Read the stories from the latest issue:
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…
Arriba! It is muy bueno. By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos A lesser-known but vibrant micro-hood of Denver, due south of downtown, is the Art District on Santa Fe, or “the District” to the locals. Tucked in between Lincoln Park and the Baker neighborhoods, the District is known for its Latino heritage, visible and tangible on…
Physical therapist found her future life growing up in Castle Pines By Elean Gersack, photos courtesy of Jamie Archuletta Jamie Parsons (now Jamie Archuletta) remembers her childhood in Castle Pines like it was yesterday – playing soccer, riding bikes, attending B-track at Buffalo Ridge Elementary, participating in field day and fundraisers, and always being outside.…
By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photo Need a new mini-series to binge watch? Inventing Anna is one of Netflix’s latest, a drama based on a real-life grifter who swindles highbrow New York society, friends and hotels out of more than $250,000. The series, created and produced by Grey’s Anatomy Shonda Rhimes, has escalated to national popularity…
Dear Reader, Let’s pretend we’re at our favorite restaurant and we get carried away in conversation, but we’re not ready for our plate to be taken away. What are the nonverbal clues, the sign language, the secret codes spelled out through silverware? In other words, how do you get your server’s attention while staying engaged…
for Mother Earth By Claire Bauer, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photo Every year, Earth Day takes place on April 22, but for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Eco Club, the environment matters every day. The club, with a mission “to better educate our school on environmental issues and promote sustainability within the school and…
By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Reduce, reuse and recycle … it’s the mantra for Earth Day and all through the year. While these three words sound similar, they are nuanced by behavior and the ultimate impact they have on the planet. Reduce is perhaps the most challenging, as it requires a shift in psychology and…
for a spring feast Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love spring. Even though I’ve experienced the change of seasons more times than I care to admit, there’s always something miraculous about green grass and blossoms on the trees. After a long, cold winter, sunshine and warmth enough to venture out without a coat…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Russell Christensen Local Boy Scout Russell Christensen recently finished his Eagle Scout Service Project, which benefited Legacy Village Assisted Living and Memory Care. Christensen realized the Legacy Village residents hadn’t had as much personal interaction with others due to COVID precautions, and he wanted to help. “I did some…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kristen Krieger Looking through the eyes of her kindergarten students, Kristen Krieger sees honesty and innocence in each of her student’s actions and answers. A committed educator and kindergarten teacher at American Academy (AA) with 15 years of classroom experience in the metro Denver area, Krieger embraces these gifts…
celebrating a milestone birthday By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Tina Howell Two months ago, longtime Castle Pines resident Tina Howell celebrated 50 trips around the sun. Like many people before her reaching this milestone in life, it seemed like Howell needed a way to mark the moment. Some run a marathon, others…
helping families during hardship By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Anna Caldwell Anna Caldwell and her family moved to Castle Pines from Arizona in 2014. “We love living in Colorado and spend as much time as possible on the ski slopes, camping, and hiking,” stated Caldwell. With time on her hands after her daughter went…
By Stacie Chadwick As I continually manage the time-space continuum bullet points of my life, I often see minutes on the clock ticking away – not standing still. On a recent trip to Boulder, however, I decided to forego the last cocktail of the night and instead sweat my toxins out in my friend Amanda’s…
it is heating up By Lisa Nicklanovich People have been using saunas all over the world for centuries, but infrared (IR) saunas have been getting more attention lately by those who claim a number of health benefits. ‘Infra’ red light means light that is below red on the spectrum. It has such long wavelengths that…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Nick Stark Tanner (TJ) Stark is fast, really fast. He recently won first place in the POWRi Quarter Midget Nationals at the Phoenix Raceway. That makes him one of the fastest kids in the country. Quarter Midget racing is like the little leagues of car racing – it’s paved…
carries community contributed couture By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Karen Bunch In early spring 2019, Karen Davis, an educational assistant in the severe and significant needs department at Castle Rock Middle School and owner of Clover’s Closet, was clearing out closets in her home when she discovered she had a pile of hardly-used…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Mark Middlebrooks American Academy’s (AA) Destination Imagination (DI) team Volta Science competed and placed second in this year’s South Metro Regional Tournament service learning category. Team Volta Science explored challenges surrounding the lack of clean water in the countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia and worked to promote awareness alongside…
