The Castle Pines Connection

DCS Montessori is accepting applications for 3 year olds for the 2004-2005 school year. If you are interested in applying, please call 303-387-5625 or stop by. Preschool hours are: Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 11:30. Tuition this school year was $3,700, and a slight increase is expected next year. Applications will be accepted on a…

Maureen Shul, Vice President of the CPN Master Association Board of Directors, has taken on the issue of excessive Air Traffic over the CPN neighborhood. She reports that the “150 Study” (which contained 12 recommendations for future noise mitigation policies) was forwarded to the FAA in August, 2003. The FAA has been slow on this…

Fetch your sneakers and your four-legged friend for the King Soopers “Furry Scurry,” a two-mile walk and fun run on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at 9 a.m. in Denver’s Washington Park. This event is for dogs and their human companions, but everyone is welcome to walk without a dog or in honor of a favorite…

Children of our community ages 12 and under are invited to participate in a contest to name our next park. Plans for a new $5.5 million, 21 acre park are underway, with ground breaking set for this fall. The new park, which will be located adjacent to the CPN Community Center, will feature a multi-purpose…

South Metro Fire Rescue, the fire protection district for Castle Pines North and other southern suburban areas in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties, held an election on May 4, 2004. Voters elected two Board members, Michael Hunt and David Heller, and approved the proposal to increase the fire district’s mill levy. Votes for the mill levy…

After much anticipation, the grand opening of the Castle Pines North Bookmobile will take place on May 16. Douglas County Libraries has a celebration planned for this exciting day. There will be story times throughout the afternoon, refreshments, and “Dougie” the library system’s mascot will be present. What: Castle Pines North Bookmobile Grand Opening Celebration…

On Monday, March 15th, more than 30 residents attended the second Metro District Community Information Meeting at the Community Center. The meeting featured an array of information about capital construction projects, water rights, as well as information on the proposed 21 acre park adjacent to the CPN Community Center. Water Resources and Environmental Consultant Theresa…

If you are not 100 percent sure that your infant’s or child’s car seat is properly installed in your vehicle, make sure to stop by one of the monthly South Metro Fire Rescue FREE car seat checks. Where: South Metro Fire Rescue, Station #34: Yosemite and Maximus (two blocks south of C-470 on Yosemite) Time:…

Jan Walker CPN Metro District 303-688-8550, ext. 21 or at jan@cpnmd.org If you are coaching a sports team this spring and need a place to practice, make sure to contact the Metro District and reserve one of our three park locations. Castle Pines North has three fields available to all residents including: The Retreat Park,…

Thanks to the efforts of the Board of HOA#1, all Castle Pines North youth are invited to join Junior Team Tennis. JTT is a USTA juniors league which will allow the community’s 8-18 year olds to play matches in a team format against other Colorado youths at their age and skill level. The HOA#1 Board…

Hidden Pointe residents voted by mail ballot on May 4, 2004 to elect three board members to the Green Valley Water and Sanitation District. Hidden Pointe homeowners will now control three of the five seats on the board. Green Valley contracts with the CPN Metro District to receive water and sewer services for Hidden Pointe.…

Have any paint products, motor oil, antifreeze, vehicle batteries, house and garden chemicals, fire extinguishers, fireworks, ammunition, mercury, propane or tires to throw away? Remember… it’s a hazard to put them in your trash can. This year there will be three separate drive-through Roundups in Douglas County: • June 5, Parker Joint Services Center, 17801…

The Connection sat down with Jamie LaRue, Director of Douglas County Libraries, and had a discussion with him about Castle Pines North’s great need for a local public library. While CPN would ultimately like to see a permanent library branch in either a newly constructed building or in a CPN storefront, these options are not…

Submit your listing now Click here for a list of 2004 Master Association Garage Sale Participants The Castle Pines North Master Association Annual Community Garage Sale is quickly approaching, so it’s time to start your spring cleaning! The Sale will be held between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., on both Friday, May…

Join us for the next Castle Pines North Metro District Community Information Meeting on Monday, March 15th, at 6:00 p.m., at the Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive. During the meeting, you’ll get updates about the directional water well project, learn more about our water conservation projects currently underway, and get the latest on…

The fourth annual Spruce-Up Colorado Day will be Saturday, April 24. All CPN residents are encouraged to don bright orange vests provided by CDOT to help clean up the area from Surrey Ridge to Castle Pines Village. This year, the event coincides with Arbor Day, and CDOT has given its permission for Spruce-Up Colorado to…

