The Connection

American Academy’s newly-remodeled teachers lounge. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Trish Cummings Recently, American Academy (AA) teachers arrived at school to find a teacher’s lounge makeover. Thanks to donations of furniture, paint and time from two Colorado companies, the coordination efforts of AA parents Erin Seabold and Sally Wagner, as well as…

The Castle Pines North Metro District provides the information on this page as a public service for the people of Castle Pines North. Dear Castle Pines North Metro District Residents: On February 5, 2010, the City of Castle Pines North (the City) filed with the Douglas County District Court (District Court) an Application for Dissolution…

On July 24, Douglas County residents can clean up and help a good cause at the same time. The Douglas County “Shred-a-thon,” an electronics recycling and personal documents shredding event, will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Burt.com Stadium, 11901 Newlin Gulch Blvd., in Parker. Donations will be collected at the event…

by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer with a teen’s perspective You have probably never seen a real duel, but I am sure you can picture one. However, imagine this situation for a moment: two people have challenged one another in a fight to the death. On the day of the event, one of the combatants steps…

by Jean Ray South Suburban Parks and Recreation Celebrates National Park and Recreation Month South Suburban Parks and Recreation celebrates National Park and Recreation Month by encouraging you to discover your community’s wide variety of parks and recreation programs and facilities, earn points and win prizes. People of all ages and capabilities can stay active…

James C. McGrady City Utility Director Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North I was recently hired by the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) to serve as their Utility Director. After spending over five years with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District as their General Manager, I was thrilled to have an…

Jami Arthur by Patte Smith Starting a business in your 50s is a scary thought for many people, and it was for Surrey Ridge resident Jami Arthur. Even so, her passion and positive outlook have taken her on a personal and professional journey from Australia to Boston, Arizona and Colorado. Track the Tag is the…

Timber Trail Elementary students get instruction from P.E. teacher Nicholas Newman on the use of the school’s new climbing wall. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) is home to a new climbing wall. The wall was paid for with funds from the Timber Trail Educational Alliance (TTEA), with some of the…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North With the warmer weather months, Public Works is busy with a number of projects: Asphalt Crack Sealing – City crews performed asphalt pavement crack sealing during the end of May into early June. This work entailed filling asphalt cracks in the streets and along the concrete…

Retired vice president of business development for Harley-Davidson, Clyde Fessler, spends time in his “man cave” with a few in his collection of iron horses, each of which is named and numbered.  Pictured here holding his 1987 lowrider customized in 1992, which is affectionately named “Clydeglide V,” Fessler has an appreciation for life’s journey, the…

Timber Trail Elementary’s building resource teacher, Kristie Krier, works on a web-based reading program with a student. Krier was instrumental in securing grant money to bring the program, called Reading Plus, to area schools. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett One of the challenges in teaching young students to read is tailoring activities to each…

Column by Anthonette Klinkerman The month of July inspires feelings of red-white-and-blue patriotism in Americans. But for one in the middle of a walk around the world, love for your home country grows by the page. Yes, page. I am right in the middle of “3 MPH: The Adventures of One Woman’s Walk Around the…

by Elizabeth Wood West As you go outside this summer for a hike, bike ride, or a stroll in your yard, be aware that rattlesnakes may be in the vicinity. The Western Rattlesnake and Massasauga Rattlesnake are the only two venomous snakes among the 25 species of snakes in Colorado. The Western Rattlesnake, 1-1/4’ to…

Information and photos provided by Laurie W. Anderson On the evening of May 22, twenty-one teams gathered confidently in Kirk Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds to compete in the 6th Annual Trivia Event hosted by the Zonta Club of Douglas County. After 10 rounds of challenging trivia questions on topics that ranged from sports…

by Sally Uhrich Moving is considered to be one of the great stressors in life. However, concerns with pets can now be alleviated, with a great pet relocation service. PetRelocation.com is dedicated to the safe transport and delivery of your pet to it’s final destination. The many services provided are: Domestic and International Moves Exotic…

The Castle Pines North Metro District provides the information on this page as a public service for the people of Castle Pines North. As part of the CPN Metro District’s ongoing water conservation efforts, we are partnering with the Center for ReSource Conservation to offer a two-hour inspection of household sprinkler systems – free of…

