Read the stories from the latest issue:
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) students recently concluded their Battle of the Books season. The 48 participating students divided themselves into 12 teams of 3-5 students per team. Three RHMS teams tied for third place at the end of regular battles, with the top two teams advancing to the district competition. The RHMS teams finished…
Castle View High School Coach Mark Burfeind said, “I loved coaching Arianna this season. She was the player who was always asking how she could improve, and she would also stay after practice to work on aspects of her game.” Lutheran High School Coach Scott Horman said, “Luke is a tremendous leader and hard worker…
Located at 6,800 feet nestled in a canyon along Rampart Range, Stone Canyon Outdoor EdVentures served as the perfect environment for both Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) and Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) fifth grade students’ outdoor learning experience. Stone Canyon OutdoorEd is a rite of passage for fifth grade students, and the highlight of the school…
CORE Electric Cooperative held a poster contest in May for “National Electrical Safety Month.” The contest was open to elementary school students, grades first through fifth, in the Douglas County School District. Two cash prizes were given for each grade winner. The students each received a check for $100 and then chose a teacher at…
The Timber Trail Elementary librarian offered students a 40-book reading challenge during this past school year. The goal was to read 40 books from various genres ranging from fiction and fantasy to history. Books had to meet the genre requirements but could be read in any order and accomplished via listening to audio books or…
The circus came to town and stopped to visit DCS Montessori (DCSM) friends and families. Circus Olympus, a play written by Lindsay Price, tells Greek stories and myths through different circus-theme characters. Seventh and eighth grade students enjoyed dressing and playing circus roles as a part of their dinner theater presentation. The show was complete…
American Academy (AA) performing arts students recently took a trip to the Big Apple to participate in a workshop presented by Hugh Jackman’s understudy. After practicing The Music Man’s “Seventy-Six Trombones” on the stages of Radio City Music Hall, the AA actors and stage crew came home well prepared for their own live performance of…
The first step toward approval of pickleball courts in Coyote Ridge Park was delayed to give adjacent homeowners a chance to comment on the project. The City of Castle Pines Planning Commission voted 6-1 on April 28 to postpone a vote to replace the existing skate park in Coyote Ridge Park with five pickleball courts…
Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR) will soon add more than a dozen new fielded members. Currently DCSAR has about 50 trained volunteers. They come from many professional backgrounds, including engineering, management, sales, legal, aerospace and construction. Each year, DCSAR holds training September through May; it is rigorous work and covers a wide variety of…
Residential development is continuing to boom in the 80108 ZIP code and its outskirts, and the proof is all around us. Significant progress has been made on The Townes at Skyline Ridge, a project that consists of 187 townhomes about a quarter-mile south of Castle Pines Parkway, between Lagae Road and I-25. The townhomes, as…
The Board of County Commissioners committed more than $1.3 million to the County’s 2022 wildland fire aerial firefighting contracts, ensuring air support in Douglas County is available at a moment’s notice in the event of a wildfire. This is the largest investment in aerial support in the County’s history and one of the largest by…
Spring has arrived and for many yard work, the raking, trimming and removing dead growth from landscaping is well underway. With the increased awareness of wildfire threats this year, many residents are choosing to re-imagine landscaping choices, removing tree limbs, shrubs and brush completely from landscape designs – in addition to the typical spring cleanup.…
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has started work along the I-25 corridor installing wildlife fencing. Work will include concrete panel rehabilitation, deer guard installations and wildlife fencing construction. The project work zone will be along northbound and southbound I-25 from E. Wolfensberger Road in Castle Rock to Lincoln Avenue near Lone Tree. Crews will…
A Salt-of-the-Earth Renaissance Man Nick Ainsworth is an insurance agent, business owner and the quintessential Renaissance man. Under the banner of State Farm Insurance, Ainsworth hung out his shingle on Village Square Lane in January 2020 and the fledgling business has already garnered success. No surprise, Ainsworth’s history equates to an admirable work ethic, love…
Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski Therapeutic Massage studio will open its doors in early May in the Village Square in Castle Pines. Owner Jade Spurr is an entrepreneur and educator, and she is enthusiastic about helping people heal. Spurr selected Castle Pines for her new studio, as she loves the small town feel and…
Growing up with parents in the medical field, Bryce Stutler knew early on that his calling would be similar. From a young age, he envisioned working as an emergency room nurse. Although his path would pivot along the way, he never wavered from his desire to help people in their darkest days. Bryce graduated from…
Now that tax season is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to check off one last item on the financial to-do list – looking for unclaimed assets. Unclaimed assets could include anything from property to cold hard cash. Sometimes it might be a safety deposit box, a remaining credit on a closed utility account, an…
