Read the stories from the latest issue:
Easter Fest Attracts Hundreds by Elean Gersack The cold and snow did not put a damper on the fun at Easter Fest in Castle Pines North (CPN). On Saturday, April 7, more than 300 children and adults dropped by the CPN Community Center for goodies, music and a visit with the Easter bunny. Business in…
King’s Crossing resident Mary Williams by Belinda Paredes Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock hosted an art exhibit in February and March that featured over 80 pieces by 23 local artists. The show displayed a variety of artwork throughout the library, including sculptures, paintings, jewelry, and pottery. Library patrons could cast a vote for…
by Terri Wiebold The South Metro Fire Rescue 2006 Budget lists capital investments as the major focus for the coming year. When the District went to the electorate seeking an increase in the mill levy in the spring of 2004, the Board of Directors made a commitment to provide mills for capital purposes. One such…
by Carin Kirkegaard Douglas County Planning is reviewing referrals from neighboring homeowner associations regarding the proposed building of a two-story 26,000 square-foot church. Castle Pines Community Church purchased 12 acres of land that lies west of I-25, at the Surrey Ridge exit, and south of Clydesdale Road. During the referral period, the plans for the…
by Terri Wiebold Beginning in April, citizens interested in volunteering in the area of public safety will have the opportunity to participate in a new program through the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. “The Community Safety Volunteer Program” enables volunteers to provide services to the community in those areas of law enforcement that do not require…
by Terri Wiebold Rules of the road apply to pedestrians and bicyclists in addition to vehicles. Most of us are mindful of traffic rules and regulations when it pertains to driving vehicles. Traffic rules are usually followed when stopping at red lights, driving the speed limit, and staying on the proper side of the road.…
by Carin Kirkegaard Longer daylight hours and warmer weather has the neighborhood venturing outside after being cooped up from the snow and cold winds of winter. Whether riding a bike, taking a jog, or walking a dog on Castle Pines North’s 14 miles of recreational trails intertwined throughout the community, many residents have been out…
VOTE Vote for the CPN Metro District Board – May 2, at the CPN Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote for South Metro Fire Rescue Board -ballots will arrive via U.S. mail by April 17 andmust be received by May 2. by Carin Kirkegaard Castle Pines North (CPN) voters…
Courtesy of South Metro Fire Rescue South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) is urging voters to participate in the election of three Fire District Board members. Ballots are being sent to eligible voters and may be returned by mail or in person prior to the May 2 voting deadline. The location to drop off ballots in…
Red E. Fox (left) and Dispatcher with Cherie Abbott of DCSO (Photo by DCSO.) by Terri Wiebold The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has developed a new 911 education program geared toward Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. The program teaches children what to do and what to say when placing a 911 emergency call. It…
by Belinda Paredes The Castle Pines North Master Association has put considerable effort into keeping residents connected to community news and events through a variety of media. The Connection and the website www.cpnhoa.org have traditionally been the main source of information for residents, but last year great effort was made to connect most residents to…
by Belinda Paredes Ever wished for the opportunity to encourage kids to exercise while raising money for their schools? Now Douglas County families have that opportunity through Tri the Rock. Tri the Rock is a youth USA Triathlon open to kids five through 14, to benefit school athletic programs throughout Douglas County and youth athletics…
by Belinda Paredes After an intensive search and interview process, Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) has named a new principal. Allyson “Ally” Berggren, an assistant principal from Colleyville, Texas, was named principal of BRE in February. She will officially start her position on July 1. Berggren has been assistant principal of Bransford Elementary School for the…
Annual invoices for the Castle Pines Master Association were sent out in February and were due March 31. All CPN homeowners (with the exception of Hidden Pointe residents) should have received one. This invoice is in addition to any individual neighborhood HOA dues homeowners pay, and is only billed once a year. For Hidden Pointe…
By Terri Wiebold Informational Meeting about Defective Smoke Detectors to be Held With the recent attention in the media concerning defective smoke detectors found in many CPN homes, a Master Association-sponsored community information meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive. South Metro…
by Lane Roberts Water restrictions in Castle Pines North will begin on May 1. All residents will receive a water restrictions postcard. The Castle Pines North Metro District has implemented mandatory water restrictions since 2003. The circle, diamond, square third day watering program helps manage water supply and also helps conserve water. Water restrictions also…
by Carin Kirkegaard During the past week, there has been a report of a mountain lion in the Stonecroft neighborhood in Castle Pines North (CPN). The Stonecroft neighborhood is located behind the CC-20 lot at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard. The animal was seen walking across Stonemont Drive toward Stonedale, and…
by Belinda Paredes The Ridge Golf Course opened for the 2006 season on March 2. Tee times will be booked starting at 9:30 a.m. during the month of March. Food and beverage service is now available as well. The Ridge is offering a new “season ticket” program for 2006, which is a book of 20…
