Read the stories from the latest issue:
Information submitted by Big O Tires Big O Tires was very proud to bring the Alive at 25 Premier Program to Castle Pines North this past May. Big O Tires (along with the Center for Transportation Safety) have supplemented the Premium program so that the students and their parents can attend this very important training…
In accordance with today’s presidential proclamation ordering U.S. flags lowered to half-staff on all federal facilities through Aug. 30 to honor U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, Gov. Ritter has also directed that U.S. and Colorado flags be lowered to half-staff on state facilities through sunset on the 30th. Earlier today, Gov. Ritter issued a statement praising…
American Academy charter school plans to open its 83,000 square foot facility in Castle Pines North for families to tour on September 18. The first day of school for students in grades K-8 will be September 21. (photo by Jeremy Gamble) by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines community welcomes the completion of its first middle…
CPA teammates high five following a soccer game Castle Pines Athletics (CPA) is now accepting registration forms for fall soccer. The fall season runs August 24 through October 10. All practices and games are played in the fields located in Castle Pines North (CPN). The cost for soccer is $75 for CPN residents and $95…
by Paige Newman, Intern Writer, Rock Canyon High School An eyelash. A fountain. A broken wishbone. Dropping a penny in the well. The birthday candles on a cake. A star shooting across the sky. Why are these things important? Why do we wish on them? Why do we wish at all? Why, each year on…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard When Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) returns to school August 10 it will be with fewer buses and more parents driving, walking and biking their students to and from school. According to BRE Principal, Ally Berggren, BRE will be a pilot school working along with the Douglas County School District (DCSD) to…
Submitted by Deputy Ann Walton, Community Resources Unit, 303-814-7001 Deputy Ron Hanavan, Community Resources Unit, 303-814-7089WHAT Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to Host First “One Day Citizen Academy” The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, is now accepting applications for its first “One Day Citizen Academy”. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Sheriff’s Office,…
South Suburban Parks and Recreation continues its special 50¢ Friday activities commemorating 50 years of service to the community on August 14 at Family Sports Center, 6901 S. Peoria Street in Centennial. Visitors will enjoy 50¢ public skating and 50¢ skate rental at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.; plus 50¢ entertainment rides all…
The highlight of my summer was being back stage with my cousins, Micha & Davis at the Jonas Brothers “Jo Bros” Concert. I will never forget meeting Joe, Kevin & Nick! It was soooo AMAZING! Katie Kenny, age 10 (pictured bottom left).
With hundreds of participants from eight local schools, the Rock Slide remains a highly anticipated community event. The race raises funds for local participating schools through advertising sponsorships and provides local businesses a unique venue to reach customers. Founded on promoting the importance of healthy living for children and families, the Rock Slide is an…
It isn’t just through monetary donations that the girls give back; they give of their time and talents too. by Carin R. Kirkegaard During the past year, Brownie Troop 1891 has been providing young ladies from the Castle Pines area opportunities and experiences that not only enhance personal growth, but give back to the community.…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The laughter could be heard ringing as it drifted over the gate at the HOA2 pool each morning during the Castle Croc swim practice. The Crocs wrapped up season four over the summer and had a great time in the process. The team, run by head coach Paul Whitaker, spent the…
School finance has quickly become the hot topic for the Douglas County School District (DCSD). With a huge deficit in our Colorado State budget, and kindergarten through twelfth grade education making up approximately 40 percent of that budget, you can imagine where some of the cuts will need to occur. DCSD receives a little more…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Starting August 3 through August 15, Clothes to Kids (CTK) of Denver is coming to Douglas County. CTK is a non-profit organization that provides new and quality used clothing to low-income school aged children, free of charge. Currently donations are being taken. CTK is looking for quality used and new clothing…
Elected officials from the City of Castle Pines North and the Town of Castle Rock gathered to discuss sharing resources and expertise. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Elected officials from the City of Castle Pines North joined elected officials from the Town of Castle Rock in June for an evening of casual conversation and…
by Anthonette Klinkerman There was a big box office supply store commercial that came out at the end of the summer that never failed to make me laugh. A traditional winter holiday carol (politically correct terminology) rang out, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” A man went joyously sailing by on a shopping…
The Castle Cappellas performing at the City of Castle Pines North Independence Day celebration on July 3 at Coyote Ridge Park. Members include (pictured left to right) Crista Huff, Keri Brehm, Lynne Snyer, Rebecca Larson, Michelle Thurston, Jan Page, Mary Barnes, Teri Bultemeier, Cindy Kessinger-Wenninger, and (not pictured) Diane Burns. by Sally Uhrich Singing without…
Margie Woodruff Foundation Manager Douglas County Libraries Foundation 303-688-7638 Contact by e-mail 100 South Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 August Fundraising Events for New Library The Castle Pines community has pulled together to help Douglas County Libraries open a small library at 7437 Village Square Drive in September. So far, nearly $36,000 has been…
