The Castle Pines Connection

St. Francis of Assisi’s new church sanctuary will be open to the public on September 30 and October 1. By Elizabeth Wood West (Artist’s rendering provided by St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church) St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock will be hosting an Oktoberfest Open House for the public on Friday, September…

Retiring Douglas County K-9 Unit dogs: Axel (left) is ten years old and has been with the DCSO since 2003. Leon, 9 1/2 years old, is certified in patrol and narcotics detection.     Press Release submitted by Friends of Douglas County K-9, photos courtesy of Allison Shaw The first ever Friends of Douglas County K-9…

  Kevin Milan Information provided by Becky O’Guinn, SMFRA A fire captain with a unique background in architecture, education, training, and firefighting has been selected as the new fire marshal for the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority. The appointment of Kevin Milan was announced September 21 by Assistant Chief Mike Dell’Orfano. Milan, who currently serves…

Castle Pines Mayor Jeff Huff (left) presents a check for $25,000 from the City of Castle Pines to Amy Hunt, president of the Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees. The contribution was made to the campaign being waged by area residents to raise $100,000 to keep the Castle Pines Library open for the next three…

By Amy Shanahan, logo courtesy of Tony’s Market The Shops at the Village in Castle Pines will be crowded with bicyclists on Sunday, October 2, as more than 150 cyclists stop in on their way to completing a 71 mile bicycle tour throughout the Denver area. Tony’s Market is holding it’s 2nd annual “Tony’s to…

A view from the tram over the Arkansas River looking north to the Royal Gorge bridge, suspended 956 feet off the ground. by Joe Gschwendtner Need a new day trip or weekend venue? How about Canon City? Some actually spend time there willingly… Canon City’s charm borders on the eclectic. The prison scene is a…

CPV resident #41 Eric Williams is off to an amazing start this season. Playing both offense and defense, Williams makes an interceptionat the September 9 varsity game against Dakota Ridge. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Rock Canyon Photos Coming back from a 21-27 loss against Montrose on August 26, the Rock Canyon High…

Open house attendees signed up to receive updates and reviewed data about the North Meadows Extension. Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West Dozens of people crowded around presentation boards and quizzed Town of Castle Rock, Douglas County, and other representatives at a recent North Meadows Extension open house. The event followed the town’s release…

By Chris Bonham Douglas County schools are among the best in the nation. One thing that is essential to a good school system is a good school board. In November, it will be up to parents and residents of Douglas County to select who will fill the three seats up for grab on the school…

Retired Army Corporal Nick Orchowski and his wife Jamie (left front) meet with the Douglas County Rotarians At Work committee. By Chris Bonham with photo provided by Susan Vanderhill The motto of Rotary International is stated as “Service Above Self.” And, in the case of members of the Douglas County Rotary Club, this motto has…

By Elizabeth Wood West The Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is hosting a Harvest Days fall festival at historic Lowell Ranch on October 15 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The celebration will feature a “u-pick” pumpkin and gourd patch, hay rides, carriage rides, historic tours of the ranch and (weather permitting) sales of fresh…

Information provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Upcoming Halloween Weekend DUI Saturation Patrol The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up our efforts to apprehend intoxicated and impaired drivers during the up-coming Halloween weekend, which takes place the weekend of October 28th.  Deputies will be providing extra enforcement from Friday, October 28 through…

Quinn Kennedy and Lauren Wearsch Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Cindy Baker Being a part of the Drama Club at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) is no easy task.  Simultaneously preparing for a number of productions, the thespians work hard to play hard at their school presentations. Most of the backstage student…

Music hopeful and every-day Castle Pines teen Maddie Krawiec takes a break during a Los Angeles studio recording session cutting her first single, “Being Me.” By Tricia Wackerly with photos provided by Judy Krawiec Sixteen-year-old Maddie Krawiec’s singing career seems to be headed in a direction she could only once dream about. This past July,…

