Read the stories from the latest issue:
(Pictured left to right) The Laity family took first place in the Turweston Lane annual chili cook-off with their green chili recipe. The Geiser family took second place with their white chicken chili. The Johnson family took third with the their spicy white chili. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Sarah Allison The neighbors…
Lincoln Meadows school counselor Madura Deshmukh provided AA staff information and a lesson on emotional regulation. By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) is making mental health a priority at all three of its campuses. The AA mental health team was asked to provide mental health trainings for all staff on…
Second graders (left to right) Kensington Hulley, Taryn Pettis, Scarlett Borner, Jenna Prewett and Jolene Luber took their team off the field for a cool down session with popsicles. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students transformed into the Altitude Avengers for a fun day of outside activity…
Article and photo by Lisa Crockett I love cranberries, with their quintessentially American flavor and deep red color. To me, they just scream “holiday.” I love cranberry sauce, cranberry bars and cranberry bread. The tart flavor of the berries is such a nice contrast to the heavier offerings that abound this time of year, their…
Pictured above, Melissa and Andy McCune have happily called Castle Pines home since 2011. Pictured left, Melissa’s book provides inspiration for drawing pictures. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Melissa McCune Castle Pines resident Melissa McCune strives to share her love of art with as many individuals as possible. As an educator, she can reach…
The Holcomb family has so much fun building a pyramid of Jack-o’-Lanterns each fall for their neighbors to enjoy. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik; photo courtesy of Daryl Holcomb Each October, the residents on the cul-de-sac of Clare Court look forward to the festive Halloween display orchestrated by their neighbors Daryl and Dottie Holcomb.…
Castle Pines resident Ken Patrick (right) credits Black Diamond Eye Care optometrist Dr. Rachel Hasler (left) with saving his eyesight. Article and photo by Terri Wiebold Wellness is an important part of everyday life, as well as a critical component to a successful career. The Castle Pines Connection recently received this letter from a resident…
By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader, once reading 64 books during the summer – just because. This month, she shares a new high-tech thriller. Kill Zone is a tense disaster thriller by bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason, local author and resident of The Village. The book was…
Caption and photos by Terri Wiebold Residents ushered in fall last month at the Autumn Art Walk 2019, sponsored by LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in The Village at Castle Pines. Stunning works created by Colorado artists included bronze sculptures, photography, painting, ceramics and more. Guests were treated to live music, wine and hors d’oeuvres, and…
AA Castle Pines campus elementary Principal Tami Bostick (left back row) with NatureBridge educator Geode Sibbick (back row middle), prepped the Castle Pines campus students for their full-day hike up Mt. Storm King. Due to erosion, students found that the rocks were smoother at the base of the mountain. By Julie Matuszewski: photos courtesy of…
and Memorial Day Flowers By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Memorial Day Flowers It has been said that Veterans Day is for the living and Memorial Day is for the fallen. Many have cause to mark both holidays and reflect on loved ones who have given their lives to service. Victory for Veterans is…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Sarah Neumann and Katie Abner Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) recently held its annual Rock Slide fun run event. Families gathered to walk and run the 1K or 5K courses through the neighborhoods around the school and to encourage physical and social health. School spirit was evident by the sea…
By Stacie Chadwick When I was a senior in high school, I applied to two colleges. The first was the school I was destined to attend. The second? An afterthought, just in case the world’s largest sink hole, triggered by a flying unicorn tethered to an alien spacecraft piloted by Tom Cruise, happened to swallow…
By Lisa Nicklanovich In the How I Built This podcast, which is produced by NPR and Guy Raz, listeners meet entrepreneurs, innovators and idealists whose companies you are probably familiar with. How did they create and build the world’s leading businesses? Scroll through all the podcast episodes to find one that interests you. I was…
TTE student and families make their way through the numerous tables and shelves of books, bookmarks, pencils, erasers and trinkets. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary It was a great way to start the day for Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students and families. Krispy Kreme doughnuts, coffee and juice were served by…