Shannon McFarland poses with her REAL Colorado Soccer friend Kellsie Rector after qualifying for the State Hershey track and field meet. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Shannon McFarland, Castle Pines North youth, competed in the Hershey’s Track and Field Games through South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) and qualified for the state track meet. McFarland competed…
submitted by Alison Lammot, Counselor/Trauma Therapist It is that time of year when kids get ready to go back to school. The stores are full of families shopping for new outfits and school supplies. Kids are full of anticipation about friends, teachers, sports, and other issues like acceptance and the ability to perform. Would you…
Information provided by the Castle Pines North Metro District Water delivered to customers of the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) will be disinfected using a new process beginning in July 2009. The change is necessary to prepare for the integration of the treatment process with the District’s future water provider partners. In the past,…
by Anthonette Klinkerman Rock Canyon High School sent 315 eager graduates out into the world in May. Scholarships for everything from academics to athletics were abundant, the weather was perfect, and the optimism was tangible. For the Class of ‘09, things were fine. Hard as it is to think about the Class of 2013, Rock…
By Terri Wiebold with information submitted by The Canyons The Canyons community continues to progress through the annexation process for the City of Castle Pines North. Council members agreed in June that The Canyons’ application for annexation into the City of Castle Pines North met the eligibility requirements laid out under state law. The Canyons…
American Academy students have an extended summer while they await the completion of their new school. Castle Pines Athletics will offer a week long camp from August 17 through August 21 designed for American Academy families. The camp will feature a different sport each day along with organized games and relays. Campers will meet at…
Submitted by Deputy Robert Rotherham, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit, 303-663-7703 The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up their efforts to apprehend intoxicated and impaired drivers during the Labor Day weekend. Starting on Thursday, September 3 and going through September 7, between the hours of 8:00 pm and 3:00 am, the…
by Lisa Crockett The Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) has teamed up with Bear Creek Stables to offer guided horse back rides, which are available to both Highlands Ranch residents and non-residents alike. “Tuesday through Thursday, people can ride for $35 for an hour and Friday through Sunday, they can ride for $50 for ninety…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Castle Pines Athletics had its inaugural summer season of t-ball and baseball practicing and playing games on the local parks in the Castle Pines community. With 20 teams filled with local Castle Pines children, ages four to eight, Castle Pines residents were able to play at home this summer, and the…
by Terri Wiebold Mark your calendar for September 18 and attend the Sassy Soiree, a lively mid-day fundraiser to raise funds for the Food Bank. The luncheon – with a silent and live auction, jewelry and clothing boutique, “sassy” fashion show, and door prizes take place at the Douglas County Events Center. Advance tickets are…
Market based memberships now available at The Country Club at Castle Pines By Sally Uhrich Imagine golfing at a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, while enjoying breathtaking panoramic mountain views. Now picture yourself dining at the clubhouse and enjoying social events throughout the year. Seem too good to be true? Not anymore… The Country Club…
Cinda BlockYa with CPN fans who came to support her in the Castle Rock n’ Rollers inaugural bout. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Cynthia M., aka Cinda BlockYa, Castle Pines North resident, stay-at-home mom, recreational enthusiast and volunteer also just happens to play the position of jammer/blocker for Castle Rock’s roller derby team,…
by Lisa Crockett Construction is underway on a childcare center in Castle Pines North in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center on Castle Pines Parkway. Opening for the center is tentatively slated for November. The Center, which will be called the Castle Pines Academy, will have the capacity to serve 173 children. Full-time programs will be offered…
Students enjoy one of the many attractions at last year’s DCS Montessori Fall Festival (Photo by Tracy Dudley) by Tracy Dudley For the past several years, DCS Montessori has hosted a fun-filled and child-oriented outdoor Fall Festival on the school campus in the heart of Castle Pines North. For 2009, the Fourth Annual DCS Montessori…
by Lisa Crockett Being in foster care means a lot of things. First, it means that something has gone awry in your family life. Second, it means that you probably don’t have much in the way of earthly possessions. Third, it likely means you’ll be moving from place to place without a good way to…
Information submitted by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute An OLLI South Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 10 am – noon at their south metro campus at Valley View Christian Church. Designed for older and more “seasoned” learners (50 yrs+), the OLLI South daytime learning program is offered by the University College at the…
After months of discussions and meetings, the Castle Pines Parks Authority voted once again to move forward with building a park at Lagae Ranch. According to Parks Authority President Anna Mallinson, the board agreed at its July 23 meeting to accept the contract with Design Concepts for building the park, as well as the grading…
