Read the stories from the latest issue:
Fourth grade student Kiera H. holds her medal for winning the BRE annual spelling bee. The winning word was “dubbed.” Keira is in Hanna Roseman’s class. Photos courtesy of Anita Hohenstein
A barbecue tradition that runs deep One of northern Douglas County’s most well-established restaurants happens to have the least amount of frills. Hickory House, at South Parker Road and Mountain Man Drive, has been the go-to place for casual meals and special occasions for scores of Parker residents for nearly 20 years. Aside from prime…
Cutest Pet in the Pines – Our top 100 picks Congratulations Athena, an adorable kitten that stole the hearts of our judges and has been selected as the Cutest Pet in the Pines for 2022. According to owner Kiersten Lockwood, Athena joined the Lockwood family at their home on Shoreham Circle shortly after Thanksgiving, and…
Darren Weekly will be the new sheriff, although he’s not new to town. On January 10, the Colorado native will be sworn in as the 34th sheriff of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Weekly always knew he wanted to work in law enforcement. “I just always wanted to help people,” he said. “A lot…
At a time when inflation is high and so seems everything else, nothing sounds better than getting out and into Colorado’s spectacular state parks. Just pick one. They are all fabulous. From the eastern plains parks at 3,800 feet to high-mountain parks at 9,500 feet, there is truly a state park for any age and…
After a riveting class on the Bomb Squad and Investigations Unit last month, I wondered how the Citizens Academy program could top that? They managed to impress with a visit to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) detention facility at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center. Captain Myra Buys and Lieutenant Jen McMillian led the…
The onerous process to develop a balanced budget for all of Douglas County begins each year in May. By mid-October, the preliminary budget is posted online for public access and review before formal consideration by the Board in December. On December 15, 2023 the Board of County Commissioners approved the 2023 balanced budget. The Board’s…
Consumers should expect a small increase in costs when going to the grocery store and certain restaurants and retail establishments in 2023. Beginning New Year’s Day through January 1, 2024, stores and retail food establishments with more than three locations will be mandated to charge a fee of 10 cents for each recycled paper carryout…
The Castle Pines Connection welcomes Molly Rosenmeyer to our team as a graphic designer. Rosenmeyer has been a graphic designer for more than 20 years, working in all aspects of the industry – from small tech startup firms to large corporate settings. She has even been a graphic design instructor for an online college. Rosenmeyer…
Historically, as publisher of The Castle Pines Connection, I take time during the holidays to reflect back on the past year and report plans for the coming year in the January issue. This year, however, I am asking for your help. A colleague recently introduced me to the concept of “start, stop and continue” as…
January is a good month to check in with City of Castle Pines Mayor Tracy Engerman about what is ahead for the City in 2023. When asked what citizens should relish in these first few days of the new year, Engerman stated, “Enjoy the newly reconstructed Castle Pines Parkway that runs in front of our…
It is a story of hope, humanity and abundant love. Treeline Pass (TLP) was born from the dream and desire to create the very best life for adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Kari Ansay, a resident of The Village at Castle Pines for more than 22 years, is one of the founders of this…
While there are many beautiful trails and parks around Castle Pines to walk our furry friends, sometimes dogs just want to run free to follow their noses and make new friends. Douglas County has several fenced-in, off-leash dog parks. Here are some to get the dogs off and running in the new year: Bayou Gulch…
New year…new resolutions? New goals? Don’t care? Don’t believe in resolutions? Responses to a social media poll asking about what the new year means were all over the board, ranging from the sense of a new beginning to just another day. Residents and friends from near and far weighed in on what the new year…
Oral nicotine pouches and lozenges are a relatively new category of nicotine products becoming increasingly popular. The category includes brands such as Zyn, On! and Velo which come in colorful packaging that look like mint containers. Their ability to be used discreetly and their enticing flavors are proving to be very appealing to youth. Each…
Whether visiting the businesses in the Village Shops, participating in the crafts, train rides and live reindeer exhibit at The Ridge golf course in the City of Castle Pines, taking a carriage ride through your neighborhood HOA, or simply hanging holiday decorations and lights outside your home – residents in 80108 were in the holiday…
Whether visiting the businesses in the Village Shops, participating in the crafts, train rides and live reindeer exhibit at The Ridge golf course in the City of Castle Pines, taking a carriage ride through your neighborhood HOA, or simply hanging holiday decorations and lights outside your home – residents in 80108 were in the holiday…
Whether visiting the businesses in the Village Shops, participating in the crafts, train rides and live reindeer exhibit at The Ridge golf course in the City of Castle Pines, taking a carriage ride through your neighborhood HOA, or simply hanging holiday decorations and lights outside your home – residents in 80108 were in the holiday…
