Read the stories from the latest issue:
The Castle Pines North Metro District recently welcomed Dan Schmick, formerly of Clifton Gunderson LLP, on board to assume many of the financial duties of the District. During the past to years with Clifton Gunderson, Schmick assisted with the compilation of many of the District’s financial statements, which were outsourced to the firm at the…
Share questions, ideas, comments or opinions with The Connection. E-mail questions to Contact by email . I know that Castle Pines North (CPN) will levy a sales tax now that it is a city. When does the new sales tax take effect? A sales tax of 2.75 percent was approved by CPN voters in the…
Ballots for the Feb. 12 election have been mailed to 4,883 active registered voters in CPN. There are NO polling places for the February 12 election. Ballots must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m., February 12. Two ballot drop-off locations will be available including: Wilcox Administration Building 301 N. Wilcox Street Castle Rock, CO…
by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association is the community-wide HOA that unifies and represents all the individual neighborhoods within the community, while enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. The Master Association communicates important information to the community via newpaper (The Connection), website (www.cpnhoa.org) and through community e-mail alerts. Residents…
by Lisa Crockett Voters in Castle Rock and Lone Tree have decided the fate of the library in Castle Pines North (CPN) – for now, at least. A razor-thin margin of voters – less than a half a percent – voted down a measure to increase funding to the Douglas County Library District, funding that…
God’s Grace Community Church held Christmas Eve services at the CPN Community Center and plans to hold Easter services there as well. The church is working to build a permanent facility on the Lagae Ranch development in CPN. (photo provided by Claudia Larson) by Lisa Crockett One word is all you need to define what…
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) 7075 N. Shoreham Drive Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-387-5575 Grades K-5 Calendar: Traditional www.1dcsdk12.org/elementary/bre by Elean Gersack In late fall, Cheryl Wedge’s second graders participated in a reading program called Catch the Reading Wave. The fluency results, coupled with true reading enjoyment by students, have caused this program to be slated…
Santa visits with a little friend on December 22 during the annual HOA2 Children’s Christmas Party. (photo courtesy of Kristi Pacheco) The HOA2 annual Christmas party included a gingerbread house decorating contest. (photo courtesy of Michael Gersack)
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Husband and wife team Jeffrey Rubach and Allison Prescott recently celebrated a year of cooking in Castle Pines North. November 2008 marked the one-year anniversary of Plum Creek Catering’s unique arrangement of leasing space in Castle Cones, located at the Shoppes at Village Square. “This spot is ideal for…
Look for this Poster & Register to win a Valentines Day Basket of Goodies at any of the participating locations. 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…
by Lisa Crockett It is a presidential election year, and Colorado voters who wish to help decide what November’s presidential election ballot will look like should mark their calendars for Tuesday, February 5 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Colorado utilizes a caucus procedure to determine who receives the nomination. Caucuses are party-specific; only voters…
Sandy Gamble – HOA#1 Jordan Colling – HOA#1 by Terri Wiebold The past few months have brought many changes to Castle Pines North, including a welcome change in seasons. This winter CPN residents have seen blankets upon blankets of white snow. Many have asked what impact, if any, becoming a city will have on snow…
by Elean Gersack 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. Soccer fields are available at all three parks and baseball fields are available at Coyote Ridge Park and…
by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North (CPN) has lost one of its most dedicated volunteers. Rod Ellerbusch, a founding member of the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines, was instrumental in bringing the service club to CPN and in bringing its vision to life. Founded in 2004, the Kiwanis Club of Castle Pines sponsors an annual…
by Lane Roberts The cold and snowy weather did not stop Ward 2 residents from attending the second candidate forum for city government candidates held on Wednesday, January 30, at the Community Center. The forum was presented by Business in the Pines (BIP), a coalition of businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN) and surrounding areas.…
by Carin Kirkeggard The pools in Castle Pines North (CPN) are still buried under the most recent snow and temperatures are dipping below the freezing mark, but before long, kids will be counting down to the last day of school and the CPN swim team, the Castle Crocs, will begin their third season. The winter…
by Terri Wiebold While CPN residents may have heard of local “Neighborhood Watch” programs, many are not aware of a valuable program provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) called the “Watch Dog 1.0 Douglas County House Watch.” The house watch program is a service provided by the DCSO for residents who will be…
by Lisa Crockett A portion of the old Washington Mutual bank building is now home to a new venture from the H&R Block Company, Vantive Partners. Unlike traditional H&R Block offices, which are typically only open during tax season, Vantive Partners will be a permanent part of the Castle Pines North (CPN) business community. “Vantive…
