The Castle Pines Connection

by Terri Wiebold The City of Castle Pines North has postponed increasing the speed limit on Yorkshire Drive from 25 mph to 30 mph following calls from concerned citizens. According to the City Director of Public Works Eric Guth, the city received a few calls from concerned residents about the increase. Guth stated, “It was…

Ebenezer Norman, a Liberian who has dreams of opening the first public library in his home country, picks up remaining books from the Castle Pines North library fundraiser. by Carin R. Kirkegaard In August, the Douglas County Libraries Foundation, in conjunction with fundraising efforts in the Castle Pines community, held a used book sale at…

Bubble Goddess owner, Jennifer Leete, sharing the benefits of her natural products with a resident during a Castle Pines community event. by Anthonette Klinkerman “A woman on a mission” is a perfect phrase to describe Jennifer Leete. In September, Leete was the guest speaker at the Denver Tech Center Business and Professional Women’s Network monthly…

Aerial photography by Bob Wiebold and Jeff Lewis By Terri Wiebold For the past eight years, Castle Pines North (CPN) residents have been digging into their wallets and contributing $151.20* per household, per year to the Master Association to fund the Castle Pines Parks Authority and to bring a new park to CPN. That digging…

Tired of taking that family vacation and leaving part of your family at home? Pet Airways, the pet-only airline, has now been unleashed in Denver. Canine and feline companions can now experience true creature comforts, while flying the friendly skies. The airline is located at the Rocky Mountain Airport in Broomfield. Travel destinations include New…

Angela Walker and Marcy Stone By Terri Wiebold Sassy Sisters is a trendy, hip, chic, and sassy clothing company created by Castle Pines Village resident Angela Walker and Marcy Stone. Not really biological sisters, Walker and Stone met on line, and the connection between these two entrepreneurial women could not have been more natural, nor…

by Tracy Dudley In 2007, the Castle Pines Homes Association (CPHA) reorganized and established an over arching goal of educating new and existing residents about wildlife in the Village and addressing issues concerning increased wildlife encounters. As an active volunteer in several wildlife organizations, Wildlife Committee member and Village resident Gina Gerken came up with…

Water Distribution/Wastewater Collection Supervisor Dwayne Davis submitted by The Castle Pines North Metro District 485 fire hydrants serviced All fire hydrants in Castle Pines North have been inspected and serviced by the utilities staff of CPNMD. Each hydrant was pressure tested and painted. Homeowners can help both the Metro District and the fire department by…

By Tracy Dudley Users of the East-West regional trail, located near the restricted Highlands Ranch trail in Daniel’s Gate may have noticed some recent changes. A large 12-mile extension of the East-West trail that will connect Red Stone Park on the west to Bluffs Regional Park on the east is near completion. In fact, from…

Submitted by Andy Lyon, South Metro Fires Rescue Authority Because of numerous on-going problems with the recycle dumpsters at neighborhood fire stations, the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority has ended the recycling program at Station 36 in Castle Pines North and also at Station 33 in Centennial. “We would like to be supportive of our…

Information submitted by the American Academy PTO Finally, after four years of dreaming, planning, fundraising and an incredible two day community build, the American Academy parent teacher organization (PTO) is thrilled to reveal our new playgrounds. In late August, more than 250 parent, staff and community volunteers worked more than 1,100 combined hours to build…

007 Enchiladas by Lisa Crockett Summer’s warm days are a fading memory, but a warm welcome is available year round at one of Castle Pines’ newest additions to the local dining scene. A Taste of Mexico is located in the Village at Castle Pines Shopping Center. “I think that one of the things that really…

by Tracy Dudley Back in March, kindergartner Samantha (Sami) Choe shared a story with Ms. Leigh Lasik’s DCS Montessori class about her father’s recent trip to Cambodia. Dr. William Choe is a cardiologist who is part of a group called Jeramiah’s Hope, a medical missionary organization based here in Denver (www.cmmcjh.com). Upon returning home, Choe…

Bella Webster (center), who has been battling Leukemia since she was 20 months old, chooses winners in a drawing held at My Gym in the Village at Castle Pines shopping center. The drawing was part of a fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital, which was held in Bella’s honor. Bella’s four-year-old brother Drew (left), helped draw…

