The Connection

Municipal Judge Lewis Gresh congratulates Jeff Huff after taking the oath as the new mayor of the City of Castle Pines North. Information provided by the City of Castle Pines North, photos by Tim Gamble Municipal Judge Lewis Gresh officially swore in six new Castle Pines North (CPN) city officials in January at the Castle…

Information provided by Douglas County The Douglas County Treasurer’s Office reminds property owners that payments to their property tax statements – mailed in January 2010 – can be paid: in person; by mail; at three different drop box locations; toll-free by automated telephone with credit card or electronic check/savings withdrawal; with credit card by telephone;…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Valentine’s Day is this month, in case you haven’t noticed. You didn’t make dinner reservations back in 2009? Or pick out heart-felt cards by the fourth day of January? Or order roses, select chocolates, or purchase a spa gift certificate for your sweetheart? Valentine’s Day has taken on tones of America’s favorite…

Left to right: Isaac, Brad and Mitchell, third graders from Mrs. Brester’s class, get ready to serve up hot cocoa and chocolate during the production of The Polar Express on December 15. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Ah… the magic. The Polar Express is for those who truly believe. This holiday season, third graders…

Carol Langley-Finnegan Information has been provided by the City of Castle Pines North. The City Safety Task Force (STF) would like to thank Carol Langley-Finnegan for serving as the chair of the STF. According to City Council, Langley-Finnegan has put in countless volunteer hours and her efforts have made Castle Pines North a stronger and…

The Division of Wildlife is coming to Castle Pines North to discuss the recent reported coyote sightings, encounters and attacks in the Castle Pines area and how to handle these types of situations. Please plan to attend; there will be important information available. The meeting is scheduled for January 5th, 6pm, at the CPN Community…

Eagle Scout Connor Smith stands in the gazebo he built at the Lowell Ranch in Castle Rock. by Elizabeth Wood West Connor Smith has been a Scout most of his life, having joined the Cub Scouts in first grade. A Rock Canyon High School senior and Oak Hills resident, Smith completed all Cub Scout rank…

Help Colorado’s less fortunate by donating winter clothing at this year’s Treads for Threads. Bring in your coats, boots, hats, gloves and sweaters to Big O Tires and receive a $5 off coupon, now through January 18th. Big O Tires is located at 508 E. Castle Pines Parkway.

There may be a new pride of cougars in wildcat country if considerations to sell a portion of land in the Highlands Ranch “backcountry” wildnerness area come to fruition. Colorado Christian University has expressed interest in the property, located just west of Monarch Boulevard south of Rocky Heights Middle School, as well as exploring other…

by Scott Lasher The word “rotate” is used quite often in the sports world, particularly in the game of basketball. “Rotate to the weak side!” a coach might yell to one of his defenders. “Rotate to the basket!” a coach might yell on a pick-and-roll play. The Rocky Heights Middle School eighth grade boy’s basketball…

by Kathy Dunker The recent Master Association annual meeting included an interesting announcement from HOA1 Board member, Dick Lichtenheld. The Board of HOA1 would like to separate from the Castle Pines North Master Association. According to Lichtenheld, the withdrawal would result in an 18 percent reduction in HOA dues for the residents without any reduction…

by Elizabeth Wood West One Castle Pines Village petitioner is oblivious to it, having tuned it out completely, like you would a ticking clock: “I live in Castle Pointe, the nearest community to the trains. The train whistle noise is NOT an issue. One can barely hear the noise, even at night. The whistle is…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County residents can now take their neighborhood crime map with them wherever they go. The new iPhone application will provide citizens with local crime mapping and national sex offender data. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office already publishes their crime data on the…

Information provided by God’s Grace Community Church God’s Grace Community Church (GGCC) had the joy of once again helping to host the Annual Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives Christmas Party for inner city kids on December 19. More than 200 families from Five Points in Denver attended the event. Festivities included cookie and card decorating,…

Reprinted from an e-mail correspondence dated January 22, 2010 Michele Radke, TTE Principal Molly Gnaegy, TTE Assistant Principal Douglas County School District has reviewed its calendar assignments for next school year and has determined that Timber Trail Elementary will depart from the year round calendar beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Recent developments have resulted…

Submitted by Kristin Zagurski Town Council will be asked to decide Tuesday in which direction the North Meadows Extension project should proceed. The project would provide a second access between The Meadows and U.S. Highway 85 and Interstate 25, relieving congestion on Meadows Parkway and improving traffic flow on I-25. Three alternatives for the road…

Information submitted by South Metro Fire Rescue with contributions from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Everyone knows the number, but do you know how it works? When you call 9-1-1 from either a land line or a cell phone, your call will most likely go to a law enforcement agency dispatch center. In the Castle…

