Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
by Lisa Crockett After years of negotiations involving Castle Pines North (CPN), Xcel Energy and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), plans are now complete for the final expansion of the power lines that travel diagonally through the eastern part of CPN. Continued efforts by CPN Master Association Vice President, Bruce Thompson, and Charter Oaks residents…
By Lisa Crockett Do-it-yourselfers in Castle Pines North will have to wait a bit longer than originally expected for a new Lowe’s store to open in Castle Rock. The store, which will be built at the corner of Meadows Parkway and Santa Fe (near The Outlets at Castle Rock), was announced in July and was…
by Elean Gersack Congratulations Rockslide Participants Congratulations to all TTE Rockslide participants! The Timber Trail Educational Alliance (TTEA) will use the funds raised for the school’s science and reading programs as well as technology improvements. The TTEA is hoping to raise $44,000 during this school year to be used for these great programs. Prior to…
Developer Chris Fellows (left) walks the Lagae Ranch property while talking with HOA1 residents. (Photo by Lane Roberts) by Lane Roberts For years, residents in HOA1 have enjoyed hundreds of acres of open space – right in their back yards. HOA1, which consists of the 424 homes in Royal Hill, Knights Bridge and Noble Ridge,…
by Terri Wiebold The recent opening of FirstBank inside the Safeway grocery store has provided added convenience to many Castle Pine North (CPN) residents. As Colorado’s largest locally-owned banking organization, FirstBank has been providing full-service banking for more than 40 years. Headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, FirstBank is well established in the marketplace as a premier…
Castle Pines North Resident Carol Langley-Finnegan In June, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents Carol Langley-Finnegan and Walt Wohlgemuth graduated from a 10-week citizen’s academy sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and officially became Community Safety Volunteers. The program provided specialized training to Langley-Finnegan and Wohlgemuth in the areas of self defense, conflict resolution, defensive…
Citizens for the Preservation of Castle Pines North by Lane Roberts It started with a proposal for a new road near neighbors to the south of Castle Pines North (CPN). Now, Castle Pines Village (Village) is on the fast track to become the “City of Castle Pines.” A proposed road connecting from The Meadows subdivision…
by Elean Gersack Douglas County 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. As of December 1, open enrollment forms can be downloaded from the district website at www.dcsdk12.org and parents can view a list of the…
by Elean Gersack Get set to cheer for your favorite teachers and staff members. The fourth annual Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) versus Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Teacher Kickball Game has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rock Canyon High School gymnasium. This event always brings big crowds and lots of…
by Elean Gersack Make plans now for the 2008 Holiday Carriage Rides, brought to you by the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association. The rides are planned for Monday through Wednesday, December 1-3 and Monday though Wednesday, December 8-10 in the beautiful HOA2 neighborhood. Rides will run every half hour from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30…
by Elean Gersack SafeSplash swim school opened for swim lessons on Monday, November 27, at a brand new facility located next to The Wildlife Experience. This dedicated warm water pool is just what kids need to feel comfortable and gain confidence in the water. SafeSplash boasts instructors that are highly experienced and teach at very…
Rapper Hunter Brown known as “Busta Brown” to his fans by Lisa Crockett Ask the average person what they think about rap music, and you would be likely to find that rap is often linked with less-than-desirable behavior. A 16-year-old in Castle Pines North is on a mission to change that stereotype. “Rap is usually…
by Lane Roberts As the holidays rapidly approach, now is a great time to become re-acquainted with the many businesses in Castle Pines North (CPN). The local shops and restaurants in CPN are an integral part of everyday life and greatly enhance the community. “We have such a wide variety of unique businesses and services…
by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) residents have seen a change in the speed limit signs on Castle Pines Parkway between Buffalo Trail and I-25. This change was implemented as a result of the findings of an engineering study conducted by Douglas County and a resolution signed by the Board of County Commissioners in…
Master Association Board President Maureen Shul By Lane Roberts On Friday, November 17, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association hosted a meeting of all the local businesses within CPN. Dozens of business owners attended the meeting to learn more about how plans for the possible incorporation of Castle Pines Village could directly impact them.…
by Celine Hundt The NorthLynx HOA serves 221 homes in the Serena and Tapedero neighborhoods in the Daniel’s Gate subdivision in Castle Pines North (CPN). According to Jennifer Havercroft, president of the NorthLynx HOA, one of the first action items of the current Board was to modify the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines. A new…
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,…
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 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 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 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 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 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…
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 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…
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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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.…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 Terri Wiebold In July, the Castle Pines North Master Association Safety Committee met with representatives from the South Metro Fire District and the Douglas County Department of Emergency Management to discuss safety issues in Castle Pines North. Among the issues discussed were notification and evacuation procedures in the event of a large scale emergency.…
by Terri Wiebold More than fifty Castle Pines North (CPN) residents turned up at the community center on August 3 to hear a presentation given by Chris Fellows of HF Holdings LLC, regarding future development of the northern portion of the Lagae Ranch. The 240-acre parcel of land, located south of King Soopers and adjacent…
CPN resident Ben Ewing sets his sights on the 2008 Olympic games. By Celine Hundt Castle Pines North resident, Ben Ewing, is infectiously passionate about the sport of team handball. When most people imagine handball, it is a picture of two people hitting a ball against a wall with hands in the style of racquetball.…
From the left, Jeff Tomczak, Gene Tomczak and Amy Mayo of Show Your Colors by Terri Wiebold Flying America’s colors is not only a successful family business for U.S. Air Force veteran Gene Tomczak, but a true passion. Founder of Show Your Colors Flag Company, Tomczak donated the grand 10 x 15 foot American flag…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard One important factor in what makes Castle Pines North (CPN) a community where people want to live is the people, and more specifically those who give freely of themselves and their time. Stacie Sneider is one of those people who tirelessly gives back to CPN. A Colorado native, Sneider grew up…
The Castle Pines North Master Association is currently seeking a Community Manager to oversee the administrative, financial and daily business management functions of the organization. The manager would report to a seven member board of directors and oversee daily operations of 3,200 homes. This position would require a strong financial background and extensive administrative service…