Read the stories from the latest issue:
In 2005, a total of 2,385 Douglas County households participated in Douglas County’s Household Chemical Roundups, safely disposing of more than 161 tons of hazardous materials. This included 7,500 pounds of pesticides, 140 pounds of mercury-containing devices, 6,500 gallons of hazardous liquids and 130 tons of paint. If not for the Roundups, this waste might…
Castle Pines North residents can avoid unwelcome solicitors by simply placing a “no solicitation” sign near the doorbell. If the doorbell still rings, make sure to keep a locked barrier in front of the solicitor. Ask to see the solicitor registration card from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). According to the DCSO, any person…
by Terri Wiebold Whisper Canyon resident of three years, David Necker is the newest member appointed to the Castle Pines North Master Association’s Board of Directors. With a background in architecture and construction, Necker brings an expertise in dispute resolution, arbitration, and mediation to the Board of Directors. Necker describes himself as, “level headed, with…
by Terri Wiebold After many months of planning, design, and re-design, the T-Mobile cellular flag pole at the Castle Pine North (CPN) Community Center is finally complete. The Community Center, located at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive, was selected as the site for the new tower because it was a high…
By Carin Kirkegaard One important milestone in life is the all-important day when one starts down the path of education and attends the first day of kindergarten. For many parents, this day approaches with joy and anxiety. This apprehension is only greater when a family has a child with special needs. The Abramovitz family of…
No matter the child’s age, parents have one thing in common – safety! Follow these simple tips to help children stay safe when traveling to and from school. Map out a safe way for children to walk to school or to the bus stop. Do a trial run. Teach children to follow traffic signals and…
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…
by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) residents may soon have another line of defense for fighting crime in the open spaces throughout the CPN community. Horses Rodney, Rowdy and Whiskey are the three latest additions to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s newly-formed Mounted Patrol Division. According to DCSO Public Information Officer, Dave Jolly, the…
Vote Centers For the Primary Election, held August 8 and the General Election, held November 7, Douglas County voters will not report to their precinct voting place. Instead, there will be voting centers located across the county. Voters may choose to vote at any of the countywide centers. The Castle Pines North Community Center, located…
Sixty-three year old Mary LaPorte is smiling a lot these days after winning a Mother’s Day Smile Makeover contest in May from Castle Pines Family Dentistry. Of the 25 entries submitted for the contest, Drs. Jeff and Stephanie Scheich selected LaPorte after reading the nomination her husband, John, secretly sent in without his wife’s knowledge.…
by Lane Roberts School buses are already out on the streets of Castle Pines North (CPN). On July 7, Timber Trail Elementary switched to a four-track year-round calender and welcomed more than 600 students back to school. Buffalo Ridge will remain on a traditional calendar this year. DCS Montessori School, Rocky Heights Middle School, and…
by Carin Kirkegaard Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), for the first time in the school’s history, will have its inaugural senior class walking the halls of the school August 15. With this long anticipated moment comes changes to the make up of the school. With nearly 1,200 students attending RCHS this fall, the school was…
by Celine Hundt Because DCS Montessori School is a charter school, it relies heavily on its fundraising efforts to finance its school foundation – the Montessori Educational Foundation (MEF). Proceeds from school fundraisers go directly to buy computers and supplies. One such fundraising event is the school’s Fall Festival which will be held this year…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard Rocky Heights Middle School heads back to school August 14 and is looking forward to a year of learning. At Rocky Heights, “the primary objective of student achievement requires community involvement, parent participation and a culture of high expectations,” said Principal Patricia Dierberger. Doors for the first day of school open…
by Carin R. Kirkegaard The 2006-2007 school year promises to be full of opportunity and celebration for Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE). The first full day of classes will begin August 16 for grades first through fifth. Goal setting conferences will be held on August 14 and 15. During these conference days, parents can open…
by Celine Hundt A community-wide celebration on May 6 heralded the opening of the new skateboard park at Coyote Ridge Park. However, now that a few months have elapsed, the mood of some of the neighbors who live adjacent to the skate park is anything but celebratory. While the park undoubtedly provides a much-needed outlet…
By Carin Kirkegaard Children from across Castle Pines North (CPN) neighborhoods enjoyed their days in the sun swimming for the community on one of the local swim teams. This summer was the first that CPN was able to offer families a choice in choosing a swim team. Castle Pines Piranhas The Castle Pines Piranhas spent…