In the heart of Highlands Ranch, abreast almost 50 acres, sits a hidden gem, the Highlands Ranch Mansion & Historic Park. More than 100 years of living history is palpable in this majestic 27,000-square-foot castle, grounds and gardens. The views are also remarkable. From the second story veranda, the visitor experiences the trifecta –…
While enjoying the Memorial Day holiday weekend with family and friends – whether hiking, barbecuing, mowing the lawn or just relaxing – remember why this holiday is very significant. It is a time to stop and think about the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, protecting our freedom. In remembrance,…
For many, Argentina is complicated. It is the eighth largest nation in the world, with many notable events and rulers – Juan and Eva “Evita” Peron, the Falklands War and national debt defaults. Yet she is one of the richest agricultural nations on the globe and has a national majesty of mountains and plains that…
Springtime brings warm weather, blooming flowers and farmers market season. Markets have evolved into community social events for families, friends and the growers. Fresh vegetables, fruit, baked goodies, flowers, plants, honey and beverages are a few of the items available. Shop for farm-fresh seasonal produce while wandering through markets chatting with the vendors and farmers…
Tweet Kimball loved Cherokee Ranch & Castle; after her death, she never left. Tweet worked with Diarmid Campbell, a landscape architect, and together they designed a memorial garden near the Castle as her final resting place. Construction on the memorial garden began around Tweet’s death in 1999, but the planning was completed well before. The…
Just west of Castle Pines, Roxborough State Park sits nestled into the foothills. The park is nearly 4,000 acres of dramatic landscape. It’s a liminal space – where prairie meets vivid red rock mountains. The land previously known as Washington Park – because of a rock formation resembling George Washington’s profile – has served a…
Dennis Smith has a gift for bringing people together. A fourth generation Coloradan, he cares deeply about the state as well as local communities and the country at large. He believes that how people treat each other matters – and it matters a lot. Smith, who is a retired CPA, grew up in Jefferson County…
Sheffield, England, long a center of heavy industry, was the home of James Woodhouse, born in 1843. There, he worked in a foundry and was a master brickmaker. No shrinking violet, James boxed professionally in the bare-knuckled era. He had 100 fights to his credit and no defeats. Imbued with extraordinary energy, he found…
The poodle may be the national dog of France, however, the breed originated as a duck hunter in Germany where the word “pudelin” refers to splashing in water. Since their retrieving water days, the poodle has become a circus performer, a frequent dog show winner, a guide dog, as well as a loving pet for…
At the first hint of spring, hundreds of residents of all ages joined at The Ridge at Castle Pines driving range for the annual Egg Scramble event. The Easter Bunny was on hand for photo opportunities, and complimentary coffee and donuts were served. More than 8,000 colorful eggs were filled with treats, and those who…
Let us consider the “toast” as it relates to celebrating, the traditional take and the new way. Toasting with alcohol is a tradition rooted in superstition, dating back to the Ancient Greeks. But the rule that insists that those who do not drink must still raise a glass containing alcohol must go. A toast is…
Chances are good that a majority of the U.S. population has sat down for brunch at one time or another, but how many have sat and thought about the origins of the late-morning meal? The word “brunch” – coined in the late 19th century – quite obviously smashes the words “breakfast” and “lunch” together, although…
Since I can remember, I have loved having a new toy. I have lived half a century, and I still get excited when I open a box, painstakingly unpack some new treasure, and take it out for a whirl. I get toys for all the parts of my house, but of course my favorite gadgets…
Tucked away in South Denver is an extraordinary resource, a godsend for baby boomers with inherited stamp collections gathering dust. If, after a loved one passed away, you inherited the stamp albums, a pile of books, stock sheets, boxes of loose stamps and whatever else he or she collected with perforations and you are at…
One of Maura Ridder’s greatest joys in life is the relationships she has built with the children, their families and the staff at STEM School Highlands Ranch (SSHR). Not a day goes by where Ridder does not get excited to go to school. Ridder was not always a teacher. Her mother, a college professor, told…
In the early 90s, when McDonald’s, not Starbucks, was on every street corner and fanny packs were a thing, my husband and I met while working in downtown Chicago. We were both living in the big city right out of college on a collision course with adulthood – young, full of dreams, and broke. Back…
Michelle Zotos’ family was one of the first families to put down roots in Surrey Ridge Estates over forty years ago when it was fields, flowers and open space. “I remember the old, abandoned farmhouse by the windmill north of Surrey Ridge and Heather Drive that burned down in the early 1980s,” she recalled. “It…
“It was cold, but so worth it,” stated Sydney Martin, a senior at Valor Christian High School, who volunteered in Nome, Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod Trail is roughly 1,000 miles long, beginning in Anchorage and ending in the Bering Sea town of Nome. In 1925, the Iditarod Trail captured…
The Castle Pines Connection wants to celebrate one of the state’s longest standing cycling traditions and share your stories. Please email editor@castlepinesconnection if you are planning on riding this year. Courtesy Photos By https://events.outsideonline.com/elephantrock/