Submitted by Kristine Turner, Douglas County School Board President The 2009 CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program) results are in. For another year, Douglas County School District exceeded the state average in every grade and every subject tested by 11 to 21 percentage points! Compared to 2008, DCSD maintained or gained in 20 of 27 tests.…
Dr. Audrey Dockins Submitted by Castle Rock Eye Wear “There is more to vision than meets the eye,” says Dr. Audrey Dockins, developmental optometrist at Castle Rock Eye Wear in the Village. “Regular school vision screenings don’t test for many visual problems related to learning. Some of these visual skills include visual tracking of the…
Members of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, The Castle Pines Connection, and friends of Cielo celebrate Schroeder’s grand opening. The evening’s entertainment included magicians, the walking and talking Mona Lisa picture, portable Black Jack, a live bronze statue, and more. by Terri Wiebold Cielo at Castle Pines opened its doors for business in April,…
Harlan (far right) with fellow scouts (from left) Sean Neely, Alexander Harlan, and Jason Nock. by Lisa Crockett Phil Harlan, a Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, is a senior at Regis Jesuit High School, where the school motto encourages students to be a “man for others.” In choosing his Eagle Scout project, Phil took these…
Part of the fun of the summer swim team is the ritual of marking of swimmers. Kids of all ages adorn their bodies with sayings like, “Eat my bubbles,” “Kiss my splash,” and the all-time favorite (pictured above) on Niko, “Partly sunny with 100% chance of STORM!” (Photo by Mark Meredith) submitted by Lorrie Ball…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Castle Pines Village Stingrays finished the summer swim season undefeated in the Mountain High Swim League (MHSL) B2 division. Not only did the Stingrays win each dual meet of the regular season, they also took home the division trophy at championships after narrowly beating the Dam West Dolphins. “With…
Helping Parents and Teens Navigate their way through those “exciting” years! Lisa A. Rue, Ph.D. has a degree in Educational Leadership and is a certified health educator with 22 years in public education. She is a popular trainer conducting workshops for teachers, parents and other health education professionals both nationally and internationally for over 13…
The question of where to find the right caregiver for pet(s) when we are unavailable can be quite the dilemma for pet owners. Thankfully, there are a number of viable options to choose from today. Gone are the days where the only choice is to put our beloved pet in a kennel, with attention focused…
Information provided by the Town of Castle Rock A specialty grocery store has long been on the wish list of many in the Castle Pines community. Not far to the south, the Town of Castle Rock is working toward that end. The Castle Rock Town Council approved an economic development assistance agreement in July to…
Director of Transportation for Douglas County School District, Paul Balon, answers bus routing questions at the Daniels Gate Club House. by Tracy Dudley A combination of recent state funding reductions and the failure of education bond issues 3A and 3B this past November has brought about deep budget cuts for the Douglas County School District…
by Elizabeth Wood West Comprehensive Plan and Three-Mile Plan What will the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) look like in the next twenty years? This is a question the City of Castle Pines North Council is in the process of evaluating. The City’s Proposed Comprehensive Plan and Three-Mile Plan offer a snapshot into the…
CPN residents walked in the Strides for Epilepsy event. “Carly’s Crusaders” walked for five-year-old CPN resident, Carly, who suffers from epilepsy. Submitted by Edward Jones Financial W. Rey Cinocco, a financial advisor with Edward Jones, and BOA Jessie Belmont are taking advantage of new state-of-the-art financial assessment tools to better serve clients in Douglas County.…
by Terri Wiebold Sponsored Publications, publisher of Castle Pines North’s “Our Neighborhood Directory,” as well as the Castle Pines Village Homes Association Directory, recently completed updates and corrections for the 2009-2010 editions, to be published in August 2009 and distributed in early September…be sure to watch for it! “The difference between a group of like-value…
Information provided by the Town of Castle Rock A second route from The Meadows to US 85 and I-25 is needed to relieve traffic congestion on Meadows Parkway and improve traffic flow on I-25. The Town of Castle Rock has been evaluating the best location for the road, which would extend from the current end…
American Academy Charter School to Host Ribbon Cutting Celebration at New Facility American Academy, a K-8 public charter school in Douglas County, will host an official ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its new 83,000 square foot facility on Friday, September 18, at 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at the…
“Good organization before you begin cooking is one secret to successful grilling. Proper planning can make a big difference between cooked and burned, and between safety and danger,” says Fred Simon, owner of Omaha Steaks and contributing author of “Omaha Steaks Let’s Grill Book.” A clean grill is essential to safe grilling. A thorough once…
Submitted by God’s Grace Community Church God’s Grace Community Church invites the community of Castle Pines to help encourage Terrific Readers and Writers at Paris Elementary School in Aurora. At Paris Elementary, 90 percent of the school’s 415 students qualify for free or reduced lunch and speak a language other than English at home. At…
by Lisa Crockett Years after volunteers in the Castle Pines Community decided to pursue the possibility of a library, residents and local business people have come together to make the dream a reality. In late September, the Castle Pines Library will open in the Village Square Shopping Center and begin operation as the newest branch…
