The Connection

Stacie Sneider (left) and Shawn Hulsizer created the Water Awareness and Responsibility Program to educate water users and promote conservation. Article and photo by Carin Kirkegaard If green is the new black, then Castle Pines North (CPN) residents Shawn Hulsizer and Stacie Sneider are definitely in vogue. Hulsizer and Sneider are the co-owners of the…

by Terri Wiebold Step aside Craig’s List…the Castle Pines community now has its very own local Business Directory, Classifieds postings, and Review Forum specific to Castle Pines North and surrounding areas. Who knew!? The Castle Pines Connection new website, www.castlepinesconnection.com, is a one-stop-shop for all things Castle Pines. The Marketplace listing on the left column…

Submitted by Elite Mobile Fitness & Dickason Chiropractic Presenters Victoria Torok, certified personal trainer and owner of Elite Mobile Fitness, and Dr. Clint Dickason, owner of Dickason Chiropractic, have teamed up to get Castle Pines residents to new levels of fitness in 2009. Torok and Dickason are offering free lunchtime seminars to help achieve those…

by Lane Roberts On December 19, 2008, the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) announced a new business and contractor licensing program. Businesses who conduct activities within CPN were originally required obtain the appropriate license(s) by January 1, 2009. According to City License Office Patrick Howell, the deadline was extended to February 1. “To date…

from Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office CONTACT #1: Sergeant Jeff Egnor, Public Information Officer, dispatch: 303-660-7500, pgr. 303-206-4416 RELEASE DATE: 02/20/09 RELEASE TIME: 5:15 pm CASE NUMBER: 0901770 WHAT: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Publics’ Help in Locating Missing/Endangered Person The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance…

Abby Kochevar by Carin Kirkegaard Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Abby Kochevar, age 10 was selected to represent the state at the 25th Annual Midwest Regional All-Star Invitational Swim Meet held January 17-18 in Lawrence, Kansas. Colorado finished in first place, a long standing record for the state. At the meet, Kochevar competed in six…

The Castle Pines Village (CPV) Stingrays will start online registration March 1 for the summer swim team. Interested swimmers must be a CPV resident and HOA member, and be able to swim one length of the pool without stopping and tread water for 45 seconds. The Stingrays is designed first for fun and to provide…

by Terri Wiebold Many residents have inquired about the status of the 80108 zip code for Castle Pines North (CPN), and whether to address labels with “Castle Rock” or “Castle Pines North.” According to the USPS, The zip code of 80108 has remained unchanged and will continue to be the zip code in CPN until…

by Lane Roberts & Terri Wiebold On Wednesday, February 11, the Castle Pines North (CPN) city council will vote on the final reading of three ordinances that would grant new franchise fee agreements with Comcast, Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) and Xcel Energy. If passed, CPN residents would most likely see an increase in monthly…

Fast Lane Jane owner Meredith Woodrow of Castle Pines Village works to connect women while promoting health living and fitness. by Carin Kirkegaard (photo courtesy of Fast Lane Jane) From the Cherry Creek Sneak to the Boulder Peak Triathlon, Colorado women start training for the many races offered in the Denver Metropolitan area in February.…

Construction continues in the open space area adjacent to Monarch Boulevard just across from StoneCroft. The CPN Metro District is conducting several upgrades to the wastewater system which delivers sewage to the Plum Creek Wastewater Authority in Castle Rock. (photo by Tim Gamble) Submitted by James McGrady, CPN Metro District Manager Additional pipeline construction planned…

Timber Trail Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher Kimberly Kurtzuba is the school’s nominee for this year’s Apple Awards. by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary’s (TTE) Kimberly Kurtzuba has been nominated to represent the school as their outstanding teacher this year. Kurtzuba will join the ranks of teachers from other schools all over Douglas County School District…

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls in the last few weeks about coyote sightings and encounters in the higher populated areas of Douglas County. Sheriff David A. Weaver wants citizens to become educated about these animals as well as the do’s and don’ts when encountering a coyote. The following are things you…

by Lisa Crockett The failure of ballot measures 3A and 3B last November means that schools all over Douglas County will be tightening their belts. With the failure of the measures, Douglas County School District (DCSD) begins its process of identifying an additional $16 million in budget reductions for the 2009-10 school year. These reductions…

by Carin Kirkegaard The Empty Nesters are planning their 2009 calendar with many activities for retirees living in Castle Pines North (CPN). All CPN retirees are invited to come and join in the fun and fellowship throughout the year. The Empty Nesters is a social group designed to connect retirees with common interests. Groups currently…