Prudential Preferred Real Estate will accept your unwanted or unsold Garage Sale goods on Saturday, May 22 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. or Sunday, May 23 before noon, at the Parking Lot between the BankWest/Prudential and Celtic Crossing. The items will be sold in a giant garage sale format on Sunday, May 23 (weather…

Xcel Energy has won final approval from the Public Utilities Commission, (PUC), to rebuild one of the three lines that travel diagonally through the eastern part of CPN. CPN lost the battle to have the power lines re-routed, or buried; however, we were successful with the PUC in retaining important legal rights for property owners…

The Senate approved HB-1348 today, by a vote of 28-7. (more to follow) No Debate on Senate Floor — Formal Vote on Friday 3-25-2004 HB-1348 reached the Senate today and, unfortunately, was not debated on the Senate floor. A preliminary “voice vote” was taken and the “yes” and “no” votes were divided. The Senate Chair…

A new restaurant has opened in CPN. Castle An Chinese restaurant, located in the Village Square Shopping Center, is a delicious alternative, according to preliminary reviews from CPN residents. Right now, the restaurant is dine-in or take-out only, but will add delivery sometime in the next few months. Castle An’s phone number is 303-660-9884. Lunch…

Lady of America Fitness, located at 562 E. Castle Pines Parkway, has unexpectedly gone out of business. This location will be permanently closed. There is currently no additional information as to why they closed their doors. CPN residents, who were members of LOA, have called LOA and found that members have the following options: 1)…

With the growth of our neighborhood has come welcome diversity. No longer is CPN just a cluster of families with young children. Every day, more retirees and grandparents are choosing to make Castle Pines North their home. Don’t be shy! If you think you might be among the older residents living here, The Connection wants…

The immediate response of the Douglas County Sheriff’s office led to the arrest of two suspects who allegedly robbed the King Soopers at Castle Pines North. On Tuesday, January 8, at 7:40 p.m., deputies quickly responded to a 911 call on a possible armed robbery. Two armed men allegedly robbed the store and fled on…

The Castle Pines North Master Association has filed a response to the Hidden Pointe Homeowner Association’s lawsuit in Douglas County District Court. The lawsuit required the Master Association to submit a written response to the court, answering Hidden Pointe’s charges. The Master Association has also filed counterclaims against the Hidden Pointe HOA, asking for reimbursement…

Although most CPN residents didn’t realize it, CPN lost its local emergency medical service on December 1, 2003 when the South Metro Fire District transferred the ambulance and paramedics from Station #36 on Castle Pines Parkway and I-25 to Station #39 on Happy Canyon Road in Castle Pines Village. However, due to quick action by…

For months, Castle Pines North Master Association has been battling Xcel Energy over its plans to replace the power lines that run through CPN with taller, more powerful, noisier ones. Residents will know the final outcome soon. In the months since Xcel first announced its plans for the upgrade, the Master Association has formed committees…

Dr. Dunbar and the staff at Castle Pines Orthodontics would like to thank the community and their patients for contributing to the holiday food drive. More than 400 cans of food were donated and distributed to families in need. Everyone who contributed to the food drive was entered into a raffle. Winners were selected through…

Construction of one of the deepest and longest directional water wells in North America is underway in Castle Pines North. Construction will begin with the drilling of a vertical segment of the well, located southeast of Hidden Pointe Blvd. and Monarch Blvd. Drilling for the vertical well will be conducted 24-hours-a-day and is expected to…

Ballot Issue 1A was approved. In the off-year election held November 4, state voters generally chose “no.” No to expanding gambling in the state, no to shifting the tax burden from commercial to residential property, and no to the state water conservation board borrowing up to $2 billion. Douglas County voters said no to extending…

Castle Pines North is a beautiful neighborhood of open space and varied topography. The beauty of our area is greatly enhanced by the abundant wildlife present in and around the community. However, when humans and wildlife live in close proximity encounters can occur. Where there are deer, raccoons, and rabbits, there are also animals that…

Conservation groups’ hopes to preserve the 230 acres connecting Bluffs Regional Park to the Highlands Ranch Open Space were dashed by the City of Lone Tree on November 18, when the City approved annexation of the property to allow the construction of 85 luxury homes. With no adverse opinions from Lone Tree neighborhoods such as…

An election for two positions on the Metro District Board of Directors will be held in May. Interested candidates must submit a nomination petition by February 27th. For more information, please contact Election Official Janet Burnham at 303-688-8550, ext. 12