advance to state By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Sara Haynes Of the 16 middle school students who qualified for The Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee, six were from Douglas County schools, and three were from Rocky Heights Middle School. Aayush Singh, Aidan Sheehy and Kathleen Keesey (pictured left) represented RHMS at the state…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos of courtesy Rebecca Jones DCS Montessori (DCSM) greenhouse teacher Rebecca Jones loves spring and all things growing green. In preparation for the spring season and DCSM’s school community annual spring plant sale, Jones and her greenhouse students looked closely at nutrients needed for plants to thrive. Using two growth systems, the…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Ilana Bove Timber Trail Elementary second grade students created “Biography Bottles” in the likeness of a famous person they chose to study and research. Using 2-liter soda bottles and other select craft supplies, the students created unique biography bottles of figures like Queen Elizabeth I, King Tut and Helen…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of DCS Montessori and Buffalo Ridge Elementary Douglas County Libraries Battle of the Books (BOTB) continues to be a huge success with teams of third through sixth grade students. BOTB is a book trivia tournament that engages hundreds of students each year. Teams compete against each other in interschool battles…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Jean Dupper Andrew Dupper is a senior at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) where he has been involved in the drama department his entire four years. Dupper got hooked on drama in eighth grade and hasn’t looked back. Honk! Jr. was the first musical he performed in, as the…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Kelli Weinrich Kindergarten students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) have a new unit in PE, thanks to a program called All Kids Bike and the generosity of the community. All Kids Bike is a national organization dedicated to helping children learn to ride a bike. The program partners with…
The recent Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) Student Council (StuCo) community service project was a fundraiser to aid victims of the Marshall Fire. The idea was to promote a Caring Competition throughout the school and across all three grade levels. “This year we saw a real local need because of the Marshall Fire,” said RHMS…
By Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Jonathan Radin and courtesy photos Born in Lucca, Italy, near Tuscany, Marco Del Chiaro, M.D., Ph.D., FACS will be celebrating his 50th birthday this year. The internationally renowned surgeon and his family made the decision to buy a house in The Village at Castle Pines in the fall of…
Information and graphic provided by Douglas County You are represented by elected officials at the local, county, state and federal levels. Following the U.S. Census every 10 years, representation districts for these offices can change. Visit Douglas County’s interactive map to enter your home address and view names of your County Commissioner, along with your…
Article and photo by Chris Michlewicz A store that planned to sell vaping products in the City of Castle Pines will not be allowed to open after City Council passed an emergency moratorium on such businesses last month. A banner, which is in violation of the City sign code, went up in recent weeks where…
By Chris Michlewicz A voter-approved plan to transfer Castle Pines North Metro District’s (CPNMD) water and wastewater facilities and operations to the Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) has crumbled under the weight of unforeseen obstacles and accusations of acting in bad faith. The inclusion of the water and wastewater assets was expected to lower…
Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County precinct caucuses are meetings of registered electors within a precinct who are members of a particular major political party. The purpose of precinct caucuses is to elect precinct committee persons and delegates to county assemblies. The Douglas County Republican Party Caucus is on Tuesday, March 1 at 7…
By Chris Michlewicz; map courtesy of Douglas County Douglas County is looking into the rights of mineral interest owners after a pair of recently-formed LLCs announced their intent to prospect underneath land in Douglas County. The County received notice from Daniels Park LLC and Castle Pines LLC in January about their intent to prospect after…
By Patte Smith To reduce congestion and improve travel times on northbound I-25, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is testing a new ramp metering system on northbound I-25 between Ridgegate Parkway and University Boulevard. Motorists may notice a difference in the timing of the lights when they approach the ramp meters. The signals are…
Information provided by the City of Castle Pines The City of Castle Pines is hosting a series of slash collection and wildfire safety presentations – in partnership with South Metro Fire and Rescue (SMFR). Each presentation will include information on financial incentives, the City’s slash collection event, services from SMFR, and time for questions. March…
By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Chris Eubanks A senior retail consultant for a global software company, a family man and world traveler, Chris Eubanks recently added city council member to his resumé. Representing District I in the City of Castle Pines, Eubanks brings 30 years of business experience to his new position. He is…
Connecting with customers and grateful for community Dennis Fossceco has held several roles in his 30 years with King Soopers, but being the store leader at the Castle Pines location has been a “blessing.” “I’ve worn many hats throughout my career at King Soopers and for Kroger [the parent company of King Soopers], but…