Ten-year-old Taylor Muckel (seated, at left), along with her friend Kara Lencke (seated, at right) and younger brother Kyle (seated, front) sold lemonade to friends and neighbors to raise money for the Castle Pines Library’s fundraising campaign. By Lisa Crockett, photo courtesy of Alison Muckel Ten-year-old Taylor Muckel loves to read. So it’s not surprising…

by Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock will be hosting a public open house on Thursday, September 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the commons area at Castle Rock Middle School, located at 2575 Meadows Blvd. in The Meadows Development in Castle Rock. The purpose of the open house is to…

by Patte Smith Soon the leaves with be turning colors and the days will cool down — time for families, friends and residents of Douglas County to strap on those hiking shoes, pack a picnic and head outdoors. Open space areas and trails abound in this beautiful county and details about all of them can…

  No carnival would be complete without cotton candy, and this BRE third grader is enjoying his. These good friends are enjoying the night while wearing matching smiles and purple fifth grade school spirit shirts. Article and photos by Elean Gersack It has become a welcome back to school tradition at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School…

Bob Ferraro, VP of Sales Eat Well Enjoy Life      by Tricia Wackerly Castle Pines resident Bob Ferraro and his partners at Tryst Gourmet are delivering innovation to the hummus trend that has been exploding on grocery store shelves during the past decade. In 2006, Ferraro and his current partners were let go by their…

by Lisa Crockett The Castle Pines City Council has unanimously approved a $50,000 contribution to the Castle Pines Library; funds will be contributed to a campaign to raise $100,000 to keep the library operating for the next three years. Half of the contribution will be presented to the Library in September, and the other half…

This annual event helps teens to understand the possible consequences of drinking and driving. Various participating sponsors included Tammy Lopez Allstate Agency, Castle Pines Big O Tires, and Mary MacDonald Allstate Agency. Photos by Tim Gamble Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Allstate Insurance office in Castle Rock, teens tested…

Information provided by Douglas County Responsible pet ownership is the focus of a new website recently launched by Douglas County and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The site includes answers to the most frequently asked questions about the care and management of pets, lost and found animals, pets and disaster preparedness, Douglas County laws associated…

Douglas County Dames’ July meeting at the Sally Jobe’s Parker office. by Elizabeth Wood West “We’re ‘dames’ who want to have fun, but more importantly, we’re ‘dames’ who give a d___!” is the motto of a group of Douglas County women who recently formed the Douglas County Dames (Dames). In addition to being friends, the…

By Kathy Dunker Castle Pines residents are invited to the grand opening celebration of the much-anticipated new Elk Ridge Park on Saturday, September 17. This magnificent park will be the largest amenity that the Castle Pines community has funded in its history and will rival virtually any major park throughout the region. Elk Ridge Park…

Castle Pines resident Zach Zahorik earned Boy Scouts’ highest rank of Eagle Scout working on an extensive bluebird project.      by Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Lynn Zahorik Eighteen year-old Castle Pines resident Zach Zahorik recently finished his Eagle project, earning the rank of Eagle Scout with Castle Pines Boy Scout Troop 316.…

Information provided by Douglas County the developers of Penley Ranch At the applicant’s request, the Use by Special Review application for 3485 N. State Highway 67- Penley Reservoir was withdrawn from Douglas County in late July. The proposed non-recreational Penley Reservoir was part of the Penley Ranch project, a 1,215-acre proposed rural residential development with…

By Elean Gersack with information and photo provided by The Dumb Friends League Hike with your hound close to home and help homeless pets. Follow the trail of wet noses and wagging tails at the Dumb Friends League 2011 Wag ‘n Trail. The 1.6-mile hike for people and their dogs takes place Saturday, September 17,…

By Lisa Crockett It is finally official! The U.S. Postal Service now recognizes “Castle Pines” as a correct designation for the city associated with the zip code 80108. No longer do city residents need to include “Castle Rock” in addressing mail. Many residents and businesses in the city have been addressing mail correspondence with “Castle…

