The Connection

by Carin Kirkegaard Longer daylight hours and warmer weather have Castle Pines North (CPN) neighbors taking advantage of Colorado’s early spring days. Whether riding a bike, taking a jog, or walking a dog on CPN’s 13.5 miles of recreational trails, many residents have been out enjoying spring. In addition to these walking trails CPN residents…

Submitted by Heather Halpape, CDOT 9484 or 303-888-6319 (cell) CSP PIO, 303-239-4583 The Colorado State Patrol and 40 law enforcement agencies wrote 2,761 seat belt tickets during a week-long, nighttime Click It or Ticket enforcement that occurred April 1-7 in 11 counties. The special overtime traffic enforcement took place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.…

by Lisa Crockett With no confirmed tenants for the parcel of land at the corner of Monarch Boulevard and Castle Pines Parkway – a parcel known as “CC-20”, construction plans that were introduced more than two years ago remain unchanged but also unrealized. The site, which is owned by Pinark, LLC, was to have been…

by Denise Bassett, Castle Pines North Metro District On average more than eight percent of residential water use is lost through leaking fixtures or pipes! Knowing how much water you use is the first step toward getting a handle on water consumption. As you evaluate your water use, try to look for ways to reduce…

April Parcells Article and photo by Carin Kirkegaard MacKenzie Rae Parcells was born a perfectly healthy baby to Castle Pines North residents, April and Bill Parcells. It was at her two-month check-up, when MacKenzie received her DTap immunization that things began to change. According to April Parcells, co-founder of the MacKenzie Grace Foundation, MacKenzie had…

by Lane Roberts On Thursday, March 5, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce hosted its first membership meeting at The Ridge in Castle Pines North (CPN.) Don Bobeda, chairman for the Chamber, gave the introductions and welcomed more than 60 businesses in attendance. Dr. Jason Ortman of Castle Pines Eye Care sponsored the event.. Guest…

by Lane Roberts Verizon Wireless has been working with the Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District to add a new flag pole cell tower at the Community Center located on Yorkshire Drive at Castle Pines Parkway. The nation’s largest wireless telecommunications provider has determined that wireless coverage in the CPN area, primarily to the west…

by Carin Kirkegaard Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is promoting literacy throughout the school and tying in a fundraising component through learning. With budget cuts looming across the Douglas County School District, the parents from the parent/teacher organization, the Buffalo Ridge Educational Alliance (BREA), decided to be proactive and start raising money for the coming year…

Workers continue the foundation for a pedestrian/bicycle/equestrian underpass. Article and photo Terri Wiebold As construction continues on the Daniel’s Park Improvement Project, local residents anxiously await the reopening of road closures on the west ends of Buffalo Trail and Castle Pines Parkway. Detours were put into place and roads closed in late February for construction…

Information provided by South Suburban Recreation Center On Friday April 17, 2009, South Suburban Parks and Recreation celebrates 50 years of service with 50-cent Friday at the all four South Suburban Golf Courses. Warm up your swing and get into your game with a bucket of balls for only 50 cents all day on Friday,…

Big O repersentatives Brandon Elder (left) and Robyn McElroy with Little O (Photo by Steve Severin, Avocet Communications) by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) Big O Tires mascot, Little O, joined The Children’s Miracle Network and Alice 105.9 radio station for the annual “36 Hours for Kids” event, which is a live radio broadcast…

by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce recently mailed 3,300 shop local first discount cards to Castle Pines North (CPN) residents. The complimentary discount card offers a variety of savings from more than 25 local CPN businesses. “Following the announcement of this program, we had many requests for cards from residents outside of…

by Terri Wiebold A recent study prepared for Douglas County shines new light on travel between the Sedalia area and I-25. In February, the engineering firm of Felsburg, Holt & Ullevig presented its findings on the “Happy Canyon Road Travel Analysis,” which measured travel times for three routes that would provide connection between US 85…

