The Connection

Tri-County Health Department employees and volunteers dispose of the chemicals and hazardous waste at the roundups. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold According to the Tri-County Health Department, an estimated 1,900 vehicles participated in Douglas County’s Household Chemical Roundups in 2009, safely disposing of more than 84 tons of hazardous materials. This included 11,085 pounds…

Friday, June 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, June 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Why: Helping Hands mission is to help those in need within our community with home improvement projects to better a family’s quality of life. Helping Hands supports the elderly, the young, the disabled, the economically challenged, and those…

Information submitted by Cherokee Ranch & Castle “Besides Cherokee Ranch and Castle, the only other public appearance internationally known jazz pianist Henry Butler has on his June calendar is the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. — I point this out not only to toot Henry’s horn, but Cherokee’s as well,” said Cherokee Ranch and Castle…

More than 200 people gathered outside Castle Pines Community Church on May 16 for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the church’s new location. Mayor Jeffrey Huff and Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce representatives joined Senior Pastor Tom Curtright as he gave the invocation and cut the ribbon. After the ceremony, visitors and church members…

Proposed signage changes at the Outlets in Castle Rock may dramatically change the view of the shopping complex from I-25. Pictured above are renderings of the existing signage as well as what the proposed LED signage may look like from vehicles traveling along I-25. by Elizabeth Wood West The Outlets at Castle Rock is considering…

by Sally Uhrich There is now a new addition to the many fine pet daycare and boarding facilities in and around Castle Rock. Tails Up Deluxe Pet Hotel and Daycare has been in operation since July ’08. Co-founders and owners, Marc and Jill Sousa, are Pet Care Services Association (PCSA) Certified Advanced Pet Care Technicians,…

Charlie, played by Jake Mullins, and Grandpa Joe, played by Ian Nouss, being airlifted from fizzy drinks. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Desi Lederman The American Academy (AA) gymnasium was transformed last month into a spectacular setting, a chocolate factory! The Willy Wonka Jr. play, directed by AA’s music teacher Mark Middlebrooks, was…

CPN Metro District Board Files Lawsuit Against City’s Urban Renewal Authority “Blight” Designations Raise Concern With unanimous support of its five-member publicly elected Board of Directors, Metro District President Steve Labossiere downplayed the lawsuit’s significance and expressed the Board’s willingness to work directly with the Mayor and City Council to resolve issues without litigation. Citing…

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, indicates there is not enough local support for the creation of a public improvement district (PID) and an assessment to pay for…

Castle Pines Athletics and the Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) PTO will host a week-long summer camp designed exclusively for BRE kids ages 5 and older. The camp, led by BRE staff members and Coach Emily Bishop, will feature different sports each day, along with other exciting activities. The entire week will be full of organized…

Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) student Bray P. displays his first-place-winning invention, “The Pickle Picker” at TTE’s Invention Convention. TTE hosted the event to encourage students to learn more about simple machines as part of the science curriculum. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Fourth graders in Douglas County learn about simple machines as part of…

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 30, 2010 DEATH OF SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE – – – – – – – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service…

As of press time, the water was still at the HOA1 pool – just waiting for swimmers to jump in and start practicing their strokes and starts and turns. By Carin R. Kirkegaard The pools in the Castle Pines community opened with the Memorial Day weekend and will soon be churning with swimmers as the…

by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer with a teen’s perspective America has often been called the greatest nation on Earth. But what made our country what it is today? Many people would argue many things, but one commonly agreed upon source is the United States Constitution. Last month we explored the environment into which this document…

Gary Ewing, RHMS Security (left) and George Mullens, Watch Dog Dad (right). Article and photo by Amy Shanahan, RHMS Volunteer Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is a proud participant of the Watch DOGS program. The Watch DOGS program is a nationwide program that involves fathers, grandfathers and other father figures to participate in school day…

