The Connection

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…

Photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) fifth graders sang, danced, hula hooped and balanced on balls all to entertain the BRE community. Two performances were held Thursday, April 15, one as an all-school assembly and another that evening for BRE families. The school’s specials teachers produced the show and art walk. The…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office The Community Safety Volunteer program (Volunteer In Policing program in the City of Lone Tree) is community policing in its most basic form – a structured way for citizens to participate in helping provide for the safety and security of their own community.…

By Elizabeth Wood West After three hours of presentations, questions, answers, rebuttals, and public testimony, Castle Pines North City Council members voted five to one to approve the city’s proposed urban renewal plan (URP). The council’s adoption of the URP is the final step in a process that began a few short months ago with…

Douglas County Commissioner Steven A. Boand Information provided by Wendy Holmes; photo by Terri Wiebold Committed to representing the interests of local government in Colorado’s emergency planning, Douglas County Commissioner Steven A. Boand has been appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., to serve on the Colorado Emergency Planning Commission (CEPC). Chair of the Board…

A local teen was driving this vehicle on the 7300 block of Shoreham Drive in Castle Pines North last August when she lost control of the vehicle and rolled it. The teen crash avoidance skills classes are designed to better prepare teens for handling situations such as this. Information provided by South Metro Safety Foundation…

This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North City Council recently adopted a coyote management plan, providing guidelines for responses to conflicts with coyotes while maintaining public safety as its primary emphasis. The plan seeks to identify and achieve a balance between the importance of human safety and the native ecology…

This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North It has and continues to be City Council’s strong desire for the City and the Metro District to move expediently to cooperatively integrate the services of both entities in a manner that honors its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of the City and…

RHMS student, Henry working on a project. RHMS students Nathan and Brenna work together to get it right. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Amy Shanahan Some great minds at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) were hard at work during this year’s Science Olympiad Regional competition in Fort Collins last February. Of the…

by Chris Bonham, Intern Writer As Independence Day draws near, people all across the country will be celebrating and reflecting on the liberties that we have as American citizens. However, to really appreciate these liberties, it is important to gain a working knowledge regarding the document that ensures those freedoms. In light of this, we…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Let’s face it – Mother’s Day is a complete misnomer. Ask any mom out there if she gets an entire day to herself without someone needing something, or some domestic chore that needs doing, and she’ll probably laugh in your face. I propose renaming the day to more accurately portray what happens…

Castle Pines Athletics is hosting a variety of fun summer camps again this summer in Castle Pines North (CPN.) Camp Castle Pines, for children ages 6 to 12, will feature a host of exciting activities. Castle Pines All Stars is back again this year for the little campers ages 4 to 7. And, girls ages…

Jeffrey Huff, Mayor City of Castle Pines North by Elizabeth Wood West The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) recently established four new advisory committees “to promote and protect the best interests of the citizens of CPN with respect to community needs and to provide for more efficient operation and management of the city.” City…

Join Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) first grade teachers, Mrs. Shaffner and Mrs. Jacoway, for another fun-filled night of ice cream scooping. On Monday, May 3 the teachers will be serving up 31 flavors all for cause of raising money for BRE. In March the teachers, along with third grade teacher, Ms. Carter raised over $300…

by Elizabeth Wood West Rolling Thunder Comes to Castle Rock The national non-profit veterans’ motorcycle club Rolling Thunder will be hosting “Salute to America’s POWs” in honor of POWs from past and present wars. The event will be held on Saturday, May 15 at noon, at Festival Park (2nd Street between Wilcox and Perry) in…

Information submitted by Castle Pines Community Church After meeting at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School for the last 12 years, we are excited to announce that we have moved to our new location at 7280 Lagae Road in the King Soopers Plaza in Castle Pines North. We are thankful for our new church home and are…

by Elizabeth Wood West In its ongoing efforts to address the unwanted train horn noise in the Castle Pines Village and Sedalia area, Douglas County is planning to conduct a railroad quiet zone study. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved $100,000 to fund the U.S. Highway 85/Happy Canyon Road Quiet Zone Study. The comprehensive…

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…

May 8 and May 15 Douglas County invites residents to free mulch on Saturday, May 8 and on Saturday May 15, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Castle Rock Water Treatment Plant, 1400 Caprice Dr. in Castle Rock. The county will provide a front-end loader to help load mulch into pickups and…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock (Town) council members unanimously voted Refined Alternative 6 Castlegate Drive as the preferred alignment for the North Meadows Extension project at their April 8 special council meeting. The project is being planned to provide a second access between The Meadows development and U.S. Highway 85 and…