The Douglas County Libary’s Bookmobile visits Castle Pines North (CPN) each week. The Bookmobile has a permanent collection of more than 3,000 items, but has complete access to everything within the Douglas County Library system. Any item can be ordered on-line and delivered to the Bookmobile for pick-up. Save gas and time and visit the…
by Carin Kirkegaard In May, a swarm of honey bees was discovered at the corner of Oxford and Berkley Circle in the Kings Crossing neighborhood of HOA2. Concerned neighbors spotted the brown swirling mass and upon closer inspection discovered that it was a swarm of bees. Residents tried calling organizations like local animal control as…
by Terri Wiebold Since ancient times, storytellers have shared stories to pass on wisdom, engage the imagination of young people, and foster a sense of community. The spellbinders storytelling program recreates this age-old tradition by bringing together generations and advancing literacy, while enriching the lives of children and volunteers alike. Spellbinders is a group of…
by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North resident, Jerry Parker, feels very strongly about the use of fireworks in residential areas and near open spaces – and for good reason. In 1985, Parker’s house (not in CPN) was nearly burned down by a fire that spread as the result of illegal fireworks. Parker had to evacuate…
One of the greatest assets of Castle Pines North (CPN) is the thousands of acres of open space that surround the community. With this open space comes the animals that call it home. There are herds of elk and deer, as well as other prey of mountain lions that inhabit the landscape surrounding CPN. Residents…
By Carin Kirkegaard Castle Pines North (CPN) residents attended a meeting with Xcel Energy held at the Community Center on June 22. The intent of the meeting was to provide information and answer the community’s questions regarding the upcoming expansion of the Daniel’s Gate Substation. The substation site was built in 1965, nearly 24 years…
by Terri Wiebold Fire Station 36 on Castle Pines Parkway did a fantastic job distributing over 200 replacement smoke detectors to residents whose homes had faulty smoke detectors installed in them. Unfortunately, its supply has run out. Special thanks to South Metro Fire Rescue and Station 36 for its efforts in supplying these replacement detectors.…
by Lane Roberts More than 240-acres of the northern portion of the Lagae Ranch was set to be purchased by HF Holdings, LLC, as of press time. The parcel, located behind King Soopers and adjacen to HOA1, was previously owned by A & A Investments, LLC. Darwin Horan and Chris Fellows, principles of HF Holdings,…
by Terri Wiebold Every spring and summer, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents are encouraged to participate in Douglas County’s Slash and Mulch Program, beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing on through Labor Day weekend. The program is part of Douglas County’s wildfire mitigation plan, and it allows residents to take an active role in fire…
By Lane Roberts Village Homes, owner of the land located on the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard known as CC-20, has filed three land use applications with Douglas County in an effort to move forward with development of the parcel. Village Homes is expecting to receive comments from Douglas County regarding…
by Terri Wiebold Residents going to voting centers this election will vote using a new state of the art technology known as an eSlate™ or Direct Record Electronic (DRE) voting system. The eSlate device is about the size of a legal pad, about one inch thick, and weighs just 5.2 pounds. Voters turn a rotary…
by Terri Wiebold Common products found in residential homes such as oil-based paints, gasoline, fence and deck stains, degreasers, cleaning compounds, and garden chemicals can be hazardous and should be disposed of properly. If not disposed of properly, these materials have the potential to unknowingly harm sanitation workers, create problems in sewage treatment plants and…
by Carin Kirkegaard With more than one thousand participants from seven local schools, the Rock Slide has become one of the most anticipated community events in Castle Pines North (CPN). With all eight schools from the Rock Canyon High School area committed to compete in the 2006 Rock Slide, this year’s event promises to be…
Crystal Petersen, Colorado Division of Wildlife By Celine Hundt On July 18, approximately 50 local residents attended an informational seminar entitled “Coexisting with Wildlife in Castle Pines North”. The seminar was rolled out to the community by Castle Pines North Master Association. The meeting’s intent was to address residents’ safety concerns following recent sightings of…
Castle Rock, Col., (July 5, 2006) – -The Castle Pines North Master Association will present “Coexisting with Wildlife in Castle Pines North,” on Tuesday, July 18, at 7 p.m., at the Castle Pines North (CPN) Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive. Crystal Petersen of the Colorado Division of Wildlife will present common sense safety tips and…
by Lane Roberts Last year, the Metro District’s landscaping improvement project included planting more than 100 trees, hundreds of shrubs, and drought-tolerant grass along Monarch Boulevard. Co-Cal, the commercial landscaping contractor for the project, was back in Castle Pines North (CPN) again this summer to replace numerous trees, shrubs and areas of grass that did…