DCS Montessori student Olivia W. has a great time dancing with teacher Glenn Albert at the school’s first sock hop. By Tracy Dudley In May, DCS Montessori hosted its first ever Sock Hop. All students in upper elementary grades 4, 5, and 6 were invited, and attendance was very high. In preparation for the event,…

Information provided by Douglas County To help residents clear their properties of dead tree branches and shrubbery, a slash/mulch site will open from May 22 through September 25. The site will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is located at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock. Acceptable items are tree branches and…

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…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard BellaRock Adventures, in its fifth year of providing women’s outdoor adventures for the Castle Pines community, is gearing up for summer with BellaRock’s signature event the “Women’s Tenderfoot 14’er Training Class.” Beginning in a classroom setting on June 5, hikers will be given information about what gear to have when hiking…

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…

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…

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…

Jennifer Havercroft Member North Lynx Homeowners Association Board of Directors submitted by Anna Mallinson It is with regret that I am letting you know the North Lynx Homeowners Association Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Board member Jennifer Havercroft last week. She and her family are moving out of the neighborhood. Jennifer has served…

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 –…

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…

Kids from the 9-10 age group wait their turn to get in the pool during the 2009 Kids Tri Fall Frenzy. The kids triathlon is held in conjunction with the adult triathlon in its 10th year this fall. The adult triathlon is on September 12 at the Parker Recreation Center. Article and photo by Carin…

RCHS seniors from BRE’s first kindergarten class in 1997 are back hanging out at the BRE playground. Back row from left to right: Kipling Grey, Kelsey Krueger,Erik Wetzel; Middle row from left to right: Amanda Davanzo, Brooke Skinner, Erin Oehm; Front row from left to right: Matthew Porter, Tanner Krietemeier, and Austin Enterline. Castle Pines…

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…

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…

Michael Oher visits Valor Christian School Michael Oher (pictured above right), tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and inspiration for the movie “The Blind Side,” participated in an interview to help raise funds for the scholarship program at Valor Christian School, located in Highlands Ranch. During the interview, Oher discussed his journey from the projects in…

David A Weaver, Douglas County Sheriff It’s that time of year. Folks are out enjoying the spring weather, looking for bargains – bartering, just having a great time. My Community Resources Unit has put together a list of tips and do’s and don’t’s about conducting a garage sale. Take a minute to look them over.…

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…

Provided by Joan Wills, Tri-County Health Department Article by Jake Rankin, MBA, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® As my parents and grandparents age, I often think about the comparison between the struggles they face as they age and the struggles I faced growing up. For example, when I was a child, they were always telling me…

This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North Moving into spring, Public Works crews will be transitioning from snow plowing and pothole patching to street sweeping, pavement/concrete repairs and street re-striping. Public Works is currently requesting proposals from consultants to perform a pavement management plan for the City. The plan, accounted…

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…

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…

Provided by Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable In an effort to gather as much input from the public as possible, the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable (CACNR) will hold its second public hearing to identify and discuss aircraft-related noise issues. The session will be held on May 5 at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel…

Eighth grade teacher, Holly Spurlin, with her RHMS PeaceJam Leaders.  PeaceJam meets for one period every Thursday morning. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has a valuable enrichment class called RHMS PeaceJam Leaders. PeaceJam is an international organization that pairs Nobel Peace Prize winners with youth…

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…

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,…

Mail ballots for the upcoming Castle Pines North Metropolitan District board of directors election have been mailed to registered, eligible voters in Castle Pines North. If you are a registered, eligible voter, you should have received your ballot. The election will be held May 4, 2010, to vote for candidates to fill two seats on…

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,…

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…

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…

DCS Montessori sixth graders Erin Z. (left) and Kira S. (right) are up to the challenge of creating the school’s yearbook. by Tracy Dudley Dedication is the word. When DCS Montessori decided to publish its school yearbook in-house this year, 22 sixth graders stepped up to the plate. Once the students had the photos and…

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 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…