Read the stories from the latest issue:
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Crystal Arbuckle Castle Pines resident Crystal Arbuckle is no stranger to hard work and persistence. The mother of four children, she grew up in a large entrepreneurial family in eastern Oregon, near the Idaho border. The family business was Fry-Bake Shoppe, a bakery in the small farming community of…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; with information provided by Connect for Health Colorado The Affordable Care Act (ACA) 2021 open enrollment period for purchasing health insurance for the coming year began November 1 and runs through December 15. Castle Pines community residents and small business owners can find the 2021 available health insurance plans through the…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Jennie CartwrightBy Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Jennie Cartwright The Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) cross country team went to the state championship at the Norris Penrose Equestrian Center in Colorado Springs this year. As reported by Dan Davies, head cross country coach at RCHS, “We closed out the…
Information and photos courtesy of CPA Football season in Castle Pines started and ended with dedicated hard working young athletes who love to play the game. The Castle Pines Athletics (CPA) NFL flag football program played seven games, as well as a playoff game. The teams that advanced met one last time, on the Elk…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photo “It’s like a hug,” said a resident about her weighted blanket. More than comforting, research suggests weighted blankets may benefit people with anxiety, autism, ADHD and insomnia, among other conditions. Filled with poly pellets, weighted discs, or glass beads sewn into sections, weighted blankets apply pressure that mimics a therapeutic…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; Photo courtesy of Kristi Rathbun The Connection congratulates Kristi Rathbun, MJE, journalism teacher and adviser at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) for receiving the 2020 Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA). The Castle Pines Connection has been collaborating with Rathbun for many years. Nearly all of The Connection’s student…
By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer; courtesy photos According to a report by the National Center for Health Statistics, the rate of twin births rose 76% from 1980 to 2009. The children that were born toward the latter part of that time frame are now in high school. Throughout the halls of Rock Canyon High…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard During this atypical school year, the Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is offering a helping hand by providing professional support opportunities to study, experiment and learn for all grade levels. For middle and high school students who might be struggling with online or hybrid learning, DCL hosts dedicated space for students to…
Kindergarten registration is currently open for the 2021-2022 school year at Castle Pines elementary schools. Eligible children must be 5 years old by October 1, 2021. Copies of the child’s birth certificate, immunization record, and proof of residence are required, along with the registration packet. Buffalo Ridge (BRE) and Timber Trail (TTE) registration process consists…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Kelli Weinreich This Veterans Day, students from each grade at Buffalo Ridge Elementary took time to recognize the service our veterans willingly give to our community and nation. The effort was spearheaded by physical education teacher Kelli Weinreich. “I asked if classes wanted to make Veterans Day cards. I…
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Scott Draper “Timber Trail Elementary is an amazing place and I couldn’t be happier to be there,” stated Scott Draper, the newest addition to Timber Trail Elementary as the school’s art teacher. Draper has not always been a teacher. He traveled an unconventional path to becoming an elementary art…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Denise Glenn, DCS Montessori Canine Partners of the Rockies raises and trains service dogs for mobility assistance, autism support and intervention facilities. DCS Montessori (DCSM) is one of many proud partners that assist in training and raising these dogs to go on to do great things outside the classroom…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos After National Signing Day in February, many high school sports and activities were canceled or postponed, making it a challenging year for high school athletes with ambitions of playing their sport in college. When we learned some schools were having students sign letters of intent in November, we contacted all…
By Chris Michlewicz; courtesy photos When roughly 2,000 people showed up for Wide Open Saloon’s opening weekend in Sedalia the second week in March, owner Todd Hills saw a dream fulfilled – a dream that was 10 years in the making. In 2009, Hills hosted Wednesday night bike nights in the parking lot of Top…
By Carin Kirkegaard Mead, fermented honey and water, is the oldest documented alcoholic drink. Evidence of its fermentation was discovered in Asian pottery vessels that dated between 6500-7000 BC – making mead even older than beer and traditional grape wine. The ancient Greeks called it the “nectar of the Gods.” Vikings drank it out of…