Note: Precinct 61 also includes portions of Oak Hills and Surrey Ridge, and Precincts 63 and 65 also include a small portion of Castle Pines Village. Douglas County Democrats and Republicans are holding their party’s caucuses at locations around the county Tuesday, March 21. Caucus location is determined by precinct. Residents can find out what…
Crime prevention was traditionally thought to be the sole responsibility of local law enforcement agencies, but the concept of community policing has dramatically changed that philosophy. Partnerships between police and the residents they serve have helped empower people to take active roles in crime prevention in their neighborhoods. Castle Pines North (CPN) is a low…
Close to Home Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria St., Parker – weeklong wildlife camps for ages 5-10: www.wildlifeexperience.org, 720-488-3300 South Suburban Parks & Recreation, various locations in South Suburban district – a large variety of camps for ages 5 and up: www.ssprd.org, 303-708-9500 Primrose Schools, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Parker – a variety of themed…
Coaches that need a field to practice on this spring and/or summer make sure to contact the Metro District and reserve one of Castle Pines North three park locations. CPN has three fields available to all residents including: The Retreat Park, Daniel’s Gate Park, and Coyote Ridge Park. Several soccer, baseball, softball, football and lacrosse…
by Terri Wiebold Drivers Use Caution– New Traffic Signal Expected to be Operational by April 5 Effective noon, March 30, the traffic signal at the intersection of Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive was put in four-way flashing mode. The signal is flashing yellow to drivers on Castle Pines Parkway and is flashing red to…
Vinny DiPasquale’s life is a little slower these days after his almost 1,400 mile journey to Gulfport, Mississippi last December to deliver toys to an elementary school housing victims of Hurricane Katrina. The 15-year-old Rock Canyon High School student undertook the project to earn his Eagle Scout badge from Troop 316 in Castle Pines. Vinny…
Castle View Park, a 21-acre park project at Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive, was delayed last fall due to land acquision issues. The Castle Pines North Metro District has now obtained one of the two missing parcels needed for Castle View. In late December, 5.3 acres of land was transferred to the Metro District…
For many, Spring Break will fall sometime in March. Many Castle Pines North residents are looking for activities that will entertain the whole family. Here are a number of options close to home, as well as to CPN’s north and south. Recreation Sir Bouncealots and Castle Crafts Café is located at 3194 N Industrial Way…
Cindi Leitch, learning specialist from Timber Trail Elementary (TTE), was recently chosen as the finalist to represent the Rock Canyon feeder area at the upcoming Apple Awards. Leitch was picked as one of seven finalists from 60 Apple Award nominees from schools throughout Douglas County. Leitch started with TTE as a member of the core…
The Castle Pines North Metro District recently began construction of a new skateboard park located north of the main parking area at Coyote Ridge Park. According to Metro District Parks and Open Space Manager Charlie Fagan, “Skateboarding is one of the top three most requested park needs. It gives kids and adults a controlled, safe…
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently released information about an attempted Mail Box Cluster theft in Highlands Ranch. Although not specific to CPN, the press release is a good reminder for residents to take precautions with regard to mail. For tips on how to better protect your mail click here.
The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) newspaper staff took home the title of class 3A State champions for their 2004-2005 volume of “The Rock.” In total, RCHS won five first-place awards and five second-place awards, including second in the “Best of Show” competition in class 4A. With 800 students attending RCHS, the school will be…
Looking for a unique and special way to spend Mother’s Day? The Cherokee Ranch and Castle will be hosting two Mother’s Day teas this May. Reservations fill quickly and early booking is encouraged. Spend the day with Mom touring the romanticized replica of a Scottish Castle and the unique collection of artifacts housed in its…
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) opened its doors in 1997. By 1998, families were preparing to switch to the four-track calendar. At its height, BRE had over 850 students with three mobile classrooms on a five-track calendar filling the halls of the school. With the beginning of this school year, BRE was able to switch to…
The $6.6 million dollar expansion and renovation project at the Castle Rock Recreation Center recently opened newly completed areas to the public. Plans for the completion of the leisure pool are still on track for this spring. In January, the preschool program held an open house for parents to view the newly finished classrooms and…
Extreme spring weather fluctuations can harm bulbs and perennials that are laying dormant underground. What happens during the drastic weather changes in late winter and early spring is referred to as “frost-heaving.” Frost-heaving occurs when garden soils expand and contract through the process of freezing and thawing. If this continues, eventually plant roots and new…
Signs for the last chance to live in the remaining subdivisions of Castle Pines North will soon be taken down. With only 164 homes left to complete, CPN is becoming a vibrant but stable community. Home builder inventories are nearly sold out and only custom homes remain to be finished. When complete, more than 10,000…
