The Connection

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Audrey, Ashlyn and Gabrielle with their American Girl dolls Article and photos by Elean Gersack American Girl® began as a catalog retailer in 1986 with the purpose of celebrating girls. Twenty-four years later, it has grown into a mega icon that now includes eight stores, a vast collection of dolls, books, clothing, accessories and more.…

Mywedding.com staff (back row, left to right) Damien Hutchins, President and CEO Woody Pastorius, (center row) Sara Bunke, Katie Lenchuk, (front row) Kelsey Beytien, Brittany Leedahl. By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Tim Gamble One of the largest online wedding resources in the country, Mywedding.com, opened a new office in March and is now…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is seeking sponsors for the Second Annual Buffalo Stampede, the school’s annual fall carnival. The Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA), the school’s parent teacher organization, is currently offering sponsorships to help offset costs of the carnival, including inflatable structures, dunk tank, carnival games, face painting, refreshments and…

Steve Labossiere by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Steve Labossiere Former Master Association Board member – now mayor, Jeff Huff, was replaced recently by an intriguing member of the Castle Pines North (CPN) community. Steve Labossiere (pictured left), a six-year resident of Forest Park, has stepped up to serve as the newest Master Association…

Press release provided by Kristin Zagurski, Town of Castle Rock The Environmental Assessment of the benefits and impacts the North Meadows Extension project could have on the surrounding area has been completed. An open house to provide information and get feedback on the assessment and the alternatives being considered will be held from 5 p.m.…

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…

Information provided by Jim Steavpack, CPN resident The Fourth Annual Castle Rock Recreation HOOPLA Basketball Event was held February 12-13. The fun-filled weekend encouraged kids in fourth through eighth grades to show off their basketball abilities in individual skills challenges, a three-on-three tournament, and a league all-star game. The individual skills challenges tested participants in…

Jack Arrowsmith Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Information provided by Douglas County Seeking public input on the distribution of tax dollars for services provided by the office of the clerk and recorder, Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith has scheduled a series of community meetings in which he hopes to engage county residents in…

Mothers and sons pose for a photo after graduation from Marine Corps Boot Camp at Camp Pendleton, CA. Pictured left to right: Robyn and Jake McElroy and Joey Riplinger and Kelly Wirkus. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard In January, Jake McElroy and Joey Riplinger, both Castle Pines North (CPN) residents and graduates from…

Information provided by Linda Nuzum, CPN resident You may soon lose access to popular channels on some (or all) of your TV’s unless you act now to obtain equipment from Comcast. On March 22, the Comcast service in our area will switch more than 40 channels from analog to digital, and thus will only be…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Chris Cooke It’s 7:15 a.m. on a school day, and the technology lab at Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is buzzing with activity! Seventh and eighth graders make their way in to prepare to deliver the Nighthawk News to their fellow classmates. The Nighthawk News is a daily…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Deputies Worked Hard to Keep Others Safe during St. Patrick’s Day Holiday Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made a total of thirteen DUI arrests during the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday from 03/12/2010 through 03/18/2010. Here is a quick breakdown…

Tyler Joy Tankersley delivers medical supplies for Project Cure and the Mile High Haiti Project on February 6. Article by Elean Gersack and photo by the Tankersley family One doesn’t have to be very old to understand when others are in need. Tyler Joy Tankersley, a seven-year-old from Noble Ridge, got inspired to help victims…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Big O Tires, located just south of Castle Pines Parkway near the Safeway shopping plaza, is collecting necessary toiletry items and comforts from home for military troops serving overseas. Robyn McElroy, owner and mother of a recent Marine boot camp graduate (to learn more see the article on page 12) discovered…

by Lisa Crockett Students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) in Castle Pines North will no longer head back to school in early July. Budget cuts at the state level and the school district level mean increased class sizes and decreased ability to run buses and other school services year-round. “I have mixed feelings about the…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North City staff presented the city council with two draft plans addressing coyote management in Castle Pines North on February 9, both of which provide for community education, hazing and lethal control. Council will now consider the plans, one patterned after the City of Centennial’s and Town…

by Sally Uhrich The practice of eating corned beef and cabbage as a St. Patrick’s Day holiday meal is actually more Irish-American than Irish-Isle. Although corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish meal, it was the Irish-American immigrants who turned it into a St. Patrick’s Day tradition, not the residents of the Emerald Isle.…

BRE teachers from the 2009 Spelling Challenge kick-off assembly take a bow after a fun-loving and inspiring performance. By Carin R. Kirkegaard In April, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) will once again celebrate an entire month devoted to promoting literacy throughout the school. On April 2, the students at BRE will be inspired to become great…

