The Connection

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…

Holiday cookies are among many time honored, family traditions. Favorites include cherry winks, spritz, divinity, snicker doodles, and toffee bars. However, the all-time favorite holiday cookie is considered to be the cut-out cookie. Fond memories come to mind of baking and decorating these delectable treats, with mom or grandma in a kitchen filled with the…

by Anthonettte Klinkerman with photo by Tim Gamble Waiting is hard. Most people consider the time it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn to be an eternity, but what if you were waiting for a kidney transplant? Galen Crowder (pictured right with his wife Angie) had his patience pay off in a big way…

by Sally Uhrich For parents of children with special needs, planning for the future can be quite the dilemma. Such is the case for village resident, Mary Lou Fenton, who has a special needs daughter, Emily. In an effort to plan for her daughter’s future, Fenton organized a group of parents to create a work…

by Lisa Crockett In October, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved a construction contract with Hudick Excavating, Inc., for the eastern phase of the extension of Hess Road, which is now underway. The extension will serve as an east-west connection between Castle Pines North (CPN) and Parker. Currently, Hess Road terminates at Chambers…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North The Castle Pines North City Council accepted an annexation petition from A and A investments for annexation of land known as Lagae South and determined that it adequately complied with statutory requirements for an annexation process to proceed. Determining that the petition complies with applicable statutory…

Information submitted by Kathy Curtis, Taylor Morrison Homes Taylor Morrison has signed a contract to build approximately 230 single-family homes within the master planned community of Lagae Ranch in the city of Castle Pines North. Darwin Horan, with Ventana Capital, and Chris Fellows, with The Fellows Companies, representing the seller, R.I. Management of Tulsa, said…

by Scott Lasher Sweet silver bells will soon be ringing, which can only mean two things – the holiday season is upon us, and so is the winter sports season at Rock Canyon High School. Here is a preview of the upcoming season for a few winter sports: Boy’s basketball After winning the first playoff…

by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North doubles in size; Council votes to annex More than 300 residents and neighbors attended the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) public hearing in October at the DCS Montessori School in CPN. After nearly six hours of presentations from city staff, the developer, and public comment, City Council voted…

Dr. Lisa Fox (second from right) and her staff sit atop piles and piles of candy collected in Zip Lock bags during Halloween Candy Buy Back to support Fort Carson troops. by Elean Gersack Halloween and candy have always gone hand in hand. But, just how much candy do kids really need? In this day…

Several Oak Hills board members (left to right) Sandy Stolar, Joe Dwoskin, Marty Cohen, and Dennis Valentine discuss HOA business. by Terri Wiebold with contributions by Dennis Valentine Oak Hills is located in unincorporated Douglas County, just north of Castle Pines Parkway, adjacent to I-25. The original subdivision filing was done in 1979, and the…

by Lisa Crockett Some snow storms slow things down around town, and some stop them altogether – especially if you are a student or the parent of a student in the Castle Pines community. So when weather suddenly hits in a big way like it did in October and again in November, how do you…

Submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue Roasting, baking, candy-making?  Here are safety steps worth taking! Cooking is a holiday tradition…and a leading cause of residential fires in the United States. In fact, hundreds of thousands of them each year. Cooking is also a major cause of burn injuries to children. Many of those fires and…

The importance of physical exercise should never be underestimated, when it comes to our pets. Benefits include increased physical and mental health well-being. Many behavior problems can be helped if not eliminated simply by increasing your dog’s exercise time. For those outdoor enthusiasts who wish to venture from walking paths, Douglas County offers three fenced-in-off-leash…

by Lisa Crockett As the holidays approach, many, if not most residents in the Castle Pines community will send and receive more mail than usual. As a result, mail delivery times will fluctuate. According to a statement submitted by the United States Postal Service (USPS), this fluctuation is a part of normal delivery service, not…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard With heavy snow threatening to blanket the racecourse, the Rock Slide, Douglas County Schools 5K fun-run fundraiser, was rescheduled for Saturday, December 12. The 5K run will begin at 9 a.m. with the 1-mile run/walk to begin following the finish – and don’t forget the Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast after the…

