Read the stories from the latest issue:
Calling all book lovers, local business owners and those who simply love a lively discussion. The first meeting of the Castle Pines Business Book Club will be held at the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, January 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first meeting. Not much of a…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County School District (DCSD) family fun run and fund raiser for local schools in the Rock Canyon High School area was cancelled this year. The Rock Slide had originally been scheduled for November 14, but due to inclement weather the race was postponed until December 12. In an e-mail…
Fifth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School gathered at Young AmeriTowne to apply concepts they learned by working together to operate a 17-business town. For weeks prior, the students learned lessons and did activities that introduced them to concepts such as supply and demand, job skills and work habits, banking procedures, democratic process, civic consciousness,…
Castle Pines Jewelers owner Jeffrey Rein works on a piece of custom jewelry for a customer in is store in the Village at Castle Pines. By Anthonette Klinkerman It is said that opportunity knocks all the time, but people often do not recognize the sound. Jeffrey Rein is a person who has become more than…
by Kathy Dunker This year the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) eighth grade classes worked on team service projects to help people in need both inside and outside of the Douglas County school community. Some 422 students participated in the “Penny Wars.” In this competition, pennies earned the classes positive points, while silver and paper…
Recent legislation enables the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder to conduct the Primary Election by mail ballot only. A public hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2010 to discuss how this might impact Douglas County voters and the County budget. For additional information call 303-660-7444 or go to www.douglas.co.us.
Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard Photos by Sandy Keorner Cub Scouts from Pack 826 and Boy Scouts from Pack 637 brought more than 100 pounds of food to donate to the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force. While dropping off the food, scouts were given a tour of the facility and learned about how the food bank…
Castle Pines North Mayor Maureen Shul speaks at the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce luncheon at The Ridge. The Chamber celebrated its second successful year. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit its new “Elite” Referral Group. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8 a.m.…
by Sally Uhrich So it’s New Year’s day and it’s your turn to host the holiday dinner. What to do? You’re tired of turkey and not yet ready for ham. Consider a delectable, beef rib roast. The meat is coasted with an herb, garlic and horseradish butter paste to form an irresistible, caramelized edge. This…
Brownies Molly and Rachel get a hug from Valley House resident, Betsy, during Troop 881’s outreach visit. Article and photos by Elean Gersack On Monday, November 23, Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Brownie Troop 881 made a special visit to Valley House Elderly Assisted Living in Castle Rock. Two weeks prior, the third graders met with…
Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg during renovation and reorganization of Douglas County High School’s theater. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg, 18, has been very involved in the theater program at Douglas County High School (DCHS) since the ninth grade. Steinberg recently found a way to give back to…
by Terri Wiebold with information provided by Emily Coll, Castle Pines Metropolitan District Castle Pines Metropolitan District completes Water Conservation Plan Village residents support conservation The Castle Pines Metropolitan District (Metro), a quasi-governmental Special District under Colorado law, was established in 1973 for the purpose of providing water, wastewater collection, storm drainage services, and operation…
If you’re looking for a great pet bakery fairly close in proximity to Castle Pines consider the For Paws Bakery and Pet Spa, located at 19565 E. Main Street in Parker. There is a vast array of treats, named after the owner’s pets such as Maggie’s gourmet cookies or Mia’s munchies. The canine confections use…
