Read the stories from the latest issue:
Carl Lowman, new Metro District Board Member (photo by Tim Gamble) by Lorraine Masonheimer The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District Board of Directors recently appointed Carl Lowman as a volunteer member-at-large replacing Jonette Brown Eyes who recently moved from the community. Lowman’s term expires in May 2008. “We received many qualified applicants and they…
The Slash & Mulch Program drop-off is at the Plum Creek Wastewater Authority, located at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock. Visit http://www.douglas.co.us/publicworks/operations/ documents/8.5x14_Flyer_Slash_Mulch.pdf for information or call the Douglas County Operations Division at 303-660-7480. Remaining 2007 Slash & Mulch dates and times for 2007 are as follows: Saturday, August 4 – 8 a.m. to…
by Lane Roberts After months of careful research and evaluation, CH2M HILL OMI will present the final results of the long-awaited economic feasibility study in August. Results of the “Revenue Sharing and Settlement Agreement” were included in the final numbers recently completed by CH2M HILL OMI. Community forum dates and locations were not finalized as…
by Lisa Crockett Personal training and fundraising do not often intersect. When the annual Rock Slide race needed a new coordinator, Jenny Brett, member of the Wildcat Mountain Elementary PTO, seemed tailor-made for the job. “As a personal trainer and a parent, I love the mission of the race,” said Brett. Bringing families and the…
by Lorraine Masonheimer The Castle Pines North Metro District Board of Directors recently voted to approve an $18,000 landscaping project in the Esperanza “S” curve open space. The Board awarded the contract to Rainbow Landscape, the lowest of three bidders, to add 30 trees, 59 shrubs, bark mulch, edging, native grass seed and temporary irrigation…
(Photos provided by the Denver Dumb Friends League) Wag ‘n Trail – Support the Buddy Center The Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL) will present Wag ‘n Trail on Saturday, September 15, at the Glendale Farm Open Space located at I-25 and Surrey Ridge. Proceeds from the 1.6 mile hike will beneift The Buddy Center in…
by Lane Roberts Summer in Castle Pines North – – what better place to be a kid? Thoughout the community, children of all ages have enjoyed many activities. From soaking up the sun at neighborhood pools, riding bikes, playing at CPN parks, or attending many exciting community events – – it has been a great…
by Elean Gersack Introducing Bubble Goddess Bath Company Bubble Goddess Bath Company provides “Natural Bath Products for Your Inner Goddess.” Natural and organic bath products created and manufactured right here in Castle Pines North are a great choice for the whole family and those with dry, sensitive skin. Visit Bubble Goddess Bath Company at Market…
by Lorraine Masonheimer The fledgling blades of native grasses clinging to the side of the eroding WinterBerry hill just received a lifeline. In June, the Metro District Board of Directors approved a $20,000 hillside erosion project for the WinterBerry community located at Monarch Boulevard and Buffalo Trail. The twenty-five homes affected back to Buffalo Trail…
Castle Pines North Master Association President Maureen Shul On July 12, 2007, CPN Master Association President Maureen Shul received a special commendation award from Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver for her involvement in Project Lifesaver. Shul was instrumental in bringing this program to Douglas County and now, statewide. She has volunteered countless hours toward this…
CPN resident Jeremy Gamble (right) earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do with the help of friend Taylor Moudy. by Lisa Crockett Taking a test is not something that most kids would think of as fun, but for Castle Pines North (CPN) resident Jeremy Gamble, it is just part of a process he enjoys.…
Business in the Pines board members include: (Pictured above left to right) Jessica Schwartz, Branch Supervisor – 1stBank of Douglas County, Carla Kenny, Administrator – Business in the Pines Association (former-Officio), Julie Sequeira, Owner/President – Julie Sequeira Agency / American Family Insurance, Shelly Kliner, Broker Associate – Prestige Real Estate, Sharon Kollmar, Administrator – Business…
Business in the Pines will host this year’s OctoberFest in Castle Pines North (CPN). Mark the calendar for Saturday, October 13, and plan to attend this annual CPN tradition. Food, drinks, vendors and activities make this a great family outing. Vendors interested in booth space should contact Carla Kenny at Contact by email.
