Read the stories from the latest issue:
by Elean Gersack The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is pushing forward to bring healthier foods and wellness into local schools. According to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, all school districts were mandated to adopt a school Student Wellness Policy by July 1, 2006. The DCSD Board of Directors approved such…
by Lane Roberts The date for the second CC-20 public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners has been changed. The hearing, originally set for December 13, will now be held on Wednesday, December 20, at 9 a.m. at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. Zoned for commercial development, CC-20 is the 15.7-acre parcel located…
Now through December 25, South Suburban Parks and Recreation is offering all recreation center passes at a 10 percent discount. Customers who purchase a multiple-use pass or punch card have access to all facility amenities and drop-in fitness classes at the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 10249 Ridgegate Circle. Obtain a 30-punch card during this special…
by Elean Gersack Volunteers Needed Interested in helping out at the school? Contact Susan Santamaria-Fenton, Volunteer Coordinator for RHMS, at susan.santamariafenton@dcsdk12.org. Current volunteers needed include: Communications Liaison for the PCA This volunteer would communicate information about activities within the school and surrounding community, as well as information about the school fundraising. This information is circulated…
By Lisa Crockett Three local businessmen are in the process of getting approval to build a new office space in Castle Pines North (CPN). The building will be situated on the south side of Castle Pines Parkway, near the Village Square shopping area (east of King Soopers.) The owners of the project, Martin Russell, Roger…
By Lane Roberts In October, the Metro District Board voted to approve a $115,000 Xeriscape project at the Castle Pines North (CPN) Community Center, located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. The three-phased Xeriscape project will feature drought-tolerant shrubs and native grasses, along with mulch and river rock. Portions of water-dependent Kentucky blue grass will be removed…
by Elean Gersack Homecoming King and Queen Crowned Sean Byrne and Kara Salazar, both of Castle Pines North, were crowned homecoming king and queen during the RCHS homecoming football game against Prairie View on Friday, October 13. RCHS won the game 56 – 0. Bryne is a football captain who plays left guard on the…
Children’s activity center inside the Parker genUrations store. Photo by Terri Wiebold. by Terri Wiebold “Forget everything you knew about picture framing,” says genUrations Frame Shop Owner, Zachary Pietlock. “We broke the mold, examined the pieces, threw some out, added some in, and the next generation in picture framing was born.” The new frame shop…
By Lane Roberts Watch the mailbox during the next few weeks for a brochure from the Metro District entitled “Replenishing Our Water Supply.” The brochure explains the results of the Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP). For the past year, the Metro District has been working with Camp, Dresser and McKee (CDM) to develop a plan…
by Elean Gersack 2007-2008 School Year Applications and Tours DCS Montessori will accept 2007-2008 applications for three – year – old preschool through sixth grade now through February 15, 2007. DCS Montessori utilizes a waitlist and lottery to fill open spots within the school. To download an application form, visit www.dcsmontessori.org, and click on “enrollment.”…
by Lisa Crockett In a scene reminiscent of an old-fashioned town hall, Castle Pines North (CPN) hosted several candidates for public office at its first-ever “Meet the Candidates” forum. The event was held at the CPN Community Center and boasted an attendance of roughly 85 people from all over Douglas County. Residents were allowed to…
by Lisa Crockett For many moms, having a baby marks the beginning of the end of a physically-fit lifestyle. One Castle Pines North (CPN) mom is working to reverse that trend. “Fit Mamas is a group designed to allow moms who stay home with their kids to get up and get moving–without having to hire…
From the left: American Academy Board members Jackie Santos, Erin Kane, Lt. Governor Jane Norton, and CAO Roberta Harrell tour the school. by Elean Gersack Parent Volunteers Needed for Lunch Recess Volunteers are needed to help with recess for first through eighth grades. To sign up, e-mail Cindy Reagor at cindysuereagor@hotmail.com. Times and grades are…
by Elean Gersack According to a local group of residents, now is the time to bring a recreation center to Castle Pines North (CPN). With the community virtually at build out, land options are narrowing and a plot for civic use may become available on the Lagae Ranch property, located behind King Soopers. Civic amenities,…
December 8 What: Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra Concert When: Friday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lone Tree A holiday concert will take place at the Cornerstone Baptist Church at 9941 Lone Tree Parkway in Lone Tree. For more information, visit www.lonetreesymphony.org.