by Lisa Crockett Have you ever wondered how certain businesses, homes or civic amenities came to be in Douglas County? Douglas County is in the midst of a full-scale effort to revise its plans for the future; work sessions and hearings on the matter are open to the public. Meetings for the so-called 2030 Comprehensive…
Sheriff Dave Weaver (third frrom the left) and Deputies in the DCSO Community Resources Division meet with community advocates to discuss the new proposed alarm ordinance. (photo by Terri Wiebold) by Terri Wiebold Residents and businesses in Castle Pines North and throughout Douglas County who contract with a private security company may be paying more…
by Anthonette Klinkerman Now it matters more than ever where Castle Pines North residents shop. Incorporation efforts all began over which community, Castle Pines North or Castle Pines Village, was going to benefit from the sales tax revenue generated by the CPN business district. Seventy-seven percent of CPN’s residents voted to support incorporation in order…
by Lisa Crockett A traffic meter has been installed at the Castle Pines Parkway/I-25 Interchange. The Colorado Department of Transportation (C-DOT) is conducting the study to determine whether or not a metering light is needed at the location to ease traffic congestion. “We will be gathering data for the next few months, then looking at…
Mayor City Council Treasurer City Clerk JOB DESCRIPTION MAYOR CITY OF CASTLE PINES NORTH, COLORADO The following are the duties for the position of Mayor, City of Castle Pines North, Colorado in accordance with statutory requirements. (1) The mayor shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for that office at the regular…
The 180-foot crossover power pole recently installed by Xcel north of Coyote Ridge Park has created a stir among residents. Views from homes miles from the power line corridor have been impacted by this new pole. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lane Roberts The newly installed 180-foot pole north of Coyote Ridge Park has created…
by Terri Wiebold “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) is a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office program designed to aid law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel in locating necessary contact information about an individual in an emergency situation. The program uses an individual’s cell phone address book as a resource for emergency contact information. If a cell…
by Lisa Crockett Construction on the new RidgeGate freeway interchange, on I-25 south of Lincoln Avenue, will soon add a new component to its construction schedule. A frontage road, intended to allow for additional emergency access and also to handle traffic overflow, is scheduled to begin sometime this summer. The project is a joint venture…
by Lisa Crockett It was a full house at the Community Center for the first of three community forums for city government candidates held Tuesday night. The forum was hosted by Business in the Pines (BIP), a coalition of businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN) and surrounding areas. The forum was moderated by Paul Arvidson,…
Douglas County is working closely with CPN community leadership to help ensure a smooth transition of services and governance for the citizens of CPN. Leadership Members of the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association and the CPN Preservation Committee have agreed to help the community with key issues during this interim period. CPN is working…
by Lane Roberts The new City of Castle Pines North (CPN) is scheduled to host an election on February 12 to elect six council members, a mayor, a clerk and a treasurer. Secretary of State Mike Coffman has declared voting machines throughout Colorado unreliable. What does this mean for the upcoming election in CPN? According…
Have a live tree (or trees) at your house? Then be aware that cut Christmas trees become explosively flammable when they dry out. Keep them watered and away from heat sources like furnace vents and fireplaces. Make an early resolution to get them out of the house right after the holidays.
Each issue of The Connection features current events, sports information, school awards, fundraisers and other important items about each of the six neighborhood schools in Castle Pines North. To share school information, please contact by email, or call 303-482-3078. by Elean Gersack Fifth Graders Ski Free Being in the fifth grade has benefits – like…
by Terri Wiebold The Douglas County Office of Emergency Management is the main hub for the coordination of disaster management and training, homeland security, emergency preparedness and education, multi-agency cooperation, and emergency medical and trauma system coordination within Douglas County. It publishes an annual Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Guide, and the guides for 2007 are…
by Terri Wiebold Fall in Castle Pines North (CPN) came and went quickly this year, as our first snow hit in early October. With the snow each year comes many safety concerns in the community, especially in regard to pedestrians and sledding. Unfortunatley, one of the most popular sights for sledding in CPN happens to…
Master Association safety committee members meet with residents at the intersection of Monarch Boulevard and Oxford Drive to discuss ideas for improved safety at the crosswalk at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (Left to right: Carol Langley-Finnegan, Maureen Shul, Kerri Norris, and Rosanne Lumsden) by Terri Wiebold School zones are a particularly busy area of roadway traffic…
by Elean Gersack In a few short months it will be time to hit the ballparks and fields. Now is the time to register for spring sports leagues and activities. Castle Rock Recreation Center Castle Rock Recreation Center offers a variety of sports and activities. For more information and to register, visit www.crgov.com/recreation. Colorado Elite…
