The Connection

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…

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.…

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…

Boy Scout Troop 316 is offering a Christmas Tree pickup service for Castle Pines North residents. As of press time, dates for pickup had not been determined – dates will be listed on the troop’s website closer to the holiday. Trees will be taken to Douglas County recycling facilities. There is no charge for the…

by Lisa Crockett In the wake of the Library District’s failure to receive a funding increase from voters for the second year in a row, hope for the possibility of a library in Castle Pines North (CPN) is growing dim. The proposed library was to have served as an “anchor” tenant for the commercial development…

by Terri Wiebold The Master Association Board of Directors adopted a revised dues collection policy at its monthly Board of Directors meeting in September. Annual dues notices for the Master Association will be mailed to homeowners in December and, in accordance with the new policy, dues will now be payable on January 1, 2009. This…

South Suburban Parks and Recreation will be offering all recreation center passes at a 10 percent discount from November 27 through December 31. 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. Drop-in group fitness…

Let’s get together! We’ll eat (naturally), play and socialize, study and learn, all in celebration of our Jewish heritage. If you are interested in joining?the Castle Pines Chavura, please call Shirley Beer-Powell at 303-725-7702. With the High Holy days approaching what better time to get together.

by Elean Gersack With the holidays near, take time to slow down and enjoy the season. From music and theater to nature and children’s events, there are numerous happenings around town for little ones, adults and families. Breakfast with Santa at The Ridge Saturday, December 6, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The CPN Chamber…

by Terri Wiebold, with contributions from Neil Preister In October, guest speaker Neil Preister attended the Master Association Board of Director’s meeting to discuss the organization IREA Voices and to solicit candidates for the Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) Board of Director’s election, to be held in April 2009. IREA Voices is a nonprofit, nonpartisan…

When asked what she thought of the work Colleen Carlson (right) of Carlson Homescapes did in her newly-designed room, Debbie Kirwin (left) said, “Oh my gosh it’s beautiful! (photo by Tim Gamble) by Terri Wiebold In an environment where the economic market causes people to tighten purse strings and re-evaluate spending priorities, an optimistic new…

by Anthonette Klinkerman The unusually warm autumn weather cooperated and brought out a host of little goblins to the second annual Castle Pines North Trick or Treat Street. On Wednesday, October 29, 33 Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce businesses participated to create a safe Halloween environment filled with candy, goodies, and activities for the young…

If you missed the November 15 registration of Castle Pines North’s new recreational youth sports program, there is still time to register for spring and summer sports. Castle Pines Athletics is a new non-competitive youth sports program offering children the opportunity to play on fields right here at home in CPN. A few spaces for…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Women have the edge when it comes to networking. Naturally social beings, women have started such movements as Angie’s List on the Internet and thousands of various MeetUp groups to cater to unique needs. It was therefore only a logical step for Maria Lee and Alane Wetzel to create the first ever…

by Lisa Crockett Douglas County School District (DCSD) is facing a budget shortfall of $16 million in coming years, which will likely result in continued overcrowding, larger class sizes and an inability to upgrade technology. “Election Day was a tough one for us in Douglas County School District,” said DCSD Superintendent James Christensen. “Our families,…

by Paige Newman, Student Intern from Rock Canyon High School There are numerous amounts of fears brought on by driving, felt particularly by parents of young drivers. As a new driver myself, I know that my parents worry about me talking on my cell phone, texting, or being distracted by the radio. While there is…

by Terri Wiebold Expanding upon a collaborative process that began more than five years ago with Douglas County and Denver Parks, the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) Landscape Committee is teaming up with the CPN Metro District and the City’s environmental task force “CP Green” to make the new entrance into the city from…

Open Enrollment: Parents wishing to enroll children in a Douglas County School District school, other than a designated neighborhood school, must complete an open enrollment form. Open enrollment forms can be downloaded from the district website at www.dcsdk12.org and parents can view a list of the schools available for open enrollment for the 2009-2010 school…

by Lisa Crockett No need to leave Castle Pines North (CPN) this holiday season for beautiful fresh cut Christmas trees. The Ridge Golf Course is teaming up with Sedalia Nursery to offer the CPN community Christmas trees that will benefit both a local charity and the environment. Trees went on sale on Friday, November 28.…

Construction is finally underway for American Academy’s new 83,000 square foot school on Lagae Ranch in CPN. The K-8 Charter School will be the first middle school in CPN and will have more than 700 students making it the largest Charter School in Douglas County. The school plans to open September 7, 2009. (design provided…

The double turn lane at the northbound intersection of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway has been permanently removed. Per the approved construction plans, the double left turn lane off Lagae Road has now been changed to a single left turn lane. The previous left turn lane will be converted to a “straight-through only” lane…

by Lisa Crockett Village Homes of Colorado, Inc., announced in early November that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Colorado. Village built nearly a quarter of the homes in Castle Pines North (CPN), most of which are less than…