The Castle Pines Connection

RCHS biotech students and staff members visited the University of Pennsylvania on June 3. The group toured the university’s medical school and labs on their trip. By RCHS intern writer Maddy Merritt; photo courtesy of Shawndra Fordham In early June, students in the biotechnology (biotech) program at Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) attended the BIO…

By Terri Wiebold; photos courtesy of Debbi Haynie While we spend an entire lifetime building memories, the timeline for checking items off our “bucket list” seems to be accelerated as we enter the later chapters in our lives. Castle Pines residents Debbi and Travis Haynie experienced that acceleration – literally – at Bandimere Speedway for…

By Terri Wiebold Patrick Romano grew up visiting his grandparents in Castle Pines, and he is now happy to call his old stomping ground home to his newest of 10 Domino’s franchise locations. “I have such fond memories of Castle Pines from my childhood … feeding the buffalo named ‘Nick Cream Soda’ at Daniels Park…

By Susan Helton Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader; she once read 64 books during the summer – just because. This month, she shares a contemporary time-travel novel. I recently attended Denver Pop Culture Con and naturally gravitated to the booksellers in the show floor area. One of the books that caught my…

By Terri Wiebold Summer is a time to get out and explore and enjoy the beautiful outdoors that Castle Pines offers. With the vibrant golf community in the area, it is no surprise that golf carts have made their way into the “modes of transportation” that get residents from point A to point B. Recently,…

By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photo The Castle Pines community has numerous homeowner associations (HOAs) and each one contracts independently for trash removal and recycling. The three primary waste companies serving the City of Castle Pines and the communities of The Village at Castle Pines, Happy Canyon, Surrey Ridge and other unincorporated areas in the 80108…

By Kathy Fallert There’s nothing I enjoy more than a challenging hike, especially one that takes me to a waterfall at the end. If you do much hiking, you know that maps don’t tend to provide detailed information and guide books are cumbersome. The AllTrails app is a handy tool that can get you on…

Article and photos by Terri Wiebold On Saturday, August 10, the Tri-County Health Department will host its annual drive-through Douglas County Household Chemical Roundup in Highlands Ranch at Shea Stadium, 3270 Redstone Park Circle, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Douglas County residents will be asked for a $25 contribution to help offset the high…

Carefree and enjoying the final weeks of summer, incoming kindergarteners play on the equipment at Elk Ridge Park before a T-ball game. Article and photos by Carin R. Kirkegaard In Castle Pines, summer is drawing to a close for those with school-aged children. The Douglas County School District (DCSD) first day of school is August…

“Thanks for mailing us tickets to see the Outlaws lacrosse game.  What a night …. three rain delays [but still fun]!”  – Linda and Ted Blank By Terri Wiebold; courtesy photos Do you like FREE stuff? The people pictured here do, and they all received free tickets to community events just by being e-subscribers to The…

Article and photos by Lisa Crockett Make a simple syrup: Bring one cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan on the stove. As soon as the water boils, add one cup of granulated sugar and stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbling. Turn off the heat and allow…

Chris Cooke is the new principal at RHMS. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Chris Cooke Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) embraces change as the 2019-2020 school year begins. Chris Cooke returns to RHMS as principal. Cooke was on staff at RHMS when it opened 16 years ago. He taught science and technology and held…

Avery Tomlinson swimming the breast stroke at a Castle Crocs summer swim meet. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photo courtesy of the Tomlinson family Avery Tomlinson swam the 50 meter breaststroke in 38.13 seconds, beating the Castle Crocs team record of 39.14 held by Abby Kochevar since the summer of 2010. Tomlinson joined the team as…

By Terri Wiebold; photo by Elise Brassell Last month, we celebrated that Farmer’s Insurance raised $24,000 at the 14th Annual American Cancer Society 2019 Coaches vs. Cancer Hope Invitational of Denver, held at The Country Club at Castle Pines. For clarification, that was the amount one team raised in the fight against cancer and not…

By Bryan Goodland Maybe the days of scaling 14ers are far behind you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all that Colorado has to offer. There are plenty of hikes throughout the Denver metro area and beyond that are breathtakingly beautiful and are manageable for all skill and activity levels. Daniels Park If it…