Ten-year-old Ashley M. with Timber Trail Elementary art teacher Peggy Jensen. Ashley participated in a fall art show at TTE which was held in conjunction with the school’s book fair fund raiser. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Inspiration is nearly everywhere, especially for budding artists at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE). In November, the school…

Local disc jockey Dom Testa gives an inspirational presentation to American Academy students. by Kathy Dunker Excitement was in the air at American Academy for a December assembly led by local disc jockey, Dom Testa, from the Dom & Jane morning show on Mix 100 (FM100.3). Testa, an award winning writer for young adults, spoke…

Local land developers Darwin Horan and Chris Fellows of HF Holdings, LLC partnered with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) to bring holiday joy to more than fifty families and more than seventy-five children in need in Douglas County. In addition to gift certificates and toys, Horan and…

A community knows how valuable volunteers are in day to day operations. Parents regularly flood schools to help out classroom teachers, and in libraries volunteers reshelf books or assist in reading programs. In Douglas County, high school students are required to have 20 community service hours in order to graduate. A Castle Pines North parent…

Photo provided by Paige Newman, RCHS For the second consecutive year, the girls POMS team has captured the State Title. Championship Team: Ivy Deibel, Paige Hesen (Capt.), Kelsey Hofstetter, Bri Johnson, Cody Ann LaCouture, Lauren Packer, Amanda Ross, Charity Sammons, Amy Taylor, Lizzy Van Dyke, Brittney Webber (co-Capt.), and Hannah Wilson. Not pictured are Jordan…

All I wanted for Christmas… …was what every child ages four to twelve wants, and that is to play sports locally with friends and classmates this spring. The spring soccer registration deadline for Castle Pines Athletics is MARCH 1, 2010. Teams are first come, first serve, so make sure to enroll today to reserve your…

Calling all book lovers, local business owners and those who simply love a lively discussion. The first meeting of the Castle Pines Business Book Club will be held at the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, January 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first meeting. Not much of a…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County School District (DCSD) family fun run and fund raiser for local schools in the Rock Canyon High School area was cancelled this year. The Rock Slide had originally been scheduled for November 14, but due to inclement weather the race was postponed until December 12. In an e-mail…

Fifth graders at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School gathered at Young AmeriTowne to apply concepts they learned by working together to operate a 17-business town. For weeks prior, the students learned lessons and did activities that introduced them to concepts such as supply and demand, job skills and work habits, banking procedures, democratic process, civic consciousness,…

Castle Pines Jewelers owner Jeffrey Rein works on a piece of custom jewelry for a customer in is store in the Village at Castle Pines. By Anthonette Klinkerman It is said that opportunity knocks all the time, but people often do not recognize the sound. Jeffrey Rein is a person who has become more than…

by Kathy Dunker This year the Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) eighth grade classes worked on team service projects to help people in need both inside and outside of the Douglas County school community. Some 422 students participated in the “Penny Wars.” In this competition, pennies earned the classes positive points, while silver and paper…

Recent legislation enables the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder to conduct the Primary Election by mail ballot only. A public hearing is scheduled for January 28, 2010 to discuss how this might impact Douglas County voters and the County budget. For additional information call 303-660-7444 or go to www.douglas.co.us.

Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard Photos by Sandy Keorner Cub Scouts from Pack 826 and Boy Scouts from Pack 637 brought more than 100 pounds of food to donate to the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force. While dropping off the food, scouts were given a tour of the facility and learned about how the food bank…

Castle Pines North Mayor Maureen Shul speaks at the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce luncheon at The Ridge. The Chamber celebrated its second successful year. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit its new “Elite” Referral Group. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8 a.m.…

Brownies Molly and Rachel get a hug from Valley House resident, Betsy, during Troop 881’s outreach visit. Article and photos by Elean Gersack On Monday, November 23, Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Brownie Troop 881 made a special visit to Valley House Elderly Assisted Living in Castle Rock. Two weeks prior, the third graders met with…

Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg during renovation and reorganization of Douglas County High School’s theater. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West Eagle Scout candidate Emerson Steinberg, 18, has been very involved in the theater program at Douglas County High School (DCHS) since the ninth grade. Steinberg recently found a way to give back to…

If you’re looking for a great pet bakery fairly close in proximity to Castle Pines consider the For Paws Bakery and Pet Spa, located at 19565 E. Main Street in Parker. There is a vast array of treats, named after the owner’s pets such as Maggie’s gourmet cookies or Mia’s munchies. The canine confections use…

by Elean Gersack Planning a team practice or party during the next few months? There are currently three parks in Castle Pines North (CPN) available by reservation: Coyote Ridge Park, Daniel’s Gate Park and The Retreat Park. Soccer fields are available at all three parks and baseball fields are available at Coyote Ridge Park and…