April 21-24 Lights, Camera, Book Fair! The Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) Spring Book Fair will be held Tuesday, April 21 through Friday April 24. The spring fair is an excellent time to stock up on summer reading. All money raised will go directly back to the school’s library to refresh the school’s book collection. To…

Cherokee Ranch Fire – October 29, 2003 Submitted by Becky O’Guin Community Relations Director South Metro Fire Rescue Authority The South Metro Fire Rescue Authority (SMFRA) will be expanding its Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to the I-25/Santa Fe corridors and surrounding areas and would like to invite community members to attend a public meeting:…

by Terri Wiebold Fetch your sneakers and your furry friends and join in the 2009 Furry Scurry. In its sixteenth year, this annual event helps the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL) raise money through donations and pledges to care for thousands of homeless animals. The two-mile fun walk/run will take place from 9 a.m. to…

Owner Barbara Neff, photo by Terri Wiebold As of February 2012 Neff Staffing is no longer serving the Castle Pines community. Thank you for your past support. Information provided by Neff Staffing Services Neff Staffing Services opened its doors for business March 2, 2009 in Castle Pines North’s new Pinnacle Building, located at 7501 Village…

T-Mobile Tower at the Ridge by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Cheryl McDade wants to make a call using her cell phone, but sometimes finds that difficult to do. “We switched to Verizon last year from 15 years with AT&T,” said McDade in a letter to The Castle Pines Connection. “Verizon does not…

The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and dozens of members held their official ribbon cutting ceremony at their new office in Castle Pines North in February. The new office is located at 562 Castle Pines Parkway, Suite C-1, in the Safeway Shopping Center. Learn more about the Chamber at www.castlepineschamber.com. (Photo by Tim Gamble)

Fires. Road closures. Gas leaks. How will you find out about countywide emergencies and disasters? Your safety is our top concern. Early warning helps save lives and property. That’s why the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wants to make sure you know about emergencies and disasters as they happen. Douglas County will use the 3n InstaCom…

by The Colorado Division of Wildlife Coyotes in the Front Range? While coyotes are found throughout the West, they are extremely adaptable and can thrive in urban areas. From downtown Denver to the smallest suburb, coyotes are not new to residential communities. They can and will be found in any neighborhood that provides their basic…

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE Sheriff David A. Weaver 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: 03/30/09 RELEASE TIME: 12:30 pm CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Address canvassing has begun for 2010 Census NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY: Sheriff David A. Weaver would…

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, CO 80109 CONTACT #1: Fran Santagata, Douglas County Emergency Management Director, 303-660-7589 CONTACT #2: Public Information Officer, Cocha Heyden, 303-660-7586. RELEASE DATE: 03/24/09 RELEASE TIME: 4:00 pm CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff David Weaver Approve Stage 1 Fire Restrictions NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS…

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, CO 80109 Deputy Cocha Heyden, Public Information Officer, 303-660-7586, pgr 303-826-7822 RELEASE DATE: 03/09/09 RELEASE TIME: 9:30 am Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Increasing DUI Enforcement for Upcoming Holiday The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up their efforts to apprehend intoxicated and impaired…

Submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer 303-660-7586, pgr 303-826-7822 Deputy Robert Rotherham Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit 303-660-7505 ext 6514 In an effort to save more lives on Colorado’s roadways, particularly at night, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will join forces with State and other local law enforcement…

The Barking Goat Tavern owner, Eric Warner, says he is excited to open for business in Castle Pines North. by Terri Wiebold Looking for somewhere to go to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? As luck would have it, a new bar/restaurant is opening in Castle Pines North, and just in time to celebrate the first green…

This sign now posted at Castle Pines Parkway and Beverly Blvd, the east entry to the city, welcomes all to the new City of Castle Pines North. Mayor Maureen Shul and Council Members Ron Clark, Kim Hoffman and Chris Dooley pose with the new Castle Pines North Welcome sign.

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…