The Castle Pines Connection

by Anthonette Klinkerman The unusually warm autumn weather cooperated and brought out a host of little goblins to the second annual Castle Pines North Trick or Treat Street. On Wednesday, October 29, 33 Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce businesses participated to create a safe Halloween environment filled with candy, goodies, and activities for the young…

If you missed the November 15 registration of Castle Pines North’s new recreational youth sports program, there is still time to register for spring and summer sports. Castle Pines Athletics is a new non-competitive youth sports program offering children the opportunity to play on fields right here at home in CPN. A few spaces for…

by Anthonette Klinkerman Women have the edge when it comes to networking. Naturally social beings, women have started such movements as Angie’s List on the Internet and thousands of various MeetUp groups to cater to unique needs. It was therefore only a logical step for Maria Lee and Alane Wetzel to create the first ever…

by Lisa Crockett Douglas County School District (DCSD) is facing a budget shortfall of $16 million in coming years, which will likely result in continued overcrowding, larger class sizes and an inability to upgrade technology. “Election Day was a tough one for us in Douglas County School District,” said DCSD Superintendent James Christensen. “Our families,…

by Paige Newman, Student Intern from Rock Canyon High School There are numerous amounts of fears brought on by driving, felt particularly by parents of young drivers. As a new driver myself, I know that my parents worry about me talking on my cell phone, texting, or being distracted by the radio. While there is…

by Terri Wiebold Expanding upon a collaborative process that began more than five years ago with Douglas County and Denver Parks, the City of Castle Pines North (CPN) Landscape Committee is teaming up with the CPN Metro District and the City’s environmental task force “CP Green” to make the new entrance into the city from…

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. Open enrollment forms can be downloaded from the district website at www.dcsdk12.org and parents can view a list of the schools available for open enrollment for the 2009-2010 school…

by Lisa Crockett No need to leave Castle Pines North (CPN) this holiday season for beautiful fresh cut Christmas trees. The Ridge Golf Course is teaming up with Sedalia Nursery to offer the CPN community Christmas trees that will benefit both a local charity and the environment. Trees went on sale on Friday, November 28.…

Construction is finally underway for American Academy’s new 83,000 square foot school on Lagae Ranch in CPN. The K-8 Charter School will be the first middle school in CPN and will have more than 700 students making it the largest Charter School in Douglas County. The school plans to open September 7, 2009. (design provided…

The double turn lane at the northbound intersection of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway has been permanently removed. Per the approved construction plans, the double left turn lane off Lagae Road has now been changed to a single left turn lane. The previous left turn lane will be converted to a “straight-through only” lane…

by Lisa Crockett Village Homes of Colorado, Inc., announced in early November that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Colorado. Village built nearly a quarter of the homes in Castle Pines North (CPN), most of which are less than…

by Lisa Crockett The new Walgreens store is ready and waiting to open its doors; construction was completed in mid-October. Castle Pines North (CPN) residents will have to wait until the new year, however, to shop its aisles. “We plan to open the [CPN] location in January,” said Walgreens company spokesperson, Carol Hively. The Walgreens…

Workers complete the new trail to Coyote Ridge Park in November (photo by Tim Gamble) by Terri Wiebold Residents in the northern neighborhoods of Castle Pines North (CPN) are celebrating safer passage to Coyote Ridge Park, thanks to plans for a new sidewalk extending from the underpass at Monarch Boulevard between Esperanza Drive and Winterberry…

GreenEarth Cleaners celebrated their grand official ribbon cutting celebration on Nov. 19 with the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from the left: Sandy Colling, Kim Taqita, GreenEarth owner Chuck Barry, and Chamber of Commerce Chairman Don Bobeda. (photo by Tim Gamble)

(photo by Tim Gamble) On November 8, 896 runners and walkers hit the pavement at Rock Canyon High School to raise money for local schools during the 2008 Rock Slide. The annual school 5K and one mile fundraiser brought together students, teachers, families, and friends from eight area schools including: American Academy Charter School, Buffalo…

The giant power pole finally comes down near Coyote Ridge Park (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lisa Crockett It has been a long wait, but Castle Pines North (CPN) has finally bid a not-so-fond farewell to an 180-foot utility pole which has towered over the city for nearly a year. Last winter, residents from across…

by Lane Roberts Now that Castle Pines North (CPN) is a new city, many residents have expressed concerns about snow removal for 2009. Snow removal services that were previously provided to unincorporated CPN by Douglas County will become the responsiblity of new city beginning February 12, 2009. Douglas County was required to continue to provide…

submitted by Mark and Kristen Adams Elements Therapeutic Massage is now open in Castle Rock. Mark and Kristin Adams, two local entrepreneurs, have opened Castle Rock’s first Elements Therapeutic Massage studio at 323 Metzler Drive, near the Target Shopping Center, where every customer will receive professional massage services from a certified massage therapist in a…