The Castle Pines North Master Association has scheduled some of its annual events for 2004. Be sure not to miss them! Easter Egg Hunt This wonderful event will be held on Saturday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Meet at Coyote Ridge Park with your kids aged 12 and under. Bring baskets for collecting the…

The Colorado Humane Society, located in Englewood, is lucky to have Hidden Pointe resident Rena Ludwick as a volunteer. Rena dedicates 12 hours a week to the shelter, primarily walking and grooming dogs. The society, which was incorporated in 1881, is a temporary home to dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, and othersmall animals. They also offer…

U.S. residential construction was more active in 2003 than it had been in 25 years, and Castle Pines North was right in line. Denver-area figures, however, were down. The Castle Pines North Master Association reported 327 new homes closed in 2003, an increase of about 10% from 2002’s 294 new homes. Interestingly, our growth is…

Homeowners Attend Community Water Meeting On Monday, December 15th, more than 40 homeowners attended a meeting at the Community Center hosted by the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD). “We decided to host this meeting following the November article in the Rocky Mountain News,” said Judy Dahl, CPNMD Manager. “We wanted to reassure our homeowners…

Kings Crossing residents Sandy McFarland and her two children volunteer at “Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption (FOHRAA),” a Denver-area non-profit organization that strives to place horses in adoptive loving homes. Most of the rescued horses are foals, retired thoroughbred racers, and horses that have been rescued from slaughterhouses. The McFarlands found out about FOHRAA…

Rodney’s, a “fashionable bar and restaurant featuring king crab legs to burgers,” according to a dining review on www.cherrycreeknorth.com, is slated to open its third Colorado location in February. Rodney’s will be located adjacent to Castle Pines Village, in the development currently under construction at the intersection of Santa Fe and Happy Canyon Road. The…

Castle Rock Bank, located at 501 Wilcox Street in downtown Castle Rock, is scheduled to open its first branch office in 2004. The Bank has purchased the vacant building known to residents as the old Total Station, at 506 Castle Pines Parkway. This first branch location was chosen because of its convenience to the growing…

Kathy Crowley Salon 188 is pleased to announce that Kathy Crowley has joined the team, specializing in haircuts and haircolor. Call Kathy to make an appointment at 720-733-8550.

Business Leads Group meets at 7:15 a.m. every Wednesday, at Le Peep Restaurant on the SE corner of County Line & Quebec. Join area businesses who meet to develop word-of-mouth referrals and long-lasting business relationships. For more info, call Rita Coltrane at (303) 792-3587.

Thank you to the Arapahoe County Chapter of the American Red Cross, which was involved in setting up the Evacuation Center at Douglas County High School. (This is the chapter for Douglas County.) Branch Manager Ron Liggett Liggett said that the Red Cross is set up to come into a community to give CPR and…

Are you interested in helping with clean-up, erosion control, or anything else that needs to be done in Daniels Park? Interested people or Homeowner Associations should contact the Master Association for more information, admin@cpnhoa.org.

The thick billows of smoke from the Cherokee Ranch fire got many residents to start packing even before the mandatory evacuation order came on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 29. And 16 hours later, the neighborhood was just about back to normal, thanks to the efforts of firefighters and a well-timed wintry blast from Mother…

The Castle Rock Business Leads Group… …meets at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, at La Dolce Vita Restaurant in Castle Pines North. The group exists for area businesses to develop word-of-mouth referrals and long-lasting business relationships. Call Joann Bruso at (303) 799-8853 or Rita Coltrane (303) 792-3587.

Dear Castle Pines North Neighbor: By now we are all settled back into our homes after the Evacuation from the Cherokee Ranch fire on October 29th. We all realize how blessed we are have our homes (and our lives) spared from such tragedy. “Thank you” seems too simple to express our gratitude to the firefighters,…

South Metro Fire District Chief Robert Rinne presented a post-incident report about the Cherokee Ranch fire during the Annual Meeting of the Master Association on November 20. Among his comments were that the Fire District felt it had had good control of the fire by about 6:00 pm. the evening of October 29, and it…

In one of a series of grocery store robberies to hit the Metro area in recent months, the Castle Pines King Soopers was targeted on January 8. At 7:40 p.m., deputies responded to a 911 call about a possible armed robbery. Two armed men were reported to have robbed the store and fled on foot.…

Dr. John Stevens is the popular owner and director of Castle Pines Chiropractic Center, located inside the Bank West Building on Castle Pines Parkway. If you haven’t been adjusted by Dr. Stevens, chances are you know someone who has! Prior to opening his office here more than three years ago, John owned and operated clinics…