Castle Pines Community Church is sponsoring a six-week study based on the book, “The Purpose Driven Life” by author Rick Warren. In the book, Warren discusses the five purposes for which were created and the need for understanding these in order for life to make sense. The study sessions will take place in various homes…
The next Castle Pines North new residents Welcome Coffee is set for March 1st at 7 p.m., at BB’s Coffee House in Village Square Shopping Center. The quarterly Welcome Coffees, presented by the CPN Master Association, are designed to communicate important facts and information to all new residents, and to welcome them to our community.…
NOTE: “The application deadline for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Dept. Community Safety Volunteer Program has been extended to March 31, 2006.” Citizens interested in applying for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Community Safety Volunteer Program must submit applications for the April academy by March 31, 2006. Applications are available online at www.dcsheriff.net or at the Sheriff’s…
One child goes missing in the United States every 40 seconds, 24-hours-a-day, 365 days per year. Last November, two attempted child abductions were reported in Douglas County. These incidents occurred in the Towns of Castle Rock and Parker; but children everywhere should consistently be reminded of the dangers that confront them daily. One Castle Rock…
Who: Students, teachers, parents, families, and the public are invited to attend What: A celebration of the various visual and performing arts represented at RCHS When: Thursday, February 23: 7:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Rock Canyon High School, 5810 McArthur Road Why: Students, parents, teachers, an…
Colorado school report cards have been published in the local media, and across the board CPN schools performed at the top. Compared to other districts in the state, the entire Douglas County School District DCSD ranked with top performing schools in 2005. The report is based on two different categories – overall academic performance, which…
The Master Association’s Holiday Carriage Rides through HOA#1 wrapped up the year of exciting community events. During 2005, the Master Association presented two new community events including the Summer Movie in the Park and Summer Concert in the Park, which were a tremendous success. This year, the Master Association plans to present five community events…
As of press time, the new traffic signal at Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive was being installed. In early 2005, construction began on the long-awaited traffic signal. Upon completion, the new traffic signal will feature video detection to trigger the left turn lane, as well as a countdown timer for safer pedestrian traffic. Special…
For years it has been widely known that Castle Pines Parkway will some day connect Castle Pines North with Parker. In fact, Douglas County has plans that link Parker’s Stroh Road with Castle Pines Parkway at Exit 188 east of Interstate 25. The problem with the existing plans has been aligning the road across the…
Douglas County resident, Brad Grant, is assembling teams of individuals to travel to the Gulf Coast in February, March and April for one week to help families in recovery and restoration efforts of their homes and lives. “Everyone has skills and experiences that can be used,” says Grant “whether it is cooking meals for team…
HOA board members and managers have been busy implementing a new State law that requires HOAs to adhere to certain guidelines about how they operate – including requirements for enhanced communication, annual disclosures, and mandatory written policies and procedures, to name a few. SB100 was passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2005, and is now…
The American Academy PTO will sponsor an inaugural Spring Gala and Auction to benefit the students of American Academy. The event is set for Saturday, April 29, at the Marriott Denver South on 10345 Park Meadows Drive. The theme is “An Evening Under the Stars” and is the premier fundraising event for the school. With…
The CPN community consists of more than 30 individual neighborhood HOAs, each with its own Board of Directors, set of covenants (rules and regulations), Management Company, and dues billing. Each board determines the priorities for its particular neighborhood. The services provided by the individual HOAs vary, but many include: trash collection; maintenance of common areas,…
Jamie Moore, Emergency Management Director for Douglas County, will be speaking at the next Master Association meeting on Thursday, February 16th at 7 p.m., at the Community Center. All CPN residents are welcome to attend. Moore will be discussing emergency notification procedures, evacuations and other key Homeland Security information. HOA delegates and board members are…
In 2005, the Castle Pines North Master Association began monitoring public safety dispatch calls for the community. Information is gathered monthly from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and complied in nine categories which include: traffic, accidents, DUIs and road hazards; suspicious vehicles, incidents or person; residential and commerical alarms; rescued, lost or animal complaints;…
Philip S. Miller Library, located at 100 S. Wilcox Street in Castle Rock, will be featuring the works of local artists from February 10th to March 31st. An opening night reception will be held on Friday, February 10th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Castle Pines North resident Mary Williams will have four pieces of…
The Performing Arts Department of Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) will present the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound Of Music, in March. This is the first major musical to be staged at RCHS, and many faculty, professionals and students will be a part of this historic event. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m.…
Barry Meigs, the principal of Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) for the past five years, announced in November, 2005 that he is retiring at the end of the 2006 school year. In his career at BRE, Meigs counts the improvement of the school’s curriculum as one of his accomplishments. “Our curriculum is aligned better. That means…