The Bundt Shoppe would like to recognize and honor our local United States Armed Forces service members, veterans, and their families this fall. On Saturday, October 3, stop by the Bundt Shoppe during the Castle Pines OctoberFest and make a contribution to provide a cake for a military service member or veteran. With only a…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Castle Pines Athletics hosted a three-day cheerleading camp in August at The Retreat Park in Castle Pines North. Girls, ages 4 to 11 learned the latest moves from UNC cheerleader Kristen Weatherly and former Rock Canyon High School cheerleader Kaitlin Clure. The girls learned basic cheer moves and also a dance…

by Terri Wiebold with photo submitted by Bob Sims Castle Pines North resident, Bob Sims, won the National Senior Games 60-64 age group championship Gold Medal at the Stanford University Golf Course in Palo Alto, California in August. The competitors played the Black Tees at 6212 yards, rated at 70.6/131. Thirty-five golfers from all over…

Friends gathered for the unveiling of the Earl Millspaugh memorial bench, located in the new Xeriscape area on the east side of Monarch Boulevard just north of Castle Pines Parkway. The memorial bench was made possible by donations from friends, family and the Castle Pines North Master Association. “Chad [our son] and I are much…

Justin Matott by Anthonette Klinkerman The first assembly of the school year at Buffalo Ridge Elementary illustrated why students love assemblies. Author Justin Matott was invited by the Buffalo Ridge Educational Alliance (BREA) assembly organizer Christina McDonald to come to the school in September and address the character education topic of bullying. Matott, a former…

DCS Montessori student Koby D. enjoys an afternoon in the school’s outdoor classroom. Article and photo by Tracy Dudley According to traditional Montessori philosophy, children should learn in real environments, outside of the classroom. As such, students best learn about nature, geology, ecology, and biology by going outdoors and experiencing real-life examples. In line with…

by Terri Wiebold On August 28, 2009 Castle Pines Village Homes Association filed a Motion to Withdraw Petition for Incorporation of the City of Castle Pines, which was granted by the judge. Judge Nancy A. Hopf stated that, “The petition for incorporation [case number 2008cv251] shall hereby be withdrawn and this case closed.” Village Homes…

Carol Barbeito by Lisa Crockett CP Green has a new leader at its helm. Carol Barbeito, a Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, has assumed leadership of the community group, which aims to help the Castle Pines community find ways to live in a more environmentally friendly way. Barbeito takes the place of former leader Ryan…

Want some additional holiday fun for your little trick-or-treaters? Here is a list of fun Halloween activities going on in Castle Pines North and the surrounding areas. Trick or Treat Street Castle Pines North Business District 562 Castle Pines Parkway Wednesday, October 28 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring your ghosts and goblins to the…

Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Elizabeth Mowry, a renowned pastel painter moved to Castle Pines Village nearly three years ago from a pre-Revolutionary War stone house in the Hudson Bay area of New York State. Caring for a 35-acre agricultural home required a lot of time and hard labor. There were days when…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard The date is set and registration is underway for the Douglas County Rock Slide. Mark the calendar for November 14 and plan to be at Rock Canyon High School with running shoes laced and ready to go. The Rock Slide is a one-mile fun run and 5K race that was designed…

Timber Trail boys compete in the inaugural mother-son kickball tournament at Coyote Ridge Park in August. Submitted By Jenny Hanna and Kathy Werbick Timber Trail Elementary hosted its first ever Mother and Son Kickball tournament on August 21 at Coyote Ridge Park. The idea sprung from the Father/Daughter Snowball Dance. They wanted to have an…

The fall season offers us a variety of delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables, such as fuji apples and butternut squash. They are not only pleasing to the palate, but are excellent, nutritional choices. Fuji apples provide us with vitamins A and C, along with some calcium, iron and fiber. They are just as important…

The Castle Pines North Master Association Board will soon hold an election to fill two vacancies. November is when the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association’s Annual meeting has traditionally been held, though as of press time a date had not yet been determined. When a date is decided upon, it will be posted on…

by Scott Lasher Are you ready for some football? Ready or not, high school football kicked off at Rock Canyon for another season on September 4th against Castleview. Rock Canyon will be returning several key players, including senior wide receiver Keith Link and senior quarterback Drew Sandlin. Head Coach Tom Lynch however, is reluctant to…

Warren Lynge by Anthonette Klinkerman If you don’t know Warren Lynge, sit down for coffee with him sometime; it is guaranteed you won’t leave feeling like a stranger. He has the kind of personality that is instantly welcoming, instantly familiar. Lynge is a relative newcomer to Castle Pines North, but he dove into his new…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Nearly 12 years ago the Castle Pines North Foundation (CPNF) was created as a way to provide monetary, land and other forms of gifts for the growth and betterment of current and future parks in Castle Pines North. In the beginning, the board for the CPNF encouraged developers, builders and individuals…