Dust off the hat and boots and head down to Castle Rock for the annual Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. For more than 65 years, this event has attracted folks from far and wide. This year, the rodeo will be held August 3 to August 12 and will feature a host of activities including rodeos,…
by Lisa Crockett Representatives from Village Homes are working hard to get the building process underway on the site known as “CC-20” at the corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Monarch Boulevard. The site has been undergoing grading and infrastructure improvements since spring and Village Homes is eager to begin the first phase of the…
by Lorraine Masonheimer The Metro District Board of Directors recently voted to delay the Castle Pines North (CPN) Community Center Xeriscape project originally scheduled to begin in July. Metro District Vice President Bruce Thompson recommended the delay of the $120,000 water-wise landscaping project until residents vote on incorporation. To learn more, contact the Metro District…
by Terri Wiebold Until funding for a permanent library facility in Castle Pines North (CPN) is approved (see article front page), CPN residents continue to regularly visit the Douglas County Library District’s Bookmobile. The Bookmobile has a collection of more than 3,000 items, but has complete access to everything within the Douglas County Library system.…
If you or a family member is a United States veteran, The Connection would like to hear from you. Send the name, branch of service, and location of deployment to Contact by email. The October-November newsletter will list Castle Pines North residents that have served in past wars to observe Veterans Day on November 11.
by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines Parkway interchange will soon be part of a metering light study conducted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). “We’ll be looking at every interchange on I-25 between County Line Road and Wilcox/Wolfensberger in Castle Rock,” said CDOT Spokesperson Bob Wilson. Douglas County’s growing population means increasing backups on…
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Castle Pines North Wine & Spirits and Canyon Ridge Chiropractic celebrated a joint re-grand opening on Saturday, June 23. Both businesses are located in the King Sooper’s Shopping Center in Castle Pines North. The businesses provided free barbecue and lots of free give-aways to residents who stopped by for…
by Lisa Crockett The wheels of progress are moving slowly but surely for one church in Castle Pines North (CPN). Castle Pines Community Church announced plans to build a new church in Surrey Ridge more than a year ago, but has spent many months correcting several technical aspects of the design. In June, the final…
CPN residents and visitors took to the streets for Market in the Pines on June 9 and July 14. Two additional Markets are planned for August 11 and September 8. (photo by Tim Gamble.) by Elean Gersack Market in the Pines debuted in Castle Pines North (CPN) on Saturday, June 9 and then had a…
Castle Rock Star Lighting November 2005 by Lane Roberts Congratulations to the Town of Castle Rock. Family Circle magazine recently selected the Town of Castle Rock as one of the “10 best Towns for Families” in the United States. The article, which appeared in the August edition of the magazine, shares the results of the…
County Commissioner Melanie Worley and other community leaders cut the ribbon officially opening the new trail extension. (photo by Jeremy Gamble) by Terri Wiebold The possibility that Douglas County residents might someday be able to travel from Parker to Durango via a trail system is one step closer to reality, according to Douglas County Parks…
by Lorraine Masonheimer Background – – In the last five years, Xcel Energy has applied and been granted two expansions to increase voltage in the Castle Pines North (CPN) transmission corridors. In 2005, Xcel requested a significant increase in audible noise levels for the second expansion. Bruce Thompson, as a board member of the Master…
by Lisa Crockett Douglas County residents received a newsletter this summer entitled Douglas County Connection, which reports funding sources and expenditures on road projects from 1996 to 2006. The newsletter details road and bridge funding, road sales and use tax, as well as other quality of life issues relating to roads in Douglas County. The…
New Kindergartner Sam C. heads to class, ably assisted by fourth-grade teacher Karen Kolibaba. (photo by Lisa Crockett) Timber Trail Elementary School, Castle Pines North’s (CPN) year-round school, has been bustling with kids all summer long. Other neighborhood schools – American Academy (founded by CPN parents and temporarily based in Lone Tree), Buffalo Ridge Elementary,…