Former Master association president Jim Steavpack discussing policy at the annual meeting held in November. Article by Kathy Dunker and photos by Tim Gamble At the November 19 Master Association annual meeting, Jack Zelkin and Larry Cook were elected to the Board of Directors. The Board also thanked Rex Lucas and Shelley Hamilton-Bruer for their…

Information provided by Douglas County Centennial Airport recently completed a Part 150 Study, which included 12 recommendations for noise mitigation. One of the recommendations was the formation of a community roundtable to address the noise impact of Centennial Airport traffic on communities surrounding the airport. The roundtable has the charge to discover possible noise mitigation…

Article by Anthonette Klinkerman and photo provided by Serena resident Tyson Jones Where the buffalo – no, make that elk – roam… If there is one thing Castle Pines North (CPN) does not have a shortage of, it is wildlife. From deer to red fox, wild birds, the occasional mountain lion and coyotes, CPN residents…

The Ridgeline staff, composed of fourth and fifth grade students, meets every Wednesday after school. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard With the start of the new school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE), 37 fourth and fifth graders grabbed their press passes, cameras, notebooks and pencils to start reporting the news as it…

Information provided by Douglas County Partners Impact two lives. Be a mentor. There are boys in Douglas County who need, and want, an adult male to be their mentor. Recruiting men to be volunteer mentors is an ongoing challenge, so Douglas County Partners is asking YOU to step up and change a child’s future. Only…

Pictured left to right: City Council member Kim Hoffman, Einar Jensen (SMFR), Don Van Putten (Pine Ridge HOA), SMFRA Chief Mike Dell’Orfano, and SMFR Captain Ted Christopoulos recognize Pines Ridge as a Firewise community and present the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan to CPN residents. by Terri Wiebold A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is…

Students at BRE practice for the upcoming Winter Concert being held at Wildcat Elementary on January 14   Rock Canyon’s Elementary Instrumental Music Program holds winter concert The Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music (RCEIM) program will hold a winter concert on January 14 at Wildcat Mountain Elementary School, located at 6585 Lionshead Parkway in Littleton.…

Pictured left to right: David Bowman – director of the childcare program at BRE, Ally Berggren – principal and Russ Jenson – assistant principal dressed in chicken suits and danced “The Chicken Dance” at an assembly held in the BRE gymnasium. The assembly was the reward for BRE students reading more than 7,500 hours during…

This information has been provided the Castle Pines North Metro District. One of the most common and costly wastes of money is a leaky toilet. A toilet may leak a gallon of water per minute and over a one week period that can add up to a loss of 10,080 gallons of water. Often the…

Artist’s rendering of Castle Pines Academy, a day care facility slated to open in February in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center in CPN. Article by Lisa Crockett Conceptual rendering provided by Studio DH Architecture A new childcare center and preschool will soon be open in Castle Pines North (CPN) in the Walgreen’s Shopping Center on Castle…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Sheriff to Break Ground on New Substation in Highlands Ranch Douglas County Sheriff David A. Weaver is very excited to break ground on the new Sheriff’s Office Substation, which will bring many government services to the citizens of Highlands Ranch. The…

Middle School students performing the classic “A Chorus Line.” Article and photos by Kathy Dunker American Academy students dazzled audiences in December with their delightful Broadway Revue: Let’s Make a Scene! Performed in the school gym and led by kindergarten through fifth grade music teacher Mark Middlebrooks and middle school music teacher Reece Livingstone, it…

Home builder Woody Howarth (left) stands with homeowners Jean and Nick Domico in their new, custom designed kitchen. Home in Castle Pines Village experiences “extreme makeover” Local builder quickly rebuilds a home lost to fire By Scott Lasher There wasn’t a huge bus. There was no Ty Pennington. There was no trip to Disneyworld while…

Students warm up with a “G” Scale at orchestra practice at Timber Trail Elementary. Rock Canyon Elementary Instrumental Music program offers before and after music instruction in local schools Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Budding cellists, drummers, clarinetists, and horn players from Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) have been…

by Scott Lasher In the movie “The Perfect Storm” starring George Clooney, the perfect storm that the movie references is capped by an unbelievable tidal wave that crashes down over the ship Clooney pilots. For the Rock Canyon Girls Swim Team last year, their opponents were the ship and they were the tidal wave in…

Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard, photos provided by Steve & Jody Robinson A group of families from Castle Pines North (CPN), two CPN Girl Scout troops, a CPN Brownie troop, as well as a group of families from Founders Village in Castle Rock formed “Operation Bright Star” to help gather food and create a Thanksgiving…