By Lynn Zahorik; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb Joining the ranks of the American bald eagle as an official symbol of our country, the American bison was named the national mammal of the U.S. in 2016 to recognize its historical, cultural and economic importance. According to the American Bison Society, bison were “integrally linked with…
Douglas County’s newest open space Information provided by Douglas County; photo courtesy of Flannery Cool Douglas County’s newest open space resource, the 2,038-acre Sandstone Ranch, is one of the largest and most historic properties in Colorado. It is now open for public access. The official public access opening follows an extensive planning process that culminated…
By Chris Michlewicz; renderings courtesy of Norris Design City of Castle Pines residents will soon see more construction activity south of the city’s business district as a new townhome development takes shape. The Castle Pines Planning Commission unanimously approved a site improvement plan in late September for 187 town homes between Lagae Road and I-25,…
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold In celebration of October’s National Fire Safety Week, The Exchange Coffee House, located in The Canyons development on the east side of I-25 in the City of Castle Pines, hosted South Metro Fire Rescue for a fire escape planning day. South Metro Fire Rescue Risk Reduction Specialist Einar Jensen…
By Patte Smith As of October 1, there were 277,850 citizens registered to vote in Douglas County. Democrats numbered 54,353, Republicans 106,176, Unaffiliated 113,270 and others 4,050. While many citizens mailed or cast their votes during Early Voting in October, Ballot Drop Box locations will be available 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. on…
Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard On an ideal fall morning in October, neighbors gathered in Castle Pines to walk with Team Larry and show their support in helping to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Larry Harms, longtime resident and director of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the ALS Association was…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; courtesy photos Castle Pines resident volunteers gathered for the first Clean-Up Castle Pines Day event hosted by the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD). The Coyote Ridge Park basketball courts, skate park and the surrounding scrub oak was the group’s primary focus. They picked up trash and even removed recliners that…
Puts “power” in consumer hands Information provided by IREA; photo by Terri Wiebold The Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) recently launched My Power, an online portal that transforms customers’ access to energy use information. My Power gives IREA customers with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters the ability to better view, manage and analyze their usage…
Enjoying all that Colorado has to offer By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of the Whalen family Few transplants have embraced the Colorado lifestyle as quickly and enthusiastically as Dave Whalen. By weekday, Whalen is the chief operating officer and general manager for the Country Club at Castle Pines. By weekend, he and his wife of…
By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Castle Pines resident Shane Lapp, a strong supporter of law enforcement, first responders and the military, organized a Back the Blue event at Berg Haus in Castle Pines last month. The well-attended event honored Lieutenant Brian Murphy. Murphy is a former Oak Creek, Wisconsin police officer who was shot 17…
Article and photo by Terri Wiebold In the past few months with extra time at home, residents have had an opportunity to clean out garages and organize closets. For those looking for a place to donate the accumulation of items, the City of Castle Pines has a new resource ready to take the gently-used clothing…
Information and photos courtesy of Village Castle Pines Garden Club Yes Mr. Rogers, it was a beautiful day in The Village at Castle Pines neighborhood. The Village Castle Pines Garden Club’s (VCPGC) Drive-Through Event at the Summit Club last month brought neighbors together. The purpose was to welcome all 160 of their fantastic members with…
Manners are about doing the good thing, the right thing and the honorable thing. I’d like to dedicate this month’s column to all the men and women who have served honorably in our U.S. military. Veterans Day will be observed on Wednesday, November 11. I’d like to encourage our citizens to raise their U.S. flag…
By Steve Whitlock Are you looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Operation Christmas Child, collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items and delivers them to children in need to demonstrate love in a tangible way. For some of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first…
Photos by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of Jan Comstock The perfect fall day was the backdrop for local artists to feature their wares at the second annual Autumn Art Walk in The Village at Castle Pines. To view a slideshow of the event, visit https://www.castlepinesconnection.com/photo-album-2020/.