Xeriscape* is the logical solution to landscape design in the semi-aird state of Colorado. In the days of extreme drought, water restrictions and higher water bills, Xeriscape is a reponsible approach to water conservation. Derived from the Greek word, xeros, meaning “dry,” Xeriscape is a method that promotes water conservation through creative landscaping. Utilizing Xeriscape…
Castle Pines North residents Dave and Sally Warren (above) removed their entire yard of Kentucky Blue Grass at their Hidden Pointe home. The Warrens replaced the lawn with a beautiful Xeriscape design featuring flagstone, river rock, mulch, drought-tolerant plants and evergreens. by Lane Roberts Following a public hearing with suggestions from local residents, the Metro…
CONTACT #1: Jamie Moore, Douglas County Emergency Management Director, 303-660-7589 CONTACT #2: Public Information Officer, Cocha Heyden, 303-814-7096 RELEASE DATE:07/06/06 RELEASE TIME: 2:00 pm CASE NUMBER: WHAT: Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver Lifts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions WHEN: Effective 07/07/06 at 8:00 am NARRATIVE: DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – Recent heavy precipitation and weather outlooks from…
By Terri Wiebold The Canyons is a proposed residential development to the east of Castle Pines North (CPN), across Interstate-25. It is divided into two separate sections – Canyons North which extends from the Castle Pines Parkway interchange south to Crowfoot Valley Road, and Canyons South which fills the land between Crowfoot Valley Road and…
Dear Connection: I am the President of the North Lynx Homeowner’s Association and I have received several complaints from residents who live near the new skateboard park about activities occurring after hours at the park. Who should residents contact if they have questions or concerns about questionable activity at the park? – Jennifer Havercroft, North…
Recent storms in early July brought almost six inches of much needed rain to Castle Pines North. The home of Robert and Sandra Tomlinson (pictured above) in Tapestry Hills was struck by lightening and the garage caught on fire. Special thanks to South Metro Fire Rescue for their quick response. The fire was contained in…
by Elean Gersack Despite a chill in the air and passing rain showers, the Master Association’s presentation of Napoleon Dynamite was enjoyed thoroughly by many Castle Pines North (CPN) families. For the first time, and with the help of the main event sponsor, Dr. Andrew Dunbar of Castle Pines Orthodontics, a PG-rated movie was selected…
by Terri Wiebold This summer, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners placed fire restrictions in effect for the County, including unincorporated areas of Douglas County such as Castle Pines North, based on changes in the extreme risk of fire danger. Future weather forecasts and lack of precipitation levels create a significant threat of fire…
By Terri Wiebold Readers of The Connection may have noticed some subtle changes in the past several issues with the way the newsletter has been published. The Master Association Board of Directors’ vision of this publication is for it to be a community newsletter. With that in mind, coverage of area news has been limited…
Residents Continue to Report Mountain Lion Sightings in CPN. During June and July, residents continued to report numerous sightings of mountain lions throughout Castle Pines North (CPN). Witnesses have reported spotting mountain lions in Stonecroft, Greenbriar, Hidden Pointe, Glen Oaks, and near Daniels Park. Most sightings have been in the evening, but some have been…
by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) continues to have a low crime rate which can often lead to complacency, especially during the summer months. Last summer, there was a brief rash of vehicle break-ins throughout CPN, and several residents lost wallets, purses, computers, and other valuable items. To help keep the community safe, please…
Share questions, comments or opinions with The Connection. E-mail questions to editor@cpnhoa.org. I am all for cyclists riding along Monarch, but are you aware of the frequency in which they cross the white line and cross into traffic? Someone is going to get hurt and it will be a tragedy. – Joe Musso, Hidden Pointe…
by Elean Gersack In Colorado, gardens can sometimes be hard to maintain with warm summer days, cool summer nights and plenty of dryness. Fortunately, there is a local resource available to help even the most novice gardener create a wonderfully landscaped yard. PlantTalk Colorado is a web based resource which provides answers to commonly asked…
Project Lifesaver wristband and battery used by participants. by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Maureen Shul, a resident of Bramble Ridge and Master Association Board President, along with Victor and Amy Mitchell of Castle Pines, are among the volunteers who have worked to make Project Lifesaver a reality in Douglas County. Project Lifesaver…
by Elean Gersack On July 4, this nation will celebrate its 230th birthday. Celebrate this magnificent day with stars and stripes, music, parades, and fireworks displays. Here are just a few ideas to help plan the celebration: The Liberty Festival will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on July 4. The Air Force Color…
By Lane Roberts On Saturday, May 6, Castle Pines North (CPN) celebrated the official grand opening of the new skateboard park at Coytote Ridge Park, presented by the CPN Master Association and CPN Metro District. Adults and children of all ages enjoyed live music by Solid Life U-Turn Youth Band, ice cream donated by Sinton…