Castle Pines North resident Eva Mitchell (left) accepts the William “Bill” Reed Good award for her contributions to water rights in Colorado on October 14, 2007 at the Broadmoor. (photo courtesy of the Colorado Association of Realtors) by Terri Wiebold Water has been the topic of much discussion in the Castle Pines North (CPN) community…
Supporters of incorporation celebrate at The Ridge on Election night. Pictured from the left – Eva Mitchell, Joan Millspaugh, Dick Lichtenheld, Doug Gilbert, Charles Norton, Maureen Shul, Lane Roberts and Earl Millspaugh. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lane Roberts The votes have been counted and the questions are many. What happens next for the new…
The League of Women Voters Hosted an incorporation debate forum for CPN residents on Friday, November 2, at 7 p.m. at Rocky Heights Middle School. More than 80 CPN residents attended the forum. Maureen Shul and Doug Gilbert (pictured above at the right) represented the pro-incorporation side. Debating against incorporation were Mark Shively and Ted…
Lucas Palazzo, was the winner of the Trick-or-Treat Street $100 gift card to Toys R Us. Palazzo used a portion of his gift card to buy and donate toys for Toys for Tots. CPN area businesses hosted a Toys for Tots drive on Sunday, November 11 at the Daniel’s Gate clubhouse. Toys for Tots donation…
Boy Scout Troop 316 is offering pickup service for Castle Pines North residents. Trees will be picked up on Saturday, December 29 and Saturday, January 5. Trees will be taken to Douglas County recycling facilities. There is no charge for the project, but charitable donations to Troop 316 will be accepted. To schedule a pickup,…
Jeremy Gamble (left) received an award on November 6 from Castle Pines North Preservation Committee Leader Maureen Shul for his contributions to the incorporation effort. Gamble, 13, donated countless volunteer hours to help with incorporation signs and numerous other projects. “Jeremy was always there to help us and always with a smile and a hug,”…
by Lisa Crockett Here is a look at what is happening in the faith community in Castle Pines North (CPN): Castle Pines Community Church – Meets at Buffalo Ridge Elementary; www.castlepineschurch.org Services at Castle Pines Community Church are held each Sunday at 10 a.m. and feature a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship. Special events…
Jimmy and Lasinda Crane by Terri Wiebold Jimmy’s Steakhouse, formerly Chutney’s in Castle Pines Village, opened with style in November. The restaurant has changed ownership and is now offering casual dining with an upscale feel, according to Restaurant Coordinator Lasinda Crane. “Kannan Alagappan [the building owner] wanted to expand the menu and change things up…
Rejuvenations Grand Opening – November 17, 2007 Rejuvenations is now open in the Safeway Shopping Center in CPN. Knowing that health does not come from any one thing, Rejuvenations was created. Combined with regular chiropractic care and exercises, Rejuvenations’ services will help a person become truly well. Detoxification, acupressure, Reiki, and massage therapy can rejuvenate…
by Lisa Crockett The shrinking national mortgage market has hit a Castle Pines North (CPN) business. The Countrywide Financial Home Mortgage office in the Safeway shopping center has closed its doors. “Countrywide is getting smaller in general,” said sales manager Steve Caughlin. “Our lease was up at the Castle Pines North location, and we’ve consolidated…
by Lisa Crockett The Meadows will soon be home to a new Centura Health Hosptial, making it the first and only hospital in Castle Rock. Centura, which is Colorado’s largest healthcare system, signed an agreement to purchase 50 acres of land from the Castle Rock Development Company and plans to open the first phase of…
by Terri Wiebold After more than a year of the county planning and approval process, the new T-Mobile cellular tower in Castle Pines North (CPN) is on its way to becoming a reality. In August 2006, Douglas County sent out referrals on plans to construct a cellular tower in the south parking lot of The…
Developer Chris Fellows (above) of HF Holdings, LLC, presented his plan for Lagae Ranch to CPN residents in late October. The vote to incorporate CPN will expedite this development and secure future tap fee revenue for renewable water. The development will bring approximately 230 single-family-detached homes as well as several multi-family units. Also included in…
by Lisa Crockett Continuing construction on the new Ridgegate freeway interchange, located at I-25 south of Lincoln Avenue, will mean mild traffic slowdowns for the months to come. A bridge at the interchange will be constructed over the next 12 months, bringing a “lane shift” and a slower, 55 m.p.h speed limit, which will be…
Catson Collections to Host Holiday Boutique Catson Collections – a new local business selling pashminas, shawls, and stoles in every color, pattern, and texture imaginable – will host a holiday boutique on December 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The boutique will…
by Terri Wiebold South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) provides fire and emergency medical services to the residents of Castle Pines North (CPN), in addition to people and properties within 76 square miles of Arapahoe and Douglas counties in Colorado. While the services SMFR provides to the CPN community have remained consistent throughout the years, there…
by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District has upgraded its website and has posted a variety of articles pertaining to its activities. It is also in the process of building a database for e-mail communications throughout the community. Another ever-present priority for the District is securing funding for reliable and renewable water.…