Whether visiting the businesses in the Village Shops, participating in the crafts, train rides and live reindeer exhibit at The Ridge golf course in the City of Castle Pines, taking a carriage ride through your neighborhood HOA, or simply hanging holiday decorations and lights outside your home – residents in 80108 were in the holiday…
Whether visiting the businesses in the Village Shops, participating in the crafts, train rides and live reindeer exhibit at The Ridge golf course in the City of Castle Pines, taking a carriage ride through your neighborhood HOA, or simply hanging holiday decorations and lights outside your home – residents in 80108 were in the holiday…
Since 2012, Journey Church Colorado has been serving the community through its annual Christmas Store. Each year, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, the church converts its auditorium into a toy store. Working with schools in the community to determine families who might be struggling, Journey invites parents to come shop for their children’s…
Special thanks to whomever turned this “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree into a beacon of hope and celebration for the community. Located on a trail by Daniel’s Gate Park when walking from Castle Pines Parkway, the package encouraged passers-by to stop and fill out a (provided) card and state what they were thankful for. Information and…
Sarah Phillips, 22-year resident of Castle Pines, held her 8th annual toy drive on December 5, benefiting the Help & Hope Center. Each year, the gathering collects more than 200 toys to donate to the Santa Sharing program. “This year the Help & Hope Center was especially appreciative, as they are the busiest they have…
Douglas County Living magazine hosted its annual fundraiser collecting toys and donations for Toys for Tots. Held at Cielo at Castle Pines, each guest brought an unwrapped gift and enjoyed an evening of holiday music and dinner. The Marine Corps Color Guard accepted the contributions on behalf of Toys for Tots. Article and photos by…
Dear Readers, Putting the holidays and 2022 behind us, I hope you were generous with your hairdresser, your manicurist, your trash and recycle delivery people, your babysitter and anyone else from whom you receive regular services. Giving those extra gifts should go without saying. But what is this new default? Do you feel you’re…
At 6,368 feet, Daniels Park sits more than a thousand feet above the Mile High City. The Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and is said to be the site of 19th-century pioneer Kit Carson’s last campfire. Caption and drone photo by Bear Rothe
I nearly always ring in the new year with a take-out carton in my hand. Some years I do burgers or pizza, but most of the time, I gather friends and loved ones and test out my chopstick skills while watching the ball drop over Times Square (don’t be jealous – not everyone can be…
Life isn’t always fair. Sometimes it’s downright nasty. Perhaps our 21st-century children grumble a bit. Tell them about Miriam Fonder. Born a Donegan in 1835 in Ohio, Miriam and her family moved to the wilderness that was Burlington, Iowa before her first birthday. Several years later she suffered a grotesquely disfiguring burn at the family…
In December, The Connection sat down with Larry Schlupp and Tim Weber and reviewed their newly-published history compendium, Douglas County Colorado: Prehistory to 2020. Having nibbled at the edges of this part of Colorado history for a decade in our Wildcat Lore segment and deeming it grossly fragmented, for the first time, a book compiled…
Winter can be a difficult time for many who miss the sunshine, have seasonal depression or just long for warmer days on the deck. For people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it adds to their challenges. The days are shorter, the nights are longer and the weather is colder. Experts say they have a hard…
In December, the staff of The Castle Pines Connection volunteered by gift wrapping presents for the residents of Legacy Village to give to their friends and families. One resident summed it up by saying, “You all are such a blessing! I go to my family’s house every year for Christmas, and it always makes me…
Nicole Giampietro moved from Long Island to Castle Pines when she was 9 years old along with her parents and older brother, setting the stage for all things outdoorsy and plenty of adventures. The hills in New York were no comparison to the Rocky Mountains. Giampietro was fortunate to have great neighbors and friends. She…
Not many can say that they were born and raised in Silicon Valley, California before it became the tech juggernaut that it is today. Chris Janssen can. She was born and raised in Santa Clara County and her parents’ work ethic paved the path for her success today as a wife, mother, life coach and…
Healing practitioners using sound therapy and guided meditations often use singing bowls to deepen meditation and promote relaxation. It is an ancient practice, but with recent research showing the benefits of sound therapy, it is being used more often as a complementary treatment for many physiological and mental health conditions. Singing bowls are made out…
TJ Stark is still fast. Last April, the Rocky Heights Middle School seventh grader won first place in the POWRi Quarter Midget Nationals at the Phoenix Raceway. In November, the 13-year-old won again at the A-Main Winter Nationals, the ½ division, in Las Vegas. Over the four-day contest, Stark raced against 304 cars, the most…