by Lisa Crockett Castle Pines North (CPN) residents now have one less local banking option. The Washington Mutual (WAMU) branch on Lagae Road closed its doors on July 20. WAMU customers will now have to travel to the bank’s location on Milestone Lane in Castle Rock (near WalMart and Kohl’s.) “Accounts will automatically transfer to…
by Elean Gersack Business in the Pines was created earlier this year by the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association to promote an environment of communication, cooperation and support for local storefront and home-based businesses. The membership-based organization has grown to more than 60 members to date. As a networking, cooperative marketing and advertising group,…
by Terri Wiebold The land once slated for 1,600 residential homes known as the Tanterra Development near Centennial Airport will instead become soccer fields, open space and airport-compatible businesses under a deal brokered with Dove Valley Business Park Associates, Ltd. by the airport and the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners in June. The proposed residential…
by Lorraine Masonheimer Esperanza, a peninsula of 58 homes nestled in a valley between WinterBerry and Tapadero, is a gated community developed by Richmond Homes. The signature gates recently received medallions with a cursive “E” at Esperanza’s entrance located at Monarch Boulevard and Esperanza Drive. Mike Dunker has served as president of the Homeowners Association…
by Lisa Crockett The planned Ridgegate interchange, located South of Lincoln and north of the Surrey Ridge exit was slated to begin construction in June, but has been temporarily put on hold. The Ridgegate project will handle the increase in traffic that will result from the planned closure of exit 191 and the Surrey Ridge…
Article submitted by the Castle Crocs Swim Team Castle Pines North children spent the hot summer days working on swim stroke development, connecting with neighborhood friends, and improving times for the reward of a Castle Cones ice cream cone. Having competed in five dual meets, the Crocs were proud to bring home three wins. In…
Xcel North-South Powerline Corridor by Lane Roberts Xcel Energy is set to begin construction at the Daniel’s Park substation the week of August 6. Initial work on the project includes the installation of grading, erosion and sedimentation control measures approved by Douglas County. Grading at the substation is scheduled for the week of August 13.…
by Lane Roberts As of press time, Douglas County District Court was set to hold a brief hearing on the “Revenue Sharing and Settlement Agreement” between Castle Pines North (CPN) and Castle Pines Village (VILLAGE). The agreement, heard by the court on July 25, was signed on June 7 by representatives from both CPN and…
by Elean Gersack Amazing Animals – Pangi the Parrott, Drifter the Dog and Mudslinger the Pot Belly Pig – wowed the crowd in HOA2 on Sunday, June 10. The animals performed with their trainer, John Vincent. The HOA2 Social Committee sponsored this free event for their neighborhood. Mudslinger the Pot Belly Pig (above) jumps the…
The new CPN bakery also sells gifts, greeting cards and books. (photo by Lorraine Masonheimer) The Bundt Shoppe 7437 Village Square Drive—Castle Pines North Telephone – 303-814-0149 Web – www.thebundtshoppe.com Open – Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost $3.25—$38.95 by Lorraine Masonheimer Castle Pine North’s (CPN)…
by Elean Gersack Effective June 1, 2007, Jason Ortman, O.D., assumed Castle Pines Family Eye Care from prior owner, Jeffrey Butts, O.D., who has relocated outside of Colorado. During the past five years, Dr. Ortman practiced in Lakewood, Colorado. He completed undergraduate studies at Indiana University and received his Doctor of Optometry at The Ohio…
by Lisa Crockett The Citizens for the Preservation of Castle Pines North committee (CPNPC) is a group of citizens working together to advocate and inform all residents of Castle Pines North (CPN) of all the facts pertaining to the question of incorporation. CPNPC welcomes participation from any concerned citizens in CPN in the following areas:…
Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver by Terri Wiebold A citizen’s committee formed by Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver recently presented two recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration as ballot issues for this November 2007 election: The LEA (Law Enforcement Authority) Mill Levy should be increased 1.5 mills (from 4.5 to 6.0) for…
Saturday, August 11 – Shea Stadium, located at 3720 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, September 22 – Castle Rock Utilities Building, 175 Kellogg Drive, Castle Rock – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For maps to the drop-off locations or for more information about what items will and will…