Liz and Brian Van Vechten Article and photo by Terri Wiebold The Village at Castle Pines residents Liz and Brian Van Vechten opened their home last month to host a fundraiser for Happy Crew, an organization dedicated to destigmatizing mental health issues for teens by creating community and sharing the message: You matter. You belong.…
Jeremy Poincenot and Maureen Shul Article and photo by Nancy Koontz Maureen Shul, former and founding mayor of the City of Castle Pines, has much to be proud of. Her Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research nonprofit, which she founded in 2012 after losing both her brother, Victor, and mother, Blanche, to pancreatic cancer…
Caption and photos by Kathy Fallert Saturday, October 12 was a beautiful fall day to enjoy some savory chili samples and mix it up with friends at the 11th annual Best in the West Chili Cook-off in The Village at Castle Pines. For $5, visitors got to sample all the red and green chili they…
A small sction of the Painted Cliffs rock formation at Maria Island National Park. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy map Among the world’s most remote and enticing places, Tasmania vies for my blue ribbon. Time will stand still for you in “Tassie”… Getting there takes some doing. Brace yourself: Denver to California, then…
County Commissioner Lora Thomas, City of Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet, Keith Simons of RidgeGate Investments and Schweiger Ranch, County Commissioner Abe Laydon and John “Turk” Montepare from Great Outdoors Colorado celebrated the opening of the new segment of trail by tossing native grass seeds along part of the trail that runs past Schweiger Ranch…
The two closest Christmas tree cutting areas to Castle Pines and the surrounding neighborhoods are Buffalo Creek and Rampart Range Road. Other areas are shown on the map for those who want to adventure a little further from home. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=fseprd562604 for more information. By Patte Smith There is nothing like heading up to the…
By Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Colorado Historical Society Yes he was. Tom Campbell. Dead. Finished off with a bullet in George Manhart’s dance hall in Sedalia on Saturday, May 6, 1899 as reported in The Castle Rock Journal at the time. Campbell, aka Thomas Jackson, was a tough customer. Well-known in Douglas County…
The Wasson family (pictured left to right) Rachel, daughter Reese (10), Andrew, and son Austin (8) found the perfect location for their brewpub in historic downtown Castle Rock which opened in October of last year. By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Andrew Wasson What do you get when you combine three family members, all Air…
Stronger in numbers, seventh and eighth grade DCSM students rise above their fears as they learned to trust one another while building a team based on compassion and unity. Enjoying the sites from atop Tomahawk Ranch, this team is ready to lead its peers by example, display acts of kindness and empathy, while enjoying new…
By Patte Smith Local fun is better than ever this fall. Close by, the Schweiger Ranch Fall Festival in Lone Tree will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival features hay wagon rides, a pumpkin patch with pumpkins for $5 each, and free mini pumpkins and gourds for…
Article and photo by Joe Gschwendtner; photo courtesy of the Colorado Historical Society As we left 1871 Huntsville in the throes of death in our Wildcat Lore last month, commerce shifted rapidly south to Larkspur. This was due in no small measure to relocation of the post office and arrival of the Denver & Rio…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; Photo courtesy of the Amey family Madison Amey, senior and back-up kicker for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Jaguars, joined the team as the second female kicker last spring. Due to tendonitis in her hip flexor, she unfortunately has been on the sidelines. Amey’s road to becoming part of the…
By Michelle Post As business owners, we wear multiple hats: leader, manager, marketing, sales, accountant and many others. We do our best to run our business and not let our business run us, but that is not always the case. We complete daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tasks on autopilot, but do we really know…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard Josie Manning, sophomore, junior varsity starting kicker and varsity backup for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Jaguars has the fans out of their seats cheering. Although Manning is the first female kicker for the Jaguars it is her production on the field that is getting her noticed. Only three games…
Zoe (left) and Kira (right) Zizzo started the Jags Go Pink club at Rock Canyon High School to provide baskets full of comfort items to patients at the Sarah Cannon Breast Cancer Center at Sky Ridge Medical Center and to breast cancer survivors within the families of RCHS students. By Maddy Merritt, RCHS intern writer;…
Article and photos by Lisa Crockett 1. Pour chocolate sprinkles into a small bowl, then gently dip each cupcake into sprinkles to coat completely. 2. Place candy eyes and licorice legs into frosting. 3. Add additional frosting and sprinkles as needed. 4. Trim licorice legs to desired length. 5. Serve and enjoy!