by Lisa Crockett Colorado public health experts have spent the last six months using reality-television style ads and games to spread the word about what they feel is one of the most serious issues facing Coloradans today – a possible pandemic flu outbreak. The so-called “What If?” campaign is teaching a handful of contestants how…
Maureen Shul, President Castle Pines North Master Association by Lisa Crockett The rewards of climbing one of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners” (a peak above 14,000 feet elevation) are great: spectacular vistas and the satisfaction of accomplishment. Just ask Maureen Shul, a Castle Pines North resident who is currently serving as the President of CPN’s Master Association…
by Lisa Crockett It is now a firmly-entrenched tradition. Castle Pines North (CPN) runners turn out in droves each November to show their school spirit, raise money and have a great time. This year’s Rock Slide raised funds for local schools with more than 1,177 partipants. (Final fundraising totals were not available as of press…
Jennifer Havercroft, Vice-President North Lynx Homeowners Association by Lisa Crockett When residents of the North Lynx Homeowners Association (HOA), comprised of the Serena and Tapadero subdivisions, pay their trash collection fee they also pay for recycling. Many residents, however, were not taking advantage of that service. “As I would be out walking the neighborhood on…
CPNII HOA President Shirley Beer Powell (right) cheers as the results of the vote for incorporation are announced on November 6 at The Ridge in CPN. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) voters have chosen to become Douglas County’s fifth municipality. Voters approved the incorporation issue by nearly a four-to-one…
by Elean Gersack On a perfect fall day, families hit the streets in Castle Pines North (CPN) for Octoberfest on Saturday, October 13. Hayrides ushered guests to and from the fun in the Safeway and Village Square shopping areas, located near I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway. Artisan vendors and local business owners transformed parking areas…
by Lisa Crockett It wasn’t a long ballot, but the few short items in this year’s election generated intense interest in Castle Pines North and surrounding Douglas County. Incorporation passed by a wide margin, with more than seventy-eight percent of voters casting a “yes” ballot on the incorporation question. The other three measures regarding funding…
by Lisa Crockett A new neighborhood called “The Crossings” is slowly taking shape at the corner of Monarch Boulevard and Castle Pines Parkway on the land known as CC-20. The residential portion of the development, which is on the northern half of the property, will soon consist of 20 patio homes and 27 town homes.…
by Lisa Crockett Voters in Douglas County opted not to increase funding to the Douglas County Library District. On the November 6 mail ballot, issue 5A, which would have imposed a property tax increase of 1.25 mills, was defeated by a margin of less than one percent. A mere 208 ballots separated the “yes” votes…
by Lisa Crockett It was not a long ballot, but the few short items in this year’s election generated intense interest in Castle Pines North and surrounding Douglas County. Here’s a look at the other results of the November 6 election: School Board Director, District A: Ryan Stuart School Board Director, District C: Clifton Stahl…
Entrée Vous celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 18. Entrée Vous is located in Village Square Shopping Center in CPN. (photo by Jeremy Gamble) by Elean Gersack Business in the Pines knows how many helpful people there are in Castle Pines North (CPN). As a community leader, Business in the…
Officer Kevin Duffy of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reviews traffic safety information with North Lynx HOA residents. Traffic Safety Reminders: • Traffic cones and other obstructions are illegal and may not be placed on streets by residents. There is some evidence that these tools actually make conditions more dangerous for children. • Drivers must…
Several unique cultural events are planned for children at the Lone Tree Recreation Center this fall. The events do not require registration and are free to the public. For more information, visit the South Suburban Parks and Recreation website at www.sspr.org. In Search of Giants On October 21 at 3 p.m. the Lone Tree Recreation…
by Lisa Crockett Nine Douglas County residents will vie for three open spots on the Board of Education in this November’s election. School Board members are elected by the entire county, but once elected will represent a specific district. “Two of the open spots are in the Highlands Ranch area, and the third is in…
by Lisa Crockett After extensive work on infrastructure and drainage, models for town homes and patio homes on “CC-20” – the land at the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard – could be ready for public tours by late this year or early next year. “Some of the timing will depend on…
Understanding the details presented on a ballot is never easy. Before casting a vote, please review the sample ballot below, along with the detailed explanations provided to fully understand the incorporation ballot. As mentioned in the TABOR article on page 3, three other questions must be addressed in voting on incorporation. For incorporation to be…
by Terri Wiebold In September, Centennial Airport announced it anticipates completion of the Part 150 Noise Study contour maps in October, at which time they will go back to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval. The maps depict various noise thresholds (70Db at the high end to 50Db at the low end.) They are…
The Retreat Park upgrade is complete. (photo by Terri Wiebold) by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District has completed the upgrade at The Retreat Park. The oldest park in CPN received a face-lift this summer. All of the old equipment was removed and replaced with a new, state-of-the-art playground facility. The much-needed…