by Elean Gersack “Under the Sea” Book Fair Raises Thousands The Buffalo Ridge Elementary School Book Fair, held in October, raised over $4,000 for the school. Money raised from this event will be used for technology updates, character programs, additional playground fencing, and science curriculum. The “Under the Sea” Reading Adventure theme featured a “Sensational…
Here are the preliminary results of the General Election: Congressional Representative: Tom Tancredo (R) Governor: Bill Ritter Jr.(D) Secretary of State: Mike Coffman (R) State Treasurer: Mark Hillman (R) TOO CLOSE TO CALL Cary Kennedy (D) Attorney General: John Suthers (R) Regent, University of Colorado – At Large: Brian Davidson (R) TOO CLOSE TO CALL…
By Lisa Crockett The Douglas County Planning Commission hosted a hearing regarding the re-zoning and development of CC-20 on Monday, November 27. Representatives from Village Homes (who owns the land), the county and residents of Castle Pines North (CPN) presented their plans and concerns for the parcel of land, which is on the northwest corner…
by Terri Wiebold The science and psychology of speed limits is a study that spans decades. It is comprised of multitudes of speed studies, reports, measurements, accident reviews, surveys, and a lot of documentation. Much of the research referred to in this article is provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation Safety and Engineering Branch,…
by Terri Wiebold The Following information was provided by the Douglas County Public Works Engineering Division to provide clarification on the recent changes: The recent signing and striping revisions on Castle Pines Parkway between Village Square/Charter Oaks and I-25 were implemented to more effectively balance the use of each of the eastbound lanes. By adjusting…
by Lane Roberts Public hearing notices were placed on the CC-20 parcel on November 14. Plans for the parcel are moving forward and new changes have been introduced. The Douglas County Planning Commission will host a public hearing on Monday, November 27, at 7 p.m. The second public hearing is set for Wednesday, December 13,…
by Maureen Shul The FAA Grant to update the noise contours has been issued and signed by Centennial Airport and Ararahoe County Boards. Work on the noise contour updates will now begin and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Centennial Airport had to reapply for funding to update the contour…
by Terri Wiebold As witches, goblins, and super-heroes descend on neighborhoods across Castle Pines North this October 31, the Master Association joins the American Red Cross in offering parents some safety tips to help prepare children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat experience. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common…
The following is an excerpt taken from a letter written by Kurtis Kroeckel of Daniel’s Gate to the CPN Master Association: “I am raising a safety issue that needs prompt attention. The Daniel’s Gate Recreation pool is located across Monarch Boulevard from the Serena development. Children and adults who wish to walk to the pool…
By Celine Hundt In these days of mass-manufacturing, it is refreshing to find beautifully-crafted handmade goods at affordable prices. Handmade Colorado is a new store in Castle Pines North (CPN) where shoppers can purchase the work of local artists and crafters. The store is located close to Safeway in the Castle Pines Marketplace Shopping Center.…
by Lisa Crockett It is tradition. The first Tuesday in November is Election Day, and this year is no exception. However, Castle Pines North voters will have opportunities to make their voices heard in some not-so-traditional ways this election. In the past, voters have cast ballots at specific polling places. This year, voters will have…
by Elean Gersack The third annual Rockslide is set for Saturday, November 11, at Rock Canyon High School. This fun community event raises money to support participating local schools including: Buffalo Ridge Elementary, American Academy, Rocky Heights Middle School, DCS Montessori, Timber Trail Elementary, Redstone Elementary, Rock Canyon High School, and Wildcat Mountain Elementary. New…
Maureen Shul, President of the Castle Pines North Master Association introducing Bill Winter and Ted Harvey by Lisa Crockett In a scene reminiscent of an old-fashioned town hall, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association hosted a “2006 Election Candidate Forum” and invited several candidates for public office. (see names of candidates , their respective…