The Colorado Rangers 14U baseball team won first place in their bracket at the “Can of Corn Classic” tournament in Branson, Missouri, last month. The players hail from Parker, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and Denver and each boy received a championship ring. By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos
Cold water therapy has been used as a means of muscle recovery for years, but recent attention has been given to cold water plunging for many other health benefits. Whether it’s a polar plunge in icy waters or a brisk shower in the morning or post-workout, cold water immersion is becoming a way for many…
Jerome Price has a passion for working with special needs students and athletes. “It’s very rewarding. They show you love. They’re always happy to see you,” said Price. His passion started at a young age while growing up in San Diego, California. Price remembers people making fun of his cousin, who had Prader-Willi syndrome. As…
CASTLE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL Estrella Borroel Hernandez Kate Cejudo Valdez Diana Chavez Castro Alyssa Claypool Arianna DiMartino Cooper Dyer Keyvan Gholipoursani Cameron Gladstone McKenna Gonzalez Jacob Guillory Phoenix Hamster Emma Harris Dylan Hettinger Chance Huddleston Antoneo Ibarra Dianna Lucy Nicholson Abigael Marquez Nomar Moreno Ethan Nicholas Corah O’Laughlin Michael Perry Elizabeth Riedel David Rivera Grimaldo…
Mike Sullivan has been a high school counselor with the Douglas County School District (DCSD) for nearly two decades. This year, he was recognized with the District’s top honor at the Apple Awards: Secondary Educator of the Year. The Apple Awards “honor exceptional DCSD educators and staff who are inspiring a love of learning in…
The Douglas County School District (DCSD) is seeking volunteers to fill six empty seats on the District’s Mill Bond Oversight Ad Hoc Committee (MBOC). The MBOC is currently accepting applications for: One (1) Safety and Security Representative One (1) Licensed Educator-Secondary Representative Two (2) Parent/Community Members Region: Highlands Ranch One (1) Licensed Educator-Elementary Representative One…
Rocky Heights Middle school (RHMS) drama students didn’t hold back in their recent spring musical performances of Frozen Jr. The performers followed Elsa’s advice for their acting inhibitions and “let it go.” Their hard work, practice and stage presence paid off. Drama staff at RHMS is actively working to build the department and interest in…
The annual fifth grade show at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) was back this year, and it was worth the wait. Fifth grade students rocked leg warmers, neon and crimped hair for performances of their 1980s montage: ‘80s Blast to the Past. BRE staff and parents grooved in their seats while the kids sang rock and…
Students from all three American Academy (AA) campus performing arts programs experienced unique hands-on learning when they took a trip to New York City. The trip allowed students to not only explore the City, but they were also able to go behind the scenes at Radio City Music Hall and explore areas outside of their…
DSC Montessori (DCSM) teachers and assistants joined the lower elementary classrooms in the United Nations International Day celebration by wearing traditional outfits of their respective country. In preparation for the celebration, classrooms began their assigned continent studies in the second semester where they learned about different countries, cultures, food, places to visit and more. Each…
Timber Trail Elementary students celebrated the joys of spring with their annual Daddy/Daughter Dance. Students and their dates who attended the Spring Fling theme dance enjoyed various activities, treats and dancing to the greatest hits. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jessica Bird and Shawna Prewett
transports patrons to Mexico By Chris Michlewicz Every spring, Cinco de Mayo provides a perfect reason to indulge in Mexican delicacies and drinks, but one of Castle Rock’s newest restaurants attracts people to the idea of celebrating any time of year. Since Dos Santos opened on Wilcox Street near First Street in the heart of…
By Lisa Nicklanovich, photos courtesy of Ada Vernon Adriana (Ada) Vernon grew up in a very traditional Ukrainian household, even though it was in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. “Ukrainian was my first language. We had traditional Ukrainian food and so many different events at our church. I had to learn poetry from our famous Ukrainian poets…
Located on Daniels Park Road By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Douglas County A pristine, 53-acre spread west of Daniels Park Road sold last month, and will no longer be developed into 90 new homes as previously proposed. Castle Cliff Farm was the subject of a rezoning application submitted to Douglas County in June 2021.…
By Chris Michlewicz A regional park in Highlands Ranch known for its uneven athletic fields is being revamped with new playing surfaces and an off-leash dog park. A portion of David A. Lorenz Regional Park, located southeast of County Line Road and Colorado Boulevard, was built on top of a former landfill, and the organic…
I-25/Castle Pines Parkway bicycle/pedestrian bridge project seeks input Information and graphic provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines is applying for a grant to fund engineering and preliminary design for a bike/pedestrian bridge over I-25 adjacent to Castle Pines Parkway. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is currently collecting…