Castle Pines North Councilman David Neely of Ward 3 encourages South Metro Fire Rescue Board of Directors and staff at a CPN community meeting about the proposed relocation of Fire Station 36 to “think out of the box and look at some of the other alternatives.” by Terri Wiebold The South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR)…

Enjoy a visit with Santa at the Philip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock. Enjoy holiday stories, activities and take pictures with Santa. Santa will visit the Castle Rock library on December 16, 17 and 19 at 10:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Call 303-791-READ. Santa will also visit the libraries in Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch…

by Lisa Crockett Churches in Castle Pines North have a lot planned for the upcoming holiday season. Here are some of the highlights (events listed are held at the Church’s regular meeting place, unless otherwise noted): Castle Pines Community Church Meets at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School; www.castlepineschurch.org Children’s Program, The Christmas Present: December 14 at…

Empty Nesters gather at the HOA2 Clubhouse for Book Club. (photo by Elean Gersack) by Elean Gersack A simple idea from a local retiree has turned into something much bigger than ever imagined. Castle Pines North (CPN) resident, Jan Lorenzen, and her husband once had the opportunity to spend time in a forty plus community.…

Sandy Colling by Terri Wiebold Since the inception of the Castle Pines Parks Authority in 2000, Sandy Colling has been an influential and inspirational presence on the Parks Authority Board of Directors. In October, Colling stepped down from his position as president of the Parks Authority to further pursue outside endeavors. “It was a labor…

Little Italy Pizzeria has teamed up with GreenEarth Cleaners and The UPS Store to collect, clean, and ship coats to adults and children in Zanesville, Ohio. Lisa Towne, owner of Little Italy Pizzeria, is an Ohio native who is very familiar with the needs of the small town, which is located at the foothills of…

The Castle Rock Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites the community to participate in an Interfaith Community Messiah Sing-in on Sunday, December 14, at 7 p.m. The annual event, now in its fifth year, will be held at 3301 Meadows Blvd. in Castle Rock. The event features guest vocal soloists…

First Place: 7260 Brixham Circle Second Place: 7350 Berkeley Circle Third Place: 7320 Brixham Circle Solid Life Christian Center Youth Group Sings Chrismas Carols

A local Castle Rock photographer, Melissa Loid Lazar of The Whole Part Photography, sought out to create a “2009 Calendar of Love” using primarily Douglas County children. In fact, 150 children are featured in the 32 page artistic black and white calendar. The party to launch the 2009 Calendar of Love was held on October…

by Terri Wiebold Drivers hoping to reach Daniels Park Road from Castle Pines Parkway will have to wait until after the first of the year for direct access, according to Douglas County Senior Development Review Engineer Gary Walter. Walter anticipates road closures to extend through the beginning of next year. “Finally the gas line is…

From the left: Shelly Hall, Tim Brown, and Dawn McIntosh submitted by Timothy Brown/American Family Insurance Timothy Brown, an American Family Insurance agent in Castle Rock has been recognized for customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program.SM Brown has been an agent for American Family since August, 2004. His…

by Elean Gersack Are you a stay at home mom looking to connect with other moms in the area? Well, look no further. MOMS Club® of Castle Rock NW offers lots of great activities and service projects for stay-at-home moms in Castle Pines North, Castle Pines Village, Surrey Ridge, Happy Canyon and The Meadows. Each…

To make holiday shipping easier, below is a list of Castle Pines North’s closest post office locations: Castle Pines Village, (Castle Pines Postal Center), 80108 862 W Happy Canyon Rd., Ste. 110 Lone Tree (Lone Tree Postal), 80124 8878 Maximus Dr. Highlands Ranch, 80130 9609 S University Blvd. Castle Rock, 80104 300 E Miller Ct.…

Presenters Victoria Torok, CPT and owner of Elite Mobile Fitness, and Dr. Clint Dickason, owner of Dickason Chiropractic, have teamed up to get CPN residents to new levels of fitness. Torok and Dickasen are offering a free lunchtime seminar series to begin soon after New Year’s Resolutions are made. Mark the calendar for these special…

Southeast Community Outreach (SECOR) is a nonprofit, non-denominational organization operating in the southeast Denver-Metro area dedicated to demonstrating God’s compassion for those in need by providing food, personal items, monetary and budgeting assistance to individuals and families experiencing financial insecurities. Founded by Southeast Christian Church, SECOR gives a helping had to families in the area…

by Terri Wiebold While there are those rare individuals who actually enjoy braving the chaotic mall parking lots and the crowds at the registers for holiday shopping, many prefer to shop in less congested environments with decreased stress. The Castle Pines North business district has the perfect solution to holiday shopping woes… Discover the convenience…