Coaches who need a field for team practice this spring should make sure to contact the Castle Pines North Metro District and reserve one of the three locations. CPN has three fields available to all residents including: The Retreat Park, Daniel’s Gate Park, and Coyote Ridge Park. Several soccer, baseball, softball, football and lacrosse teams…
Students at Rock Canyon High School are getting a unique exposure to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – first hand. Deputy Rick Kiesow (pictured to the left) is the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Rock Canyon High School and Rocky Heights Middle School. “As an SRO, I get a chance to interact with the…
The Canyons development, which lies to the east of Castle Pines North across Interstate-25, is divided into two separate sections. The northern portion extends from the Castle Pines Parkway interchange south to Crowfoot Valley Road. Canyons South fills the land between Crowfoot Valley Road and the new Pradera neighborhood. The sketch plan for the 2,043-acre…
On Tuesday, February 14, 2006, a mountain lion was spotted near Daniel’s Gate. The large cat was seen slinking through the grass on the northwest side of Monarch Boulevard between the Daniel’s Gate subdivision and Rocky Heights Middle School. Other sightings have also been reported in the same area. Mountain lions are most active between…
Due to the high growth rate in Douglas County, many schools are struggling with overcrowding even while maintaining a four-track calendar. In the 2005 school year, DCSD gained 3000 students; this is the largest single year increase ever experienced in the District. With the enrollment trends, the DCSD must manage to build schools to meet…
The second annual Holiday Carriage Rides, brought to you by the Castle Pines North Master Association, sold out in just three days! “The event was such a hit last year that we added additional nights and rides this year”, said Carla Kenny, Social Events Planner for the CPN Master Association. “With temperatures hitting the single…
Know a mother who gives freely of herself and her time for others, but may not take time to pamper herself? Interested in bringing a smile to her face in a whole new way? Castle Pines Family Dentistry wants to help. They are currently accepting nominations for their 2006 Mother’s Day Smile Makeover. The doctors…
“April showers bring May flowers,” obviously doesn’t apply to a typical springtime in the Rockies. In fact, most Colorado natives will tell you that if you don’t like the weather in Colorado, wait an hour and it will change. Residents of this beautiful state experience year-round sunshine, low humidity, and a semi-arid climate. Newcomers may…
The CPN Master Association is a community-wide HOA that unifies and represents all the individual neighborhoods within the community, while enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents. The Master Association communicates important information to the community via newsletter (“The Connection”), web site (www.cpnhoa.org), and e-mail alerts. This area saw major improvements last year,…
The mast arms are up, the control boxes are in, but no lights are in operation at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Yorkshire Drive. According to Douglas County Public Works Principal Traffic Engineer, Alex Larson, “best case scenario is for the light to be operational in two to three weeks.” In the beginning…
Although the CPN community has a Castle Rock mailing address, it is actually part of unincorporated Douglas County. It is governed by a variety of county, community, and neighborhood agencies that fill the role a traditional city or town municipality might otherwise fill. As a result of this structure, residents gain local control over services…
T-Mobile to Join CPN Cellular Upgrades T-Mobile is improving cellular phone service to the CPN community by installing a new 45-foot “monopine” tower disguised as a pine tree, similar to the one pictured on the left. Area Development Manager for T-Mobile, Darcy Rushing-Estes, is working with the Douglas County Planning, Zoning and Building Departments to…
This November, Colorado will vote for a new governor. This race, as well as many others, will be followed closely throughout the year on the evening news and in the papers; however, there are other important local races to watch that will affect Castle Pines North residents. Key Races to Follow Many local races will…
The first Timber Trail Elementary Silent Auction will be held Sunday, March 19th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Sonoma’z Grill at the Marriott Denver South, 10345 Park Meadows Drive. There will be hors d’ouvres, live entertainment, a cash bar, and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit Timber Trail’s Science and “Read to Succeed” programs. Contact Christine…
The Rocky Heights Nighthawks Gold team was recently crowned the 2005 State Middle School Champions of Inline Hockey. The Gold team, in an undefeated season, won the title from last year’s champions, ThunderRidge Middle School in an 8-4 win in December. Pictured above are CPN residents (from left to right) Thomas Hernandez, defenseman Gold team,…
Non-stop snowfalls are bringing record-breaking numbers of tourists to the Rocky Mountains for some of the best skiing seen in years. Just in time for the flocks of spring break skiers heading to the mountains for fresh powder, Colorado has a new choice in low cost airlines at Denver International Airport. Whether flying in to…
With the beginning of the 2006-07 school year, Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) will be moving to a year-round four-track school calendar. TTE opened its doors with a traditional calendar in the fall of 2003. At that time, the Douglas County School District (DCSD) projected a calendar change to four-tracks by 2005. To avoid switching to…