By Terri Wiebold; graphics courtesy of PWSD and Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) Draft letter to CPNMD Letters in both draft and final form of PWSD’s termination of its inclusion agreement with CPNMD. They are evidence that no community members arbitrarily added inflammatory words after the fact as has been conjectured by CPNMD. Rather, PWSD…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Sara Ratcliff Deputy Sara Ratcliff loves her job. She is part of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Mounted Patrol Division (MPD). Ratcliff has always loved horses and comes from a law enforcement family, so the MPD is a perfect fit for her. “My hobbies include being outdoors and…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30. The nationally recognized day brings awareness to the importance of disposing prescription drugs safely and responsibly. It also provides an opportunity to educate the general public about the…
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of Geoff Blue A member of the Castle Pines City Council from 2014 to 2017, Geoff Blue rejoined Council again in 2022 as District III representative. “I missed seeing the public and helping make great things happen in Castle Pines,” stated Blue. In the years since he last served, Blue…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Last month, The Connection featured an article on Backpack Society, an organization that partners with local schools to offer hope through a consistent bag of easy-to-prepare meals on the weekend so kids can focus on important things – like being a kid. On Saturday, March 26, The Castle Pines…
By Carin R Kirkegaard Tuesday May 3, Colorado will hold special district elections across the state. Douglas County registered voters should watch for special district election ballots to arrive in mailboxes by mid-April. Ballots will be mailed between April 11 and April 18 to all eligible electors at the address listed on the voter rolls…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Vinny Burns After cutting his teeth in the restaurant industry in the Castle Pines community, Vinny Burns’ career has come full circle with his position as executive chef at Park Place restaurant at The Ridge golf course. Burns started out washing dishes at the age of 15 at the…
Outward and upward By Hollen Wheeler; rendering courtesy of Journey Church Journey Church will double its facility size to accommodate a growing membership that has experienced exponential growth. When the church opened its doors on Clydesdale Road in 2017, it had a membership of 500; today, the church family is 3,500. Journey launched its “Build”…
Article and photos by Tammy Abramovitz The venerable Texas institution known as Whataburger entered the Colorado burger scene in February. The first franchise to open in Colorado, specifically Colorado Springs, features the burger so big that it took two hands to hold and so good that after a single bite, customers couldn’t help but exclaim,…
Making a difference, holistically By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Vonda Muncy Acupuncturist Vonda Muncy is a businesswoman, outdoor enthusiast and wellness guru. For more than five years, she has run Soul Potential Acupuncture & Wellness, located on Happy Canyon Road in the Village shops. As a clinical director, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine…
gives hope to children and families here and everywhere By Elean Gersack; photo courtesy of Beth Woods Hope’s Promise creates hopeful journeys through pregnancy support, adoption services, orphan care and foster care. Located in Castle Rock, Hope’s Promise touches children and families in Douglas County, as well as across the country and the world. Executive…
Article and photo by Patte Smith In early March, South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) Risk Reduction Specialist Einar Jensen chatted with concerned Surrey Ridge homeowners about reducing the chance of homes burning in the case of a wildfire and reviewing the importance of proper fire mitigation. Surrey Ridge, like many other communities in Douglas County,…
Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner The last two weeks in February were spent giving the Sunshine State a thorough going-over, putting 1,700 miles on a red Mini Cooper. Unlike our laid-back trip to Florida’s panhandle last fall, we crisscrossed the state twice, putting a big toe into the Everglades before departing. If you’ve not…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jennifer Dunbar Hazel, an 11-year-old Maine coon cat, has eyes of green with gold that mesmerize those who dare to look her in the eye. Her intense stare is one full of love and affection with unconditional loyalty to her owners – Andrew and Jennifer Dunbar. The Maine coon…
and in person Join thousands of fellow animal advocates across Colorado and the country for the Dumb Friends League 29th annual Furry Scurry. Registration is now open at furryscurry.org for participants to walk, run or scurry in person or virtually to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets and horses. On Saturday, May…
Glendale Farm Dog Park Article and photos by Patte Smith Arf arf and big arf – dog language for great news – pooches and pals rejoice. The incredibly popular Glendale Farm Dog Park on the South Havana Street frontage road is being renovated. Planned in two phases, construction of Phase 1 is underway with the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of Sedalia Firehouse Museum Charlie Alexander was one of Sedalia’s more colorful locals, born a Hoosier in 1882. His early years were filled with hardship, and he was placed on an orphan train by his mother when he was 11 years old. He was one of 250,000 such children shipped…
a reminder to invest in our planet By Lisa Nicklanovich Earth Day 2022 is April 22, marking the 52nd anniversary of the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970. Earth Day is focused on accelerating solutions to combat climate change and to activate everyone, including governments, citizens, and businesses to do their part. This year’s theme…