Home builder Woody Howarth (left) stands with homeowners Jean and Nick Domico in their new, custom designed kitchen. By Scott Lasher There wasn’t a huge bus. There was no Ty Pennington. There was no trip to Disneyworld while they waited for their home to be rebuilt. Nonetheless, an extreme makeover of sorts took place in…

Head of School Jeromy Johnson showed his school spirit with students by dressing as a clown after the students broke school records for book sales at the annual book fair. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley Although DCS Montessori has never sold more than $10,000 at its annual book fair, this year administration set a…

Don’t delay … now is the perfect time to register for spring sports and activities. Here is a quick reference guide to some of the most popular leagues and recreational activities around. Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics is dedicated to Castle Pines North (CPN) youth. Practices and games are all played in CPN. Register…

Mrs. Wedge’s second grade class with packages they purchased and wrapped to help an adopted family at Buffalo Ridge. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard During the holiday season, the spirit of giving burst from many classrooms at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE). “Buffalo Ridge has been adopting families for 10 years now during the…

Information provided by DCSD A community survey is currently underway and is open to the public – and TOMORROW is the last day to provide your input. This survey is intended to collect valuable community feedback that will be used by the Douglas County School Board of Education, the District Advisory Council, and the Douglas…

The Castle Pines Connection staff joins at Sienna at the Courtyard in Castle Rock to celebrate the holidays and also the one-year anniversary of its inception. Pictured above back row left to right: Elean Gersack (writer), Lisa Crockett (writer), Tracy Dudley (writer), John Kenny (proofreader), and Tom Ballantine (ad sales). Front row left to right:…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Here we are, ten years into the millennium. It doesn’t feel much different, really. Food is still in food-form, and no one is flying around Jetsons-style. And most likely, humanoids all over the planet are partaking in the traditional ritual of making New Year’s resolutions. Especially since food is not in pill…

Five Stone Sports founders Craig Lumsden (left) and Kent Lansville (right) are geared up to bring competitive and recreational sports programming to the community. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley Two Castle Pines North residents have been involved in numerous sports organizations through the years as youth and now as parents of young athletes. Craig…

Article by Terri Wiebold and photo by Tim Gamble Court allows continued big game hunting in Castle Pines; imposes restrictions Nearly one year following the Castle Pines Homes Association, Inc.’s (CPHA) filing of a complaint for an injunctive relief to prohibit hunting with firearms on 88 acres of land nestled in the Castle Pines community,…

Pastors Russ and Becky Stutzman being honored at a dessert reception at the Inverness Hotel in Englewood in October. By Scott Lasher Solid Life Christian Center appreciates its pastors Russ and Becky Stutzman honored in unique way In a church filled with an abundance of love and appreciation, something modeled by its pastors, how does…

New leadership for Castle Pines North includes mayor-elect Jeff Huff, seen here being congratulated by friends and family at an after-election party on November 3. Also pictured are city council members, from left to right: Jennifer Havercroft, Shelley Hamilton-Bruer, Kim Hoffman, John Ewing, Darwin Horan, Doug Gilbert, and city treasurer, Mark Shively. Castle Pines North…

Eagle Scout Candidate Lucas West stands with Open Space Specialist Jackie Sanderson next to the new dog agility obstacles at the Glendale Farm Open Space Dog Park. Article and photos by Elizabeth Wood West It is hard to tell who is having the most fun with the new dog agility obstacles – dogs or their…

Pat and Emi Kanan in their gallery. Photograph of Pitigliano, Tuscany to the right Article and photograph by Joe Gschwendtner Meet Castle Pines Village residents Emi and Pat Kanan, acclaimed photographers who capture the beauty of European landscapes through their lenses. Their talent is displayed in living rooms and boardrooms throughout the country. But this…

by Sally Uhrich The Pet Stuff Place, owned by area residents Sharon and Dick Adams moved in November. The store was formerly located in the Safeway Center in Castle Pines North. “We’ve been in business for six years thanks to the patronage of area residents and we look forward to staying in the area to…

Your Christmas tree can serve another useful purpose as mulch for trees and shrubs in your backyard and neighborhood. South Suburban Parks and Recreation will recycle Christmas trees from December 26 through January 10. Residents can dispose of Christmas trees at the Willow Spring Service Center, 7100 South Holly Street, Centennial. Trees will also be…

by Tracy Dudley Brian Givens and his family have lived in Castle Pines North for more than 12 years. However, Givens is not your average CPN resident; he spent 15 years playing professional baseball. Although he grew up in Colorado, Givens was drafted by the New York Mets in 1984, then moved on to pitch…