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Hello to fall and cooler weather, beautiful changing of the leaves, football on the television and chili on the stove or in the slow cooker. Many states and aficionados enjoy bragging rights about the best chili in their regions. It’s amazing how many variations of chili recipes there are, including even the spelling of the…
In late July, Douglas County Community Foundation hosted a fundraiser at Cranelli’s Italian Restaurant in Lone Tree with three ways to contribute: Dine-in, take-out or purchase a gift card for use at a later time. Cranelli’s generously donated 20% of all proceeds between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. to DCCF. Including a wine pull, DCCF…
A marriage lasting 50 years is not that common, and it’s a milestone worth celebrating in a big way. There are many reasons why couples don’t make it to that half-century mark. One is that many couples are getting married later than they did in previous generations, sometimes not getting married until their late 20s…
Being on the run all day can make snacking and eating a challenge. Whether spending time in the car shuttling kids around, taking day trips or running from meeting to meeting, having some easy, ready-to-eat snacks can make a busy day better. Plan ahead and toss some of these healthy snacks in the car to…
The USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championship was held in Lexington, Kentucky in late July, and resident Alfredo Sanchez won big. He successfully defended his title of United States National Track and Field Champion in the 400 hurdles in the 50-54 age bracket. Running has been a consistent part of Sanchez’s life since high…
The 8th annual X Drive Classic golf tournament raised more than $48,500 to support young students and adults who are affected by Fragile X Syndrome, autism, and developmental delays. The sold-out tournament was held on July 25 at The Club at Pradera in Parker. Before teeing-off, more than 140 golfers, many from Castle Pines, lined…
The hills will soon be calling. Now is the time to secure passes to have quick and easy access to the mountains with hefty cost-savings. There are excellent free and low-cost programs for students so parents can get inspired to take the whole family on some great winter adventures. Here is the run-down for 2022-2023…
The Douglas County Fair Parade was July 30 and the teams from Raptors Athletics attended in full force. Athletes from the football, lacrosse, basketball and baseball club teams marched in their respective uniforms, and parents wore Raptors apparel or colors. A truck with the Raptors banner led the way and the marchers passed out Raptors…
Bob Johns has been playing ping pong as a hobby for many years. When he moved to Castle Rock in 2010, he read an article in The Castle Pines Connection about similar table tennis fanatics and immediately checked it out. “I called Joe Franklin, the group organizer,” recalled Johns. I went over there and met…
Kati Melton always knew she wanted to be a teacher. At a young age, she was blessed to have had many incredible mentors throughout her school years, especially her high school principal, Steve Ribbens, aka “Ribs.” He was a good listener and challenged Melton to be her best; he pushed her to pursue dreams she…
In 2019, 13-year-old Katie Dupper attended a summer camp called Young Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a leadership program hosted by Rotary International (RI). Three years later, Dupper established herself as the proud president of Rock Canyon High School’s Interact Club, the Rotary branch at the high school level. “I learned about Interact Clubs when…
The DCSD Safety and Security Department’s mission is to protect the educational environment in Douglas County Schools. We operate under three major areas of service: student, staff and visitor protection, emergency preparedness and planning and physical plant protection. High schools and middle schools are staffed with Campus Security Specialists who work directly with the schools…
Avery Kuna was 13 years old when she launched her online sticker and T-shirt business. Inspired by singer and international sensation Harry Styles, who is touring America this year, her dad encouraged her to become an entrepreneur. “My dad and I were sitting in the car and he told me I should make Harry…
Kerri-Lynn Andrew started at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) in 2016 as a long-term kindergarten substitute. This year she moves into the main office and role of administrative dean. Andrew filled many roles at BRE during the intervening years. During the second semester of the 2016-2017 school year, Andrew was a half-day kindergarten teacher at Northridge…
Fits the bill for lovers of worldly cuisine By Chris Michlewicz A tradition born in kitchens thousands of miles away has made its way to the plates of a Castle Rock restaurant. Beau Thai II, an eatery on the northwest corner of Factory Shops Boulevard and New Beale Street near The Outlets at Castle Rock,…
In 2020, Tyson Shelley returned to Castle Pines after two decades away. Together with his wife and three daughters, he came back to the place he will always call home. It happened after a perfectly matched job opportunity in Denver came calling, and he was hired to lead multilingual content management on a global scale…
The City of Castle Pines is exploring a ballot initiative that would ask voters this fall whether they want to opt out of a state law that prohibits municipalities and counties from forming a partnership with internet broadband providers. If the City ends up approving the addition of an initiative to the November ballot and…