Congressman Mike Coffman, representing Colorado’s 6th congressional district, presents the Congressional Award Bronze Medal to Eagle Scout and RCHS senior, Russell Maranto, at the Congressman’s office in Lone Tree on August 8.    by Kathy Dunker with photo courtesy of W. Bruce Wilson Russell Maranto, with Troop 316 from Castle Pines and a senior at…

An August ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Lone Tree Arts Center celebrated the grand opening of the new facility. On September 3 and 4, the Center will open its doors to the public from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. for tours and entertainment, and the regular season begins on September 9. From left: Lone Tree Arts…

Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines began Phase 1 of a $1.8 million dollar road reconstruction project in mid-August. All phases of the project are expected to be completed by the middle of November. During September, Interstate Highway Construction will be removing and replacing sections of Castle Pines…

By Elean Gersack Summer is winding down and there is no better time to tee off. Novices, intermediates and experienced players can learn new skills or perfect a good thing with coach Dennis Murray at The Ridge at Castle Pines North (The Ridge). Murray is hosting a number of game improvement opportunities this fall for…

Teri Cox Douglas County Assessor Information provided by Teri Cox, Douglas County Assessor As a result of the Douglas County 2011 reappraisal, the Assessor’s Office will mail each property owner in the Castle Pines community a notice of the appraised value of their property, with some important differences from past notifications. This year, in order…

Submitted by Lane Roberts, Castle Pines Athletics Castle Pines Athletics is teaming with the City of Castle Pines to host Kick-Fest, a family recreational kickball event during the grand opening of Elk Ridge Park set for Saturday, September 17, from noon to 5 p.m. Parents, children, and even grandparents are welcome to participate in this…

Information submitted by the Town of Castle Rock School will soon be in session at the first higher education facility in Castle Rock – the new Arapahoe Community College Campus at 4700 Castleton Way. Registration has already opened for fall classes, which will get under way in mid-October and end by mid-December. Most classes being…

Lisa Towne of Castle Pine’s owner of Little Italy Pizzeria shows one of several lunch options now available five days per week at American Academy Charter School. Article by Kathy Dunker; photo courtesy of Lisa Towne Little Italy Pizzeria is now providing some delicious lunch alternatives for the students of American Academy (AA) five days…

We will be performing a program at a local elementary school again this year, sponsoring two local high school US History classes, and sponsoring three displays in the local library branches, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree, where we will be offering free copies of the Constitution and  Preamble Bookmarks at each location. The…

RHMS seventh and eighth grade students got in the swashbuckler spirit when they attended the Real Pirates exhibit last month at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by Kelly Corr In a combined field trip for Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) seventh and eighth graders, the students explored…

Article by Kathy Dunker with photo by Amy Shanahan Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) welcomes a new face to its administrative team. Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mike Loitz is new to the middle school, replacing Assistant Principal James McMurphy, who went on to become the principal of Ranch View Middle School High for the…

Gina Kaelin-Westcott, owner of Connect Selling and a 2010 graduate of the Success Tracks program, is publishing her first book!  Submitted by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Gina Kaelin-Westcott, owner of Connect Selling and a 2010 graduate of the Success Tracks program, has published her first book! “Creating a Bond Beyond the Handshake” aims…

This architectural renderring was part of the City of Lone Tree’s referral package for the site improvement plan of Hampton Inn and Suites at RidgeGate. By Patte Smith RidgeGate development continues, as a new a 106-room, four-story Hampton Inn has been approved by the city of Lone Tree and will be located at the southwest…

By Elean Gersack Bring your dog and head over to O’Brien Park in Parker on September 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the most fun a dog can have in one day! The park is located at 10795 Victorian Drive, at the northeast corner of Parker Road and Main Street. As summer draws…