by Elean Gersack Planning a team practice or party during the next few months? There are currently three parks in Castle Pines North (CPN) available by reservation: Coyote Ridge Park, Daniel’s Gate Park and The Retreat Park. Soccer fields are available at all three parks and baseball fields are available at Coyote Ridge Park and…
Former Master association president Jim Steavpack discussing policy at the annual meeting held in November. Article by Kathy Dunker and photos by Tim Gamble At the November 19 Master Association annual meeting, Jack Zelkin and Larry Cook were elected to the Board of Directors. The Board also thanked Rex Lucas and Shelley Hamilton-Bruer for their…
Information provided by Douglas County Centennial Airport recently completed a Part 150 Study, which included 12 recommendations for noise mitigation. One of the recommendations was the formation of a community roundtable to address the noise impact of Centennial Airport traffic on communities surrounding the airport. The roundtable has the charge to discover possible noise mitigation…
Article by Anthonette Klinkerman and photo provided by Serena resident Tyson Jones Where the buffalo – no, make that elk – roam… If there is one thing Castle Pines North (CPN) does not have a shortage of, it is wildlife. From deer to red fox, wild birds, the occasional mountain lion and coyotes, CPN residents…
The Ridgeline staff, composed of fourth and fifth grade students, meets every Wednesday after school. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard With the start of the new school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE), 37 fourth and fifth graders grabbed their press passes, cameras, notebooks and pencils to start reporting the news as it…
Information provided by Douglas County Partners Impact two lives. Be a mentor. There are boys in Douglas County who need, and want, an adult male to be their mentor. Recruiting men to be volunteer mentors is an ongoing challenge, so Douglas County Partners is asking YOU to step up and change a child’s future. Only…
Pictured left to right: City Council member Kim Hoffman, Einar Jensen (SMFR), Don Van Putten (Pine Ridge HOA), SMFRA Chief Mike Dell’Orfano, and SMFR Captain Ted Christopoulos recognize Pines Ridge as a Firewise community and present the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan to CPN residents. by Terri Wiebold A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is…
Students at BRE practice for the upcoming Winter Concert being held at Wildcat Elementary on January 14 Rock Canyon’s Elementary Instrumental Music Program holds winter concert The Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program will hold a winter concert on January 14 at Wildcat Mountain Elementary School, located at 6585 Lionshead Parkway in Littleton.…
Pictured left to right: David Bowman – director of the childcare program at BRE, Ally Berggren – principal and Russ Jenson – assistant principal dressed in chicken suits and danced “The Chicken Dance” at an assembly held in the BRE gymnasium. The assembly was the reward for BRE students reading more than 7,500 hours during…
This information has been provided the Castle Pines North Metro District. One of the most common and costly wastes of money is a leaky toilet. A toilet may leak a gallon of water per minute and over a one week period that can add up to a loss of 10,080 gallons of water. Often the…
Artist’s rendering of Castle Pines Academy, a day care facility slated to open in February in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center in CPN. Article by Lisa Crockett Conceptual rendering provided by Studio DH Architecture A new childcare center and preschool will soon be open in Castle Pines North (CPN) in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center on Castle…
Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff to Break Ground on New Substation in Highlands Ranch Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver is very excited to break ground on the new Sheriff’s Office Substation, which will bring many government services to the citizens of Highlands Ranch. The…
by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North City Council voted unanimously in November to establish a municipal court system for the city. The passing of this ordinance will allow the city to establish a local court in which to prosecute traffic and other minor code violations, such as curfew. According to City Attorney Linda Michow,…
by Lisa Crockett ‘Tis the season to send packages around the country. Here are some ways you can make this item on your holiday “to-do” list a little easier: Post office locations in or near the Castle Pines community : Castle Pines Village, (Castle Pines Postal Center), 80108 – 862 West Happy Canyon Road, Suite…