Exciting new events such as an opening night concert by country music’s Josh Turner, farm to table brunch, BBQ showdown and a vintage car show join traditional favorites like the PRCA Rodeo, 4-H exhibits, two full weekends of carnival fun and the parade in downtown Castle Rock at this year’s fair. Whether you never miss…
Unbuckled drivers be warned. Starting July 25, the Colorado Department of Transportation, along with the Colorado State Patrol and 44 local law enforcement agencies began the summer seat belt enforcement period. The Click It or Ticket campaign will run through August 5. A seat belt violation is a Class B traffic infraction and subject to…
The City of Castle Pines is again considering the creation of an urban renewal authority (URA) that would help property owners in the City’s main business district pay for improvements using a portion of new property tax revenue. Elected officials began discussing the possibility of an urban renewal district (URD) earlier this year and have…
The City of Castle Pines Planning Commission (PC) approved the first phase of a project that will replace the skate park at Coyote Ridge Park with new pickleball courts later this year. A new skate park is being considered for a later phase of development. PC members unanimously approved a “location and extent” application from…
There is no question Castle Pines is a beautiful place to live, and residents are committed to keeping it that way. On July 16, members of the community volunteered a few hours of their Saturday to pick up litter and pull weeds at neighborhood parks throughout the city. Tapadero resident Daniel Kelliher noticed while walking…
The Town of Castle Rock is proud to announce the opening of a new neighborhood park. Cobblestone Ranch Park, located at 8571 Castle Oaks Drive was officially opened on June 29 with a carnival-themed festival that included aerial performers, stilt walkers, snow cones, games, live music and a 5K run. The 12-acre park is the…
Denise Danzo and her business partner Jackie Maestas are estheticians bringing 15 years of combined experience in the skin care industry to their new business at 361 Village Square Drive, the Castle Pines Medical Spa. The spa officially opened July 1 and is the first medical spa in Castle Pines offering clients Botox and fillers,…
Do you read The Connnection news paper cover–to–cover every month? How wood you like two get payed fore doing it? If reading the preceding paragraph made you crazy, then you may be the perfect fit to join our fun and professional team as a proofreader. As an independent contractor, this position provides extreme flexibility and…
The man behind the oyster Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood opened its second location in Lone Tree earlier this year, and it has become as popular as the flagship Cherry Creek locale. Owner Sean Huggard’s title is Chief Decision Maker, a moniker he gave himself, saying that “CEO” or “president” was too serious for…
In 1861, the town of Huntsville was a thriving place. It boasted a post office, sawmill, fort and hotel. The hotel, run by Sarah Coberly, was considered the best place to stop for the night for anyone traveling from Denver to Colorado City. Guests were treated to fine food, lively entertainment, and a good night’s…
Bethany and Chris Joswick thought it would be a good idea to teach their 7-year-old son, Jack, the value of money at a young age. He received money for his birthday and wanted to use some of it to enter a NCAA men’s basketball national championship pool with his dad. “Of course, we’re like, ‘it’s…
Earlier this year, the Castle Pines ward Relief Society from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a supply drive benefiting the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center (RMWC). Several dozen women donated or provided essential supplies for recent refugees settling in the metro area. Additionally, a dozen women gathered to assemble 10 welcome baskets…
Just 40 miles southwest of Castle Pines is one of the richest fossil beds in the world. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, in Teller County, was established in 1969 to protect the fossils and petrified redwood stumps found in an ancient lake bed. The Monument has eight interconnected trails for a total of 15…
Erin Loeks spends much of her time educating. She might be a familiar face to many residents because she teaches the public safety courses for the South Metro Safety Foundation (SMSF), a nonprofit that partners with South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR). SMSF specializes in providing safety classes – first aid and CPR, babysitting certifications, safe…
In 2005, Diana Higuera came to Colorado from Venezuela to study international and intercultural communication at University of Denver. Her plan was to come for her education, but she met a student named Darren from Boulder in her first class. After she graduated with her master’s degree in 2007, she went on to marry Darren…
Cotton picking was more important than schooling in Denison, Texas in 1882. After Joe Kouba and twin brother Reuben finished third grade, the family farm was all that counted. Apparently a marginal operation, the Koubas moved across the Red River to Marietta, Oklahoma, Native American territory in 1889. There, Joe also fell under the influence…
The City of Castle Pines partners annually with Mental Health Colorado, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to promote mental health, end stigma and ensure equitable access to mental health and substance use services. This year’s “Unmasked” event will feature five-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, Missy Franklin, as its keynote speaker. “It’s been two years since…