To Report Neighborhood Incidents or Other Unusual Activities Contact – Emergency Number: 911 Always call 911 for crimes in progress or emergency situations. Douglas County Sheriff’s Traffic Safety Hotline: 303-660-7539 Use this number for ongoing traffic problems. Be sure to record location, days, times and nature of the problem. Douglas County Sheriff’s Dispatch Number: 303-660-7500…
by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines Community Church has asked the County for clarification on several comments made regarding its plan for a new church building in Surrey Ridge. The building, which is proposed to be built on a 12.7-acre site at 9009 Clydesdale Road in the Surrey Ridge community, is a smaller structure than what…
Photo by Lane Roberts by Terri Wiebold What happens to the 560 acres of open space and the 13.5 miles of natural trails that surround Castle Pines North (CPN) in the wintertime? Only the most beautiful blanket of snow you have ever seen – not to mention some GREAT sledding hills. From the start of…
Thanks to Janet Conner, Master Association board member and Safety Task Force Chair, thousands of copies of the new Douglas County Emergency Preparedness Guide are now available for each Castle Pines North (CPN) resident. Neighborhood HOA delegates are encouraged to contact Janet Conner via e-mail at safety@cpnhoa.org, to make arrangements to pick up copies of…
by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association has received several inquiries about the status of plans to build a fire station on a portion of the 10-acre parcel of land located at the corner of Monarch Boulevard and Hidden Pointe. The South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Board of Directors made a commitment…
The Buffalo Ridge community has suffered the loss of educational assistant Jaqueline Blecha. Blecha and her daughter, Ashley Martin, a sophomore at Rock Canyon High School, were killed in an apparent double-murder suicide in September. The school reported Blecha missing when she failed to show up for work. Blecha had been a staff member at…
by Terri Wiebold Residents wanting to explore the open spaces to the north of the Castle Pines North community will have better access in the near future. In accordance with a 1988 agreement between Douglas County, the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA), and Mission Veijo (now Shea homes), Douglas County will begin construction of an…
The Rock Canyon Varsity Poms team will compete at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Florida on February 2-4, 2007. The team qualified during dance team camp in July by receiving a Superior Dance Team award given only to the teams who showed exceptional ability, work ethic, spirit, and teamwork. This…
by Terri Wiebold Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) long-awaited Southeast Corridor Light Rail construction is complete, and trains are scheduled to begin transporting passengers on November 17. CPN residents can take advantage of this service from as close as Lincoln Avenue and I-25. Taking the train could help CPN residents save on time and fuel, make…
by Celine Hundt When it rains, it pours. On the day that “A Taste of Timber Trail” was scheduled to take place, the heavens opened up and the difficult decision to postpone the event by a week was made. The following Saturday, the skies still looked threatening, but the brave organizers of the event ploughed…
by Elean Gersack Castle Pines North (CPN) is fortunate to have many excellent public educational choices close to home: American Academy, Buffalo Ridge Elementary, DCS Montessori, Timber Trail Elementary, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School. New to The Connection is a bulletin board section for these local schools. Check the next few…
On September 18, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School Orchestras performed the National Anthem at the Colorado Rockies Game. Congratulations on a job well done! The Rocky Heights Parent Community Alliance (RHPCA) holds its monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. All parents are invited to attend…
By Lane Roberts A commerical development “For Sale” sign has been placed on CC-20, but Village Homes has no real news to report about the development of the parcel. According to Village Homes, owner of the land located on the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard, a second submission request is being…
By Lane Roberts One might think Castle Pines North (CPN) residents are not passionate about the nature trails in and around the community – – but think again. When news quickly spread that the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) was denying access to a new trailhead to open space near CPN, dozens upon dozens of…