By Terri Wiebold Nestled in the majestic pines along Happy Canyon Road is the architectural elegance of Ceilo at Castle Pines, scheduled to open in April 2009. Cielo at Castle Pines will offer a peaceful place to gather for weddings, private parties, corporate events, business meetings, or any other special occasion. Whether booking a small,…

The brand new Timber Trail Elementary choir held its first performance last December. TTE Music Teacher Cindy Berndt is looking forward to the spring season, which will culminate with a special year-end concert of fourth and fifth graders. (photo courtesy of Mark Wilkins) by Lisa Crockett Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) is still a relatively new…

Residents and businesses who signed up to receive community e-mail alerts from the City of Castle Pines North received a notice on December 19 stating they must obtain a business license by January 1, 2009. The e-mail stated that the City approved a “reasonable business and contractor license fee schedule.” The Castle Pines Connection wanted…

Helping those less fortunate –  A group from Castle Pines North recently spent the day working on a house for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. The home, which is for a single mother and her two children, is located in Commerce City.  (Photo by Carin Kirkegaard) (photo below courtesy of Tammy Abramovitz) by Carin…

by Terri Wiebold E-470 recently announced rate increases for tolls effective January, 2009, and customers with EXpressToll transponders will receive discounted rates. However, starting in July, E-470 will no longer be accepting cash payments at any toll locations. Safeway and King Soopers stores in Castle Pines North (CPN) bring new meaning to “one-stop shopping,” with…

by Lane Roberts Castle Pines residents should get used to seeing additional orange cones along I-25. In spring 2009, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin widening 10.3 miles of I-25 from three to four lanes between Lincoln Avenue and the Founders/Meadows Parkway exit in Castle Rock. According to CDOT, the work will consist…

by Terri Wiebold While pranks and incidents of vandalism occur on occasion in almost every community in Colorado and across America, local homeowner’s associations in Castle Pines North (CPN) are aggressively pursuing a solution, as vandalism incidents in the community continue to rise. Recent incidents of vandalism to neighborhood playgrounds and open space trails in…

Submitted by Allstate Insurance Allstate Insurance Company is proud to announce the opening of a new office in Castle Rock, which is independently owned and operated by Agent Steve Dow. Located at 753 Maleta Lane, Suite 202, office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and by appointment on Saturday. “My staff…

Submitted by Castle Rock EyeWear Join Castle Rock EyeWear on Saturday February 21, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., for a glass of wine and some fun as they proudly present the FRED and TAG Heuer collections. Both of these luxury eyewear lines have unique attributes to the industry. Come and try on the TAG…

Douglas County’s newest Commissioner Jill Repella (left) was sworn in on January 13. Pictured with local developer and Castle Pines North resident Darwin Horan (center) and Honorable Judge Paul King, Repella joins the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four year term along with Steve Boand and Jack Hilbert. (Photo by Terri Wiebold)

by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North Master Association mailed out annual homeowner association dues invoices in December and, in accordance with its new collection policy, payments were due by January 1, 2009. February 15 marks the end of the 15-day grace period the Master Association granted residents for payment of annual Master Association dues…

Kidde 900-0146-UK Carbon Monoxide Detector by Terri Wiebold The recent tragedies of a DU student and a Denver area family have many Castle Pines residents asking the question, “What do I need to know to protect myself and my family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning?” Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning…

Message provided by Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver, guest editorial With the growth of Douglas County comes the increase in traffic and of course traffic issues. I am a strong believer that if you are doing the right things, others will follow suit. I would hope this is true when it comes to your driving…

By Terri Wiebold Areas of future growth abound to the east and south of the City of Castle Pines North (CPN.) Potential areas for development include Lagae South, The Canyons, and Fresh Fields. Lagae South This 360-acre parcel of land is located east of Castle Pines Village, just north of Happy Canyon Road. This parcel…

Arlen Felsen (pictured far left), owner of Arlen’s American Bistro in Castle Pines North, was a part of the Presidential Inauguration celebration in Washington D.C. last month. Felsen plays the drums in a nine-piece old school funk, rhythm and blues band called Jakarta. The national corporate band played in downtown Denver during the Democratic National…

by Carin Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Renita Mundwiller The past three summers have found the children of Castle Pines North (CPN) connecting with friends, getting exercise, and learning swim strokes with the neighborhood swim team the Castle Crocs. As the team begins its fourth season, swimmers can expect to return to a swim program that…

by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce will host two EasterFest events this year – one in Castle Pines North (CPN) and one in Castle Pines Village. On Wednesday, April 1, EasterFest will be held at the Castle Pines Village Shopping Center located off Happy Canyon Road. (due to inclement weather the April…