A little city with a big history Article and photos by Michelle Post Taking shelter while winter hiking on the Catamount Trail in Green Mountain Falls. I have passed the sign to Green Mountain Falls many times and always thought, “What’s in Green Mountain Falls?” My husband and I finally stopped to check out…
Alexandra “Alex” Nardi with one of her students playing Jenga. Students enjoying a break in the action with new school counselor Jamie Shull. By Patte Smith; courtesy photos Welcome to Alexandra “Alex” Nardi, the new elementary school counselor at Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Jamie Shull, Timber Trail Elementary’s new school counselor. With the Douglas County…
By Lisa Nicklanovich; courtesy photos Four Castle Pines young men have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, boy scouting’s highest rank. Carter Burns (14) and Wyatt Burns (14), freshmen at Rock Canyon High School, received their Eagle Scout medal at a special court of honor ceremony September 8. Lance Christensen (14) and Matthew Hardin (14),…
By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader, once reading 64 books during the summer – just because. This month, she shares a local history book. Images of America: Douglas County by the Castle Rock Writers is an appealing compilation of historical photos and stories about life and people in Douglas County…
Spooktacular costumes during last year’s Spooktacular event. By Patte Smith; courtesy photo Fun and not at all frightening, the annual Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce Trick or Treat Street in Castle Pines is a kid favorite every year. In its 13th year, little ghosts and goblins in Castle Pines get to trick or treat for…
Nico Wood (center) passed other runners, completing the race in just over 10 minutes. Submitted by Sophia Bobier; photos courtesy of Gail Swiryn If you live in Castle Pines, you may have likely heard about the annual Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) Cross Country Fun Run and Breakfast. Although a relatively new tradition, word spread…
Timber Trail Elementary students and families settled in to Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” with their cozy blankets and Popcorn Bliss favorites. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Paige Sanford A cool summer evening and bright stars made the perfect back drop for Timber Trail Elementary outdoor movie event. Students and families enjoyed Dr. Seuss’ “The…
Article and photo by Steve Whitlock You probably already know video games are a big deal. But did you know some people don’t just play video games, they watch other people play video games? It’s true. One of the platforms for viewing gaming is Twitch. Twitch is a popular online service for streaming digital video…
A mission of change By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Williams family Dr. Jeremy Williams, a Colorado native and resident of The Village, is co-owner of Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery with partners Dr. Christopher Williams and Dr. Michael Miller. Jeremy grew up in Colorado Springs. “My family’s been here for about 130 years,” he…
Information provided by DAR The Castle Rock Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) invites members and the public to its October 26 meeting at New Hope Presbyterian Church. Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Brian McKnight will present a program on current trends and prevention in the areas of personal safety, self defense,…
Article and photo by Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of American Academy American Academy (AA) opened its doors to 800 students for a fresh new year of fun and academics. The back to school welcome has become a tradition that AA has implemented to help students and families of all grade levels feel welcome and excited…
Timber Trail’s spirit rock came to life with Rob Hay’s recent illustration of Toy Story 4. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Rob Hay Have you ever wondered what those big bright colored rocks sitting outside school entrances represent? Those rocks are spirit rocks which have been painted by school communities to recognize a student’s…
The committee of fabulous parent volunteers that organized the event, pictured left to right: Erika Greene, Kym Hay, Chelsey Nielson, Kristi Tomlinson, Page Warnke, Whitney Shank, Kimberly McCarthy and Val McPheeters. Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski; courtesy photo TTE September 13 marked the 11th annual Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) Mother & Son Kickball Tournament.…
Providing a Sense of Security By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of Grant Oakes October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 265,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2019. It is a dise ase that impacts many,…
April McCaffrey, unofficial party planner for Cerney Circle. Dressed for the night children from Cerney Circle meet at the end of the cul-de-sac for a group photo before heading out for tricks or treats. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of April McCaffrey Neighbors who call the houses home on Cerney Circle, located in the…
The Village Homes Association presented Lisa Goodwin (right) with a commemorative plaque and gift in appreciation for her 13 years of dedicated service to the community By Nancy Koontz; courtesy photo “Your charm and quick wit will be sorely missed” were the words written on the plaque of appreciation given to community management senior administrator…
Passionate about flavorful, low-sodium foods, McKenzie Ellis created Low Salt Kitchen food blog to help others lower their sodium intake. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of McKenzie Ellis The Village at Castle Pines resident McKenzie Ellis set out to change the world, one meal at a time. Her passion was ignited by her love for…
The three kickers of the Rock Canyon High School football program left to right: Josie Manning, Sawyer Zook and Madison Amey. Article and photo by Carin R. Kirkegaard The Rock Canyon High School special teams added two new kickers to join varsity senior and The Village at Castle Pines resident Sawyer Zook on the field.…
By Elizabeth Wood West There are three Douglas County School Board (DCSB) director seats up for election this November: District A, District C, and District F. The Alliance for Douglas County Charter Schools is sponsoring a public candidate forum to be held on October 10 at 6 p.m. at the Parker Performing Arts School, 15035…
Cutline and photo by Susan Helton Author Doug Beason and his wife Cindy, residents of The Village at Castle Pines, hosted an open house August 27 at Sudden Fiction bookstore in Castle Rock to celebrate the release of Kill Zone, Doug’s 17th book. He collaborated with bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson on the novel, which…