Laurie W. Anderson, President, Anderson & Associates Submitted by Laurie W. Anderson Anderson & Associates, a local public relations and marketing communications firm, marked 20 years in business in October, according to President Laurie W. Anderson (pictured right). Anderson started her firm in 1989. She then partnered with Fred Hobbs from 1994 to 1999 when…
by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer Presents. Shopping. Singing carols at a family get-together with hot drinks near at hand. Nearly everyone in the United States can immediately recognize the sights, smells, and sounds of the holiday season. It is a time to laugh, love, and focus on what is important. It is a time of…
Daniel V. recites the life of a mystery figure from the Dark Ages Article and photo by Tracy Dudley Since the induction of Mystery History in 2001, once a year DCS Montessori students dress up as famous personalities from the distant past. As part of this event, students choose historical figures from a given time…
by Tracy Dudley From music and theater to nature and children’s events, there are numerous happenings around town for little ones, adults and families to take time to slow down and enjoy the upcoming holiday season. Holiday Concerts at the Castle December 6, 12, 18 and 20 The Cherokee Ranch & Castle will host several…
Article by Anthonette Klinkerman with photo by Tim Gamble Sue Lee, a Castle Pines Village resident, recognized the opportunity for a new kind of education when she left the elementary classroom and began teaching adults life management skills. “I was teaching little boys and girls in grown-up bodies,” she said, and identified a need for…
by Lisa Crockett The Ridge Golf Course is teaming up with Sedalia Nursery to offer Christmas Trees to the Castle Pines community. Trees sales will begin on Saturday, November 28, at The Ridge and run through Christmas Eve. “In addition to conventionally-cut trees, we’re offering live Christmas trees which can be re-planted after the holiday,”…
by Lisa Crockett Gone are the days of chalk and erasers – or even markers and sponges. In a development that mirrors most other areas of daily life, students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) now spend their time in classrooms with chalkboards that are “smart.” These so-called “SMARTboards” are interactive whiteboards that allow teachers to…
by Joe Gschwendtner Fire up your snail mail. Anyone can twitter, text, and telephone; it’s cheap and spontaneous. But what about a letter? With stationery? Here’s an art form that stokes its own anticipation and adventure, making sentiments soar. When’s the last time you made the time to write something special? Let’s start with the…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office New law prohibits use of cell phones while driving House Bill 1094, which goes into effect December 1, 2009. prohibits drivers under the age of eighteen years from using wireless telephone for talking, listening, or texting while driving a motor vehicle. The new law also prohibits drivers eighteen…
Submitted by Officer Joe Stafford, Douglas County Animal Services Field Services Mgr. & Officer Lisa Massie Animal Services, Field Services Supervisor As winter rolls in, Douglas County Animal Services asks that you pause to consider the seasonal needs of your pets. The most important winter safety tip to remember is to not leave your pets…
In Castle Pines, there is a simple way to get into the holiday spirit and give back to the community, it’s called contributing to our Mitten Tree The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invites members of the neighborhood to assist them in decorating the Mitten Tree by donating warm fuzzy mittens, gloves, hats, scarves or…
by Anthonette Klinkerman The weather outside was indeed scary, arriving just in time for the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Trick-or-Treat Street event. A two-day snowstorm that buried the town delayed the event scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, but organizers were quick to reschedule for the morning of Halloween. Parents of the tiniest costumed…
Information provided by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver would like to remind citizens of some basic safety tips that will help make the holiday season a safer one. Many criminals target busy shoppers for purse snatching and other forms of robbery. They tend to hang out at malls and other…