By Chris Michlewicz Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine a year are not only great for outdoor activities, they are welcomed by homeowners who have solar panels on their roof. By the end of 2019, more than 2,900 customers of the Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) had rooftop solar systems interconnected to its grid, generating more…
Last month, we featured a story about Ron Di Donato, a 72-year-old retired excavation company owner who used recycled copies of The Connection to create a flying papier-mâché pig as a means of slowing traffic. He has since added a Halloween witch’s hat and a mask to his creation. Our story caught the attention of…
Celebrate the holidays at several open-air markets By Patte Smith In downtown Denver, Skyline Park’s open-air Urban Holiday Market located at 16th and Arapahoe Street, is Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get an early start for Christmas shopping strolling through the market full of arts and crafts,…
By Bryan Goodland; photos courtesy of Macy’s Whenever someone mentions Thanksgiving, family traditions immediately come to mind. Maybe your family gets up early to run in an annual Turkey Trot or they gather around the TV to watch the big game or maybe they tune into the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you…
By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Kneaders Bakery Buffalo plaid is a term used to describe the pattern created when two colored yarns – traditionally red and black – are woven in stripes to create large intersecting blocks. The result is a third block of color that is the combination of the other two. Made…
By Julie Matuszewski On October 24, neighborhood children of all ages made their way through Castle Pines Parkway and The Village at Castle Pines Shops in search of favorite Halloween treats. Local business windows marked with a pumpkin guaranteed the visitors prepackaged treats and goodies from a safe distance. Businesses without a retail location also…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos Throughout the month of October, HistoriCorps, a nonprofit that preserves historic structures on public lands has been working to reroof the Daniels Park Wellhouse, in addition to repairing the structure’s siding and rehabilitating its windows. Daniels Park is a Denver Mountain Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places…
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Project C.U.R.E. A nonprofit focused on getting used medical equipment and surplus supplies to healthcare facilities that need it most has the help of two Castle Pines women. Tammy Dawson and Amy F., both of whom work in the healthcare industry, have a combined 11 years of volunteering experience…
By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Near West Plum Creek’s headwaters, Sandstone Ranch’s story is rich and colorful, a stitched-together history of many pioneers. The earliest was Charles Richardson, an 1873 homesteader who claimed the first parcel. A year later, a bold woman for the times, Elizabeth Robinson of West Point, Illinois, homesteaded and became his…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy image Christmas movies get all the love. Thanksgiving movies tend to remind us how messy and dysfunctional families can be, or maybe joyful in comparison when we gather them around the table. For that sort of film, see Pieces of April, The Oath or Home for the Holidays – noting that…
Thanksgiving lessons By Steve Whitlock; courtesy photo If you’ve seen the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles, it likely increased your awareness and appreciation for the acting abilities of Steve Martin and John Candy. Their duo forms arguably one of the best comedy teams in modern film. Of course, it’s the writer, John Hughes, who…
An American original By Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos An unsullied hero is rare in these times. Unusual too, is a person who defined an era and culture simultaneously. William F. Cody was an egalitarian when civil rights were ignored or violated in a rush to settle new frontiers. If, as parents today, we seek antidotes…
Walk with nature: A hike through Sandstone Ranch Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; courtesy photo Father of the mountains John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” Muir was right; being in the outdoors improves one’s memory, reduces anxiety and helps with creativity. Walking with nature…
By Lynn Zahorik, photos courtesy of Brittany Arellano The ‘awww’ factor was in full force when Operation Secondhand Paws (OSP) teamed up with Farmers Insurance Silverhart Agency to host a pet adoption event in early October. The nonprofit rescue agency brought two litters of puppies and one litter of kittens that were available for adoption…
By Lynn Zahorik, courtesy photos As more time is spent at home during the coronavirus pandemic, many people have decided to add a furry new member to the family. They are turning to animals for emotional support and companionship to counteract the challenges of social distancing, working from home and remote learning. Since March, a…
By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Julie Lamb The question of whether the Daniels Park herd is a herd of buffalo or a herd of bison is a common one. For the record, they are bison. There are two types of buffalo: Cape buffalo and water buffalo. They are native to Africa and Asia. Bison…
Article and photo by Kathy Fallert November is National Senior Pet Month. Regular readers of this column know my three dogs, 2-year-old Otis, 9-year-old Tebow and my senior Sadie who is 12. I understand very well the different needs of an aging pet. Sadie has always been a hard-core athlete. Her stamina could outlast the…
By Patte Smith Help & Hope Center and Crisis Center are two organizations within Douglas County that provide vital services for community members in need throughout the year, especially during the holidays. This year, many are struggling to make ends meet due to the stress of isolation, medical issues, increasing food prices and the impact…