Dear Readers, I’d like to talk about the act of deference, which is defined as a readiness or willingness to yield to others, or a humble submission that includes respect. If manners are all about social deportment, then the act of deference is a type of good manners that includes courtesy. An example of deference…
On a chance meeting, Yulia Boozer and Olga Funk felt a connection and knew instantly they wanted to do more together. After the war in Ukraine began, the two native Ukrainians met in Denver at an event organizing medical supplies to send to war-torn areas. “We met and knew we wanted to pursue the same…
The healthy Coke trend circulating on TikTok has inspired many to try the balsamic vinegar and flavored seltzer combination. The trend emerged when user Amanda Jones shared the recipe from her Pilates instructor who swears by the concoction she pours over ice. The #healthycoke hashtag had more than 50 million views as of mid-July. Reactions…
Eons ago (1969), my first vivid memory of Vietnam was a Viet Cong rocket cratering not far away from where I was brushing my teeth. For the most part, it got better from there, though it was difficult to appreciate the beauty of the place in a war-time environment. Asia’s answer to elongated Chile, this…
A summer refresher that’s as cool as a cucumber Longtime readers of this column will know that I have a serious obsession with Trader Joe’s (TJ’s). One of the happiest moments of my life was when I covered the opening of the south metro’s first location in Greenwood Village several years ago. I was one…
AUGUST 1 – SEPTEMBER 30 The Douglas County Libraries (DCL) 2022 Brew Tour includes some great breweries and coffee shops again this year. Gather points and unlock rewards by logging visits to each participating partner brewery and coffee shop. Each visit also earns one entry into the grand prize drawing for a Happy Brew Year…
The Foundation for Douglas County Schools held its annual “Lend a Hand” school supply drive in July. Castle Pines Orthodontics stepped up as a donation drop-off location and asked patients to donate and bring supplies to their office on Max Drive. The Foundation staff and volunteers assembled the supplies in backpacks and distributed to students…
When I was 2 years old, my parents got divorced. I was lucky in a way, because at the time I was too young to understand that this separation, at its most basic level, meant the world as I knew it had changed. By the time I turned 5, my mom had remarried. We left…
Longtime Castle Pines resident Pat Dempsey is finding great satisfaction in his next chapter of life, pairing his passion for baseball with his job for Event Services at Coors Field. Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Dempsey moved after college to Colorado in 1977 to attend graduate school at CSU. Two years later, he moved to Santa…
Edward Nelson is determined to take down scammers. Through his nonprofit organization, End Elder Fraud, he works feverishly to stay up-to-date on the latest ploys and tactics by the ill-intended and turns his learnings into teachings for the 60+ community. As a former computer programmer with experience in security fraud prevention, Nelson has been trying…
Morgan Hengsteler has always enjoyed working with children. Raised in Castle Pines (attending Buffalo Ridge Elementary, Rocky Heights Middle School and Rock Canyon High School), Hengsteler babysat as a teenager in high school. She also worked over six summers as a camp counselor with the University of Denver Pioneer Athletic Super Summer camp, teaching kids…
Strutting around the yard, perched on a fencepost or swooping down from the sky, the American Black-billed Magpie makes its home in the American West – Colorado sweeping north to Alaska. Part of the Corvidae family, the magpie is of the same group of intelligent birds to include the crow, the jay and the raven. As…
Seymour may be a physically large dog, weighing 99 pounds, but the mixed breed is really a gentle giant. He has been a wonderful companion of the Stotz family, who adopted Seymour at three months old and have enjoyed every minute of their now 4-year-old family member. A DNA test provided Seymour with his genetic…
Soaking in hot springs not only can feel sublime, it has a number of health benefits, too. Geothermal waters contain large amounts of dissolved minerals that come from deep within the earth. There are typically between 14 and 24 different minerals in geothermal pools, and each mineral possesses unique properties offering soakers a mix of…
Picturesque Ravenna Golf Course was the idyllic setting for Douglas County Community Foundation’s inaugural golf tournament fundraiser, Drive fore DCCF. Eighty golfers participated in the scramble tournament, bringing together players of all skill levels for a fun yet competitive morning of 18 holes of golf. Special thanks to the “Here to Cheer” participants for making…
In 2009, two young girls – Meghan Ruder and Katie Hebert – met at one of the first Castle Pines Athletics (CPA) cheerleading camps and they were hooked. The girls grew up in the community and both went on to cheer for Rock Canyon High School. Hebert graduated in 2021 and is cheering at Colorado…
Bilberry is a powerhouse of nutrition and medicinal uses. Similar to blueberries, bilberries are rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial plant compounds that help protect against disease. Bilberry supports cardiovascular health, cognitive function, detoxification, vision and healthy gums. It helps to lower sugar levels and the absorption of fat, both of which are helpful for…