Alec Celecki says his years swimming and working for the Castle Crocs swim team has been a highlight of his summer for the past 14 years. Alec Celecki, pictured below at age 8, proudly posed for a picture after making his first All Star time in the 25 meter butterfly. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos…

Article and photo by Michelle Post I love river rafting. I was first introduced to it in Texas. Every Memorial Day holiday a group from my husband’s work would raft the Guadalupe River. Some years we just floated and others we rode the rapids. Regardless of the conditions, it was always fun. So, when we…

Steven Collis is a lawyer, professor and successful author in Castle Pines. By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Steven Collis For one Serena resident in the City of Castle Pines, religious freedom is more than part of the First Amendment, it is a way of life. Steven Collis has spent his career understanding, perusing and…

By Kathy Fallert; photo courtesy of Mary-Sue Quinn A resident of Forest Park for 13 years, Mary-Sue Quinn is a member of the Colorado Society of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA). In fact, Quinn is the patriotic service chair for the Colorado Society and has been for eight years. As…

By Terri Wiebold Castle Pines City Council and the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District (CPNMD) Board of Directors each voted unanimously last month in support of a resolution approving an intergovernmental agreement for the dissolution of the Castle Pines Parks Authority and the transfer of its assets to the City. The Castle Pines Parks Authority…

College students from several different schools gathered at a home in Sapphire Pointe this summer to connect with kids from other schools and also with God. They will continue to meet through the end of August. Article and photo by Steve Whitlock A new college group is meeting in Sapphire Pointe.  The lively and welcoming…

Aerial map showing the location of Miller’s Landing, along with renderings of major and proposed roadways and existing trails and potential future trail connections. Article and photo by Bryan Goodland; rendering courtesy of Navpoint Real Estate Group Landfills are a part of the modern world, but they don’t have to stay that way forever. In…

Delaney Musick spots a photo of her brother, Brennan, in the June issue of The Connection. By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Judah Musick “Community is like a big family” said the Polish sociologist and philosopher Zygmunt Bauman. It’s knowing your neighbors and running into friends and teammates at the grocery store. Community is a…

Principal John Veit celebrated four students who earned perfect attendance in the 2018-2019 school year at Buffalo Ridge. Left to right: Evan R. finished elementary school with perfect attendance; James H. started his first year off with a perfect record, never missing a day of school; Levi K. attended school for 1,218 hours; and Addy…

Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski Much like the fairytale ending of the movie “Grease,” Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students wrapped up the school year with a fun evening carnival. This was TTE’s inaugural family fun fest to celebrate the end of another great school year. Even though the evening was cold and damp, the…

Pictured above are Emma Meisel and her dad, Chuck, who was able to be with his daughter in LA to watch her network debut on “The Kids Are Alright” when it premiered April 30 on ABC. By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of the Meisel family Local Castle Pines resident Emma Meisel made her network…

DCSM Park Adventures campers know how to enjoy Castle Pines local parks. Campers took advantage of the beautiful day to climb and swing at Coyote Ridge Park. By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy DCS Montessori Summer is all about exploring the unknown, trying a new outdoor activity or diving deep into a world of adventure. DCS…

By Susan Helton The Connection writer Susan Helton is an avid reader; as a teen, she once read 64 books during summer break – just to see if she could. This month, she shares a charming book by and about a woman rancher in Colorado. Taken from her diaries, Shepherdess of Elk River Valley by…

Doctor of optometry, Dr. Jason Ortman. By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Black Diamond Eye Care After serving the vision needs of the Castle Pines community for 17 years, Castle Pines Eye Care is expanding and changing its name to Black Diamond Eye Care. From humble beginnings in 2002 within a strip mall of what…

Information provided by The City of Castle Pines; Photos by Nancy Koontz and courtesy of the CPNMD Colorado is drought-free for the first time in 20 years, but that doesn’t change the need for fire mitigation efforts in the naturally wooded neighborhoods of Castle Pines. In fact, the wet spring weather has provided the perfect…