By Amy Shanahan with photos courtesy of Sibby Dawson “What off-season?” is the slogan on Christopher Dawson’s new favorite t-shirt. Dawson, a sophomore at Regis Jesuit High School, started swimming competitively at age ten, and he’s been in the water ever since. He is a resident of Castle Pines Village and swims for the Village…

Brian Rojas Family members, neighbors, and friends will gather to celebrate the life of Brian Rojas during a a Rosarie that will take place at Notre Dame Catholic church 2190 S. Sheridan Blvd, Friday evening, September 9, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brian died after a tragic accident in the Amber Ridge/Ventana neighborhood  of…

By Elizabeth Wood West Beginning in January 2012, area residents will have an opportunity to earn a master’s degree in Castle Rock. Webster University’s Denver Metropolitan Campus is partnering with the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center (Chamber) to offer an on-site cohort program for Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Masters of…

Damage to the wood shingle roof from a lightning strike.     South Metro Fire Rescue units responded to the 911 call. By Amy Shanahan with photos provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Shana Nelson, a resident of Castle Pines will never forget her experience on August 3rd. Nelson had gone out for a run shortly…

Michael Weingartner, the new head golf pro at The Ridge at Castle Pines North, stands next to the 18th hole pin. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Michael Weingartner has been named head golf pro at The Ridge at Castle Pines North (The Ridge). Now in his third year there, Weingartner worked his way up…

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CONTEST – HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS The NSDAR awards multiple scholarships to students showing dedication to the pursuit of degrees in diverse disciplines including: ·      Economics ·      Medicine ·      Education ·      Nursing ·      Government ·      Physical Therapy ·      History ·      Political Science ·      Law ·     American Indian Scholarships Please check the…

  This newspaper clipping shows Leonard Rivkin demonstrating the Strolee National Safety Car Seat for Children – the car seat that started the evolution of child safety seats as we know them today. By Elean Gersack with newspaper clipping provided by Jason Rivkin This month is national car seat safety month. With it comes the…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photo by Kate Jones Wellspring Community participants and dance instructor Jenette Smith perform their dance routine for friends and family during the non-profit’s recent Summer Celebration. The dance classes incorporate brain integration therapy, and are just one of several social, educational, and job training enrichment programs offered to young adults with…

by Kathy Dunker Community Fall Festival DCS Montessori (DCSM) will be hosting a community Fall Festival Carnival on Friday, September 30, from 4:30 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. This exciting event will feature popular carnival games, food and refreshments, bounce houses, local vendors, as well as live entertainment. All members of the community are welcome to attend.…

By Lisa Crockett A group of alumni from Leadership Douglas County, a coalition of civic and business leaders, organized a summertime school supply drive called the “Giving Tree, Douglas County United for Students.” The chairperson of the effort, Susan Squyer, worked with the Douglas County Educational Foundation to gather supplies and provide them to students…

Rock Canyon High School students, (pictured from left to right) Andrew Lehrman, Ryan Blanchard, and Kevin Padavic, attended Nationals this summer in Dallas for the Technology Student Association (TSA) where they competed in Technical Sketching, Career Comparisons, On-Demand Film, and Technology Bowl.

Mrs. Miller’s first grade class watches closely as Garden to Chef parent volunteer, Nina Amey, shows them how to water newly planted veggies and fruits with organic plant food. Article and photo by Elean Gersack In the second week of school, students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) started digging, planting and watering. It’s all part…

CJ Hahn with Bessie outside his home in Surrey Ridge. The old gas pump is another of his restoration projects. By Amy Shanahan, photos by Amy Shanahan and courtesy of CJ Hahn. Surrey Ridge resident CJ Hahn enjoys doing car shows because he loves talking to people. As his wife Miriam said, “You can put…

Alyce Todd, co-manager of education at the Downtown Aquarium, makes a special presentation at Timber Trail Elementary to launch the school’s “Dive Into Reading” literacy program. Article and photos by Lisa Crockett The Timber Trail Education Alliance (TTEA), the PTA at Timber Trail Elementary School, has partnered with the Downtown Aquarium for this year’s literacy…