By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce kicked off 2022 by celebrating its 15th anniversary at an annual luncheon and awards event. Held at Cielo at Castle Pines, attendees enjoyed a lunch while learning about the future of the Chamber as it embraces the changing and growing City of Castle Pines.…
By Shaun Kernahan; photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard There is a new name and owner at the child care center at 81 Max Drive on the northwest corner of Castle Pines Parkway and Lagae Road – HighPointe Academy. Ray Verlinde and his wife, Laura Lee, have expanded their childcare footprint beyond their original center located…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Carol Kline Lucky’s lucky charm is her collar tag that is engraved with her name. Castle Pines resident Carol Kline gave Lucky the name to represent the good luck they both experienced when the dog became part of the Kline family. Barely a pup, Lucky was living with a…
By Hollen Wheeler Daylight Saving Time (DST) will commence on Sunday, March 13, which will bring brighter mornings and evenings for the next eight months. The time change officially takes place at 2:00 a.m. local time respectively across the country’s different time zones. Hate it? Love it? Don’t care? Miss the extra hour of sleep?…
By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade The month of March brings the promise of spring and to many, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, wearing of the green, imbibing green drinks, eating corned beef and cabbage – all are traditions that hearken to the annual Irish…
By Bryan Goodland If you’re planning on getting away for spring break, nothing is more frustrating than waiting in a seemingly endless airport security line. To alleviate some of this frustration, there are a few options, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear. But which one is the right one for you? TSA PreCheck is offered…
Information and photos courtesy of DCCF The Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) showed some love for first responders, educators and veterans at its inaugural Hearts and Aces Valentine’s fundraiser on February 13. The evening of philanthropy started with dinner and was packed with casino-themed fun, including blackjack and poker tables, roulette and craps. “I played…
Article by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Thirty years ago, I read James A. Michener’s historical fiction novel about South Africa, The Covenant. I knew immediately that I had to visit the country. It was the trip of a lifetime, at least at the time. It was and remains a land of exquisite beauty and cruelty,…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Adam Martz, perhaps Sedalia’s most famous bachelor, was no shrinking violet. Those who have opined on his life, alleged that he was never outsmarted. In a bit of hyperbole, the Castle Rock Journal once reported in print that “any person who thinks he can get the best of Adam (by…
By Hollen Wheeler; graphic by Krysta Parr Visit any city in the U.S. and listen to the local terminology and acronyms used to describe the location. The “L” is short for the elevated rapid transit train in Chicago; “the Hill” refers to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.; and “SoHo” is shortened from South of Houston…
Article and photo by Elean Gersack June Everett and Laurel Gebhard are community heroes with huge hearts. A little over two years ago, Everett was experiencing career burnout and decided to change course. With memories of food shortages in her youth, she decided to create a food assistance program. She wanted to reach students, school…
By Elean Gersack, photos courtesy of Jordan Weinstein As the oldest of three boys, Jordan Weinstein was the first to explore college, career paths and adulting. With the support and encouragement of his parents, Weinstein decided that his path would be just that – his. Curious by nature, he didn’t feel pressure to have his…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold The Castle Pines Connection, the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce and the City of Castle Pines gathered at Berg Haus with new residents and homeowners last month to welcome them to the neighborhood. The quarterly event has become increasingly popular as new homeowners move into the community every day.…
Dear Readers, Let’s talk about the relatively modern invention of the save-the-date announcement and how it should be used within the art of the invitation. The save-the-date is a wonderful tool to help organize and prepare for a gathering. It can create a space of time to give advanced notice for time off work, to…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos The Castle Pines club of Rotary International is one local nonprofit doing an extraordinary service. The Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce recognized the local chapter for the good work being done throughout the community – awarding the chapter “Nonprofit Organization of the Year” for 2021. For those who might just…
By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photo Move over big box coffee shops, a new trend in caffeinated drinks, especially for Generation Z, has swept the nation – boba tea, or more colloquially, just “boba.” Beginning in Taiwan and migrating around the world, boba or “bubble” as it translates from Chinese, is typically a flavored brewed tea,…
By Stacie Chadwick Recently, on my way to meet a friend, I found myself racing down I-25 with curlers in my hair, a mascara wand in my non-dominant hand making questionable contact with my lashes, and the other on the steering wheel making equally questionable contact with the lane lines. When I showed up, several…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love the television show “Friends.” I was an avid fan back in the day, often hosting watch parties in my tiny apartment with my own real-life cadre of friends. There are hundreds of quotes from the show that I still sprinkle liberally in casual conversation. Because Monica was…