Castle Pines Athletics hosted a camp to welcome new families to CPN. The American Academy Kids Camp at Castle Pines raised $2,000 for the newly opened school. Pictured above the new Kindergartners take a break at camp with Coach Emily Bishop and parent volunteer Paige Brandon. (photo by Lane Roberts.) by Carin R. Kirkegaard In…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The holidays are typically a time where families come together to celebrate through tradition, whether its reading a favorite story, cooking a recipe that has been passed down through generations, or driving up to the mountains to find the perfect Christmas tree. The Rocky Mountain Region of the United States Forest…

Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Debbie Boyle-Grimwood Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver was very pleased to hear that one of his employees was recognized for her work, at the annual conference for victim advocates. Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Debbie Boyle-Grimwood was presented with the Wendy…

by Terri Wiebold with photo submitted by Bob Sims Castle Pines North resident, Bob Sims, won the National Senior Games 60-64 age group championship Gold Medal at the Stanford University Golf Course in Palo Alto, California in August. The competitors played the Black Tees at 6212 yards, rated at 70.6/131. Thirty-five golfers from all over…

Friends gathered for the unveiling of the Earl Millspaugh memorial bench, located in the new Xeriscape area on the east side of Monarch Boulevard just north of Castle Pines Parkway. The memorial bench was made possible by donations from friends, family and the Castle Pines North Master Association. “Chad [our son] and I are much…

Justin Matott by Anthonette Klinkerman The first assembly of the school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary illustrated why students love assemblies. Author Justin Matott was invited by the Buffalo Ridge Educational Alliance (BREA) assembly organizer Christina McDonald to come to the school in September and address the character education topic of bullying. Matott, a former…

DCS Montessori student Koby D. enjoys an afternoon in the school’s outdoor classroom. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley According to traditional Montessori philosophy, children should learn in real environments, outside of the classroom. As such, students best learn about nature, geology, ecology, and biology by going outdoors and experiencing real-life examples. In line with…

by Terri Wiebold On August 28, 2009 Castle Pines Village Homes Association filed a Motion to Withdraw Petition for Incorporation of the City of Castle Pines, which was granted by the judge. Judge Nancy A. Hopf stated that, “The petition for incorporation [case number 2008cv251] shall hereby be withdrawn and this case closed.” Village Homes…

Carol Barbeito by Lisa Crockett CP Green has a new leader at its helm. Carol Barbeito, a Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, has assumed leadership of the community group, which aims to help the Castle Pines community find ways to live in a more environmentally friendly way. Barbeito takes the place of former leader Ryan…

Want some additional holiday fun for your little trick-or-treaters? Here is a list of fun Halloween activities going on in Castle Pines North and the surrounding areas. Trick or Treat Street Castle Pines North Business District 562 Castle Pines Parkway Wednesday, October 28 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring your ghosts and goblins to the…

Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Elizabeth Mowry, a renowned pastel painter moved to Castle Pines Village nearly three years ago from a pre-Revolutionary War stone house in the Hudson Bay area of New York State. Caring for a 35-acre agricultural home required a lot of time and hard labor. There were days when…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The date is set and registration is underway for the Douglas County Rock Slide. Mark the calendar for November 14 and plan to be at Rock Canyon High School with running shoes laced and ready to go. The Rock Slide is a one-mile fun run and 5K race that was designed…

Timber Trail boys compete in the inaugural mother-son kickball tournament at Coyote Ridge Park in August. Submitted By Jenny Hanna and Kathy Werbick Timber Trail Elementary hosted its first ever Mother and Son Kickball tournament on August 21 at Coyote Ridge Park. The idea sprung from the Father/Daughter Snowball Dance. They wanted to have an…

The fall season offers us a variety of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables, such as fuji apples and butternut squash. They are not only pleasing to the palate, but are excellent, nutritional choices. Fuji apples provide us with vitamins A and C, along with some calcium, iron and fiber. They are just as important…