By Elizabeth Wood West; photos by Chuck McCallon The Rotary Club of Castle Rock held its 23rd Annual Ducky Derby fundraiser and family fun festival at Festival Park in downtown Castle Rock in June. The event featured a variety of street vendors, live entertainment, face painting, a bouncy castle and the event finale – the…

Kindergarten soccer “Team Blue” in 2012. Community Super Bowl winners, 11-12 age bracket, fall 2018. Article and photo by Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Imagetek One youth football team in Castle Pines recently reflected on nearly a decade with the same coach and core group of boys. Coach Scott Miller has dedicated much of his…

This area at the southeast intersection of Hess Road and I-25 is the potential location of a future 4-acre transit facility if rail-based transportation continues to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Article and photo by Kathy Fallert The Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission (Passenger Rail Commission) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)…

Information provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation; courtesy photo A train traveling at 55 miles per hour takes a mile to stop – the length of 18 football fields or more – after applying the emergency brakes. Between 2013 and 2017, 14 people were killed and 36 were injured in vehicle-train crashes in Colorado.…

Article and photos by Terri Wiebold “Behind our doors, we refer to you as trade partners because that’s who you are … We’re very loyal to the folks who take care of us, and those of you who have been with us for a long time, you know what that means …” were the opening…

By Kathy Fallert Summer is a very popular time to travel. While there are roaming phone plans out there that can include international and carrier fees for calling abroad, the WhatsApp app (a free app owned by Facebook) gives users fast, secure messaging and calling for free right on your cellphone using your phone’s internet…

Caption and photo by Lynn Zahorik Castle Pines resident Kathy Shiflet (left) shared a “proud mother” moment with son, Scott Moody, and his marketing manager and fellow Castle Pines resident Kathy Erdman (right). Scott Moody Fine Art, which specializes in pen and ink and colored pencil drawings, was one of the many booths featured at…

Exuding strength and poise beyond what one might expect of a 15-year-old, Julia Soechtig attacks a difficult jump on her Holsteiner, Petri.   By Nancy Koontz; photos courtesy of Lori Soechtig Because of her unbridled love of horses, 15-year-old Julia Soechtig received her first horse at the age of 6. Now she is the proud…

The day Chris Givin (center) was drafted, his former coach and teammates gathered in Castle Pines to celebrate. Pictured from left to right are Tucker Middleham, Nick Lamb, Chris Givin, Coach Roy Middleton and Brian Harrity. By Carin R. Kirkegaard, photos courtesy of the Givin family Chris Givin graduated from Xavier University with a degree…

Heather Clark with her husband, Bryson, and sons Tye (15) and Jaren (19). The family is very service-oriented, with Heather leading the charge to bring food and supplies to Eagle Academy students. By Lisa Nicklanovich; photos courtesy of Heather Clark When Heather Clark volunteered at Eagle Academy High School (EAHS) in Lone Tree a year…

Information and photos provided by Castle Pines Athletics Super Bowl champions were once again named for kids playing recreational youth flag football through Castle Pines Athletics (CPA). The Denver Broncos took home the title (and trophies) for the third and fourth grade age group – led by head coach Matt McDonald, while the New York…

Nicole Vanderpoel before a pool swim for Swim Across America, which raises funds for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Inset: Vanderpoel (left) presented a $150,000 check to Children’s Hospital Colorado Executive Director Elizabeth Nowak (right) at last year’s fundraising event. This year’s event will be August 25 with the…

Information provided by Douglas County Douglas County residents are invited to a public open house to review the 2040 Transportation Master Plan on Wednesday, July 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Douglas County hearing room at 100 Third Street in Castle Rock. The Draft 2040 Transportation Master Plan is currently available for…

By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Sam Teague Castle Pines students are not the only ones enjoying their summer vacation! This cub was spotted frolicking with its mama in the Happy Canyon neighborhood on June 18 around 7:15 p.m. Similar sightings of another mama bear and her three cubs have been shared throughout The Village…

By Terri Wiebold In the November 2018 issue of The Connection, we introduced readers to a sports craze taking the nation, and Douglas County, by storm – pickleball. In June, a group of roughly 20 Castle Pines residents who were interested in bringing pickleball courts to Castle Pines (many of whom referred to themselves as…

