The Connection

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…

The Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) results for the 2007-2008 school year have been distributed and the fifth grade class at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) is one of three fifth grade classes in the Douglas County School District (DCSD) that tied for first place in reading. BRE fifth graders finished with 96 percent of the…

The Castle Pines Parkway exit 188 at I-25 could expect to see more traffic. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) plans to close the Surrey Ridge exits off I-25 with the completion of the new service road currently under construction from Lincoln Avenue in Lone Tree to Castle Pines North by Lisa Crockett Surrey Ridge…

Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand (photo by Terri Wiebold) by Lane Robers and Terri Wiebold Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand (pictured right) took the oath of office for a second term on January 13, as a commissioner in District II which includes the Castle Pines area. Preceding the swearing-in ceremony, Commissioner Boand sat down with…

by Elean Gersack No need to venture far to celebrate the holiday of love. Check out local businesses for gifts, dinner, flowers and more. The Bundt Shoppe Those who have not yet tried a cake from The Bundt Shoppe are missing out. The delectable cakes are perfect for any occasion. In honor of Valentine’s Day,…

T-mobile Tower at the Ridge by Lisa Crockett T-Mobile will soon petition the city council for approval of a new, 45-foot cell phone tower in Daniel’s Gate, near the intersection of Daniels Gate Road and Ocaso Drive. The tower, which will be disguised as a light pole, and an equipment enclosure would be built near…

Submitted by Kristi Doke of American Academy American Academy is currently preparing to compete in the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). The TARC is the world’s largest rocket contest, sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. Each year, approximately 7,000 students compete in the TARC. The top 100 teams throughout…

Juli Adams (left) and CPN resident Elean Gersack recently launched a new e-commerce store for Firefly Furnishings (photo courtesy of Elean Gersack) Firefly Furnishings, a distinctive children’s furnishings boutique recently launched a new e-commerce store – www.fireflyfurnishings.com. Last year, store owner and founder, Juli Adams, partnered with Castle Pines North resident Elean Gersack, to build…

Warren Lynge by Lisa Crockett A solid defeat for the library district in the last election may have seemed like the final word on a library in Castle Pines North (CPN), but a group of citizen volunteers isn’t giving up the fight. “The possibility of a library in Castle Pines North still exists,” said dedicated…

Maureen Shul, former Master Association Board President Maureen Shul, Master Association board president for the past three years, stepped down from her role as a homeowner advocate to focus her energies as mayor for the City of Castle Pines North. Shul served on the Master Association for several years before taking the reins as president.…

Dwight Zemp by Denise Bassett, Castle Pines North Metro District Dwight Zemp was sworn in to fulfill a two-year vacancy on the CPNMD board at the December 8, 2008 board meeting. Zemp views the decision made by the citizens of Castle Pines North to incorporate as bringing new planning and operating challenges to the CPN…

by Terri Wiebold Eight members of local Brownie Troop 628 attended the February 11 Castle Pines North (CPN) City Council meeting to help celebrate the city’s one-year anniversary of officially becoming a city and to work toward earning their “Citizens Near and Far” Try-It (badge). The Brownie Troop opened the meeting with a presentation of…

Information submitted by Carol Langley-Finnegan Safety Task Force Chair The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) Safety Task Force (STF) has reorganized. During 2009, the STF will focus its attention on four major areas of concern for the residents of CPN. The goal?of the STF is that focusing on these specific areas will have a…

by Paige Newman, RCHS student intern Each year in the Denver-metro area, hundreds of thousands of cats are brought into shelters lost and separated from their owners. Of these thousands of lost cats, only a mere 10 percent are ever reunited. To help solve the problem of the reunification of cats and their owners, a…

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…

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…

by Terri Wiebold On January 20, 2009, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Castle Pines North and Douglas County concerning snow removal services. The City of Castle Pines North requested that the County enter into an intergovernmental agreement setting forth the terms and…

by Terri Wiebold The Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that more than 1,500 Americans die annually and an additional 10,000 Americans seek medical attention for carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless,…

by Elean Gersack Spring break is just weeks away. Plan ahead and enjoy some memorable family activities right here in Colorado. From state parks to museums, there is much to do and see close to home. Outdoor Recreation Castlewood Canyon State Park 2989 South State Highway 83, Franktown 303-688-5242 This beautiful retreat is located just…

Submitted by Colleen Carlson Serena resident and Owner of Carlson Homescapes As we zoom into 2009, I’m sure many people had big plans for organizing their homes. An organized home requires a little elbow grease to start, but having a place for everything actually can cut down on stress and might give you more time…

by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, Co 80109 303-660-7586 Contact by e-mail Arapahoe County had an incident where a female was filling up on gas at a gas station and a white male drove up on the other side of her car and took her…

Captain Ron Harvey 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: 01/12/09 RELEASE TIME: 10:00 am CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Captain, Newest Graduate from FBI National Academy Captain Ron Harvey NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS…

by Terri Wiebold The Douglas County Public Works Department plows most public streets in CPN, and will continue to do so as the result of a recent intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the City of Castle Pines North and Douglas County. The IGA extends the County’s services from February 13, 2009 through May of 2009. As…

Director of Public Works Eric Guth Information and photo contributed by City of CPN The City of Castle Pines North will officially launch its new Public Works Department, led by Director Eric Guth, on February 13, 2009. The City of Castle Pines North’s management provider, CH2MHILL OMI, hired Public Works Director Eric Guth to guide…

