…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The City of Castle Pines North filed an application for dissolution with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District on February 5. The city council had the authority to take the first step to initiate dissolution proceedings because the district is located entirely within the city limits.…

Susan Sanders has been honing her hammering skills while working with Habitat For Humanity of Metro Denver. Sanders’ goal is to get the nail into the wood with the fewest amounts of hits. Her record to date is four. (Photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard) Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard Susan Sanders, a Castle Pines North…

Sheriff Dave Weaver and Interim School Superintendent Steve Herzog, standing next to one of the buses Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer Douglas County Sherifff’s Office Whei Wong, Douglas County Educational Foundation Sheriff Weaver Partners with the Educational Foundation on Getting the Word Out Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver is excited about…

by Elizabeth Wood West In spite of several attempts made over the past year, the Town of Castle Rock and Union Pacific Railroad have been unable to come to agreement on the possibility of the railroad relocating approximately one mile of its existing tracks. The relocation of the railroad tracks would have allowed construction of…

BRE teachers from the 2009 Spelling Challenge kick-off assembly take a bow after a fun-loving and inspiring performance. By Carin R. Kirkegaard In April, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) will once again celebrate an entire month devoted to promoting literacy throughout the school. On April 2, the students at BRE will be inspired to become great…

More than 140 Girl Scouts, including many from Castle Pines, attended Power Up on February 6 at the Castle Rock Recreation Center. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Bullying, teasing, gossiping, being left out — no way, no more! On Saturday, February 6, fourteen area Girl Scout Troops with girls ranging from third to sixth…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Deputies Worked Hard to Keep Others Safe during St. Patrick’s Day Holiday Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made a total of thirteen DUI arrests during the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday from 03/12/2010 through 03/18/2010. Here is a quick breakdown…

Nurse Ray Levesque (right) and a would-be traveler go over immunization information at the Tri-County Health Department office in Lone Tree. Article by Tracy Dudley with photo by Tim Gamble Traveling outside of the United States presents increased risk for infectious diseases, no matter how carefully you plan your accommodations. Fortunately, there is an international…

Information provided by Linda Nuzum, CPN resident You may soon lose access to popular channels on some (or all) of your TV’s unless you act now to obtain equipment from Comcast. On March 22, the Comcast service in our area will switch more than 40 channels from analog to digital, and thus will only be…

By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) library will be holding its annual spring book fair to raise funds to purchase new books. The Book Fair Diner All You Can Read will be held in the BRE library from April 12 through April 15. The fair will open each morning at 8:30 a.m.…

Kevin Hyland, an agent with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Identity Theft and Financial Crimes Unit will be presenting facts and tips to prevent identity theft on Wednesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. in the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce office. A light meal will be provided. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North City staff presented the city council with two draft plans addressing coyote management in Castle Pines North on February 9, both of which provide for community education, hazing and lethal control. Council will now consider the plans, one patterned after the City of Centennial’s and Town…

Kim Hoffman (left) welcomes Shelley Hamilton-Bruer. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold After more than five years of dedicated volunteer service on the Parks Authority, city representative Kim Hoffman steps off the Board and welcomes newly-elected city council member Shelley Hamilton-Bruer to fill the city’s seat at the table. “I would like to express my…

Carol Langley-Finnegan Information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North. The City Safety Task Force (STF) would like to thank Carol Langley-Finnegan for serving as the chair of the STF. According to City Council, Langley-Finnegan has put in countless volunteer hours and her efforts have made Castle Pines North a stronger and…

Douglas County Libraries has a new newsletter and blog just for parents! Geared for families with children from birth to 12 years of age, parents will find lots of fun ideas each month. Topics will include book and website recommendations and local places of interest. Keep an eye out for Healthy Snack recipes for kids…

Article by Sally Uhrich with photos by Jeremy Gamble “An Evening of Inspiration,” was the theme for the very first fundraising event for Wellspring Community, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower adults with special needs to live full and productive lives. More than 250 guests gathered at Cielo at Castle Pines, including Carole Murray,…

Judy Brand (center) Chairman of the Mt. Rosa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, presents a Community Service Award to Castle Pines North residents Vicky and Frank Kellen. The Kellens were honored in January for their contributions in support of the Castle Pines Library. Courtesy of the DAR, Mount Rosa Chapter In January,…

The first Castle Pines Library Mother/Daughter Book Club met on Monday, January 11. Article by Elean Gersack and photo by Tim Gamble Get your library cards ready and check-out some great books. The Castle Pines Library is bustling with activities and touting longer hours to start off the New Year. Browse the shelves on Mondays…

by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines North city council voted unanimously in December to renew public safety and animal control services with the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners through Dec. 31, 2010. “The city of Castle Pines North is very pleased to continue our strong partnership with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,” said former…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) spring term begins March 29 and is currently enrolling life long learners in a variety of classes. Spring classes will run through May 20. (To learn more about OLLI South, visit www.universitycollege.du.edu/olli/. Spring 2010 Classes America and the New Global Economy The Birth of the…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Valentine’s Day is this month, in case you haven’t noticed. You didn’t make dinner reservations back in 2009? Or pick out heart-felt cards by the fourth day of January? Or order roses, select chocolates, or purchase a spa gift certificate for your sweetheart? Valentine’s Day has taken on tones of America’s favorite…

Troop leader Paige Taylor Co-leader Jen Meinert-Larson and Daisies sing “Make new friends” at the closing of the meeting. by Anthonette Klinkerman At Buffalo Ridge Elementary, every other Wednesday afternoon, thirty-five girls in blue vests and smocks perch on the art room stools, having a snack before instruction. These Kindergarten and First Grade girls are…

By Chris Bonham, Intern Writer February. A simple mentioning of the month conjures up images of hearts, love, and having a great time with friends. We think of Valentine’s Day, and the joy and happiness that it brings. Okay, so maybe a few people won’t be feeling so romantic when this second month in the…

Fifth grade Dream Team members and their leaders, Jennifer Jacoway (back left) and Jolie Pinke (back right) load up packages to deliver to kids at Children’s Hospital for the holidays. Article and photo by Elean Gersack The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Dream Team put their heads together and opened their hearts for sick kids at…

Article courtesy of Trish Cummings American Academy Charter School American Academy recently participated in a service program to help Colorado National Guard troops (Colorado Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery) currently deployed to Iraq. After being contacted by a National Guard parent at the school in October, American Academy parent and teacher, Wendy…

Come join us! The Douglas County Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. For meeting location and additional club information, call 303-727-0484 or go to www.douglascountygardenclub.org.

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Even though Douglas County is a very mobile community, we do have a certain special population of citizens with disabilities and mobility problems. There are several programs and plans available to this special population that can help them prepare for an emergency or disaster. Special Needs Registry:…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver would like to remind the community that the United States Census Bureau employees may be back in your neighborhood in the next few months working on the next phase of the 2010 Census. The Census data can be used…

Information and photos submitted by Claudia Larson There are few resources for women and children who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. God’s Grace Community Church (GGCC) is pleased to partner with Denver’s only day shelter, The Gathering Place (TGP). GGCC hosts a monthly Bingo game to spend time with the women, offer a little fun…

Information submitted by Doug Hutchins, Castle Pines Real Estate Specialist Broker Associate – The Kentwood Company The most common question being asked about the local real estate market is whether or not home prices have stabilized in the Castle Pines community. It is easy to find predictions about the real estate market, but generally these…