by Carin Kirkegaard The Douglas County Garden Club is sponsoring the “Woodsy Owls” at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) as part of its philanthropic work in Douglas County. During the program, the Daisy troop that meets at BRE, learned about the environment and how to keep it clean and preserved. “We measured trees and planted salad…
New residents of Castle Pines North are invited to attend the next welcome coffee set for Tuesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. Held quarterly, the welcome coffees are designed to communicate important facts and information to new residents and to welcome them to the community. For…
by Terri Wiebold In the month of May, there were at least three confirmed vehicle thefts in Castle Pines North. This trend has a tendency to occur around the same time every year – generally coinciding with the weather turning warmer. The thefts generally occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The…
Brandon S., 14 months, enjoys his first Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. Brandon was the winner of the CPNMaster Association’s Easter Egg Hunt Photo Contest. by Elean Gersack Congratulations to Christine S. for taking the winning photograph at the Master Association’s Easter Egg Hunt on April 8. The Master Association received many wonderful photos…
by Carin Kirkegaard The new Metro District Board was seated on May 22 and welcomed three new members: Jonette Brown Eyes, Ted Lohr and Bruce Thompson. Each new member is dedicated and focused on serving Castle Pines North (CPN) with a fiscally-responsible approach, while looking to secure future water supplies for the community. Brown Eyes…
by Belinda Paredes The Canyons development, proposed for the area southeast of I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway, has a new website available. To view plans, new developments, and upcoming events, visit www.thecanyonsliving.com. According to the area developer, The Alpert Company, no open houses have been scheduled yet. They are still awaiting comments on sketch plans…
by Elean Gersack Residents from throughout Castle Pines North (CPN) enjoyed the Master Association’s Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Ridge Park on Saturday, April 8. Over 10,000 eggs and the Easter Bunny were on hand for this fun CPN tradition! Little ones, some with help from their parents, raced for eggs that were divided by…
With only a six percent voter turnout on May 2, the Metro District Board election proved to have one of the lowest numbers of participants in CPN’s history. Out of a total of 5,644 residents eligible to vote, only 309 found the time to make it to the polls to elect new board members. Thirty-nine…
by Carin Kirkegaard A proposal to develop a 12.23-acre parcel of commercially-zoned land in Castle Pines North (CPN) has been filed with the Douglas County Planning Division. The site lies directly north of the intersection of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road, between the Douglas County Montessori School to the east, and the Xcel power…
by Elean Gersack June is adopt-a-cat month and The Buddy Center is gearing up to find homes for many of its kittens and cats during Kitty Karnival on Saturday, June 24. The Karnival will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with crafts, games and small prizes on hand for children. “Our goal is…
By Carin Kirkegaard In the mail ballot election for the South Metro Fire Rescuse (SMFR) Board of Directors, Castle Pines North (CPN) resident William (Bill) P. Schaeffer was one of the three incumbent candidates selected to serve another four-year term. Raymond A. Bullock and Peter Webb were also re-elected. With the entire group returning to…
by Terri Wiebold South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) recently joined a select group of fire agencies around the world that have gained accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). SMFR Chief, Robert Rinne, spoke at the Castle Pines North Master Association Board of Director’s meeting on April 20 about his Department’s accomplishments. “It…
by Belinda Paredes The International at Castle Pines Golf Club will be held this year from August 7-13. Residents of CPN may feel an impact from the tournament in a number of ways, notably increased traffic and busier restaurants, stores, and gas stations. Residents who drive Daniel’s Park Road to Highway 85 will be especially…
by Elean Gersack Remember to save the dates for these great Master Association-sponsored community events at Coyote Ridge Park: Summer Movie in the Park – Napoleon Dynamite June 24: Festivities at 6:30 p.m. and movie begins at dusk. Summer Concert in the Park – Reckless Abandon August 6: Festivities at 4:30 p.m. and concert at…
Castle Pines North resident, Dave Grewe by Terri Wiebold When Castle Pines North resident, Dave Grewe, moved into his new house in the spring of 2000, he could have never imagined the five-year journey he would take chasing down a problem with the faulty smoke detectors in his home. Within the first six months of…
by Elean Gersack Buyers and sellers alike enjoyed the crowds at the Master Association’s Community Garage Sale on May 19 and 20. Hundreds of Castle Pines North (CPN) residents registered sale items on the website and attracted buyers from throughout the greater Denver area. “I received great feedback from residents regarding the sale,” said Carla…