Dog lovers shouldn’t have all the fun! The Dumb Friends League invites people to celebrate their love of cats on Saturday, July 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CatFest. The annual CatFest will highlight adoptable cats and kittens, as well as feature a purebred cat exhibition, demonstrations, and vendor booths selling catrelated merchandise.…

by Elizabeth Wood West It appears that not everyone in and around the Castle Pines Village and Sedalia area is bothered by train horn noise. A recent telephone survey, sponsored by Douglas County, indicated there is not enough local support for the creation of a public improvement district (PID) and an assessment to pay for…

Vehicles used in the roundabouts rodeo included a Douglas County tandem snowplow (plow attached), a large Douglas County “low boy” 72’ tractor-trailer, a Douglas County School District bus, a pickup truck with a large 30’ stock trailer attached (provided by citizen volunteer Matt Clough), a Castle Pines Metro District snowplow, and a Castle Rock Fire…

Photo taken by Kristi Lindquist. Pictured above from left to right Castle Pines kids Lauren Olczak, Sydney Lindquist, Eric Lindquist, John Dennen and Will Dennen proudly display their medals after finishing Tri the Rock held at the Butterfield pool and park located in the Meadow’s subdivision of Castle Rock. By Carin R. Kirkegaard The fifth…

By Kathy Dunker The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) Science Olympiad teams rocked the state tournament at the Colorado School of Mines last April. Out of the original 65 middle school teams who entered Science Olympiad, the two RHMS team finished 13th place and 28th place overall which is rare for first year teams to…

Happy Canyon Road roundabout rendering provided by Castle Pines Metropolitan District by Elizabeth Wood West Nearly sixty people attended the Castle Pines Metropolitan District’s (CPMD) Happy Canyon Road roundabouts project open house in April. CPMD staff and board members discussed plans to construct two roundabouts along Happy Canyon Road as a means of providing better…

Douglas County is currently involved in two major roadway projects that will make access from the Castle Pines community east to Parker much easier in the coming months. The I-25 / Castle Pines Parkway interchange will extend on the east side of I-25 to connect with Hess Road in Parker, and the RidgeGate / I-25…

It was dog day in Washington Park! The Dumb Friends League hosted its 17th annual Furry Scurry, the largest dog walk in the nation, on May 1 and ended the day with a new record—raising more than $960,000 for homeless animals. The Dumb Friends League reached its $1 million goal by May 31. More than…

by Lisa Crockett with photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Budget cuts have affected students and teachers in the Douglas County School District (DCSD) in nearly every aspect of the school experience from decreased services, to larger class sizes, to increased fees for computers. A decision by the school board will now affect students getting to…

Jennifer Wayne’s fifth grade class composed and performed their own poetry pieces at Dazbog, the coffee house located at the corner of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway. The poetry reading was the culmination of a poetry unit the class had been studying. Each student wrote a collection of poems and was able to choose…

June 11, 2010 Families, Employees and Community Members of the Douglas County School District, The Board of Education serves the students, parents and patrons of the District by setting the policies that guide public education in our community. One of the most critical responsibilities of the Board is regularly assessing the District’s needs, together with…

Article by National American Miss with photo courtesy of Dawn Jacobsen Eleven year old Brooke Jacobsen, resident of Daniels Gate, has been chosen as a State Finalist in the National American Miss Colorado Pageant to be held on July 20 at the Marriott DTC. The National American Miss Pageants are held for girls ages 4-18,…

TTE and BRE fifth graders were welcomed by the RHMS Rock Stars on May 5 as they attended a sixth grade orientation assembly in the RHMS cafeteria.

Speed Raceway’s clean, environmentally-friendly facility features energy-efficient lighting and is free from oils and fuels. By Patte Smith with photos provided by Speed Raceway Tom Cruise made his mark on the big screen in the movie “Top Gun” with his famous words, “I feel the need…the need for speed!” Well, now there is a fun…

by Linda Nuzum Urban Renewal Triggers Controversy; Communication The Castle Pines North (CPN) City Council’s recent approval of an Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and Plan has triggered a number of responses, including a call for CPN citizens to vote on the URA Plan; three lawsuits; City negotiations with other local governments which could see their…

Fiske (pictured far right) shows astounded villagers the human anatomy model. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Patricia Fiske The idea began following a 2007 rotarian “group study exchange team” which involved five young professionals trading places between China and Colorado. The goal at the time was to bring the 9 News Health…

American Academy Charter School (AA) 6971 Mira Vista Lane Castle Pines North, CO 80108 Grades K – 8, Calendar: Traditional www.americanacademyk8.org Office: 720-292-5200 Attendance: 720-292-5200 option #2 School Hours: 8:40 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eighth Grade Graduation Congratulations eighth graders! The graduation ceremony is planned for Thursday, June…