By Lisa Crockett King Soopers will soon have a new neighbor, and Castle Pines North (CPN) residents will have more options for buying and selling properties in local neighborhoods. In October, Prestige Real Estate Group, ranked as Colorado’s largest independent real estate company, will open its eighth office in the Denver-Boulder area here in CPN.…
by Celine Hundt The year-round or four-track calendar has been adopted by many Douglas County elementary schools. The premise of the system is that the student population is split into four groups or tracks (A,B,C, and D) and one track is almost always off school. This alleviates the resource and staffing constraints caused by high…
By Celine Hundt The development of an Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) for the Castle Pines North (CPN) area has been in progress for more than a year. On August 29, the CPN Metro District held a fourth IWRP public meeting at the CPN Community Center. The IWRP outlined a number of strategies and options…
by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines Parks Authority Board members are currently examining park development options following the recent announcement of the proposed development of Lagae Ranch. Castle View Park, a 21-acre park set to be built in the open space on the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive, was to begin construction…
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By Lisa Crockett Plans are underway to connect Hess Road, an east-west roadway in Parker, to the Castle Pines Parkway Exit 188 at I-25. Currently, Hess Road ends at Chambers Road in Parker. Douglas County had initially planned to connect Stroh Road at the Castle Pines Parkway exit, but that plan was scrapped when it…
Chris Fellows (standing above), principle of HF Holdings, LLC, presents ideas for the northern portion of Lagae Ranch to the Castle Pines Parks Authority and more than 40 residents. (Photo by Tim Gamble) By Lane Roberts Future ideas for the northern portion of Lagae Ranch were recently shared with Castle Pines North (CPN) residents. The…
By Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North residents now have a new choice when shopping for tires. Discount Tire, a national chain that specializes in tire sales and service, is now open for business in the old Great American Tire Company location at 7520 Village Square Drive, next to the Shell gas station. “This is a…
by Terri Wiebold In June, Sponsored Publications sent a letter to homes in Castle Pines North (CPN) announcing the future publication of a neighborhood directory, “Our Neighborhood Directory.” Many residents responded with personal listing specifications, service company referrals, and other helpful input. The content for the book has been compiled, and the book is being…
By Lisa Crockett Plans for a new Walgreens store in Castle Pines North (CPN) are slowly moving forward. Several different aspects of the project, which will be located on the north side of Castle Pines Parkway at Lagae Road, are now underway, including obtaining approval and comments from various county and community agencies. The parcel…
Testing time is just around the corner. Mark calendars for the following testing dates: ACT Test: October 28 PLAN TEST: October 18 (sophomores only) SAT I OR SAT II: October 14, 22 and November 4 PSAT: October 18 and 21 Congratulations to Rock Canyon High School’s Marching Band for winning third place at the Colorado…
Developer Chris Fellows (left) walks the Lagae Ranch property while talking with HOA1 residents. By Lane Roberts On Saturday, October 14, more than 30 Castle Pines North residents from HOA1 attended a meeting with the developer of the Lagae Ranch parcel, Chris Fellows. The parcel is located behind King Soopers and adjacent to HOA1. For…
When the snow starts falling, snuggle up with a good book from the Bookmobile. The full service Douglas County Library on wheels visits Castle Pines North each week in the King Soopers parking lot at 7284 Lagae Road. Avoid the icy roads to Castle Rock or Lone Tree and reserve books and movies on the…
South Suburban Parks and Recreation will be offering recreation center passes at a 10 percent discount from November 26 through December 25. Customers who purchase a multiple-use pass or punch card have access to all facility amenities and drop-in fitness classes at South Suburban’s Lone Tree, Goodson, and Buck Recreation Centers. Castle Pines North residents…