Christ the King Presbyterian Church has begun offering worship services at the DCS Montessori School at 311 East Castle Pines Parkway (I-25 exit 188, _ mile west). Sunday School for all ages will be at 9:30 AM, fellowship time at 10:30 AM, and worship at 11:00 AM. Worship nursery will be provided. Christ the King…

Dr. Andrew Dunbar and the staff at Castle Pines Orthodontics is hosting a Holiday Food Drive. Everyone is welcome to participate. Bring in non-perishable food items from now until December 22nd. For every item you bring in, receive one entry for our holiday raffle. Prizes include a gift certificate to Best Buy, a Hand-Held Karaoke…

Comcast to Provide New Fiber Optic System in Castle Pines North In the next few weeks, Comcast will complete its conversion to a new fiber optic system, allowing CPN residents the ability to subscribe to high-speed cable Internet service, HDTV (high definition television), and expanded television channel choices/packages. If you currently subscribe to Comcast’s basic…

The Friends of Horses Rescue and Adoption’s (FOHRAA) first annual Horse Show last November 15 was a success! According to Sandy McFarland, a CPN resident who volunteers along with her children for this organization, “The horse show was great and the kids had a blast!” There were a few CPN residents in attendance who learned…

Xcel Energy has received support – but not yet final approval — for rebuilding one of the power lines along CPN’s eastern border, but CPN has won victories on some important legal points. The case is not fully settled, and contributions are still sought to pursue legal relief on critical issues that we have raised,…

On Saturday, November 22, the Rocky Mountain News targeted Castle Pines North as a community that is in danger of running out of water because water levels in wells are dropping. However, the article did not tell the entire story. In fact, the article left out key information, printed quotes and statistics out of context,…

Reports of both local and national telephone and e-mail scams are increasing, threatening the financial solvency of those who might be taken in by the sophistication of these recent frauds. In local cases, customers have been called by people claiming to be from the Security and Fraud Department of VISA or MasterCard. They ask if…

If you love horses, you’ll want to mark your calendar for November 15! Friends of Horses, a horse rescue and adoption organization, is hosting its first “FOHRAA Horse Show,” which will take place from 10 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Friends of Horses is based in Metropolitan Denver, and strives to place foals and horses…

If you do volunteer work with animals (such as animal rescue, adoption, training service animals, animal therapy at nursing home(s)/hospital(s), etc…), The Connection newsletter wants to hear from you! Writers for the newsletter are in the process of compiling a feature article on CPN residents who do volunteer work with animals. If you are a…

In the off-year election held November 4, state voters generally chose “NO.” No to expanding gambling in the state, no to shifting the tax burden from commercial to residential property, and no to the state water conservation board borrowing up to $2 billion. Locally, voters were in favor of schools and roads. Results of voting…

Residents Needed to Work for Traffic Signal Change, Other Safety Issues The two-vehicle crash on Thursday morning, October 23, was caused by a driver failing to yield to oncoming traffic, said Lt. Tim Moore of Douglas County Sheriff’s Dept. A vehicle that was heading south on Monarch attempted to turn left onto the Parkway, and…

Cougars Lacrosse emphasizes teaching the players proper fundamentals along with emphasizing good sportsmanship and team play. The Cougars offer teams for boys 2nd through 8th grade and girls 4th through 8th grade. The season starts mid to late February and runs through the month of May with an optional end of season tournament the first…

While we appreciate the efforts of those who helped during the fire, the CPN Master Association and Metro District will be joining forces with other neighborhoods in our area to work with public service agencies to review lessons learned from the Cherokee Ranch fire, so that all will be better prepared in case of another…

CPN residents are asked to attend the Douglas County Planning Commission meeting on Monday, November 17, to oppose Xcel Energy’s application to replace an existing power line with taller metal poles that would carry higher voltage – 345kV, the most powerful transmission lines used in the state of Colorado. Instead of planning additional power transmission…

CPN residents are looking for ways to express thanks to those who assisted us during the Cherokee Ranch fire. Fire stations have already had many visits from thankful residents, and have received more than enough gifts of food. There have been suggestions as to how others can show appreciation. Some ideas are: Do what others…

DCS Montessori is kicking off its fall fundraising event. The school is selling Entertainment Books, a nice, thick coupon book providing discounts on dining, family entertainment, skiing, home and garden, not to mention coupons for local businesses such as Coffee Cravings, Little Italy and Safeway. The Safeway coupons alone pay for the book! Entertainment Books…