The Castle Pines North Master Association Board will soon hold an election to fill two vacancies. November is when the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association’s Annual meeting has traditionally been held, though as of press time a date had not yet been determined. When a date is decided upon, it will be posted on…

by Scott Lasher Are you ready for some football? Ready or not, high school football kicked off at Rock Canyon for another season on September 4th against Castleview. Rock Canyon will be returning several key players, including senior wide receiver Keith Link and senior quarterback Drew Sandlin. Head Coach Tom Lynch however, is reluctant to…

Warren Lynge by Anthonette Klinkerman If you don’t know Warren Lynge, sit down for coffee with him sometime; it is guaranteed you won’t leave feeling like a stranger. He has the kind of personality that is instantly welcoming, instantly familiar. Lynge is a relative newcomer to Castle Pines North, but he dove into his new…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Nearly 12 years ago the Castle Pines North Foundation (CPNF) was created as a way to provide monetary, land and other forms of gifts for the growth and betterment of current and future parks in Castle Pines North. In the beginning, the board for the CPNF encouraged developers, builders and individuals…

Sam Classen stands near a cross on the St. Francis of Assisi Prayer Path. Classen completed his Eagle Scout project by directing the efforts of roughly 80 volunteers in extension and refurbishment of the path in a wooded area next to the church. by Lisa Crockett: photo courtesy of the Classen family It’s now a…

Timi Aguilar President of Aguilar Public Relations Information and photos submitted by Aguilar Public Relations Timi Aguilar of Aguilar Public Relations has been selected as one of ten entrepreneurs across the United States to receive the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund. The Anna Maria Arias Fund was created to recognize the accomplishments of Anna…

Tyler T. throws a ball to dunk BRE Principal, Ally Bergren. Children read to choose which staff member of the school would be in the dunk tank. by Carin R. Kirkegaard The BRE Family Stampede kicked off the Family Night events at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) with a huge success. Families gathered at the school…

submitted by Colorado Ski Country USA Colorado Ski Country USA’s (CSCUSA) exclusive Colorado Gold Pass is now available for the 2009-10 ski season. The transferable pass, good for unlimited skiing and riding at member resorts, can be purchased for $2,750. Unlike many lift tickets, the Colorado Gold Pass does not have any black-out dates, therefore…

by Terri Wiebold Residents who have been wondering why there are tall metal flags attached to the 485 fire hydrants in Castle Pines North (CPN) need ponder no more. According to CPN Metro District Parks and Open Space Manager, Charlie Fagan, the answer is as simple as the solution was. In recent winters, snow levels…

The Castle Pines Connection welcomes baby girl Keaton. Born July 30 at 2:30pm. Weight 7lbs. 9oz., 19.5 inches long. Proud parents are Greg Miller and Jennifer Havercroft-Miller.

Castle Pines Village friends and neighbors joined to help support the Sassy Soiree fundraising event. by Terri Wiebold Approximately two hundred and seventy-five people attended the Sixth Annual Sassy Soiree fundraising event to benefit the Douglas/Elbert Task Force this year, raising nearly $34,000. Event goers shopped in the “thrift boutique” and perused the silent auction…

by Terri Wiebold More than 300 residents and neighbors attended the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) public hearing last week at the DCS Montessori School in CPN. After nearly six hours of presentations from city staff, the developer, and public comment, City Council voted unanimously to approve the annexation of The Canyons property into…

Information provided by Town of Castle Rock After receiving public input, the Town of Castle Rock Council directed its staff to resume attempts to have Union Pacific railroad tracks moved so a new road between The Meadows and I-25 could be built at-grade. It was previously thought the at-grade alignment for the North Meadows Extension…

Community volunteer Warren Lynge joins the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce in cutting the ribbon to open the new library in Castle Pines North. By Lisa Crockett In place of the aging and often out-of-order bookmobile, the Castle Pines community has a new, and comparatively spacious, outlet for books. The community celebrated a grand opening…

submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff ‘s Office 303-660-7586 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Launches On-line Crime Alerting and Mapping Service with CrimeReports.com Citizens empowered with near real-time neighborhood crime information available 24/7/365. Douglas County, Castle Rock CO. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and CrimeReports.com have announced a new On-line Crime…