Fmr. City Clerk Carl Kollmar The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) expects to name a new City Clerk by December 8. City Clerk Carl Kollmar resigned from the position this fall and is now serving as Deputy City Clerk for CH2M HILL OMI. “I resigned to pursue a gainful opportunity with CH2M HILL and…

Special thanks to departing board members pictured below Anna Mallinson (left), Kim Hoffman (center), and David Necker (right) for their tireless work on the board, especially in these past few months of transition. article and photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North (CPN) residents and homeowner association delegates joined at the CPN Community Center for…

by Anthonette Klinkerman SendOutCards has developed a new program to allow its distributors to donate their commissions to the charity of their choice. Currently the charities include eWomen Network, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the V Foundation for Cancer Research, and the American Heart Association, but distributors are lining up to suggest more charities to be…

by Terri Wiebold Douglas County recently awarded a bid for the trail construction portion of the East-West Regional Trail expansion project, which once complete, will form one continuous trail from Highway 85 east to the Bluffs Regional Park. According to Douglas County Parks and Trails Planner, Randy Burkhardt, the County is still working through bonding…

Lost of found a pet in the community? No tags or other identifying information? Make sure to check the Castle Pines North (CPN) web site to see if someone has reported the missing pet. The home page of www.cpnhoa.org has an icon that directs users to all “lost and found” pet listings. Residents who have…

Community volunteers work together to remove dead scrub oak in the open space near Pine Ridge. (photos provided by Barb Saenger) Pine Ridge community volunteers left to right:? Dan McCracken, Loyd Saenger Kathy McCracken, Don VanPutten, Sondra Barry, Gail Murray, Gene Owen, Michael Mauck, Marilyn Emblen, Bill Gatrix, Char Nelson, Don Hahn, Sue Hahn, Frank…

by Carin Kirkegaard Castle Pines North (CPN) residents are currently in the throws of winter activities, but the CPN summer swim team, the Castle Crocs is thinking of warmer days and preparing for the 2009 season. Coming up on the fourth season, the Crocs have been providing a healthy recreational experience in a fun and…

This holiday season there are countless needy families in the community. The Douglas/Elbert Task Force is seeking individuals or families to sponsor those in need. There are several ways to donate – direct sponsorship, indirect sponsorship, toy chest, cash or gift cards. Every little bit helps. To receive a sponsorship application, or to obtain more…

Dan Schatz by Anthonette Klinkerman For the last year, Sunday evenings have been a time for the gathering of citizens of Castle Pines North. The citizen advocacy group, CPN Homeowners for a Solid Foundation, meets to discuss concerns common to all residents, such as water conservation and the library initiative, as well as support the…

by Elean Gersack Arlen’s American Bistro – the newest restaurant in Castle Pines North (CPN) – is open and ready to impress. Owners Arlen and Amy Felsen have created a simple and delicious menu, along with a warm atmosphere they hope will bring guests back again and again. Arlen’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. All…

by Terri Wiebold In late August, the Douglas County Commissioners passed a resolution to keep Castle Pines Parkway from Buffalo Trail west to Daniels Park Road and south on Daniel’s Park Road to the existing end of pavement closed until the end of March 2009. The closure is to allow for the continued construction of…

Information provided by Douglas County Traffic Engineer, Alex Larson: I am writing to inform the City of CPN of two issues related to the construction of the traffic signal for the new Walgreens site at Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae. 1) A temporary sidewalk closure that has become necessary during the construction and 2) striping…

by Terri Wiebold It is October; the leaves are starting to turn colors, and Castle Pines North (CPN) residents are already preparing for snow. The city of Castle Pines North rests at a chilly 6,210 feet above sea level, considerably higher than our “mile high” neighbors to the north, and October is a big snow…

The Town of Castle Rock will kick off the holiday season on Saturday, November 22 by lighting the star in historic downtown. Come enjoy festivities and special events leading up to the star lighting, which is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the old courthouse building on Wilcox Street in downtown Castle Rock.…

by Terri Wiebold American Academy, a K-8 public charter school, will return home to CPN in the fall of 2009. The school is building an 83,000 square foot facility on the Lagae Ranch development in CPN. Local CPN students interested in attending the new school will now get more priority in the enrollment lottery, thanks…

(photo by Jeremy Gamble) by Terri Wiebold It will not be long until the 560 acres of open space and the 13.5 miles of natural trails that surround Castle Pines North (CPN) will be covered with the most beautiful blanket of snow imaginable. With the snowfall comes the opportunity for fun and recreation for young…

Rain or shine, Galen Crowder and Anna Decker report precipitation stats from their homes in Castle Pines North for the CoCoRaHS. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold No, CoCoRaHS is not a local cheerleading squad, but the function they serve in the Castle Pines North community is certainly worth shouting about. CoCoRaHS is an acronym…