Local produce is at its best this month. Check out a local farmers market for tasty, locally-grown fruits and veggies fresh from the fields. By Lisa Crockett Fall is in the air, and harvest season is in full swing in Colorado. Farmers markets up and down the Front Range – including thriving markets in Lone…

Castle Pines Brownies representing Troop 3719 marched in the Douglas County fair parade on August 6 in Castle Rock to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts. The girls wore party hats and handed out beads to parade goers. Left to right are: Jameson, Emma Kate, Emersen, Mary, Taylor, Libby, Karlie, Lucy, Ellery, and Julia.

Teacher Tony Greene, Building Engineer Kevin Hall, and teacher Nick Newman competed in a tricycle race at Timber Trail Elementary. The race was part of an assembly held to generate excitement about the school’s upcoming Move-a-Thon fundraiser. By Lisa Crockett An upcoming fundraiser at Timber Trail Elementary has a serious purpose – to raise funds…

By Patte Smith with photos provided by DERA Renee Gorman is a wonderful woman, a great mom, and she has Stage IV breast cancer. Like most moms she is crazy about her two kids, a daughter age 12, and a son age 15, and loves her home in Castle Rock where the family has lived…

Cadet, Junior, Brownie, and Daisy troops all joined forces to honor the flag in AA’s first flag raising ceremony. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos by ReaMichelle Jakubowski American Academy (AA) held its open house on Wednesday, August 17, which included the school’s first ever flag raising. Part of the school’s improved front landscaping included…

by Mary Elizabeth Johnson and submitted by Marti Bacon STEM Hybrid (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is a new school connected to the STEM Academy located in Highlands Ranch. Its doors opened on August 24, with more than 45 students attending. Hybrid offers math, writing, literature, science, and applied science ~ including electricity/ circuitry, flight,…

by Kathy Dunker Rock Canyon High School (RCHS), with an expected enrollment of 1745 students this year, will be back in business beginning on Monday, August 8, for all freshmen and new students and on Tuesday, August 9, for all remaining students. Student pictures will be take on August 8 for all students including seniors.…

     by Patte Smith Congratulations to Jill Noyes, the Independence Day 2011 pie contest winner! An avid baker, Noyes decided at the last minute to enter the pie contest which was held at Coyote Ridge Park on July 1. “I have never entered a pie baking contest before and I wanted to get more involved…

by Elizabeth Wood West Texting while driving can be a fatal combination. That’s why Allstate Insurance agent (and mother of three boys) Mary MacDonald said putting the Teen Driving Event together was a no brainer. “Texting and driving can increase your risk of crashing by 23 times! That’s incredible! Hopefully, with the information we’ll be…

Franklin Graham, son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham, will be bringing “Rock the Range” festival to Denver on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28. The festival will be held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way in Commerce City. Saturday’s programs include the fun-filled children’s KidzFest at 10 a.m. and a high energy…

by Kathy Dunker Douglas County School District’s (DCSD) Express Check In is open now for DCS Montessori (DCSM) families. Online registration for DCSM will close on Friday, August 5. DCSM will hold its annual open house for families of students in first through fourth grades and those new to the school or with new teachers…

RHMS students, thanks to their filmmaking and performing experiences on the middle school’s Nighthawk Television show, were the proud recipients of the 2011 Teen Short Film Festival awards (pictured from left to right): Brooke Duran, Logan Schurr, Kirbi Spanbauer, and Emily Haigh. By Kathy Dunker with photo by Amy Shanahan The Phillip S. Miller Library…

Tickets are now on sale for the Lone Tree Arts Center’s inaugural season, which begins on September 9, 2011. A season ticket package with a theater series and the option to purchase priority seating to up to seven additional single performance events is available, as well as tickets for single performances. Season ticket packages may…