Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
Fifth-grade teacher Jesica Harrington and some of her students at Timber Trail Elementary’s “Carnival for the Cure.” All proceeds from the event went to benefit Harrington’s family. Harrington has been battling an aggressive form of breast cancer for the last year. Article and photo by Lisa Crockett A school carnival is a long-standing tradition…
Left to right Polly Lestdikow, Jeff Hoskins – President EverStone, Sherri Johnson. (Photos by Tim Gamble) by Anthonette Klikermann The little orange signs pointed the way as the 2009 HBA Parade of Homes made a stop in Castle Pines North. Located in the gated community of Whisper Canyon, the luxury home at 6858 Twisted Oak…
Submitted by Suzanne Greene Families struggling financially in this economy are now receiving less food from the Douglas/Elbert County Food Bank as supplies dwindle. Clients needing food has increased by 30% over this time last year. This is traditionally the time of year from August through October when donations slow due to summer vacations. Grants…
Colorado bicyclists are celebrating the new Bicycle Safety Act, which went into effect August 5. The new laws are geared to improve road safety for bicyclists and motorists, including a minimum 3 feet of space when passing a bicyclist. The Bicycle Safety Act was made possible through the supportive grassroots efforts by Bicycle Colorado members.…
by Terri Wiebold The final DRAFT of the Douglas County 2030 Transportation Plan is currently available for review and comment. Public responses are due to Douglas County by August 18. The Douglas County 2030 Transportation Plan identifies future transportation needs and estimates short-term and long-term capital improvements needed to accommodate future growth. The 2030 Plan…
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…
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…
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…
Castle Pines Athletics kicked off its first season in Castle Pines North with spring soccer. Despite the crazy spring of rain, sleet, snow, and even a few blizzards, kids ages four to eight enjoyed playing at home in Castle Pines North. Emma K. (pictured above) of the Kindergarten team the “Red Dragons” runs through a…
by Tracy Dudley As part of President Barack Obama’s world class education plan, he wants to make math and science a national priority and ensure all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels. At DCS Montessori (DCSM), emphasis on science and its real-world applications is woven into everyday activities even…
Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 303-660-7586 Final Douglas County “Blue Thunder Memorial Ride” Was a Huge Success The 10th Annual “Blue Thunder Memorial Ride” took place on Saturday, May 30th and was a huge success. Over $4,600 was raised for a fund that was named in honor of…
Since the swearing in of its new members last May, the Board of the Castle Pines North Metro District has been focused on a number of key objectives: Ensuring that CPN is on track for a long-term renewable water solution, Exploring ways to gain efficiency with the newly-formed City; Ensuring that the District is financially…
Submitted by Johansen, McDonald & Associates Deborah Kish Johansen, Esq. is pleased to announce that The Johansen Law Firm, LLC is expanding. The new firm is Johansen, McDonald & Associates, P.C. Please join me in welcoming Christina L. C. McDonald, Esq. to the practice. JM&A will continue to focus on the legal needs of small…
Information and photo provided by the City of Lone Tree In May, the City of Lone Tree celebrated the grand opening of the RidgeGate Interchange off I-25 (above). The Interchange is designed to alleviate the increasing traffic congestion along Lincoln Avenue, approximately one mile north of the RidgeGate Parkway Interchange. Lincoln Avenue, on any given…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Memorial weekend brings the beginning of summer and the return of the Castle Crocs to the swimming pool. With more than 180 swimmers, the Crocs hit the water this summer for the first time from diving blocks. Since the Crocs inception in 2006, the team has been vigilantly counting their pennies…
DCS sixth grade honor choir students from left to right: Nicholas B., Marston T., Mariah P., and Paige V. (Photo courtesy of Lorraine Cooper) by Tracy Dudley Seven sixth graders from DCS Montessori performed in the Douglas County Sixth Grade Honor Choir concert on April 16 at Rock Canyon High School. Nicholas Bommarito, Mariah Pendergrast,…
Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 303-660-7586 CONTACT Patty Moschner – 303-660-7535 x3 Debbie Boyle – 303-660-7535 x4 Jocelyn Rhymer – 303-660-7535 x1 Jamie Driscoll – 303-660-7535 x2 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Victim Assistance Volunteers NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY: The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance Program is seeking…
Owner/operator Miguel “Mike” Hernandez (center) with his kitchen staff making last minute preparations for the grand opening of A Taste of Mexico – Castle Pines Village A Taste of Mexico celebrated their grand opening Monday night with crowds of enthusiastic dinner guests waiting to sample the authentic Mexican cuisine. A habitué of the old Jimmy’s…
An annexation petition submitted to the City of Castle Pines North could bring an additional 2,500 homes into the city. Representatives of The Canyons filed a petition for annexation with the city in April. Article by Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of North Canyons, LLLP. A new community of homes nestled among parks, open space and…
Medic Unit 39 will now be located at Station 39, on Happy Canyon Road in Castle Rock. Engine 36 is now staffed with three EMTs and a paramedic trained in advanced life support. by Terri Wiebold South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFRA) relocated its Medic Unit from Station 36 in Castle Pines North (CPN) to…
Photos and information by Carin R. Kirkegaard Kids from the Castle Pines community gave it their all for Tri the Rock, a kids triathlon sponsored by the Castle Rock Recreation Center. The event consists of a swim, bike and run, with distances dependent upon age group. Kids ages five to fourteen competed in the event.…
The Castle Pines North community garage sale was May 15 -16, and brought many visitors to the Castle Pines community. Neighbors gathered former treasures and priced them to sell. The adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” held true for many during the sale, including this woman (pictured below) who is loving her new…