The City of Castle Pines North (CPN) has been working for the past few months to create new web site. The site, created by City Manager CH2M HILL OMI, features detailed city contact information, the latest city news, along with City Council agendas and minutes. The web site also features a list of all city…

by Lisa Crockett Douglas County School District is looking for much-needed funds and is asking voters to bolster their bank accounts by approving a four mill increase in the upcoming election. In August, the School Board decided to place a $395 million bond and $17 million override measure on the November ballot. The override measure,…

by Anthonette Klinkerman/Elean Gersack For the second summer, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce (formerly Business in the Pines) hosted Market in the Pines. Special thanks to the Presenting Sponsor, Prudential Preferred Real Estate, the music sponsor, Castle Pines North Master Association and the Air Castle sponsors, IREA and Bumgarner & Linn Orthodontics. Additional thanks…

Brad Clemons and Dana Hall, co-founders of HomeAssume.com (photo provided by Timi Aguilar) by Terri Wiebold The adage “everything old is new again” holds true for most things, including the mortgage industry – or so are the hopes of Castle Pines North residents and co-founders of HomeAssume.com, Brad Clemons and Dana Hall. Clemons and Hall…

OCT 6 – WAS THE LAST DATE TO REGISTER TO VOTE OCT 13 THROUGH NOV 3 – MAIL-IN BALLOT DROP BOX AVAILABLE AT CASTLE ROCK BANK, 506 CASTLE PINES PKWY, MON-FRI 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. OCT 20 – EARLY VOTING BEGINS (THROUGH OCT 31) – VILLAGE SQUARE OFFICES, 7437 VILLAGE SQUARE DR., UNIT 105.…

The Rev. Tom Curtright is the new Senior Pastor at Castle Pines Community Church. The Church is celebrating a decade of service in the CPN community. (Courtesy Photo) by Lisa Crockett A Castle Pines North (CPN) church is celebrating an important anniversary. Ten years ago, 35 people met in the CPN Community Center to found…

by Lane Roberts One of the primary goals of the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association is to provide communication to the 3,300 residents within the community. This goal is accomplished through three main communications tools including: community-wide e-mail alerts, the CPN website (www.cpnhoa.org) and CPN’s bi-monthly newspaper, The Connection. Recently, the CPN Master Association…

by Terri Wiebold Dating back to Barney Fife and the early days of Dragnet, “calling all cars” was a police officer’s distress call for help and assistance. While the city of Castle Pines North Safety Task Force is not in distress, it could use the help and assistance of a few more community volunteers. The…

The Castle Pines North Master Association will host its annual Board meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at the Community Center, 7404 Yorkshire Drive. This annual meeting is open to all residents. All delegate representatives from each of the neighborhood HOAs are expected to be in attendance. Delegates will be casting their votes to elect…

Check out Halloween events that are happening around town as well as a list of Halloween safety resources. Visitwww.cpnhoa.org/pages/news/articles/2008/qtr3/halloween.htm for more information.

CPN eighth graders from Rocky Heights Middle School recently ran into to Governor Bill Ritter while on a scavenger hunt field trip to Denver. The hunt was designed to teach students about the history of Colorado and the City of Denver. From the left – Karli, Lauren, Morgan, Gov. Ritter, Mary Jane and Jenn. (photo…

by Terri Wiebold For the past several months, the Castle Pines North Metro District board meeting audience had been entertained and educated on one CPN resident’s efforts to decrease his electric bill and to reduce his water consumption. Ron Clark, CPN resident of 22 years and city council representative for ward 3, opens the public…

by Elean Gersack Ghosts and goblins will be looking for tricks and treats. Here are some fun alternatives or additions to traditional Halloween trick-or-treating: Trick or Treat Street in Castle Pines North CPN Business District Wednesday, October 29 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Children in costume can visit local businesses to trick or treat. In…

(photo by Terri Wiebold) by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association has hired a new management company. Client Preference, a realty and management company, will now handle day-to-day operations and business matters — administrative support, accounting services and governance guidance — for the CPN Master Association. Anna Mallinson, treasurer of the Master…

Cultural and educational events for Castle Pines North (CPN) residents at Cherokee Ranch and Castle may one day be a reality through the combined efforts of the new city and Cherokee Ranch. “Now that we are a city we have the opportunity to forge a partnership with Cherokee Ranch that never existed previously,” said CPN…

Settling in a sleeping bag in prepartion for the CPN’s Summer Movie in the Park. (photo by Tim Gamble) by Elean Gersack The Castle Pines North (CPN) Summer Movie in the Park and Dr. Andrew Dunbar – the two are becoming synonymous. For the fourth year, Castle Pines Orthodontics, in conjunction with the CPN Master…