The 2019 graduating fifth grade class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School don their caps and pose for a final photo as a class before moving on to middle school. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard The fifth grade class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) has completed their last gym class, written their last…

By Tracy Dudley The new youth sports organization headquartered in Castle Pines North, Five Stones Sports, continues its dedication to helping in local communities. On July 31, the Five Stones baseball team will participate in Reece’s Round Up, which is a baseball game with the children from Tennyson Center in Denver that supports Reece Rubino…

Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Beginning late this summer, Centura Health, the faith-based, non-profit hospital and health care provider, will start construction on phase one of its 50-acre medical campus. The campus will be located on the northeast corner of Meadows Parkway and Prairie Hawk Drive, in The Meadows development in Castle Rock.…

by Heather Halpape Colorado Department of Transportation Colorado DUI Enforcement Ignites this Fourth of July Weekend Tougher penalties for repeat DUI offenders begin as 100 Days of Heat continues July 1, 2010 Denver – As Coloradans make plans for the Fourth of July weekend, more than 76 law enforcement agencies across the state are firing…

Submitted by Beth Dalton, Librarian at Castle Pines Library Treasure It! Summer Reading Program – Register June 1 through July 13. The summer reading program begins June 1. Register online or at the library by July 13. Completed logs must be turned in by July 27. Programs are available for kids and adults: Youth Program…

Article and photo by Kathy Dunker The American Academy Board of Directors (AABOD) recently confirmed the selection of Erin Kane as the new head of school. Kane has been serving as the Interim Chief Administrative Officer since last November. Board President, Chad King stated, “After a lengthy search process, the Board has concluded, based in…

Eight-year-old Taylor explores the beauty of Colorado and her passion for horses atop Rosie. by Lisa Crockett with photo by Terri Wiebold The Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) has teamed up with Bear Creek Stables to offer guided horseback rides along the Backcountry Wilderness area, which are available to both Highlands Ranch residents and non-residents…

Information provided by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics recently wrapped up the spring soccer season. The local league, which offers organized outdoor recreation to children ages four and older, had 20 teams this spring. “It was the largest soccer season on record for Castle Pines Athletics,” said league manager Emily Bishop. “Without…

Members of the lacrosse mullet gang. Left to right: Cameron Spies, Trey Buckland, Parker Jackson, Remington Caley, Nick Merrill. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Kevin Williams The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) lacrosse team wrapped up its season on May 13 with a team banquet in the school’s common area. Coach Louis Goldin…

Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Eight students from Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) had their artwork selected for the Douglas County School District (DCSD) art show displayed April 17 through April 23 at the Park Meadows Mall. According to Nancy MacIntosh, art teacher at BRE, choosing 8 to 12 pieces out of more…

by Einar Jensen, Life Safety Educator South Metro Fire Rescue Authority Although not everyone does it, most adults are familiar with the suggestion to change the batteries in their smoke alarms at least once if not twice each year and to test the smoke alarms monthly. A Coloradan – Duane Pearsall – invented the residential…

Newly-appointed Ward 1 representative, Tera Radloff, takes her oath of office. For the second time since November 2009, when residents in the City of Castle Pines North voted for elected officials to represent them, a vacant council seat has been filled by appointment of the existing city council. City council selected Tera Radloff to represent…

Castle Pines North is a small community with a bright future. We want to take a moment of your time simply to share a key part of our vision for the future of the community as it pertains to simplifying our governmental structures, minus political overtones, misinformation or mixed messages. Our plans are simple and…

Information from Leadership Douglas County website Strong community leaders make for a strong community. Area citizens seeking a hands-on community education and higher level of civic engagement are encouraged to consider applying to Leadership Douglas County (LDC), a program that offers an opportunity for those who want to become more knowledgeable about the community in…

Column by Anthonette Klinkerman Bill Cosby once said, “Fatherhood is pretending the gift you love best is Soap on a Rope.” To my poor dad’s credit, I think I may have actually given him that one Father’s Day. In reality, the favored gift must be the necktie, otherwise why would Baskin Robbins make an ice…

Information and statistics submitted by Doug Hutchins, Castle Pines Real Estate Specialist, Broker Associate – The Kentwood Company The performance of Castle Pines real estate in the first quarter of 2010 depended upon the price point of the home. Homes priced below $500,000 saw strong sales with prices holding steady or increasing slightly. Homes priced…