Photos submitted by Buffalo Ridge Elementary In December, students from BRE created cards and composed letters to be sent to the United States military serving overseas during the holidays. To show the sincere appreciation for the kind words and thoughtful cards, pictures were sent back to the students. Pictured here are soldiers as they open…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The City of Castle Pines North filed an application for dissolution with the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District on February 5. The city council had the authority to take the first step to initiate dissolution proceedings because the district is located entirely within the city limits.…

By Tracy Dudley According to David Callan, Douglas County School District’s director of athletics, it is important for women to participate in sports. “Women involved in sports are 41 percent more likely to graduate from college in five years, have higher grade-point averages, and are more responsible and productive citizens,” said Callan. “Participation in sports…

By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) library will be holding its annual spring book fair to raise funds to purchase new books. The Book Fair Diner All You Can Read will be held in the BRE library from April 12 through April 15. The fair will open each morning at 8:30 a.m.…

Board position vacant The Castle Pines Homes Association’s (CPHA) annual meeting of the members will be held on Monday, March 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cielo at Castle Pines, located at 485 West Happy Canyon Road. This will be a great time to meet new neighbors, visit with old acquaintances, become more…

Dawn Lang poses with her class. This school year, Lang was the proud recipient of a grant for a SMARTboard, which she uses daily to help her second graders learn. The “Apple” of Buffalo Ridge Elementary School’s eye – Dawn Lang named finalist By Carin R. Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is proud to have…

Dr. Kristine Turner hit the airwaves in Castle Rock in January with her talk show “New Beginnings, Life After Divorce.” Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Kristine Turner Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Kristine Turner, also known as the “divorce doctor”, specializes in helping families cope with divorce and has done so for…

Article by Lisa Crockett with photo by Tim Gamble The Douglas County Planning Commission has approved a proposal by Xcel Energy to upgrade transmission lines from the Daniels Park substation heading west, skimming the northern border of Castle Pines North (CPN) and extending roughly nine miles to the Waterton Substation on Rampart Range Road. The…

Submitted by Heather Halpape CDOT CSP PIO Don’t Be Fooled By Darkness. Nighttime Click It or Ticket Begins April 1st Law enforcement in 11 counties buckle down on those not buckled up. DENVER — The Colorado State Patrol and 48 law enforcement agencies are not fooling this week when they step up enforcement of the…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is proud to announce its first Apple Award finalist in the school’s five year history. Mike Stroman, the band, orchestra and jazz band teacher for sixth through eighth grades at RHMS, is in his thirtieth year of teaching and is…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The city recently implemented several measures designed to address traffic congestion and safety issues at the southern end of Monarch Boulevard. Citizens in HOA 1, HOA 2 and Noble Ridge have expressed concerns about the dead-end area, which serves as a drop off and pickup location…

By Tracy Dudley Every year, excited DCS Montessori students get moving for the Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH) program. Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), fundraising from JRFH supports the AHA mission of reducing disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. In fact, the AHA recently stated their impact goal is to reduce…

Lois Autterson (front left) went to Haiti with one other lady from God’s Grace Community Church in 2009. The kids in this picture were trying to teach Lois Haitian Creole. They are from a center called Tetkole (means “heads together” ) based in Jacmel. Tetkole is run by Verbo Jean Julien, a Haitian lawyer who…

Dear residents and fellow neighbors, It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your city council representative for Ward 1 these past few months. I appreciate you placing your trust in me, and it is with great regret that I must now resign my position. The very reasons you elected me to…

By Sally Uhrich Thinking of acquiring a dog? If you are like most potential pet owners, you dream of leisurely walks, time spent playing fetch, cuddling and caressing your most loving, loyal and of course, obedient, canine companion. Unfortunately for some pet owners, the dream becomes more of a nightmare. Although most puppies will initially…

Girl Scout Troop 628 from Buffalo Ridge Elementary School collected $2,449.29 for the Haiti Relief Fund. Article by Elean Gesack and photo provided by Annette Loomis Haiti… it’s a battleground of disaster. Just days after the devastating earthquake took place, Girl Scout Troop 628 from Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) took action. The fourth graders knew…

Five year old Chelbi has Ewing’s sarcoma and wishes to go to Disney World. Article by Kathy Dunker and photo courtesy of Melissa Hawken Morris This year, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado was chosen to be one of the fourteen nonprofit organizations in Checkoff Colorado. This innovative program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to…

David Klinkerman Article and photo by Anthonette Klinkerman Each year, the Douglas County Educational Foundation bestows an Apple Award to a teacher from the Douglas County School District. One teacher is nominated from each school, and in a celebration akin to the Academy Awards, nominees will find out the Apple Award winner in March. Local…

by Anthonette Klinkerman I’m so green it hurts. Okay, I’m not, but that would be funny on a t-shirt. I have recycle bins, incandescent bulbs, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, and a rescued cat. I chase down the plastic bread things for recycling, use stainless steel water bottles, and I do a lot of consignment store…