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 fees, food, and…

Boy Scout Troop 637 by Terri Wiebold Ten members of local Boy Scout Troop 637 attended the January 28 City of Castle Pines North City Council meeting, working toward achieving their “Citizenship in the Community” merit badge. The Scout Troop opened the meeting with a presentation of the colors (American and Colorado flags) and led…

By Lane Roberts The economic downturn seems to be slowing growth of the drugstore giant, Walgreens. In late December, the Deerfield, Illinois-based drugstore announced they are cutting corners by delaying new store openings, while also reporting a 10.5 percent drop in quarterly profits. Walgreens opened and acquired 212 stores in the first quarter of last…

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: 01/13/09 RELEASE TIME: 3:00 pm CASE NUMBER: WHAT: County Sheriffs of Colorado Scholarship Program NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY: Sheriff David A Weaver announced today that County Sheriffs of…

by Terri Wiebold What is vandalism? Vandalism as we know it is legally defined as Criminal Mischief, and is outlined by Colorado Revised Statute CRS 18-4-501. The definition, roughly stated, is unlawfully and knowingly damaging the real or personal property of someone or something. The amount of damage caused determines the classification of the crime…

Lane and ramp closures are in place this week as part of two widening projects on Interstate 25 in northern Douglas County. Monday, January 26 – Thursday, January 29: Right land of southbound I-25 closed from Exit 191 (just south of RidgeGate Interchange – under construction) to Surrey Ridge (Exit 190) from 9:30 p.m. to…

Looking north on I-25 at Lincoln Ave by Lane Roberts Starting this week, drivers can expect delays on I-25 northbound near the new Ridgegate Parkway expansion, south of Lincoln Avenue. According to CDOT, lane closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Monday through Thursdays for striping and realignment. The Ridgegate project is expected…

Gov. Bill Ritter has ordered all U.S. and Colorado flags lowered in Colorado on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in honor of Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer. The 24-year-old soldier from Berthoud was killed Jan. 10 in Baghdad. Bauer was a paratrooper assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based at…

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.…

by Lane Roberts Now that Castle Pines North (CPN) is a new city, many residents have expressed concerns about snow removal for 2009. Snow removal services that were previously provided to unincorporated CPN by Douglas County will become the responsiblity of new city beginning February 12, 2009. Douglas County was required to continue to provide…

submitted by Mark and Kristen Adams Elements Therapeutic Massage is now open in Castle Rock. Mark and Kristin Adams, two local entrepreneurs, have opened Castle Rock’s first Elements Therapeutic Massage studio at 323 Metzler Drive, near the Target Shopping Center, where every customer will receive professional massage services from a certified massage therapist in a…

Castle Pines North Councilman David Neely of Ward 3 encourages South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors and staff at a CPN community meeting about the proposed relocation of Fire Station 36 to “think out of the box and look at some of the other alternatives.” by Terri Wiebold The South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR)…

Enjoy a visit with Santa at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock. Enjoy holiday stories, activities and take pictures with Santa. Santa will visit the Castle Rock library on December 16, 17 and 19 at 10:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Call 303-791-READ. Santa will also visit the libraries in Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch…

by Lisa Crockett Churches in Castle Pines North have a lot planned for the upcoming holiday season. Here are some of the highlights (events listed are held at the Church’s regular meeting place, unless otherwise noted): Castle Pines Community Church Meets at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School; www.castlepineschurch.org Children’s Program, The Christmas Present: December 14 at…

Empty Nesters gather at the HOA2 Clubhouse for Book Club. (photo by Elean Gersack) by Elean Gersack A simple idea from a local retiree has turned into something much bigger than ever imagined. Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Jan Lorenzen, and her husband once had the opportunity to spend time in a forty plus community.…

Sandy Colling by Terri Wiebold Since the inception of the Castle Pines Parks Authority in 2000, Sandy Colling has been an influential and inspirational presence on the Parks Authority Board of Directors. In October, Colling stepped down from his position as president of the Parks Authority to further pursue outside endeavors. “It was a labor…

Little Italy Pizzeria has teamed up with GreenEarth Cleaners and The UPS Store to collect, clean, and ship coats to adults and children in Zanesville, Ohio. Lisa Towne, owner of Little Italy Pizzeria, is an Ohio native who is very familiar with the needs of the small town, which is located at the foothills of…

The Castle Rock Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites the community to participate in an Interfaith Community Messiah Sing-in on Sunday, December 14, at 7 p.m. The annual event, now in its fifth year, will be held at 3301 Meadows Blvd. in Castle Rock. The event features guest vocal soloists…

First Place: 7260 Brixham Circle Second Place: 7350 Berkeley Circle Third Place: 7320 Brixham Circle Solid Life Christian Center Youth Group Sings Chrismas Carols

A local Castle Rock photographer, Melissa Loid Lazar of The Whole Part Photography, sought out to create a “2009 Calendar of Love” using primarily Douglas County children. In fact, 150 children are featured in the 32 page artistic black and white calendar. The party to launch the 2009 Calendar of Love was held on October…

by Terri Wiebold Drivers hoping to reach Daniels Park Road from Castle Pines Parkway will have to wait until after the first of the year for direct access, according to Douglas County Senior Development Review Engineer Gary Walter. Walter anticipates road closures to extend through the beginning of next year. “Finally the gas line is…