Plans for an alternative access road from The Meadows in Castle Rock to U.S. 85 and I-25 are still underway. The Town of Castle Rock is currently analyzing two potential road alignments, Castlegate and Atrium. Both new roads would be located south of Castle Pines Village and north of the Outlets at Castle Rock, and…

by Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Linda Clure In Colorado, spirit is a sport. According to the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), it is the perfect balance of crowd leadership, support, entertainment, sportsmanship, athleticism and competitiveness. Castle Pines’ very own Rock Canyon High School Varsity Cheer Team received recognition as a “champion” in their…

The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce presented the first Holly Jolly Breakfast with Santa at The Ridge at Castle Pines on Saturday, December 6. Dozens of children enjoyed stories from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a magician, and a fantastic breakfast. Special thanks to event sponsors: Castle Pines Orthodontics, Canyon Ridge Chiropractic, CH2M HILL OMI, Colorado…

by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to support area businesses by launching a new “Shop Local First” discount card campagin. A complimentary discount card, offering a variety of savings from more than 25 local Chamber businesses, is set to arrive in the mailboxes of Castle Pines North (CPN) residents…

by Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff David A. Weaver is pleased to announce that with the implementation of the new emergency notification system, citizens and businesses can sign up to receive critical alerts during emergencies. On February 1, 2009, all agencies in Douglas County began using 3n InstaCom™ Citizen…

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. The CPN Metro District owns and maintains all parks within the community. Soccer fields are available at all three parks and…

by Lane Roberts Budget cuts and the recent HOA annual dues reduction by the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association board of directors could potentially warrant the elimination of many community events. The holiday carriage rides, which sell out yearly, are just one of social events that will no longer be organized by the Master…

The Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) will host three regional seminars on how to help HOAs conserve water and save money. The dates for the three programs this year are March 7, 11, and 19. The seminars will focus on the best landscape management practices, state of the art ET controllers, and Xeriscape techniques.…

Welcome to Our House H&R Block Open House – Valentines Day – February 14, 2009 (left to right) Dan Wittgartner, Tom Hall, Bob Wright, Kent Kochsmeier, Pat Proctor, and Dave Kalmbach

photo courtesy of Lisa Crockett Posing for the camera, this beautiful buck searches for a snack in a backyard in Winterberry. According to the Colorado Department of Wildlife, deer herds move to lower elevations closer to homes during the winter months. It is illegal in Colorado to intentionally place or distribute feed or salt blocks…

Arlen’s American Bistro celebrated their official ribbon cutting ceremony on January 13. Pictured from the left, Yolanda Bruce, Amy and Arlen Felsen, owner’s of Arlen’s American Bistro, and Don Bobeda, Chairman of the Board for the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce. Arlen’s features live music on Friday and Saturday nights and is located at 562…

by Denise Bassett, Castle Pines North Metro District The proposed 2009 budget for the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District was presented to CPN residents and opened for public discussion at the CPNMD board meeting on November 17, 2008. Board President Bill Santos explained that the board went through an extensive line-by-line item review to keep…

Submitted by God’s Grace Community Church God’s Grace Community Church partners with Paris Elementary School and Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives. Each month during the school year, God’s Grace participants host the “Terrific Reader and Writer” program, honoring students in each grade that have improved reading and writing skills with a certificate and a book.…

Alan Lanning City Manager/Program Director The Castle Pines North (CPN) City Council recently approved the selection of . The Castle Pines Connection recently sent a few questions to the newly appointed City Manager, Alan Lanning. CPN will celebrate its first birthday on February 12. In your opinion, what has the new City accomplished during the…

By Lane Roberts On February 12, Castle Pines North (CPN) will officially celebrate its first birthday. Douglas County has continued to provide services to the community following the vote to incorporate on November 7, 2007. Now, with the one year anniversary rapidly approaching, the City is set to take the reigns. “As they take this…

Captain Susan Chesnick recently took over as the new station commander at South Metro Fire Rescue fire station 36 in CPN. Information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Authority In January, Captain Susan Chesnick took over as the new station commander at fire station 36 in Castle Pines North. A 21-year veteran of the fire…

Bring the bunny ears and hop on over to the annual Easter Eggstravaganzia set for April 4 at Coyote Ridge Park. Submitted by Solid Life Christian Center Solid Life Christian Center invites the community for its second annual Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, April 4, starting promptly at 10 a.m. (due…

Janie Berry (right) is sworn in by Douglas County Clerk Jack Arrowsmith in a ceremony in January. Berry was appointed as the new clerk for Castle Pines North late last year. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lisa Crockett In late 2008, Castle Pines North (CPN) city council members approved the appointment of a new city…

Castle Pines North Metro District Building by Lisa Crockett The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) is working toward finding a permanent home for its offices in the CPN Metro District Building, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The arrangement would allow for both entities (the city and the metro district) to provide services in one…

The Colorado School Accountability Reports (SAR) have listed American Academy’s middle school as number six in the state. According to American Academy Chief Administrative Officer Roberta Harrell, eight of the top 10 schools on the SAR list were charter schools. “We are proud of both our elementary and middle school for receiving a “high” and…

by Lane Roberts With the expansion of the service road along I-25 from RidgeGate in Lone Tree to Castle Pines Parkway, the addition of the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) light rail to this area might be considered a plus for the new city. However, expansion of the RTD light rail may be light years from…

First grade teacher Jennifer Jacoway was nominated for the Apple Award. by Carin Kirkegaard Jennifer Jacoway, a first grade teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE), was nominated to represent the school at the 2008-2009 Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) Apple Awards ceremony on March 14. Jacoway comes from a family of educators and has…

By Terri Wiebold The Town of Castle Rock (Town) continues to move forward with plans to construct a second access from the Meadows area to US 85 and on to I-25. A recent decision from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to allow an at-grade intersection at the Atrium Drive alternative until such time as…

Submitted by Kevin Millerick A new summer swim program is coming to Castle Pines in 2009. Castle Pines Storm Swimming will open its doors this summer, based at the HOA1 pool. Due to the increasing demand for summer swimming the past few years, this new program will welcome all residents of Castle Pines who want…

Infrastructure of Lagae Ranch faces Challenges The collaborative efforts of American Academy Charter School, the Castle Pines Parks Authority, HF Holdings, R.I. Management, and the City of Castle Pines North, along with possible financial assistance from the Castle Pines Metro District could expedite plans for a new park and school on Lagae Ranch. by Terri…

by Deputy Cocha Heyden Nine members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post #10-4 participated in the 2009 Law Enforcement Explorer Tactical Competition held in Chandler, Arizona, January 16-18. The competition was fierce but they managed to come away with a medal. The post competed against over 900 explorers from around the nation. Due…

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, CO 80109 CONTACT #1: Dep. Robert Rotherham, 303-814-7005 ext 6514; 303-660-7500 (dispatch) RELEASE DATE: 01/28/09 RELEASE TIME: CASE NUMBER: N/A WHAT: DUI Enforcement during Super Bowl XLIII Party Weekend NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up their…

by Terri Wiebold Since E-470 opened in 1991, customers using the toll highway have had the option of paying either by cash or with EXpressToll transponders. 2009 will bring several changes to the way customers travel on, and pay for E-470 – including no more cash payments. On January 1, 2009, “License Plate Toll” was…

Winter is rapidly going by and HOA#1 is gearing up for a fantastic spring and summer! Front Range Recreation proved to be a great pool company to partner with and your HOA#1 pool committee is finalizing a contract with them for the 2009 season. HOA#1 will once again host a swim team at our pool.…

Dear IREA Castle Pines North Member: As the IREA Board member representing customers in Castle Pines North, I am pleased that the City and IREA’s staff were able to negotiate a mutually agreeable franchise agreement. We look forward to working with Town officials on planning, installation of electric facilities, addressing power supply, and serving the…

by Carin Kirkegaard The past three summers have found the children of Castle Pines North (CPN) connecting with friends, getting exercise and learning swim strokes with the neighborhood swim team the Castle Crocs. As the team begins its fourth season, swimmers can expect to return to a swim program that offers strong technical swim instruction…

Research conducted by and information submitted by Castle Pines North resident Linda Nuzum *A recent vote by the Senate postponing the upcoming transition of analog to digital television broadcasting from February 17 to June 12, gives those not prepared for the transition a chance to breathe a sigh of relief and get informed. The publicity…

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, CO 80109 CONTACT #1: Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer, 303-660-7586, pgr 303-826-7822 CONTACT #2: RELEASE DATE: 01/16/09 RELEASE TIME: 9:30 am CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Douglas County Sheriff Pleads with Community to “Lock It or Lose It”. NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY: Douglas County Sheriff David…

The Douglas County Public Works Department is repairing areas along Castle Pines Parkway where potholes have developed in the concrete pavement. The westbound lanes have been completed and the crew is now working on the eastbound lanes. This construction is scheduled for completion the week of January 19, weather permitting. Unfortunately, this work is weather-sensitive,…

by Anthonette Klinkerman That REM song with the lyrics, “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine”, was a great party tune. If there was ever a more appropriate song for the beginning of 2009, I don’t know what it could be. All the gloom and doom about this…