Both swim teams serving residents of the City of Castle Pines and The Village at Castle Pines had successful and fun summer seasons. And for several families, the swim teams permitted participation in a team-sport setting for the first time. The Village Stingrays ended the regular season with a 3-2 record, under the leadership of…
The most well-known purveyor of Colorado-style pizza has made its way to northern Douglas County. Beau Jo’s opened a new location in Lone Tree in early June, much to the delight of die-hard fans and more recent arrivals who are just now discovering what “Colorado mountain pies” are all about. The Lone Tree location, on…
PGA golf is coming back to The Village at Castle Pines, and one of our own is helping to lead the charge. Ever since the success of the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club, a small group of leaders in the local golf community has made it their goal to bring the PGA…
Imagine a universally designed, sensory-rich environment that enables children of all abilities to develop physically, socially and emotionally. With your help, this vision may soon become a reality at Butterfield Crossing Park in Castle Rock. The Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation is joining forces with the Parks and Recreation Department to maximize already planned…
A newly announced King Soopers location will serve future residents of the eastern expansion of RidgeGate in Lone Tree. A 123,000-square-foot King Soopers will be built in the RidgeGate Parkway Couplet District, an undeveloped island in the middle of the westbound and eastbound lanes of Ridgegate Parkway east of I-25. The first residential area undergoing…
Last month, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) began installing wildlife fencing along I-25. The project, which is expected to be completed in October, is focused on building 10 miles of wildlife fencing, guardrails, and two deer guards at Happy Canyon Road – in addition to concrete rehabilitation on I-25. Crews are currently installing fencing…
Public Information Officer (PIO) and Social Media Coordinator Cocha (pronounced co-shuh) Heyden recently celebrated her 30th year with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Deputy Heyden said her work is focused on making sure the public and media understand the work of the office and that information is delivered in a timely and accurate way.…
Goats of all shapes and sizes are hard at work in many areas of Castle Pines this summer. A herd of 68 goats are assisting in fire mitigation by munching their way through weeds and scrub oak in designated neighborhoods. The City of Castle Pines and the Castle Pines North Metro District combined forces to…
The City of Castle Pines and the Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) have entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), transferring the CPNMD stormwater system maintenance and billing to the City. According to the terms of the IGA, the transfer is scheduled to take place on September 30. CPNMD has managed the community’s stormwater system…
In April, the City of Castle Pines welcomed a new communications manager, Camden Bender. The position requires him to be a spokesman for the City, manage external communications (including social media, the City’s website and correspondence), as well as develop strategic community relation plans. “I am looking forward to expanding the City’s communication presence,” stated…
As a step to ensure the community’s safety during very dry weather conditions, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue has canceled the Town’s Fourth of July fireworks show. Fire dangers continue to increase, so officials decided to proactively call off the show. The community has been under Stage 1 fire restrictions since April 21. While under…
It’s eye opening to realize how much of life can be defined by specific moments – the moment when you get the perfect job, the moment when you first hear the sound of your baby’s heartbeat, the moment when you buy a new house. However, there are also more difficult moments – the loss of…
Celebrating 20 Years in Castle Pines Castle Pines Dental Care will celebrate 20 years in the community in August. Dr. Matt Rolfson attributes the success of the business to personal attention to each patient and the advances in technology and knowledge to make dental treatment easier and less complicated. “I don’t believe that dental treatment…
A vibrant sense of community is one characteristic that sets Castle Pines – the 80108 ZIP code more specifically – apart from other Colorado communities. Neighbors know each other, they spend time together and they support each other. If you are a new resident, you have likely already experienced this firsthand. The same holds true…
Owner Jade Spurr (center in red), along with the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce, officially opened the doors to Therapeutic Massage and welcomed the community at a June 2 ribbon cutting celebration. Located at 361 Village Square Lane (across from Douglas County Libraries – Castle Pines), Therapeutic Massage offers its clients a variety of massage…
It’s the seemingly little things – birds, bees, trees, trails and sunsets – that give special meaning to Sophia Wagner today. Raised in Castle Pines, Sophia attended DCS Montessori in preschool and kindergarten, American Academy in first through eighth grades, and graduated from Kent Denver School (Kent) in 2020. She recalls a special teacher at…