By Terri Wiebold Many Questions Still Unanswered In late July, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association Design Review Committee (DRC) submitted its recommendations on the proposed Canyons North development to the County Planning Commission. The committee’s primary concern was the lack of information contained in the referral relating to the traffic impact the development…
by Celine Hundt Triathletes have the arduous challenge of excelling at three different sports (biking, swimming and running). For Kathleen Steffe, a Castle Pines North mother of two, this challenge has become a life’s passion. It was almost an accident that Steffe first discovered the triathlon at the unlikely age of 41. A work colleague…
Congratulations to American Academy for receiving top CSAP honors in Douglas County. In the school’s first year open, they tied for first place with Parker Core Knowledge School and had 90 percent of its students score proficient or advanced on the test. Students and Flight – On Tuesday, August 29, students from 4th grade and…
On September 25, the Master Association welcomed new residents to the community at the “New Resident Welcome Coffee.” The coffees are designed to communicate important facts and information to all new residents and to welcome them to the community. Special thanks to Starbucks, Lucas Liquors and Coffeecakes.com for donating refreshments for this event. For more…
by Celine Hundt Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) is one of five Douglas County Schools that will participate in the Rocky Mountain PBS mini-television series entitled “Super School News.” Fifth and sixth graders from each of the five schools – Redstone, Copper Mesa, Heritage, Sedalia and TTE – will gain a new understanding of the world…
New “Exclusive” Highlands Ranch Trail System by Terri Wiebold More than 50 Castle Pines North (CPN) residents attended the Castle Pines North Metro District Board meeting on August 21, along with the news crew from Channel 7, to hear comments from Douglas County Parks and Trails Planner, Randy Burkhardt, regarding the neighboring Highlands Ranch trail…
By Celine Hundt Donna Collison, a resident of Parker who was dropping off her grandson at the DCS Montessori School, was astounded to encounter a black bear as she walked up the path behind the school. She saw the bear on the main road about 25 yards from the dirt parking lot close to the…
by Roberta Harrell, American Academy CAO Can you imagine learning 7th grade science through the hands-on marine science educational program delivered by marine science professionals at SEACAMP in San Diego? Or how about learning 6th grade archeology from professional researchers at a working excavation site at Crow Canyon Archaeology Center in Cortez, Colorado? These are…
Rocky Heights Nighthawks celebrate their state championship win. By Carin Kirkegaard All middle school students in grades six through eight, both boys and girls, interested in playing for the 2006 Colorado Middle School Inline Hockey League are invited to attend the Rocky Heights Nighthawks fall tryouts at the Soc n’ Roll indoor sports facility in…
For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of this nation’s strength and unity. It has been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens, and it has been a prominent icon in national history. The flag is a precious possession, and can be displayed proudly on all days…especially…
by Terri Wiebold The Ridge Golf Course is one of Colorado’s premier upscale golf courses, receiving statewide and national recognition. It sits nestled in the heart of Castle Pines North (CPN) and is an asset to the entire community. CPN residents enjoy special discounts at The Ridge all through the year, including discounts on green…
by Terri Wiebold The Gardner family had lived in the Castle Pines North community less than one year when the problems began. Twice in the past year the Gardner’s house in King’s Crossing has been “egged”, once in February and again in May. In mid April, Joan Gardner was standing on her back deck watering…
by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North is home to many veterans and other military service members who could become victims of identity theft. This summer, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had the personal information of more than 26.5 million veterans, active duty service members, Reservists, National Guard, and spouses, stolen from an employee’s laptop…
In 2005, a total of 2,385 Douglas County households participated in Douglas County’s Household Chemical Roundups, safely disposing of more than 161 tons of hazardous materials. This included 7,500 pounds of pesticides, 140 pounds of mercury-containing devices, 6,500 gallons of hazardous liquids and 130 tons of paint. If not for the Roundups, this waste might…