RCHS sophomore Jake Dysart wins the 800-meter race at the Continental League Championship and goes on to state finals with the Jaguars. by Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Todd Lytle Two members of the Rock Canyon High School track and field team won first place at the Continental League Championship, which was held on…

Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue The 2164 Foundation will be holding a Dinner Auction July 12 at the Inverness Hotel in Englewood to raise money to help the families of fallen firefighters. The dinner will be after the Brian Kopp Memorial Golf Tournament which is already sold out! The buffet dinner will include…

Pictured above, the Good Witches of the North have cast their spell and pulled out the correct spelling for the word “why”, during the Spelling Challenge assembly. During the assembly Good Witches from the North and Bad Witches form the West cast spells to come up with the correct spelling of words in the game…

Practicing different moves on the pole during a pole instruction class are (left to right) Tisa Meisel, June Uralli, Sally Wagner and Mile High Pole Club owner and instructor Dionne Sieretzki. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard A new business recently opened just to the east of the Castle Pines community in Parker. Mile…

Article by Sharon Majetich with photo by Amy Shanahan Each year, eighth grade teachers are asked to nominate outstanding eighth grade students for the Douglas County Federation of Teachers Eighth Grade Student Recognition Award. The criteria for nomination is a student’s scholarship, creativity, responsibility, school and community involvement, and cooperation with students and teachers. Many…

This Douglas County Highway 85 Train Noise Study map covers the area of Castle Pines Village and Sedalia residents and businesses located one-half mile to two miles within the vicinity of the railroad tracks and crossings. by Elizabeth Wood West with graphic provided by Douglas County Engineering Douglas County is continuing to work on the…

Sky Ridge Medical Center will host the annual Kids Safety and Wellness Expo at The Lone Tree Recreation Center on Saturday, June 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This free event geared for children ages three to thirteen, and their parents, is a fun way to learn about being safe. Utilizing the newly completed…

Assistant Principal Russ Jenson and former Buffalo Ridge Safety Patrol member Valentino DiPasquale recognize 2009-2010 safety patrol members for their responsibility and hard work throughout the school year. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Members of the Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) Safety Patrol were recognized for their responsibility and hard work helping BRE students arrive and…

Information provided by Douglas County School District The Board of Education unanimously approved Dr. Elizabeth Celania-Fagen in April as the new Superintendent of the Douglas County School District. Celania-Fagen has broad experience in various educational roles. Beginning as a high school biology and chemistry teacher in Iowa, Celania-Fagen progressed into positions from associate principal and…

The Douglas/Elbert Task Force Food Bank has a new, spacious home at 1638 N. Park Street in Castle Rock. While some construction is still underway at the new location, the food bank set up temporary quarters in a finished section of the building and is operating Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 noon. The Thrift Store will be…

Jason Ortman, O.D., a Castle Pines optometrist, has been elected to serve a two-year term on the Colorado Optometric Association Board of Trustees. Dr. Ortman graduated from The Ohio State University College of Optometry where he received the Corning Low Vision Award for excellence in low vision care and served as President of the Beta…

Information provided by the Dumb Friends League Many may think that a cat cannot be trained, but felines prove that this belief is a myth through the Dumb Friends League Kitten Kindergarten class. During the three-week course, young cats become socialized and learn tricks that would impress any non-believer. “The goal of Kitten Kindergarten is…

Rock Canyon students turned out in force for the school’s annual prom in April. Following the dance, the school hosted its traditional after-prom party in the gym.

Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard To celebrate a great year in the newspaper business, the staff of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE) online-student-run publication The Ridgeline was rewarded with a field trip to 5280 Magazine. The fourth and fifth graders, two RCHS volunteers, as well as their teaching advisors, Shannon Herzog and Jennifer…

Celebrate this magnificent day with stars and stripes, music, parades, and fireworks displays. Here are a few ideas to help plan your celebration. Baseball and Fireworks The Colorado Rockies will host the San Francisco Giants on Friday, July 2, and Saturday, July 3, at Coors Field in downtown Denver. There will be a spectacular fireworks…

by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce will host an Independence Day Celebration at Coyote Ridge Park on Friday, July 2 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The party will include some traditional features like a pie contest, games and barbeque concessions as well as some more unusual features – “The Top Hogs,”…

Dr. Bryan J. Rudiak, D.C, owner of Canyon Ridge Chiropractic in Castle Pines North, is committed to providing his patients a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment for life. By Patte Smith Local Castle Pines North (CPN) business owner and author Dr. Bryan Rudiak held a book signing…