Sam Classen stands near a cross on the St. Francis of Assisi Prayer Path. Classen completed his Eagle Scout project by directing the efforts of roughly 80 volunteers in extension and refurbishment of the path in a wooded area next to the church. by Lisa Crockett: photo courtesy of the Classen family It’s now a…

Timi Aguilar President of Aguilar Public Relations Information and photos submitted by Aguilar Public Relations Timi Aguilar of Aguilar Public Relations has been selected as one of ten entrepreneurs across the United States to receive the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund. The Anna Maria Arias Fund was created to recognize the accomplishments of Anna…

Tyler T. throws a ball to dunk BRE Principal, Ally Bergren. Children read to choose which staff member of the school would be in the dunk tank. by Carin R. Kirkegaard The BRE Family Stampede kicked off the Family Night events at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) with a huge success. Families gathered at the school…

submitted by Colorado Ski Country USA Colorado Ski Country USA’s (CSCUSA) exclusive Colorado Gold Pass is now available for the 2009-10 ski season. The transferable pass, good for unlimited skiing and riding at member resorts, can be purchased for $2,750. Unlike many lift tickets, the Colorado Gold Pass does not have any black-out dates, therefore…

by Terri Wiebold Residents who have been wondering why there are tall metal flags attached to the 485 fire hydrants in Castle Pines North (CPN) need ponder no more. According to CPN Metro District Parks and Open Space Manager, Charlie Fagan, the answer is as simple as the solution was. In recent winters, snow levels…

The Castle Pines Connection welcomes baby girl Keaton. Born July 30 at 2:30pm. Weight 7lbs. 9oz., 19.5 inches long. Proud parents are Greg Miller and Jennifer Havercroft-Miller.

Castle Pines Village friends and neighbors joined to help support the Sassy Soiree fundraising event. by Terri Wiebold Approximately two hundred and seventy-five people attended the Sixth Annual Sassy Soiree fundraising event to benefit the Douglas/Elbert Task Force this year, raising nearly $34,000. Event goers shopped in the “thrift boutique” and perused the silent auction…

by Terri Wiebold More than 300 residents and neighbors attended the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) public hearing last week at the DCS Montessori School in CPN. After nearly six hours of presentations from city staff, the developer, and public comment, City Council voted unanimously to approve the annexation of The Canyons property into…

Information provided by Town of Castle Rock After receiving public input, the Town of Castle Rock Council directed its staff to resume attempts to have Union Pacific railroad tracks moved so a new road between The Meadows and I-25 could be built at-grade. It was previously thought the at-grade alignment for the North Meadows Extension…

Community volunteer Warren Lynge joins the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce in cutting the ribbon to open the new library in Castle Pines North. By Lisa Crockett In place of the aging and often out-of-order bookmobile, the Castle Pines community has a new, and comparatively spacious, outlet for books. The community celebrated a grand opening…

submitted by Deputy Cocha Heyden Public Information Officer Douglas County Sheriff ‘s Office 303-660-7586 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Launches On-line Crime Alerting and Mapping Service with CrimeReports.com Citizens empowered with near real-time neighborhood crime information available 24/7/365. Douglas County, Castle Rock CO. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and CrimeReports.com have announced a new On-line Crime…

Halloween safety tips from Sheriff David A. Weaver Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for kids and parents alike. It is important though, to take every precaution possible when it comes to your night of fun. Sheriff Weaver provides the following suggestions to keep your little monsters safe: Start at home: Turn on your exterior lights,…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard In August the Bicycle Safety Act went into effect across Colorado. The idea behind the new laws is to create a safer environment on the road for both cyclists and motorists. “Most people will use this as a guideline for how to interact with cyclists,” said local cyclist Dan Cook. With…

Boy Scouts of America Troop 316 Annual Sprinkler Blowout Castle Pines North Boy Scout Troop #316 will hold its annual sprinkler blowout fundraiser during the first three weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in October. Space is limited; make your reservations early. To schedule a blowout, call 303-408-3247 or e-mail contact by e-mail . Leave your name,…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Colorado Life Trak (formerly known as Project Lifesaver) is a high-tech tracking system used by law enforcement departments nationwide to locate adults and children suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Down Syndrome, Autism and other related disorders. A person living with any of these disorders may have a propensity…