By Tracy Dudley The past two summers, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted farmers’ markets in the Village Square parking lot in CPN. While patronage was high initially, interest tapered off to the point where the endeavor ended up losing money. Because of this, CPN will not host a farmers’ market this season. However,…
Reminder! Get Acquainted With Your Metropolitan District CPNMD OPEN HOUSE June 24 (Wednesday) 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Residents of Castle Pines North are welcome to get acquainted with the operations and services provided by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District.CPNMD staff and board members will be available to personally answer questions and address important community…
by Lane Roberts With the opening of a new charter school in Castle Pines North (CPN), may residents have expressed concerns regarding a potential increase in traffic along Monarch Boulevard, primarily near Buffalo Ridge Elementary School. American Academy, a Douglas County K-8 charter school, is set to open in their new 83,000 square foot facility…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard As part of a community unit taught at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) two different groups of second graders took a tour of Colorado’s State Capitol and seven students, Kristin Palyo, Johnny Stoughton, Larrysa Meyers, Justus Novak, Madison Tran, Jaxson Bell and Aidan Svenson were selected to say the “Pledge of Allegiance”…
By Tracy Dudley Back by request, South Metro Volleyball (SMVB) will again offer its adult women’s grass volleyball league this summer here in Castle Pines North (CPN). SMVB is a small, locally-owned adult sports organization that hosts numerous adult volleyball events at various venues throughout the year. However, come summertime, there is a strong demand…
Castle Pines Athletics and Dazbog Coffee are celebrating summer in CPN on Sunday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us at Dazbog for a fun day of jump castles, face painting, bungee relay, music, raffle prizes , coupons and more! Bring the children and celebrate summer in CPN! Summer camps now offered…
by Terri Wiebold No more cash or coin payments accepted Since E-470 opened in 1991, customers using the toll highway have had the option of paying either by cash or with EXpressToll transponders. Beginning in July, that will change, and customers can keep their change. Effective July 4, 2009, coin and currency payment will no…
Sixteen-year-old Mike Elmore (second from left) and his fellow troop members from Boy Scout Troop 316 erect a “hawk house” in Castle Pines North for Elmore’s Eagle Scout project. The houses encourage vole- and rabbit-eating hawks to spend time in the area to keep pests under control. (Photos courtesy of Wayne Elmore) by Lisa Crockett…
By Scott Lasher Rock Canyon High School will send off it’s third graduating class, the Class of 2009 on Friday, May 22. The class is the first to have gone through both seventh and eighth grade at Rocky Heights Middle School, so the occasion marks a big day for schools serving the Castle Pines North…
WARP Ambassadors join Colorado State Representative Frank McNulty for a photo after being recognized for their efforts in raising water conservation awareness. By Carin R. Kirkegaard WARP Ambassadors from Rock Canyon, Douglas County, Chaparral and Castle View High Schools were recognized for their efforts in raising water conservation awareness at Colorado’s House of Representative’s general…
By Lane Roberts American Academy students recently placed eighth in the Math Counts state competition. The students competed with 25 other teams from schools throughout the state. Congratulations to Shawn Ong, Nick Collins, JD Gordon and Matthew Haney. “Making it to the state competition, both individually and as a team is an enormous achievement,” said…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Castle Pines North (CPN) Empty Nesters golf group have teed off for the season. In May, the group held their first social golfing event at The Ridge Golf Course. The golf group meets twice a month at either The Ridge in CPN, Red Hawk in Castle Rock and Bear Dance…
Mark the calendar and plan to attend the swim clinic featuring triathlon coach Rich Kline on Monday June 8 from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. Kline will be providing swim tips for those that are just beginning to those that are seeking to swim faster. Fast Lane Jane is a local Castle Pines business that…
Submitted by Horizon Pain Center Horizon Pain Center is showcased for applying innovative healing technologies in patient therapy on the KUSA Channel 9, June 13, 6 pm episode of “American Health Front.” This medical news program educates viewers about important advances in medical techniques and technologies. Horizon is featured for treating acute and chronic pain…
by Terri Wiebold The Kiwanis Club of Douglas County will host its fifth annual golf tournament at the Perry Park Country Club in Larkspur on August 31. The cost is $175 per person, which includes an amazing day of golf – including cart, range balls, a “goodie bag” and lunch. Proceeds from the tournament go…
By Lisa Crockett Summer is just starting, but for most students at Timber Trail Elementary School (TTE), classes will begin soon. Because TTE operates on a four-track calendar, the first day of school is July 6 for more than three quarters of the student body. Budget cuts district wide have dictated changes in the school…
WARP Ambassadors from Rock Canyon High School conduct water conservation awareness assembly for Buffalo Ridge Elementary School fourth graders. Photo by Tim Gamble
by Terri Wiebold On the heels of celebrating its one-year anniversary of becoming a city, the Castle Pines North City Council is taking steps to ensure that city financial information remains open, accessible, and timely. At the May 14 City Council meeting, council unanimously passed a resolution to appoint a deputy treasurer, citing a lack…
by Terri Wiebold with information provided by Douglas County County residents living and working in the southern areas of Douglas County can renew their driver’s license, change their address, and get a Colorado ID at Douglas County’s new Driver’s License Office in Castle Rock. The Castle Rock driver’s license office handles renewals, out-of-state transfers, and…
Pictured left to right – Sammy Fox, Chloe Civello, Jared Jordan, Nicole Jordan, Teddy Koerner. Inset: Erin Riner, Marielle Renehan, Abby Kochevar. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard Castle Pines club swimmers from both Colorado Athletic Club and the Rock Swim team shined at the end of the short-course swimming season by qualifying and…