By Bryan Goodland; courtesy photo Everyone knows that staying active is one of the keys to aging gracefully. But what does that look like amidst our everyday busy lives? How can we possibly squeeze fitness into everything else going on? To start with, focus on four key areas and your fitness level will increase each…
By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Dave Tweed Sawyer Zook, senior and starting varsity kicker for the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Jaguars, continues to significantly contribute to the Jaguar score. Zook scored more than half of the team’s total points in the season opener against Cherokee Trail High School. He had two field…
By Stacie Chadwick When I mentally check my list of things I know without doubt, there’s one truth that always sits toward the top. That is, the only thing you can count on in life is change. Whether you see this as positive or negative, life often rolls in its own direction at will and…
Castle Pines resident Shannon Goltl was recently hired by the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce as the new membership director. Goltl is pictured here with her son Dylan, husband Derk and daughter Ally. By Terri Wiebold; courtesy photos As the Castle Pines community continues to grow and change, so do the organizations that support it. Following…
Information provided by the Animal Humane Society Get ready in advance. Even if your pet enjoys company, especially children, the constant thumping on the door and shouts of “Trick or Treat!” may be more than he’s ready for. If your dog likes treats, you can help him prepare ahead of time by having someone knock…
A few months ago, Brent’s Place hosted a reunion dinner event for all the families living at (or who have lived at) Brent’s Place – they even had Super Healers superheroes take photos with the kids! By Patte Smith; photo courtesy of Super Healers/superhealers.org In the September 2019 issue of The Connection, we celebrated Greyson…
Article and photos by Kathy Fallert Wednesday, September 11, was the third annual Eat for a Cause event at Pino’s Italian Kitchen & Bar in Castle Pines benefiting 9/11 first responders and their ongoing health challenges. Ten percent of all sales proceeds went to the FealGood Foundation, whose motto is “No responders left behind,” as…
Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) firefighters gathered on Labor Day weekend at King Soopers shopping center in Castle Pines to fundraise for the 65th annual Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Money raised through the drive goes toward helping children and adults with muscular dystrophy,…
The Rock Canyon High School Fire Science program participated in the climb in full gear, as many firefighters did from all over the state. Article and photos by Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Lin Giampietro More than 2,500 Coloradans gathered at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to honor and remember the…
By Lynn Zahorik; courtesy photo With the opening of Little Women, Valor Arts + Media ushered in a new tradition – the Valor summer musical. Historically, Valor has only performed a musical once a year, in the spring, but as the arts and media program grew, desire to offer expanded performance opportunities to more students…
Diana Doyle, president of Arapahoe Community College, cut the ribbon at the August grand opening for the Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock. Joining Doyle were representatives from Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Community College System, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, Douglas County School District and Colorado State University System. By Bryan Goodland;…
On August 27 in Lima, Peru, Castle Pines resident Amanda Palyo (pictured right) brought home a bronze medal at the Parapan American Games for the 100 meter backstroke with teammates Lizzi Smith (left) taking the silver and Hanna Aspden (center) taking the gold. The U.S. team took nine medals in all; three gold, three silver…
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Nicole Miles The annual back-to-school carnival at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) was larger than ever this year. Carnival committee chair Shenah Lutrick and her crew pulled out all the stops to make the carnival a success. They added more inflatable slides, jump house, obstacle courses and additional games, including…
Music director, and co-founder of the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra, Jacinda Bouton. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Cindy Kessinger American composer and conductor Aaron Copland once said, “to stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.” Thankfully, neither time nor music has stopped. This season marks…
A postcard highlighting many of Dresden’s architectural wonders as they stand today, rebuilt and celebrated. Article and photos by Joe Gschwendtner; courtesy photos Scant months after the Berlin Wall came down, I visited. Heady days for those fleeing Communism. Consumer goods. Variety. Freedom to do most anything. “Osties” with cars would drive west gawking at…
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photo Student government is the most well-known example of school-based student leadership groups. But the opportunities at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) are much broader. BRE hosts several options for students in third, fourth and fifth grade interested in leadership. Green Team The Green Team consists of 20 third, fourth and fifth…
Burt Knight, CPMD district manager By Joe Gschwendtner; photos courtesy of the Castle Pines Metropolitan District On September 16, the Castle Pines Metropolitan District (CPMD) welcomed Burt Knight, P.E. as its new district manager. District directors and staff are looking forward to his enthusiastic, seasoned brand of leadership. Knight brings 35 years of municipal engineering…
By Kathy Fallert Ghost Observer is an entertaining camera tool that shows ghosts around you in an augmented reality experience. In other words, the app uses a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on the user’s view of the real world and creates a new composite view. As Halloween quickly approaches, with scary movies and…
An EpiLocker on the wall has stock epinephrine for emergencies. Article and photo by Lynn Zahorik Within the halls of every Douglas County School District (DCSD) school is a yellow box called an EpiLocker. These boxes, which contain stock epinephrine auto injectors for emergency situations, have been present since December 2017. Approximately one in 13…