Submitted by Wells Fargo Advisor Wachovia Securities began using the Wells Fargo Advisors name last spring, officially rebranding its business under its new parent, Wells Fargo & Company. “Today, as Wells Fargo Advisors, we begin a new chapter in our storied brokerage history,” said Danny Ludeman, president and CEO of the brokerage firm. “Adopting the…

by Carin R. Kirkegaard Stop by Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and check out the large selection of book titles available during the Fall Book Fair. The fair opens Saturday, October 3 with a waffle breakfast run by Denver’s Waffle Brothers and run through Thursday, October 8. On Monday night, plan to stop by the school…

by Tracy Dudley DCS Montessori gets mascot and official school colors Since its inception in 1996, DCS Montessori School has not had an official school mascot or official school colors. During a critical transitional period in 2008, school administration decided it was time for the school to solidify its image and identity. A key step…

by Terri Wiebold Front loaders began moving dirt this week to grade the approximately 63,830 square-foot vacant parcel of land located on the north end of the King Soopers Shopping Center, just east of Lagae Road in Castle Pines North. According to the project description posted on the City’s website, the land is the future…

The Waffle Brothers, typically found serving their unique brand of Belgium waffles on Denver’s 16th Street Mall, will be out in the suburbs Saturday, October 3 at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE). Known for a special recipe that was developed in Denver, the Waffle Brothers import a special sugar straight from Belgium that provides the…

Article and photo by Terri Wiebold After nearly four years, American Academy Charter School has opened its doors in Castle Pines North to the more than 800 students currently enrolled. Students, parents, school officials, community leaders, and local residents celebrated the school’s grand opening during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, September 18 before beginning…

Crosswalk by the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden submitted by The Castle Pines North Metro District Fourteen miles of trails traverse the Castle Pines North community, providing footpaths for recreational use and access to parks and schools. This network of paths is maintained by CPNMD, and staff of parks, open space and trails are always on the…

submitted by the City of Castle Pines North The Castle Pines Economic Development Council (CPEDC) is an extension of the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce that works in partnership with the City of Castle Pines North Economic Development Committee (EDC). These three entities are the primary vehicle for promoting economic growth within the city and…

by Elizabeth Wood West Douglas County is approximately 842 square miles, with a population estimated to reach 280,000 by 2010. The County’s rural area is around 725 square miles. Almost 30,000 people, or nearly 12 percent of Douglas County’s total population, are considered rural water users and are served by 8,000 ground water wells. Until…

Holly Jolly Breakfast with Santa Skip the lines at the mall this year and come meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Ridge for a holly, jolly breakfast. Saturday, December 58 a.m. and 10 a.m. $25 Adults $15 Youth Full Breakfast Buffet Entertainment with intimate setting of singing and story telling Holiday Carriage Rides at…

An Old Fashioned Holiday Christmas Boutique will be held Thursday through Saturday, November 19, 20 and 21, at the Castle Pines North Community Center. The upscale boutique event celebrates fourteen years and is a local holiday favorite for Castle Pines residents. Crafters from years past, as well as new crafters, will be on hand with…

In recognition of all who gave of their time, talents and money, the Castle Pines Connection presented a framed list of contributors to the Douglas County Library District at the September 19 library ribbon cutting ceremony.  The list will hang in the new library, as well as be included in the Oct/Nov issue of the…

Submitted by Fuller Castle Pines Sotheby’s International Realty The brokerage firm representing Colorado’s most celebrated golf community, Castle Pines Village Properties, is joining forces with the area’s most prestigious real estate firm, Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty to provide a new level of service to prospective clients in the luxury home market in Colorado. The new…

by Lisa Crockett With leaves falling and a hint of cool in the air, snow season will soon come to the Castle Pines community. What can you expect when the flakes start to fall? All communities follow similar protocols when prioritizing the order in which streets are plowed: main arterial roads first, then collector roads…

Submitted by Terri Wiebold, Owner As you read this, the fifth issue of The Castle Pines Connection community newspaper, plans are already underway for our transition to a monthly publication. Beginning in January 2010, The Castle Pines Connection will be delivered to homes and businesses in the Castle Pines community every month! Thank you to…

The editorial page of a newspaper is not about news. It is about personal views and the freedom to share them responsibly. Letters printed in The Castle Pines Connection do not reflect in any way the personal views and/or opinions of The Castle Pines Connection, LLC, its newspaper editor/publisher, or its staff. Thus far, process…

submitted by the City of Castle Pines North As mayor of the City of Castle Pines North, it is a privilege to serve you and an even greater honor to inform citizens that the state of our city is strong and growing stronger. Because your elected officials have put a responsible and coherent financial plan…

Information provided by the ASPCA The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides the following information and tips to help ensure your pet’s safety this Halloween: 1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. * Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking…