The Castle Pines Connection

Logan Draper recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. by Lisa Crockett, photos courtesy of the Draper family Working with homeless people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol doesn’t seem a likely place to find 13-year-old Logan Draper. A student at Rocky Heights Middle School, Logan likes to ski and hang out with friends.…

Article by Glenn Albert Do plants dance? Is a banana peel more slippery than grease? Does stress or exercise raise your blood pressure the most? These and many other questions were investigated by 111 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students who presented their science fair projects to fellow students and parents during the 7th Annual…

by Lisa Crockett Rock Canyon High School senior Callan McGary is heading to Colorado State University in the fall to major in business finance. Before he gets there, he intends to gain some entrepreneurial experience and give himself and a few friends a summer job. “Some friends of mine and I from the football team…

George and Slim share a cup o’joe during a break from the action Front Range Theatre’s Production of Of Mice and Men. By Patte Smith, photos provided by the Front Range Theatre Company To be or not to be…that isn’t the question. It is to go or not to … wait … yes, go check…

American Academy Science Fair participants Natalie Hunt, Kelcey Beckman and Kristina Stilson display their winning boards. All three will be representing AA at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair in Fort Collins this month. (Photo by Trish Cummings) Submitted by Trish Cummings, American Academy American Academy (AA) seventh and eighth grade students took top honors…

RHMS sixth grader, Shyanne Curtis, loaded up on some good reading and viewing materials at the Castle Pines Book and DVD Swap.Residents came in droves, perusing the wide selection of hard and soft covers. The Master Association and the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce collected more than 3,000 books to share with the community. By…

A collaborative, county-wide Economic Development Plan is the ultimate goal of the Douglas County Economic Development Forum, hosted by the Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 5, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at The Wildlife Experience in Parker. The central focus of the forum will be the facilitation of dialog and information exchange among…

By Liane Marette Davis; contributions by Terri Wiebold Have you heard the joke that, “Old car salesman never die, they just go out of commission?” Well, such is not the case for one Castle Pines Village resident and former car salesman – turned automobile banking executive – turned entrepreneur. Wade Middleton has found a new…

Back Row: Christian Frye, Lea McCaffrey, Anna Case, Robin Dowling, Jackson Naylor, Ava Tehrani. Third Row: Katie Carlson, Emily Trindle, Juliette Lord, Cody Hyman, and Quinn Rennell (Mrs. Pinke). Second Row: Braxton Jones, Hannah Bennett, Liesl Brauch, Emma Kate Lamb, Rachel Ansay, and Avery Gibson. Front Row: Skylar Schoepke, Cody Jaramillo, Justin Laity, and Hillary…

Before After Projected “before” and “after” coverage for period ending five years after deal closes. Sandy Goldberg, a representative of Fleishman-Hillard for AT&T Corporate Communications, had this to say about the company’s recent announcement that AT&T will acquire T-Mobile USA and the impact the acquisition will have on Douglas County: “AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile is…

By Kathy Dunker with photos by Tim Gamble No, not your ordinary toast to celebrate the anniversary of something great, but rather a breakfast to commemorate the many citizen volunteers who founded The City of Castle Pines [North] three years ago and who continue to contribute to its growth and success today. The Ridge at…

Fourth grader Megan Hassler stands with her weaving project, which earned her top honors from the Douglas County School District. by Lisa Crockett photo courtesy of the Hassler Family Some girls dream of being princesses. For nine-year-old Megan Hassler, channeling royalty is more than a plastic crown and faux jewels – it’s the inspiration behind…

AA’s art show winners from the DCSD art show. Submitted by Trish Cummings With a school-wide emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, American Academy (AA) students often enjoy a good number of STEM awards and accolades. This year, AA art students are bringing it home as well! Overall, fifteen talented AA students were selected…

by Patte Smith, photo by Carla Kenny “Wow, where to begin,” says Leadership Douglas County (LDC) member Carla Kenny. “Our leadership group learned about the exciting and innovative educational developments happening in our county during our last session.” The team visited Legend High School which is known as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school.…

Information and photos submitted by Castle Pines Academy Castle Pines Academy (CPA), proud to be the first locally-owned and operated childcare center in Castle Pines, is celebrating its first anniversary in March. CPA is an education-based preschool that follows Core Knowledge curriculum and offers a large variety of enrichment programs including dance, Spanish, computer classes,…

Article and photo submitted by Amy Shanahan The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) MATHCOUNTS team, coached by eighth grade math teacher Chris Gowing, participated in the regional MATHCOUNTS competition on Saturday, February 12th. There were approximately forty schools that participated, including the RHMS team of ten kids. MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment club and competition…

By Lisa Crockett Churches in Castle Pines Community have a lot planned for Easter and Passover observance. Here are some of the highlights: Abiding Hope Lutheran Church Meets at DCS Montessori School; www.abidinghopelutheran.org *Easter Services: Sunday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. Castle Pines Community Church Meets at The Shoppes at Castle Pines Shopping Center; www.castlepineschurch.org…

AT&T/Cingular Wireless’ new monopine cell tower sits north of Coyote Ridge Park off Mona By Elizabeth Wood West with photo by Jeremy Gamble A new 40-foot tall cell tower for AT&T/Cingular Wireless will soon be providing cell service to its customers that live, work, and travel in the Castle Pines area. The tower sits on…

submitted by Amy Shanahan, RHMS Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) continues to receive recognition as an outstanding school. The middle school has been chosen as a State School of Character for the third year in a row, one of only three schools in the state of Colorado. State Schools of Character are schools that are…

Storm boys showing their enthusiasm with a round of “thumbs up” from the heating area before a race. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Jankowski Storming along towards their third season descends the Castle Pines Storm summer swim team. One hundred twenty-seven swimmers strong last year, the team will be holding their…

Article and photos by Elean Gersack Playkgound equipment is typically meant for young children. Unfortunately, older kids and teens sometimes misuse it or leave unwanted graffiti and trash. Local teen George Byrne has discovered a very positive use for the playground equipment located in the HOA2 neighborhood of Castle Pines. Last summer, Byrne came up…

Build it and they will come …Will the boys of summer be playing in Lone Tree? By Patte Smith The crack of a bat on a beautiful summer night as the runners round the bases and the fans go crazy… could this become a reality right here in our own backyard? Don’t get your hopes…

submitted by Amy Shanahan Generation OC was a pilot cooperative effort between Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) and Opera Colorado (OC). The program combined one passionate teacher, 150 8th graders from RHMS, video cameras, computers with the latest design programs, and OC’s education, development, and marketing staff. The goal of the program was to introduce…

Odelia on her Disney World wish trip, made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and generous taxpayers. Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Melissa Morris The Make-A-Wish Foundation was chosen once again as part of the Checkoff Colorado program for 2011. This program enables Colorado taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to their favorite charitable…

Submitted by Fran Santagata Douglas County Emergency Management Director Sgt. Ron HanavanPublic Information OfficerDouglas County Sheriff’s Office Douglas County Commissioners and Sheriff David Weaver Approve Fire Restrictions On March 29, 2011, The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Reinstated Ordinance No. O-003-001, an ordinance restricting open fires and open burning in the unincorporated areas of Douglas…

By Elizabeth Wood West with photos courtesy of the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District Construction has begun on the InterConnect Pipeline (ICP), a major water transmission cooperative effort between Centennial Water and Sanitation District (CWSD) and Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). The ICP will connect CPNMD’s water system to a pump station and tank…

By Tracy Dudley DCS Montessori School recently teamed up with TerraCycle to start turning collected waste into new products and materials, ranging from park benches to backpacks. TerraCycle recycles and upcycles used packaging from familiar products like Capri Sun, Lays, and Oreos. Out of this comes more than 1,500 various products available at major retailers.…

Linda Nuzum by Carin R. Kirkegaard with photo by Lane Roberts For the past 13 years, Linda Nuzum has served as community leader, communicator, problem solver, watchdog, and tireless advocate for the Castle Pines community. Her endless volunteerism has always been inspired by her wish to be an informed citizen of the community. This wish,…

Lia Halvas, age 10 (right) attended Timber Trail Elementary’s annual daddy-daughter dance, the Snowball, with her sister Kate, age 5 and her dad, Rich . By Lisa Crockett, courtesy photo The Timber Trail Education Association (TTEA) hosted an evening of dancing and fun for girls who go to Timber Trail Elementary and their dads. The…

OLLI-South classes are located in Douglas County about 22 minutes west of Castle Pines, at the Valley View Christian Church at South Santa Fe and Titan Road. Pictured above are OLLI students on a Geology field trip to Dinosour Ridge. Article and photos submitted by Ellen Sloan It’s probably a good guess that most seniors…

The Town of Castle Rock’s Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course clubhouse at dusk. By Elizabeth Wood West with photos provided by Brigg Jergenson Signs of spring are in the air – robins are singing, the days are longer and warmer, and the Red Hawk Ridge Ladies Golf Club (Ladies Club) is registering new members to…

RHMS sixth graders Michelle Dunker and Brooke Jacobsen got their feathery frills at Salon 188 in Castle Pines. Article and photos by Kathy Dunker In the ‘60s, “bee hives” were all the rage. Now, only a few decades later, the trend has turned fowl with feathers. Yes, actual feathers, as in, coming from birds. This…

Executive Chef Brian Dennis Article by Sally Uhrich with photos by Tim Gamble “We are so excited to welcome Executive Chef Brian Dennis to our team,” said Kim Bartuccio, director of membership and communication for the Country Club at Castle Pines. “In his short time with us, we have already seen many new culinary delights…

Rock Canyon High School teacher and athletic coach Chris Page received the surprise of his life when staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show stopped by a school basketball game to present Page with a new car and $10, 000 worth of gift cards to Office Depot for the school. Page was selected after hundreds of…

by Lisa Crockett The Timber Team, Timber Trail Elementary’s student leadership group, found a way to combine two great objectives in one ambitions project. They offered heart-shaped lollipops to students to buy for their friends and turned a tidy profit to be used to benefit the school. “I think this is great that we can…

The Castle Pines North Metro District provides the information on this page as a public service for the people of Castle Pines North “Slow the Flow” Program an Impressive Success CPNMD partnered last year with the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) and its professional water audit teams to evaluate sprinkler system operations and efficiencies for…

Submitted by Cindy Baker, RCHS Drama Teacher Dearly Departed – April 13 & 14: RCHS drama presents a FREE performance of the comedy, “Dearly Departed,” which is the story of a quirky family that is reunited for a funeral, and all of the hilarious family dynamics that ensue. “Dearly Departed” will be double cast with…

Mrs. Lang’s second graders, Kyle, Ellery and Andrew stand in front of the Comic Life “Anti-Cyberbullying” display they created in the technology hallway. Article and photo by Elean Gersack The Internet is here to stay. That means social networking, blogging, texting, e-mail and online searches will become second nature to today’s children. At Buffalo Ridge…

Back Row: Samuel Hilgendorf (Mrs. Herzog); Max Larson (Mrs. Pinke); Ann Gibson (Mr. Jenson); Ashley Owen (Mrs. Phelan). Middle Row: Casidee Gonzales (Mrs. Jaramillo); Ruth Anne Jeppson (Mrs. Sedersten); Bella Richardson (Mrs. Kennedy); Seth Sewell (Mrs. Brester); Maggie Zeh (Mrs. Pedrett); Ryan Wight (Mrs. Lang); Lily Hansen (Mrs. Miller); Morgan Wright (Mrs. Coombs). Front Row:…

RHMS teachers who submitted Gold Seal lessons to the SPN (left to right): Laurie Williamson, Colleen Holub, Amy Tempel, Angie Burt, Amy Corr, Sharon Majetich, and Derek DeNileon. Not pictured are Dodi Poulos and Rick Johnson. Article and photo submitted by Amy Shanahan Clark Wilhelm, Amy Tempel, and Kelly Kirkpatrick have been selected to present…

Ridgeline is Buffalo Ridge Elementary’s online newspaper.  Each month, a student piece will be printed in The Castle Pines Connection. The Ask Buffy column is an anonymous forum for students to ask questions. View the online newspaper, visit http://schools.dcsdk12.org/bre, click on “Classroom/School Websites” and then on “Ridgeline.” Step aside Dear Abby; BRE’s got Buffy! By…

County to host Economic Development Forum April 5 Commissioners seek public input for Countywide Economic Development Plan. Douglas County, Colo…   A collaborative, countywide Economic Development Plan is the ultimate goal of the Douglas County Economic Development Forum, hosted by the Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 5, from 7:30 – 11:00 a.m., at The Wildlife…

Spring break is right around the corner. Plan ahead and enjoy some memorable family activities right here in Colorado. From state parks to museums, there is much to do and see close to home. Outdoor Recreation Castlewood Canyon State Park 2989 South State Highway 83, Franktown 303-688-5242 This beautiful retreat is located just to the…

by Sally Uhrich Irish Food and Fun Featured in, “Taste of Home Magazine” If you’re wanting to deviate from the usual St. Patrick’s Day fare of Corned Beef and Cabbage, consider this recipe from Rosemary Jarvis, of Sparta, Tennessee. It’s one of many Irish recipes featured in the March, 2008 edition of , “ Taste…

Article by Terri Wiebold with photos by Chuck Lowen For the third year running, Chuck Lowen of Lowen Commercial Real Estate sponsored a blood drive in the commercial district of the City of Castle Pines to benefit The Children’s Hospital. “I’ve been involved in organizing bood donations for about eight years now through other organizations,…

Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue by Terri Wiebold Douglas County Libraries Director James LaRue recently wrote a column about his personal struggles with Spina bifida, a birth defect which is largely preventable if women take a daily B-vitamin with folic acid during pregnancy. LaRue is encouraging participation in a national study to examine the…

The CSU Men’s Lacrosse Team celebrates after winning the RMLC Tournament last spring. Article by Elean Gersack with photos provided by the Byrne family Oh, where does the time go? A few years back, several neighborhood teens competed against one another in high school lacrosse at Rock Canyon, Mountain Vista and Valor high schools. On…

Information provided by the DCWRA In March, the Douglas County Water Resource Authority (DCWRA) will kick-off a process to look at ways to include rural water users in regional water infrastructure planning, quantify regional economics with and without a sustainable water supply, and identify routes to financing future water supplies. It will begin public outreach…

By Lisa Crockett The Giving Tree: Douglas County United Against Hunger, is gearing up for its third annual food drive on March 12 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to support the Food Bank at the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. Alumni of Leadership Douglas County in Lone Tree started the organization three years ago in response…

Article and photo by Liane Marette Davis The Old Stone Church, built in 1888, was home for many years to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church congregation. In 1966, the congregation left for another location and remodeling began in 1975 to convert the church into a restaurant. The Old Stone Church Restaurant has an…

Miers with her current Bengal stud and show cat, Thunder Article by Kathy Dunker with photos courtesy of Judy Miers Judy Miers, resident of Knight’s Bridge, loves her cats. Her humble home is also currently home to nine Bengal cats and a new litter of Bengal kittens that Miers cares for. Coordinator for Bengal Cat…

Elizabeth Celania-Fagen Superintendent February 18, 2011 Dear Douglas County School District Employees and Families: I hope you had a good week and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. I would like to take a minute to update you on two current events related to our District. First, Governor Hickenlooper released his budget this week.…

Rob Solomon Photo provided by Rob Solomon Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard Dewey Finn, Jack Black’s, character in “School of Rock” has nothing on Rob Solomon, the owner and instructor of guitarKidz, a local music school that has been working with area children for the past six years in Surrey Ridge. Solomon teaches…

by Patte Smith Enjoy a romantic tea or yummy brunch this year at beautiful Cherokee Ranch and Castle on Saturday, February 12. Relax and savor the tea and splendor of the castle, while sipping champagne at Take-your-Sweetie to Tea. Tasty finger sandwiches, scones, assorted pastries and teas will be served – an added highlight is…

Shayna Smith (left), gets ready to compete at the 2011 All-Star Swim Meet in Lawrence, Kansas during the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Smith was named to Team Colorado as one of the top 10, ten and younger female swimmers. By Elean Gersack with photo provided by the Smith family Shayna Smith began taking swimming…

Douglas County Divas members socialize at the dessert table in Zi Fusion Restaurant. Pictured left to right: Co-Founder Theresa Buckley, Founder Pamela Anderson, and Marketing Director Kathlena Gill.   Article and photo by Elizabeth Wood West More than 300 smartly-dressed businesswomen sipped cocktails, nibbled appetizers, and swapped business cards and conversation at Douglas County Divas’…

Fourth graders Caroline and Katie take visitors on a tour of Georgetown during their Rocky Mountain Road Trip. Article and photo by Elean Gersack Fourth grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary took families and visitors on a Rocky Mountain Road Trip on Thursday, January 13, to celebrate year-long learning about Colorado history. The gym was…

The Children’s Hospital of Colorado is the principal sponsor of the Third Annual Sweet Hearts Ball to be held Saturday evening, February 12th at The Renaissance Hotel. All proceeds will be used to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Colorado schools.  The Ball is being organized through the combined efforts of the South Metro Safety Foundation, The Kick Start My…

Column by Anthonette Klinkerman I committed the absolutely most sacrilegious thing one could possibly do in a coffee place the other day. I’ve done this most heinous thing twice now. I sat and did … nothing. Yes, you read that correctly; I did nothing but sip my coffee in a coffee place. Well, I guess…

The Leading EdgeSharon Wheeler (left) and Sara Tibby (right) Physical Therapy owners. Submitted by The Leading Edge Physical Therapy Located in the King Soopers shopping plaza in Castle Pines, Leading Edge has a constant hum of patients at any given time of the day. Perhaps this is because they offer the latest technology and treatment…

by Sally Uhrich Find yourself dealing with a bit of holiday let-down, along with a few of the winter blues? Consider spending an evening, entertaining with recipes from The Fort restaurant’s cookbook, Shinin’ Times at The Fort. The 160 featured recipes range from appetizers to desserts. One of my favorite recipes is, “Elk Chops St.…

Dr. Bryan Rudiak D.C. and Rudolph Gallegos, Food Bank Manager, Douglas County Task Force Submitted by Dr. Bryan Rudiak Canyon Ridge Chiropractic in Castle Pines held its annual Food Drive during the holidays. Last year, the chiropractic patients helped raise 100 pounds of non-perishable food items, which were passed along to the Douglas County Task…

by Elizabeth Wood West The Town of Castle Rock has approved its first LED sign. The new LED sign will be for the Outlets Mall in Castle Rock. The sign’s applicant, Craig Realty Group (Outlets’ owner), submitted its signage proposal to Town officials in 2010. The proposal included replacing its existing 42’ tall main sign…

Denver Restaurant Week coming February 26 through March 11 Enjoy a two-week celebration of culinary creations throughout Denver. More than 350 participating restaurants will offer a multi-course dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one (not including tax or gratuity). Several nearby restaurants are participating in Denver Restaurant week, including:…

Submitted by Trish Cummings Student achievement comes in many forms. Though the teachers and administrators at American Academy work very hard to make sure students excel academically, they also strive to create a culture of respect, responsibility and exceptional character among even the youngest students. That kind of self-control and intentional behavior indicates great leadership…

By Linda Nuzum Prepared in response to a Letter to the Editor dated January 5, 2011 (Excerpt) Editor Wiebold, … My letter was intended to lend a unfiltered voice to, and encourage the citizens of Castle Pines, to be aware of the ongoing “gut fight” between the City and the Metro District.  Both are directing…