The future high school graduating class of 2026 took one last farewell walk through the halls of Timber Trail. Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski Transition to middle school is a big step in the lives of our local elementary students. For many students, the graduation ceremony or rite of passage is celebrated with fellow…

Caption and photo by Elise Brassell Congratulations to Castle Pines resident Jason Brassell (left) and his Farmers Insurance team, including Garrett Sadusky, Curt Henderson (CPV) and Kevin Shriver, who participated in the 14th Annual American Cancer Society 2019 Coaches vs Cancer Hope Invitational of Denver. The team joined the golf event, held at The Country…

Pictured left to right: Matt, Alex, Jack and Kristen Krieger. By Lynn Zahorik, photo courtesy of Kristen Krieger The Krieger family loves to go to Coors Field each summer to watch the Colorado Rockies play. However, when the Chicago Cubs are in town, they pull out their blue and red gear and root, root, root…

By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Timber Trail Elementary This year, 84 fifth grade Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) students took the stage under bright lights to carry out another yearly tradition. The fifth grade dance project is a grade level project based learning (PBL) collaborative project facilitated by music and art. Not only has this…

Information and photos provided by the City of Castle Pines Approximately 20 City of Castle Pines residents attended the first of three scheduled Pilates in the Park events on Saturday, June 8. Participants of all skill levels ranging from first-timers to veteran pilates gurus joined in the fun. It was an invigorating way to Zenfully…

The City of Castle Pines partnered once again with Mental Health Colorado for the annual Unmasked; A Masquerade Party. The evening was filled with emotional and inspirational stories of tragedy and triumph in the arena of mental illness and substance use. More than $75,000 was raised toward the efforts of promoting mental health, ending stigmas…

The Hamlet and Glen Oaks neighbors Judy Foraker with her grandsons Parker (in back) and Palmer (in front), Vern Cain and Melissa Champine. Cain started the line of rocks, some painted, and over the last year, neighbors, visiting family and anyone who feels connected to the community has added their own rocks. Article and photos…

Making his second appearance at the Drive, Chip and Putt competition, Blake Cartwright was a tough competitor. Article and photos by Lynn Zahorik The Ridge at Castle Pines was the proud host of the 2019 PGA of America Drive, Chip and Putt competition on June 3. This event is a free nationwide junior golf development…

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett Each month as I decide what foods to write about, I take into consideration what is fresh and appealing, and also what might fit into whatever holidays or other events are happening that month. July is, of course, a month of all things patriotic. It would seem that Mother…

Krista Taylor on a medical mission in Honduras with her translator, Diego, who she said, “giggled all day long at my ‘Spanglish’ and our little pet bird who tapped on the surgery center window and sang to us all day!” By Lisa Nicklanovich; photo courtesy of Krista Taylor Krista Taylor hit a big milestone this…

Castle Pines residents Ali Merritt (left) and Ellie Olsen (right) volunteered at Legacy Village’s Hawaiian-themed day. The two volunteers got residents to join in on the hula hooping (without breaking any hips!) and assisted with activities that went along with the Hawaiian theme. Article and photo by Maddy Merritt Legacy Village of Castle Pines is…

For more information, visit aspenhistory.org/tours-sites/independence-ghost-town and www.aspenchamber.org/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-independence-pass. Article and photos by Susan Helton For something different to do for Independence Day, how about a unique adventure with a patriotic touch? High in the Rocky Mountains, in Independence Pass, the ghost town of Independence sits in a glacier-carved valley below Independence Mountain. According to legend, prospectors…

Aurora firefighter Clay Thomasson got in on the field action while American Academy students Cassidy Anderson and Natalie Barber tried to convince Thomasson to spray color his hair. Article and photos by Julie Matuszewski Field day has been a favorite annual event for the students of American Academy (AA). Field day is a day when…

By Terri Wiebold; photos by Lynn Zahorik and courtesy of Jimmy Dozer The residents of Castle Pines and surrounding communities came out in force to enjoy the Castle Pines Chamber of Commerce 4th Annual Food Truck Frenzy. The event included 14 food trucks, 36 Castle Pines Chamber member booths, a pet area with a pet treat…