Kids in Castle Pines wrapped up the fall season of flag football with Castle Pines Athletics on October 13 at Elk Ridge Park. Here are the Super Bowl winners by age group: Information and photos provided by Castle Pines Athletics
Douglas County School District (DCSD) takes the safety of its students, staff, parents and community members seriously. The district is huge, spanning 850+ square miles, and conditions can vary from one region to another. Because many families and staff travel across the school district, any weather delay or closure will apply to the entire school…
Rock Canyon High School has a Fire Science Program (FSP), one of the few in the greater Denver area. Students who enroll are required to attend three classes over a one-year period, and after completion, they earn nine college credit hours through Red Rocks Community College as well as a Basic Life Support certification. The…
Next month, Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) junior and varsity cheerleader, Jaidyn Shirley, will head to Atlanta to be honored as one of Nfinity Athletic Corporation’s All-American top-20 finalists. After being named a semi-finalist from thousands of applicants from across the country, Shirley had to complete another application and submit four videos highlighting her personality…
The 76 second grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) recently participated in the annual Pay it Forward program. Students did extra chores at home and then donated their profits to three families adopted through Catholic Charities of Central Colorado’s Christmas Giving Tree. The three second grade classes adopted one family per classroom, providing gifts…
In honor of “National Hot Cocoa Day,” the parent-teacher organization at Timber Trail Elementary invited the students to share in a celebration with Legacy Village of Castle Pines on December 13. Students joined the residents for cookies, hot cocoa, and a special visit from Santa. The residents were thrilled to visit, play games, and share the…
A group known as The Original Dickens Carolers delivered holiday cheer to all three American Academy campus second grade classes. Dressed in Victorian-era costumes, the blended four-part harmony quartet performed a seven-minute short story, The Christmas Carol, followed by a sing-along of traditional Christmas carols including Twelve Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells. The group…
Bethany Joswick wanted to teach her children, Kate and Jack, the importance of giving back over the holidays. She contacted The Salvation Army, and the organization sent aprons and bells to the King Soopers on Lagae Road for the Joswicks to participate. The children rang the bells and collected donations. Ashley Jubenville and her children…
Seventh grade STEM students from the three American Academy (AA) campuses applied the technical skills and engineering knowledge learned throughout the trimester to create functioning “animal” robots. In teams of four, the students presented their final projects to professional software developers and coders at AA’s annual STEMApalooza held in November 2022 at the campus in…
A legend in the baking The baked goods created at the Sedalia Bakery are the confections of legend. Just ask anyone within a 10-mile radius. It was eight years ago that the little shop opened just off Sedalia’s main drag and next to the train tracks. However, it was well before that when people…
The City of Castle Pines wouldn’t quite be what it is today without the dedicated involvement of longtime residents Eva Mitchell and Dick Lichtenheld. The married couple moved to the community in 1996 and quickly became a public-service powerhouse, serving on numerous boards and committees, including the ones that helped incorporate what was then known…
Since its inception in 2010, the Castle Pines Planning Commission has been busy maintaining the je ne sais quoi that makes Castle Pines so special. It recently challenged a business coming to Castle Pines to “do better” and change the aesthetic of a new car wash to better match the look and feel of the…
Holley Ferrel and Karen Huber wanted to do something in the community for veterans. They partnered with the City of Castle Pines to host a flag ceremony at Elk Ridge Park on November 12. The local Boy Scout troop handed out programs to approximately 100 attendees. Council member and veteran Kevin Rants was the emcee…
Major construction on Castle Pines Parkway wrapped up on November 19. According to the City of Castle Pines, the construction project will improve safety and traffic operations, expand the City’s major thoroughfare, fix long-standing drainage issues, and add larger bicycle lanes on both sides of the roadway. Article and photos by Bear Rothe
The City of Castle Pines conducted its 2022 Community Survey, with residents able to participate online from September 21 to October 4. Of the 12,298 residents in Castle Pines, 907 participated in the community survey – for a participation rate of approximately 7.3%. Compare that to the 751 residents of Castle Rock who participated in…
Tammy Bozarth spent her childhood at the police station. So, it’s fitting that she chose a career in law enforcement. “When my sisters went to school, I went to the Manitou Springs Police Department with my mom,” Bozarth remembered. “When she hit the streets, I played at the station until the end of her shift.”…
The Castle Pines North Metro District (CPNMD) hosted two community meetings to discuss future plans for features and a location of a potential new skatepark to replace the one recently demolished to make way for new pickleball courts. However, the meetings may have been premature, as the City of Castle Pines – with input from…