By Terri Wiebold The question as to whether or not to restrict access on Happy Canyon Road between US 85 and I-25 as part of the North Meadows Extension Project has been the subject of much debate recently. The people have spoken, and what they have said is they want to keep it open. The…
Margie Woodruff Foundation Manager Douglas County Libraries Foundation 303-688-7638 Contact by e-mail 100 South Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 Castle Pines Authors’ Reception featuring John Shors & Dave Cullen John Shors and Dave Cullen will be the featured at an Authors’ Reception on August 20, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Cherokee Ranch…
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Take Home Many Trophies from State Competition Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 303-660-7586 Members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post #10-4 participated in the 2009 Regional Explorer Conference held in Gunnison, CO, during the week of July 6th. The Douglas County…
Submitted by Kristin Hayek Publicity & Outreach Coordinator Douglas County Libraries 303-688-7642 100 South Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 Fundraising efforts by the residents in Castle Pines have paid off — the Board of Douglas County Libraries voted in May to sign a lease for a library to open in September at Village Square…
Submitted by SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY 9195 East Mineral Avenue, Centennial, Colorado 80112 Phone: 720/989/2000 Fax: 729/989-2001 July 13, 2009 Dear Colleague: The South Metro Fire Rescue Authority desires to achieve the highest level of professionalism and efficiency on behalf of those it serves. I’m writing to ask you for your help in this…
Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Announces its Newest Vehicle to the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, The Y.E.S.S. (Youth Education and Safety in Schools) car The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce its newest vehicle to the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, the Y.E.S.S. (Youth Education and…
According to state law, the sale and use of “permissible fireworks” cannot be prohibited in unincorporated county areas, unless a special resolution is passed by the county government. As of press time, there were no fire restrictions in Douglas County, but that could change if the conditions are dangerously dry. Municipalities can be more restrictive…
by Carin Kirkegaard Starting this June, Castle Pines North resident Sheri Brummett will be opening her home as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick up location for Grant Family Farms. A CSA is a partnership between a local farm and individuals seeking to purchase locally grown produce. Interested customers make an annual commitment to purchase…
Round up the family and ride on down for a good time at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. The events take place at the Douglas County Fair Grounds in Castle Rock during the week of August 1 – August 9. This year the festivities will include rodeos, carnival rides, 4-H events, tractor pulls, concerts,…
Mary Williams stands with her finished piece. by Carin R. Kirkegaard Mary Williams, local Castle Pines artist and owner of Wild Wood Art, will have her wall reliefs featured in a group show that features circular patterns in nature at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, Colorado. In the show, “Enso the Circle”,…
Left to right: District Captain Debbie Hill, Bridget Milnes, Sue Cooper, Linda Walker and Tracey McCarthy. by Carin R. Kirkegaard with information from Debbie Hill Residents of Castle Pines Village (CPV) and Castle Pines North (CPN) pitched in to help with the annual Castle Rock Senior Center Volunteer Appreciation luncheon. The luncheon was held in…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard Students and parents lined up at the Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) spring book fair to have Alec Greven sign copies of his three best selling books. Greven, a fourth grader at Soaring Hawk Elementary School in Castle Rock, became a published author when he was nine years old and caught the…
Director of Public Works, Eric Guth by Lisa Crockett Construction, general wear, and a long, snowy spring have left some of Castle Pines North’s (CPN) roads in need of attention to fix potholes and cracks. Eric Guth, CPN’s Director of Public Works, said that for the foreseeable future, road work will focus on maintenance and…
by Anthonette Klinkerman Elaine Love is one of those people other people instantly like. That instant connection serves her well in her newfound passion for public speaking. This also explains her numerous awards in the field. Love moved from Steamboat Springs to Castle Pines Village in July of 2008. She had served as an ambassador…
Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella by Terri Wiebold Douglas County is changing the way it does business. Changing for the better. Recognizing the need for improved customer service in planning processes, particularly relative to speed and equity, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has established a Business Economic Advisory Committee to address and improve upon…
Submitted by Tim Hannon, edited by Anthonette Klinkerman Spring has sprung in Castle Pines North. Not only are lawns and yards greening up, but The Flower Shop at Castle Pines is offering a way to green up the insides of homes as well. Now offering the Flower of the Month program, a beautiful medley of…
Submitted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Inc. (BBBSC) honored Pinnacol Assurance at its annual Awards Ceremony and Reception on April 30 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Presented by Global Technology Resources Inc., the evening brought together 100 of BBBSC’s top supporters to celebrate 91 years of…