by Scott Lasher Everyone who has ever swung a golf club has known the frustration – some go straight, most don’t. Well, almost everyone has known the frustration. If you play on the Rock Canyon High School Boys Golf team, you might not have this season. All four players on the varsity team qualified for…
by Elizabeth Wood West People in Douglas County and Castle Pines North (CPN) may know Mark Shively because of his extensive water knowledge and experience with the Douglas County Water Resource Authority (past president and current executive director), or because of his community service with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (past treasurer and president)…
New leadership for Castle Pines North includes mayor-elect Jeff Huff, seen here being congratulated by friends and family at an after-election party on November 3. Also pictured are city council members, from left to right: Jennifer Havercroft, Shelley Hamilton-Bruer, Kim Hoffman, John Ewing, Darwin Horan, Doug Gilbert, and city treasurer, Mark Shively. Castle Pines North…
Eagle Scout Candidate Lucas West stands with Open Space Specialist Jackie Sanderson next to the new dog agility obstacles at the Glendale Farm Open Space Dog Park. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West It is hard to tell who is having the most fun with the new dog agility obstacles – dogs or their…
Pat and Emi Kanan in their gallery. Photograph of Pitigliano, Tuscany to the right Article and photograph by Joe Gschwendtner Meet Castle Pines Village residents Emi and Pat Kanan, acclaimed photographers who capture the beauty of European landscapes through their lenses. Their talent is displayed in living rooms and boardrooms throughout the country. But this…
by Sally Uhrich The Pet Stuff Place, owned by area residents Sharon and Dick Adams moved in November. The store was formerly located in the Safeway Center in Castle Pines North. “We’ve been in business for six years thanks to the patronage of area residents and we look forward to staying in the area to…
Your Christmas tree can serve another useful purpose as mulch for trees and shrubs in your backyard and neighborhood. South Suburban Parks and Recreation will recycle Christmas trees from December 26 through January 10. Residents can dispose of Christmas trees at the Willow Spring Service Center, 7100 South Holly Street, Centennial. Trees will also be…
by Tracy Dudley Brian Givens and his family have lived in Castle Pines North for more than 12 years. However, Givens is not your average CPN resident; he spent 15 years playing professional baseball. Although he grew up in Colorado, Givens was drafted by the New York Mets in 1984, then moved on to pitch…
Congratulations to Donna Nelson (pictured above) for signing up on The Castle Pines Connection e-mail list and winning the drawing for a $50 Vino100 gift card. You could be next – e-mail and request to be added to our distribution list.
Information and photo provided by South Metro Fire Rescue No, let’s not sing Kumbaya around this campfire. This photo is taken of a dried out Christmas tree that went up in flames and literally burned in seconds. Live trees and wreaths, especially in Colorado’s dry climate, need to be well-watered when displayed in homes during…
Rock Canyon High School Cross Country Junior Varsity Boys take 1st place at Arvada West meet. Rock Canyon High School Cross Country Varsity Girls take 1st place at Arvada West meet. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Rock Canyon High School cross country team Head Coach Dan Davies, Assistant Coach Alan Lind, and Co-Head…
This information has been provided by and space paid for by the Castle Pines North Metro District. Renewable water solutions how far we have come and where we have to go As public awareness has increased about declining aquifer levels, residents have adopted water saving methods to reduce the demand for water. While these efforts…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Each year as summer turns to fall, leaves start dropping from the trees, and sometimes snowflakes even fly, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) puts out boxes to collect hats and mittens to deliver to Stevens Elementary located in Wheat Ridge. For the past several year’s BRE has conducted both a school supply…
Congratulations to Suzanne Bac (pictured here with her son, Brenden) for signing up on The Castle Pines Connection e-mail list and winning the drawing for a $50 Hapa Sushi gift card. You could be next – e-mail and request to be added to our distribution list.