Spending three hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has become a welcome weekly occurrence. This session would not be dull nor disappoint. Lieutenant Joel White, a former member of the DCSO Bomb Squad who was recently promoted to the Investigations Unit, led the class. The Bomb Squad is…
Historically, Douglas County has seen a low percentage of homelessness. With housing insecurity on the rise, no full-time shelters and little services available that larger cities already have in place, Douglas County created the Douglas County Homeless Initiative (DCHI). County Commissioner and chairman of the DCHI board, Abe Laydon, said the goal of the initiative…
A 23-year resident of Castle Pines, Mary Barnes is married with three kids, ranging in age from 13 to 30 and has a 15-year-old cat named Jack. She is the executive director of the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra (LTSO) and a cello player, but her path did not always include music and the arts. Originally…
80108 Wine & Spirits Advanced Integrative Medicine Angie’s Restaurant AriClean Aspen Tide Design & Staging Audrey Will – LIV Sotheby’s Bandimere Speedway Beau Thai II Bellco Credit Union Berg Haus Big O Tires Black + Haus Tavern Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood Boondocks Food & Fun Boy Scout Troop #316 Brandon Linn Orthodontics Broadway…
With loving parents, an outgoing twin sister, an always full house of dogs, and oodles of built-in friends and second families on Cerney Circle, Ryan Wight grew up surrounded by all things good. He moved to Castle Pines at the ripe age of 3. Wight recalled lining up behind the firetrucks with his decorated bike…
Douglas County Community Foundation is seeking volunteers to help further its mission to responsibly manage philanthropic contributions, maintain agile funds for emergencies, inspire generosity and provide support to local nonprofits serving the needs within our community. Although the nonprofit has been around nearly two decades, its restructuring in 2021 injected new energy into the organization,…
Local nonprofit organization Hide In Plain Sight (HIPS) began seven years ago, led by Joe Roos. Since then, the nonprofit has served the mission of providing scholarships to homeless and impoverished young adults to achieve a post-secondary education. Roos retired as executive director at the end of October, and HIPS employees, board members and volunteers…
Who doesn’t like getting a package in the mail – the instant happiness from tearing into the box, unfolding the flaps and uncovering the goodies? Gifts and care packages always do the trick to make us feel thought of and loved. When Jennifer Rowe’s oldest daughter, Tessa, went away to CU Boulder in 2017, Jennifer…
Hanukkah is a festive, eight-day celebration that falls in November or December. This year, families across Colorado and throughout the world will celebrate the Jewish holiday starting at sundown on Sunday, December 18 and ending on Monday, December 26. Hanukkah traditions include lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and eating special holiday foods fried in oil…
My wife and I have spent a total of four months in Africa over 30 years: Egypt, the Seychelles, the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Our recent five-week trip was intense. Visiting the continent requires heightened savvy and willingness to tolerate some creature discomforts. However, it was enriching beyond expectations, as exotic wildlife…
December is a month filled with holiday celebrations and traditions. There is much to do in the greater Denver area (check out our December E Guide calendar), but here are a few more ideas: Tree lighting celebration at the Lone Tree Arts Center – On December 2, enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores and live entertainment for…
The Dumb Friends League Buddy Center, located in Castle Rock, celebrated 20 years of service on November 12. Brownie and Bandit, two dogs adopted from the Buddy Center, helped mark the occasion with a festive “ribbone” chomping, the dog version of “ribbon cutting.” Since its inception in 2002, the Buddy Center has provided adoptions, pet…
The Castle Pines Connection is excited to bring you the 10th Annual Cutest Pet in the Pines contest. For a decade, we have been celebrating your furry friends in the pages of The Connection, and we have again teamed up with some all-star businesses to bring it back again this year. Special thanks to Brekke…
Anyone who hikes the area gets it. In mid-spring, the Larkspur proliferates in Douglas County foothills. But what about the town so named? Let’s dig up some little-known facts brought out in a magnificent local tour conducted by Larry Schlupp in September. Before 1861, today’s Larkspur was in Kansas Territory. Being on East Plum Creek,…
Douglas County Community Foundation Inaugural Dia de los Muertos Event Sponsor Thank You! Photos provided by Douglas County Community Foundation
Dear Reader, We are living in a time of declining etiquette and breaches in personal boundaries. With the holidays upon us and our desire to behave, we should check ourselves. Old social codes were vigorous and strict. Today, those seem utterly outdated, but they did give us firm direction and a sense of privacy. The…
As the year draws to an end, we reflect on the good that surrounds us. In 2022, we featured eleven Angels Among Us stories, highlighting nonprofits that are using their voices and abilities to make incredible impacts in the community and beyond. Many thanks to each of these organizations for visiting with us and allowing…