Information submited by April Parcells Wow! We’re well into spring and summer is right around the corner. Mark your calendars… We will kick off our summer with our fantastic annual pool opening party on Saturday, June 5, 2010, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join us for food, music, and lots of fun. We also…

Information provided by Renee Palmer, Broker Associate Renee Palmer, Broker Associate with Your Castle Real Estate, has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales. At a time when millions of homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the…

Since last month’s article, Joe Gschwendtner moved forward on his race to become Governor. Due to his late entry into the race, he is petitioning in all congressional districts, and will be on the primary ballot on August 10th.

Solid Life Christian Center welcomed the largest crowd ever to participate in the annual Castle Pines North Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Ridge Park on April 3. To read the story and view a complete slide show of the event, go to www.castlepinesconnection.com/pages/photo/2010/album10.html.

Bidders consider items for auction at Timber Trail Elementary’s year-end fundraiser. The event, held at Cielo at Castle Pines, featured an online auction, a silent auction and a live auction, raising which raised $35,000 to offset budget cuts at the school next year. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett About 200 parents, teachers, administrators and…

This greenfield space of The Canyons property was annexed into the City of Castle Pines North in October 2009, and is one area city council is considering in a “blight” study for the city. The blight study is a requirement for the city to be able to establish an Urban Renewal Authority (URA). If established,…

On May 17 at 7 p.m. the Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program will perform the final concert of the 2009-2010 school year. The concert will be held at Rocky Heights Middle School. The young musicians will have the opportunity to perform alongside members from the Colorado Chamber Orchestra. RCEIM is a before and…

Information provided by American Academy American Academy (AA) is offering a new extracurricular activity that teaches real-life skills to teens to better prepare them for interacting with peers and adults. Led by AA parent Kara Good, the Leadership Program for Teens is a highly interactive three-week program developed for sixth through eighth grade students who…

Aerial view of Elk Ridge Park – photo courtesy of Bob Wiebold by Anthonette Klinkerman Castle Pines North (CPN) residents currently enjoy three beautiful parks, and the city’s newest park – Elk Ridge Park – will be a welcomed and well-funded addition. Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) recently awarded the Castle Pines Parks Authority a $700,000…

Wines of the Pines and the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce wish to say thank you for making the first charity event, The French Wine Tour, such a great success. It is a privilege to be able to support and promote such charities as the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center, Douglas County Veteran’s Monument,…

Braving near-blizzard conditions in March, Maureen Shul (pictured above right) was sworn in by Castle Pines North City Clerk Sharon DeRouen (pictured above left) to represent Ward 1 on city council. This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North City Council appointed Maureen Shul as a Ward 1 council member at…

Article and illustration submitted by Mark Shively, Douglas County Water Resource Authority As spring weather returns and summertime is just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about firing up the sprinkler system again. Turning on your system may reveal some things have changed since the last time you watered the lawn. That…

This information has been provided by Castle Pines North Metro District. On January 26, 2010, the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) filed a petition in District Court to dissolve the Castle Pines North Metro District. The Metro District exists primarily to deliver drinking water, wastewater and storm water services, and parks and open space…

Information submitted by Keith Reeves, Columbine Printing Columbine Printing & Copy Center in Castle Rock’s owner, Keith Reeves, was honored for his company’s sales growth by CPrint® International. According to Todd Nuckols, CPrint® president, Columbine Printing & Copy Center is among an elite group of companies who are seeing sales increases in the slow economy.…

Article by Anthonette Klinkerman As the snow fell outside the day before spring break, inside Buffalo Ridge Elementary students were using magic words, saluting, and shouting out, “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” as “Colonel Klinkerman” put them through their etiquette paces. “There’s no giggling in Courtesy Bootcamp!” she cried, causing the students to erupt in laughter. “I…

This information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North The City of Castle Pines North is on strong financial footing. The latest fiscal update includes: January and February revenues exceeded expenditures by more than 10% each month (more than $60,000 per month) As of February 28, 2010, the City was at a…

Eighteen RCHS seniors participated in Signing Day. Not pictured: Ty Henry, Fort Lewis College; Steffani Meusburger, White Water College. Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of RCHS National Signing Day is a big day for many high school seniors. It is the first day these seniors can sign a binding national letter of intent…