Front row kneeling (left to right): Lea McCaffrey, Ashley Owens, Maria Pangalos, Lizzie Brankin. Back row standing (left to right): Avery Tisdale, Elizabeth Curtright, Hannah Repka, Megan Baer, Kaity Rimer, Julia Loomis, Megan Criley, Gabrielle Garcia, Rebecca Teeter, Jackie Fisch. Not pictured, Chelsea Gause. Article and photos submitted by Shawn Hulsier In an effort to…
Castle Pines Athletics is currently registering for co-ed spring soccer for ages 4 up to fourth grade through March 1, 2010. The season will run from March 29 until May 15. Cost for the season is $75 for Castle Pines North residents and $95 for non-residents. All practices and games will be held in the…
by Terri Wiebold with contributions from Kent Paul (Kent Paul, fmr. Mr. Colorado – Personal Fitness Trainer – Village Fitness Center – Castle Pines – www.KPaulFit.com) Remember the “Freshman Fifteen”? Did you know that many Americans actually gain in the area of 15 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years alone? Kent Paul, former Mr. Colorado…
Reid Mooney, Lawrance Shook, Ethan Stephens and Oliver Adams (pictured above) help load the van from Freeway Ford with items collected from BRE families. At the end of November, these used household items were shipped to Sierra Leone, West Africa as part of the Kontainers for Kids project. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard…
by Karin R. Kirkegaard Bella Rock Adventures is currently taking registrations for women’s snowshoeing treks into the mountains. Women’s Snowshoe Hut Trip: February 28 – March 1, 2010 Get away from it all and enjoy an adventure-filled guided snowshoe hut trip to the Shrine Mountain Inn off Vail Pass. Try T’ai Chi at the hut;…
by Anthonette Klinkerman It’s a good thing this isn’t a Scratch-n-Sniff paper. I don’t want to be held responsible for asphyxiating anyone. But how could I possibly write about the holidays without including all the wonderful smells? The real ones, I mean. The air-freshener company interpretation of “pine” doesn’t smell like any naturally occurring tree…
Information provided by Douglas County From composting to recycling options, residents in the Castle Pines community now have access to a new Recycle/Reuse Resource Guide containing an A-to-Z list of recycling locations accepting everything from automobile tires and printer cartridges to athletic shoes. The Resource Guide is not all-inclusive and is subject to change, as…
Information provided by Kim Hoffman, City of Castle Pines North economic development liaison There are three entities with different but complementary economic development goals that, through combined effort, will support the long-term growth and sustainability of the Castle Pines North (CPN) business district. Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce focuses on planned growth within the local…
by Paige Newman, Intern Writer, Rock Canyon High School Senior The holidays are supposed to be a time for celebration. A time for family and friends. A time for fun. But for many high school students, the holiday season brings chaos, final exams, and an extra load of work. As the month of December rapidly…
Churches in the Castle Pines community have a lot planned for the upcoming holiday season. Here are some of the highlights (events listed are held at the Church’s regular meeting place, unless otherwise noted): Castle Pines Community Church Meets at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School; www.castlepineschurch.org *Christmas Eve Services: December 24 at 5:30 p.m. Christ the…
Pictured above Avalon Kirby (left) and Alexandra Gray (right) will be “Ballerina Dolls” in this year’s production of “The Nutcracker”. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard This December, eight-year-old girls, Alexandra Gray and Jessica Kirby will be performing in the International Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker”. The girls began their dancing career at…
Veteran Firefighter, Chris Jenkins, South Metro Fire Rescue Authority. Submitted by Andy Lyon Dedication to Duty Firefighter and Staff Person of the Year Awards Recognized A veteran firefighter, engineer and emergency diver has been chosen as the 2009 Firefighter of the Year at the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority. Chris Jenkins, who has been with…
by Anthonette Klinkerman Practical gifts are the hot item this year, and the Castle Pines community has every shopper covered. From pet services to fine dining, the merchants of Castle Pines North and Castle Pines Village have gifts cards and certificates ready to treat everyone on your list. Best of all, shoppers can give a…
Nanette and Danny Park own MiYO – a restaurant in the Village at Castle Pines Shopping Center that specializes in fresh, made-to-order breakfast and lunch offerings. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Breakfast means different things to different people. For some, it’s quick, hot, served in a cup and gulped on the way to work.…
Information provided by Douglas County No-cost homebuyer education, foreclosure mediation, as well as reverse mortgage counseling services for seniors aged 62 and older are now available to residents of Douglas County and the Castle Pines community thanks to a $32,236 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information please contact…
What: Land-use Open House When: December 7, 2009 Where: Town of Castle Rock Town Hall Why: Land use change, Happy Canyon Rd. and US 85 Dear Residents and Owners of the northern Castle Rock/Castle Pines Village area: Douglas County Community Planning and Sustainable Development and Town of Castle Rock Development Services invite you and your…