Halloween safety tips from Sheriff David A. Weaver Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for kids and parents alike. It is important though, to take every precaution possible when it comes to your night of fun. Sheriff Weaver provides the following suggestions to keep your little monsters safe: Start at home: Turn on your exterior lights,…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard In August the Bicycle Safety Act went into effect across Colorado. The idea behind the new laws is to create a safer environment on the road for both cyclists and motorists. “Most people will use this as a guideline for how to interact with cyclists,” said local cyclist Dan Cook. With…

Boy Scouts of America Troop 316 Annual Sprinkler Blowout Castle Pines North Boy Scout Troop #316 will hold its annual sprinkler blowout fundraiser during the first three weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in October. Space is limited; make your reservations early. To schedule a blowout, call 303-408-3247 or e-mail contact by e-mail . Leave your name,…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Colorado Life Trak (formerly known as Project Lifesaver) is a high-tech tracking system used by law enforcement departments nationwide to locate adults and children suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Down Syndrome, Autism and other related disorders. A person living with any of these disorders may have a propensity…

Submitted by Wells Fargo Advisor Wachovia Securities began using the Wells Fargo Advisors name last spring, officially rebranding its business under its new parent, Wells Fargo & Company. “Today, as Wells Fargo Advisors, we begin a new chapter in our storied brokerage history,” said Danny Ludeman, president and CEO of the brokerage firm. “Adopting the…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Stop by Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and check out the large selection of book titles available during the Fall Book Fair. The fair opens Saturday, October 3 with a waffle breakfast run by Denver’s Waffle Brothers and run through Thursday, October 8. On Monday night, plan to stop by the school…

by Tracy Dudley DCS Montessori gets mascot and official school colors Since its inception in 1996, DCS Montessori School has not had an official school mascot or official school colors. During a critical transitional period in 2008, school administration decided it was time for the school to solidify its image and identity. A key step…

by Terri Wiebold Front loaders began moving dirt this week to grade the approximately 63,830 square-foot vacant parcel of land located on the north end of the King Soopers Shopping Center, just east of Lagae Road in Castle Pines North. According to the project description posted on the City’s website, the land is the future…

The Waffle Brothers, typically found serving their unique brand of Belgium waffles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall, will be out in the suburbs Saturday, October 3 at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE). Known for a special recipe that was developed in Denver, the Waffle Brothers import a special sugar straight from Belgium that provides the…

Article and photo by Terri Wiebold After nearly four years, American Academy Charter School has opened its doors in Castle Pines North to the more than 800 students currently enrolled. Students, parents, school officials, community leaders, and local residents celebrated the school’s grand opening during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, September 18 before beginning…

Crosswalk by the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden submitted by The Castle Pines North Metro District Fourteen miles of trails traverse the Castle Pines North community, providing footpaths for recreational use and access to parks and schools. This network of paths is maintained by CPNMD, and staff of parks, open space and trails are always on the…

submitted by the City of Castle Pines North The Castle Pines Economic Development Council (CPEDC) is an extension of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce that works in partnership with the City of Castle Pines North Economic Development Committee (EDC). These three entities are the primary vehicle for promoting economic growth within the city and…

by Elizabeth Wood West Douglas County is approximately 842 square miles, with a population estimated to reach 280,000 by 2010. The County’s rural area is around 725 square miles. Almost 30,000 people, or nearly 12 percent of Douglas County’s total population, are considered rural water users and are served by 8,000 ground water wells. Until…

Holly Jolly Breakfast with Santa Skip the lines at the mall this year and come meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Ridge for a holly, jolly breakfast. Saturday, December 58 a.m. and 10 a.m. $25 Adults $15 Youth Full Breakfast Buffet Entertainment with intimate setting of singing and story telling Holiday Carriage Rides at…