The Connection

by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photos provided by Jane Kelly This summer, special needs students between the ages of 10 and 17 years old will have an option for a summer day camp. Local Castle Pines community resident, Kelly McAlear will launch her academic special needs program, The Sky’s the Limit, with six sessions of…

by Elizabeth Wood West “I will do everything possible to stop this ridiculous noise,” declared Castle Pines Village resident and petition organizer Don Somsky. Last fall, Somsky and other Village residents worked with the Castle Pines Homes Association (CPHA) to circulate a petition for residents and businesses that are impacted by train whistle noise. The…

Band members from the Rock Canyon Band Feeder Festival Concert perform at the concert held March 16 at Rock Canyon High School. Buffalo Ridge Elementary, Redstone Elementary, Timber Trail Elementary, Wildcat Mountain Elementary, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School performed songs separately as well as one collective song for the show’s conclusion.…

Submitted by Elizabeth Gee, Hughes & Stuart Marketing on behalf of Castle Pines Metro District ROUNDABOUTS PROPOSED TO MAKE HAPPY CANYON ROAD SAFE & EFFICIENT Paul Dannels, District Manager of the Castle Pines Metro District, has announced public safety funds, held by the Douglas County Special District, have been reserved to pay for two proposed…

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…

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…

by Sally Uhrich It’s that time again; April is national heartworm month. Pet owners need to begin treatment for the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs. To jog the concern of clients, veterinary clinics often display a preserved heart infected with heartworm in a jar and hang posters about heartworm life cycles in examining rooms.…

Photo taken by Kay Kirkegaard Members from the Castle Pines community braved the chilly temperatures and even a little snow to support the 22nd Annual Denver Runnin’ of the Green. Proceeds from the event are used by the Volunteers of America to help the very young, the homebound elderly, and women and children who are…

Castle Pines Village resident Gina Gerken (right) assists HawkQuest founder, Kin Quitugua, during a presentation in Castle Pines Village. Article and photos by Tracy Dudley For the second year in a row, more than 200 Castle Pines Village residents and their families were treated to HawkQuest’s breathtaking exhibit of live raptors. The occasion? The Castle…

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…

Douglas County School District will hold three meetings to discuss charging fees to ride District buses. The proposed fee would be $.50 per ride, per child and would begin in the 2010-11 school year. All School Advisory Councils, parents and the community are invited and encouraged to attend. The meetings are scheduled for April 29…

Girls and boys alike had a blast strutting their stuff on the catwalk. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) students rocked a full house on February 21 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center with their Fifth Annual RCHS Fashion Show, Luncheon and Silent Auction. The fashion show, consisting of 123…

Submitted by Rock Swim Team Pictured above are members from the Rock club swim team who qualified for the state and silver state swim meets at the end of the short course-swimming season. Back row from left to right: Chloe Civello, Marielle Renehan, Abby Kochevar, Garrett Durie, Jared Jordan; Front row from left to right:…

Castle Pines community members take a break from skating to pose with the birthday girl, Tammy Abramovitz, at her birthday party skate for Warren Village. By Carin R. Kirkegaard Warren Village, a nationally recognized award-winning program that helps low-income, previously homeless single-parent families transition into self-sufficiency, is looking to connect with the communities in the…

Local kids and adults enjoyed the first Five Stones Sports dodgeball tournament at Inverness Sports Complex.

by Patte Smith Piper’s Pantry is a nonprofit organization, established by Tim and Eric Hannon, in honor of their two-year-old daughter, Piper. “We have been so blessed with Piper we wanted to share our good fortune with the community. A basic need is food, so we decided that is where we would put our efforts,”…

Article by Kathy Dunker Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is very proud to be a finalist for the National School of Character award. Three Colorado schools were submitted for national consideration, the other two being charter and private schools. RHMS was the only Colorado school chosen out of the three and was also one out…

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…

by Anthonette Klinkerman The Beatles sang about him: “’Cause I’m the tax man…” Most people, however, are not in a singing mood come April 15. So it goes without saying that having a birthday on April 15 is far worse than having one on Christmas. Your holiday birthdays may be up to your ears in…

by Tracy Dudley When Karen DePretis started working at DCS Montessori five years ago, she would see girls out at recess trying to do cartwheels. Because she has been dancing, baton twirling, and teaching dance most of her life, her natural inclination was to step in and help. “When they asked how I knew so…

Alexis on her 18th birthday A book review by Joe Gschwendtner with photos and illustrations submitted by Margaret Rhyne A white cottage with red trim sits pertly at the south entrance to the Allis Ranch in Sedalia. It’s Alexis’ House, a memorial to the daughter of Margaret Marshall Rhyne. A single glance does not suffice.…

Will it be a relaxing, lay-low kind of summer or one packed with fun things to do? For those wanting to keep kids busy with tons of action this summer, there is a run-down of some great camp options close-by and around town. If you have a favorite or know of one that we have…

Registration for the fifth annual kids triathlon, Tri the Rock is currently underway. The race, designed to benefit youth health and fitness, will take place on May 23 at Butterfield Park in Castle Rock. A USA triathlon sanctioned event, Tri the Rock is open to all kids ages five through 14. Cost is $35 for…