By Lisa Nicklanovich National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is held each year, the week before Thanksgiving. Participating groups in the annual event spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events. Even in the world’s greatest food-producing nation, children and adults face poverty, hunger and experience homelessness in every county…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Nash Bochner When Nash Bochner inherited 15 plants from a friend who was moving out of state, he looked at them all and asked himself, “How do I keep these alive?” Bochner had never owned a plant before. Caring for these plants sparked an interest that led Bochner to…
Article and photos by Terri Wiebold Tia Baker and her husband, Bryce, grew up in Douglas County and recently moved back to Colorado after having spent 10 years in Washington. They moved into The Canyons development in the City of Castle Pines in August, just in time to reacclimate and prepare for the arrival of…
By Patte Smith, photo courtesy of USDA Get out of the house this year for fun freedom in the glorious Colorado mountains. Breathing in fresh air while tromping through the forest in search of the perfect holiday tree is exhilarating. Dress warm and be prepared for winter weather, or who knows, it might be warm…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett One of the things I love about food and cooking is that it’s a great way to bring very different things together and discover how to make a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Restaurant chefs do this all the time, combining flavors from different…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett ~ Assorted fruits in bite sized pieces: Strawberries Cantaloupe (reserve one piece of cantaloupe) Raspberries Bananas Seedless grapes Pineapple ~One pear (red or green), halved ~Cake décor candy eyes (available at craft and grocery stores) ~12-15 wooden skewers ~One whole cantaloupe Slice the bottom of the cantaloupe to create…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Sarah Tierney “Anchor Bar wings are the gold standard of wings,” exclaimed resident Sarah Tierney. Tierney grew up in Buffalo, New York, where Buffalo chicken wings began (but in Buffalo, they are known simply as “wings”). The name for the ubiquitous sauce and wings, therefore, has nothing to do…
By Lisa Nicklanovich Whether you are curious about what being a vegan means, are interested in moving toward being “veganish,” or if you’ll have a vegan at your Thanksgiving table, World Vegan Day on November 1, the start of World Vegan Month, is a great opportunity to understand this movement more. Veganism, by definition, is…
By Carin Kirkegaard; courtesy photos Hazel Bagley celebrated 103 years of life on October 25 at Legacy Village of Castle Pines. Hazel has the honor of being the oldest resident in the senior living community. Born in Josten, Missouri in 1917, Hazel was the middle sister of five girls. Her dad was an auctioneer and…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photo As the cold and flu season approaches, many Castle Pines community residents both young and old are considering seasonal vaccinations. This is especially true for those age 65 and older. While there may be concern about side effects from vaccinations, seniors are at a higher risk of complications from the…
By Chris Michlewicz; courtesy photos He’s a familiar face on TV and a familiar face in the neighborhood. Dave Fraser, the chief meteorologist for FOX31 and Channel 2 News, has called Castle Pines home ever since he landed in Colorado almost 20 years ago. “It was serendipitous. We looked at so many homes that for…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Sean O’Dea There’s more to Sean O’Dea than a first glance might suggest. Among his various titles are husband, father, police officer, veteran, educator and author. Currently, O’Dea is a social studies teacher at Regis Jesuit High School. He recently stepped down as the chair of the department to…
Veterans use long-distance walks to lift each other up –and bring attention to PTSD By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of Josh Emer Play was stopped mid-game on a baseball diamond in Larkspur in August, and all of the players and spectators left the field. It wasn’t because of inclement weather; it was because a procession…
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kevin Leung Kevin Leung, 26-year resident of The Village at Castle Pines was one of this year’s three winners of the Colorado Association of School Board McGuffey Award. The award honors unique members who bring committed and passionate service to their board work. Leung came to this country with…
By Patte Smith; photos courtesy of VICC “YOU ARE Project reCYCLE” is a statement that the nonprofit Project reCYCLE (PR) organization firmly believes. Providing a bike to a child that has never had one or needs one is their absolute goal, and the people who donate bikes and volunteer their time are key to their…
By Celeste McNeil; photos by Terri Wiebold Phase I of the Rueter-Hess Recreation Authority (RHRA) master plan is close to completion. The first phase includes the Newlin’s Gold Trail, a hiking trail near the reservoir entry to an overlook. A stair incline is also part of phase one. The incline is north of Hess Road…
By Zach Lipfield, RCHS intern writer; photo courtesy of RCHS Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) boys golf finished fifth in the state at the 2020 Class 5A boys golf state championships held in Golden at The Club at Rolling Hills on October 5 and 6. The team went into the championship after finishing first at…
Article and photo by Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer Returning to school this fall has looked quite a bit different for Castle Pines students. With most middle and high schools offering either completely online learning or a hybrid schedule where students still spend a significant portion of the time learning at home, students are juggling…