Michaels Craft Store is just one of many new shopping options under construction in Castle Rock’s northern quadrant. (photo by Lisa Crockett) by Lisa Crockett Whether looking to cash a check, knit a sweater or build an addition to a home, new shopping options in Castle Rock abound. A flurry of construction in Castle Rock’s…
by Lorraine Masonheimer Daniel’s Gate residents recently asked the Metro District to relocate the “vault” restroom facility planned for Daniel’s Gate Park to lessen the impact for homes in the area. The original site placed the facility next to the parking lot. In June, the Metro District Board of Directors unanimously agreed to move the…
CONSUMER BULLETIN August 21, 2007 SEX OFFENDER NOTICES Homeowners throughout Colorado are finding notices taped to their doors stating that a known sex offender has moved into their neighborhood. The notice directs them to a website, www.neighborhoodredalert.com. The website offers for a fee to notify you when a sex offender moves into your neighborhood. The…
by Terri Wiebold South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) has undergone some major changes in the past few months, but one change is of particular interest and benefit to residents in the Castle Pines North (CPN) community. On July 15, the ambulance once based at Station 36 – located at 421 Castle Pines Parkway – returned…
The Douglas/Elbert Task Force, a non-profit agency providing emergency assistance to those at risk of homelessness, needs volunteers in its Thrift Store and Food Bank. Task Force volunteers work in Thrift Store donations intake, sort, price and stock store merchandise, cashier and assist in the Food Bank. Volunteers receive training, mentoring, store discounts, gifts certificates…
Information provided by the Castle Pines North Metro District July 30, 2007 The Castle Pines North Metro District is sending you this brief update on activity that you may be noticing in your neighborhood. In addition to supplying continual behind-the-scenes water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure services, the District maintains recreational and aesthetic amenities enjoyed…
by Elean Gersack The Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association presented its annual Summer Movie in the Park on August 25, at Coyote Ridge Park. The movie, co-sponsored by Dr. Andrew Dunbar of Castle Pines Orthodontics, featured the 2006 version of “Charlotte’s Web”. Families brought sleeping bags, blankets, and chairs and sat back to enjoy…
Metro District Board Member Bruce Thompson discusses the impact of noise pollution for the CPN community. by Lorraine Masonheimer Castle Pines North (CPN) residents attended an informal meeting on May 31 to hear details regarding the power line expansion proposed by Xcel Energy to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) earlier this month. The meeting was…
Business in the Pines is growing by the day. Below is a member list as of press time. To learn more about membership benefits and to find out about upcoming Business in the Pines events, visit www.businessinthepines.com. American Family Insurance – Julie Sequeira, American Family Insurance – Tim Brown, Arbonne International – Jana Ray, Back…
On May 30, Governor Bill Ritter signed into law HB 1064, also known as Project Lifesaver. This legislation will provide start-up funds for those counties statewide wishing to participate in this program. Project Lifesaver involves tracking technology that reduces search time to less than 25 minutes for people who are prone to wander and get…
by Lane Roberts The Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District has been exploring the possible purchase of water rights from the London Mine, located on the middle fork of the South Platte River for several years. At the monthly board meeting on May 21, the Metro District Board voted to terminate the contract with THF…
by Lorraine Masonheimer As Castle Pines North (CPN) prepares for Memorial Day and Independence Day festivities, many residents have family members in the military deployed throughout the world or are veterans of wars past. The burden falls especially hard on these neighbors. Differing opinions on present-day and past wars can be heard across the country…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Castle Rock, Col., (June 8, 2007) — Representatives from Castle Pines North (CPN) and Castle Pines Village (VILLAGE) have entered into a comprehensive “Revenue Sharing and Settlement Agreement” regarding the commercial area included in two separate petitions to incorporate filed by both communities last December. The agreement, signed June 7 by representatives…
by Lorraine Masonheimer The Castle Pines North (CPN) Parks Authority Board met on April 19 to discuss future park development. Among the items discussed was the East-West Regional Trail Extension. The Lagae Ranch park proposal is delayed for 30 to 60 days due to schedule conflicts with HF Holdings, LLC. The 240-acre parcel is located…
Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees engage in a thoughtful discussion about whether or not to place a ballot question before the voters in the November 6 election. From left to right: Cathy Norris, Stevan Strain, David Starck, Mark Weston, and Steve Roper. G. Robert McLaughlin attended by phone. (photo courtesy of Douglas County Libraries)…
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 the Pines storefront and…
by Lane Roberts Castle Pines North (CPN) is home to more than 560 acres of open space. The Castle Pines North Metro District is responsible for maintaining 323 acres of open space, including the three community parks. Many homes in CPN back to open space areas that are owned by the CPN Metro District. Recently,…
by Lane Roberts Douglas County Public Works has several asphalt overlay and concrete repair projects slated for Castle Pines North (CPN) this summer. The following streets (or portions of them) will be resurfaced this summer: Berkshire Court, Berkshire Lane, Clare Drive, Corby Court, Corby Place, Tenby Way, Warwick Place and Shoreham Drive (from Clare Drive…
by Lane Roberts On Monday, May 7, more than 30 residents attended the Castle Pines North (CPN) Metro District’s public hearing regarding a proposed water and wastewater rate increase. During the meeting, Metro District Manager James McGrady gave a presentation that detailed the need for the proposed 10 percent water rate increase and the restructuring…
by Lane Roberts Construction on the long awaited restrooms for all three Castle Pines North parks are set to begin this summer. Three “vault” restroom facilities will be built this summer at Coyote Ridge Park, The Retreat Park and Daniel’s Gate Park. Vault restrooms are commonly used throughout Colorado’s State Parks. The waterless toilets provide…
by Elean Gersack In the August issue of 5280 magazine, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) received accolades as the overall number two high school in the Denver area. The article titled, “Denver’s Best High Schools” evaluated private and public high schools by student-teacher ratio, lowest number of disciplinary issues, ACT and SAT scores, teachers with…
Army Chaplain Ellison (left) and his family. by Lisa Crockett Being in the Army Reserves usually means serving your country two days a month and two weekends a year. It was a comfortable arrangement for Chaplain James Ellison (Col.), a Castle Pines North (CPN) resident who was busy in his work as a chaplain, supporting…
Residents can now travel safely across Hidden Pointe Boulevard without crossing over the rocky center island. (photos by Tim Gamble) by Terri Wiebold Last December, the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association Safety Committee, the CPN Metro District, and Douglas County Public Works cooperatively took on two pedestrian crosswalk projects in the Castle Pines North…
by Elean Gersack The ReJuveniles will perform at the 2007 Summer Concert in the Park on Sunday, July 22. This free concert, sponsored by the Castle Pines North Master Association and Castle Rock Bank, will take place at Coyote Ridge Park. Bounce castles and concessions will kick off the fun at 4:30 p.m. and the…
by Elean Gersack On Thursday, April 12, more than 25 local business owners attended the kick-off event for Business in the Pines – an association formed by the Castle Pines North (CPN) Master Association in January to unite local businesses. Members and Margaritas was organized as a meet and greet opportunity for store-front and home-based…
Fire = Oxygen + Heat Source + Fuel. Fuel = Combustible material, both living and dead, that is capable of burning in a wildland situation. Fire Mitigation = The actions taken that lessen the risk to people, property and resources from wildfire. Defensible Space = An area around homes or structures, either man –made or…
by Terri Wiebold On the heels of what some might argue was one of the wettest winters in Colorado history, is it possible that Douglas County is still in danger of wildland fire this summer? Absolutely. According to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Director, Jamie Moore, snow does not always contain a lot of…
Patty Moschner (left) and Leslie Clemesen partner on many projects, including participating in the CPN Master Association sponsored Suicide Forum. by Terri Wiebold On the evening of April 18, residents in the Castle Pines North (CPN) community gathered at the community center to share in an open discussion about suicide and how to prevent this…
by Lisa Crockett After months of delay, the planned shopping center at the northeast corner of Lagae Road and Castle Pines Parkway has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. The County Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for the center, which is being developed by Minneappolis-based Anxon, Inc. Anxon is ready to start construction.…