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…

Darwin Horan by Terri Wiebold One of the City of Castle Pines North’s newly-elected council members for Ward 1, Darwin Horan, recently resigned from his position on council. Horan provided the following letter to The Castle Pines Connection regarding his departure: “Dear residents and fellow neighbors, It has been an honor and a privilege to…

Submitted by Paula Lasky Vice Regent, Piney Creek Chapter NSDAR The Colorado State Society, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, honored Juliet Madsen of Parker, Colorado, for the Colorado DAR Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award at its 107th Annual State Conference. This award is “presented to a veteran-patient in recognition of outstanding achievement in personal,…

Leading Edge Physical Therapy, LLC opened for business on January 13 and offers the latest technology and treatment in physical therapy. Pictured above are Sharon Wheeler, Operations Manager (left) and Sara Tibby, Physical Therapist (right). In addition to offering physical therapy treatments, Leading Edge will also hold health related seminars. Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard…

More than one hundred Solid Life Christian Center church members join hearts and effort to stuff more than 15,000 eggs for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt for CPN. This is the third year that Solid Life has sponsored this community event in its entirety in hopes to continue to bring the community together for this…

New Cell Site Activated as Part of Ongoing AT&T Investment in Local Wireless Network As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of a new 3G cell site in Sedalia that will enhance coverage for area residents and businesses. With 3G…

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…

Swimmers with the Castle Crocs warm-up and dream of summer while parents register for the upcoming season. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Snow was falling but that didn’t stop the members from Castle Pines North (CPN) from lining up out the door of Dazbog to register for the upcoming swim season for the Castle Crocs. In…

Information provided by SMFR with photo by Timothy Toole South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFR) firefighters rescued a dog from a pond in Castle Pines Village at 4300 Prospect, February 27 at 10:45 a.m. The owner reported that the dog had gone out onto the ice and then went into the open water. It then…

Fuller Sotheby’s broker associates Linda Houston (left) and Chris Haught (right) welcome guests at the Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty office grand opening. by Terri Wiebold with information provided by Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Castle Pines Village…

Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue When you are driving and you hear sirens behind you, do you know what to do? You should pull to the right as far as you can and stop to allow emergency vehicles to pass. Somewhere every day, emergency responses are delayed, or worse, emergency vehicles are involved…

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.…

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…

by Scott Lasher The largest crowd ever to participate in the annual Castle Pines North Easter Egg Hunt filled their colorful baskets to the brim with eggs and prizes at Coyote Ridge Park on April 3. The event was sponsored by Solid Life Christian Center. Over 15,000 candy-filled eggs and 1,000 other prizes blanketed the…

DCS Montessori students enjoy a live demonstration during the school’s annual science fair in March.

The United States Postal Service has provided further clarification on its preferred and acceptable city uses for the 80108 zip code. According to the acting manager of consumer affairs for the Colorado/Wyoming district, Alex Turner, “Castle Rock” is the proper city for uses in Castle Pines Village, the City of Castle Pines North, and unincorporated…

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…

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…

Information provided by Castle Pines Academy Castle Pines Academy, the first locally owned and operated child care center, is now open for business. The school offers programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pre-kindergartners, kindergartners, and school age children. The management team of Castle Pines Academy emphasizes that the goal is to provide high quality services to…

by Anthonette Klinkerman During the month of March, area schools were silent for periods of time as students took the annual CSAP exams. The Colorado Student Assessment Program tests begin for students in third grade, and continue through tenth grade, measuring student performance in reading, math, writing and science. As in years past, Castle Pines…

Members of RCHS Student Council surround Harley during an assembly to present her with the Make-A-Wish gifts. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Kim Rauh The Make-A-Wish Foundation recently recognized Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) for its generous and record breaking donation to fulfill the once-in-a lifetime wishes for three kids, Harley, Landin,…

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…

by Terri Wiebold For more than 25 years, Colorado’s largest non-profit, volunteer-driven health fair program has been promoting health awareness and encouraging individuals to assume responsibility for their own health by offering free and low-cost health and educational screenings. Take time to get checked out. A complete blood chemistry analysis – including heart, kidney, muscle…

By Terri Wiebold with contributions from Elizabeth Wood West, Happy Canyon HOA resident and board member The City of Castle Pines North Council voted five to one this week to establish the Castle Pines Urban Redevelopment Authority at its regular city council meeting, which was designated as a public hearing on the matter. The council…

Information provided by Douglas County Animal Services The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lab confirmed a rabies infection in Douglas County on March 16. This marks the arrival of the rabies in Douglas County. Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals resulting in a fatal disease.…

by Tracy Dudley The cycling season in Colorado is just around the corner, and cyclists in the Castle Pines community can look forward to a wide variety of trails, paths, and organized riding events to enjoy all summer. For road cyclists, Castle Pines offers easy access to a variety of paved trail systems, as well…

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…

Dr. Clint Dickason, D.C. Information provided by Clint Dickason Dr. Clint Dickason, D.C., Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce member and founder of Dickason Chiropractic in Castle Rock has been selected as the official chiropractor for the Rocky Mountain Renegade – the new Castle Rock adult amateur football team in the Western Conference of the North…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 Douglas County Residents of Douglas County have until March 31 to take advantage of Insulate Colorado rebates, available to homeowners for insulation installation. Homeowners may apply for a rebate of 20 percent off the cost of installation of either attic or exterior wall insulation and basic recommended air sealing measures, or $300…

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…

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…

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…